APC members registration: Fear grips PDP by Vanguard Media Limited

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Don’t leave your funds idle, invest in infrastructural development — Bala Mohammed to PENCOM DG •Sayys FCT FCTA remitted 201 •Sa A remitt ed N3.2bn ttoo PENCOM in 20 13 BY HENRY UMORU, Abuja

INISTER of the Federal Capital Territory Administration, FCTA, Senator Bala Mohammed yesterday charged the DirectorGeneral, National Pension Commission, Mrs. Chinelo Anohu-Amazu to invest the huge amount of funds available to it in infrastructural development rather than leave such funds idle, just as he disclosed that the administration in 2013 remitted a total sum of N3.2 billion to the Commission being the contributory funds of staff of the Administration and the six Area Councils of the Federal Capital Territory. According to the Minister, the Commission can check the law establishing it that would enable it go into partnership with genuine investors to use such funds available, adding that such partnership could be guaranteed by a reputable bank in the country to take off the risk aspect of the investment from the Commission. Speaking yesterday when he received the Director-General, National Pension Commission,

Mrs. Chinelo AnohuAmazu in his office, Senator Bala Mohammed who noted that the payment was done after due reconciliations between the officials of the FCT Administration and the National Pension Commission, however revealed that in addition, about N92 million was now being worked out to pay the

Commission being the outstanding of the FCT Contributory Pension fund. According to him, some of these infrastructural developments like roads, housing and transportation are bankable and that monies stockpiled at the National Pension Commission can be used to turn around infrastructure

RESIDENT of C h r i s t i a n Association of Nigeria (CAN) Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor has been tasked to lead other Christian leaders of Itsekiri extraction to declare 14 days of fasting and prayers for peace in Ugborodo and Itsekiri land. National Coordinator, Niger Delta Grassroots

the country including the FCTA to explain the merit of PENCOM scheme to the end users. The Director-General noted that ignorance from the people seems to be working against the Commission especially some members of the Organized Private Sector that are not keen in joining the scheme. She pointed out that the National Pension Commission has opened zonal offices across the country to strengthen its performance.

L-R: Chief Executive Officer, Stanbic IBTC Holdings, Mrs. Sola DavidBorha; Lagos State Governor, Mr. Raji Fashola, and Chairman, Stanbic IBTC Holdings, Mr. Atedo Peterside at a dinner in Lagos as part of the 2014 Standard Bank West Africa Investors Conference recently

Oritsejafor urged to lead prayers for peace in Itsekiri land BY GAB EJUWA

in the country with profitable interest to all parties, adding, “The banks can be used to float bonds for such purposes which could be beneficial to all parties involved”. He said for instance, the Abuja Master Plan has about 79 districts with 9 sector centres in the Federal Capital City and with only 11 Districts as well as

2 Sector Centres so far developed while about 80 percent of such districts have not been attended to due to the paucity of funds. The Minister promised to make available a plot of land for PENCOM to build its Headquarters after the Commission must have met with all administrative processes. Speaking earlier, the Director-General of the National Pension Commission, Mrs. Chinelo Anohu-Amazu remarked that she has gone round

Organization (NDGO), Mr. Weyenmi Olley made the call while addressing newsmen recently in Warri. He expressed confidence that the Olu of Warri, Ogiame Atuwatse II whom he described as God-fearing and whom people have respect for, would back Pastor Oritsejafor and join in fasting and prayers for the restoration of Ugborodo to abiding peace. Olley said the expected development from the $16billion Export

Processing Zone (EPZ) project, which recently elicited gunfight and bloodletting from parties battling for control, cannot be enjoyed by dead people or crisis-ridden land. He appealed to the CAN President to bring his peace-brokering efforts on the national sphere in the President Goodluck Jonathan administration to bear on the situation in Ugborodo and restore abiding peace to Itsekiri land.

FCT minister loses elder brother BY HENRY UMORU, Abuja

INISTER of the Federal Capital Territory Administration, FCTA, Senator Bala Mohammed has lost his senior brother, Mallam Y.M. Baba. In a statement by the Chief of Staff to the FCT minister, Mallam Mohammed Ya’u Gital, Baba who died yesterday, was the District Head of Duguri, Bauchi State. The statement read, “The District Head of Duguri, Bauchi State, Mallam Y. M. Baba is dead. He died today (Friday February 7, 2014) at the age of 80. Mallam Baba, an elder brother of the Minister of FCT, Senator Bala Abdulkadir Mohammed, was a

former Secretary to the Bauchi State Government (SSG). ”A veteran teacher and bureaucrat, Mallam Yusuf Mohammed Baba during his rich public service career, taught or served as Principal of many notable colleges such as Government Secondary Schools in Azare, Bauchi State, Funtua in Katsina State, Yarwa, Maiduguri in Borno State, Potiskum in Yobe State and many others. ”A consummate teacher, Mallam Y. M. Baba taught many prominent citizens. A Bsc Mathematics degree holder (1965) from the Ahmadu Bello University Zaria, the late Y.M. Baba was not just a teacher but a renowned educational planner. He was also the pioneer Registrar of Federal Polytechnic, Bauchi.

SATURDAY Vanguard, FEBRUARY 8, 2014 — 5

Confab: Yoruba restate call for regional autonomy BY DAPO AKINREFON

HE South West geo political zone, has reiterated its support for the proposed national conference, but resolved to make regional autonomy, true federalism and resource control its priority. Speaking after a National Conference Preliminary meeting on Yoruba Position, held in Ishara Remo Ogun State, at the residence of Afenifere bigwig, Sir. Olaniwun Ajayi yesterday, prominent Yoruba leaders, agreed to the need to reach out to more Yoruba people, for wider consultations for the region in order to articulate its position before the conference. Meanwhile, the group disclosed it has done everything within its capacity to reach out to the leadership of the South West zone of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Chief Bisi Akande, but they were shunned. Spokesman for the group, Mr Yinka Odumakin, who addressed the press said, “This is assembly of people who are political, people who are non-political and from various cadres of life, nobody should see it as a political thing. It is about the Yoruba nation, we are here to take a position on the planned national conference.” Odumakin said, that “we have reviewed the modality for the conference. We do not accept the idea that we would be having 75 per cent vote at the conference where we don’t have consensus. We want that where we don’t have consensus, two-thirds should suffice.” He, however, disclosed that leaders at meeting deliberated on a position to be adopted for the conference but said “we have not concluded yet.”

Tinubu, Akande, others rebuffed us—Ayo Adebanjo Speaking on the efforts made to bring Tinubu to the forum, Chief Ayo Adebanjo alleged that the former of Lagos state, Asiwaju Tinubu and

other APC chieftains, shunned them. Adebanjo said, “We have done everything to bring APC, go and ask General Alani Akinrinade. We have done everything to bring in Tinubu. Some people wanted to meet him two days ago, he gave them an appointment, twice, he didn’t keep. “Before we came here that was the battle we first had, that we wanted to get everybody that this is not a political matter,

but he wouldn’t respond. What are we discussing that he (Tinubu) shouldn’t be there, we are talking of federalism, is that for our selfish interest, we talk of resource control and these are the things we have been agitating ever before he became the governor of Lagos State in 1999. I was the chairman of the party that made him the governor. These are the agitation we have been doing 20 years ago and you now have the oppor-

tunity to achieve it.”

Confab ‘ll help us move forward-— Braitwaite On his part, Dr Tunji Braitwaite explained that the planned conference is a great opportunity once more opened for Nigerians to address the anomalies in the present federal structure. He said, “it is not just for our generation but for the generations coming,” while he urged Yoruba

From left; Mallam Othman Abubakar, Airport Manager; Princess Stella Oduah, Minister of Aviation and Mr George Uriesi and staff at Sultan Saddik Abubakar III Airport, Sokoto, during inspection work assessment visit to the Sultan Saddik Abubakar III airport recently.

and other well meaning Nigerians not to allow this opportunity slip without fully utilising it, he reiterated the need for the conference to hold before any elections is held in the country. “ Also, Dr. Olajide said the Yoruba are going to demand regional autonomy, we are going to take a second look at the issue of resource control

and revenue allocation and a lot of other issues. But we haven’t taken a definite decision yet. That will be finalised on the 17th.” On the plan to select the 15 delegates that would represent the Southwest at the conference, the decision was postponed till February 17th, when the meeting will reconvene at the same venue.

ROLL CALL OF THOSE AT THE MEETING Dr. Kunle Olajide Gen Alani Akinrinade Olu Falae Bishop Ayo Ladigbolu Chief Ayo Adebanjo Chief Supo Shonibare Pa Reuben Fasoranti Bishop Bolanle Gbonigi Bisi Adebuyi Yinka Odumakin Shina Kawonise Prof Wale Are Olaitan Dr. Akin Onigbinde Alhaji Sharafa Ishola - former minister of Mines Pastor Tunde Bakare Ajibola Ogunsola Tunji Braithwaite Governor Olusegun Mimiko of Ondo state Gbenga Daniel, former governor of Ogun state Otunba Gani Adams Dr Tokunbo Dosunmu

Kaduna Gov dragged to ICC over alleged genocide BY LUKA BINIYAT Kaduna

group, Southern Ka duna Indigenes Progressive Forum (SKIPFo) yesterday said it has compiled enough documentary and other relevant information enough to drag Governor Mukhtar Ramalan Yero to the Internal Criminal Court (ICC) in the Hague for what it said was genocide against the Atakad people of Kaura Local Government Area in the southgern part of Kaduna State. A Press Statement signed by the Chairman of the registered group, Major George Asake (rtd) said that its lawyers were working in concert with other experts to file genocide charges against Yero, and possibly seek his extradition to stand prosecution even after he would have left office. SKIPFo which gave a detail tabulated sequence of the invasions of Atakad communities and other parts of Southern Kaduna since

2011 said about 160 people have lost their lives, 202 wounded and over 1000 houses set ablaze. Reads part of the Statement made available to Saturday Vanguard: “On the 15th February, 2012, Rev Joseph Hayab, Special Assistant to the Governor on Christian Affairs, and Mallam Halliru Maraya, Special Assistant to the Governor on Muslims Affairs and Ishaku Dogo Makama, Executive Secretary, State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) Kaduna State said at a Press Conference that after pocketing not less than N564 billion in cash, apart from food stuff and other relief materials, Internally Displaced Persons (all Hausa/Fulani Muslims from Zonkwa) from the last April 2011 polls violence, had refused to leave the Hajj Camp, in Kawo, Kaduna. That was when Sir Patrick Ibrahim Yakowa was in power ·”While the aforementioned enjoyed so much largesse from Yakowa, Yero on

his part is not known to have offered a kobo to the much publicised 10,000 Takad refugees. “Governor Yero knows well that the Takad are now under starvation since the Fulani made it impossible for them to return and cultivate their farm. Most of

them are sick, traumatized without any form of assistance even as more violence is being visited on them on a daily basis under the watch of Yero. “There is no further prove to show how he hates Southern Kaduna People and encourages the system-

atic genocide of the Takad by starvation and violence “Encouraged, by the feeble security in place, a band of ravaging Fulani militants invaded Takad villages again last Monday, and wiped out all the inhabitants before razing the villages into ashes.”

Enugu residents, landlords protest govt’s threat to demolish slums not illegal occupants”, BY TONY EDIKE Enugu

UNDREDS of Ugbo Okonkwo residents including widows and children, Friday, staged a peaceful protest against plans by Enugu State Government to demolish their houses in the area which it designated as a slum. The protesters including several widows and children marched through the Upper Chime dual carriageway displaying

several placards, weeping and praying for God’s divine intervention in their plight. Some of their placards read: “No slum in Ugbo Okonkwo, we acquire our land legitimately”, “No government has told us that we live in a slum”, “We are law-abiding citizens, we deserve a home”, “Your Excellency, we like the good work you are doing in Enugu State. Help us by stopping this demolition, give us time to develop our land”, “We have our title documents, we are

“The Lord is our shepherd” and “It is inhuman to evict us from the land we have occupied for over 100 years.” The officials of Enugu Capital Territory Development Authority, ECTDA, had on January 30 served the property owners and residents of Ugbo Okonkwo notice to remove their property within seven days after which the houses, which were allegedly built without government’s approval, would be demolished.

6 — SATURDAY Vanguard, FEBRUARY 8, 2014

Beware! Rape of minors on the increase — NHRC BY IKECHUKWU NNOCHIRI, Abuja

HE National Human Rights Commission, NHRC, yesterday, raised alarm over the increasing cases of rape in the country, stressing that most of the recently reported incidents involved the defilement of minors by adults. The Executive Secretary of the Commission, Prof Ben Angwe, who made the observation in Abuja yesterday, accordingly urged the Police High Command to be more vigilant in their investigations with a view to bringing the culprits to book. Receiving the Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Christian Pilgrims Commission, John Kennedy Opara who paid a courtesy visit to the NHRC yesterday, Angwe, said there was the need for religious organizations and the Christian Pilgrims Commission to cooperate with the right body in its quest towards ensuring that perpetrators of such heinous crime are prosecuted and jailed. Angwe said: “I wish to

condemn in very strong terms the increasing cases of rape in the country especially the defilement of minors. Just last week, it was reported that a girl of eight years was allegedly raped to death by unknown persons in Ikot Ekang, Etinan Local Government Area of AkwaIbom State. ”I wish to call on the Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Abubakar to commence an immediate investigation into the case in question and other related matters to ensure the perpetrators are brought to book”. While calling on the Akwa-Ibom State office of the NHRC to also commence immediate investigation into the matter, Prof. Angwe, implored parents and guardians to cooperate with the Commission by always feeling free to report rape cases involving their wards, saying some times, parents themselves, scuttle effort by security and law enforcement agents to conduct full scale investigation on such rape cases. ”God used John

Kennedy Opara as an instrument of nature; he is a wonderful agent of God. Since his leadership of the Nigerian Pilgrims Commission, Nigerians have never had the usual ugly experience of the past where they are always stranded in the holy land. “Today Nigeria is going through a very serious crisis due to the killing of humans by their fellow humans. We are committed to removing the absurdity of these killings and we urge the Christian Pilgrims Commission to continue to work on the inner being of human beings to end the incessant killings. We will work tirelessly to ensure that we have peace in this country.”

The Fidau Prayers for Late Alhaja Fatima Bintu Abeke Bello, mother of UNILAG VC Prof Rahaman Bello took place in Iboro,Ogun State yesterday Px left : HRM Oba Sesan Oguntayo,the Ajalorun of Ijebu Ife condoling Prof Rahaman Bello at the occasion. Photo by Biodun Ogunleye

I will give good legacy on road network — Mimiko The State’s Commissioner NDO state and Afira bridge amidst governor for doing what thought was for Works, Engr. Gboye O Governor, Dr wild jubilation by the they impossible. Adegbenro had earlier Olusegun Mimiko has natives. vowed to give a good legacy on road network in the state even as he commissioned a 22.3km reconstructed Apata/ modern Market Ikare, Ugbe – Iboropa Ise Akoko roads

Speaking at the commissioning of the road projects, Mimiko said his administration is progressively moving forward in giving the people of the State a better road network which he described as expensive but inevitable He vowed that his administration will continue to pay more premium on new roads construction and rehabilitation of old ones in the state. Governor Mimiko also said that ongoing road projects in the state will be completed during his regime, stressing that sustainable road development is needed in the state. He thanked the traditional rulers and the entire people of Akoko for their continued support for the development of the area and the state in general. Traditional rulers led by the Olukare of Ikare, Oba Akadiri Momoh, market women, , various groups and youths trooped out en-masse to appreciate the

Thanking the Governor on behalf of the people for the feat, the Olukare of Ikare, Oba Akadiri Momoh described the new road as gate way to the Northern States of Nigeria.

said the government is people-oriented in its developmental initiatives, stressing that the people of the state and beyond will derive benefits from the new roads.

Clearing agent dupes businessman BY CHINYERE ABIAZIEM

31-yr-old, Lagos based clearing agent was arraigned in an Ebute Metta Magistrate court before Mr O.A Komolafe for allegedly duping one Christopher Okpareke of N1.6 million. The accused, Emmanuel Akhidenor and the others at large were said to have obtained the said sum from the complainant under false pretence of delivering a container of air conditioners to him. Within the agreed period of delivery, the accused went into hiding. He neither delivered the said goods

nor returned the money to Mr. Okpareke as all efforts made to locate him proved abortive. However, Akhidenor who could not keep hiding forever was later seen and arrested. The Police Prosecutor, Frank Mbah mentioned that the offence is contrary and punishable under sections 419 and 300 of the criminal law of Lagos state of Nigeria 2011. Two suretees- one of which must be related to the accused plus a sum of N100,000 was the bail term given to the defendant by the magistrate, Mr Komolafe who also adjourned the matter for further hearing on the 10th March 2014.

Book on Oduduwa College @ 80 for launch

book entitled “Oduduwa College, Ile Ife, Our Alma Mater At 80” written by an Old Student, Prince S.K. Lawal is due for public presentation at the Oduduwa College Hall on Saturday 8th February,2014. The 406 page book is a chronicle of the history of Oduduwa College, its contributions to educational growth of Ile Ife community, its environs and Nigerian society at large in terms of capacity building and human resource. Qasim Akinreti, an alumnus of the school, PhD student in media

studies at Babcock University, and Head of Foreign Desk, Voice of Nigeria will review the book. According to the author, Prince S.K Lawal, a successful lawyer, who graduated from Oduduwa College; Ile Ife in 1969 with other forty four students, the book is a humble contribution to the advancement and glorification of the College in over 80 years. The college has produced prominent Nigerians in all walks of life, notably Honourable Justice Bola Babalakin, Justice of Supreme Court and National President of Oduduwa College Old

Students Association, Chief Richard Akinjide, Former Attorney General and Minister of Justice, among others. His Imperial Majesty Oba Okunade Sijuade Olubuse 11, Ooni of Ife. The Arole Odua, an Old Student of the school will lead other royal fathers in Nigeria to the epoch making event, under the distinguished chairmanship of Honourable Justice Olukayode Ariwoola, Justice of the Supreme Court of Nigeria. The historic publication will be launched by the Asiwaju of Ife, Chief Oyekunle Alex Duduyemi.

SATURDAY Vanguard, FEBRUARY 8, 2014 — 7

Registration of members: Court summons APC officials in Rivers •Orders them to appear Feb 20 BY IKECHUKWU NNOCHRI, Abuja The Abuja Division of the Federal High Court, yesterday, ordered members of the Interim State Executive Committee of the All Progressive Congress, APC, in Rivers State, to appear before it on February 20, to show cause why the party should not be restrained from registering new members in the state. Ruling on an ex-parte motion that was filed by an aggrieved chieftain of the party in the state, Barrister Otonye Briggs, Justice Gabriel Kolawole, specifically ordered the Interim Chairman and Secretary of APC in Rivers state, Chief Davis Ikanya and Mr Emeka Beke, respectively, to ensure that they appear in court on that date. Others the court summoned yesterday were the Interim National Chairman of APC, Chief Bisi Akande and the National Secretary of the party, Mr Tumsa Musa Tijani. Justice Kolawole, stressed that though the plaintiff, Briggs, approached the court for an ex-parte order, he said in view of the fact that there seem to be a sharp division in the party vis-a-vis allegation that the interim state officials were imposed on other APC members in Rivers state by those at the national level, there was need to give all the defendants the opportunity to defend themselves. Consequently, the judge, ordered that all the defendants should be served with the motion on notice to enable them to appear and explain why the plaintiff should not be granted all the reliefs he is seeking before the high court. Aside APC, the Independent National electoral Commission, INEC, was equally joined as a defendant in the suit. Specifically, the plaintiff who was the governorship candidate of the APC during the last general election in Rivers state, through his lawyer, Mr Joseph I. Ekwueme, is asking the court to determine if : “within the meaning and requirement of Article 9.1(ii), 9.3(i) & (ii) and 9.4(ii) of the constitution of APC, the 2nd set of defendants, particularly the

4th and 5th (Ikanya and Beke), who are not registered members of APC and who were not members of any of the legacy parties (ACN, ANPP & CPC), that merged and became APC, are entitled and or competent to convene, call, organize or hold any meetings of APC, River state and or represent or speak or and on behalf of the APC, Rivers state in any gathering, meeting, function and or activity, particularly one called by and or organized by the 6th defendant (INEC) or in any way manage the affairs of the party. “Within the meaning and requirement of Article 13.3 (iii), (iv) & (vi) of the APC constitution, whether the 1st set of defendants (Akande and Tijani), in upholding the aims and objectives under Article 7(iii) of the 1st defendant’s constitution, the 2nd and 3rd defendants, in the performance of their functions

and or exercise of their powers the interim national leaders or members of the National Executive Committee of the 1st defendant can validly appoint, recognize and or approve the 2nd set of defendants particularly the 4th and 5th defendants who are not registered members of APC and who were not members of any of the legacy parties that merged and became APC, as the interim state executive committee of APC, Rivers state”. Consequently, the plaintiff, among other things, beseeched the court for a declaration that the defendants, having not registered in their respective wards of residence, works and or origin, in line with Article 9.1(ii), & 9.4(ii) of APC constitution and having not been members of any of the legacy parties which merged and became APC, are not bonafide members of APC.

Gov. Peter Obi (m), with Dr. Uju Okeke (1st l e f t ) , Prof. Stella Okunna (Ist right) and the DVC, Academics of UNIZIK , Prof. Ahaneku Joseph (2nd left), during the presentation of the Cheque of N100m to the DVC, Administration of UNIZIK, Prof. Greg Nwokobi (2nd right)

Woman raped, slaughtered in Abeokuta BY DAUD OLATUNJI Abeokuta

RAGEDY struck in Abeokuta on yesterday when four young men allegedly gang-raped a50 year old Benniose woman and later slaughtered her. And eye witness told Saturday Vanguard that, the suspected rapists report-

edly stormed the house of the woman located at Oniyanrin area of the town through the window. Findings revealed that,the victim, a mother of five,popularly called Mama Friday lived alone in the boys quarters in the main building as her husband,a bricklayer works in Ifo town. The source who pleaded

Why my govt supports tertiary institutions — Gov Obi •Presents N100m cheque to UNIZIK

OVERNOR Peter Obi said that the support his Government was offering to higher institutions in Anambra State was in line with the policy of his Government to offer support to all organizations and institutions domiciled in Anambra State, whether private, public or Governmentowned provided their services were for the good of the people of the State. He said this yesterday while presenting a cheque of N100m and four brand new vehicles and a 50 Kva generator to the Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka for development projects, including construction of internal roads in the University. The Governor who had extended the same support to Paul University, Awka; Madonna University, Okija; Tansian University, Umunya assured that all higher institutions in the State will get theirs. He expressed optimism that the support would impact positively on the institutions. He also promised to provide the school with a life saver ambulance. In his remarks, the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Boniface Egboka, represented by the Deputy Vice Chancel-

lor, Administration, Prof. Greg Nwokobi thanked the Governor for the gesture. Recalling the Governor’s previous support to the university, including the provision of a Toyota Coaster bus,a Nissan Civilian Bus, Toyota bus for the Faculty of Law, the rehabilitation of Ifite-Amansea-University road, he said that Gov. Obi had offered more support than all the former Governors in the history of the school, including when it was a State university. “Never before in the University’s thirty-four years history, first as a State University and later as a Federal University has it been the beneficiary of such highly commendable level of attention from any Chief Executive of Anambra State. If your positive attention to Nnamdi Azikiwe is described as astonishing, then your relentless drive towards the transformation of Anambra State, even in the twilight of your Administration, could be said to be both captivating and mesmerizing,” Prof. Egboka said. Further, Prof Egboka noted that through Anambra Integrated Development Strategy (ANIDS), that Gov. Obi had achieved holistic

and comprehensive development of the State, with every segment of the society experiencing positive changes. Speaking at the event, the Director of Ekwueme Centre for multiplediscipline Research, Venerable Prof. Israel Okoye said the Governor had accomplished his mission of redefining governance by

putting the welfare of the people above every other consideration. He noted that the Governor had become a role model for the younger generation, adding that his support for Ekwueme Centre of the university would encourage the work of the Centre in all ramifications.

DSS arrests three students for alleged cultism in Osun BY GBENGA OLARINOYE, Osogbo

HREE students of the Government Technical College, Osogbo were yesterday arrested by the operatives of the Department of State Security DSS, for alleged cultism in their school. However, it was gathered that one of the suspected cultists escaped arrest and his whereabout was yet to be ascertained as at press time. It was gathered that the authorities of the college handed over the suspected cultists to the DSS to prevent further breakdown of law and order by the suspects. It would be recalled that

26 students of the Baptist High School, Osogbo were on Tuesday suspended for alleged cult activities in the school. Also, two students of the Osogbo High School, Osogbo were arrested and detained by the Police for alleged cult activities. Commenting on the development, the state chairman of the Nigeria Union of Teachers, Mr Saka Adesiyan said “The suspension of the students came after the state government set up a disciplinary committee to look into causes of crises in public schools. There is need for collaboration between teachers, parents and guardians to instill discipline in students”.

anonymity narrated that the gang having gained access into the apartment, engaged the victim in marathon sex,and after satisfying their sexual urge reportedly slaughtered her and fled the scene. However the neighbours of the victim were said to be unaware while it was happening until when the woman’s lifeless body was found on the bed, with bloodstains on her pants at the edge of the bed the following morning. When our correspondent visited the scene, some policemen were seen removing the corpse which was later taken to State Hospital Mortuary,Ijaiye, Abeokuta. A neighbour ,who identified herself as Mariam Idowu told newsmen that she received the sad information early in the morning yesterday which prompted her to rush to the scene. According to her, when the woman who was a pap seller did not come out early as was her practice, one of her colleagues went to check her in the room but found her lifeless body . When contacted , the Ogun State Police Command Public Relations Officer,Muyiwa Adejobi said four persons have so far been arrested. Adejobi who said, investigation has commenced,added that the woman was slaughtered. However,as at the time of this report, four suspects have been arrested by the Ogun State Police Command and were being interrogated.

8 — SATURDAY Vanguard, FEBRUARY 8, 2014

S-Court to Omehia: You’ve no right to challenge Amaechi’s tenure BY IKECHUKWU NNOCHIRI, Abuja

HE Supreme Court, yesterday, voided the leave granted to Mr Celestine Omehia to challenge the Federal High Court judgment that declared that the tenure of Governor Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers state, ended on May 29, 2011. In an unanimous judgment yesterday, a five-man panel of justices of the apex court, held that the Abuja Division of the Court of Appeal, misapplied the law when it permitted Omehia who was the gubernatorial candidate of the All Progressive Grand Alliance, APGA, in the last general elections in Rivers State, to appeal against the tenure verdict even though he was not a party to the originating suit. Though it was Justice M.S. Muntaka-Coomassie that prepared the lead judgment, it was however read yesterday by Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun. According to the apex court, going by the express provisions of section 243 (a) (b) of the 1999 Constitution as amended, Omehia, ought to have ab-initio applied for leave to be joined as a party in the matter, before he was allowed to challenge the decision of the lower court in a suit that was instituted by a chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Rivers state, Chief Cyprian Chukwu. Besides, the Supreme Court panel noted that Omehia failed to show how his own interest surpassed that of other persons aspiring to become governor in Rivers State, “Only a person whose interest is directly affected and not publicly affected by the outcome of a legal process, has the right to seek redress”, the court added. It was the opinion of the apex court that Omehia who it said was like every other gubernatorial aspirant in Rivers state, failed to show any special or overwhelming interest, and was therefore not entitled to the leave that was granted to him by the appellate court. The Supreme Court stressed that Omehia, having on his own, dragged Amaechi to court and lost, ought not to have been allowed to anchor on another person’s suit to achieve the same aim, “The defendant is an impostor and a pretender who has no right to be protected by the court.” Meantime, following his alleged use of derogatory and unprintable words in the written address that was filed by counsel to Omehia, Mr. J.C. Ezike, the apex court panel, yesterday, ordered him to tender an unreserved apology to both the court and Amaechi’s lawyer, Prince Lateef Fagbemi, SAN. However, Ezike, refused to apologize to either the court or

Executive Director, Human Resources & Customer Services, UBA Plc, Obi Ibekwe (M); Vice Principal, Special Duties, Queens College, Joy Okoye; MD/CEO, UBA Foundation, Ijeoma Aso; Principal, Queens College, Ekwutozia Osime; Vice Principal Administration, Queens College, Akinyemi Osagwu and students of the school, during the ‘Read Africa’ session and presentation of Literature books by UBA Foundation in Lagos, recently. Fagbemi, an action that irked the Justices who vowed yesterday to drag him to the disciplinary committee of the Nigerian Bar Association and other relevant authorities. It will be recalled that Chukwu had in 2010, approached a Federal High Court in Abuja, asking it to interpret the Supreme Court judgment which in 2007 removed Omehia from office and declared Amaechi as the governor of the state. Specifically, Chukwu, urged the court to go ahead and determine whether governorship election should be held in Rivers during the general election of April, 2011, or later, since Amaechi, took the oath of office in October 2007 and not May 29, when all other governors took the oath. In his judgment, Justice Abdul Kafarati of the high court, held that the Rivers State governorship election should be included in the April 2011 general elections. Shortly after the verdict was delivered, Omehia, who was not a party to the high court proceeding, applied to the Court of Appeal to be allowed to appeal as an interested party. Omehia contended that he was a party in the apex court judgment that was interpreted by the high court, saying he would be adversely affected should the subsequent matter be determined without him. Nevertheless, both Amaechi and Chukwu, filed separate appeals at the apex court wherein they queried the legality of the leave granted to Omehia by the appellate court. The two appeals, having emanated from the same subjectmatter were later consolidated and heard together. Arguing his appeal, Amaechi, through his lawyer, Mr. Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, insisted that Omehia was a meddlesome interloper who is neither a necessary nor a desirable party in

the matter. Fagbemi, SAN, told the apex court that Omehia never applied to be joined at the matter before the high court, but only did so after the case proceeded to the appellate court. “In fact, his application at the appellate court was made more than 200 days after the trial court judgment. My Lords, it would be further be seen that all the delays in this matter has been at the instant of the 4th respondent (Omehia).” Likewise, counsel to the Chukwu, Chief Ricky Tarfa, SAN, told the apex court that out of about three other persons that sought to be joined as interested parties at the appellate court, “Only the 4th respondent’s joinder-application was granted under questionable circumstances.” Not withstanding, Omehia, in an affidavit he deposed himself, averred: “I am dissatisfied with the judgment of the lower court and wish to appeal against same as a person interested in the matter, and in the office of governor of Rivers State which forms the basis of my interest as well as a person

interested in the interpretation of a judgment in which I was a principal party.” He also said he wanted to seek election as governor of the state under APGA, saying that for those two reasons; he deserved to be given the chance to challenge the judgment of the high court which he described as incorrect. He said Chukwu who filed the case at high court and described himself as a governorship aspirant, was a mere front for Amaechi whom he said wanted election to be held in Rivers during the April general election at all cost. After taking arguments from both parties, the Court of Appeal found merit in Omehia’s argument and granted him the right to appeal the high court judgment. Dissatisfied with the appellate court verdict, Amaechi filed an appeal at the Supreme Court wherein he maintained that the court of appeal erred in law to have joined Omehia in the matter. His lawyer, Fagbemi, argued that Omehia deliberately refused to tell the Appeal Court justices that he actually participated in the

April 2011 general election on the platform of APGA and lost. “After taking benefit of the high court judgment and contested in the election, he cannot turn back and attack the same judgment,” Fagbemi argued. He said the fact that he was a party in the Supreme Court judgment which the high court judge interpreted did not confer on him the right to be made a party since no relief was sought against him.. The case got a twist at the apex court after the PDP which had initially opposed Omehia’s request to be granted leave to challenge the high court judgment, made a U-turn and urged the apex court to allow Omehia to seek Amaechi’s sack from office. Arguing through its counsel, Chief Olusola Oke, PDP, argued that under section 243 of the 1999 Constitution as amended, the appellate court, rightly granted Omehia the leave to appeal the high court judgment as an interested party, contending that, “a person who is affected or likely to be affected by the outcome of any proceeding is an interested party. We submit that by the interpretation sought by the appellant as to the provision of the constitution as to whether election was due in Rivers State as at the time it was conducted, is bound to affect the interest of Omehia. The Court of Appeal was right in its decision. Moreover, till date, there is no appeal against the findings of the Court of Appeal that Omehia has interest in the matter. “We therefore urge this court to dismiss this appeal and uphold the decision of the appellate court,” PDP added. Surprised by the sudden change of posture by the PDP, both Amaechi and his co-appellant, Chukwu, urged the apex court to take judicial notice of the fact that the ruling party had at the appellate court level, vehemently opposed Omehia’s bid to secure leave to challenge the high court judgment.

Amaechi says no victor, no vanquished

IVERS State Governor, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi has thanked God for the Supreme Court judgement given yesterday morning. He also thanked the apex court for handling the matter judiciously and Rivers people for their continued support after emerging victorious over Celestine Omehia at the Supreme Court. In a statement by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Mr. David Iyofor, Amaechi said although the court ruling vindicates his position that Omehia had no case against him, he believes that there is no victor, no vanquished in this matter.

The governor said the apex court ruling provides a new opportunity for everyone to join hands with his administration in the development of Rivers State and the advancement of Rivers people. “Today’s judgement once again shows that God is with us. And as God has put us to oversee the affairs of Rivers state, we will continue to do it diligently and tirelessly to better the lives of our people and develop the state. “We will rededicate and focus more on administering good governance to the people of the state, and ensure that our people continue to enjoy the dividends of

democracy” Amaechi called on Celestine Omehia, his supporters and all well-meaning Rivers people to join hands with his administration and work together towards the greater good of the state and its people. “Now that the legal tussle is over, I want to appeal to Omehia, his supporters and all other well meaning Rivers people to join hands with my administration in building the new Rivers state that my administration has started. As for me, in this matter there is no victor, no vanquished,” Amaechi said.

SATURDAY Vanguard, FEBRUARY 8, 2014 — 9

APC Membership Registration:

Fear grips PDP •Alleges that APC targets violence •Says it is unlawful to use INEC’s designated election centres BY HENRY UMORU, Abuja

ATIONAL leader ship of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP yesterday took a swipe at the opposition political party, the All Progressives Congress, APC, saying it has concluded plans to use the outcome of the ongoing membership registration to hype what the PDP termed a phantom public support. The PDP also alleged that with the targeted 28 million membership figures the APC plans to realise at the end of the exercise, it would take to violence at the end of the 2015 Presidential election when it fails to record a total voters’ figure of its membership strength. Addressing Journalists yesterday in Abuja at the PDP national Secretariat, PDP National Publicity Secretary, Chief Olisa Metuh who noted that the party was not afraid of APC membership registration across the country, however accused the opposition of what it termed unlawful use of designated centres for election by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC for the exercise, adding that no party in Nigeria has monopoly of mischief. Accusing INEC of maintaining silence over the use of its election centres for the registration exercise, PDP said, “Indeed we find it shocking and curious that INEC whose responsibility is to safeguard against this sort of aberration has not only kept mum as the APC fraudulently uses its name for this infamous agenda but has folded hands in the face of this abuse and illegal conversion of its property. According to Metuh, “Our great party has received reports from various states, calling our attention to an on-going, well planned clandestine moves by the All Progressives Congress, APC, to lay mines in the way of a successful conduct of 2015 general elections, using its nation wide membership registration as a ruse. It is very un-

fortunate that while the PDP led federal government is solidifying the foundation of a credible electoral system it has already laid, and INEC is yet to release the final details of the 2015 general elections timetable, which is still a year ahead, the APC is already introducing weird inventions, calculated to torpedo the process and blow sky-high, the huge expectations of Nigerians and the international community. “We are all aware that the APC is currently conducting a nation wide registration of its members. The Peoples Democratic Party whole heartedly welcomes this development as it tallies with our avowed commitment to political plurality and the freeing of the democratic space so as to enable every Nigerian find expression on whatever political platform that he or she so wishes. This is because we firmly believe in competitive democracy as an antidote to mediocrity and complacency. That informed the choice, the resolve and the commitment of the PDP led Federal Government to the rule of law, due process, freedom of information and the non-negotiability of free, fair and credible elections. “However, it is clear from the statements, actions and the activities of the leaders of the APC, that the opposition has only been changing names without changing its character. Their commitment to being a credible alternative, leaves a yawning gap in the face of its furious self willed handicap to genuinely contribute in building the fabrics of our democracy. “Our investigations revealed that part of the plot by the APC is use to this fraudulent membership registration exercise to hype a phantom public support after which it will declare a particular bogus figure and create a false impression of massive public followership ahead of the 2015 general elec-

tions. “We wish to alert Nigerians therefore to the incontrovertible evidence at our disposal to the effect that the APC is sadly and currently using every foul means at its disposal to build a particular membership figure, running into tens of millions, which it intends to use as a justification to fault, dispute, reject and subsequently take to violence when it loses the 2015 general elections. “ This fraudulent membership figure, meant to create an unexisting mass followership is to be maniacally presented, projected and defended by the APC, using its well known unethically hypodermic propaganda tools as an anticipated real voter strength, below which it will carry out its threat to unleash mayhem on the nation as contained in its allegory of “the monkey, the baboon and blood.”

From left: Gen.T.Y.Danjuma, former Minister of Defence, Dr Osagie Ehanire and Barr.Osarodion Ogie,at the Benin Airport when the former Defence Minister paid a condolence visit to the Oba of Benin, over the death of his eldest wife,Queen Esther Erediauwa yesterday. Pix by Simon Ebegbulem

Court restrains Daniel, five guber aspirants, from party registration BY DAUD OLATUNJI, Abeokuta

HE Federal High Court sitting in Lagos has granted an order of interim injunction restraining a former governor of

Ogun State, Otunba Gbenga Daniel and some members of the other faction from opening a parallel office of the party in the state. It also barred Daniel and all the five governorship aspirants in the party

Oshiomhole registers for APC, lauds party BY SIMON EBEGBULEM, Benin

OVERNOR Ad ams Oshiomhole of Edo State, yesterday formally registered as a member of the All Progressive Congress saying the party is leading by example by taking democracy to the grassroots. Oshiomhole who was a member of the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) before the merger of parties which gave birth to the APC, registered at Iyamho Primary School Etsako West Local Government Area and was given a membership card with number 10018645. The Governor who urged people in the state to troop out and join the party said the registration process is free, fair and transparent. According to him, “the issue of membership of the party is open; it is transparent; the location is exactly as you would find in INEC

rules. Every polling unit is the unit for registration. That means whether you are a governor, a party chairman, or a leader, you have to go to your polling unit to register as a member of APC. “The process has been decentralised and very transparent. So it is not a matter of favour as you can see, even as governor of this state, I had to leave Benin City to come to my village where I am a registered voter to come and register. “I think this is extremely important if you look at the turnout of voters across the state and the country, you see the excitement on the faces of the people, which shows that APC has laid a solid democratic foundation on which we can build”, he said On the issue of presenting the INEC voter’s card for registration, the Governor said “it is to ensure that people register where they are expected to vote to avoid the tendency for people

of little minds to try to acquire many cards in order to use them on Election Day.” The Governor declared “ you know that when it comes to ward congresses, people who are not even members of the party are given emergency party membership to use them to distort the primary election. “By insisting that you have your voter ’s card, you cannot move from one location to another. It is an attempt to copy INEC and decentralize the process and avoid double registration.” On the possibility of extending the registration exercise, Oshiomhole said “there is no need to talk about extension because there is no evidence of people who want to vote and are prevented. Given the enthusiasm of people who want to register, there might be some polling booths where people are much more than the number of cards available.

including Abiodun Akjnlade, Sharafa Ishola, Gboyega Isiaka, Sina Kawonise and Kayode Amusan as well as the factional Chairman and Secretary of the party in the state John Olaleye and Micheal Adegbola respectively from commencing another party registration exercise until the motion was heard and determined by the court. Daniel, Independent National Electoral Commission, the Inspector General of Police, Director of State Security Services,Labour Party and National Chairman of the Labour Party Dan Nwanyanwu among others are the defendants in the suit. Justice C J Anneke gave the order in the motion ex parte in a suit filed by three embattled members of the Executive of the party in the state, Olabode Simeon, Chairman, Sunday Ogini, Secretary and Arabambi Abayomi, Financial Secretary of the party. The judge in his ruling gave an order of interim injuction restraining the Independent National Electoral Commission , Inspector General of Police, Director of State Security Service, Labour Party and the National Chairman of the party, Dan Nwayanwu from dealing with or according any recognition whatsoever to any other persons as officers of the party in Ogun state .

10 — SATURDAY

Vanguard , FEBRUARY 8 8, 2014

ANTI-PUBLIC SMOKING LAW:

Agony of cigarette sellers •”I’ve been selling cigarettes for 15yrs to fend for my family”

he Lagos State House of Assembly recently passed a bill seeking to make smoking in public places illegal in the state, with first offenders having options of paying a fine of N10,000, three months in jail or both. The bill which is awaiting the approval of Gov. Fashola, in order for it to be signed into law, prohibits residents from smoking in places such as libraries, museum, public toilets, schools, hospital, day-care centres, public transportation, restaurants among others. However, the bill has led to many controversies as there are many sides to this coin. A visit to a cigarette seller and local gin concoction seller popularly known as paraga reveals that the bill will have an adverse effect on her family. Iya Alaje as she is fondly called and a single mother of three, narrates her ordeal and fear if the law is not reversed. “I have been in this business for over fifteen years now. It is the money I make from this paraga business that I use to fend for my three children since their father ran away to marry another woman. Since Tuesday, I observed that many of my customers have deserted my shop. So, I decided to ask what the problem was only to discover that it was Fashola that was behind my problem”. Iya Alaje further disclosed that she even pleaded with them to take paraga in her shop and find a hidden place to take the cigarette but many of them refused. But Madam Chika, who operates a

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bar around Isolo was different in her approach to the bill. She expressed her support for the law, adding that it would not affect her sales in any form. “I know many people in this business will be mad with the government for a law like this but we should not be self centered because the law is for the safety of all citizens. In my case, I knew this would come, so, I was not caught unaware. There is a section of my bar meant for smokers only and smoking has been restricted to that section only.” The middle aged woman said Lagos state will not be the first to make such a law and even applauded the Lagos state government for this. “I support this law because I know the havoc it does to the human body and we must commend the Lagos state government for taking such a good step. Smoking is even more harmful to non-smokers than the smokers.” On the right of smokers, she maintained: “Yes, smokers have the right to smoke, but it’s not reasonable if that right is harmful to others. Obviously, if people smoke in public places, nonsmokers have no choice but to become second hand smokers. Also, smoking is a cause of pollution. A lot of researches have shown that many kinds of gases that are released by smoking are harmful to the environment, such as tar and carbon dioxide. Everyone knows that our environment is getting worse. And smokers who want to smoke freely have other means to receive nicotine such as nicotine gum and nicotine patches. Smokers can use these products instead of smoking in public places and constituting nuisance in Lagos state. Though the bill is yet to be signed, it

is already generating mixed reactions from members of the public. Retailers of various brands of cigarettes however, opined that there has been a slight drop in sales of cigarette over the last couple of weeks. The drop is however attributed to the yet-tosigned law in most part of the states. In Ojuelegba, Mallam Audu a popular cigarette seller said the ban has led to a drastic reduction in sales, arguing that people immediately reacted to passage of the bill. “The ban on public smoking has led to a drop in our sales. Before now, we usually sell at least 15 packets of cigarettes a day, but now it has reduced to less than five packets”. The bill also stated that the penalties for smoking in a “no-smoking area” will be N10,000 fine or imprisonment for a term not less than one month and not exceeding three

BY ISHOLA BALOGUN, ADERONKE ADEYERI AND JULIET EBIRIM

deem fit. The bill also seeks to punish anyone who smokes in front of a child with a fine of N15,000 or six months imprisonment. The bill also directs corporate organizations to place the ‘No Smoking’ sign in their premises. Companies who default would pay a fine of N250,000. The bill when signed into law would be supervised by the Lagos Environmental Protection Agency. This new development has made most sellers quit the cigarettes business entirely in order to avoid the wrath of the law when it eventually takes effect. Akpan, another cigarettes seller in the area said he would rather avoid trouble by stopping the sale of cigarettes. “I have stopped selling cigarettes entirely. I don’t want to get into police trouble when the law eventually takes effect. Moreover, the profit we make on a packet is just N10”. Others who spoke to Saturday Vanguard revealed that they are unaware of the ban, as they still record high sales and their businesses have continued to thrive as usual. Some smokers also disclosed that they are unaware of it. “My customers are still coming to smoke here. I have not even heard of

The bill also states the penalty for noncompliance by owner/occupier of a “nosmoking area; the offenders shall attract N100,000 or six months imprisonment, or other non custodial punishments that the judge may deem fit

months or both. According to the bill, any person who repeatedly violates the provisions shall on conviction be liable to a fine of N50,000 or six months imprisonment or both. The bill also states the penalty for non-compliance by owner/occupier of a “no-smoking area.” The offenders shall attract N100,000 or six months imprisonment, or other non custodial punishments that the judge may

the law before. Let government allow us to do our business peacefully. Their laws are just too much”, Lovelyn , a bar owner said. Also reacting, Madam Rukayat, who sells gin and tobacco at a local park in Lagos said, “We have heard about the new law that will soon take effect, but our customers still come to buy cigarettes. We are still doing our business as usual”.

SATURDAY

Vanguard, FEBRUARY 8 8, 2014—11

Anti-smoking law is meant to safeguard people’s lives —Hon. Gbolahan •It will not affect sales, tax of cigarettes BY EBUN SESSOU & OLAYINKA AJAYI

What informed your decision to come up with a Bill to ban smoking in public places that is now a law? The greatest assets of any nation are human resources. Nigeria has abundant human resources. So for us to ensure that our people stay healthy, we have to do things that are not inimical to their health. Smoking is bad and injurious to health. You can even see it on the pack of the cigarette that smoking is dangerous and that smokers are liable to die young. The smoke coming from smokers is equally dangerous and hazardous to others. The substance coming from it causes cancer; it affects the lungs, kidney and even bladder. It affects fertility in men and women and is even more prominent in women than men. So, it is meant to safeguard the lives of Lagosians.

Hon. Yishawu Gbolahan

on. Yishawu Gbolahan is a member of Lagos State House of Assembly representing EtiOsa Constituency 11 of the state who moved the motion against smoking in public places. The anti-smoking Bill has been passed into law by the Assembly and has since been generating reactions from people. He explains the need for the law. Excerpt.

The substance coming from it causes cancer; it affects the lungs, kidney and even bladder. It affects fertility in men and women and is even more prominent in women than men

What sort of sensitization programme did government put in place before now? The bill passed by the assembly is waiting for the assent of the Governor. Of course, the police know the law and if your rights are infringed upon, you can complain. It is always like that, but on awareness, we will definitely do that, it has become our tradition to do that.

The law provides for six months period after it is signed by the Governor. It gives ample time to sensitize our people about it. Initially, when the okada (motorcycle) law came in, people felt their rights were being infringed upon, but later, they realized it is not so. Our awareness and sensitization would be done. Where do we regard as public places? Public places are where you don’t have exclusive right to such as offices where people come and other places where people go. ...And the tax, government is getting from Tobacco companies, will the law not affect sales of cigarettes and then the revenue? Thank God that a public hearing was held here on the issue and it was discovered that when a ban is placed on smoking of cigarettes in public places, it doesn’t affect sale of the products. Even in restaurants, where smoking was banned in the United States, their sales grew by one percent. People that would not stop smoking would not stop

smoking. So, they said it themselves that it would not affect their sales. Even at that, you pay us N1 as tax and we have to spend N20 in treating people that are affected by the habit, it is not good enough. How do you now quantify the human loss and people that fall ill over the habit? Most times, when you discuss issues in the assembly, you do so with facts; how is this law necessary now? The issues here are two different things, we are talking of Smoking Law, it is not Tobacco Law, and we will still have Tobacco Law. If you put your cigarette on the table and you don’t light it, it is not going to hurt anybody. So while we are talking of this, the National Assembly is talking about making law on goods including tobacco. Look at the Tobacco Law the National Assembly is working on since 2006 or 2007, it is still there, and they have not passed it. I will rather take the shortest route than waiting for the Federal Government. If eventually they pass the Tobacco Law, it can subsume our Smoking Law. Some of the indulgence could be a fall out of the economic problems in the country including drinking and other acts, don’t you think there is a wide gap between the leaders and the led? I appreciate what you are saying, but I won’t agree with you totally because even abroad, where they have everything, there are more smokers there than here. The records are there. I told you 1.1 billion people now are smoking which means one in nine people in the world smoke. What is the percentage of Nigerians there, if you take the world population and we give about 60 percent to children? It means one in every four adults smoke and that does not apply here. Here, women don’t smoke much; we don’t have information to tie smoking to poverty. Another way you look at it is that smoking is expensive like a research showed that an individual spends as much as 1,000 pounds sterling on smoking in a year in the United Kingdom, which is about N250,000. So, smoking is not cheap at all.

It’s highly commendable — Lanre Suraj BY OLAYINKA AJAYI & KEHINDE AJOSE

mid mixed reactions springing up from the prohibition of smoking in public places, passed by the Lagos House of Assembly recently, Saturday Vanguard sought the views of Lanre Suraj, a public affairs analyst who spoke on the yet-to-besigned bill. He commended the lawmakers for taking such a bold step in saving lives. In his words: “It is for the good health of not only Lagos State indigenes but Nigerians as a whole. If you recollect, there was a decree introduced by Professor Olukoye Rasome Kuti as Minister of Health under military rule which actually banned smoking in public places. It is a very good idea to re-enact such laws. It has been in existence but people think it was no more there. The Lagos state anti-smoking law should be enforced by everybody.” .

He further condemned insinuations by people who believe that the law is of no relevance as other key issues affecting residents in the state are not yet looked into. “It is very unfair for some people to see public smoking as minor issue because it endangers the lives of not only the smokers but also the secondary smokers who are innocent but who inhale the end product of these substances.” He further added: “The primary thing for everybody now should be good health. It is when your health is in place that you can talk about other issues in the education sector and the economy. There is no doubt that there is poverty in the land, but in a strong term, the antismoking law is commendable. “The most important thing is the enforcement of the law so that enforcement agencies should not take advantage of the law for selfish reasons. They should focus on how the implementation of the law should be monitored both by

civil society organizations, groups and non governmental organisations (NGOs) in the area of health and criminal activities who will in turn work with the law enforcement agencies. The law enforcement agencies would always want to take advantage of those caught in the act the same way they would want to take advantage of the same-sex law. One of our predicaments as a people is to expose the excesses of the law enforcement agencies when there is abuse.” Some conservative individuals believe that the proposed law is long over due and it will protect the non-smokers from the hazardous health implications of smoking in the public. Others also opine that smoking in public places causes passive smoking for the non-smokers around, affecting the health of other people in the public. Therefore, a ban on smoking in the public becomes a matter that deserves urgent attention, hence the passage of the bill recently.

On the flip-side, the liberalists who believe that this proposed law will trample on the human rights of the smokers said smoking is a choice habit. These individuals argue that people should have a right to their lifestyle choices.

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12 — SATURDAY Vanguard, FEBRUARY 8, 2014

By CHIOMA GABRIEL

eteran broadcaster, former beauty queen, singer and business woman, Chief Julie Coker has for a long time remained a role model for many aspiring young women . At present, she runs a relationship column in Vanguard where she tackles the problems of young people in and out of marriage. Recently, a young man wrote to her column saying, “After going through Iyabo’s letter to her dad, I am tempted to write to my dad who was equally unfair to me, my siblings and my mother. Now I want to know if the pages of newspapers are the best court to settle family scores. Please advise me because I have a more pathetic tale to tell’’. Julie Coker was a bit unsettled about this letter having been mentioned in the Obasanjo family feud by Mrs Oluremi Obasanjo in her book ‘Bitter Sweet’ as someone very close to Stella with the unwritten insinuation of encouraging Stella against the other women in Obasanjo’s life. But the letter written by the young man spurred Julie Coker to explain her role in the Obasanjo family feud. She spoke with Saturday Vanguard about her first encounter with Chief Obasanjo and also her encounters with the rest of the family.Excerpts : ‘’Somehow I was a bit close to the Obasanjo family then. I was very close to Stella because she was my in law. It was actually through her that I became close to the family. Before her, I met Obasanjo formally at the opening ceremony of FESTAC 1979. I was a member of FESTAC committee that was formed then. That was my first encounter with him. It was Gowon’s administration that inaugurated FESTAC 1977 but there was a lull and Obasanjo as Head of State revived it. During that ceremony, he, (Obasanjo) walked up to me and told me that my aso-ebi was fine; that we chose the right colours and material. He asked for the cost of the aso-ebi . I didn’t know how to answer such a question so I told him I didn’t know the cost. A lot of us in the same committee especially the ladies wore the same clothes and material.

told him that I didn’t know the cost. I was really afraid and I didn’t want to offend him. So, I told him that the committee had a chair person and she would be able to answer this question properly. I took excuse and walked away. I think that annoyed him because he went and told the service chiefs that I walked out on him and they started coming to me, demanding to know why I was disrespectful to the Head of State, that he said I was disrespectful to him. I told them what happened and that I didn’t see anything wrong in what I said. I greeted him as Head of State but didn’t know how to answer his question about the cost of our aso-ebi and that the chairman of the committee would be able to answer the question properly. Commander Adeyara was the first to

Continues on page 13

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Chief Julie Coker

OBJ family feud:

Remi Obasanjo thought I was her husband's mistress— Julie Coker

SATURDAY Vanguard, FEBRUARY 8, 2014—13

come to me and said, did you sound disrespectful to the Head of State? I said, no sir, I didn’t. Others came to ask the same question but when General Joe Garba came, I started crying when he insisted I must have said something to upset the Head of State because he was very upset. So, I couldn’t continue with the job. I just dropped the job of attending to the service chiefs and went back to my broadcasting job. That was my first encounter with Obasanjo and it was not a pleasant one.

So,that was all?

Yes of course. I went back to my job as a presenter. That committee job of FESTAC 1979 was just a ceremonial job. I decided that I did not want to get into trouble and so, I went back to my work with a first impression about Obasanjo as a very cantankerous person and Head of State. Did it occur to you that he might have sacked you as a broadcaster if he wanted? I didn’t think of that really but the service chiefs pounced on the lady who was the Chair lady of our committee. So, when I was walking out of the FESTAC venue, the lady walked up to me and said, Julie, if anybody would tell me that somebody will make me lose my job, I would not believe you will be the person. Because, they said you offended the Head of State on a day like this when everybody was supposed to be very happy. We want to ensure that everything goes on smoothly and now, you have said something to the Head of State that really annoyed him. So that was

OBJ family feud: Remi Obasanjo thought I was her husband's mistress— Julie Coker my first encounter with Obasanjo. At the back of my mind, I have always had that impression of him as somebody who is a bit strict. The lady that was in charge of our committee then was a Commander in the Navy. But thankfully, she was not sacked. More over, I had this feeling that if I'd said we paid so much for the aso-ebi, it could amount to anything because I didn’t know what exactly he wanted to know. If I had told him, it could mean indicting the people who gave out the contract for the aso-ebi. So,

Continues from page 12

I politely told him I didn’t know and walked away but that offended him. When you left the venue, didn't they call you back? No. That didn’t happen. I went back to my own job and I didn’t have anything to do with the committee again. Nobody asked me to come back. I didn’t know what transpired between them and the Chairman of our committee but she was not sacked.

Was he married to Stella at that time? No, he was living a life of a bachelor. But he had a wife then? Yes, he had the mother of Iyabo Obasanjo but they were separated then. They already had problems in their family. He had abandoned the family then.

C M Y K

Was he then married to Stella? Definitely they were not married, but they had a child. Stella said he asked her to come for the thanksgiving service. It was there that I met Iyabo’s mother, the woman who included my name in her book, titled, “ Bitter Sweet”. She did not know I was going to be there because, I had never seen her before

Stella and that other woman were not recognised that day. I was the innocent broadcaster who was accused of being a mistress to Obasanjo

They did not pay you for the services you provided? No. We were not paid. I was just surprised that he asked about the price of my clothes. I was surprised because, as a man, I didn’t not know what to tell him. If it was a woman, it would have been different. I might tell him that it was costly and he would misunderstand it. So, the only thing that came to my mind was to say that I didn’t not know anything about the clothes.

Chief Julie Coker

They had left office. I met him a week after the end of his tenure with General Yar’Adua. He was having his thanksgiving service and Stella said that he asked us to come.

When next did you get to meet him after the FESTAC 1979?

in public. It was much later that I learnt that they moved back into their home; that she and Obasanjo had reconciled. Obasanjo only went to work in Otta on Mondays to Fridays and would return to Abeokuta their family home at weekends. He was still having his holidays this period in preparation for a thanksgiving service to round off his tenure as Head of State properly. Most people normally have thanksgiving service whenever they are retiring from service. So, he invited us to the thanksgiving. We didn’t know the other woman would be there.

o, Stella and I entered the house. We just walked in and behold, the woman was able to recognize me. She thought that I was the one her husband was dating. She told me, that she heard that many women have kids for her husband, whether I am one of them? She said, is that not Julie Coker? I said yes. I was thinking she was going to be friendly but she was roaring like a tiger. She was really in a combatant mood. When I saw her mood, I was like, trying to stay a bit far from her because, I knew with the mood , if she had something dangerous, she would have used it on me. But luckily, there were a lot of people there. Where was Obasanjo when this was happening? I think he overheard her when we were arguing because as I was telling her no, I was not one of them, he came out from the room where he was. When she saw him, she mellowed down. That was like the second time I came face to face with him after the FESTAC incident. I now pleaded with her. I told her that

we came to celebrate with her and her husband, our out-going Head of State after a successful tenure. She asked why we didn’t go to the reception, why did we come to the house? But it was the man that insisted Stella must come to the house. But I couldn't tell her that. You didn’t know that they have reconciled then? It didn’t not occur to me. I told her that we were there for entertainment. I said that in Yoruba and in a lighter mood. She now said, of course it was an entertainment but, I could have been somewhere else. She said that they were going to give us Amala and Ewedu with some other traditional foods. Stella now said, no, that she was not going to eat that. Then, she walked away. I took my bag and went to the car and sat down. I was furious. It was not my idea to go to the house but the man said Stella should come to the house and mama Iyabo could not even recognise her. All these while, when the argument was going on and Obasanjo came around, he didn’t say anything. But his appearance made the woman to calm down. We went to the reception, but I did not go in the same car with them. When we came back, I sat down but he didn’t recognize me. They already had it in mind that I was the person having an affair with Obasanjo and that was why they wrote my name in the book. Meanwhile, Stella who had a baby with Obasanjo was not recognized by Oluremi. And there was another woman at the reception, A Brazilian who had kids with Obasanjo but Remi didn’t know about her. This other woman had a boy and a girl for Obasanjo who even till today are much closer to their father than others. They look very much alike. But Stella and that other woman were not recognised that day. I was the innocent broadcaster who was accused of being a mistress to Obasanjo. Besides, on that day, I didn’t just come alone with Stella. I came with other members of Stella’s family. But when I saw how Remi was attacking me, I decided to shield Stella and started speaking with Remi in Yoruba and Stella didn’t understand Yoruba. What happened afterwards? That evening marked the end of their marital reconciliation. They just reconciled the two of them and then this happened and after that thanksgiving, the marriage was over. Everybody put the whole blame on me. I just swallowed the whole thing. But after that incident, Stella moved into the Obasanjo family house. Before then, she already had a child with Obasanjo. It was a series of events, one after the other. Stella was the one that loved Obasanjo more Continues on page 17

14—SA TURD AY Vanguard , FEBRU ARY 8, 2014 14—SATURD TURDA FEBRUARY

ne has had the good fortune and privilege of having brief encounters with some of the past Heads of State and Presidents of the nation in the days of the zestful professional activities of youth. Right from President Nnamdi Azikiwe,a master of a scintillating wit and humour augmented by his firm grasp of the three main languages of Nigeria— Hausa, Ibo and Yoruba; including Alhaji Tafawa Balewa whose own humour was on the wry side; to Ibrahim Babangida who seemed to have imbibed so much of the seriousness of Obafemi Awolowo, his erstwhile mentor, that the business at hand consumed his approach to normal intercourse almost leaving no room for extraneous pleasantries. I also travelled with Yakubu Gowon to six countries as the Head of Current Affair of Nigeria and can testify to his engaging presence at all times Of course, I cannot leave out Ernest Sonekan of the “interim government” episode, a fine gentleman misguided into the deep waters of turbulent politics for which he was not really prepared, but through which he emerged home safe and dry. But I must confess that my hero among all of them has always been Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida who risked his life as a Colonel in the Nigerian Army during the “Dimka Coup”, and probably saved the nation from what might have developed, at least, into a blood bath. He thus definitely saved my life since I was at the centre of the final scene of the doleful drama in which the assassins of General Murtala Mohammed were routed out the Broadcasting House, Ikoyi. I was then the Controller of the Radio Station, and the only eye-witness of the encounter between an unarmed army officer who boldly confronted the man whose hands were still red with the blood of a Head of State, and seemed poised for more action of the same kind.

* mere pr project releevance oject ffor or rel federation or any part thereof and on such other matters as the President may direct.” The Council of States is to advise. Period. At no given time, but whenever requested to do so. Period. One then wonders what the stridency for a regular meeting was all about in the demand by what is accepted, by most people, as the legitimate National Governors’ Forum. Ironically, the leader of the Forum, Governor Chibuike Amechi of Rivers State, was prominently absent at the just concluded meeting of the Council. If by that he had meant to slight the President with whom we all

abangida had not acted on his orders precipitately on that day, but with consummate military etiquette as he advised Dimka to give up his dangerous mission or face immediate consequences. Dimka was: flanked by armed soldiers under his command. Babangida did not carry even a baton. At the end :of his brief admonition, he took a step backward and flashed a smart salute, as he departed. Such bravery! Such gallantry! Unforgettable! It was at this time of the year too, on the 13th day of February, 1976, a day engraved in the annals of Nigerian history. . Ibrahim Babangida further enhanced his golden image in my esteem when he introduced the short-lived two-party pattern into the mainstream of our politics. Regrettably, he was destined to be the destroyer of the beautiful structure he had fashioned with.... his own hands.His unfortunate cancellation of the election •Ibrahim Babangida which would have established what might have been a sterling (who is the Council’s know he is at daggers democracy under M.K.O. Chairman) in the exercise drawn, a sense of maturity Abiola still haunts our political of his powers with respect should have warned him life till this day. But the man was to: that it was indeed that, but right on the beam. The aptness (i)”national census and more: it was also a slight on of his prescription for a twocompilation, publication the entire membership of party system has been and keeping, of records the Council. Chief vindicated by various events, and other information Olusegun Obasanjo was over and over again, in our concerning the same’ also not in attendance politics through the past decade. (ii) prerogative of mercy, which may be an inverted (iii) award of national (perverted?) way of hen he and others who honours drawing attention ... being have the distinction of (iv) the Independent a past master of that ploy. having passed the way of being National Commission But, with so little on their the first gentlemen of this nation including the appointment enormous plate, does it all before, are made to gather of members of that together by the laws that define commission, our nationhood, one should (v) the National Judicial hope it would be for momentous Council including the decisions on the affairs of state. appointment of members The Constitution creates a of that Council, boil down to any more than Council of State which lists (vi) the National that? If all the members have them all, including State Population Commission to do amounts to no more Governors, former Chief (including the than advise, without so Justices and topmost officials as appointment of the much of a hint of their right, members with the incumbent members of that or duty, to initiate a point of President as the Chairman. But Commission). discussion or deliberation on although they seem to take The Council of States is a matter considered of themselves seriously, they seem also to “advise the national import, is the whole to have little to be serious bout. President whenever exercise not simply a project Their sole - okay, main - function requested to do so, on the for relevance? scarcely goes beyond maintenance of public Of course, the membership “advising” (italics mine) the order within the of the Council is not to President

blame. It was instituted the way it is by the Constitution. But there are several issues into which they might insert a useful input from the vast knowledge garnered from experience in office, and also as elder citizens of the land. But they are severely limited to the narrow path of advising on matters “as the President may direct”. Little wonder then that they all but rubberstamped the time-table for the national elections of next year which has been faulted even by some of them outside the Council meeting. They could hardly have raised their objections there, if only as an observation, though that would have, at; least, been refreshing.. ‘

here is also the growing concern about the widespread attitude of impunity. That is a word that has increasingly forced its way into our consciousness in the past several months. It is constantly evoked by the myriads of untoward events and actions which take place almost routinely in our public life, especially in areas where one would expect a measure of decorum but in which the business is usually immersed in a complete negation of the specific rules that are designed to regulate conduct. That is exactly what the term “impunity ” expresses — “Latin: impunitas— “without punishment, or recrimination; total freedom from reprisal or correction: a very unhealthy situation, indeed. That is what may soon be described as the bane of our public life. The starting point rests on the fact that there is an infringement of a regulation or well established law which warrants punishment or correction. The sequence as clearly evinced is the absence of any kind of merited reaction. And that promotes a

The Council of States is to advise. Period

freedom that permits a proliferation of the demerit, or even promotes an encouragement of it. It is not exactly on the same plane with the case of the Boko Harem massacre of innocent citizens for, though the tide of the ghastly murders is yet to subside, the reaction has been more than mere condemnation but actualized by meaningful counter actions

from the security forces. What the nation is faced with is of two dimensions: the untoward action that are a.ccordf?d some resentment but remain on the scene, as different from those that seem to be largely ignored and allowed to thrive. Under the first heading are the traffic laws that are habitually violated, especially in municipal and suburban areas. Often, these lead to fatal consequences which are covered up. Under the second heading are punishable offences that are perpetrated beneath the gaze of officialdom, which sometimes even sponsors them. Both acts of immunity indeed entail the enforcement agencies looking the other way, when they are not themselves involved. And when they are involved, like police vehicles driven against the rules of one-way traffic, or the siphoning of the nation’s wealth away from the treasury, who is to question them?

hen, there is the frequency and proliferation of strikes in the land — in hospitals, in institutions of higher learning, in key industrial establishments, everywhere. It seems to me that the Council of States may have roles to play in bringing sanity to several sectors if it is put on the stage. Another instance is the blatant disregard for the regulation for the beginning of election campaigns (Section 99 (1) of Electoral Act of 2010) which stipulates 90 days to the election date. Going by the time-table of INEC which fixes the Presidential and National Assembly elections at February 14, 2015, the campaigns for those events should not begin until the month of November this year. But we all know that the hustings are already heating up, even on behalf of the President who has not said with his mouth that he is going to seek re-election. The newspapers are full of endorsements. Rallies are full of loud acclaim. Those who are affected are the “ogas at the top”. It is against the law. But it continues unabated ... with impunity. Who can stem the tide? Maybe a body that can have the ear of the President if it can raise a voice out of its own concern? . Now there is a vow to call the members of the Council of State together more frequently, and you ask yourself, whatever for? Time out

SATURDAY

once had a property I wanted to put up for sale. One of the big Pentecostal churches showed interest and sent its representatives. They looked around, and after satisfying themselves, scheduled a meeting with me. The meeting went well until towards the end when I noticed they were uneasy about something. I looked at them expecting them to either say it out or get up. But they looked at each other instead. Eventually, the spokesman coughed and hesitatingly said they had noticed a printing press on the property and wondered if they could talk about that too since their church wanted to own a press. They obviously did not know how I would take the request. They thought I could find it insulting and scuttle the whole deal. Instead, my smile grew wider as I said ‘everything is negotiable; just give me a good offer and we will see.’ You could see the relief on their faces. That has been one of my guiding philosophies as an entrepreneur who has been involved in various deals over the years. I had bought and sold printing machines; sometimes with part cash and part equipment. I had done trade and barter. I had negotiated salaries for myself and for staff. I had done stock and investment deals. I had negotiated intangibles like goodwill and skill.* And I have come away with many lessons, one of which is that everything is negotiable if you know how to table it. I have also learnt a lot from an old Israeli businessman with whom I had had at least three business deals. One of the memorable things I learnt was that the best deal at the end of a hard horse trading was when you both got up and hugged or shook hands with a smile.

It is this mindset that I want our leaders to adopt as they look to negotiate Nigeria. To start with, *those who say the unity of Nigeria is not negotiable have got it all wrong. Everything must be negotiable! We must negotiate the basis of our existence. It is what will make us stronger and more appreciative of each other. And if each nationality brings out its first eleven — people who can point out the positives in the rest of us— then it would be obvious that the advantages of staying together far outweigh the disadvantages. But we must tinker with the terms of the present arrangement. Some nationalities exploit others while acting as a mafia to protect what belongs to them. That must stop. When does a resident or a settler become an indigene? That should be on the table too. If you feel at home in mine zone, then I must feel at home in yours too. Derivation must also take its pride of place in negotiating our nation hood. Those whose waters and livelihood have been fouled up must take the lion share of the proceeds be it oil, gold, tin or any mineral. Those who have banned alcohol or any other form of hospitality must not enjoy the proceeds

By all means negotiate everything; but remember there must be that hand shake or hug at the end of it all

ertain things are inherent to good negotiating. The first is a good knowledge of the subject matter. The second is that you must not be afraid to ask; politely, diplomatically, yes, but ask. You might be surprised at the answer you get. Then patience is invaluable; never pre-empt or jump to quick conclusions. Never, ever negotiate in anger. And always respect a man with a deliberate, logical mind. Try as much as possible to be fair; especially if you have an advantage because a good deal usually leads to another deal and a reputation as a fair minded negotiator is an asset. Also, try to stress the positives on both sides and be as truthful as possible. It is better to be silent about your weaknesses than to lie about them. Above all, as J.F Kennedy once said, ‘Never be afraid to negotiate and never negotiate out of fear’. Finally, always look forward to that big hug or handshake at the end of the deal because it means both sides have come away with something. C M Y K

through the back door. Each nationality as delineated by zones, must be allowed to develop at its pace. But each zone must realize that it cannot be at peace if its neighbours are hostile so there has to be a spirit of give and take. The secular or multi religious state of the country must also be rigorously discussed. We should not pretend that we have only two religions in Nigeria because we don’t. Then how does each zone want to be governed? And when do the Federal laws come

into play? I believe the country must be decentralized and the zones set free. The basis of zonal interaction is what needs to be carefully negotiated. Politics and leadership must be given to those who genuinely want to serve by making it unattractive to those who have nothing to offer. Like Chief Henry Fajemirokun, the late industrialist once said, ‘Leaders must choose between money and power ’. In Nigeria, money means power and vice versa. By all means negotiate everything; but remember there must be that hand shake or hug at the end of it all if you have done a good job and have been fair to all concerned. Finally, my take on some of the raging controversies surrounding the conference. Do we need the National Conference? Yes, I do think Nigeria needs to dialogue. It is always better to jaw-jaw than to war-war. But I think seven billion naira for a three month conference is way too much. It is profligate and insensitive. I also think nominating 25% of the total delegates is heavy handed. Is there something the Presidency wants to ram down our throats?

The life of thanksgiving O

ne of the keys that will propel altitude in life. If you are not grateful your rising is the key of persis- to God, you will be grounded. When tent thanksgiving. Thank God that the gratitude becomes your lifestyle, you devil could not stop you despite all he will continue to gain altitude in life. threw at you. For some it was hardship, Thanksgiving will take you to a highsickness, loss of job, loss of fortune, er realm in life. Hear me, as you comdeath of member of the family, discour- mit to thanking God always, your staagement. For others, it was pain, sor- tus will change this year. row, barrenness, unprogressiveness, Learn to recount God’s benefit in your miscarriages, etc. In the midst of it all, life and give Him thanks. The PsalmGod is still God. There can be no other ist said in Ps. 103:2, “… and forget not God like Jehovah that reigneth from all His benefits”. Never take the hapeternity to eternity. The truth of the penings in your life for granted. Nothmatter is that no matter what you may ing is too small to give have lost, God’s intervenGod thanks for. When tion is the reason why you you appreciate Him for did not lose everything. that little, much will be Remember that satan’s minadded. Don’t let the Remember istry is to steal, kill and devil destroy while Jesus came ministry is to stop you and make to give you life and life you to focus on what you more abundantly (John steal, kill and have not received. Stay 10:10). destroy while focused on your future I beseech you to join the but be totally grateful for league of those that con- Jesus came to your present. Your future stantly thank God in every- give you life and is too great compared to thing (1 Thess. 5:18). That where you are now. you have life is by grace. life more abunThank Him in advance You did not make or creat- dantly for where He is taking ed yourself. God is your you. maker. He made you for a Beloved, see God as glorious purpose. Remember what He told Jeremiah, “before I the reason behind every good thing in formed thee in the belly, I knew thee; your life. Know that, no man can preand before thou camest forth out of the vail by strength (1 Sam 2:9). Every womb I sanctified thee, and ordained good gift comes from God (james 1:17). thee a prophet unto the nations” (jer. “For who maketh thee to differ from 1:5). No matter the present state of your another? And what hast thou that thou life, it is not the end. You are on your didst not receive? Now if thou didst way to greatness. Thank God that you receive it, why dost thou glory, as if are alive. Thank Him for your present thou hadst not received it? (1 Cor. 4:7). status. Know that you are not the worst. Know that God is the doer of everyYou are better than someone else. When thing good in your life. It is not by your you thank Him, He will lift you higher act of hard work, “for without God ye than your present level. You are just one can do nothing” (john 15:5). Lift your step away from your desired goal. voice and thank Him for every good There are three days in a man’s life. thing that has happened to you. Yesterday, today and tomorrow. You can Know that God expects you to thank do nothing about yesterday because it Him. In Lk 17, He asked the leper who is gone but you can do something to- returned to thank Him about the other day and look forward to a brighter to- nine that were cleansed of leprosy. This morrow. Refuse to be tied to your nega- means that God keeps record of what tive past. It will rob you of your now He has done and He is waiting for you and future. It is a killer of joy. When to return the glory to Him. The leper there is no joy there can be no fruitful- that returned to give Him glory was ness. Thus, you cannot see any reason made whole while those who did not to be thankful. return to give Him glory were not made Your attitude is what determines your whole. As you thank Him, He will make available what is missN K I Y U A D A M A W A ing by making your life whole. M K O B U L A It is time to make thanksgiving your lifestyle daily and E U B I L L I R I I constantly. U Y R O N A L D O To manifest testimonies like never before, you must conG E T H I M P H U O stantly give Him thanks beB E L A T E B O cause it is His will. In doing His will, you will be pleasing I S R A E L R R E U B E N Him and in return there shall E N F O A L A A be restoration in every area of your life because He reigns R B K C A L A B A R forever. Keep thanking Him M D O U M B I A H and testimonies shall not cease in your mouth every day, week A D E B O Y E F A N and month. God bless you, our R G B A G D M great nation Nigeria and President Goodluck Jonathan. I D E Y E A K W A N G A

Everything is negotiable !

Vanguard ,FEBRUARY 8, 2014—15 Vanguard,FEBRUARY

For more details, contact us at Christ Reality Church, beside Gossard Hotel, opposite First Bank Sports Ground, Community Road, Satellite Town or P.O.Box, 3196, Yaba Lagos. Tel: 08023062635 08168955932; 08033378769. Email: Johnson_crm@yahoo.com. Website: www.christrealityministries.org. Our account details are Pastor Johnson Omomadia, Guaranty Trust Bank, A/C Nos. 0005171407; Christ Reality Ministries, Zenith Bank A/C 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.

16—SATURDAY Vanguard, FEBRUARY 8, 2014

hen Nigerian Afro beat musician, Fela Anikulapo Kuti released Zombie by Coconut Records in 1976, one was not sure whether he knew it was going to be a hit. The album criticised the government; and allegedly resulted in the murder of his mother Funmilayo RansomeKuti, and the destruction of his commune, the Kalakuta Republic. Fela in his life time was never a good bed-fellow’ of government especially the military. Fela in this song narrates the military government of the day in motion, comparing their orientation to zombies, without minds of their own.He paid a big price for this bold condemnation of the military institution. Mr. Follow Follow, also in the album is about those who allow themselves to be led blindly by others. Since nobody can live in isolation, Fela sang about those who follow with their eyes wide open and those who follow with their eyes closed, saying if you have to follow, it is better to follow with your eyes and ears open. For if you follow blindly, you will always remain in the dark: ‘…if you dey follow them book! Na inside cupboard you go quench!…cockroach dey! Rat dey!…na inside darkness you go dey! If you have to follow dem books, you have to read with some sense, see with your eyes and hear with your ears’, he concluded. Current waves in politics especially as it concerns the PDP and the APC is a big cause for concern. I don’t know the song Fela would have composed about the APC threat to shut down government or the mass exodus from PDP. But with the disposition of All Progressives Congress, APC, at the House of Representatives and the threats of government shutdown over the 2014 Budget, it appears Nigerian legislators have gone back to the days of zombie politics where legislators have decided to follow blindly, the decisions taken by desperate leaders of their party to shut down government. Legislative functions are now divided along party lines other than being united for a common agenda of fixing Nigeria. The interest of the average Nigerian has been pushed aside for selfish egos and interests to triumph. The controversy generated by the budget 2014 and the consideration of the ministerial nominees is causing commotion in the lower chamber of the National Assembly . Legislators of the All Progressives Congress in the House of Representatives on Tuesday delayed debate on the 2014 Appropriation Bill in an apparent zombie-like compliance with the directive of the national leadership of their party to “block” all Executive bills, particularly the budget.

rguments and counterarguments derailed the process. APC legislators like the zombie and follow-follow in Fela’s song complied, hook , line and sinker with the directive of their party leadership disregarding whose ox is gored. Are these legislators aware of the consequences of delay in passing the budget on the average Nigerian? Many Nigerians have been wondering why a political party that styles itself as a progressive party would take such an anti people action? Why would a progressive party block all bills, irrespective of if they are in the interest of the masses! Is APC a progressive party indeed or pro-

legislators to begin to attend to the 2014 budget or would the party come up with another thing to derail governance? He who lives in a glass house should not throw stones. There was a time when thousands of people embarked on a peaceful rally in an APC state to protest against the tolling of the main road leading to a high-brow area. But the

Of Zombies and Follow-Follows

government of that state would not suffer the ‘fools’ they perceived the masses to be gladly and hence unleashed armed policemen on the unarmed peaceful citizens, leaving several of the peaceful protesters beaten, brutalized, arrested and clamped into detention. Even our dear journalists were brutalized with their cameras seized and broken. It was indeed “an orgy of maniacal violence”

t is worrisome for a party that wants to take over government in the next election to operate in this Gestapo like violence on unarmed civilians and yet direct its legislators to shut down Nigeria because of a situation in Rivers that is nowhere near the ordeal its members in some APC states have suffered.

Nigerian legislators have gone back to the days of zombie politics

aggressive party as many are beginning to think? The APC claims it is taking this route in order to protect the lives of the good people of Rivers State from alleged police brutality. Is the party really protecting the lives of the good people of Rivers State or working its way into the heart of Gov Amaechi in a bid to get his Rivers State money to run the APC? The last time I checked since the Rivers State crisis commenced, the one life lost was due to the activities of the police and this occurred when a Rivers Assembly legislator allegedly ran down a political rival, with his car and also a police sergeant, Urang Obadiah. And the legislator is an APC member! But if APC could shut down Jonathan government because of crisis in Rivers State, now that CP Mbu has been removed, what other excuse would the proaggressives give for shutting down government? Maybe, this time, they would ask Jonathan to resign or be impeached or they could continue to make Nigeria ungovernable for him just like Boko Haram is doing. Or is APC is gradually becoming the political Boko Haram? But come to think of it, since the APC keeps picking on the PDP and its government, one wonders if the party has ever had time to look inwards so that it’s activities don’t become a case of removing a speck from another’s eye when there is a log in it’s own eye. Has it ever occurred to the party that the budget is not a Peoples Democratic Party budget but the budget for all Nigerians, from where their salaries and other emoluments would be paid and should therefore leave the Nigerian masses out of whatever power game they are playing? Now, about the case of a pot calling the kettle black, let’s look at what happened in Ogun state recently where several people were killed in APC intra party conflicts over who controls party structures in the state. In one incident alone, eight people were killed as they met with members of the National Assembly from Ogun State who narrowly escaped death by the whiskers.

Yet, these same legislators whose lives were almost taken by alleged APC thugs were being manipulated to become zombies and help to shut down the government because of a crisis in Rivers State where no life was lost? Are the lives of Rivers state people more important to these legislators who had a close shave? Don’t these APC legislators have a mind of their own to call a spade by name and know when right is right and wrong is wrong or would they rather sacrifice the Nigerians at the altar of a few greedy individuals who could come up with anything to frustrate the government of the day even if the Nigerian people have to suffer the consequences? Why haven’t APC ordered the House of Assembly in Ogun State to shut down Amosun’s government to protect the lives of other people in the

presidency in the fracas but worse things are happening in some APC -controlled states and the party is looking the other way, insisting instead that Jonathan’s governemnt must be shut down by law-makers who are not thinking about the consequences of their action or the true feelings of the people they are representing. Or have APC legislators gone to the House of Representatives to represent the party leadership instead of their constituencies? Whose report should these legislators listen to? The voice of the masses who voted for them or that of party leadership who were just appointed without even a national convention? So much has happened in Rivers and this shouldn’t be the appropriate time to begin to apportion blames even though there are still more questions than answers. Let us just say that Amaechi was caught in the middle and could

With the disposition of All Progressives Congress, APC, at the House of Representatives,it appears Nigerian legislators have gone back to the days of zombie politics where legislators of the All Progressive Congress (APC) at the National Assembly have decided to follow blindly state? Ekiti state is not left out of this. Will Governor Kayode Fayemi’s government be shut down before the upcoming gubernatorial election for peace to reign in the state? The perceived impunity of the PDP is not excusable but what would one call the undemocratic order for Hon Bamidele to pull out of the guber race and his subsequent ostracization by the APC hierarchy in Ekiti State? Is that not impunity of the highest order? Why hasn’t the APC ordered Ekiti legislators to shut down government for true democracy to reign? Yet, it did not stop there. A party chieftain was shot dead during a political meeting and another female top-notcher almost lost her life. Indeed, nobody would clap hands over the unfortunate incidents happening in Rivers state and the part played by the

be regretting what happened in the state. But one wonders how he feels knowing that it was for his sake that the APC is shutting down Nigeria and yet it was his ADC and Chief Security Officer that were allegedly captured on tape beating up elected assembly men in their hallowed chamber. And this deed must have attracted the siege of the police in the state. Now, this is the end of an era in Rivers State. The IGP has removed the controversial Commissioner of Police in Rivers State, Joseph Mbu, and posted him to the Federal Capital Territory with immediate effect. Johnson (Tunde) Ogunsakin, who until the PSC announcement was the commissioner in charge of the Special Fraud Investigations Unit in Lagos has replaced him. Should we look forward to peace in the ‘war-torn’ Rivers state? Will APC now ask its

So, in Fela Anikulapo’s follow-follow and zombie hit song, human beings marched left, right ; left, right in obedience to an irrational order just as APC legislators did Tuesday by trying to rob the Nigerian tax payers. Or were they too carefree to know that legislators are paid to perform legislative duties and not to impede them? If things are put in their proper perspective, one could insist that APC legislators don’t deserve salaries and allowances because it is not morally justifiable for them to block legislative activities for partisan reasons and still go home as the highest paid legislators in the world’s political history. If Nigeria should borrow a leaf from the politics of no work, no pay applied in a certain APC state when it’s doctors embarked on strike, then for delaying activities of government, certain legislators ought to be recalled by their constituencies or be denied their salaries for non-performance. That APC is desperate for power is not a crime. Every party is. But how they are going about it is very repulsive and anti people ; yet they claim to be protecting their interests. But Nigerians know better now. If a party that is not yet in government can do this to the masses, imagine what they could do if it succeeds in muscling its way into government. It is desperate and undemocratic for a party to instruct its legislators to shut down government. It means they want to throw Nigerians into abject poverty for their own selfish reasons. APC is already at war with itself. Across states in Nigeria even with the ongoing registration of members, war has started. The party has simply handed its fortunes suffered for and built by old hands to freshers! Including the control of the treasury of their states. The displaced chieftains of APC are watching, and those who are yet to be displaced by the APC are already seeing the proverbial handwriting on the wall.

The party is ‘stealing’ more powerful and wealthy people from PDP and dumping their old members who are perceived as less powerful and of no financial consequence. Having said all these, the PDP knows it has disappointed Nigerians by showing weak leadership. If five governors and several legislators could decamp just like that in one fell swoop, it portrays a deep crack on the wall and I think the party shouldn’t have waited for things to go awry before trying to make amends. One hopes it’s bid to right all wrongs is not medicine after death! APC should also be less militant in its approach to issues if the party truly wants to prove it is people-oriented.

SATURDAY Vanguard, FEBRUARY 8, 2014—17

than the other women. The period that she lived with him was longer than any other woman that had children for him. From what I heard about Remi from the family, she and Obasanjo had a good and lengthy courtship in their youthful stage. They got married like youths coming together. But obviously, there must have been some irreconcilable differences between them which we cannot judge because we were not living with them. Obviously when Stella wanted to exercise her own relationship with him, she noticed that the man didn’t have a wife. She thought that there was nobody in the house. But Stella and I came to the house and saw a woman spoiling for a fight and the woman preferred to attack the wrong person because she didn’t know how to address the issue. After the thanksgiving church service, we wanted to go home but the man insisted that we should follow them home. I pleaded with Stella not to go to the house again but she refused. So, we went. Why did she go back to the house? Perhaps, she too was thinking about her own problem with the man. She was also thinking of how to discuss with the father of her son because, she couldn’t just walk away from the father. After all, the woman was not attacking her. I was the target and I should not have offered myself as a sacrificial lamb. I just managed to calm down the tempo. You escaped again? Yes, but we met again in London. This time, it was Obasanjo, Iyabo and I. Oh my God. What happened this time? At that time, Stella and Obasanjo were already married and Stella was staying with the husband. She left me somewhere with Obasanjo and a friend and shortly after, Iyabo Obasanjo came in with her sisters. I recognized her immediately because she looks very much like her father. She came to see the father but she refused to greet him or speak to him. Three of them that came were all looking like the man. Obasanjo complained to me that ‘my children came to see me but they are not speaking to me’. That was when I asked them their names and started acting like a middle man between them and their father. This was happening prior to his inauguration as President in 1999.

n between the months when he won the election and the time for his swearing in, he travelled to London and that was where we all met with the children. He was asking me, how can you handle this situation as a woman, how can my children come to where I am and refuse to talk to me? He asked me because I was older than the other women in the house so, he felt I could handle the situation better. Luckily, Iyabo agreed to talk to me. That was when I obliged to

come into the family matter. Obasanjo asked me to do that for him. So, I told them, you have come to see your father, why won’t you greet him? They had no reason to hold grudges at that time because he just came out of jail and just won the 1999 election. I learnt that when the man was thrown into jail, he gave them a better home. After that, they felt that they needed something tangible they could lay their hands on. So, I heard they moved into the Otta farm. So,when he came out, he ran to meet them there. There were two locations there: the Otta farm and their Abeokuta home. And from the farm to Abeokuta was an hour’s drive. Was he the one that invited them to London? They came on their own. They were all living in a hotel that was meant for government officials. Stella was also staying there. It’s called Governors’ Hotel owned by the Federal government. They normally use it anytime they travel for official events. Usually, the Head of State does not stay in the Nigerian House. They have an official residence for him in London.They were living in the Governors’ Hotel at Park Lane that time. So, I asked Iyabo to greet her father. Obasanjo told me to ask Iyabo and her sisters to come for his inauguration on May 29 because, he felt that I have already developed a good rapour with her. It was not funny looking back. The first time, I had a problem with the father and this time, it was with the children.

come for his inauguration and they were all there. He made preparations for their travel. So, I said, yes, your daddy said that you don’t have to buy your own tickets, that everything have been taken care of. From what I heard, all of them were given proper transportation and accommodation. They also had vehicles to transport them. The reason people think that they were not treated well was because, they were not given care at the initial time. I think why Iyabo felt bad was that she pushed through the crowd to see her father at the inauguration and Stella was seated at the state box. What people do not understand was that, Stella had worked with Obasanjo during the campaign and she had stayed with him all through his tenure. She also stayed with him all the time in prison. She was the one that was going around announcing to the whole world that please, he should be released from prison. She went even as far as the United States. Initially, Iyabo didn’t accept to attend the inauguration. She said that they had exams coming. I pleaded with them that the inauguration was very important and since it wasn’t their first degree, they could write the examinations some other time. So

OBJ family feud: Remi Obasanjo thought I was her husband's mistress

Continues on page 13

But one thing I know is that Obasanjo’s letter at Christmas to Jonathan was not good. It was not good to have written that letter. I was still thinking about that not knowing that the daughter has gone to write her own

When you asked Iyabo to greet her father, did she greet? Yes, she did but the other two sisters did not say a word. I was now the spokesperson for him. I was telling them whatever their father asked me to tell them. He would tell me what to say and I would tell them. The man said he wanted them to

eventually, they came for the inauguration. They were accommodated and were given good treatment. The only thing was that their father could not go there to stay with them but they were given someone to take care of them. Even when one of the women who had children for Obasanjo died, Stella and Obasanjo went to her funeral. She was a Brazilian. It was a big story when she died. Obasanjo attended the funeral with Stella. She died of kidney problem. After that, he lived with the children. Stella trained the dead woman’s son alongside her own son. But they are now on their own. Maybe Obasanjo did not do enough for Iyabo and her siblings. Iyabo is like a daughter to me. When she was made a Commissioner, I went to see her at Abeokuta. I went to greet her and I asked her if she still remembered me, that I was the person who reconciled her and her father. She said she remembered and said thank you. So, it is not as if I am telling stories. ut one thing I know is that Obasanjo’s letter at Christmas

Chief Julie Coker

to Jonathan was not a good one. It was not good to have written that letter and at that time. I was still thinking about that, not knowing that the daughter has gone to write her own. I said, even if she had to say that to her father, it had to be in private and not in public. There would have been time for them to come together. I think she has to go to her father to apologise and the father should apologise to Nigerians. Obasanjo has people who look up to him and copy so much from him especially regarding areas of employment among others. Did he ever remember the first encounter you had with him? I’m not sure he did. You should have called him when they were writing letters ? Yes, you are right. I would have done that but I didn’t have his direct number anymore. It was Stella I was close to. Obasanjo didn’t say sorry to his kids for the way he treated them in the past. He is just a typical Nigerian father who does not want to start apologising to the daughter. He invited her and she accepted. I think that was his way of saying sorry but he should have brought her closer as the first daughter. He should have brought her and her siblings together to let them know that if

anything happens to him, she should be the one to take care of her younger ones. He has not done that. He should let go and bring them together. It is time for them to bury the hatchet and become a family again. The days of the early childhood story should be forgiven by Iyabo and her siblings. She is the first daughter and the one to unite the family when the father is no longer there.

C M Y K

18 — SATURDAY Vanguard, FEBRUARY 8, 2014

HE arrest of the 45 years old proprietor of a baby factory Mrs Happiness Ogundeji a.k.a ‘Mama Pota’ recently discovered in Ilu titun, Okitipupa council area of Ondo state was no doubt a big catch by the law enforcement agencies been the first of such discovery in the South Western part of the Country. She has been operating the illicit business in the serene area for over five years according to a dependable source with the security operatives in the state looking the other way. This was made possible by her employment of a 66 years old retired Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Aliu Ojo who served as her link man with some security personnels. But the long arm of the law caught up with the proprietor, the retired police officer and 22 others when a signal from outside the state that the allegation be thoroughly investigated by the combined team of security from within and outside. Mama Pota allegedly operates more than two different booming baby factories in the state. But security operatives have so far discovered one in Ilu titun and another one in Ore area of the state under the fake name ‘ De- Choice Herbal Centre’ . The illegal business centre has “De- Choice Natural Herbal Centre” signpost on the bungalow building with a big fence to conceal the real activities taking place behind the walls.

THE BABY FACTORY DISCOVERY

How suspects were arrested

Saturday Vanguard learnt that raiding of the house and arrest of the suspects were sequel to a tipoff from the Comptroller General of the NIS, who directed the state command to work on a circular that emanated from Calabar, Cross River State. The Comptroller General of Nigerian Immigration Services NIS, in the state, Mr Musa Al-Hassan said that he received a circular that a searchlight should be beamed on two states-Imo and Ondo States for the perpetrators of human trafficking and operation of baby factory, he immediately directed the Head of Anti-Human Trafficking and Child Labour Section of the command, Mrs Abiola Obisesan to swing into action. According to him the efforts of the command paid off after several months of surveillance with the discovery of two building (flats) being used for the operation at IluTitun. He told Saturday Vanguard that the proprietor claimed to his officers that she was only operating a

DAYO JOHNSON AKURE

The illegal business centre has “DeChoice Natural Herbal Centre” signpost on the bungalow building with a big fence to conceal the real activities taking place behind the walls

Natural Herbal Centre, particularly for pregnant women. The comptroller alleged that the kingpin, who had another branch at Ore, in Odigbo Local Government, relocated to Ilu-Titun, Ondo State from Port-Harcourt, where she had been doing illegal business. Al-Hassan pointed out that the proprietor had been doing the business in conjunction with a Cameroonian adding that the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) had directed that the suspects be brought to Lagos after preliminary investigation. The suspects paraded at the Ondo State Headquarters of the NIS also

include five ladies at different stages of pregnancies, five babies and eight men, whose business is to impregnate the girls. However, the comptroller who do not want to take the glory for bursting the illicit business outfit commended the collaboration among security agencies in the state adding that it was the harmonious relationship that made the operation to be successful. According to him the arrest of the suspects was made possible due to collaboration between the NIS command and the police and soldiers from Army Barracks, Okitipupa. Continues on page 19

SATURDAY Vanguard, FEBRUARY 8, 2014—19

How suspects were arrested Continued from page 18

aturday Vanguard gathered that once payment is made the concoction is given to the patient and she is expected to attend special ante-natal thrice before her day of imaginary delivery. Competent source said that on the day of delivery the patient some of who are aware of the trick is sedated and some cuts are made in her private part to show that she bled during the child birth. But one of the babies just delivered by a teenager in the factory in Ilu titun would have been brought and would be given to the fake mother as her new child. All this our source said is done after the fake mother might have agreed to the ammount on the sex of the child she wanted. A male child goes for N1.3m while a female goes for N1million. Same twins male especially our source says goes for N3million while same twins girl sold for N2.5million Payment are made in cash and paid directly to the kingpin who keeps the money in a big bowl close to where she seats to attend to her patients. Its was reliably gathered that the fake pregnant women are warned not to go to hospital or go for scanning because nothing would be seen by the doctors. Also, any fake woman who buys a child from the factory do not breast

feed such child but resort to baby food to feed the babies. It was gathered that the yet to be arrested kingpin who is a woman of over 50years of age has two trusted drivers who bring married women across the country to Okitipupa for treatment and consultations. The women according to reports are always blindfolded for security reason on their way to the venue where they meet with the woman kingpin. Reliable source said they operate secretly that no one can see the

Also, the Head of Anti-Human Trafficking and Child Labour Section, Mrs Biola Obisesan who spoke with Saturday Vanguard said the proprietor and other suspects thought it was the usual raid when she resisted arrest insisting on getting a warrant of arrest while others struggle with the officers. Obisesan said 'Mama Pota' wanted to escape through a ladder that was placed on the wall but was apprehended. Meanwhile, investigations by Saturday Vanguard showed two rooms filled with food stuffs and expensive baby foods brought by rich couple who patronise the baby factory. Further investigation revealed that Mama Pota factory is used as the production base while another venue hidden in the area is where another kingpin directs the affairs of the syndicate and the babies are given out there. The yet-to-be picked kingpin according to investigations meets with the married women who patronise her once in three months for antenatal and they are given some herbs which makes them big as if they are pregnant. Cards are given to all patients and they are attended to individually and after an agreement is reached payment of not less than N300,000 for both treatment and ante-natal is asked to be paid.

The women according to reports are always blindfolded for security reason on their way to the venue where they meet with the woman kingpin

kingpin without going through the two drivers. Women across the country loaded in two buses are driven to the place once in a month for ante-natal clinic with the kingpin. But, Mama Pota when interviewed while she and others were paraded denied all the allegations saying that what she is operating is a herbal clinic and not baby factory and that she was not fronting for anybody. She admitted she was once invited by the police over the arrest of a Cameroonian, who was accused of stealing a baby. She added that the suspect had been released after she was investigated. According to her “I don’t know my

offence. I am a business woman. I am operating a natural herbal clinic. I was in my clinic when the people came to arrest me along with other occupants in the house. ”Some of the people that were arrested are my visitors”. The 45 years old suspect said she had once lived in Port-Harcourt, but relocated to Ilu-Titun when her former husband, Okeke died which made her to marry Abiodun Ogundeji. In a bid to exonerate the proprietor one Blessing Anike 21, from Abia State and who was carrying a two week old baby, said she was brought to the house by her husband Godswill, who told her that the woman is a doctor. The woman said she was an hairdressing apprentice before she was impregnated. Also, one pregnant lady paraded, Chinazo Miracle, 20 said she is from Imo State and a Secondary School leaver brought to the house for treatment in the clinic. Saturday Vanguard learnt from a Police Source that 'Mama Pota' was arrested sometimes last year but to our surprise she spent less than 24 hours as guest of the police at the State Criminal investigative Department in Akure before she bought her freedom. ” We learnt she’s so powerful and well connected to Abuja and we hope this arrest will not just be like the previous ones.” The source said young girls between the ages of 19 and 25 were recruited into the home where some young men are well fed to impregnate them. When pregnant, the girls are separated from those yet to be pregnant and are kept in a special room where they are given adequate attention and fed properly so as to deliver healthy babies to be sold at an appreciable price to intending buyers.

he men are reportedly recruited on short term basis

•Ogundeji and paid off after mating with the girls during their heat periods. A top security operative said “ they will never admit to the crime, all the ladies have been hypnotised while the men have sworn to oath of secrecy. Any attempt to reveal the truth will spell doom for them. ”We hope this arrest will not be like the previous arrest. The police should not be involved in this matter and the Immigration should follow this investigation to a logical conclusion before these people are released” Meanwhile, ten of the suspects have been charged to court by the police and they have been refused bail by the Federal High Court sitting in Akure. Also, other suspects had been moved to Lagos in line with the directive from NAPTIP.

20—SATURDAY Vanguard, FEBRUARY 8, 2014

M ir acle “What exactly are you up to Mimi?” Rita asked. “Welcome sister, how was your day?” “Hectic as usual, but I bless God, so, why have you been packing your things, don’t tell me we’re going to repeat our argument concerning living on campus because you know I’ll never allow that”. “Not at all sister,(forces a smile) surprise, surprise...sister, I got scholarship to study in Ghana” “Oh my God!, scholarship and you kept it from me? How, I mean, when did you...what course?” “Hold your breathe sister, I’m sorry I kept the news to myself ‘cos I wanted it to be a surprise...here, these papers will give you answers to your questions.” Rita moved closer to her little sister and gave her the warmest hug she needed at the moment and promised giving her enough money to cover all expenses and pocket money. Later that night, while they waited for her husband to come home, Rita advised Mariam on how she was to comport herself during her study in Ghana. “How easy it was to deceive my sister” Mariam cried. “No wonder Murphy manipulates every aspect of her life all in the name of being her hubby. Imagine not bothering to ask what becomes of my lectures here at UNILAG. Anyway, the lies worked, that’s what matters.” Mariam lived with her sister and husband, Murphy since she was in elementary 5. She had become fond of the couple as if they were her parents. And Rita on her part didn’t fail in making sure she had everything she needed especially since she was still looking up to God for a miracle child. Murphy had few months back, advised Rita to resign from her job at one of the oil companies in the country, since she travelled a lot and that gave them little time to try making babies. Rita had pleaded he gave her at least a

How easy it was to deceive my sister” Mariam cried. “No wonder Murphy manipulates every aspect of her life all in the name of being her hubby. Imagine not bothering to ask what becomes of my lectures here at UNILAG

BY PRISCA SAM-DURU

year before she finally quit public job even though she knew that was not the solution to her problem having confided in Mimi that she had lost her womb during an abortion by a quack doctor while in the secondary school. “So, when exactly do you plan leaving?” Rita asked. “Well, anytime this week” “Ok, but you need to make up your mind on a particular day so, I can accompany you to the airport.” “Oh no sister, that won’t be necessary, Ken has promised to do that” “Ken?, are you still courting, I thought you said you guys broke up” “Em yes, but no... em sister you see...we kind of ...in short we are trying to patch things together” “Hmm...that doesn’t sound like there’s... anyway, you be careful” “Thanks big sis...am always careful you know” Eventually, Mariam left Murphy’s home with feelings of pain for her sister while she doubted if her plans would work. She moved in with her closest friend KC who resided off campus, there she hoped her plans would be executed. KC tried so hard to make Mariam see reasons to put her past behind her but Mariam refused to believe that KC talked sense. “What past are you talking about KC. I am going to have a child who is right inside me and yet, you talk of past. I don’t think you understand what you’re talking about.” “Please calm down Mimi, I understand how you feel...actually the past I mean is that you are already pregnant and since you won’t have an abortion, its best you move on till your child comes. I’m sure Ken would be able..” “No please don’t talk about Ken he’s not the father of my baby and please don’t ask me who, cos I don’t want to lie to you” KC felt bad that Mimi didn’t trust her enough to confide in her but had no choice than to be quiet. The truth about Mariam’s pregnancy was better kept a secret because of her future plans. Not

even Murphy whom she detested so much for robbing her of her virginity, would ever find out about her child. And as she settled down for lectures that morning, thoughts about that fateful night when Murphy came home and pretended to celebrate his promotion at the office, haunted her. He had insisted they drank together when Mariam suggested they waited for her sister who was away on an official duty. She swore never to forgive Murphy for adding pills to her wine and for subsequently, taking advantage of her. A month later, she missed her period and when she told Murphy about it, his reaction shocked life out of her. “I know you’re joking”, Murphy accused her. “Joking, please sir I’m not, am afraid of what would happen if my sister finds out.” “Then she must not... get rid of the baby immediately” “I can’t, am afraid I could die...” “You won’t die...(CALMS DOWN)Mimi am sorry this happened, please stop thinking like a girl who hasn’t seen the four walls of the university. Ok,

I’ll take you to my doctor on your way to school, is that okay” “No, its not”. “Then what do you want?, Murphy screamed. “To tear my marriage with your sister apart?, I know she’s not given me a child but please I love her and don’t want to hurt her ” “I just want to do it on my own. I need three hundred thousand.” “That’s outrageous, who aborts for that amount. Anyway, I’ll give you fifty so you’d take care of yourself with the rest.” “Three hundred or I’ll let my sister know about the crime you committed.” Mariam had her way and with all she got from Rita, she relocated to KC’s place. Months later, Mariam gave birth to a baby boy. She moved into a hotel two days after she was delivered of her baby and right there, she waited for Rita. She had sent a message earlier to Rita who was in Switzerland for a year course, to embark on an emergency trip back to the country. Rita was instructed not to make any stop over to her residence but straight to the hotel. “Oh my God Mimi, thank God you are safe, what’s the matter...I came with some police officers” Rita said panting. “ what? You came with...but I said you should come alone” “I’m sorry but I thought you were in danger so, I didn’t want to take chances.” “It’s alright now sister, you go and settle with them, I have a surprise for you.” With tears, Mariam gave her baby to Rita. She told her the truth about everything and begged her forgiveness for deceiving her all the while. “I’m sorry but I did it for you sister. I couldn’t possiblly live with thoughts of having aborted a child while you needed one so badly.” “Please don’t say anymore Mimi you’re breaking my heart...I’m sorry Murphy did this to you, worse still, you stood alone...I love you so much Mimi...can I name him Miracle?” “He’s all yours...and sister. Don’t tell your husband I gave birth. He has your husband’s blood so you find a way to convince him you’ve given birth in far away switzerland”

SATURDAY Vanguard, FEBRUARY 8 8, 2014 —21

C M Y K

22 — SATURDAY Vanguard, FEBRUARY 8, 2014

Being a queen doesn't make me wayward —Miss Centenary

iss Queen Ubah Amarachi is half India and also half Imo , her mother is from India while her father is from Imo State . 25-year-old model, Amarachi Ubah, who won the Miss Centenary pageant which held last year, in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State recently paid a courtesy visit to Arik airline office , Lagos . She shares her story in this interview.

BY IYABO AINA

I was brought up in a Christian home. My parents had only me and my brother. We attend Deeper Life Church .So, for the fact that I am a queen doesn’t mean I am wayward. And I will ever remain grateful to my parents for giving me a decent upbringing. Though it hasn’t been easy to be a responsible girl. But my parents ensured that they created a mutual relationship between myself and them. And I would advice every mother to learn how to be close to their daughters. Yes, I grew up in the church. But it

didn’t stop me from achieving my dream . This is as a result of the way I was brought up. You wouldn’t believe that I had to ask for my parent permission before piercing my ear at the age of 12 . I am 25 years now, and I’m still living with my parents. Actually , a friend told me about a beauty competition and advised to be part of the competition. When I got home I told my mum about it. Initially, I didn't want to go for the competition but my mother encouraged me to

Without mincing words, winning Miss Centenary competitiom signals a new beginning for me.

do so. So, my mum was actually the person who encouraged me to go for the beauty pageant I was shocked. And as an emotional person, I wasn’t surprised when I felt tears in my eyes. But winning the beauty pageant was the best thing that ever happened to me. It is my greatest

achievement. I feel so great. It was an interesting competition. It is by God’s grace and His favour that I won the crown . Of course, I worked hard and put my mind into the contest, but I believe my emerging the

Miss Queen Ubah Amarachi

Learn Ar ts and Cr af ts: Arts Craf afts:

Sta ying In taying

Arts and crafts may bring flashbacks of your kindergarten days , when you use fingers and construction paper to construct something nice . Arts and craft helps you make

C M Y K

Miss Queen Ubah Amarachi

something creative with your family when you are in door . Example , make cards for upcoming holidays or birthdays, or put together some wall art for your new room or apartment. Use this time to let loose your inner child and let your creativity run rampant

queen is the Lord’s doing. I want to use this opportunity to tell the other girls who contested for the Centenary crown to keep pushing on. They need not give up. We are all queens. So, I believe that each of the girls who contested would do great things in future. Talking about parents-daughter relationship, I am very close to my parents. Sometimes, I run to my mum for advice. At other time, I run to my father. Like I said earlier, I love my parents dearly and I'm ready to do anything to make them happy .

Plan a TTrip: rip:

I think it's going to be one step after the other. The most important thing is for me to be focused. I believe that there is so much to be done to make Nigeria and the entire world a better place to live in. I definitely will be doing a lot of things in future. Presently, I am working on my pet project which is trying to help Nigerian girls in terms of education. If you visit some part of the country, you will be shocked to learn that some girls do not have basic education. They need to be protected and so, Iam working on how to make that dream come through. I’m a quiet person. I don't party or hangout with friends. I am an introvert. And most times, I love to watch movies, listen to music and I enjoy reading books. Without mincing words, winning Miss Centenary competition signals a new beginning for me. With time, I will get used to the crown. I am excited about winning it. I will try as much as possible to live up the expectations of my fan.

Going Out

Vacations are often times difficult to coordinate for those with school or jobs. To maximize your limited free time plan some shorter day trips or excursions with your

friends or family .This might involve driving a few hours to a new town on a day off, or staying the night in a hotel one state away.

SATURDAY VANGUARD, FEBRUARY 8, 2014—23 Dear Aunty Julie, My boyfriend does not seem interested in having sex with me. We met eight months ago, dated for three months before he left for work to another state. The last time he came back to visit, he stayed with me for three weeks. We slept in the same bed, but he did not initiate any sex. The few times I tried to initiate it myself, he told me that he was not in the mood. We had sex only twice during all this time we have been dating. And one day before we left again on assignment, he approached me from the back, stopped, complaining that I was too tight for him and literally ran away from the house for a few hours. He is coming back to spend another two weeks with me. What can I do? Shall I try to talk about it long distance before his visit? How should I approach the issue so that he agrees to talk about it? I really would like to work it out. Zikora, Port-Harcourt

He is too jealous

He doesn’t want to have sex Hello Zikora There are many problems here. The first is that you two have zero communication. On top of that, you are just plain miserable with him. He won’t discuss things and it does seem that only his needs matter. To add to this, his approach to sexuality and intimacy indicate some sexual issues. He obviously is either too frightened to talk about it or else he feels inadequate and is afraid that you will find this out about him. I hear in your letter that you really care

for him, but how many of your own needs are you willing to put aside for him? I think you need to talk but I don’t think the phone is the best way. If you really want him there again, let him come but at some point you will have to say that this isn’t working and that you don’t understand his behaviour. If he can’t handle even that what kind of relationship do you have anyway? Tell him that he seems distant and unhappy and that you want to understand his behaviour better. That might make him less defensive. Also tell him that you care about what he’s going through but that you are also a person with needs and feelings that count. Remember: if he can’t do this, it doesn’t mean you did something wrong. It just means he can’t do it.

I really want to ask her out but I get so nervous Dear Aunty Julie, I really like this course mate of mine. She is so nice and caring and kind and generous, and also really pretty. I’ve tried flirting with her but it doesn’t work. Also, I always try to say hi to her seductively so it sounds sexy, but her voice is so cute and it makes me feel dreamy. I’ve caught her gaze in class a few times and her big brown eyes are so beautiful. I have also hugged her once and I think I was so caught up day dreaming that I didn’t hear her saying to let go. I also play dumb so she can help me with my projects. I really want to ask her out but I get so nervous trying to ask. How do I do it?

Fabian, Lokoja Hello Fabian The quickest way is to just ask her on a date, straight up. Something like during the weekend . But if you feel like it’s too direct for you, maybe there are some other ways you can spend more time together, like hanging out in a group, or helping with coursework, or even doing something together where you share the same interest. Basically, it boils down to a bit of creativity, patience and courage. You choose your own adventure. Honesty helps. If you’re happy to hang out as friends, then get to know her that way. Friendship can be the best start to some fantastic relationships. But if you’re frustrated because

She cheated on me Aunty Julie, I was friends with a girl last year and then it turned into a relationship. We only went out for a month but I really liked this girl. I thought she was the one - until one day, she told me she had cheated on me with three guys in one weekend. She said she just kissed them but I still broke

up with her. Ever since I have quit dating and I have a somewhat of a dislike for women and I really hate her. I always think that all women are sluts and I know all aren’t but every one I come in contact with turns out bad. Everyone tells me I’m too young to give up(29) but I don’t care. Every woman makes me sick and I

A woman’s love * Three women were talking about their love lives. The first said, “My husband is like a RollsRoyce; smooth and sophisticated.” The second said, “Mine is like a porsche; fast and powerful.” The third said, “Mine is like an old Chevy. It needs a hand start and I have to jump on while it’s still going.” Picking lemons The woman applying for a job in a lemon grove seemed way too qualified for the job. Look Miss,” said the foreman, “have you any actual experience in picking lemons?” ” Well, as a matter if fact, yes!” she replied. “I’ve been divorced three times.”

really you want a more romantic relationship, the only way to fix that is to ask her out straight up. You’ll risk rejection, but you won’t waste time agonizing about whether she likes you or not. Just remember that everyone has personal preference about their own taste, and it’s human nature that sometimes someone will be attracted to you but you might not like them. It’s just preference. I hope this lady shares your feelings and you have a great time together. You certainly deserve to have a fun, romantic relationship. Everyone does. Enjoy yourself. Whatever happens in your own adventure, feel free to write back!

don’t want to waste my sweetness and kindness on people who will just hurt me! And no Im not gay! Please write me back soon and tell me how I can get over her. Jerry, Lagos Dear Jerry, Sounds like this girl really did a number on you! Your trust in women has really been shattered but please

remember that this is only temporary. As we go through life, we have many bad experiences but each one of these exists so that we can learn more about ourselves and the type of people we want to be with. So what if one girl hurts you! You might have thought she was the one, but I guess she wasn’t! All that means is that the right one is going to appear one day.

C O C K - T A L E S Taking control There were three guys talking in the pub. Two of them are talking about the amount of control they have over their wives, while the third remains quiet. After a while one of the first two turns to the third and says, “Well, what about you, what sort of control do you have over your wife?” The third fellow says “I’ll tell you. Just the other night my wife came to me on her hands and knees.” The first two guys were amazed. “What happened then?” they asked. “She said, ‘get out from under the bed and fight like a man’.” A man just like dad The bride, upon her engagement, went to her

Dear Julie, I have a problem. I’ve been going with this guy for three months now. I love him a whole lot and he loves me too. He told me so and I trust and believe what he says. The thing is, he thinks I’m cheating on him and I’m not. He won’t believe me though. Every time I talk to him he thinks I was just on the phone with some other guy. I don’t know what to do anymore. He’s getting me really frustrated. I love him with all my heart. I’m 28 and he’s30. Please give me some advice . Franca, Ughelli Dear Franca, Jealousy is a disease that drives men crazy: think of Othello (you should have read this in high school!) Your boyfriend’s jealousy is not based on anything that you’ve done but his own insecurity and low self-esteem. Who knows! Someone could have cheated and lied in his past but that has nothing whatever to do with you and he needs to know this! When he accuses you, be sympathetic and tell him that you know he’s jealous but tell him also that all good relationships are based on trust and that you hope he learns to trust you soon because you are absolutely honest. Tell him you will help him to get over this illness he has and that you hope that just by being together, he will learn to feel safe and secure with you. Treat this as his issue. Do not take it personally and let him know that. Hopefully, he will be able to recover, with your love, from whatever has made him feel so insecure that he doubts someone who obviously cares so much for him! If you isolate yourself, you will not be available to meet her... and then what! While you are getting over this, take really good care of yourself, work on your pride and selfconfidence, and keep your distance from enmeshment with women in general. Treat girls only as friends and companions but do not get emotionally involved. Believe it or not, one day, your pain will leave you and the perfect girl will appear.

mother and said, “I’ve found a man just like father!” Her mother replied, “So what do you want from me, sympathy?” Same everywhere Young Son: Is it true, Dad, I heard that in some parts of Africa, a man doesn’t know his wife until he marries her? Dad: That happens in every country, son. True happiness Then there was a man who said, “I never knew what real happiness was until I got married; and then it was too late.” A millionaire A woman was telling her friend, “It is I who made my husband a millionaire.” “And what was he before you married him?” asked the friend. The woman replied, “A billionaire.”

24—SATURDAY Vanguard, FEBRUARY 8, 2014 08052201257 anyagafu@yahoo.com

Do you appreciate love? L

ife usually progresses in cycles or periods of time. The period of time when you are single can be frustrating, depressing and agonizing. Or, a break from partnership could be a time of great joy and discovery. It’s up to you. Loneliness is tricky, like a snake. It will wrap around you and squeeze hard. It makes the world seem empty and cruel; people may look ugly. But no matter how hard it may be raining, it always stops eventually. This too, shall pass. You can always bet on chance. If you are single today, you will be in a loving relationship in the future. We seem to change in cycles or repetitions, like the spin of a moon or the turn of the day. Your life is a sequence of little epochs or eras. These

periods of time are usually given a title. You met in the rainy seasons. Two years of divorce. Four years of school. Nine months of pregnancy. Grass grows, taking its time. It has its own pace. You are single for now, but in time you will find love. How would you like to use the time? Will you be pining for the inevitable or

enjoying the moment? We are living in a wild age of chaos, economically, socially and politically. Everything seems to be happening so fast. It would be nice to have a partner right now, but you don’t need to freak out. One of the easiest ways

to survive the world is focus on what you have. By focusing on the here and now; the good and true, you affirm the present. A signal will ripple outward to the one who also waits for you. By appreciating the things you love, you become a beacon of attraction. Are you grateful for friends? Are you close to someone in your family? Is there a neighbour looking out for you? Maybe you have a pet dog or cat you simply adore. What do you love about that

Just be grateful for this time. Your life is still moving ahead, single or not. Make it fun. You are now free to really stop and listen. Appreciate the many loves currently in your life little squirt? Define your feelings. Name each and every one and add these notations and observations to your journal. Place them in the forefront of your mind. Make a declaration out of the good feelings and you’ll realign a bad mood. You may be single now, but there is much love in your life. Yes, there is! What’s there to love about your life? Is there something about your job that lights you up, perhaps? Look at inspiring art and fashion. What does nature mean to you?

Our love is fading away

have been dating my boyfriend for almost sixteen months, and our relationship has been wonderful until recently. I have been going through a hard time lately, including a disastrous move, college, and depression. It seems like we’re just fading away. I find it very hard to talk to him, especially about my problems, and he doesn’t open up to me. Our relationship is all I can think of, and it’s even driven me to be jealous and suspect him of straying. I’m usually never jealous and I am very trusting. I’m incredibly confused and heartbroken. I love him very much and I do not want to let him go. It breaks my heart to see our

love disappearing Please help me. Deola, Lagos

this.

Ans: It occurs to me after reading your letter that you have been through a fairly trying time and that your first concern should not be your boyfriend but what you can do to recover yourself. I know you love him but the bottom line is that no boyfriend can fix us and he probably is sensing your need to be rescued right now and is pulling back a bit. You have not given me details about what has happened to you but words like “depression” and “disastrous” are triggers that tell me you need to deal with the emotional issues that have caused you to feel this way. One of the difficult things about

experiencing times like this is that it causes us to distort reality. Right now, because of what you’ve gone through, you may not be feeling as lovable as you normally would which makes you feel that he is pulling back. Further, no one can “fix” us when we feel this way. We have to take a good, long look at ourselves and figure out how to pull ourselves out of a downward spiral. A good counselor can be very helpful at times like this and will be able to help to restore you to feeling more like yourself. I assume from your letter that you are in your early to mid twenties. It is not at all unusual for people your age to go through periods where

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fearing, wants a matured woman of 40-45 on 07013083292 Do you have reactions to our stories or have you any experience you want •Ola, 30, male, undergraduto share with our readers? Please e-mail,chiomagabriel@vanguardngr.com ate, single, needs a caring lady for a godly relationship that Do you want to be linked? will lead to marriage on Neither Chioma Gabriel nor Saturday Vanguard has any relationship with anybody wanting 08060391690 to be linked. We have no agents anywhere and charge no fees. We have no personal informa•Bruno,36,needs a lady for a tion of people who have been linked or want to be linked and therefore, are not answerable for relationship that will lead to disappointments or embarrassments some people may encounter in the process. marriage on 07067646293 C M Y K

Find something beautifu: a tree or a building, and tell someone about it. What food do you want to taste right now? Describe all of the beautiful aspects about your religion or belief. Why do you love your favorite TV show? What’s your favorite book and why? There are some simple actions that help us appreciate the loves that we have in our lives. These efforts help us to shift our focus. In the first instance, when you dust, you will come in contact with your sweetest memorobilia. Cleaning demands that you move your body. And, oh yes, your home will be clean when you’re done. Or you can pack your bags and go away for two weeks. Or, make a sandwich and take yourself to a beautiful picnic spot for an hour. Either way, it is a vacation, an action that heightens appreciation. Alternatively, light candles. Design a ritual. Then, perform it. You can also think of something nice. It could be an observation or an action. Then share it with someone else. Your colourful complaints may be good for a little entertainment, but negativity breeds more of the same. Just be grateful for this time. Your life is still moving ahead, single or not. Make it fun. You are now free to really stop and listen. Appreciate the many loves currently in your life. There are many. All you have to do is reopen your eyes!

life is confusing, painful and overwhelming. There are many developmental issues which occur around this time that are painful and difficult to confront: finishing school, leaving home, deciding what to do professionally, mate selection, etc. I think this is the very best age to seek some professional help to sort all this out. After you get yourself back, you can work on your relationship. Remember that without self-esteem and an inner sense of security, we can’t really be with anyone else now, can we! Please trust that once this is sorted out, your boyfriend will see things in a new light and if it isn’t meant to be, someone else even better for you will find you!

•Winifred, 24, female, humble, seeks a caring man

aged 27-32 for a serious relationship on 0817497424

•Best, 49, female, based in Lagos, needs an honest God fearing man aged 50 and above who is ready for marriage on 0811276609 •Blessing, male, wants a lady of 25-30 years from any part of the country for a strong relationship that will lead to marriage on 081233442688

SATURDAY Vanguard, FEBRUARY 8, 2014—25

BY JULIET EBIRIM

What Valentine Day means to celebrities! V

alentine's Day is celebrated all over the world on every February 14. It is a festival of romantic love and many people give cards, letters, flowers or presents to their spouse or partner. They may also arrange a romantic meal in a restaurant or hang out on that day. Common symbols of Valentine's Day are red roses and Cupid among others. Some entertainers share how they intend to celebrate this year’s Valentine Day with our reporter and what the day means to them.

I’ll be spending time with kids — Empress Njamah, Actress

Valentine’s Day is a day to show love and care, not only to friends and families,but also, to those in need. I set up a foundation called House of Empress Foundation. So, I and my friends will be spending time with the kids, supporting them as they showcase their talents. We will host them and bring smile to their faces. On Val’s night, I’m going to be anchoring a Val’s show.

It’s a time to show love to people around you —Christabel Egbenya , Actress

alentine Day to me, is a season to celebrate and show love to people around you. For me, this is a period where I show love to the less privileged in our society. I intend to spend the day with my loved ones and family members.

ing I ‘ll be entertaing those celebratin n’ — Bovi, Comedoniaof

seas alentine Day is a sion of love. es pr sharing and ex e don’t w , ns ia For comed e it’s ine’s Day becaus celebrate Valent be ll e’ W . y for us another work da ate who are celebr ros th r fo working ffe di lebrating it at ing. So,I’ll be ce . ts d hang ou ent locations an

It’s another work day for me — Oma Iyasara, Actress

ersonally, I believe Valentine day is all about love and sharing... not only with your loved ones but also, with everybody around you. However, we must not only show them love on Valentine’s day, but also, every other day. I have no plans for this year’s Valentine Day. I’ll be on movie location in Enugu. So, it will be another work day for me.

I’ll be spending time with my loved ones — Mary Uranta, Actress

alentine’s day is basical V ly a day of sharing love. It’s a special day, so I will be spending time with my loved ones. C M Y K

26—Vanguard, SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 2014

08116759764

BIOLA IGE’S SHOCKING REVELATION:

I ‘ve not celebrated Valentine Da Dayy in my life

Sex is for lovers on the way to make babies —Dencia

ameroonion pop singer, Dencia has described sex as “overrated’ adding that, “it’s for lovers who are trying to make babies.” According to her, she is not trying to do so. Speaking further, the singer who defended her skin ‘lightener ’duirng the week, having come under fire from critics said, “It is not in my agenda.” The US-based artist explains that she worked with a Swiss doctor who came up with a concoction that was deemed “safe” as it did not contain the skindamaging ingredients such as hydroquinone, mercury or steroids.

ollywood actress, Bola Ige does not pretend about what she does not like. The actress, who converted to Hinduism after her visit to India has expressed how much she does not believe in the forthcoming festival of love-Valentine Day. She said, in a conversation with Matinee that she does not believe in the celebration. “I’m not really involved in the celebration of Valentine. I don’t know what love is, I haven’t fallen in love before. So I don’t really have the exact words to describe Valentine Day.” “I have never celebrated Valentine’s Day before in my life. This is because I have never had the opportunity to fall in love. Since I was born, I’ve been spending that day alone and there is really nothing to celebrate. So, I see it as a normal day,” the faircomplexioned actress said.

COSON wages war against cancer I

Tony Okoroji

Plantation Boys are back again! By JULIET EBIRIM

emember the Plantation Boyz, comprising of Tuface, Blackface and Faze? They have bounced back again after many years of separation.The trio started as a family before they later break up. Faze and Black Faze were conspicuously absence at Tuface’s wedding in Dubai last year. But they have decided to bury the hatchet as they were spotted somewhere in Festac town last weekend where they were performing at an event sponsored by Nigerian Breweries. It was a big surprise to their fans as that was the first time they were performing as a group since their reunion at 2face Idibia’s album concert in April 2012.

ollywood’s actors, Kalu Ikeagwu and Nse Ikpe- Etim were in Port-Harcourt, Rivers State for two-week working on the set of The Green Eyed movie. The duo were joined on the set by fast-rising actors like Blossom Chukwujekwu and Tamara Eteimo .

C M Y K

Big War Against Cancer.’ Speaking at the event, which held in Lagos, the president of CECP, Mrs. Tutu Adeleke said, her organization which is made up of six bodies, is taking cancer prevention to the grassroots to completely eradicate the disease in the country. “We intend to raise funds to acquire some machines like, MCC and CCC, that will help to fight the deadly disease. Unknown to many people, cancer is more deadly than HIV and AIDS. This fight is in continuation with this year ’s theme, “ Debunk Cancer,” she said. The president of COSON, Chief Tony Okoroji disclosed that a musical concert is being planned to compliment the campaign come next month.

Olawale stepping out with “Is Notin”

Kalu Ikeagwu, Nse in The Green Eyed

•Nse

t was a brave move to save human life last week when the Copyright Society of Nigeria(COSON) in collaboration with C o m m i t t e e E n c o u r a g i n g C o r p o r a t e Philanthropy(CECP) flagged off a campaign against the menace of teh deadly disease, cancer tagged, ‘ The

Produced by Fendy Entertainment, the movie is a family-oriented movie that centers on betrayal and the power of enduring love. Directed and written by Blessing Udefe, the movie also featured budding actresses including Antonia Nwosu and Phil Osibo.

ast-rising Nigerian pop star, Olawale is proud to debut his brand new single titled “Is Notin”, produced by DJ Klem. Premiered on several leading radio stations across the country , “Is Notin” sees both Olawale and DJ Klem in flying form from start to finish - from Olawale’s sweet voice to his infectious flow to DJ Klem’s uptempo musical milieu backed by lush drums and guitar arrangements, it is hard to sit still once this massive Pop record comes on. The final year Agronomy student of Ladoke Akintola University, Olawale, draws inspiration from the likes of Tiwa Savage, Bruno Mars, Neyo, J. Moss and Deitrick Haddon. Birthing a unique blend of R&B, Pop and Fuji that has not been seen in the Nigerian music landscape.

SATURDAY Vanguard Vanguard,, FEBRUARY 8, 2014 —27

08111813022

Showbiz eggheads want to be included as confab delegates BY SAM ANOKAM

A Uche Elendu flies higher BY SAM ANOKAM

Newly formed pressure group better known as Entertainment Veterans of Nigeria (CEVON) has advocated the inclusion of entertainers as delegates at the forthcoming NationalConference. The group also warned politicians to desist from creating unnecessary fear, tension and uncertainty in the nation’s political landscape. Led by former President of Actors Guild of Nigeria,AGN, Ejike Asiegbu, the group said, while Nigerians are seen as the happiest people on earth, the political class have taken the masses for granted with unpatriotic statements which, according to them, are inimical to

ontrary to reports that beautiful actress Uche Elendu has dumped acting, the Owerri, Imo State-based role interpreter has cleared the air, stating that she is still in the business. In fact, she disclosed that she recently featured in two movies which are still receiving finishing touches. She said, she also featured in about eight other movies which are yet to be released. Elendu, however, hinted that her first ever produced movie, ‘Enemy At The Gate’ will be officially released this month. She disclosed that she has been invited to be part of a Hollywood movie, which shooting will commence in July.

BBA Dillish relocates to Nigeria? I

t seems BBA winner , Dillish Matthews has temporarily relocated to Nigeria . Having featured in one of Flavour Nabania’s videos, the pretty

Namibian damsel is in Okrika, Rivers State lensing alongside her former Housemate, Melvin Odia, Nonso Diobi, Ify Okeke, Haji, a London based actress, among many others. The big-budget movie has kept Dillish holed up for two weeks and maybe, she has come to stay in Nigeria as more movie roles come her way. C M Y K

the progress and well being of the citizenry. “Whist we recognize it is their right to make inward and outward movement to the political party of their choice as enshrined in the constitution, Nigerians should be absolved of their intimidating activities and crass political ideological leanings. It is a shame that most of the political parties are devoid of vision, ideologies and manifestos and to a greater extent leadership,” the group stated. Members of group who are mainly Nollywood practitioners include, Abubakar Usman, Steve Eboh, Emeka Rollas, Rita Edochie, Callistus Sunday, Seyi Aboderin, Maigari Abdullahi, Ebong Clement Etuk, Ibiwari Sekibo and Barrister Aham Njoku.

Funmi Fiberesima fights FGM with Onikola

electable actress, Funmi Fiberesima is currently campaigning against the age-long practice of Female Genital Mutilation. Her new film, “Onikola” which she is using to champion the cause finally hit the market during the week. Funmi said, ‘We had planned to release Onikola earlier but had to cancel the idea so that we can have enough time to work on the project and make it a better movie. What we have now is a final product we are proud to be identified with.” The movie which revolves around the harmful effects of female circumcision featured top stars including the late Fatai Rolling Dollar, Dejumo Lewis, Ara, Sunday Afolabi, Ronke Oshodi Oke, Ibrahim Chatta, and a host of other emerging acts. It was released Thursday, which was the World Circumcision Day.

28—SA TURD AY 28—SATURD TURDA

Vanguard, FEBRU ARY 8, 2014 FEBRUARY

Love Your Dreams — Susan Ogbimi

usan is a Nigerian graduate of Management and Information Technology from University of Plymouth. She has great passion for music. Speaking with Vanguard Youthful Vibes, she shared her story on how she began her music career and it is making impact. Excerpts:

How it began

have always loved music. I used to dance and sing with my elder sister and we did a bit of that in several kids television programmes including Clapper Board Kids TV. Later I joined the choir as a teenager and I formed a few singing groups, but now I'm going solo. The last decade was spent more or less just doing song writing, and the sogs graced a few special occasions in some churches.

to all that will listen.

Ongoing Project

Giveasmile is a music night of inspiration. I was inspired to initiate at a time when I myself needed a smile. I remember asking God to just put a smile on my face that season, and He said to me 'why don't you give someone a smile?'. Then I understood that no matter how bad our situation is, someone may be

My Kind of music

My songs have been inspired by my faith and life experiences; so naturally I knew the Gospel was the way for me. The World makes me write songs, and certain experiences inspired me to write or share my faith expressing myself in my songs or music. Gospel would always be lucrative. It is very powerful when one can minister the Gospel to others with music and there will always be audience for it. The real challenge is getting yourself out there. There are a lot of singers now whether gospel or secular, and as everything else, one needs to distinguish... and keep at it, and one day there will be a very good reward.

My music empowers and inspires

Stepping out to do music is an inspiration to young people because a lot of them want to do the same but are too afraid to try. So already, I'm an inspiration for stepping out. Also I know the power of the gospel can empower all of us to live life abundantly. Hence, I know my songs are an inspiration C M Y K

I understood that no matter how bad our a situation is, someone may be worse, and what we make happen to others, God will make happen to us

•Susan Ogbimi

worse, and what we make happen for others, God will make happen for us. So I decided to give a children's charity a smile by using my music to fundraise, and truly it's been a blessing to me and has since been a blessing to others too. So every now and again, I host a Giveasmile-night to fundraise for a good course

in the community. Since 2012, Giveasmile has raised money for several children's charities including Great Ormond street hospital, the NSPCC in UK, and for children in Syria. It has also had a special face of gold event to celebrate and encourage people that have been tough through tough times. Giveasmile will

continue to make positive impact and grow to give more people smile.

My Advice to young Nigerians

You need to love your dreams. Step out and don't be afraid. Trust in God and do your work diligently. Soon you will stand before kings.

YOUNG NIGERIANS MAKING THE DIFFERENCE

KEMINI SAMUEL ITA TOM,is a student of the University of Calabar (UNICAL), Cross River State. He is 21 years old and very passionate about making impact.... He has hosted and masterminded several initiatives on and off campus. Presently, he runs “The Radiation Planet”, a not-for-profit enterprise he founded in 2011 on campus to inspire change, motivate youths and teenagers to discover and fulfill their purpose and impact lives. In 2012, he, hosted “Concept I Can” in UNICAL where he hosted seasoned speakers from Lagos, Warri and Calabar. He also runs a monthly programme called Radiance Hour – a motivational and inspiring moment of enlightenment and education which holds on Campus, UNICAL. In June 2013, he kicked off a seasonal programme for secondary schools called Secondary School Outreach Project (SSOP) focused on taking seminars and trainings to students in their schools from one school to another. Last November, he hosted Secondary School Impact Project (SSIP) aimed at assembling the students and empowering them for immediate and future impact. Areas covered in the seminar and workshop was Career Enlightenment and Reviving the Reading Culture in the Nigerian students.

SATURDAY Vanguard, FEBRUARY 8, 2014—29

08111813025

I was mischievous with food — Effah BY ADERONKE ADEYERI

ctress and Television presenter, Belinda Ef fah, first hit the television screen as a housemate in Next Movie Star reality TV show in 2006 where she finished fifth. In a chat with Celebrity Tummy Talk,the graduate of Genetics and Biotechnology speaks about her passion for indigenous food and her cooking skills. Enjoy: You travel a lot,do you still eat indigenous foods? Nigeria is blessed with many healthy indigenous foods that one cannot afford to miss even after traveling around the globe. I love our foods and I’m proud to be a Nigerian. I love ekpangnkwukwo which is a special

delicacy peculiar to the people of Cross River. Can you cook the delicacy? Yes I can. Ekpangkwukwo is a complete food on its own but takes time to prepare. When I was growing up, I loved coconut rice but as an adult, I have discovered the benefits of African food. What was your first cooking experience like? I started cooking at eight ,trying to imitate my mum’s cooking whenever she is not around. Back then, we used to have a farm in our house,so I gathered vegetables from there and went to the kitchen. That was my first successful cooking experience and the taste was superb.

Did you play any prank getting your favorite food at a tender age? I cannot remember any at the moment but I was a bit mischievous when it comes to food as a child. What is your best fruit? I love fruits generally but my best fruit is seedless grapes. How do you exercise? I exercise whenever I have the time. I engage in jogging and do some in house exercise to maintain my shape. What is your advice to your fans? Please do not skip breakfast for anything and ensure not to eat after seven at night to avoid big belly.

WEEKEND TREA T TREAT

Belinda Effah

HEAL TH TIPS HEALTH

Let your hair grow through lack of biotin can lead to hair your food loss. Walnuts also have copper,

Ekpangnkwukwo Ekpangnkwukwo is one of Nigerian cocoyam recipes made with grated cocoyam, water yam, cocoyam leaves and periwinkle. It is a Nigerian food recipe native to the South South Eastern Nigeria, the Cross River and Akwa Ibom States of Nigeria. Ekpangnkwukwo is so special that it is reserved for special occasions.

dried fish Snail (Optional) Pepper and salt to taste Seasoning

Note:Before you cook Ekpangnkwukwo, wash and cook the beef, offal and dry fish with the seasoning. Peel,wash and grate the cocoyam and water yam (if you will be using this). Mix the two together and set aside. Prepare the pot by rubbing a generous amount of red palm oil on the insides of the pot. Wash Recipe the tender cocoyam leaves Cocoyam and tear into medium piecWater Yam (Optional) Vegetables – A big bunch of es and if using pumpkin tender cocoyam leaves, leaves, wash these and set pumpkin leaves and scent aside. Blend the pepper and crayfish and set aside. leaves Wash the periwinkles and Palm oil the scent leaves before tearCrayfish ing the scent leaves into Onions tiny pieces. Periwinkles Assorted beef and offal

C M Y K

Preparation (If you will be using unshelled periwinkles, place these at the base of the well-oiled pot). Scoop a small quantity of the grated cocoyam into a piece of the torn cocoyam leaf or one pumpkin leaf. Wrap the cocoyam with the leaf and place in the pot. Repeat this procedure till all the grated cocoyam and water yam) are exhausted. Add the pepper, crayfish, onions, shelled periwinkles and assorted beef. Add hot water to the level of the pot content and set to cook on medium heat for 20 minutes. Now add the scent leaves, a generous amount of palm oil and salt to taste. Cook for seven minutes and the Ekpangnkwukwo is ready. Leave to stand for five minutes and stir.

When it comes to healthy hair, it’s not just what you put on your tresses that counts but rather what you put in your body too counts. Just like every other part of your body, the cells and processes that support strong, vibrant hair depend on a balanced diet. Look out for these common food that also gives healthy hair. Salmon Apart from being rich in protein and vitamin D which are keys to strong hair, the omega-3 fatty acids found in this tasty cold-water fish are the true superstar. About three percent of the hair shaft is made up of these fatty acids. Walnuts Walnuts are rich in biotin and vitamin E which helps protect your cells from damage. Since your hair rarely gets much shielding from the sun,

a mineral that helps keep your natural hair color rich and lustrous. Sweet potatoes Sweet potatoes are a great source of the antioxidant beta carotene which your body turns into vitamin A. It also helps protect and produce the oils that sustain your scalp. Being low on vitamin A can even leave you with itchy, irksome next dandruff. (Continues week )

By ANOZIE EGOLE What are you working on presently? I’m working with a lot of producers on some projects. Apart from being a model, what other things people don’t know about you? I’m not just a model, I’m also a business woman. I am a trained Accountant and a media personality with varied experience which I acquired within and outside the shores of Africa. I have passion for act-

I can go nude to save life — Debota Lawson

ing, and so far, I’m enjoying every opportunity that has come my way. I’ve been blessed to have worked with some of the best brains in Nollywood. How do you describe yourself? I am a legend in the making. I am also a wonderful, hard working, talented , charismatic, passionate and God -fearing lady. How did you clinch the crown as Miss Nigeria United Kingdom? I’ve always seen myself as a queen right from childhood. I admired beauty Queens from all over the world, and wished I would be one of them some day. I’ve participated in several pageants while growing up before I won Miss Nigeria UK. As a multi-talented Nigerian, why did you choose acting? Acting allows me to showcase all my talents. Playing different characters in movies excites me. Acting wasn’t my first love, but somehow we found each other.

What can you sacrifice in the name of acting? If I have a challenging role to play which compels me to be on diet as well as change my looks, then I can afford to make such sacrifice in the interest of my career.

Why did you relocate from UK to Nigeria? Home, sweet home. Home is where the action lies. How far can you go to interpret a role in a movie? A very long way. I take my job seriously. Would you say, you set out to become an actress? I never saw it coming. Acting found me and I accepted and fell in love with it. I had high ambition while growing up. But showbiz was like a hobby to me. What do you have to say about your Nigerian fans? My fans support and encourage me. I mean without them I wouldn’t be getting the recogni-

Which part of your body do you think is your selling point? My face and my sexy legs. Do you have any regret as an actress? Not at all. At least, not for now. What would you say was your most awkward moment in life? Being chased by a dog during my secondary school days and everyone was watching me. What is your take on lesbianism that seems to be very common in the entertainment industry. Have you experience it? I’m not interested in any sexual orientation and I haven’t fallen a victim before now. But that does not suggest that I don’t get approached. Have you been sexually harassed in the industry? No, thank God. Are you in any relaotionship at the moment and

30 — SARTURDAY Vanguard, FEBRUARY 8, 2014

arely one year since she the ex-beauty queen, De bota Lawson debuted in Nollywood, her profile has continued to be on the rise. Featuring in not less than 10 films, the former Miss UK Nigeria who returned to the country recently to show the stuff she made of, in showbiz is leaving no stone unturned in her quest to conquer.... In this interview, she talks about her new found love in acting, and what her fans should expect from her.

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An opportunity cost called IVF T

here is this very successful and very busy couple. The wife is 29 years old and she wants a baby quickly. She wants this baby so badly and so urgently she wants it yesterday. Money is no object so she opts to have the baby through In Vitro Fertilization, IVF. She does not want to waste time and wants to have this baby by the time she is 30. Of course, she could get pregnant in her own bedroom, but she prefers IVF because she doesn’t want to waste time. This is an unusual request isn’t it? But it is an approach that makes sense. Taking control Here is a couple that wants more control over their lives, including their reproductive decisions. Come to think of it why should they have to depend upon nature’s irregularities when they don’t need to? After all, isn’t nature rather inefficient at producing babies, and if they can give nature a helping hand, then why not do so? They see no risk in performing IVF—either to the woman or to the baby— and they are right. Buying time As a safe and effective treatment, IVF has no downside other than the financial risk. The couple is willing to spend money to buy time. For the woman, it is the perfect time to have a baby and IVF provides her the window of opportunity. Traditionally, IVF has been used for treating infertile couples. It would be equally valid to use IVF to help couples to achieve personal reproductive goals, as long as those involved make a wellinformed decision, and are aware of the plusses and minuses. Pros It’s no secret that pregnancy rates with IVF are much better for younger women than for older women, so it’s much more cost effective to do it when women are younger. But of course, doing IVF means spending considerable money, but on the other hand, not getting pregnant has even more considerable cost attached to it. Think of the drainage of emotional energy and the time spent waiting, wishing and hoping. No doubt IVF may be more costly in the short term, but on the long run, it is by far

•Giving nature a helping hand to produce babies... Whenever there are options of choice, the responsibility for deciding always depends upon the couple.

•IVF provides the window an opportunity of having babies more cost effective and time effective for many patients.

“one size fits all” approach isn’t always applicable.

Cons While all this is sounds logical, and looks great on paper, it often does not work out well in real life. As an intervention approach, IVF could be time consuming, and patients tend to get fed up and even drop out of treatment rather than move on to the next step. This can be a real tragedy, because such persons, often, are those who could have got pregnant through IVF. This approach might be reasonable for some couples, but as everyone knows, a

Informed choice For most couples who are desperately trying to conceive, any additional help is a relief and even the slightest chance of improving the probability of conceiving is often seen as a great favour. A couple seeking assisted reproduction technique is usually better off with the treatment option which maximizes chances of conceiving quickly. Ideally, the best option would be to allow couples to make informed choices.

If couples can become pregnant readily with IVF, then why not use it first rather than as a fall back option

Peace of mind Importantly, IVF gives infertile couples peace of mind that they tried their best — that they gave infertility treatment their best shot. This peace of mind can be priceless! In the past, IVF was considered to be the treatment of “last resort” — and was reserved for patients who had failed all other treatment methods. Today, it is often the treatment of first choice, because it maximises the chance of conceiving quickly, no matter what the medical problem. Name your price If most fertility experts had a choice, probably the only treatment they would offer would be IVF. Yes. This is because all gynaecologists/ fertility experts want their patients to get pregnant as soon as possible. If couples can become pregnant readily with IVF, then why not use it first rather than as a fall back option when all else fails? Everything comes back, except time. Time never comes back and opportunity lost is rarely regained. There is a price for everything, and the price paid for the methodical logical approach (such as IVF) to infertility treatment is an opportunity cost.

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Medicinal

Strawberry goodness! S

TRAWBERRIES. This is the sweetest way to prevent diabetes. If you are diabetic or hypertensive, you probably don’t need another reason to love strawberries — so tasty and so many antioxidants! Among the 50 best antioxidant sources in commonly eaten foods, strawberries are quite exceptional. When only fruits are considered, strawberries are ranked 4th

(behind blackberries, cranberries, and raspberries). Among the total antioxidant capacity, strawberries are 3rd among all foods including spices, seasonings, fruits, and vegetables. Strawberries contain Nrf2 - a biological component that may actively protect against conditions like diabetes and heart disease. This may tempt you. Strawberries activate the Nrf2 protein, which in

turn decreases blood lipids and “bad” cholesterol. Essentially, this mighty berry was shown to prevent the buildup of compounds that directly cause heart attacks and diabetes. The positive effects may be

particularly achievable in people with metabolic syndrome. Persons with obesity, high cholesterol, increased blood pressure, and trouble with glucose metabolism, may have the most to gain by making this berry a diet staple. Just eating two to three servings of strawberries a week is beneficial for your health. Choose organic. Enjoy!

Lifeline

S Spicy

Keep a date with Rosemary A

nyone who has ever tasted chicken or lamb spiced with Rosemary – one of the best culinary condiments in the business - will remember the distinctive flavour. If there is one herb that tastes absolutely delectable in culinary dishes, it is Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis) - the robust and versatile evergreen herb with a heavenly flavour that complements a wide variety of dishes and ingredients. Rosemary belongs to the same family of herbs, such as oregano, sage, thyme, basil, and lavender. It has been hailed since ancient times for its medicinal properties. Rosemary is an excellent source of iron, calcium, vitamin B6, and a rich source of antioxidants and anti-inflammatory compounds that help boost

the immune system and improve blood circulation. Often used to help treat indigestion, it has been approved for treatment of dyspepsia. Scientists have found that Rosemary contains Carnosic acid, which fights off free radical damage in the brain, enhances memory and concentration and may significantly prevent brain aging while promoting eye health. Crude ethanolic Rosemary extract is believed to have differential antiproliferative effects on human leukemia and breast carcinoma cells. Essentially, Rosemary is an effective herbal anti-inflammatory and anti-tumour agent. The Journal of Food Science says adding Rosemary extract to ground beef reduces the formation of cancer-causing agents that can develop during cooking.

moking can kill. In reality, smoking kills. This has been known as a fact for decades, yet millions still smoke. All over the world, smoking is routinely linked with bad health and declining wellness. Smoking is the No. 1 cause of preventable death, killing more people than many noncommunicable disorders such as obesity, drug abuse, infectious disease, firearms, and road traffic accidents. Cigarettes and other tobacco products are among consumer goods that are guaranteed to kill when used exactly as intended. While smoking harms the smokers’ health, it also puts lives of people around in danger because they inhale the smoke exhaled (secondhand smoking). Unfashionable habit Smoking is no longer fashionable. Many countries have pushed out some of the toughest anti-tobacco laws and restrictions in history, yet for some people, the urge to smoke remains strong. Nowadays, people look at you with less regard and even contempt when you smoke. In many countries smoking openly in public places such as restaurants, airports or bus stops is forbidden. Smoking is restricted in designated places and even when you smoke in privacy, people who see you smoking consider you a nuisance and threat to public health. Family and friends repeatedly tell you smoking will kill you. And they are right.

Stop smoking before it stops you Warnings Warnings on cigarette packs have become increasingly widespread over the years. There are warnings such as “Caution: Cigarette smoking may be hazardous to your health”. Later, this changed to “Warning: Cigarette smoking is dangerous to health and may cause death from cancer and other diseases” and then to “Warning: The Surgeon General has determined that cigarette smoking is dangerous to your health”. Today’s packs carry general warnings such as: “Smoking causes lung cancer, heart disease, emphysema and may complicate pregnancy” , “Smokers are liable to die young” and “ Quitting smoking now greatly reduces serious risks to your health.” Some nations use graphic images. Threats The World Health Organization calls tobacco a “gradual killer.” By the time smokers may feel the effects, they’re addicted. The chemicals in cigarette smoke also affect those around. Cigarette smoking harms nearly every organ of the body and overall health. Tobacco smoke contains a deadly mix of more than 7,000 chemicals. Hundreds are toxic. About 70 are known to cause cancer.

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Diet Doctor

the body’s ability to fight off infection. A person moves from HIV into AIDS status when the person’s T cells (called CD4 cells) which are needed to fight off infections, drop below a significant level.

Fact or Fiction?

Everyone with HIV has AIDS Fiction! This is quite untrue. With treatment and medical care, HIV does not always develop into AIDS. Many people with HIV never contract AIDS, but they must take medication and carefully monitor their health to achieve this.

You can have HIV and not know F

act! The most common symptoms of the Human Immunodeficiency Virus, HIV, include flu-like symptoms, such as fever and swollen lymph nodes, fatigue, weight loss, and hot flashes with fevers and sweating. HIV can also cause rashes and dry, flaky skin and can lead to seemingly unrelated conditions such as recurring yeast infections. But in so many instances, a person with HIV infection appears perfectly normal and healthy. Only through a screen test can HIV status be properly determined. A screen test is required for HIV status Fact! You cannot tell if a person is infected with HIV just by looking at that person. The only way to determine HIV status is to get tested. An HIV antibody test is the most common blood screen test for HIV infection. Don’t wait. Get tested today. The sooner you know your status, the sooner you can take back control of your health and peace of mind. Go to http://hivtest.cdc.gov/ to find a testing location near you. HIV develops into AIDS Fact! HIV occurs when the body begins to attack its own blood cells, inhibiting

There is a cure for HIV/AIDS Fiction! There is no cure for either HIV or AIDS, but with good and sustained medication, a person who is HIV positive can prevent the HIV diagnosis from developing into AIDS. HIV is preventable through safer sex Fact! HIV can spread through oral and anal sex as well as intercourse. Safersex practices such as abstinence, being faithful to one sex partner and correct and consistent use of condoms can help prevent HIV infection. It also helps to get tested for sexually transmitted infections/diseases regularly. HIV infection means certain death Fiction! A positive HIV diagnosis is not a death sentence. While HIV can be fatal, the prospects for HIV care and support, medication and treatment routines have improved tremendously. Effective HIV control and prevention initiatives are more available and accessible and people living with HIV can live just as long and as healthily as people who are not infected as long as they maintain a healthy lifestyle and do not come down with any opportunistic infection.

Lose weight for good I

have many friends who want to lose weight. Fast. They do not like being told there is no short measure. They are right. There are a few tricks yet that can be harnessed. Just follow these basic rules and you will lose weight. Hopefully! Sleep more and lose more Losing sleep while dieting causes your body to lose more water, muscle, and other tissue—instead of fat—which slows your metabolism. Lack of sleep puts your body under stress and it can increase your body’s production of an appetite-boosting hormone. Don’t skip breakfast Eat breakfast. It’ll energize you for the day and keep your diet in check. Avoid late-night snacks Finish eating three hours before bedtime. Your metabolism slows down when you sleep so you shift from fat burning to fat storage. Question your cravings Before you eat, ask yourself, ‘Am I hungry?’ Unless a craving comes from hunger, eating won’t satisfy it. Make your own lunch Brown-bag it. According to a study in the Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, dieters who eat out for lunch even once a week lose fewer kilos on average. Train your brain

Mother & Child

sweets to tackle the nausea.

Pregnancy prises Pregnancy,, a bask baskeet full of sur surprises BY CHIOMA OBINNA

mmm! She has just returned from a three – month maternity leave - back to the hustle and bustle of the city of excellence. She tells her colleague that the three months were quite an experience. From the look on her face, although she was excited to have gone through the experience-packed months, one thing was clear –no two pregnancies are the same. Few hours of her settling down after exchanging pleasantries with colleagues, she opens up to a friend besides her saying: “Friend, every woman craves to have a baby but as simple as it may sound, from conception to the arrival of the baby is full of different experiences.” The friend, who is newly married jokingly responds: “Oh girl, forget

Be specific about your weight-loss goal. The brain detects a difference between where you are and where you want to be, so when you’re specific, your brain throws resources like willpower at it. Start with greens Eat in the right order. Eat vegetables first to naturally have more of them and ultimately eat fewer calories. Use tried-and-true methods Weigh yourself regularly. Research shows that 75 percent weigh themselves at least once a week, 78 percent are breakfast eaters and 62 percent limit TV to less than 10 hours a week. Be goal-oriented Set a tangible goal with a firm deadline—for example, schedule an ‘after’ photo shoot. It will help you stay motivated. Schedule a cheat day Resist cravings by postponing indulging to a future day when you’re free to eat whatever you want. Never shop hungry Always shop on a full stomach with a written list and a cart. Heavy baskets trigger instant-gratification decisions, research shows.

that thing, will you not go back to the same old story tomorrow? Please, stop frightening those of us warming up for the action.” Laughter. So what is the experience like? “After four children, I assumed I was old school in the business of reproduction and since I can still recall the journey so far, from the first pregnancy to the fourth. Beginning from conception, it was a completely different story each time around. Breasts The fifth time around, I had so much idea as when it happened but I was expecting an increase in the size of my breasts but it never happened. During my other pregnancies, the increase was the first symptom after the missed

Heartburn I had heartburn with my first, second and third pregnancies. It began early on in the first trimester. But this time, it turned out that I never experienced it even for once. Most friends never knew I was pregnant until about five months.

monthly perriod. There was no sign to alert me to take a test until I was five months gone. Nausea During the first and second pregnancies, I experienced much nausea but there I never threw up even once. It was confusing to my husband and me. We didn’t know what further steps to take. As a precaution, during the subsequent pregnancies, I ate bitter kola and

Bodily functions When it comes to bodily functions, constipation was a huge problem but I never experienced that in my previous pregnancies. This time around, it was the opposite. I also experienced constant stomach aches in the early morning hours. I made endless trips to the ladies than in the previous times. With my first pregnancy, my feet were swollen, but this time, there was no swelling. Although I gained much weight than previously.

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Managed Healthcare

Every Nigerian needs a health plan

• Simbo Ukiri

ealth Maintenance Organisations, HMOs, are private corporations, usually managed by doctors and other medical practitioners, offering medical and health care to their client-members for a fixed rate or contribution. The HMO concept dates back to the 1900s when companies in Europe and the Americas entered into arrangements with medical institutions for prepaid medical services to their employees. The concept is a hybrid insurance and preneed programme, and

HMOs, figuratively, are engaged in life and death situations when they attend to the needs of their members. Nigeria has since joined the growing list of countries with a law making the HMO concept an integral part of its national health system. In Nigeria today, whether or not you have a health plan, you need one. Every Nigerian does. But there are challenges ranging from low level awareness, poor education, inadequate information and lack of modern technology.

“One issue that we have identified within the Nigerian health system is the lack of information and awareness about health insurance,” said Mrs. Simbo Ukiri, MD/ CEO, Avon HMO. “We believe that the benefits of health insurance and being part of a health insurance scheme, is one that most Nigerians do not know about. One of the first things we need to do to resolve this, is to be part of the wave that educates Nigerians and bring awareness to them that health insurance exists, works and delivers as promised. It is to let Nigerians know that health insurance has real, measurable benefits for every body and everyone should subscribe to it.” Ukiri who was worried of the poor level of awareness, information, believes that with technology, universal coverage for all would become very attainable. There is need for engagement across all stakeholders in bringing value to their business and encouraging them to be viable and profitable businesses. This is key. The better approach to

Care & Suppor Supportt

Endomarch kicks off Mar 8

Human Nature

n enlarged prostate is the most common prostate problem in men after the age of about 50. Having an enlarged prostate does not mean you have cancer. In some cases, an enlarged prostate can cause the urethra to narrow which can slow down or stop the flow of urine. Many men over the age of 50 will have an enlarged prostate gland but not all will get symptoms. The balance of hormones in your body changes as you get older and this may cause your prostate gland to grow. A Consultant General & Urological Surgeon, Dr. Leslie Akporiaye says there is a direct relationship between age and prostate enlargement. Akporiaye, who is the Chief Medical Director, Delta State University Teaching Hospital, Oghara, Delta State, however opined that there is no relationship between prostate enlargement and development of prostate cancer. There is a pattern of occurrence within the prostate. As men get older, the prostate gets larger in size and weight, person to person. But there is no relationship between prostate enlargement and prostate cancer. Really, size has no bearing to causing development of cancer. The prostate can be small and stop you from passing urine. It can be enlarged

health plan is the coercive approach. If left to people’s discretion, as a country and people we tend to believe the worst will never happen. A typical Avon accredited health provider can be anywhere in the country, with hospital premises with a doctor in attendance for the whole day and a doctor within call overnight. “It should provide a well equipped theatre, one or two specialists, an obstetrician and gynaecologist and especially what we call physicians who can attend to people with diabetes, hypertension, maternal and child healthcare and other chronic ailments. “We want to have specialists within reach. The hospital will have internet, well-structured

Pre venting pr os Preventing pros osttat atee problems •Dr. Leslie Akporaie and you’ll go about your life normally. Enlargement of the prostate is essentially an expression of age. It is in-born; it happens to every man. At 45, the prostate is not expected to be the same as at 25. One other thing that is an expression of age is development of prostate cancer. Prostate cancer kills 3 percent of men. But that is a large number if you look at 3 percent of a country like Nigeria. If there is metastasis, then there is the possibility of danger and fatality. Bone scan is now done now in Nigeria, but people do not know because it is not well publicized. In this part of the world, my advice is that you do not do general screening arbitrarily. A person who should go for screening and who should do a test is someone who has experienced symptoms that took him to a doctor. Such person needs to do evaluation to know the extent to which the malady has advanced.

quality assurance tools in place that we can verify from time to time. We believe technology will achieve a key role in us attaining universal coverage. First step is to ensure that the system works, that it docs have the necessary skill and facilities. We have to be able to pay for the right services and make investments in the system. HMOs can make all the promises in the world to enrollees, but it is through the hospitals that they (enrollees) will experience our service. “Our task in Avon is simple. We want to ensure that Nigerians from all walks of life have access to affordable and adequate health care, without facing financial obstacles when they need to attend to their health. That basically is what the Universal Health Coverage is all about, and that is what we are going to be working towards. We will ensure that there is a plan for everyone, no matter the social strata they belong to,’ she remarked.

IGERIAN women are joining counterparts globally to participate in the “Million Woman March for Endometriosis” tagged Endomarch in March 2014 in line with the ongoing campaign to reduce or eliminate the pain and trauma of endometriosis. At least one million women are expected to participate in the historic event. “The activity is to educate, empower and effect change while improving the living standard for females, young and old as well as society at large, said Dr.Abayomi Ajayi, Medical Director, Nordica Fertility Clinic, Lagos, Asaba and Abuja. The activity seeks to educate, empower and effect change, while improving their quality of life and society at large. Nordica Fertility Centre, Lagos, Asaba and Abuja, in conjunction with the Endometriosis Support Group, ESGN - an NGO seeking to assist women, with the challenge of endometriosis – are championing the event in Nigeria. Endometriosis an incurable female health disorder occurs when the endometrium (cells lining the uterus) grow in other areas of the body. It often leads to pain, irregular bleeding and problems getting pregnant. It occurs in 5-10 percent of women within reproductive age group (15-44 years) worldwide. Women with this condition have 20 percent less chances of having children. While the Global Million Woman March holds March 13, 2014 in Washington DC, the Nigerian leg of the endomarch is earmarked for 8.30am on March 8, 2014 at the Onikan Stadium, Surulere featuring interactive sessions with the US and Nigerian Endo teams. The train moves to the FCT, Abuja on March, 18, with a lecture taking at the Yar ’Adua Centre, Abuja, where Gerald Harkins, a Fellowship Director, Minimally Invasive Gynaecology Surgery, PennState Mittons, Hershey Medical Centre, Pennsylvania USA, will present the keynote address.

Now,I live, breathe, eat and drink the world of acting. Besides acting, what do you think you would have done better? I really have not given it a thought. But I think I want to remain focused and trust God for a direction. When did you join acting and how has the journey so far? It’s over a year since I delved into acting.

tion that I am enjoying today. I love my fans not just my Nigerian fans alone, but from other parts of the world. How can you describe your journey into Nollywood? It’s been really challenging because I find out that I have to work extra hard to make my mark in the industry. I tried not to allow the past glory affect my work.

what does love mean to you? Yes, I am in a relationship. For me, loving someone and being loved is the best feeling in the world. What does sex mean to you? Sex should be intimate expression of love between two people who are crazy about each other. Ideally, a man and wife. Who is an ideal man to you? He has to be kind, hard working and God fearing.Looks are also important but not a barrier. What can make you end a relationship with the opposite sex? Lies.I can’t stand liars. Can you completely go nude for anything? To save a life may be... Laughing. What has fame robbed you of? My privacy and on other hand, the freedom to do whatever I like. As I have to always been conscious of people who look up to me and those who are watching me at every moment. Would you quit acting for any reason? No, I can only retire when I’m old and grow grey hair.

•Debota Lawson

What do you set out to achieve in 2014 looking at 2013? Year 2013,was an eye opener to me, and I made a lot of drastic decision and changes in my life. However, I don’t remember having any major regrets.

SARTURDAY Vanguard, FEBRUARY 8, 2014—35

36 — SATURDAY Vanguard Vanguard,, FEBRUARY 8, 2014

yemisisuleiman670@yahoo.com

•Janet Jackson

•Eye liner

•Lip gloss

•Illuminating cream

•Creamy blush

•Color corrector cream

C M Y K

SATURDAY Vanguard, FEBRUARY 8, 2014—37

Compiled by

Ephraim Oseji

07032769933

hen the final whistle sounded and Liverpool’s place in the 2005 final of the Champions League was secure, there was only one thing I wanted to do. It wasn’t to join the rest of my delirious team-mates, who were dancing in front of the Kop. I didn’t even want to run to the part of Anfield where I knew my family and friends would be, even though this was one of the biggest moments of my career. No. The celebrating could wait. My initial thought after that energy-sapping and emotionally draining collision with Chelsea was over was to go and shake hands with John Terry, who - like me - had given every last ounce to try to get his team to Istanbul. Liverpool and Chelsea had gone toe to toe over two legs and the hallmark of each semi-final was brilliant defending only one controversial goal separated us at the death. John, of course, was distraught to get so close but I just wanted to tell him how good he had been. We played the game the same way and that night in May 2005 we were like two boxers at the final bell. As Liverpool and Chelsea’s rivalry escalated, I remember Rafa Benitez saying to me ‘how lucky’ Mourinho was to have a player such as Terry. I quickly told him he was lucky to have me and Rafa replied, pulling his hand away from his nose to mimic Pinocchio: ‘Yes, yes! You’re as good as Terry!’ Not to be beaten, I replied with the same gesture: ‘Yes, yes! You’re as good as Mourinho!’ But I could understand what Rafa meant. Terry had this ability to draw the ball to him like a magnet, always getting his head or his foot in the way just when it mattered. John was a better version of me and his form was one of the main reasons I retired from England. Those games took place almost nine years ago but the passing of time has not impacted on the quality of performance Terry is still producing. If you asked me to select an all-time Premier League XI, he would be the

He remains England’s best in his position but I don’t believe for a minute Roy Hodgson should think about enticing him back to be part of his World Cup squad - there is too much history there first pick at the heart of my defence. I still hear John being criticised for a lack of pace but very few centre backs are quick; Terry’s reading of the game is outstanding and keeps him out of danger, while his ability on the ball never gets spoken about; how many defenders in world football can switch the play with their weaker foot. Critics have been quick to write him off, particularly last season when he started only 14 times in the Premier League, but some of what has been said about him is nonsense; as soon as he has a bad game, it gets

•JAMIE CARRAGHER

mentioned that he is over 30 and isn’t the same as he was. That’s rubbish. Nemanja Vidic and Ferdinand, for instance, have suffered the same injury and form issues yet never get the same level of criticism. Terry gets such scrutiny because outside Stamford Bridge, he doesn’t enjoy any popularity. He remains England’s best in his position but I don’t believe for a minute Roy Hodgson should think about enticing him back to be part of his World Cup squad - there is too much history there. Nor do I think John would be well served ending his international retirement. Clearly he is benefitting from a lesser workload and that will help prolong his career.

38—SATURDAY Vanguard, FEBRUARY 8, 2014

Compiled by

Ephraim Oseji

Djemba-Djemba eyes Cameroon recall E ric Djemba-Djemba is looking to force his way back into the Cameroon setup now he has joined St Mirren. The 32-year old former Nantes, Manchester United, Aston Villa and Odense midfielder has linked up with the Buddies for the rest of the Scottish Premier League season and is now hoping to win a surprise call-up for the 2014 World Cup. "Why not? I just need to be good on the pitch, enjoy myself, play well with my new teammates and I hope the manager of Cameroon (Volker Finke) will think about me,” he said. "You know in Cameroon we change managers like we change shirts. I hope he will think about me if he needs my

experience. "I played in the team for eight and a half years from 2001. So if he needs me I will be happy to pull on the Cameroon shirt, because it's a dream for everyone. I hope he will think about it. "But the decision is in my hands – to work, play and try to be called up for the World Cup."

Manches ter United will reject £40m of Manchester offfer Manchester United are set to reject an astonishing For Januzaj £40million offer from Paris Saint Germain for Adnan

Januzaj. Reports emerged yesterday that the French giants have made the youngster their number one summer target as they aim to match their targets of winning the Champions League. United manager David Moyes is bracing himself for an offer thought to be in the region of £40million however the former Everton boss has issued a hands off warning. Moyes is desperate to keep the 19-year-old at the club as he looks to build his squad around the highly rated talent.

Mourinho hot on Rod C

helsea are considering an end of season move for Wolfsburg full-back Ricardo Rodriguez, according to reports from BILD. The Blues were linked with the Swiss international last month, but deals for Kurt Zouma, Mohamed Salah and Namanja Matic, as well as Juan Mata’s exit, took preference during a busy month in West London. However, Jose Mourinho is still said to be keen on the defender. With Ashley Cole set to leave Stamford Bridge in six months’ time, Chelsea are thought to be keen to draft in a new left-back, with Cesar Azpilicueta – a right-sided player – currently filling the role.

Alex Owumi: I played basketball for Gaddafi

lex Owumi signed a contract to play for a team in Benghazi, Libya, he had no idea that his employer was the the most feared man in the country. In December 2010 when I arrived in Benghazi, Libya's second biggest city, to play basketball for a team called Al-Nasr Benghazi. I had stayed in some nice places playing for teams in Europe, but this seventh-floor apartment in the middle of town was something else. It was like the Taj Mahal. I didn't immediately notice the photographs dotted around the place - of Libyan leader Col Muammar Gaddafi and his grandchildren. When I did, I phoned the team president and he told me how it was. "The apartment belongs to Mutassim Gaddafi, the Colonel's son," he said. "Al-Nasr is the Gaddafi club. You are playing for the Gaddafi family."

Vidic confirms he is leaving Mananchester UnitedUnited

defender Nemanja Vidic has announced he will leave the club at the end of this season after refusing to hold talks over a new deal. David Moyes was keen to keep his club captain at Old Trafford but Vidic, who is out of contract this summer, has decided to move on after eight years in Manchester.

Mourinho targets three top strikers for a summer move

helsea manager Jose Mourinho has reportedly short-listed 3 strikers to make a summer move . The Portuguese is eager to add a world class striker to his ranks in the summer after opting not to sign a centre-forward in the winter. Diego Costa, Edinson Cavani and Mario Mandzukic are all being considered as potential candidates to lead the Chelsea forward line next season.

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n June 2013, Neymar da Silva Santos Júnior signed a 5-year contract with FC Barcelona, after the Blaugranas have accepted to pay 57 million euros for the Brazilian’s transfer fee. Neymar’s official salary will allow him to earn 7m euros per year (net figures), Neymar’s gross yearly salary would be something around 14.583.333,00 euros, as he must pay 52% of taxes over that value. However, Neymar‘s full paycheck at Barcelona actually be somehow disguised through an additional sum that will be paid as “comission fee” to his father. Neymar’s contract includes a 40m euros comission to Neymar‘s father, which in fact many believe to be a second slice of Neymar’s salary. These recent revelations made the Barcelona President, Sandro Rosell to resign his appointment. If we split these 40m euros for the 5 years on which they will be paid, we get an extra 8m euros of wages that will go straight into Neymar‘s pockets. By confirming this scenario above, Neymar’s yearly salary may actually be the initial 7m euros on his contract, plus the additional 8m euros that will be paid each year and that come from his transfer’s comission fee, he ends up earning a total of 15m euros. These figures would make of Neymar the 3rd best paid football player in the World With so much fame in his early age, so far he is taking it pretty and even his time in Brazilian league he was one of the highest payed players in the world making around $10m a year The 22 year old, Brazilian International, has been spending with that rate also, he has bought so many expensive properties in Brazil, expensive cars and yacht

1. VOLVO XC 60 – $75000

Neymar ’s first car purchase was of VOLVO XC60 which he bought when he was passing his driving license and according to him this is the best car for the learning driving, It cost him around $75,000, we say its a pretty expensive driving learing car Mr Neymar.

2. PORSCHE PANAMERA – $132,000

Neymar earned around $18 million dollars in the last year and around $132,000 he spent on buying a very expensive car from Porsche and the

English elite chase Marseille's Lopez Nigeria international

arseille midfielder Maxime Lopez is proving another draw for English scouts. Chelsea, Arsenal, City and Liverpool have again been among the clubs listed as visiting the Stade Velodrome on a frequent basis to study the 16-year-old. He has been playing in Marseille's Under-17 side but also appeared in this season's UEFA Youth League competition.

SATURDAY Vanguard, FEBRUARY 8, 2014—39

Compiled by

Ephraim Oseji

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model is Panamera.

Neymar earns.

3. AUDI R8 GT – $246,000

4. HELICOPTER

Another monster of a car which Neymar bouth at the start of this year is Audi R8 GT, the newest model of the brand which comes at a hafty price tag of a around $250K but thats nothing compared to what

We dont know how much it cost for him to buy this helicopter but it certainly wont be cheap, he is a star in Brazil and just like other super stars he dont like to be kept waiting so he bought himself another toy to move around.

5. YACHT – $8 million

Neymar recently spent huge sum of money to buy a 2nd hand yacht which cost him around $9m, and we also have to consider the amount of money needed to be spent for the maintenance which will be around $100 per day.

United in chase of Arsenal youngster Willock

anchester United are continuing their pursuit of Arsenal prodigy Chris Willock. The 16-year-old has been training with the Arsenal first team and is contracted until July but has yet to sign up as a scholar. That means United could still sign him potentially for £300,000 compensation if the scholar forms remain unsigned.

Fans Zone

City scouts scout Verona youngster Mohamed Fares

Nigeria international anchester City scouts were in

the crowd at the Viareggo Cup youth tournament in Italy this week with Hellas Verona midfielder Mohamed Fares reputedly the main object of their attention. The 17-yearold Fares, a French midfielder with Algerian roots impressed against Lazio with Liverpool also having representatives in the stands.

Are you a Manchester United, Chelsea, Arsenal, Liverpool, Barcelona fan and would like to meet fans, male or female from other part of the country. Then send ur name, age, where you live and the club u support to 0802354-2350. sms only

Horlammy, 30, Sagamu. Chelsea wants a female fan 08126686730 Joseph, male, 22, Delta. Chelsea, wants a female fan 07012685359 zPrince Tony, 40, Onitsha. Arsenal wants a female fan. 08030938889 zAnderson, male, 27, Chelsea wants a female fan. 08128342630 z z

Quiz of the Week

Who is the new coach of Swansea FC . Send ur answers to 0802354-2350 sms only

Last week winner (Atube Peter, Asaba)

40 —SATURDAY Vanguard, FEBRUARY 8, 2014

Daddy Sho wk ey Showk wke clashes with Nnenna at ‘V alentine sho w’ ‘Valentine show’

2shotz engages in ‘School war’

The forthcoming St. Valentine Day promises to be a exciting time for children and their families as Daddy Showkey, the veteran Galala Master makes a comeback to his first love at the eagerly-anticipated Nnenna and Friends Valentine show.

By KEHINDE AJOSE

The expected 5,000 attendees would also witness topnotch musical performances from the fantastic Oshadipe Twins and delightful N-Stars; stand-up comedy by the hilarious MC Prince, Desmond

enowned rapper two shotz has joined the likes of Ice Prince, Sound Sultan, and others who have made their Nollywood debut. 2shotz played a role in the Maccolins Chidebere film- ‘School war.’ The versatile rapper who has been off the social radar joined the likes of Mimi Orijikwe Amanda Ebiye, Rita Daniels and others In this flick produced by Chinwe Isaac and directed by Macolins Chidebere. The fans of 2shotz are already anticipating what it will be like to see their star on set.

Ice Prince Shocker:

Ev aw as m ir st Eva was myy ffir irst

girlfriend R

APPERS are known not only to be true to their art, also to be true to themselves. This statement came to the fore at the second anniversary edition of the monthly ‘Loud N Proud’ live music concert which took place at Soul Lounge , Intercontinental hotel, Lagos, last Thursday. At the event, Ice Prince confessed that he once dated beautiful rapper Eva Alordiah. He says:’ Let me tell you something I’ve never said before in the public ‘Eva was the first girlfriend I had when I came to Lagos,, that was way back. Eva was apparently surprised , collected the mic , giggled and said:’ I don’t know what he is talking about.’

C M Y K

Osarobe and wapTV’s Omonla; electrifying dance steps by the electrifying Universal Crew; and of course, Papa Ajasco and Company, Nigeria’s Number One Comedy Troupe will be there to make everyone laugh and laugh. Also, the irresistible Toyin Tomato and the stingiest man on earth- Chief Ahun from the multiaward winning Superstory will be on hand to thrill fans. The show holds on Sunday, February 16, at the air-conditioned National Theatre, IganmuLagos.

•Daddy showkey)

I ‘ll give my best of 50 years on stage – KSA By AYO ONIKOYI

uju music legend and one of Africa’s greatest music maestros, Chief Sunday Adeniyi Adegeye popularly known as King Sunny Ade has pledged to dole out his best performance during the forthcoming Glo Evergreen Series, the KSA Edition in Lagos on February 28. “The Glo Evergreen show coming up on February 28 will feature the best of my performances in my 50 years on stage”, said KSA . He also gave kudos to Globacom for coming up with such a laudable concept, adding that the project will provide unique opportunities for the younger generation to learn from the legends. According to him,“The Glo Evergreen Series has opened a new vista in the Nigerian music

industry and it will go a long way in uniting the country’s entertainment Industry. Dr. Mike Adenuga Jr. is a man that came with the power of the Holy Spirit to rescue the communication industry in Nigeria ”. King Sunny Ade described the Koko Master, D’ Banj and Yemi Sax who will perform along with him during the special show as young Nigerian musicians with appreciable following, saying that they will jointly give their fans a memorable night.

SATURDAY Vanguard, FEBRUARY 8, 2014 — 41

Day Ibari Ogwa shut down Owerri

Flavour gives back to Alma Mater

By SAM ANOKAM

HE city of Owerri and its environs were temporarily shut down as a frontline entertainment guru and show promoter, East of the Niger, Chief Chukwudi Ofoha popularly known as Ibari Ogwa bade his late mother, Ezinne Edith Ofoha(nee Ezewuike) a last farewell in grand style. Ofoha left nothing to chance as he dragged the crème de la crème of the society to Alaenyi Ogwa in Mbaitoli Local Government Area of Imo State. The burial which turned into a massive entertainment festival had the likes of gospel musician, Felix Ndukwe, Chief Morocco Maduka, the Ekpili exponent, Mr. Patrick, Sir Warrior Junior, Stanley Chikoro, one man band, and a whole lot of artistes, thrilled the crowd that gathered at a secondary school in his home town. From the white Rolls Royce hearse that carried his late mother’s remains, the Billboard of the late Ezinne was mounted at strategic places within teh state capital. The intimidating bouncers, security operatives of various categories to the long convoy that startled the sleepy community, as well as the various infusion of entertainment activities like jokes, acrobatic displays among others were the side attraction at funeral rites. It was indisputable that the owner of the biggest entertainment hangout in Owerri spared giving his late mother who died at the age of 55, a befitting burial rites.

...Announces $1000 music

scholarship

By BENJAMIN NJOKU

igeria’s hottest music sensation and highlife fusion musician, Flavour Nabania has remembered his Alma Mater, College of Immaculate Conception,CIC, Enugu, as he donated musical equipment to the school in appreciation of the role it played in his musical career. Flavour was at the school during the week where he was received at the assembly ground alongside his band members, management team and close associates to a rousing applause by a massive presence of students numbering about 4000 and the school authorities. In a brief speech, Flavour shared a memorable moving story of his life while at CIC Enugu with the students; “I’m using this opportunity to announce the annual Mr. Flavour Nabania excellence in music star prize of $1,000. This prize will be given to the best graduating student of music every year.

•Flavour Music knowledge is key to be a successful musician like me. Remember to be yourself, stay original and don’t ever forget the son or daughter of whom you are and where you’re coming from. By God’s grace I see many Flavours amongst you here today and pray God will guide your path and bless you too with success.”

D’banj hobnobs with Obasanjo By KEHINDE AJOSE

ELF acclaimed Kokomaster , Dbanj was recently appointed the face of ‘One Year of Agriculture Campaign ’ in Lagos. A day after the official announcement, he was seen board a flight to Addis Ababa with Nigeria’s ex president Chief Olusegun Obasanjo on their way to Ethiopia for the African Union Summit. “Just touched down Addis Ababa for the AU SUMMIT With the No 1 Farmer in Africa, President Olusegun Obasanjo (Baba Iyabo himself)” he titled the photo on Instagram. Dbanj is gradually building an irresistible business brand that transcends the entertainment scene. He is sure living out his dreams as a s uperstar.

Golden Tulip set to host another Music fiesta

HE organizers of the most popular annual musical event tagged, Music Festival Lagos, has concluded plans to host the second edition of the music fiesta on Friday, March 7 at the main event ground of Golden Tulip, Festac, Lagos . The paid annual event and live music concept, produced by Five Star Music in conjunction with Golden Tulip Festac is expected to host over 10,000 music lovers. Featuring at the prestigious event are big names like Onyeka Onwenu, King Sunny Ade, Flavour, Tiwa Savage, Kcee, Harrysong, D’Banj, Sean Tissle, Blackky, Sir Shina Peters, Davido, Julius Agwu, Bovi, Alibaba, Elenu, Olamide, Phyno, Bracket, Chidinma, J Martins, Iceprince, Daddy Showkey, MI, among many others. Sponsors include the Nigerian Breweries, Airfrance , Egypt Air, Sweet Home, Tanamont Nigeria , among others.

42 — Vanguard, SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 2014

C M Y K

SATURDAY Vanguard, FEBRUARY 8, 2014 — 43

BY IYABO AINA

Pre-Oscar award 2014

…..names of nominees so far T

he Academy Awards, commonly known as The Oscars, is an annual American awards ceremony honouring achievements in the film industry. The 86th Academy Awards will hold on Sunday,March 2, 2014, at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles. Here are the list of nominees for the awerd. Who among these actors and actresses do you think deserve to win big at this year’s Oscar?

Bes or Bestt Act Actor orss

Cate Blanchett

Chiwetel Ejiofor

Matthew McConaughey

Nominated Role Matthew McConaughey plays Ron Woodroof, a man diagnosed with HIV who finds a way to obtain the drugs that the government and the pharmaceutical companies are refusing to supply. Academy Awards History This is the first Academy Award nomination for Matthew McConaughey.

Matthew McConaughey

Bruce Dern

Nominated Role Bruce Dern portrays Woody Grant, a difficult older man who was convinced that he has won a million dollars in a magazine sweepstakes. Academy Awards History This is the second Academy Award nomination for Bruce Dern. He was previously nominated for COMING HOME (1978).Nominee, Actor in a Supporting Role

Bruce Dern

Nominated Role Sandra Bullock portrays Ryan Stone, a medical engineer who finds herself stranded in space during her first shuttle mission. Academy Awards History This is the second Academy Award nomination for Sandra Bullock. She was previously nominated for: THE BLIND SIDE (2009) Winner, Actress in a Leading Role

Meryl Streep Christian Bale

Leonardo DiCaprio

Nominated Role Leonardo DiCaprio plays Jordan Belfort, a successful stockbroker who becomes involved in a fraudulent securities exchange deal. Academy Awards History Including his nomination this

Nominated Role As Jasmine, Cate Blanchett portrays a formerly wealthy woman who moves in with her sister after the break-up of her marriage. Academy Awards History This is the sixth Academy Award nomination for Cate Blanchett. She was previously nominated for: ELIZABETH: THE GOLDEN AGE (2007) Nominee, Actress in a Leading Role I’M NOT THERE (2007) Nominee, Actress in a Supporting Role NOTES ON A SCANDAL (2006) Nominee, Actress in a Supporting Role THE AVIATOR (2004) Winner, Actress in a Supporting Role ELIZABETH (1998) Nominee, Actress in a Leading Role

Sandra Bullock

Christian Bale

Nominated Role As Irving Rosenfeld, Christian Bale plays a con man who assists an FBI agent in his attempt to entrap government officials. Academy Awards History This is the second Academy Award nomination for Christian Bale. He was previously nominated for:THE FIGHTER (2010)Winner, Actor in a supporting role.

THE AVIATOR (2004) Nominee, Actor in a Leading Role WHAT’S EATING GILBERT GRAPE (1993) Nominee, Actor in a Supporting Role

Best Actresses

Chiwetel Ejiofor

Nominated Role As Solomon Northup, Chiwetel Ejiofor plays a free black man who was kidnapped and sold into slavery. Academy Awards History This is the first Academy Award nomination for Chiwetel Ejiofor.

year for Best Picture for THE WOLF OF WALL STREET, this is the fifth Academy Award nomination for Leonardo DiCaprio. He was previously nominated for: BLOOD DIAMOND (2006) Nominee, Actor in a Leading Role

Leonardo DiCaprio

Nominated Role Meryl Streep portrays Violet Weston, an Oklahoma matriarch whose three grown daughters return home for their father’s funeral. Academy Awards History This is the eighteenth Academy Award nomination for Meryl Streep. She was previously nominated for: THE IRON LADY (2011) Winner, Actress in a Leading Role JULIE & JULIA (2009) Nominee, Actress in a Leading Role DOUBT (2008)

Cate Blanchett

Sandra Bullock

Meryl Streep Nominee, Actress in a Leading Role THE DEVIL WEARS PRADA (2006) Nominee, Actress in a Leading Role ADAPTATION (2002) Nominee, Actress in a Supporting Role MUSIC OF THE HEART (1999) Nominee, Actress in a Leading Role ONE TRUE THING (1998) Nominee, Actress in a Leading Role THE BRIDGES OF MADISON COUNTY (1995)

Nominee, Actress in a Leading Role POSTCARDS FROM THE EDGE (1990) Nominee, Actress in a Leading Role A CRY IN THE DARK (1988) Nominee, Actress in a Leading Role IRONWEED (1987) Nominee, Actress in a Leading Role OUT OF AFRICA (1985) Nominee, Actress in a Leading Role SILKWOOD (1983) Nominee, Actress in a Leading Role SOPHIE’S CHOICE (1982) Winner, Actress in a Leading Role THE FRENCH LIEUTENANT’S WOMAN (1981) Nominee, Actress in a Leading Role KRAMER VS. KRAMER (1979) Winner, Actress in a Supporting Role THE DEER HUNTER (1978) Nominee, Actress in a Supporting Role Judi Dench Photo : Judi Dench , 5-2-2014 Nominated Role Judi Dench plays Philomena, a woman searching for the child she was forced to give up for adoption years ago Academy Awards History This is the seventh Academy Award nomination for Judi Dench. She was previously nominated for: NOTES ON A SCANDAL (2006) Nominee, Actress in a Leading Role MRS. HENDERSON PRESENTS (2005) Nominee, Actress in a Leading Role IRIS (2001) Nominee, Actress in a Leading Role CHOCOLAT (2000) Nominee, Actress in a Supporting Role SHAKESPEARE IN LOVE (1998) Winner, Actress in a Supporting Role MRS. BROWN (1997) Nominee, Actress in a Leading Role Amy Adams Photo : Amy Adams ,5-22014 Nominated Role Amy Adams plays Sydney Prosser, a con artist who persuades a small-time operator to expand the scope of his scams. Academy Awards History This is the fifth Academy Award nomination for Amy Adams. She was previously nominated for: THE MASTER (2012) Nominee, Actress in a Supporting Role THE FIGHTER (2010) Nominee, Actress in a Supporting Role DOUBT (2008) Nominee, Actress in a Supporting Role JUNEBUG (2005) Nominee, Actress in a Supporting Role

44—SATURDAY Vanguard, FEBRUARY 8, 2014

Plus-sized models storm the runway lus-sized models present the Plus Size display in the show P storm the runway Fall/Winter 2013 proudly displayed their and display their curves collection show in Sao fuller frames. 08 116759 759 081 6759759

in evening wear, bridal gowns, swimwear and lingerie at Brazil’s Fashion Week. In a scene that was larger than life, a group of plus-sized models took the runway to

The macabre sex chamber of Libya’s Colonel Gaddafi UNCOVERED: The macabre sex chamber of Libya’s Colonel Gaddafi where he raped girls and boys — as young as 14. Colonel Muhammar Gaddafi kept several ‘sex dungeons’ at his palaces. Libyan tyrant forced hundreds of young girls to become his sex slaves. Gaddafi also had a ‘harem’ of young men called ‘the services

WW2 vet, jailed the day after christmas WW2 vet, 88, JAILED the day after Christmas because he couldn’t afford repairs to his office. A broke 88-year World War Two veteran from Kansas who spent a night in jail the day after Christmas and received a $500 fine because he can’t afford to pay for repairs to his own property has spoken out. Horton resident, Kenneth Knudson, who owns his own jewelers in the same town, was cited for a code violation to his building after failing to produce a plan to fix a cracked exterior wall. Found guilty of contempt of court on December 23 at the town’s Municipal Court, Knudson has repeatedly claimed he simply cannot afford to restore his business. ‘I felt like that was pretty severe punishment,’ said Knudson, who said he had been a member of Horton’s business community for several years and past president of the Chamber of Commerce. ‘I grew up in this area. I am a World War II veteran and I didn’t really expect to be treated this way.’ Police Chief John Calhoon said he felt the situation was an unfortunate one for Knudson but said the law does not exempt anyone from compliance, despite age, whether they are a veteran, or whether they have the money.

group’. Dictator visited schools and ‘chose’ his victims with a pat on the head. When the dictator’s body was dragged through the streets by a baying mob, just hours after he was beaten and shot in the head, the hastily convened transitional government moved swiftly to seal off the sex dungeon. They feared the

Models scurried to and fro backstage in a frantic pleasant scene in preparation for the big reveal. The collection included evening wear, bridal dresses, swimwear and intimate apparel. The models appeared at ease as they strutted their stuff and ultimately stripped down to show off some skin.

full extent of Gaddafi’s debased and lewd lifestyle would horrify the Western world and cause deep embarrassment to Libya. One of the rooms holds little more than a double bed, lit by an orange lamp. Its 1970s decor and grimy Jacuzzi – all left exactly as they were when Gaddafi last used it – give it a seedy and gloomy air. But even more chilling is the clinical gynaecological suite in an adjoining room. It was here, on two beds fitted with stirrups behind a table laden with surgical instruments, that Gaddafi’s young victims were examined to ensure they had no sexually transmittable diseases. And here they were forced to u n d e r g o abortions if they b e c a m e pregnant. Gaddaffi was killed in October 2011, after 42 years of dictatorship.

ather of 22 children by 11 women is spared jail to look after baby. A jobless man who claimed to have fathered 22 children by 11 women was spared jail for dealing drugs – after telling a judge he needed to help care for his youngest. Raymond Hull, 58, who has been married only once and has lived off benefits for a decade, insisted ‘I just love kids’, but admitted he was in contact with only ‘about 12’ of them. Despite police finding a stash of cannabis and text messages from customers, a judge accepted he was helping to raise child number 22 – seven-month-old Barry – while his partner returned to work. With ‘considerable hesitation’ the judge went on to impose a suspended sentence. Afterwards Hull – who has a series of convictions dating back four decades – defended his unconventional lifestyle, saying he had ‘never been short of offers’. ‘I just love kids,’ he said. ‘I don’t regret anything, even though I don’t speak to them all. Some of them don’t even know I’m their dad.’ And he bragged: ‘I don’t know what it is about me, but I’m never short of offers. Raymond Hull narrowly missed time behind bars when his 18-month jail sentence was suspended to allow him to care for his youngest son Barry ‘It’s just my luck that every time I have a one-night stand, the girl ends up getting pregnant.‘I’ve never had to chase after women. I’m easy going, they are always chasing me. ‘If it’s tidy, you don’t knock it back, do you?’

Paulo. In a country noted for its bevy of beautiful women, including notable exports of Gisele Bündchen and Alessandra Ambrosio, the Brazilian women on

Father of 22 children by 11 women

nited Arab Emirates forces new mothers to breastfeed by L AW (and gives husbands right to sue if they don’t) Women in the United Arab Emirates must breastfeed their children, or their husbands could sue them, according to a new law. The legislation passed this month, requires all able Emirati women to breastfeed their children for at least two years. The Federal National Council included a clause in the new Child Rights Law which states that it is a human right for

United Arab Emirates forces new mothers to breastfeed by law

a child to be breast fed, and that nursing is now mandatory. However, the UAE’s Minister of Social Affairs, Mariam Al Roumi, said the fact that breastfeeding is now forced upon women, could lead to husbands suing their wives if they do not follow the law. ‘This part of the law can be a burden,’ Ms Al Roumi told The National. ‘If the law forced women to breastfeed, this could lead to new court cases.’

SATURDAY Vanguard Vanguard,, FEBRUARY 8, 2014—45

Eddie Ugbomah bids goodbye to film making !

...Celebrates 50yrs as entertainer BY BENJAMIN NJOKU

50 yyear ear earss in the ent er tr enter erttainment indus industr tryy M

eanwhile, describing his 50 years sojourn in the entertainment world as “fantastic and memorable”, Ugbomah who shot his first film in 1956, long before some of today’s film makers were born said, he feels very fulfilled as a veteran film maker despite the fact that the industry has not witnessed any real growth over the years. He, however, lamented the deplorable state of the movie industry, blaming the anomalies on the practitioners who refused to join forces with him several years ago, when he raised alarm over the presence of the South Africa’s owned Dstv in the country. “I only pity the situation today. When I raised alarm about 20 years ago that Nigerians should not allow Dstv owners to come into the country. They called me a crazy man. They sneaked into the country through the back door claiming that they were organising a programme called “The Directors” only for them to turnaround and established a cable network of the great opportunities they saw in Nigeria. Today, the film industry is suffering their presence in the country because people are no longer buying films as a result of AfricaMagic. Then the stakeholders said I was crazy and therefore, refused to listen to me. That’s why most film makers today are dividing their films into part 1,part II and part III, realising that by the time they finishing selling all the parts, they would have recouped whatever money they invested in the film. That’s my only regret. Whereas, in the early days of Nollywood each producer was grossing over N30 million to N40 million per movie. But today, it has changed. You can’t gross up to N100,000 because people are no longer buying the films again.

t 73, with 50 years of it being spent in the entertainment industry, acefilm maker, Chief Eddie Ugbomah(OON) does not need to blow his trumpet as one of Nigeria’s living legends. Having began his film career in an American university in the late 50s, produced and directed some controversial films and documentaries about Nigeria and also presided over the Nigerian Film Corporation, Ugbomah has seen it all. Yet, as the song writer articulated, a prophet is not honoured in his home town. The old man seems to be calling on his ‘big friends’ and well-wishers to rise in celebration of his life and achievements while he’s still full of life. As a matter of fact, he has set aside the month of July for a double celebration of his 50 years in the entertainment industry as well as his 73rd birthday anniversary. The five days event,

Why Femi Kuti can’t win GRAMMY award R

eviewing the Nigerian entertainment industry, Ugbomah explained why Femi Kuti has not been able to win the Grammy after he was nominated thrice for the award. According to him, the award is all about business and not sentiment. He said, “Femi Kuti has been nominated thrice for the Grammy but he never won the award. It is all about business and not sentiment. The agents work it out, they arrange it properly so that when he goes there, he wins that award and gets a boom all over the world. Fela, his father didn’t win any award but he won the world award with his music. Femi will go a long way to win a Grammy. He needs a management team,an agent and financiers who will invest into his music for the world market. But he is depending on his father’s

which holds in Lagos and Abuja, respectively will also witness the public presentation of the legend’s autobiography, a musical concert and the world premiere of his very last film, tentatively titled, “Onyenusi: The Second Generation.” Also, there will be a workshop/seminar focusing on the film industry. The celebration will climax with the unveiling of Eddie Ugbomah’s foundation. In a recent interview with Past Perfect, Ugbomah said, ahead of the historic event that he has set up a committee of friends which is chaired by the re-elected president of Association of Movie Producers,AMP, Mr. Zik Zulu Okafor . The committee, according to him, has among other things, the mandate to organise, source for fund and coordinate the event. Specifically, Ugbomah disclosed that he has sent out letters to three governors who are his friends, namely Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan of Delta State, Raji Fashola of Lagos State and Adams Oshiomole of Edo State, soliciting their support to make the epoch-making event a success. He was also optimistic that the Minister of Culture, Tourism and National Orientation, High Chief Edem Duke will throw his weight behind the celebration. “I’m not suffering from neither ulcer nor kidney failure or any other deadly disease. But I want to be celebrated alive. I am demanding and requesting that my friends should celebrate me while I am still alive.” According to him, “I am announcing the celebration of my 50 years in the entertainment world as well as the marking of 73rd birthday anniversary in July. The event will also witness the launch of my autobiography and a musical concert tagged “Niger Delta stars and their friends.” While revealing that he has completed

the shooting of his very last film, “Onyenusi: The Second Generation”, which centres on the predicaments of the Nigerian youths, Ugbomah, however, announced his plans to quit film making immediately after the celebration, saying he wants to concentrate more on his Academy and producing of documentaries. “I want to concentrate on producing documentaries. Also, I want to find a way of moving the music Makers Hall of Fame and Film Makers Hall of Fame to Abuja. We are currently negotiating to acquire a parcel of land to build a film village there. It is a very big things for me this year. I am calling on my three friends, Governors of Delta State, Lagos and Edo State to help celebrate me while I am still alive. I want to be celebrated now that I’m still alive and not when I’m dead and gone,” said the movie legend.

46—SA TURD AY 46—SATURD TURDA

Vanguard,FEBRU ARY 8 anguard,FEBRUARY 8,, 2014

Can having an older father damage a child’s health? mother.” His report suggested that the apparently surging number of children diagnosed with autism may at least in part be explained by the ever increasing age of fathers. So how exactly do older fathers pass on health problems to their children?Just as a man’s memory and skin elasticity gets worse with age, the quality of his

growing body of researchers is showing men who delay fatherhood are putting their children’s health at risk every bit as much as women who decide to delay motherhood until they are 40s. New studies suggest that children born to older men may be at raised risk of a string of genetic disorders and diseases, including autism, schizophrenia and developmental problems such as dwarfism and cleft patate. Some have even linked having an older father to Alzheimer’s disease, bipoIa disorder (previously known as manic depression), heart disease and cancer. For decades, women have been urged to have children while they’re young to avoid the risk of their children developing conditions associated with the mother’s advancing age, such as Down’s Syndrome. But now scientists have warned that a man in his 40s is twice as likely to pass down potentially disease-forming genetic mutations as a man in his 20s. In other words, the biological clock ticks for men too. The theory, experts warn, could cause a fundamental shift in sexual politics, halting the trend for older parenthood in its tracks and prompting women to think twice when choosing the men who father their children. Until now, it has largely been believed that there really were no limits on older men becoming fathers — apart, of course, from them not being they get older. “Society has around: to see their children grow up. For traditionally been very decades, scientists have focused on the age of the speculated about links mother,” says Dr. Karl between older fathers and Stefansson of Decode birth defects. But it was only Genetics, a leading genetic recently that a ground research company, who led breaking study, published in the study. “But it seems that such as the respected journal Nature, disorders schizophrenia and autism are proved that men undoubtedly pass on more genetic actually influenced by the age mutations to their children as of the father and not the

sperm seems to have as well, the experts explain. Crucially, unlike women who are born with a complete set of eggs, men continually make new sperm throughout their lifetime. Every 16 days, cells in the testicles divide and the DNA each cell is copied into a new one which is used to make new sperms. The body is highly accurate at making an exact copy, but inevitably it sometimes makes mistakes. Some sperm will be made containing an error in the DNA — what’s known as genetic mutation. As a man gets older, says Professor Wilkie, the copying process becomes tired and less efficient and his sperm contains more mutations. And if mutated sperm is then used to form a foetus, there’s more chance of problems in its development. “It’s a game of chance. It may be that this mutation does not occur in a critical place. But sometimes the game of chance is against you and the mutation hits a gene that will lead or predispose

Crucially, unlike women who are born with a complete set of eggs, men continually make new sperm throughout their lifetime

your child to a certain condition. So if the mutation is in the gene controlling brain development, for example, it can cause autism or schizophrenia. And potentially if a mutation occurs in a gene affecting your risk of a type of cancer, it could increase the chances of the child getting it in later life. Of course, children born to older parents can enjoy many advantages — research has shown they do better at school and even live longer,and often their parents can offer an emotionally and financially more stable childhood.”

r. Stefansson’s report has been challenged by other experts, however, who point out that autism may be on the rise simply because of better diagnosis, adding that the causes of the condition are complex and still not well understood. “There is now quite a bit of literature showing the relationship between a father having a child at an older age and the risk of the child having negative and behavioural consequences,” says Dr. Avi Reichenberg, aneuro psychologist and epidemiologist at King’s College London, and expert in this area. “These are small risks and, of course, most children born to older men will be healthy, but people should be aware that there are two biological clocks ticking when it comes to the decision to create a child.”

How you can stop your man wriggling out of his promises! T’S the time of year when you get all sorts of stories from friends and employers on why they couldn’t come up with those Christmas presents you’d so much looked forward to. Some even make glib promises only to disappear when it’s time to deliver. There are many occasions when we may suspect that our menfolk are being economical with the truth. But how can we tell if our instincts are right? Ex US Army interrogator, Gregory Harley is an expert on how people try to deceive. He has now coauthored a book that tells you all you’ll need to know to spot C M Y K

when your partner is lying. Hartley suggests there are three main ways that people lie —through commission, omission and embellishment. Commission is making up a story altogether. Omission is leaving out the spicy bits. Embellishment is making things bigger than they really are. So how can you tell if someone is fibbing? Here are his top tips: Listen to the way he talks: Everyone has a normal ca-

dence or speech. When he answers too quickly and rushes to get past a point, or pauses dramatically, you may have cause for disbelief. And have the pitch and tone of his voice changed? Indicator that stress is affecting the vocal cords. The human voice is not always under conscious self-control. When we tell lies, we create stress, and stress restrains the vocal cord. So listen out for deviation from normal confident tone. Look at his face — if he gets

When we tell lies, we create stress, and stress restrains the vocal cord

shifty during conservation, it is a sure sign of stress causing the blood to leave his face, and an indicator that you have stumbled on something. Home in on the details: Where was he? More details than usual is a bad sign. Too little is a sign that he’s omitted something. Either way is NOT good. When someone makes up a story, they never consistently remember the details. It’s like zooming in on a person in a photo and forgetting the background. Genuine or copy?: When someone lies by embellishing or transferring details from someone else’s story,they will forget to tie it into their own

life. So it’s like finding a photo of someone else in their life story— it just doesn’t fit . . Go backwards and forwards: When you suspect that someone is lying by omission, try following the time line backwards and look for gaps. Only professional liars practise lying back to front. “ Conspirators see eye to eye: Normal eye-movements shifts around a bit. Looking to others for reinforcement is a sign of a sub-plot. Other pieces of body language can confirm if someone ...

SATURDAY

Are you ‘Plan A’ or ‘Plan B’? Y

ou’ve begged, pleaded and bargained with God to please bring him back. You’ve sworn that you will be a better person and appreciate him more. You just know that this person holds the key to unlock the door to happiness for you. Without him, you’re nothing. You’re miserable and you’re lonely. Then, as if the heavens opened up and sprinkled golden stars on the telephone that hasn’t rung in months - it rings. It’s him. Of course he can come over. He does, and he is pouring his heart out to you, reciting a multitude of past “sins” and apologies. He showers you with accolades of how much you have meant to him, and how totally empty and uneventful life has been without you. You are the only one he’s been able to think about ever since the two of you

parted ways. You listen and find your heart overflowing with love. You leave behind all the pain and resentment you felt when you

were unceremoniously dropped and your heart was tossed in front of a semi truck. Caught up in the romantic moment, you lose all memory

Vanguard, FEBRUARY 8, 2014—47

of him dancing merrily off into the night with the creature he met at a party a few months ago. You want to believe what is being said is true. You need to believe that you are the one that made the difference in his life, and that you are the one that is the brilliant star that makes his life complete. The lines are cast … and yes, you take the bait. And once again, you don’t hear from him. You call, but there are no return calls. Nothing happens. No magical nights as promised. No better “boyfriend” after all. What happened? You made it too easy for him to waltz back into your life. To him, it was just a check to ensure that you are still pining away for the relationship or, in other words you are “Plan B.” How do you avoid being “Plan B”? It’s not easy, but here are a few tips: *Do not dwell on how great the relationship was. (It did break up for a reason.) *Do not sit alone by the phone hoping that it will ring. *Find some powerful music and listen to it! (“I Can Do Better” is a great start.) *Release the resentment, and be grateful that you were

dumped. It gives you the opportunity to find someone better. *Allow yourself a brief mourning period. Suffering a loss of any kind deserves a period of mourning. If he cheated, it shouldn’t take very long. *The first time he comes around and wants to get back together, do not cave in to his litany extolling your virtues – listen, but tell him you’ll think about it. *The second time he comes around, let him know you’re still considering it. *The third time he comes around, tell him you’ll discuss it with your current significant other (who could be anyone – your dog can always be your significant other.) *The fourth time he comes around, let him know that you need to actually see the behaviour changes. Talk is cheap. Using promises of this or that just isn’t going to cut it. *The fifth time he comes around, tell him you will go to dinner and see how that goes. Hopefully you will have gotten over the “ex” by the 5th time, and refuse to do anything with him. The whole point is simple. If you do not want to be a “Plan B,” you must alter your attitude to be “Plan A” and this means that you force your ex to work for you! If you hold a “Plan A” frame of mind, you will get the respect that a ‘Plan A’ deserves. And here’s a big hint: when you have that “Plan A” attitude, you will attract someone who respects you and chances are, your ex will remain an ex.

How to get what you want

ow can you make him jump in line? It’s time for a graduate class in Getting Your Way. How do you get what you want and strengthen your relationship? This article will give you more than a hint.

If nagging was effective with your guy, would you even respect him? Doubtful. Nagging comes from a very negative and troubled place. It doesn’t feel good nor does it bring out the best version of you. Most men have a highly developed Nag Detector. They can sense a nag session coming a mile away. Most men are very quick to sense a frustrated female. Men are quick to detect, and clever at avoiding, a nag. A clever Queen Bee knows that nagging never works. Punishment is never an incentive. If nagging is the stick, then what is the carrot? Why not have fun while you get your way? Empower your relationship as you mold his habits. Strengthen your bond while

Ask the Sexpert I am a 27-year-old woman. Before I got married seven years ago, I was in a relationship. I’ve had three boyfriends with whom I had unprotected sex with several times. I have been loyal to my husband since we got married and we are planning to have a baby. Will my sexual history affect my chances of conception? Loyalty in marriage counts. Why hide information from your partner? No, you won’t face difficulty while starting a family. I got married a month ago. I am scared to have

you feather your nest. The good qualities that you develop in him today are an investment in your retirement, emotionally and financially.

Basic computer programming teaches us: Garbage In; Garbage Out. So, if nagging goes in, nothing good will come of it. Your man will only develop deep resentments, which is poison to a healthy loving relationship. You can program your man with positive input. Keep the messages simple and forthright. Flattery does get you everywhere. You affirm the positive. Your man will want to change and even see his betterment for it. The trick and genuine skill is how well you can disguise and vary your messages. What are his carrots? Know your man, for this knowledge will become your bargaining tool. You want to start associating his pleasures with your goals. Like suggesting he watches the football game or offering a shoulder rub when he remembers to make a dinner

sex because of the pain it may cause me. My husband is forceful when passionate. Ask your husband to be gentle. And try and ease your fears. The vagina is built to widen enough to allow a baby through. Apply Xylocaine gel 2% in and around the opening of the vagina, wait 15 minutes and wipe it off before sex. I got married 18 months ago, but my wife hasn’t been able to conceive. She is 28, and we enjoy a good sex life. She has an irregular period and is being treated for the same. All tests results have come back normal. If your sperm count and other morphology is

reservation. The messages that you convey must reach him on different visceral levels. Treat this exercise as if it were a game of strategy and propaganda. By exercising proper subtlety, you’ll make him want to change. This creates a better outcome than nagging every single time.

normal, and she has been cleared by the gynaecologist, having sex four times a week should help. If she is unable to conceive in six months, check with a fertility expert.

My four-year-old granddaughter presses objects against her privates. We have tried to stop her. I am worried. Is this a normal behaviour among children? This is common among young children. Do not worry. Try to divert her attention without sharing the details of why she shouldn’t be doing so. If she is willing and able to understand, tell her it’s improper behaviour in public.

48 – SATURDAY Vanguard, FEBRUARY 8, 2014

most versatile groups in the 90s and we grew and started singing round the country. They called us the most traveled group without an album. Songs like Wellu Wellu, Jump and Pass came from us. People like Ifeanyi and Sammie Okposo copyrighted us. We grew with the fulfillment of being a group that comes from a supposedly dark region and brought light to the place, because people now embrace our cultural music. It was just like magic. Many of our fathers in music started dancing and behaving like us. It was really contagious.

80% of Nigerian music lack direction

Who were the members? Myself Obus Zalee, Gordons who is hugely in comedy now and Festus. We were all members of the Milk and Honey Choir. We called it the Tadita gospel, you dey look am, e dey enter; before you know, e don hold you. It was progressive and really impressive. When Victor Oladokun spoke with us, he told us to do our own keyboard because we tell them the tones we produced were Greek language, Urhobo Greek. We were together for 16 years.

— Obus Zalee By SAM EYOBOKA

BUKOOHWO Dezalee was born on Lagos but grew up in his home state of Delta where he studied Geography at the Delta State University, Abraka. Known today as Obus Zalee, the youngman discovered his gift in the entertainment industry very early and in collaboration with two others, formed a gospel band known as DC Envoys performing songs in Urhobo and pidgin English, besides being members of the Word of Life Bible Church’s Milk and Honey Choir. In a recent interview with the writer of the Welu Welu song, confirmed that comedy is synonymous with Warri, saying; “I’m a comedian; I’m the bishop of music and comedy. I’m a singer, I’m a •Obus Zalee fashion personality.” He is into the training of youngsters in the industry and has actually perfected plans to host annual tal- music. What I did was to make ent hunt for the entertainment sure I didn’t waste the years I industry. studied geography. So, I now brought the education of muWhy did you abandon sic into geography and took the Geography for entertainment? best out of it. Now that I’m in I actually did not leave it. Yoruba land, if I want to sing, Geography is my course, but I will sing in my dialect and in my passion is music. So when Pidgin English. When I sing in I discovered that I love music Urhobo, they won’t underand I studied Geography, I de- stand, but when I sing in pidcided to apply geographical gin, they’ll understand bemusic. I call it regional music. cause I’m communicating in For example, when you go up pidgin English but with my dinorth, the kind of songs we alectic rhythm. I’ve transportsing here intrigues them. When ed the geography of Delta we sing a northern song down South to Lagos. That’s why the south here, it intrigues them. song Welu Welu was well unYou don’t really carry them derstood. along; they wonder where you come from. A Yoruba boy came I understand you were into to Warri and was singing a band, DC Envoys. Can you Urhobo songs, “we come dey talk about it? look am dey laugh.” We were It started 27 years ago. DC surprised, it was amusing. Envoys was a great group. We People will want to know more read the Bible in Pidgin Enabout where you come from. glish. We’ll read the English But for us who grew up under- Bible and translate it in pidgin. standing that geographical Like they said Jacob was music has a way of influencing sleeping and the angel was things for people. We started going around and suddenly looking at the good side of it. they started wrestling. I would So is this geography in translate it into Warri lanmusic or music in geography? guage, Jacob dey lay one day, There’s music in geography he dey sleep, small time nai and there’s geography in gbege just start, he just dey

God said you will be

so big, at a point I will send you people apart, but I will bring you together for a festival, for one single reason, that you can sing just for me.

rack. Immediately dem wake am, na only him just dey fight the person. You know say na only trouble maker dey fight person when dem wake am up. So we try to now bring the context of the bible from English to our traditional language. If you can read the white man’s language, understand their scripts and translate it in your own local dialect, it becomes more effectual. We started DC Envoys in Word of Life Bible Church under Papa Ayo Oritsejafor. We were discovered by Pastor Leo. For two years, we were rehearsing acapella. We were one of the

And how come you didn’t release any album? We did three albums. We stayed committed to the church; we stayed committed to our locality. We believed that if God doesn’t speak, we won’t move. We released three albums. The first one had songs like Who get ear make e hear oh. The second one was the one Sammie Okposo pirated, Wellu Wellu, a song of excitement. We had an accident where the car somer-saulted four times, and when we regained consciousness, we couldn’t think of any word to quantify God than to say Jesus I thank you wellu wellu. It says Wetin you do for me dey make body dey sweet me. That was what Victor Oladokun heard in America andhecametomeetusthatheneeds us to produce the song. We actually didittogetherwithSammieOkposo, and then the song came out. But therewasalittle delay,andSammie released his own in Lagos. So the lawoffirstimpression ...becausewe were from that small city, somebody who has a media here, so it blew beyond proportion. But we’ve resolved it. Believe you me; I have close to 900songs.PersonallyIhavereleased threealbums.DCEnvoyshadthree albums.Thevisibilitywhichiskilling talents in the kingdom today; was not there. If we have a platform that caters for the young, there’ll not be gap,thebridgewillbebeautiful.The young ones are fantastic; they are evenbetterthansomeofus. Youjust needtorubofyourcharacteronthem forconsistencybecausetobefamous is possible, but to manage fame is only possible with God.

What do you do now? I do comedy, I do music. But purpose is bigger than that. Comedy and music are just a means to an end. Until a man discovers his purpose, he will become an unambitious, aimless wanderer. I discovered that God has called me to take my story and replicate His purpose or interpret His purpose by helping younger ones not to go through the same pain that I went through. DC Envoys were denied, we were deprived. There’s a lot of denial and de-privation in the music industry. I don’t think children should go through that. My concern is the kingdom, the Church. We have so many churches in Niger-ia, how come 90 per cent of the children who go to reality shows are from the Church and the Church is not doing anything for them? We have so many churches with talents, how come such talents are playing in night clubs and not in the churches? Which means there is a misfit. When I say the Church, I mean myself because I am a representation of the Church. God keeps saying if you discover a fault, you are the one who perhaps has the capacity to resolve it. So I said well let me sink my life into this. So we started a club called the Christian Talent Club, CTC. It’s a group comprising of like minds pursuing stardom without loosing their core values. So we said since not everyone likes the word Christian Talent Club, but our lifestyles reflect excellen-ce, so we created a plat-form where every Niger-ian youth can take a stand. If you have it, take the stand, if you don’t have it, take the stand. By the time you take the stand we will know. But if you don’t have it and you want us to help you get into the CTC, we’ll now begin to teach you the routines of music, of comedy, of fashion, of films. I’m an actor as well as a bead maker, craft. Any gifting you have, identify it. What we do is get you to different departments, we come together and we hear the contents, they give us the right character. They say character will make sure you don’t go down. So character is the missing link. That’s why a secular artiste will sing a song and open his whole body, and will wear boxer showing it for people to see, it’s not a tradition. That’s a backward movement. So we want to see how we can raise people with core values, with proper ethics, their value for humanity for the talent that they have is well balanced. We have unbalanced talents right now; 80% of our songs don’t have a direction. They just sing what they want to sing and the beat is there, and everybody starts dancing. We carried out a research, 67 per cent of the church youths play secular music at weddings and the rest. The character is what I measure, let’s have moral people. What kind of nation will we be having two years from now?

Vanguard, SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 2014—49

By EMMA NNADOZIE

Policing Edo State: Policing Edo State in terms of making a difference takes a lot in terms of strategic planning, leadership that is willing to sacrifice by having sleepless nights and leadership by example which is to make officers and men to buy into the IGP’S vision and mission. The most important strategy is gaining the confidence of the people and having a partnership with them. This makes them give the Police useful information that helps in curbing crime. Logistics and communication are also very important tools in reducing crime. Impediments: The impediments are the usual ones. The Federal and the State Government have proffered a solution which is to increase police funding this year. This will enable the Police to deal with some of the impediments you talked about like lack of vehicles, improved communication, improved logistics generally by buying more Bullet-Proof Jackets, Assorted Arms and Ammunition for a changing society, improved welfare package and maintenance of all existing strategy which involves funding of all our activities. Magic Wand: The magic wand is in the Latin word:“Nissi Dominus Frustra” which means without God all we do is in vain. I give God all the glory and honour for the present relatively low crime rate in Edo State.

governments. Also had regular meetings and interactions with all the stake holders.

•Cp Adebanjo

Also, I see an average of about 60 people in a day, and all our activities are open to the people. I also know that we have improved tremendously as it relates to distress calls. The response time to distress calls has improved. My phone numbers and that of all other officers including distress call numbers are pasted all over the State including Police Stations. Operation that tasked his men: When you’re in a Strategic State like Edo which is the gateway to most states in the federation and “the heartbeat of the nation”, you will have several such operations.

A quick dash, like a pebble, into the Edo State Police Command Headquarters a t Sapele road, Benin city, was no less tasking than the ceaseless efforts to make the police helmsman open up on his activities. Recognising the perceived volatile nature of the state in terms of crime, this reporter who was on transit from Enugu State, had an avowed commitment to scratch water from stone, from the very amiable and unassuming Police Commissioner, Foluso Adebanjo, but nearly missed the target. The CPs re-assuring words of , “what I want is action not talks’ resonated until he capitulated for a quick one which yielded positive results before he zoomed off to the airport to receive some V.I.P ’s from the Presidency. Excerpts:

Leadership by example is one aspect that is very important. Once the men know that you are sincere and determined to work very hard, they will have no choice than to follow suit especially if the Commissioner of Police is involved in all aspects of planning an operation, monitoring and visiting them at all times and encouraging them to know that “service” to the people is the most important aspect of our being. I personally like to lead most of the operations and by so doing, they will learn a lot from me in terms of planning and executing the plan to a logical conclusion. Having a synergy with the people and other security agencies is also an essential part of curbing criminal activities. Encouraging cordial relationship: When I resumed duty in the State, the cordial relationship was not satisfactory. I had to visit almost all the local

77.60% etc. Arms recovered were 117, Live ammunition 6,447, Live cartridges 1,962, Stolen vehicles recovered 95 while 384 suspects were paraded. For the year 2014, the command hopes to improve on its proactive measures and review existing security strategies with a view to having a more peaceful Edo State where economy will strive.

had in Edo State. They are our guide in achieving all the successes and breakthroughs. His guidance and encouragement in very serious and critical moments are invaluable. Those of us who have worked with the IGP now or in the past holds him in very high esteem. His quality of advise strategy and support is immeasurable.

Panacea to low crime rate: First of all, we need to provide a conducive atmosphere for people so that they would be able to be gainfully employed. The Federal and State Governments are doing their best to ensure that people are gainfully employed. There should also be increased funding for the purchase of patrol vehicles, communication equipment,

Who is CP Adebanjo: CP Adebanjo is someone who is willing and ready to serve to the best of his abilities. I have served in many States in the country and held important and strategic positions in the Nigeria Police. My last posting before coming to Edo State was the CP in charge of Explosive ordnance disposal, also known as the Anti Bomb Command in Abuja. Legacy in Edo: Wahoo! This is an interesting question. I will like to be remembered as a CP that gave the people of Edo State qualitative and selfless leadership. I know that the crime rate has been reduced drastically which can be attested to by the people of the State. There have been several awards by Edo Zone Bankers Forum 2013 Award, the NUJ Edo, Silver bird Television, Nigeria Print Journalism Development organization, Niger Delta Legendary Awards and many others too numerous to count.The one I like most is by the ordinary Nigerians commending the Police.

I personally like to lead most of the operations and by so doing, they will learn a lot from me in terms of planning and executing the plan to a logical conclusion

There is no dull moment in the State. We are always tasked here and there have been many achievements in terms of arrests of many very dangerous criminals/suspects, recoveries of hundreds of assorted arms and thousands of different caliber of ammunition. Also, we have recovered hundreds of stolen vehicles. Records of Crime busted so far: The year is still very new. I can give you a comparative analysis of crime statistics in 2012 and 2013 as shown in the diagram and statistics which I will present to you now. You will observe the following; In 2013, murder decreased by 2.22%armed robbery – 5.46%, Kidnapping – 10.34%, Rape –

s p e c i a l i z e d equipment, armored personnel carrier, welfare of officer and men is also very important, etc. Relationship with t r a d i t i o n a l institution: Our relationship with the traditional institution is very cordial. There is a good synergy between both institutions IGP’s agenda: The InspectorGeneral of Police agenda and methodology in fighting crime is the gateway to all the achievements we’ve

Advise to the people and police: I want to appeal to the good people of Edo State that the task of protecting the people is very tasking. There is the need to collaborate with the Police by giving us useful information to combat the menace of crime in the society. We need each other to preserve a peaceful society. The Police is your friend, because we do pay the supreme price to keep the people safe.

Vanguard, FEBRU ARY 8, 2014 FEBRUARY

few weeks ago in this column, I wrote: “Both parties (courting) should submit to a thorough medical check up to know their health status: blood group, genotype, HIV status, presence of other sexually transmitted diseases, potency, fertility, etc…” I want to expatiate in view of a few messages, comments and incidents since then. Recently, a family friend won a long-drawn battle with her son, a well educated and eligible bachelor, who wanted to get married to his heartthrob, a beautiful and equally educated young lady. The problem was that both of them carry the AS genotype, which can result in giving birth to babies with sickle cell anemia (25% or 0.25 probability when both parents have the AS genotype). The mother wanted an end to the relationship. She lost three siblings who were sickle cell carriers while growing up and did not want to experience such avoidable deaths any longer. The young man tried to convince the mother with modern medicine that now made it possible for pregnant women to know if foetus is carrying the defective gene and abort if so. The challenge there was that the mother is Catholic and did not see

Still on courtship any difference between abortion and homicide. “Why go to that extreme to solve a totally avoidable problem,” she exclaimed. Ultimately, reason prevailed and both parties painfully had to end the relationship. Just in case you are debating whether the mother’s action is interference or inter-

50—SA TURD AY 50—SATURD TURDA

gest fool of them all. I have seen sickle cell carriers in crisis; it is heart wrenching and frustrating. You should not bring a child into this world to experience such torture; you do not want to see a loved one in such agony, if it is avoidable. It is okay that our forebears married out of ignorance. Why will

The guy remarked that anybody in love is a fool

vention, in my humble opinion, it is intervention. Just wondering aloud now, why will two people see potential pains and dangers ahead and still want to get married? I guess it is the foolishness of people in love, or is it lust? It reminds me of a novel I read long ago where a guy was drenched in the middle of a rainy night, trying to woo (back) a lady who for reasons I cannot recall was not interested in the relationship. The guy remarked that anybody in love is a fool, and he, at that moment, was the big-

you do it now knowing full well the implications? That for me is a heinous crime against humanity, especially the unborn. Again a guy marries knowing he is infertile and cannot father a child. Years into the marriage, after many self denials, running away from medical checkups and other tricks, when his game is up, he begs his wife to discreetly sleep with other men to get pregnant. If the gullible wife falls for the scam, they celebrate the arrival of children later knowing they are not the products of the union. Sometimes it is the woman who is infertile;

instead of coming clean with her partner, she prefers to deceive and manipulate him just to get married by hook or crook. After marriage when the game is up, she sweet-talks her husband into purchasing of babies, and that is one of the reasons why baby factories are springing up all over and has become a multi million naira business. Why not do the honourable thing of legally adopting if you want children. Two of my friends did and they personally told me. Since then my respect for them has grown for being real where and when others decided to be hypocritical. The story can get bizarre. A guy is in his 40s with “everything” going well for him but has refused to get married. When family pressure gets unbearable he hooks up with an unfortunate lady. From the beginning he tells the lady no sex before marriage, because it is “ungodly,” which is wonderful, but unfortunately, it is based on deceit: He is wholesale gay and has no iota of attraction to the opposite sex. (Quite unfortunately these are the people constituting a cog in the wheels of courtship sans sex.) Then after wedding the lady waits for her “husband” to consummate the marriage (a marriage is consummated when traditional sexual relations take place between the spouses after the wedding ). Day one, “I am tired;” day two, “not tonight, baby.” When

he finally runs out of ideas, he opens up and begs the wife to go and surrender her body to any interested man and just be discreet. Why we decide to be so inconsiderate beats my imagination. If you know you are gay, why not open up to your immediate family and get them off your back? Freedom comes with concomitant responsibilities and when you freely make difficult choices, you should be ready to defend them. My grouse here is not his sexual orientation but deceiving and wasting another person’s time. That is morally reprehensible. To my last respondents, I do not have issues with a HIV positive marrying a HIV negative, provided there is full disclosure. Modern medicine makes it possible for them to have HIV negative children. Also no problems with an infertile person getting married to a fertile person provided there is full disclosure and the man is potent (can have erection, penetrate and engage in spousal intercourse) if he is the infertile party. Potency is important because without it, the marriage cannot be consummated and such a marriage is not valid within some sections of Christendom and some other religions. My support for the latter union stems from the fact that the number one reason for marriage is companionship (Genesis 2:18) not procreation. It is not compulsory a marriage produces

(Text Only)

3 C M Y K

The Plough

The Backward Bend

The Crane, Backward Bend, Plough and the Eagle

1 The Crane

The Crane Technique: Squat on the hundles with the feet close together. Let the soles and heels rest on the floor. Raise the buttocksup and move the trunk forward. Breathing out, wrap the arms around the bent legs and place the palms on the floor. Bend the elbows and raise the heels from the floor, move the trunk a bit more forward and rest the chin on the back of the upper arms close to the armpits. Stretch the arms straight and balance the whole body on the hands. Benefits:The C r a n e strengthens the arms. With the contacting of t h e abdomen,the organs

there are massaged and toned. The Backward Bend Technique: Get on the knees with the feet close together. Breathe in deeply, raising both hands overhead. Breathing our, bend backwards with elbows still straightened out. Hold the position for some 5 seconds, and then inhailing, return the t r u n k to the

upright position. Rest a bit and repeat. Benefits: The posture strengthens the back and shoulder muscles. also affected favourably are the muscles of the abdomen and those of the upper thighs. The Plough Technique: Lie on your back with the legs stretched out and hands placed along the sides. Take in a deep breath and drawing up the knees swing back the legs while breathing out and let the toes come to rest on the floor behind your head. Keep the knees straight and stiffen up the muscles of legs. Keep the breathing normal as you retain the

posture for about 10 seconds. To come out of the posture simply bend the knees and just roll down the back and straight out the legs flat on the floor again. You may rest a little and repeat. Benefits: The plough improves the elasticity of the spine. It tones the leg muscles and helps to rid constipation. The Eagle Technique: Standing with feet together bend the elbows and place the sight on the top the left one and bring the palms together while you raise and bend the left leg and rap it around the right lower leg with the foot sticking out. The left leg must be slightly bent at the knee to make this possible. Benefits: The Eagle instills a sense of balance and also banishes varicose veins.

Yoga Classes STARTED @ 32 Adetokumbo Ademola, Victoria Island Lagos. 9.00am — 10.00am on Saturdays

The Eagle

SATURDAY, Vanguard, FEBRUARY 8, 2014—51

Past or Oy ebola A dams celebrat es 60 in style astor Oyebola Adams celebrates

he Adams family of Irete, Ogun State and Imota, Lagos

State rolled out the drums onth Friday, January 24 2014 to

celebrate their daughter, Pastor Oyebola Adejoke Adams who turned 60 recently. The celebration which was headlined by dedication of the

Foursquare Gospel Church, Jehovah Shammah, Odo-Jobore took place the church premises in Odo-Jobore near Ijebu Ode. Photos by Wumi Akinola

Rev. Felix Meduoye, General Overseer, cutting the tape to dedicate the church building, while Pastor Oyebola Adams (Donor), Bishop Dr. Babatunde Ogunbanwo; Bishop of Ijebu South-West Ang. Communnion and others look on

R-L: Dr. Mrs. Yetunde Utah and Rev. & Mrs. Coaddey Ebojie.

lhaji Olumide Lawal, a veteran journalist recently gave out his daughter, Tobiloba Omolara out in marriage to Damilola Afolabi at Foursquare Gospel Church, Akowonjo, Lagos.

Pastor Oyebola Adams cutting her 60th Birthday Cake during the service.

L-R:Chief (Mrs). Grace Adams and Pastor Oyebola Adams.

Olumide Lawal gives out daughter in wedlock

L-R: Bishop Babatunde Ogunbanwo, Ijebu South-West Ang. Communnion, Rev. Mrs. Yinka Badejo, Rev. W. A. Badejo past General-Overseer of the church and Rev. Felix Meduoye current General-Overseer

At the Lagos Countr Countryy Danga weds Ifeoma at the Ne Lagos Club wY ear par ty Year party New Year party

The couple, Damilola Afolabi & Tobiloba Omolara

he Holy matrimonial wedlock between Daniel Nnaemeka Offor alias Danga, a member of Nobles Fitness Club and his beautiful wife, Miss Ifeoma Chikammmaele will take place at SS Peters andnd Paul Catholic Church, Oke Afa, Ejigbo on the 22 of February 2014. Reception follows immediately at Nnokwa Hall.

L-R: A guest; bride’s mother, Mrs. Olayinka Lawal, the bride, Tobiloba Omolara; bride’s father, Alhaji Olumide Lawal, bride’s elder sister, Tolulope Aderayo and Mr. Hakeem Apenaola.

L-R: Barr. Wale Osomo, The Olowo of Owo, Oba D.V. Folagbade, Olateru-Olagbegi III, CFR and Olori Yeyesa Ololade OlateruOlagbegi and Dr Wale Ahmed representing Gov Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State.

L-R: Mrs. Dupe Osomo, Barr Wale Osomo, the Olowo of Owo, Oba D.V Folagbade Olateru-Olagbegi III CFR, Olori Yeyesa Ololade.

Mr and Mrs Daniel Nnaemeka

L-R:groom’s father, Mr. Olatunde Lawal; the couple , Damilola Afolabi & Tobiloba Omolara and groom’s mother, Mrs. Teniola Lawal

52 —

SATURDAY Vanguard, FEBRUARY 8, 2014

APC’ll register over 60 per cent voters in Oyo — Ajimobi By OLA AJAYI, Ibadan

OVERNOR Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State has boasted that the All Progressives Congress would register not less than 60 per cent of all the eligible registered voters in the state. The governor said this shortly after he registered as a member of APC at ward 12, Odo Ona Eleja in Ibadan South-West Local Government Area of the state. Governor Ajimobi, who was in the company of his wife, Mrs. Florence Ajimobi and the party’s in-

terim state chairman, Chief Akin Oke, was given his membership card No. 12040201. While expressing satisfaction with the large turn-out of people for the registration exercise, he described it as the first in the history of political registration exercise. “The registration exercise is well arranged, smooth, peaceful and orderly; it is the first and the best in the history of political registration exercise; it is very encouraging and fantastic,” he remarked. The governor described APC as the leading party

and political party to beat in Nigeria, expressing confidence that it would win not only in states but also at the centre. “With what I have seen, I am very convinced that

APC is the party, not only government but also in the hearts of the people of Oyo State. I am also convinced that APC will win at the centre and produce the next president in Ni-

geria, with the support of the people. I can assure you that APC has come to stay in Nigeria,” he said. The governor described registration of party members as the beginning of

election, urging members to go out and mobilize others to register to enable the party record the highest registration of members.

Glo Evergreen series will feature my best performance — KSA

UJU music legend and one of Africa’s greatest music maestros, Chief Sunday Adeniyi Adegeye popularly known as King Sunny Ade has pledged to dole out his best performance during the forthcoming Glo Evergreen Series, the KSA Edition in Lagos on February 28.

He described the Evergreen Series as a good development that will afford “me the opportunity to connect with my fans and delight them in a special way”. KSA stated that the Evergreen series has provided a remarkable platform for “Nigeria’s music legends to perform

with younger ones and mentor them, thus helping to raise the quality of contemporary music in Nigeria and Africa”. He gave kudos to Globacom for coming up with such a laudable concept, adding that the project will provide unique opportunities for

the younger generation to learn from the legends. According to him, “The Glo Evergreen Series has opened a new vista in the Nigerian music industry and it will go a long way in uniting the country ’s entertainment Industry”. He eulogised Globacom Chairman Dr. Mike Adenuga Jr. as “a man that came with the power of the Holy Spirit to rescue the communication industry in Nigeria”. “Dr. Adenuga came and solved the country’s communication problems and has been making artists millionaires in the process”, he said.

Oshiomhole condoles with lawmaker on father’s death By SIMON EBEGBULEM, Benin City

OVERNOR Adams Oshiomhole of Edo state has condoled with the family of Mr Patrick Osayimen, the lawmaker representing Oredo West constituency in the Edo State House of Assembly on the death of his father, Chief Festus Osayimen. Addressing the widow and children of the deceased during a condolence visit to them yesterday, Oshiomhole said “I am here on behalf of the people of Edo State and in my personal capacity to convey to you and members of your family our condolences over the passage of your father. “I was shocked when I learnt that he has passed on. It hurts, but we all know that most Nigerians don’t live up to the age of 50 and for people of his generation, to have lived up to 83, it is only God that confers the longevity and good health. “I have no difficulty in appreciating the vacuum arising from the loss of one’s father, as I lost my father almost ten years ago. Sometimes, I still wish he were around.” C M Y K

SATURDAY VANGUARD, FEBRUARY 8, 2014—53

Logis tics, tr anspor Logistics, transpor ansportt sy sysstem need indus tr aining ttoo compe industr tryy tr training compette globally—OK —OKON ON *kicks against govt interference in ports

urdering on the much challenges confronting logistics and transport system in the land, immediate past chairman, Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport,Rivers State, Mr. Edet E. Okon, while recalling the achievements of the institute during his tenure, has stated equivocally that enough training is needed in the sector to empower stakeholders and practitioners compete globally and as well overcome besetting challenges in the industry. Excerpts: What were those achievements recorded during your tenure and major challenges of CILT in Rivers State? Our modest achievements as a branch has been monumental. We have strived to hold forth and maintain the existence of CILT in Rivers State despite many challenges including lack of funds. As an immediate past chairman of the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport, Rivers State, the branch related cordially on areas of logistics and transport with industries, professional bodies and corporate

organisations such as the Nigerian Airports Authority, the Nigerian Railways, the Nigerian Ports Authority, Nigerian Shipper ’s Council, NIMASA, Messrs Intel’s services and the Rivers State Ministry of Transport etc. We visited Bayelsa State in 2009 in preparation to establishing a branch there, though yet to be achieved. I was also National Council member of the CILT Nigeria. Workshops were organised to sensitise stakeholders on the role of logistics and transport professionals in national development. We organised a training in collaboration with the Federal University of Technology Owerri (FUTO) Nigeria, for the award of International Diploma and Advanced Diploma in Logistics and Transport. Established an elaborate modal representation of air mode, maritime, land (including Railway) mode, pipeline and logistics modes to fashion and formulate policies and profer solutions to observable logistics and t r a n s p o r t problems in all the modes of transport.

Before handing over in October 2011, plans were on ground to shift from the small office donated by Mr. G. O. Chukwu (CMILT) then Honorary Secretary at Agip Road Port Harcourt, for the running of the Administration of the branch to a bigger office. This has been achieved by the present Executive, headed by Prof. Osi S. Akpahomeh. How do we develop or build a new sea port system in Nigeria that accommodates competence and compete globally? Developing a new Port is different from developing a Port system. A new Port development is referred to as “GREEN FIELD” development which requires land acquisition along a harbour stretch, geometry and feasibility studies, pilling of the quay apron, construction of control tower station, berthing facilities. Others include consolidation points or stacking areas and examination bay including scanning points, loading points according to the peculiarities of cargoes (liquid, dry, oil & gas or project equipment and Roll-on-Roll-off (RORO) etc to mention but a few. Port

IOD clamour or impr clamourss ffor improoved healthcare system in Nigeria

ealising the value of human lives and the economic and environmental challenges facing healthcare system in Nigeria, Institute of Directors, Nigeria, in a recent interactive session with its members, government council and other stakeholders is clamouring for more formidable healthcare policies that would transform health conditions of the Nigeria populace. In its pursuit and commitment to improved healthcare condition in the country, IOD conducted fitness awareness programme last year. In its commitment and support for healthcare delivery in the country, IOD has called on government, individuals, regulatory agencies to play their roles in Nigerian healthcare system in order to reduce untimely death and mortality rate. In her opening address at the interactive session, with the theme: “Healthcare Financing in Nigeria – prospects and perspectives, President/ Chairman of Council, IOD, Nigeria, Mrs. Eniola Fadayomi reiterated IOD’s readiness to support the healthcare delivery. According to her, we are in admission of the objec-

tive of this activities and programmes of the committee on healthcare. IOD is interested in the development of health sector, to underline the importance of the sector in saving lives in our nation. Speaking at the interactive session, guest speaker, former Commissioner for Health, Lagos, Dr. Adeleke Olusegun said, the Nigerian healthcare system cannot be likened to that of any other country. Nevertheless we have similar issues with others with regards to limited financing options and other limited resources. The deteriorating health indices of Nigerians make it a necessity to have adequate and efficient healthcare services to meet the needs of the populace. This has been a challenge for various reasons but at this forum we will discuss the issue of healthcare financing and the various options that we have and its impact on the health of our people, he said. According to him, health is wealth, but attaining a wealthy status often comes at a cost. In this case the costs range from building and equipping our institutions, to training and appropriately remunerating our

healthcare professionals and support personnel, to investing in research and development of new technics etc.Olusegun said, many countries spend hugely on their health sector, with some like the U.S spending about $8,608 per capita (17.2% of GDP) in 2011. Proffering solutions to the challenges of healthcare system in Nigeria, he advised on Public Private Partnership; establishment of state and local government health accounts; private funding or venture capital funds etc.

system connotes the dredging and provision of navigational aids, Port construction itself, Port management and liaison with other auxiliary services such as the customs and other agencies like NIMASA, Nigerian Ports Authority, Port Health, Immigrations and the effective use of operational control body such as the transport commission for policy formulation and control. Also areas of Port Security, i.e International Ship and Port Facilities Security (ISPS) code, monitoring of the terminal operators, the environment maintenance and corporate social services activities. The interface/interchange and control of the Port activities in line with extant regulations and performance with international standards, encapsulates a Port system in a knot shell. For the Ports, especially in Nigeria to compete favourably the management team to with other Ports globally, avoid the so called “militancertain logistics need to be cy syndrome” or placing provided. These include, the idle hands on the works. proper Port planning, De- This is recommended sign and Construction with across the old Ports of Onne, architectural design and a Port Harcourt, Lagos area reputable construction com- and the newly proposed pany for pilling and stan- ports of the Deep Sea Lekdard Port outlay. Provision ki Port, Badagry, Ibaka of standard, serviceable Deep Sea Port Akwa Ibom, and up to date plant and Ogidigben Port Delta, equipment (see my paper Olokola Port Ogun/Ondo Deep Sea Port Develop- and Agge Port, Bayelsa ment in Nigeria as an from take off to manageemerging investment and ment stage. Apart from the logistics hub 9th – 11th Dec. above, the Ports efficient 2013). and effective Port operation In Nigerian setting, the is measured through high youths of such environment turn – round time and proshould be trained and ductivity. The higher properly integrated to al- (smaller time spent on opways form integral part of

Okon: Let’s build a formidable transport system

erations) the turn-round time index, the more patronage it draws. Our maritime industry is characterised by many challenges, what do you think is the way out? Our maritime industries is characterised by many challenges and the way out includes, training to ensure qualified manpower with high technical skills in dredging, nautical sciences, engineering, customs operation and port management etc. Non-interference by government in port operation, provision of enabling environment, equipment and consistency etc.

Bloomberg launches media initiative Africa

ichael R. Bloomberg, founder of Bloomberg L.P., philanthropist and 108th Mayor of New York City, has announced the launch

of the Bloomberg Media Initiative Africa, a threeyear pan-African programme to build media capacity, convene international leaders and improve access to information in order to advance transparency, accountability and governance on the continent.

The initial focus of the $10 million commitment will be on Nigeria, Kenya, and South Africa. The Bloomberg Media Initiative Africa will provide cross disciplinary education programs and midcareer fellowships to increase the number of highly-trained business and financial journalists, convene pan-African forums to examine worldwide media best practices and support research to stimulate media

L-R: Director,Professional Development,Chartered Institute of Personnel Management, Charles Ugwu; Managing Director,SPNSConsulting,Debo Adebayo; Chairman,SPNS Consulting Mazi Sam Ohuabunwa and Former Group HR Manager,Fidson Healthcare PLC,Ernest Onyejekwe, during a breakfast meeting of the Board of SPNS in Lagos.

innovations. “Reliable data and financial analysis bring transparency to markets and promote sound economic development – and they can help keep Africa growing and creating opportunity,” said Michael R. Bloomberg. “The Bloomberg Media Initiative Africa will foster collaboration, support professional growth and nurture the leaders who are contributing to the continent’s very bright future.” Bloomberg will partner with preeminent faculty from the University of Lagos’s Department of Mass Communications and the Pan African University’s Lagos Business School in Nigeria; the University of Nairobi’s School of Journalism and Mass Communications and Strathmore Business School in Kenya; and the Rhodes University’s School of Journalism and Media Studies and the University of Pretoria’s Gordon Institute of Business Science in South Africa to develop and deliver educational programs focused on business, economics, public policy, finance and journalism to enhance the skills and knowledge of media professionals.

Vanguard, FEBRUARY 8, 2014

BY OKEY NDIRIBE

he furore which has trailed the recently released time-table for the 2015 general elections may have caught many Nigerians by surprise. However, watchers of Nigeria’s political terrain think differently. Their thinking is anchored on historical antecedents; chief among which is the deep-rooted suspicion opposition politicians in the country have for decades harboured against the nation’s electoral commission. This suspicion is actually traceable to the nefarious track record of many past electoral commissions. The time table which was released late in the evening of January 24 by the Secretary of the Independent National Electoral Commission INEC Mrs Augusta Ogakwu -at the end of a four-day retreat held by the top-echelon of the Commission in Kaduna- placed the Presidential and National Assembly elections to hold on Valentine day February 14, 2015. The governorship and state house of assembly elections are scheduled to hold two weeks later. Even though, the leading opposition party in the country, the All Progressives Congress APC is yet to take a position on the time-table, several governors and other prominent individuals within the party have condemned the election schedule as a recipe for rigging.

APC Governors oppose time table

he first salvo was fired by Governor of Kano State Alhaji Rabiu Kwankwaso who alleged that the time-table was designed to create “the bandwagon effect” on Nigerian voters. Speaking with newsmen in Abuja, shortly after the timetable was released, Kwakwaso reportedly said the present arrangement whereby the presidential election was scheduled to hold before the governorship election was not acceptable as it could be used to intimidate political opponents adding that the ideal thing was for the governorship and state Houses of Assembly elections to hold before the presidential election. He continued: “It is not just the bandwagon effect we are complaining about; they want to intimidate people.” Obviously referring to the PDP he said their plot is to say “if you don’t vote for me, you do this and we’ll do that.” ”We’ve been in the game long before, so we know they want to use intimidation” he C M Y K

2015:

Uproar over INEC’s time-table insisted that a bottom-up approach was the best for any general election. He said the conduct of the presidential poll before the governorship election would be unfair to the APC. He spoke through the Chief of Staff, Government House, Mr. Tony Okocha. According to him: “All the elections should hold on the same day. Holding the presidential election first and later the governorship election will not be fair to us. It should be bottom-up and not from the top to the bottom. The current election timetable, as released by INEC, will give room for unhealthy bandwagon effect.” Apart from the APC governors, other groups, political parties and individuals have also condemned the timetable. These include the Allied Congress of Progressive Nigerians ACPN and Arewa Consultative Forum ACF. Reacting to the timetable in Kaduna, the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) urged INEC to conduct the 2015 general elections in one day to reduce cost. In his own remarks, the National Secretary of ACPN, Alhaji Ganiyu Galadima, stated in Abuja that the timetable would cause confusion among Nigerians. Said he: “The 2015 general

*Jega said. He concluded thus: “I don’t think anybody on that side is really serious about winning a free and fair election. To them it is either about INEC or security, or intimidation”. Edo State Governor, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole also faulted the 2015 General Elections time-table saying it leaves a loophole for election rigging. Speaking to reporters in Asaba after a recent stakeholders’ meeting of APC he said “Nigerians cannot afford to continue to be a laughing stock even by West African standard”. According to him: “I don’t understand why INEC wants to climb the tree from the top; they do recognize they have some explanations to make. Common sense demands that you climb a tree from the bottom for good reason.” He continued: “When you want to do Presidential

Election first, you are deviating from an old pattern, you have some explanations to do.” “If you know you still have to do some testrunning, you rather try the test-running with smaller units because the governorship election will not be taking place in the 36 States. The election into the Houses of Assembly can’t be as problematic as the Presidential election.” He urged the leadership of Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to have a retrospective view of the already released time table. Other APC governors who were reported to have condemned the 2015 election time-table include Rauf Aregbesola of Osun State; Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers State and Murtala Nyako of Adamawa State. Amaechi, who is the Chairman, of a faction of the Nigeria Governors Forum,

54—SATURDAY

Parties Alliance PPA Dr Sam Nkire who earlier this week joined the APC train, said the INEC time-table was okay. However, he expressed misgivings about the attitude of INEC staff who he accused of always nurturing the mentality that they were employed to serve the party in power.

PDP endorsement

evertheless, the ruling Peoples Democratic Party PDP has endorsed the time -table. Speaking with Vanguard, the PDP National Publicity Secretary, Chief Olisa Metuh noted that it was imperative for PDP to ask APC to order its members to boycott the election because it has become a tradition on the part of the opposition to call for boycott of elections. According to him: “PDP, as a law abiding party, will be guided by the procedure for electoral processes. The APC in the same manner it instructed its members in the National Assembly to stall the passage of the 2014 budget, and screening of the newly nominated ministerial candidates, should do same in the forthcoming elections.” Apart from PDP, several other groups, parties and individual politicians have welcomed the time-table. For instance the leader of the Peoples Progressive

If you know you still have to do some testrunning, you rather try the testrunning with smaller units because the governorship election will not be taking place in the 36 States election timetable is a great departure from what we used to have in the past elections in this country. For the first time, INEC is joining the National Assembly election with the Presidential election which I think is not acceptable.” “It is not acceptable because if the National Assembly and the Presidential elections are held on the same day, it will bring about confusion. Let elections be staggered so that the voting process will be violence- free”, he said. Commenting on the controversy, the former National Chairman of the Progressive

Alliance (PPA) in Anambra State, Mr Godwin Ezeemo commended INEC for the early release of the 2015 election time table. Ezeemo told reporters in Awka that the early release of the timetable had given political parties in the country the opportunity to plan well for their campaigns. He also said that when elections are held early in the year, it would give room for litigation after the election before the swearingin of victorious candidates. Continues on page 55

SATURDAY

e continued: “For instance, when you look at the South-West, you would recall that they voted against the ruling Peoples Democratic Party PDP in the 2011 governorship elections. That also happened in some parts of the North. So, I don’t think that the bandwagon argument still flies. ”I have also heard arguments on the other side which supports the belief in the bandwagon effect and that the 2015 election schedule was meant to favor the other side. The electoral commission is actually facing a situation it cannot win; this is because whatever decision it takes on the matter it would be like heads you lose, tails you lose. He advised Nigerian politi-

ty of challenges associated with that is such that we are not yet prepared in the electoral commission to do all the elections in one day. But then, we felt that instead of having three elections, let us have two. In 2011, we had three: we did the National Assembly elections first; then, the Presidential; and then, the Governorship as well as State Assembly elections. But we felt that in 2015, let us have two elections rather than three.

*Kwankwaso

*Gov Amechi

”

*Metu

*Odumakin

Uproar over INEC’s timetable cians to prepare for next years polls instead of raising frivolous objections about the time-table. Said he: “The general election has been fixed well ahead of time. All they need to do is to start preparing. Based on what the electoral commission says, I think the schedule is consistent with best practices; to have the national elections first and later have the regional or state elections.That is actually what is obtainable everywhere. In some places, you have about six months time difference between the national and regional elections.” Prof. Ibeanu then asked a rhetorical question: “...Why are we not holding all the elections in one day?” He also provided an answer: “ But INEC has said it can’t handle this yet because of logistics. The logistical demands of holding all elections in one day could break the back of the best electoral body in the world.”

INEC is unperturbed

This notwithstanding, the leadership of the electoral commission doesn’t seem to be perturbed by the contro-

versy the time-table has thrown up. Responding to an e-mail sent to him last Tuesday regarding the raging debate over the development, Mr Kayode Idowu, Special Adviser on Media to Chairman of the Commission Prof. Attahiru Jega said: “INEC did not take such a decision like it was a fluke. It was a product of concerted deliberation of all principal officers of the Commission. The Commission, as you know, is not motivated by sentiments or extraneous influences.” Earlier on Jega had responded to the controversy while fielding questions from the audience after a presentation he made at a wellattended forum at Chatham House, London last week. He dismissed suggestions that INEC was under external pressure in designing the election timetable the way it did. According to him: “...The timetable for the 2015 general election recently announced by the Commission was informed by rational and logical considerations, not sentimental or ulterior motivations.” He continued: “Nobody has put us under any pressure. We did these things logically and rationally, in terms of what we considered best for our country”.

He further stated that the Commission was mindful of its own operational effectiveness and global best practice in grouping national elections together on one day, and state elections together on another day. Jega explained that Nigeria was not yet logistically strong enough to have all the elections in one day. He also disagreed with suggestions that the elections were drastically reordered, when

On its own part, a Yoruba socio-political Organisation, Afenifere Renewal Group also expressed satisfaction with the 2015 election time table. According to the group’s Interim National Publicity Secretary, Mr Yinka Odumakin “ the timing of the elections gives enough time to have the national conference, complete it and subject it to a referendum.” He said it was important that several issues which caused tension in the country should be resolved by the national conference before the elections. Several prominent lawyers across the country have also endorsed the time table. In his own reaction, Mr Fred Agbaje, a Lagos-based lawyer and human rights activist urged INEC to put all logistics in place towards the realisation of free and fair polls next year. He also advised politicians to abide by the relevant electoral laws and put an end to unguarded utterances capable of heating up the polity. In his own submission, Okey Ibeanu, a Professor of Political Science at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka dismissed the fears expressed over the 2015 election time table by opposition politicians. In a telephone interview he granted to Vanguard last Wednesday, he said: “ I think the argument is the old cliche about band-wagon effect; that is to say, the people would likely vote for the party that wins the presidential elections in subsequent polls. But in my own thinking, that kind of position really belittles Nigerians given the type of political developments we have seen in the country over the years.”

Vanguard, FEBRUARY 8, 2014—55

Then we asked our selves: what is the best combination in line with global best practice? The global best practice is that you do national elections separate from state elections, if you can’t do all together. So, rather than have the Presidential and Governorship elections together, or the National Assembly with State Assembly elections; we said, let us have all the national elections together, and then the state elections.” Jega further assured that INEC is sparing no effort to ensure that the challenge of logistics which marred past elections is prevented in future elections, beginning with the Ekiti and Osun governorships polls slated to hold later this year and the 2015 general election. He, however, regretted that reports of that challenge during the November 2013 Anambra State governorship election were overblown. Said he: “The issue of logistics is a major challenge for INEC, and we are doing our best to address it. But for Anambra, the state has 31 local government areas, and the challenge we faced was with regard to one local government – Idemili North. Since the Edo State governorship election, we started customising result sheets to specific wards and polling

“INEC did not take such a decision like it was a fluke. It was a product of

concerted deliberation of all principal officers of the Commission

compared to 2011. He continued: As far as we are concerned, the presidential election is not positioned first. What we did is that we combined the National elections, so you can’t say that presidential election is placed first. Some Nigerians wonder why we can’t have all the elections in one day. It is true that in some countries, they conduct all their elections in one day. From our own assessment, the enormi-

units. In the past, politicians would get result sheets and move them around. So, we started to customise the result sheets. And so, if there was a mix-up in the distribution among polling units, you would have the kind of crisis we had in Anambra. ”Of course, there was no reason why there should be that kind of mix-up, and we were not satisfied by the explanation given by the Electoral Officer in charge of that local government. C M Y K

56—SATURDAY

Vanguard, FEBRUARY 8, 2014

It will be difficult for Nigeria to break up —Nduese Essien, ex-Minister Says ‘Our budget is mere annual ritual of no real significance to Nigerians’ Nduese Essien, former Minister of Lands and Housing, was also a member of the House of Representatives from 1999 to 2007 during which he served as the Chairman of the South-South Parliamentary Caucus in the NASS. He also served as a member of the Federal Government’s Technical Committee on Niger Delta and Chairman of the House Committee on Anti-corruption, National Ethics and Values. In this interview, Essien takes a critical look at the polity, contending that despite the myriad of challenges staring the nation on its face, it is still better for the people to work and live in peace and describes the preparation and implementation of Nigeria’s budget as a mere ritual that offers little for the ordinary Nigerian but praises President Jonathan for the able way he’s piloted the affairs of the nation so far. Excerpts: By Soni Daniel, Regional Editor, North

ou have quite a wealth of experience in public service. So how do you see the performance of the Federal Government under President Goodluck Jonathan? The government has been battling to solve the myriad of problems that had existed before the democratic dispensation of 1999. The present government started off very well during the period we

network. I believe that if Nigerians allow him to settle down and focus on many other needs of the country, he will achieve more by the end of his tenure to justify his wanting to continue on a second term and to advance some of his projects. Talking of advancing his projects, you have been a Federal legislature and Federal minister and you know that the budgetary system is key to good governance and service delivery. Are you satisfied

Government should find ways of reducing its recurrent and overhead votes while increasing the capital votes to benefit majority of the population. We cannot continue to service minority needs at the expense of the majority served in the cabinet. President Goodluck Jonathan showed himself as very patriotic, intelligent, sincere and anxious to move Nigeria forward. He did so very successfully till the elections of 2011. When he returned as President after the elections, he resumed with renewed vigour and determination to continue with the foundation he had laid. But he has been confronted more by daunting security challenges. In spite of the challenges, he has been able to make some impact in the areas of power and development of infrastructure, particularly roads. If you drive around the country, you will find that there are a lot of improvements in the road

C M Y K

with how the Federal Government handles its budgets? Having been a member of the House of Representatives for eight years and was involved in budget screening, I have seen a lot of loopholes in the budgetary processes. Later as a minister, I was on the other side overseeing the budgetary process in a ministry. Of course, I did that only once. What I have found out is that the budgetary process in the MDAs is not being taken seriously by those who prepare it. Firstly, the notice to prepare and the timeframe for submission is usually inadequate. Consequently, the budgets are prepared as an annual ritual of no signifi-

cance. Most often, with the same format of previous years, the ministries repeat the same items that were in previous budgets, year-in-andyear-out with an agreed percentage map up to contain price increases. The budgets are always done in a stampede. The shoddy attitude in the preparation of the budget often results in unnecessary duplication of items and the inclusion of outrageous provisions for such areas as local and international travel, conferences, overseas training, maintenance of equipment, etc. That’s why you find that in most cases, the recurrent votes and the overheads continue to increase yearly, leaving very little for capital projects. I don’t see the sense in government running a budget without being able to do things that would bring development to the people. How many people are involved in the running of government? It is just a very small percentage of the Nigerian population that earn all the monies that are appropriated for recurrent and overhead expenditures. Less than 25 percent of the budget is meant for developmental purposes and that is why we end up, year-in-year-out, running government without being able to move the country forward through the provision of basic infrastructure. As long as we continue to have a budget where recurrent expenditure and overheads are far higher than the capital votes, we will continue to witness slow pace of growth in every sector of the national economy. Government should find ways of reducing its recurrent and overhead votes

Nduese Essien while increasing the capital votes to benefit majority of the population. We cannot continue to service minority needs at the expense of the majority. Again every year, the recurrent budget and overheads are funded in full and utilised in full while the capital is inadequately funded and not fully utilised. If the budget implementation does not resolve in the development of new infrastructure and maintenance of existing ones, what then is the essence of government in a developing nation? There is therefore, serious need for the government to overhaul the budgetary process. I am not asking for the overhaul to be carried out this year but from subsequent budgets. The budgetary process should include a determination of the effectiveness or value added components of each sub-head in the previous year to justify its continuance and at what level

in the next year. The MDAs should find out the authentic number of their workers and make provision for the payment of wages. They should find ways of reducing the overheads. Nigeria needs more resources to develop the country instead of just paying a few people that are working for the government. For a government that it interested in development and good governance, don’t you think it should have identified and tackled this problem long ago especially with someone like Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala as head of the economic team? I think the problem should have been identified long ago particularly with the pressure that always comes from the legislature. But in most cases, the legislature itself gets overwhelmed by the volumes of papers that are being brought to it for approval Continues on page 57

SATURDAY

norship among the senatorial districts. Eket is a very complex senatorial district. We are looking out to bring the most competent aspirants to take the mantle as governor of Akwa Ibom State. We believe that Akpabio will stick with the decision that the next governor should come from Eket Senatorial District. There is no doubt that whoever comes out of our district will do well, if not better than what Godswill Akpabio has done.

Continued from page 56

within a short period. You know in most cases, the legislature has barely one or two months to look at the budget and this is not the only thing they do. The legislature sees the budget for the first time when it is presented to it in the chamber and in the process of attempting to provide for their constituencies, disorganise the original document and mutilate the figures. It would be most helpful, if the input of the legislature is obtained when the budget is being prepared to ease the process. With pressure from the executive and the public to pass the budget, the legislature is often stampeded into letting go without satisfaction. This happens almost every year. There is a serious need for the Economic Team to take a critical look at the budgetary process. he legislature is supposed to carry out oversight functions on the executive. Do you think they have done a good job of it so far? The coming in of the legislature after the military rule in 1999 has reduced some of the excesses in government. During the military regime, which operated without the legislature, a lot of projects were usually scheduled but never executed. At times, such projects got paid for in full and sometimes repeated in subsequent budgets. Now, the legislature has been able to highlight some of the repetitions in the budget. I will not say they have completely eliminated the defects in the budgets. Apart from strict budgetary scrutiny, the legislature has effectively used its oversight powers to checkmate some executive recklessness. Former President, Olusegun Obasanjo recently wrote to President Goodluck Jonathan, complaining about certain serious national issues. If you have an opportunity, would you write to the President? I would not subscribe to former head of state confronting an incumbent President in public. Apart from direct personal access, there is also the council of state meeting where they can express their views. However, I am not aware of the circumstances which led to the public outburst. But I think, it should be avoided in respect to the office. Let me take you back home. What’s your take on the on-going agitation for the zoning of the governorship of Akwa Ibom State to

It will be difficult for Nigeria to break Eket Senatorial district? Well, the concept of zoning was introduced to ensure that various sections of the state have an opportunity to make an input to who becomes the governor. It started before the advent of the current democratic dispensation when Uyo Senatorial District was given the first turn to present a candidate. They did by presenting Obong Akpan Isemin. Isemin served until he was interrupted by the military. Again in 1999 when democracy was returned, it was felt that Uyo should be allowed to complete its term. That was how Obong Victor Attah came in as the governor of the state. He served his first and second terms. Before the end of Attah’s administration, he had conceded that the next turn should go to Ikot Ekpene Senatorial district. That was how Godswill Akpabio came out. He went through the primaries and emerged among 57 aspirants to become the governor. He served his first term and it was believed that since Uyo Senatorial District did eight years, Ikot Ekpene Senatorial District should also do eight years. Automatically, it was believed that the next turn should go to Eket Senatorial District. But from 2011 and 2012, some people started feeling that nobody from Eket Senatorial District was qualified to take over.

They claimed that no one was competent, educated and rich enough to become the governor of the state. Of course, that was an insult to the people of the district because there are several people who could serve as governor and do very well and even more. There was this pressure from Uyo to continue in 2015. That was why a number of us from Eket Senatorial District came

Vanguard, FEBRUARY 8, 2014 —57

The 2011 polls was the watershed of violence in the history of Akwa Ibom State. Do you think the 2015 polls will be better? Let me begin from 1999. When the military supervised elections in 1999, there was some semblance of democracy. People emerged because they were accepted by the electorate and the electoral process also allowed people to emerge freely. But by 2007, some people had emerged as chieftains of political parties. Some of them felt it was their right to decide who goes where in the next election. They imposed candidates in various constituencies and after imposing the candidates at the party levels, they went to the electoral commission to ensure that their candidates emerged to show the strength they had on the political system. That was what caused the crisis. Those who lost out through imposition at the primaries wanted to fight back to ensure that the persons imposed didn’t win the election. By 2011, the trend continued. There is real and serious danger that if the trend is not stopped, we may have another crisis-ridden election in 2015.

Boko Haram came out in the open during the ascendency of President Jonathan. It had been there even before the President came into office. Apparently, some people had formed militant groups to prosecute their election plans and the militant group metamorphosed into what we now call Boko Haram

together and had to counter the pressure until the governor agreed that the next governor should come from Eket Senatorial District. That is already a settled matter. So far, we have more than 22 aspirants from the senatorial district. Many of them are more than competent to run for the governorship. It is because of what has been happening that the state accepted to rotate the gover-

We must insist that the political parties allow internal democracy to prevail. They should allow people to emerge from the primaries based on acceptability and popularity among the electorate. Any attempt to impose candidates at the party level will lead to violence in an attempt to stop the imposed candidates from emerging during the general election. It is now in the court of the

political parties to prevent the so-called chieftains from attempting to impose candidates on the people. Because of imposition, you find that some people in government do not owe allegiance to the electorate. Many of them don’t even know what to do. So it is often good to allow the electorate to select people to represent them. That is my candid advice to the political parties. No party is exempted from it because most of the political chieftains think that it is their right to choose whoever should represent their constituencies. Boko Haram seems to have defied every solution. What do you think can be done to rein in the group? Boko Haram came out in the open during the ascendency of President Jonathan. It had been there even before the President came into office. Apparently, some people had formed militant groups to prosecute their election plans and the militant group metamorphosed into what we now call Boko Haram. It is the same thing all over the country. Some politicians believe they can win elections by using these people or by aligning with various cult groups. After the elections, the cult groups do not have any other engagement and so they use the arms bought for them by their principals to cause havoc in the society. That’s why we have armed robberies and lots of kidnappings after elections. I think the approach the President is taking in handling the Boko Haram insurgency is a step in the right direction. Such militant groups that exist in other parts of the country should not be allowed to grow to endanger public peace and safety. What would you say about the prediction that Nigeria may likely break up this year? My advice to Nigerians is that as we prepare to celebrate our centenary, we should remember that we have come a long way and should not allow anything to make the country disintegrate. It will be very difficult for various sections of the country to develop and grow as separate nations. The losses that would be incurred will be massive. Rather, Nigerians should resist the prediction that the country will break up. Nigerians should also realise that when predictions are made, the predictors would do everything to ensure that their predictions come to pass. We must therefore, be very careful as not to fall into the hands of those who do not wish Nigeria well.

58—SA TURD AY 58—SATURD TURDA

Vanguard, FEBRUARY 8, 2014

BY OLASUNKANMI AKONI

he National leader of All Progressives Congress, APC,

; former Governor of Lagos State and the incumbent Bola Tinubu and Governor Babatunde Fashola, last Wednesday formally registered as members of APC, even as they appealed to Nigerians to join in registering as members of APC, in the rescue mission to save the nation from imminent collapse. There was however massive turn out of members and intending members at the exercise. The five day registration exercise which started on Wednesday, was organised to validate the membership list of the party after the party merger with other political parties. Tinubu, who spoke after he registered and collected the foil slip of membership card at the kick-off of the nation-wide membership registration of APC, at Ward F, Sunday Adigun Close, Alausa, Ikeja, described the APC as a party that would bring salvation to the people of Nigeria. Tinubu, who arrived the venue at 1:30pm in a black Range Rover with registration number AAA 697 AH, said “APC is a new party for Nigeria.” He said the registration clearly showed the difference between the APC and the ruling Peoples Democratic Party, PDP. “APC is a party for the people, the membership drive is open to all Nigerians. One man, one card; one man, one vote.” He however, warned that no Nigerian should sit on the fence the way the nation is going, “the fence is a little rumbling.” He assured Nigerians that the APC was going to ensure equal opportunity and level playing field for everybody, vowing that APC would sweep corruption out of Nigeria. According to him: “If we want to really address corruption, we need to take care of the need of the common man. For instance, an average policeman in Nigeria should not earn less than N100, 000 monthly.” Fashola and his wife, Abimbola, who arrived the registration centre, State Junior Grammar School Itolo, Surulere, at about 10:37 and commenced registration at 10:40 am, which lasted for about 15 minutes, said the APC is surely the party that would bring positive change to the country. The APC Youth Frontier, was also present to provide free passport, offered by Voice of the Youth to interested people. Speaking to newsmen after registration, the governor stated that “This is an association where there is no compulsion to join, so you are free to come and join if you believe in what the party stands for which is to save Nigeria from its current difficult challenges and poor management”. He explained that the membership registration exercise was tailored to consummate the initial contacts and meetings that heralded the formation of the country’s first ever merger of political parties into the APC. He said, “ We are now in the process of identifying by membership, the individuals that make up the large number of Nigerians who are delivering what is clearly the biggest political movement in order to give birth to a new Nigeria has began today. “You can see the process, the openness

Fashola

Tinubu

APC MEMBERSHIP REGISTRATION:

Tinubu, Fashola assure of victory

and the transparency. So all those who are concerned about our country will find a vehicle of expression in the APC and I urge them to join us by registering as members of this party to save our country”. Fashola said the next line of action after the registration is concluded would be to reconcile all the records and ensure that those who want to join the party are not left out. “We will ensure that the process is all inclusive, if there are issues with registration, there would be mop up to ensure that there is a level playing field, everybody who wants to register will register. “So going forward thereafter will be the announcement by the interim National Executive for the plans of the ward congresses, local government congresses, state congresses up to the National Convention where all of the officers of the party will now be elected in a transparent and open process. “From then on, the structure of governance and administration from ward level will be in the hands of elected members of the party by electoral processes designed by the party in accordance with its constitution”. In similar vein, the Interim National chairman, Lagos APC, Prince Henry Ajomale said the only hope remaining

for Nigerians “in the present face of turbulent and political jamboree the PDP had plunged the nation into, the emergence of the APC is the redemption.” Go out and register en mass as

APC members — Lagos APC advise residents Meantime, the Lagos State chapter of APC has urged residents to troop out en mass and register in the party’s ongoing membership registration being done by the party. The party said this is a great opportunity for residents to not only position themselves as the very root of the progressive resurgence that is presently sweeping across the country but also be prime partakers in the coming change of leadership Nigerians were working towards. The Interim Publicity Secretary of the party, Joe Igbokwe, said that the fresh registration of members offers Nigerians equal opportunity to become equal stakeholders in the party. It advised residents to make good use of the golden opportunity to become members of APC as that would come with the added advantage of midwifing the change Nigerians are poised to make in 2015. “We see the on going membership registration process as a great opportunity to all Nigerians to become active partakers in the quest for a fresh leadership to navigate the country from the quagmire the fifteen years of PDP ruler ship has left it. “We see the registration as an opportunity for all to become joint owners of the party as this is the very first registration of the party. We therefore call on all Lagosians to make good use of this great opportunity by going to designated registration centers

to enlist as members of this unmistakable change train that is cruising all over Nigeria at present.” Lagos lawmaker commends members for smooth conduct Deputy Leader, Lagos State House of Assembly, Lola Akande had commended the on-going APC registration for their prompt in distribution of materials to the centres across the state. Akande, gave the commendation when she registered in her unit at Oloti village in Adeniyi Jones under Ojodu Local Council Development Area in Ikeja. To the lawmaker, the promptness of distribution of materials would accelerate prospective party members to register “where registration is ongoing and I found out that the officials were at the centre with materials early enough for the registration of party membership”. She therefore, urged Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to emulate the APC in distribution of logistics and materials to the various centres without delay. PDP reacts

In a swift reaction to the exercise, Lagos State PDP, described the decision of APC in the state to conduct its membership registration in public schools and during school hours as confirmation of the very low premium the APC places on education in the state. In a statement by Publicity Secretary, Taofik Gani, the party wondered why APC could not conduct its membership registration at its various party secretariats but rather chose to use the INEC polling Units which include Public schools and other public structuresWe are very concerned and inclined to discuss the APC membership registration because they are now distracting our children in their schools from concentrating on their studies."

SATURDAY VANGUARD, FEBRUARY 8, 2014—59

Give us ambulances and vehicles, Edo cyclists tell Oshiomhole

DO Cycling Association head coach, Orogho Bello, has appealed to the state government to provide ambulances and other vehicles to accompany cyclists during training. Bello said in Benin that their major challenges were sponsorship and lack of vehicles to accompany cyclists during training. “We need ambulances, buses and pick-up vans that will be accompanying us to training venues so that injured cyclists and faulty bicycles could be

conveyed. “The vehicle can also convey water for the athletes to drink because we usually cover 100 km. “The government is trying, in terms of bicycles; we are making do with what we have. “We are hopeful that the government will provide more bicycles for us before the 19th National Sports Festival holds in November,” Bello said. The coach also solicited for sponsorship to organise cycling competitions in the state. “The last time cycling competitions were

organised in the state was in the 1980s and 1990s. “We are trying to put in our best to see that we organise a cycling competition, if we get sponsors we will invite cyclists from other states. “We have been able to discover cyclists from the grassroots and most of our state cyclists are from among them,” he added. According to Bello, the state cyclists will participate in the Rivers Cycling Association championship holding on Feb. 9 in Port Harcourt.

NFF backs NYSC soccer competition

IGERIA Football Federation president, Aminu Maigari said in Abuja that the federation will bestow support for the football event of the annual National Youth Service Corps ( NYSC) Sports and Cultural Festival. Maigari who was a guest at the event’s Grand Finale at the Aguiyi Ironsi Cantonment said the competition was worthwhile because of its importance to youth development. He also commended the organisers of the festival for the cash prizes given to the various win-

ners. “I commend the organisers of the festival for this youth initiative because this is all about youth development and it shows that our youths are engaging in different sports across the country. “We, at the football house, will continue to show our support for the success of the festival. “And the cash prizes given to the winners is one of the ways to encourage youth participation in sports because they will be motivated to do more,” Maigari said. The News Agency of

Nigeria (NAN) reports that the 2013 festival had started on Monday, Feb. 3 at the Old Parade Ground, Abuja with sports and cultural activities. The festival was created to, among other things, serve as a platform for corps members to interact, share ideas and further expand the frontiers of friendship and unity among them. Winners at the grand finale received cash prizes of different amounts for participating in the march-past, volleyball, football and athletics events at the festival.

Nigerian athletes grieve over departed Cuban coach Republic, but his wish did

ORMER top Nigerian athletes have been pouring out their hearts at the demise of highly regarded Cuban coach, Jorge Izquierdo Diaz who passed on last week due to a heart failure. Mr. Diaz inspired quite a number of Nigerian athletes including Chioma Ajunwa, Gloria Alozie, Angela Atede, Taiye Aladefa, Williams Erese, Moses Oyiki, Ken Enyiazu and others while he was in Nigeria in the 1990’s. He was in the country as a fallout of a culture and sports exchange, between Nigeria and Cuba. He was in company of another Cuban coach, Jose Salazaar who was a jumps and throw coach, but it was Diaz that connected well with the athletes and his dedication to work was extraordinary, it was manifest in the sense that Nigeria had a crop of quality hurdlers. One of such was Alozie who rose from an average athlete to a world class beater, she narrowly missed the gold in the women 100m hurdles at the Sydney 2000 Olympics. “It is so sad we’ll really miss him. He was such a great person and also a coach!”, Alozie lamented One of Diaz greatest achievement was guiding Ajunwa to win Nigeria’s first ever Olympics gold medal

EW kid on the block of Nigerian athletics, Stephen Mozia has revealed his desire to improve on his performances and strive for a world title. Mozia born of Nigerian parents from Ibusa, Delta State recently hauled a put of 20.52m and he tickled the fancy of Athletics Federation of Nigeria. And good enough, the 20year-old athlete has pledged his allegiance to Nigeria, despite being a promising young thrower for the USA. He was the only US thrower that made the final of the shot put, at the World Junior Championships 2012 in

NBBF gets special treatment in funds allocation

OUSE of Assembly committee on sports chairman, Kabiru Gaiya has disclosed that financial allocation to the Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF) would henceforth be separated from those of other sports federations in the federal budget. Gaiya made the disclosure to the News Agency of (NAN) at the NBBF Stakeholders Forum in Abuja on plans for the

2013/2014 season and the way forward for the sport’s growth. According to him, the separation will enable NBBF to receive its allocation on time than the former way in which allocations were lumped together thereby causing delay. He said that basketball had grown from the ranks of the lesser sports and had gradually become a favoured sport in Nigeria.

“Basketball has gradually grown to become a big sport in Nigeria; there are a lot of activities going on yearly as regards the league, and other international competitions. “Nigeria will feature in the Commonwealth Games coming up in Glasgow, Scotland and hopefully in the coming 2016 Rio Olympic Games, and we intend to prepare well for these international events.

not materialised as it seems the AFN, lacked the will and power to bring him back for another coaching spell. “Nigeria has abundant talents. And when I was there I loved working with them and If I had my way I will go back there,” Diaz maintained during an interview. Before his passing he was the head coach of the IAAF High performance center in Dakar, Senegal.

•Jorge Diaz...Missed by Nigerian athletes

Mozia muscles up for greater outing with Nigeria Barcelona, Spain.

BRAZIL BOUND... L-R: Mr. Olalekan Ismail, Regional Manager, North, MultiChoice Nigeria; Mr.Augustine Egbedi winner of an all expense paid trip to Brazil and Ms. Caroline Oghuma, Public Relations Manager, MultiChoice Nigeria, during the presentation of DStv Samba 2014 “Let”s go to Brazil” promo held at MultiChoice Abuja Office.

at the Atlanta 1996 Games. Ajunwa who was laid off due to a drug ban for four years, trained under the Cuban at the National Stadium in Lagos, her 7.12m mark remains an African and national women long jump record. “He came to Nigeria’s track and made impact in our lives...“the Hurdlers”. He laid it in our hearts that hurdles is just as important as the sprints. He gave us his time, dedication, his love, he made us train hard with laughter when we were tired he encouraged us to know we could be the best in the continent of Africa and also one of the best in the world. “Well, we did! we won continental competitions, kept our head up high and several of us won NCAA’s, placed high in World Championships and even at Olympics. All of this he did just the love of the sports and his love for his hard working athletes. Jorge Diaz Izquierdo was a genuine mentor, a friend, a father’s figure who will truly be missed,” Aladefa wrote. Before his passing Diaz, expressed his desire to return to Nigeria. In 2012, he met with the Athletics Federation of Nigeria president, Solomon Ogba during the African championships in Porto Novo, Benin

Stanley Mozia.... waiting to be crowned king of throws

“I feel great with the decision to come to Nigeria. I have been there several times, when I was 13 and 18 I was there. I have my family in Nigeria, my grand parents are there, my uncle is there and so I had little problem reaching the decision to represent the country,” said the athlete. Mozia a second year student of the Cornell University New York, added that he was happy with his steady progress, starting from the 19.81m he did in Barcelona and the 20.52 he did on the boards recently. “I am so happy with my improvement. I know that I will have to keep on working hard to produce world class performance.” Mozia who is competing in the NCAA this weekend and on February 22 stated that he has outlined his programme this season and barring any unforeseen circumstances he will be in Nigeria for the Cross River All Nigeria championship in June. “I am looking forward to coming to the trials in Nigeria. And then of course I will be at the Af-

rican championships and may be also the Commonwealth Games. I know a lot of Nigerian athletes, including Austin Nwoye whom I met at the world juniors in Spain.” Apart from the shot put, Mozia is also good in the discus and hammer throw. Rather interesting for an athlete who started out as sprinter. “He is excited about coming to Nigeria. His coach and parents have given him their blessing and are doing everything to see that he had a successful career with Nigeria. “His recent performance, 20.50m is indoors and is just a start. In the outdoors he is likely to improve on that. He will be here for the trials and indeed, we can begin to look forward to keen competition in the throws,” said Gabriel Opuana former national hammer throws champion. Chima Ugwu is the national record holder 20.26m established since July 2000.. The AFN has yet communicated if it had ratified Mozia’s 20.52m as the new national record.

60—SATURDAY VANGUARD, FEBRUARY 8, 2014

EPL: Mourinho telling lies on Chelsea chances— Newcastle coach N

EWCASTLE boss Alan Pardew has dismissed Jose Mourinho’s claims that Chelsea are not genuine con-

Uzoenyi returns from SA without a deal

tenders for this season’s Barclays Premier League title. Chelsea’s 51-year-old Portuguese manager was quick to play down his side’s hopes of overhauling Arsenal and Manchester City after last Monday night’s 1-0 victory at the Etihad Stadium, which left them just two points off top spot. However, Pardew, who takes on Chelsea today at Stamford Bridge said he is not so sure

UPER Eagles team B midfielder Ejike Uzeoenyi returned from South Africa where he helped the Eagles to a third place finish at the the CAF African Nations Championship without tying down a deal with any of the South African premier league clubs that wanted him. Uzoenyi was voted the most valuable player of the tournament after a thrilling performance. He had stayed back hoping to make a switch from Rangers of Enugu. “I’m back in Nigeria now after holding talks with a club in South Africa. Nothing has been agreed upon yet but my manager will continue to discuss with them,” Uzoenyi declared Reports emerged from South Africa this week claiming that Uzoenyi held talks with SuperSport United. The fleet-footed left winger has through his lawyers written to Rangers for his release as a free player from the ‘Flying Antelopes’ fold in the third week of January. Uzoenyi joined Rangers from Enyimba in the 2009/2010 season in exchange for Bishop Onyeudo and has risen steadily to be the highest paid player of ‘The Flying Antelopes’. Rangers general manager Paul Chibuzor insisted Uzoenyi remains a player of the club and if he moves overseas, Rangers will get what is due to them. “We are very happy by the successes recorded by our players at the recent CHAN competition and much happier with the fact that clubs are scrambling for the services of some of them especially, Ejike Uzoenyi who is still our player,” said the top Rangers official. “Details for any move have not been completed but when it becomes clear, we shall celebrate it. Ejike Uzoenyi is and remains a Rangers player. I am not aware of any move to deny Rangers what belongs to them.”

SIZZLING... Super Eagles midfielder, Ejike Uzoenyi battles a Ghanaian oppenent during the CHAN tournament in South Africa.

about the claim from Mourinho, who won the league twice at Chelsea in his first spell. He said: “I don’t believe that for one minute - and I think deep down, nor does Jose.” Newcastle head for the clash in disarray both on and off the pitch with injuries and suspensions, as well as Yohan Cabaye’s exit, hindering Pardew, while behind the scenes, the club is in a state of flux once again. The departure of controversial director of football Joe Kinnear on Monday was followed by that of reserve team manager Willie Donachie on Thursday night after he resigned as an investigation was launched into allegations that he hit one of his teenage players. But as owner Mike Ashley contemplated the way forward, with Pardew warning a major summer rebuilding programme is required, the manager was concentrating purely on the business of rekindling a season which is in severe danger of running out of steam. Newcastle, who sit in eighth place in the table, have won just one of the last seven games they have played in all competitions, and the last of them prompted a concerted outcry on Tyneside. Newcastle returned from Stamford Bridge with three points in May 2012 and have beaten the Blues at St James’ Park on their last two visits.

Messi is playing without passion — Barcelona coach F

ORMER Barcelona assistant coach Angel Cappa says Lionel Messi has lost his passion for soccer. The 67-year-old Argentine, who worked at Camp Nou under Cesar Luis Menotti in the 1980s, claims that his compatriot’s performance in last Saturday’s 32 defeat at home to Valencia offers the clearest evidence yet that the Blaugrana No. 10 is in decline. “To play football you need boundless passion, like Messi had, like the great players like [Diego] Maradona ... any important player in the Primer Division: Xavi, Iniesta,

Busquets,” Cappa told La Xarxa. “You need enormous passion, you need that energy that comes from an absolute love of the game. [On Wednesday against Real Sociedad], he participated [in the game] a little more, but the day they played Valencia, I couldn’t understand how a player could play football so dispassionately. “And especially him, because if we look at a game of his from three or four years ago, there was that craziness, that passion that he had for playing. And I don’t know why or for what reason, but that is coming to an end.” Cappa says it is obvious that the

drive that turned Messi into a four-time Ballon d’Or winner is now conspicuous by its absence. “That love of the game, that passion that makes him go and look for the ball on the left, on the right, in the middle, take players on, beat one, then two ... I see Messi has lost that,” Cappa said. “He has extraordinary quality, he’s wonderful and at any moment he can come up with a wonderful play, but it’s as if he has been married for 15 years to football and got bored of it.”

Cappa also suggested that Messi’s malaise is merely the result of grander problems at Camp Nou. “I’m talking about Messi, but Barcelona have also lost that passion,” he said. “Before, you couldn’t miss even a second of the 90 minutes because there was always something. Now Barca have the ball, sure, and they do things now and again, but they have also lost that boundless enthusiasm they had before.”

Pillars expecting trophies from Emordi, says Yola A

S Kano Pillars prepare for the 2014 domestic and continental chase for football glory, chairman of the club Abba Yola stated that veteran coach, Okey Emordi was hired to deliver trophies to club. Pillars made a surprise move for Emordi a CAF Champions League winner with Enyimba of Aba and according to Yola they are expecting the him to return the clun to winning ways. Pillars will start their campaign with AS Vita of Congo in the first leg preliminary tie of the

champions league this weekend in Kinshasa. “We are not going to interfere with Emordi’s job. But we expect him to bring home a lot of trophies for the people of Kano. “We will provide him every logistics required to succeed at the club. We signed him to help us to win all the trophies that we won and others that eluded us in the 2013,” Yola said. Emordi who reigned as Rangers coach last season stated that he was happy with the new challenge of taking

Pillars to height of African football adding that he was in tune with the desire of the club to get result. Pillars reached the semi-final of the 2009 CAF champions league, but lost to rivals Hearland of Owerri. The club failed to make it beyond the preliminary rounds of the Championship in 2011 and 2013. Pillars left for Congo DR on a chartered flight on Friday, Yola stated that everything the club needed in their campaign will be provide to the team excel in the competition. He said that Pillars are targeting a win home and way.

Messi... Down but not out certainly for Barcelona

SATURDAY Vanguard, FEBRUARY 8, 2014 — 61

NGO empowers 500 widows in Imo state

non-governmental organisation, Bro. Theo Foundation has this year again empowered the poor, motherless and five hundred widows in Ehime Mbano LGA of Imo State with food items and clothing, the gesture it started seven years ago. Last year the foundation empowered them to be self-employed. This year, the foundation empowered them in the home compound of the chairman, Mr. Theophilus Chibueze, who invited some ministers of God; Pastors B.C.

Nwaigwe, Augustine Uche, Ebere Nwaneri, Rev. Silver Gabriel and Prophetess Uche Favour, to make it praise and worship session. While handing over the items to them, he admonished them to be of good character, refrain from evil and love one another as to attract favour from man and God. He lamented the rate at which widows are increasing and prayed to God to remove untimely death in the land. Responding on behalf of the widows, chairper-

son, Ehime Mbano LGA, Lady Agnes Onyema thanked the Foundation’s chairman, Theophilus Chibueze, describing him and his wife as God’s instruments to wipe the tears of the widows and the less privileged in the society. According to Chimbueze, he is doing what he started over the years because he was born and bred in a poor environment and God has empowered his family today to bring succour to these set of people in the society.

(l-r) Regional Operations Director, North, Airtel Nigeria, Olufemi Oyewole, Fatimah Usman Baba from Lafia LGA, Wife of the Nassarawa State governor, Hajia Salamatu Umaru Tanko Al-Makura, Airtel Red Hot Promo N10 Grand Prize Winner, Danjuma Ibrahim Yakubu and wife of Nassarawa State Deputy Governor, Asamau Damishi Luka during the presentation of the cheque of N10 Million to Yakubu in Lafia recently.

62 — SATURDAY Vanguard, FEBRUARY 8, 2014

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SATURDAY Vanguard, FEBRUARY 8, 2014—63

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SATURDAY Vanguard, FEBRUARY 8, 2014

TODAY’S MATCHES Liverpool Aston Villa Chelsea Crystal Palace Norwich Southampton Sunderland Swansea

v v v v v v V v

Arsenal West Ham Newcastle West Brom Man City Stoke Hull Cardiff

1.45pm 4.00pm 4.00pm 4.00pm 4.00pm 4.00pm 4.00pm 6.30pm

World Cup 2014: You have no respect for Keshi, Kpakor slams NFF BY BEN EFE

ORMER Super Eagles and BCC Lions of Gboko midfielder, Moses Kpakor is baffled by the Nigeria Football Federation’s move to hire a foreign technical assistant for coach Stephen Keshi ahead of the 2014 World Cup in Brazil. Keshi in the estimation of Nigeria football fans, has fared well since taking over from Samson Siasia in November 2011, after the Super Eagles failed to qualify for the 2012 African Cup of Nations. But somehow the top guns at the NFF have persistently wanted a foreign coach for the Eagles. A case in point was during the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations when the NFF wanted former Zambia coach Herve Rennard to replace Keshi in the heat of the tournament in South Africa. Keshi beat all the odds to win the trophy and brought Nigeria back to reckoning on the continent. That same old foreign coach song resurfaced on Thursday, when the NFF told Keshi to accept a foreign hand for the World Cup campaign. Keshi turned it down and would rather have Sylvanus Opkala back on his bench; Okpala a former midfield maestro for the Eagles was sacked by the NFF. “I think the NFF is simply underrating our coach Stephen Keshi. I do not know why they want to force a foreign coach on him. For me, it’s so disrespectful,” Kpakor submitted. He said that Keshi should be given all the support he needed to succeed in Brazil 2014. Stressing that distractions such as these could spell doom for the national team. He argued that Keshi who was Kpakor’s captain in the squad that won silver at the Nations Cup at Algiers 1990, has built a team Nigerians have long clamoured for and as such he should get the confidence vote of the NFF hierarchy. “It’s not about having faith in Keshi to take us to the last eight. But it is about letting the guy to take us to the World Cup and only then we will see what the team can do. “But I know this much. Keshi has built us a good team capable of doing well in Brazil. No doubt about that.”

Sheer Delight... Members of the Super Eagles team B celebrate during the 2014 CHAN tournament in South Africa. Coach Stephen Keshi now has various options for the World Cup in Brazil.

Mau’azu canvasses doping control for GLO league N IGERIA Football Federation medical committee chairman, Abdulkadir Mu’azu, has called for the speedy approval of the use of doping control for the 2013/2014 league season. Dr. Mu’azu said in Abuja that the proposal needed the approval of the NFF and the League Management Company (LMC). He added that Nigerian sportsmen were relatively free from drugs, saying that in the past four years no athlete or players had tested positive to banned substances. “Football is relatively clean in Nigeria; we can say that we had a couple of doping tests and haven’t found any footballer in the past four years test positive to any banned substance. “Beyond that, we are pushing both the NFA and the LMC to accept the introduction of doping control during specific Globacom Premier League matches. “So, we can actually sample some players and test them to see whether they are taking

drugs or not, hopefully if this proposal is accepted it will start with the 2013/2014 season,” he said. The chairman said that having a selective doping control carried out in some specific league matches would help to curtail the incidence of ACROSS 1.Flamingoes (U-17) Coach, Bala (5) 4.State in Nigeria (7) 7.African Waterbuck (3) 8.L.G.A in Gombe State (7) 9.Real Madrid Striker, Cristiano (7) 10.Bhutanese Capital City (7 13.Tardy (4) 15.Country in Asia (6) 18.Super Eagles Midfielder, Gabriel (6) 22.Young Horse (4) 24.Cross River State Capital (7) 25.Ivory Coast “Elephants” Striker, Seydou (7) 26.General-Overseer, The Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Pastor Enoch (7) 27.Yoruba Word for “Take”, (3) 28.L.G.A in Nasarawa State (7) 29.Super Eagles Striker, Brown (5) DOWN 1.Kenyan Capital City (7) 2.Lobi Stars Striker, Barnabas (7) 3.Musical Instrument (7)

doping among the players. “We cannot afford to do doping control for each league match because of the cost associated with doping control; we don’t have a doping control laboratory in Nigeria. “What we are saying is that we will do a selective control for

some of the matches like the just-concluded Super Four should have involved doping control. “The doping control should be a surprise during the league, it should take place before the match commences just like in CAF competitions,” he said.

4.Australian Prime Minister, Tony (7) 5.West Bromwich Albion Midfielder, Youssouf (7) 6.Niger State Governor, Babangida (5) 11.Greek Goddess (4) 12.Farm Tool (3) 14.Golden Eagles (U17) Midfielder, Abdullahi (4) 16.Ocean (3) 17.State in Nigeria (7) 19.Former FCT Minister, Nasir (7) 20.He invented the Computer in 1932, Charles (7) 21.Former Minister of State for Information, Salihu Dasuki (7) 23.Super Falcons Striker, Francisca (6) 24.Former Katsina State Governor, Sumaila (5)

SOLUTION on page 15

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