Presidential poll holds March 28

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VANGUARD PERSONALITY OF THE YEAR AWARDS 2014

Leaders tasked on nation-building *Tributes for Lamido, Akpabio, Fashola, Imoke, Elumelu al service in governance for the period 2007 to 2014. Governor Liyel Imoke of Cross River was honoured with the Best Tourism Development Award, Governor Rabiu Kwankwanso of Kano, Openness in Governance Award and Mr. Tony Elumelu, the Africa Personality of the Year Award.

The General Manager/ Editor-in-Chief of Vanguard, Mr. Gbenga Adefaye, in his welcome address, said the award was instituted in 2013 to “ recognize the stellar actions of hardworking individuals; people who have left indelible marks of excellence” in the society in the preceding year.

Lagos socialite, Erelu Abiola Dosunmu, presented the award to Elumelu, who was represented by Mr. Albert Okumatba. The Guardian publisher, Mrs. Maiden Alex-Ibru, presented the award to Imoke, who was represented by Cross River State Commissioner for Finance, Rev. Costakis Etim, while veteran photo journalist, Mr. Sunmi Smart-Cole, presented the award to Fashola, who was represented by the Attorney General of

BY EMMANUEL AZIKEN, DAPO AKINREFON, CHARLES KUMOLU AND GBENGA OKE

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IGERIAN lead ers were, yes terday, charged to show consistency in their actions towards the building of a greater nation.

The charge overflowed at the 2014 Vanguard Personality of the Year Awards ceremony, held amidst glitz, glamour and grandeur at the Eko Hotels and Suites, Lagos, last night.

The political class and the media were also charged by the Chairman of the occasion, Prof Anya Anya, to project the positive strides made by the country especially in the last few years.

The award was attended by the cream of the political, business, diplomatic and entertainment classes. Nollywood was especially represented by some of the country ’s leading actresses.

The Personality of the Year Award 2014 was won by three governors, Sule Lamido, Jigawa; Godswill Akpabio, Akwa Ibom and Babatunde Fashola, Lagos. The award was for exception-

THOUGHT FOR TODAY WRITE DOWN YOUR VISION —5

By Richard Eromonsele

Now,you have started the implimentation and execution of your written down vision,will you succeed?I know that you can succeed but whether you will succeed I do not know.This is because success goes beyond just writing down your vision.It involves alot of commitment and energy.It entails focus and direction.It also requires a lot of perseverance and determination.In addition, you must be bold.You must also be a risk taker.Further more,you must be like the long distance runner,able and willing to brace all odds in order to win the race.If you can do all of the above, success is assured,but will you?

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Lagos State, Mr. Ade Ipaye.

Fashola, while thanking Vanguard for the recognition, dedicated the award to “the entire team

including the Executive Council and Lagos State Civil Service” who, he said, made the honour possible.

The award to Lamido

was presented to him by the Chairman of the occasion, Prof. Anya.

Commending the Jigawa governor for his exceptional consistency,

The coronation of Sanusi II as the 14th Emir of Kano took place in Kano yesterday. The Emir being decorated at the Coronation Hall, Government House, Kano.

ROLL CALL

Governor Sule Lamido of Jigawa State Mrs Unoma Akpabio, representing Governor Godswill Akpabio of Akwa Ibom State Mr Nduka Obaegbena, ThisDay Publisher Mr Ade Ipaye, Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Lagos State, representing Governor Babatunde Fashola.

Adamu Ahmed, Speaker of Jigawa State House of Assembly Ali Said, former governor of Jigawa State Alhaji Bashir Dalhatu, former Minister of Mines, Power and Steel Alhaji Hassan Haruna, former Minister of Interior Alhaji Musa Ibrahim, deputy National Chairman of the PDP Alhaji Mustapha Aminu, Head of Service, Jigawa State Revd Etim, Commissioner for Finance, Cross River, representing Governor Liyel Imoke.

Secretary to Akwa Ibom State Government.

Bassey Akpan, Commissioner for Finance, Akwa Ibom State Aniekan Umana, Commissioner for Information, Akwa Ibom State Umaru Shehu, Head of Service, Kano State Erelu Abiola Dosunmu Lady Maiden Alex Ibru Mrs Cecilia Ibru Albert Okumagba Mr Ben Murray Bruce Dr Charles Okorodudu Members of the Diplomatic Corps including, South African Consul General, Mogetti Sam Monaisa Deputy Director, Indonesian Embassy, Mr Deepacy Head of Consular, Indian High Commission Nollywood artistes including: Iyabo Ojo Amanda Ebiye Nazareth Bako Biola Ige Bose Oladimeji Ruth Eze Abiodun Okeowo Cally Ikpe Bovi Bisi Olatilo Chika Oguine Chita Agwu Cornel Udofia Cossy Orjiakor Ijoema Imoh

Anya said the recognition had added credibility to the award.

“He is consistent in Nigerian politics, at times unpredictable, but when he finally lands, you will realize that whatever he is doing is for the love of his people and the nation,” he stated.

Responding, Lamido restated his determination to the realization of a great country, saying: “My main concern everyday is my country, I want to see the greatness of my country.

Though age has caught up with me, I stand for Nigeria any day.”

The award to Akpabio was received by his wife, Mrs. Unoma Ekaette Akpabio, who was lauded

by Anya for being the strong pillar behind the governor ’s successful transformation of the state.

INEC postpones elections Continued from Page 1

security challenge and the need not to deploy men and materials when the security agencies had issued an advisory.

Jega made it categorically clear that “ we are not being forced by anybody to take this decision. “This is a decision that we had to take by ourselves. They were not pleasant decisions to take but we had to take the decisions. Nobody has forced us; nobody has coerced us. We stand by this decision”.

Interestingly, the Chairman admitted that with the new dates, the Commission stands a better opportunity of fine-tuning some of its processes.

Apart from the security challenges presented to INEC, Sunday Vanguard has been reliably informed that some of its vendors did not meet deadlines.

Consequently, timelines that Jega and the Commission had set could not be met.

In fact, Sunday Vanguard was made to understand that whereas “there was unanimity on the part of the commissioners to postpone the

elections, the point of divergence of views was the reasons to give to Nigerians” Sources at the Commission disclosed that the security situation, as presented by the National Security Adviser, Sambo Dasuki, dampened the morale of the Commissioners.

Indeed, the reason for the long delay by Jega to announce his postponement was the disagreement between Commissioners on what the excuse for the postponement should be.

It was learnt that whereas some Commissioners wanted the election management body to come clean, explain to Nigerians the true reasons for the postponement, especially based on its own serious challenges, some Commissioners simply wanted the security situation to be the sole excuse.

At Jega’s press briefing, he burnished the real reasons the elections had to be postponed.

Continues on page 16

PAGE 6, SUNDAY VANGUARD, FEBRUARY 8, 2015

Presidential election: Jonathan goes appearances at RCCG, Lord’s Chosen services spiritual •Makes •Says Boko Haram planned to attack whole country

By Sam Eyoboka & Olayinka Latona

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HE PDP presiden tial candidate in the forthcoming polls, President Goodluck Jonathan, Friday night, decided to go spiritual as he made an appearance at the February Holy Ghost Service of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) where he knelt down as the General Overseer, Pastor Enoch Adejare Adeboye, led the congregation to pray for him.

The occasion afforded the President to meet the APC vice presidential candidate, Pastor Yemi Osinbajo, who he greeted warmly with a handshake.

Yesterday, he was at the Lord’s Chosen Charismatic Revival Minister, Lagos where he commended the leadership for praying against insurgency in the country.

In his brief remarks at the RCCG Redemption Camp, Jonathan said the purpose of his visit was to ask Christians not to relent in praying for

peace to reign in the country, especially as we approach another round of elections.

He told the large crowd of worshippers that he didn’t come for political campaign, noting that Adeboye will not allow his altar for political campaign.

When he finished, the General Overseer, often referred to as Daddy G.O. asked the congregation to pray for the president for divine wisdom, knowledge and

understanding to lead the nation aright.

And the APC vice presidential candidate, Pastor Yemi Osinbajo, Senator Oluremi Tinubu and some others came out for the special blessing.

Speaking during his visit to the Lord’s Chosen Charismatic Revival Ministries headquarters, Ijesha during its monthly crusade titled: “From Sorrow To Joy”, yesterday, Jonathan said the intention of insurgents was to spread their ac-

tivities to all parts of the country, noting, however, that it was the prayers of the religious bodies that restricted their activities to a portion of the country.

He said: “I am here because I quite appreciate what the General Overseer, Pastor Reuben Mouka, and members of the church are doing.

You have been doing a great spiritual work that has helped not only the members of the church, but the whole country.”

Man, 57, arrested for having carnal knowledge of landlady, 98

By Gabriel Enoghoase

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57-year old man, Anselm Osagie, has been arrested for having unlawful carnal knowledge of his 98year-old landlady.

Anselm, who denied the allegation, allegedly committed the offence on January 3, 2015 just as he blamed his predicament on a –tenant who, he said, saw the old

woman sitting on his bed while he was lying down and raised the alarm.

He said the old woman had been coming to his room since October last year.

The suspect, paraded alongside 43 suspects, said he was beaten and accused of making love to an old woman before the police arrested him.

Also paraded was one Famous Aibangbe who

allegedly raped a 50year old woman in a bush at Upper Sakponba.

A man who allegedly posed as a reporter with the Voice of America and Voice of Germany, Yakubu Farouk, was equally paraded.

He was arrested after allegedly interviewing the head of the Hausa community in Edo. The state Police Commissioner, Foluso Adebanjo, said the suspects would be charged to court.

Adebanjo, who is heading to the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies, said his two years stewardship saw adequate policing of the state.

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HE intimidating crowd at the President Goodluck Jonathan’s campaign rally in the capital city of Ondo state, Akure late last month had suggested what would play out at the Peoples Democratic Party local campaign rallies which kicked off in Idanre a week later.

Governor Olusegun Mimiko, Coordinator, Goodluck Jonathan Campaign, Southwest, led the team to the hilly town of Idanre where residents trooped out enmasse.

Addressing the mammoth crowd, Mimiko, who had earlier visited the traditional ruler of the town, Oba Frederick Aroloye, in his palace, thanked the people for their support and implored them to vote for Jonathan and all PDP candidates in the general elections.

Mimiko noted that although the party would win the presidential election, the quantum of votes for Jonathan would go a long way to determine the goodies for the state.

According to him, Nigeria needs a compassionate leader like Jonathan at this crucial stage of her development, stressing that the nation has experienced justice and equity under the Jonathan administration.

He described the President as a cool headed leader who, in- spite of the various challenges facing the nation, has remained focused and determined to transform the nation.

Mimiko wins converts for Jonathan with Ondo campaign train The govern maintained that the elections were beyond the various candidates but solely for the future of the country, adding that being in PDP at this period would bring more dividends of democracy to Ondo State.

At the campaign kick off point in Idanre, Mimiko declared that his government would construct the 27.5 kilometre Odoko-Ondo Road before the expiration of his second term in office.

He added that if residents vote for all the PDP candidates in the presidential, national and state Assembly elections, he would, in company of the new senator in the district, Ayo Akinyelure, lobby the Federal Government to ensure the construction of the 65.6 kilometre Idanre-Ofosu Road.

The state’s campaign Sub-Committe Chairman on Media and Publicity and the state’s Commissioner for Information, Hon. Kayode Akinmade, who is an indigene of the town, lent his voice to the call to vote Jonathan for a second term. He said a vote for the President and the PDP candidates in the general elections was a vote for the security of the future of the Nigerian youth.

How cult members killed Enugu magistrate — Police

By Francis Igata

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HE Enugu State Police Command has unravelled the killers of Mr. OJ Nwani of Enugu-East Magistrate Court who was murdered on September 1, 2014.

According to police spokesperson,Mr. Ebere Amaraizu, the suspect, one Abuchi Afam,21,who hails from Eda in Afikpo-South Local Government Area of Ebonyi State, confessed to the alleged murder of

Nwani during interrogation.

He said,”The suspect participated in the murder of Magistrate OJ Nwani, an Enugu-based magistrate living at Trans-Ekulu axis of Enugu State.

“Abuchi told us that their intention was not to kill him but to snatch his car and use it for operations. On that fateful day,himself and other gang members, numbering about three, allegedly contracted a tricyclist

from Gariki,Awkunanaw where they took off to Trans-Ekulu to confront their rival cult members of the Ayez or Black Axe confraternity.

“He revealed that they were members of the Vikings Confraternity on a revenge mission but happened to stumble on the deceased magistrate whom they had seen trying to drive out from his gate in Trans-Ekulu and decided to snatch the car and discharge the tricyclist.”

ADC House of Reps candidate for Bomadi/ Patani counsels youths

By Jacob Ajom

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head of the general elections, the House of Representatives candidate for Bomadi/Patani Federal Constituency, Delta State, on the platform of African Democratic Congress (ADC), Hon. Perez Omoun, has enjoined youths in Bomadi not to succumb to intimidation from opposition parties and vote according to their conscience.

Omoun, who gave the

advice at a consultation visit with youths in Bomadi Federated Communities, said it was imperative that people of his constituency needed a man who would carry their burden to government, not a man who will use the people to climb the ladder of power only to forget them when he gets to power.

He noted that he is vying for the position to represent the people “beyond handouts”, pointing out

that he aims to attract federal presence to the area as well as create jobs for the teeming youths. “I want to rival someone that has been misrepresenting us.” “ Don’t be afraid of these people. If they bring money, collect it because it is your money and you have the rights to eat it but do not sell your conscience,” he said, noting that Bomadi/Patani Federal Constituency has lost 16years with 16 constituency projects.

SUNDAY VANGUARD, FEBRUARY 8, 2015, PAGE 7

Kwara police intercept vehicles laden with arms coming from BurkinaBy Demola Akinyemi

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•L-r: Popular Nigerian musician, Iyanya; the General Manager, Consumer Marketing, MTN Nigeria, Richard Iweanogu; and winner of 2014 brand new KIA car, former Dean, Student Affairs, University of Lagos, Professor Oloruntade Dele Alonge, during MTN’s Surprise your Professor presentation at the University of Lagos.

ALLEGED PARTIAL HANDLING OF POLLS

Clark, Ekwueme, Ladigbolu, others ask Jega to resign

By Wale Akinola

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CCUSING Profes sor Attahiru Jega, the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), of collaborating with some northern leaders to skew the presidential election in favour of the North, Chief E.K. Clark, Dr Alex Ekwueme and Archbishop Ayo Ladigbolu, yesterday, passed a vote of no confidence on Jega.

Consequently, they asked him to resign as INEC boss.

The eminent Nigerians spoke under the aegis of Southern Nigeria Peoples Assembly (SNPA) with Clark representing South-south; Ekwueme (South-east) and Ladigbolu (South-west).

Their four-point demand included “the immediate postponement of the February 14 presidential election to allow for the reconstitution, repositioning and processing of INEC to discharge its responsibility of conducting on impartial election.”

The SNPA, in a statement, cited meetings between the INEC chief ’s representative and some northern leaders allegedly geared at influencing the presidential election to favour the North.

In the statement entitled, ‘Unholy Conspiracy between the INEC and a Northern Group with Intent to Install a Northern President through Rigging’, the southern leaders said: “Professor Jega should and must resign his appointment immediately as the Chairman of INEC because he has lost our confidence to organise a credible election devoid of the shenanigans of some northern leaders.

“There should be immediate postponement of the February 14, 2015 presidential election to allow for the reconstitution, re-

positiong and reprocessing of INEC to discharge its responsibility of conducting an impartial election.

“We call for the immediate arrest of Prof. Attahiru Jega for allowing the procurement of PVCs for under-aged pupils in contravention of the provisions of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as Amended) and the Electoral Act 2010.

“Where the Federal Government fails to take decisive action on these demands, we shall employ and mobilize with all ounce of energy at our disposal to ensure that there is no election in any part of southern Nigeria.

“We wish to remind Mr. President that the Federal Government has the sacrosanct duty to maintain peace and order and to protect the lives and property of the citizens of this countr y.

Therefore, government must not allow itself to be intimidated by any group of persons to conduct the elections under these uncertain circum-

stances that could culminate in the break down of law and order in the country. The consequences may be too grave for Nigeria to bear.”

FFICERS of Kwara State Police Command, yesterday, intercepted some vehicles laden with arms around Kosubosu, a border town in Baruten local government area of the state.

In a related development, the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state, at a press conference, raised the alarm over what it described as increasing spate of violent attacks against members of the party by people it claimed were working for the Peoples Democratic Part (PDP) and challenged the police to investigate and bring the culprits to book if truly they were not secret collaborators against APC in the state.

The state Commissioner of Police, Salihu Garba, who confirmed the arrest of the vehicles laden with arms, said the arrests were made separately on Friday and yesterday, adding that he had despatched men from the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) to go and bring the vehicles and suspects to the state head-

Jonathan, Shekarau shun Emir of Kano’s coronation

By Abdulsalam Muhammad & Aliyu Dangida

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HE President Good luck Jonathan-led Federal Government, yesterday, shunned the coronation of the 57th Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi II, as no official from the Presidency was present at the historic and colorful event.

Also significantly absent was the Minister of Education, Malam Ibrahim Shekarau, who is the Sardaunan Kano.

Sunday Vanguard observed visible anger among residents and personalities at the 1,200 capacity seater coronation arena located at the precinct of Government House, Kano as they openly lamented the Pres-

idency’s absence.

A resident of Hotoro quarters, Ahmad Isa, said: “The failure by Jonathan to send a representative to say the least is politics taken too far”.

The presentation of staff of office by Governor Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso to the emir was conducted amidst tight security. The ceremony was graced by the Sultan of Sokoto and the emirs of Zazzau, Daura, Dutse, Jaman and Katsina. Others in attendance were the presidential candidate of the APC, Major General Muhammadu Buhari, and many other leaders of the party including Asiwaju Bola Tinubu and the governors of Sokoto, Zamfara, Borno and Yobe states.

Boko Haram has 6,000 ‘hardcore’ fighters – US officials •Group launches first attack in Niger

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HE Nigerian Islam ist militant group Boko Haram has attacked a town in Niger for the first time, witnesses say.

Niger ’s government, yesterday, said it killed more than 100 of the group’s fighters as it repulsed the attack on the border town of Bosso.

The group reportedly killed at least 70 people in an attack on the town of Fotokol in Cameroon on Wednesday.

The Boko Haram insurgency has left thousands dead and displaced more than a million over the past six years.

The militants control a

large stretch of land in north-eastern Nigeria.

Its neighbours have promised to send troops to help it fight the militants, who are now attacking those countries.

US intelligence officials said, at the weekend, that they believed Boko Haram had up to 6,000 “hardcore” fighters, according to Reuters news agency.

Despite this, they did not believe the group posed a major threat to Nigeria’s oilfields.

The unnamed officials told Reuters that the militants were thought to be still holding the 300 schoolgirls that they kid-

napped last year and had dispersed them to multiple locations.

Islamists pushed back Boko Haram militants reportedly attacked Bosso early in the morning with heavy weapons, causing residents to flee or hide indoors.

One resident told AFP news agency: “We can hear the sound of weapons all around the town, often very near our windows.

“There is the noise of heavy weapons and of light arms, making our houses shake.”

quarters of the command.

The police boss said investigations had commenced into the incident.

Police sources said one of the vehicles was a truck and was said to be

Faso to Ibadan before officials of the Kosubosu Divisional Police Headquarters nabbed the driver alongside an accomplice.

Creation of Ibadan State endears Oyo people to Jonathan

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HE Peoples Demo cratic Party (PDP) in Oyo State appears to have got the joker to win the state for its presidential candidate, President Goodluck Jonathan, as the people of the state now pivot towards Jonathan with a raised hope that the much sought after Ibadan State would be delivered to them as soon as Jonathan returns for second time.

This is happening just as the chances of the party ’s presidential flag bearer have just been buoyed, at least in Oyo State, by the Friday’s public declaration of Accord Party to vote for Jonathan, Labour and Social Demo-

cratic Party (SDP) had earlier expressed their intention to vote for the PDP candidate.

Using the creation of Ibadan State as their Unique Selling Point (USP), campaigners for Jonathan have at rallies, meetings and consultations been staying on the proposed creation of Ibadan State already approved by the National Congress put in place by Jonathan’s administration.

The Jonathan’s campaign coordinator for Oyo State, Oloye Jumoke Akinjide, has never left anybody in doubt as to her personal excitement on the proposed state.

Polls won’t disrupt fuel distribution — IPMAN

By Demola Akinyemi

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S the elections inch closer, the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN), Ilorin branch has assured residents of the Kwara State capital and environs of steady availability of petroleum products during and after the elections.

The newly elected Chairman of IPMAN, Ilorin Unit,Alh Okanlawon Olanrewaju, gave the assurance yesterday in an interview with journalists in Ilorin shortly after his swearing in cer-

emony.

Okanlawon said the union would work with other depot stakeholders to ensure regular supply and appropriate price of petrol, kerosene and diesel in all filling stations.

The IPMAN boss, who said that the union would collaborate with the state government and all other stakeholders to complement the NNPC surveillance efforts of oil pipelines in the unit, added that proper and effective monitoring of oil installations would reduce vandalism to barest minimum.

GUBER ELECTION TRIBUNAL VERDICT

It’s all over for PDP in Osun — APC

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HE All Progressives Congress in Osun State says “it is all over for the PDP in the state”, in its reaction to the victory the party secured on Friday at the Election Petitions Tribunal over PDP’s challenge of Gov Rauf Aregbesola’s defeat of Sen. Iyiola Omisore, in the August 9, 2014 governorship election.

According to the party’s spokesman, Barr. Kunle Oyatomi, in a statement,”PDP has so disgraced and diminished it-

self in the eyes of Osun people that, today, it has become the least credible and the most ridiculous party that any sane person would want to touch with the longest of poles.”

The party stated that “anybody who listened to the tribunal’s judgment on the value of PDP/Omisore case will not only ostracise the PDP, he or she will find it difficult to place any significant worth on the party’s current leadership capacity to run government”.

Olejeme optimistic of Jonathan’s victory

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EPUTY Chairman, Finance Committee of the Presidential Campaign Organization, Dr. Ngozi Olejeme, reflected on the years in office of President Goodluck Jonathan and said that Nigeria under him witnessed unprecedented levels of development.

Olejeme, who is also the Chairman of Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund

(NSITF), told reporters in Asaba that Nigerians want continuity, stability and the basic dividends of democracy.

“Nigerians have prospered under his leadership. They see his re-election as a signal of good things to come for this great country. He will come out victorious in the presidential election” she said.

PAGE 8— SUNDAY Vanguard, FEBRUARY 8, 2015

SUNDAY VANGUARD, FEBRUARY 8, 2015, PAGE 9

PAGE 10—SUNDAY Vanguard, FEBRUARY 8, 2015

Chief Olufemi Daramola my “saviour” is 80

The Governorship in Imo

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ET me first make a quick comment on the recent controversy regarding the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC’s) distribution of the Permanent Voter Cards, and the larger implication for protecting the right of suffrage for Nigerians.

Voting in elections is both a right and an obligation for citizens of any nation under democratic rule, and it is incumbent on both the citizens and the state to protect that process.

A key challenge for Nigeria is how to keep efficient public records, including the records of its citizens. This should long have been dealt with by the establishment of a National Citizens Registration Board with offices in every local government Headquarter in Nigeria under the statutory oversight of a properly constituted Federal Ministry of Labour and Establishment. It should long have been a law requiring mandatory birth and death registration down to the community level, and using contemporary tools in Information Technology, to capture the biodata of Nigerians, including the data of eligible voters, whose only requirement to

vote would be to present electronically verifiable National Identity Cards that allows them to vote, for as long as they are 18 and meet the necessary terms of eligibility. It is a waste of time and resources, and it indeed complicates matters unnecessarily, printing Voters Registration Cards, when there is a National Citizens Card that should be tied to the electoral process. We cannot reinvent the wheel, and we do not need to be stuck in the pre-digital age with all its lugubrious tendencies.

Nigeria needs not continue to proliferate inefficiency: it is costly, and it leads to needless crisis. And having put it all there, I should then advert my mind, as I meant to all the time, to the elections. Next week, Nigerians go to the polls.

The streets are agog and tense with politicking; time ticks too, and two particular elections highlight, in my mind, the measure of things, as we must expect the South to go, and that is, if the general election itself does not eventually go south altogether. Lagos, where PDP’s Jimi Agbaje is showing surprising strength, and according to some flash polls may have pulled ahead and may upstage the APC applecart

near his office and the third at the Ojuelegba flyover as a Navy Bus was climbing the flyover. Soon, the newspapers were screaming “WHO WANTS MARWA DEAD?”.

Abacha’s government did everything to pin the explosions on the

They wanted to know who revealed that information to me and they could not believe that mere investigation led to the truth. It was quickly decided that I was too dangerous to be allowed to live

,

government’s opponents – especially NADECO. I was not convinced. So, I went to investigate. And, I discovered it was a BIG LIE. All the bombs exploded after the targets have safely left the scene.

information to me and they could not believe that mere investigation led to the truth. It was quickly decided that I was too dangerous to be allowed to live. I was also told that a list of columnists, writing

in Lagos, one of APC’s beachhead states. Support for Agbaje is coming mostly from a mix of resident urbanites whose base is swollen mostly by voters with traditional roots in the South East and SouthSouth, who have settled in large and growing numbers in this behemoth cosmopolis in the last thirtyfive years. They are likely to change the electoral colours of Lagos permanently. The other election with intriguing prospects is the election for Governor in Imo State.

Intriguing because of the characters, and the forces at play. The election in Imo feels like a three-way tussle.

The incumbent governor Rochas Anayo Okorocha is a foundational figure in the APC, whose electoral victory four years ago came from a groundswell of public disenchantment that threw out the PDP administration of Ikedi Ohakim.

Okorocha rode on the wings of mass public support and frankly on the coat-tails of the APGA with the luminous figure of the late Odumegwu-Ojukwu like a halo behind it. Things have since changed quite a bit since then. First, Okorocha jumped ship from the APGA and allied with the new alliance, the APC. Okorocha’s administration has reeled from one controversy to the other: from a yet to be resolved contract scandal that saw the ouster of his former Deputy, to unresolved political assassinations and disappearances, to the suppression of Local G o v e r n m e n t Administration and the appropriation of local government funds of which

he is yet to give full account.

Supporters of Okorocha’s administration however point to a number of public works undertaken under his term, including some road constructions that have opened up more access and link roads in Owerri, Orlu and Okigwe; construction of new blocks of primary school classrooms, the Owerri Convention Center, the Ecumenical Center for which the city library in downtown Owerri was destroyed, the OdumegwuOjukwu Square, and the regular payment of state

,

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You are reading this column today, and you have been reading them since 1997, thanks to two people. The first is Uncle Sam, the Publisher of VANGUARD who invited me to this page in 1994; the second is Chief (Sir) Olufemi Daramola who in 1997 saved my life without knowing he was risking his own as well. Chief, almost a total stranger to me at the time, was practicing law at Simpson Street, Lagos Island. We had collaborated to publish the first Lawyers’ Directory when I was in charge of the VANGUARD YELLOW PAGES. That was the extent of our relationship – until I placed myself at death’s door in 1997.

It was during Abacha’s murderous rule and those old enough to remember would recall a series of explosions in Lagos. The first occurred as Military Governor Marwa was passing behind Sheraton Hotel, Ikeja; the second

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“I hate ingratitude more in a man than lying, vainness, babbling drunkenness or any taint of vice whose strong corruption inhabits our frail blood.”

William Shakespeare, 1564-1616.

(VANGUARD BOOK OF QUOTATIONS P 103).

EXT Saturday is presidential election day, and, this being the last Sunday before that “make-or-break” election, readers would have expected today’s column to be about the election.

But, once in a life time, a person faces a personal dilemma; he has to choose between two vital duties.

Such was my problem when Chief Olufemi Daramola, KJW, Alage II of Omuo-Ekiti called me to announce he would be 80 today. I had choice to make and this is it. Let me quickly explain.

Then, I took a near-fatal step. I went to the Editor and requested to write a News Analysis to be published on Monday, based on my findings which put the blame on Abacha’s security forces. It never occurred to me that I had hit the bull’s eye with that News Analysis by revealing a top security secret. (Incidentally, the Oputa Panel was later told that the security people were indeed the people detonating the bombs – just as my Analysis concluded).

The paper was on the stands by 7.00 am, I was arrested, right in VANGUARD Office, at 11.40 am. That was my fourth arrest under Abacha and it was supposed to be my last – as I found out at the interrogation Centre.

They wanted to know who revealed that

With the highest national literacy level and arguably one of the highest unemployment levels nationally, Imo voters deserve a governor who can muster and work with a broad network of highly skilled expertise

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employees, especially teachers, as evidence of Okorocha’s achievement.

But his critics see all these and still note very lowlevel, and poor quality of work that highlight Okorocha’s rather ersatz style. The governor is seen indeed as very busy doing mostly nothing. “The more you hear of it, the less you see,” one Okorocha critic says. Yet, going into this election, Okorocha’s

for VANGUARD had been drawn up for elimination at the right time. Included on the list were Alhaji Kola Animasaun, late Pini Jason, Obi Nwakamma, Nnana Ochereome and Tony Okenedo. But, mine was to occur soon. And the first step they took was to deny that I was still in their custody when VANGUARD mounted efforts to secure my release. They actually lied that I was interrogated and released the same day – when they were still waiting for the word to get rid of me.

Self-preservation being the first law of nature, I was making my own plans too – to frustrate their intentions. Key to that plan was getting message out through a reliable person to the American Embassy, where I had a friend.

Without going into details, I can now disclose that I smuggled a note to Chief Daramola, who was not expecting it, but who acted on it. Again, permit me not to disclose too much.

Within twelve hours the international wire services were broadcasting that Dele Sobowale was being held at a specific place by the Abacha government which had denied holding me. Next day, a very worried official came into my solitary confinement unit with my clothes asking me to “dress up and get out, you have finished our career. How did you get information out of this place?”

Later, my helper among the staff told me that I was

EX-GOV VS CME: “CON-SOLUDO -TION VS OKONJO-WAHALA”.

“For the sins ye do two by two, ye must pay for one by one.” Rudyard Kipling, 1865-1936. (VANGUARD BOOK OF QUOTATIONS, P 228).

This is a battle of Heavyweights among economists. You certainly can’t get bigger than a former Chief Economic Adviser, ex-Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, and a former Managing Director of the World Bank and two-time Federal Minister of Finance. Everybody in the world listens each time those titans speak. So, when on Monday, January 26, 2015, the “Ex-this, exthat” released a bomb calling the Jonathan administration a failure on economic management, I knew a fight was on. On your behalf, I have taken a ring side seat and you will receive the blow-by blow report on this slugfest. Area Boys love a fight and this one is already a “roforofo” dule. I dey laugh o!

To be continued…..

populist style and programs (the much vaunted “free education”) for instance, seemed still to have traction, and his election for a while seemed all but in the kitty. But more recent indicators show that the grounds have shifted radically beneath his feet with a forceful challenge from Emeka Ihedioha, former Majority Whip in the Federal House of Representatives, and quondam Deputy Speaker of that House. In 2013, during the burial of Chinua Achebe, Emeka graciously gave me a ride from Ogidi to Owerri, and it was then he told me about his interest in running for the Governorship of Imo. I remember saying, of course, “it’s an open field.”

And it was borne from my own skepticism. Two interesting factors drive the Ihedioha challenge: first is the growing public disenchantment with Okorocha’s real performance, and the increasing feeling that much of the hoary achievement he claims is fragile, plastic, and on the surface; ancillary to this is also the wide and increasingly successful campaign that paints his party affiliation – the APC – as a “Boko Haram Party” – a clear shot in the feet in a state that is overwhelming Christian, and many of them conservative and even fundamentalist.

Other factors of course have to do with Ihedioha’s rather critical capacity as a political operator. Going into this election, his opponents painted him as “aloof and arrogant.” He lacked the common touch.

Those who know Ihedioha more personally however, speak of a warm and

sensitive person beneath the aloof exterior, who sets his own goals and gets to it.

There are indications in Ihedioha of a quick, and very shrewd political mind, and a capable political operator and negotiator. As a member of the House of Representatives, Ihedioha brought the pork home to his constituency, and there is evidence of this, his supporters say. He brings with him a formidable legislative experience – with his past as the PDP whip and Deputy Speaker of the HOR; and this will serve him well as governor in a state like Imo. Ihedioha also brings with him the Mbaise factor: easily the most populous group in Imo, the election of Ihedioha will assuage the longstanding feeing by the Mbaise of political neglect.

With the highest national literacy level and arguably one of the highest unemployment levels nationally, Imo voters deserve a governor who can muster and work with a broad network of highly skilled expertise of which Imo has an abundance globally, to recreate the quality of the Mbakwe-era administration. But of course, all these may be torpedoed with the presence of the Emekukuborn Captain Emma Iheanacho, shipping magnate, former Minister of the Interior, and the APGA candidate on the ballot, whom some have described as the “best candidate at the wrong time.” Imo is set for a surprise, and Iheanacho may pull the surprise of the underdog still. Next week is all the time we need: but if I were a betting man, I’ll call it now for Emeka Ihedioha.

actually slated for elimination forty-eight hours after.

Chief Daramola, by taking that risk on my behalf saved my life. Today, on the rare occasions when we meet, all I see is not a lawyer, or a traditional ruler – but my own “Saviour ”.

Please join me in wishing Chief Olufemi Daramola many happy returns. Thank you.

SUNDAY VANGUARD, FEBRUARY 8, 2015, PAGE 11

Presidential Debate on what? for his decision. First, lack of faith in some of the organizers is a strong reason. Having seen the numerous personal attacks on Buhari and his family in certain media outfits, it does not make sense to blame the same candidate for declining to be part of a debate organized by such bodies. They obviously can

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We can only hope that the stalemate occasioned by the refusal of one side to participate will serve as a lesson in media management for the future

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neither be objective and impartial nor can they provide a level playing field. Rather than blame the candidate who appropriately shunned a distrusted platform, we should condemn the media that published or transmitted the hate campaigns as well as their

PhD, Department of Philosophy, University of Lagos, , 08116759758

Notes on the upcoming national elections (2)

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L A R I N G lopsidedness in the composition of his Supreme Military Council and citing of Petroleum Special Trust Fund projects in favour of the North, in addition to hisoverarching concern for the promotion of puritanical Islam strongly indicate that Gen.Buhari might be a sectional leader and polarising figure if he becomes President.

Personally, I detest obsessive tribalism and excessive devotion to organised religionmainly because such attitudes are the psychological foundation for the worst atrocities committed by human beings throughout history. Hence, in our globalising, knowledgedriven world, Nigerians should not vote for someone who relies mainly on religious and tribal affiliations to win votes.

During his tenure as military dictator, Gen. Buhari made a chilling error of judgement that should be of serious concern to those who naively believe he is a patriot. Whenelection for the post of SecretaryGeneral of the defunct Organisation of African Unity came up in 1985, he rejected Peter Onu, a seasoned Nigerian

sponsors who through ownership control or materialism coerced the management of the media concerned into unethical practises. We can only hope that the stalemate occasioned by the refusal of one side to participate will serve as a lesson in media management for the future Second, why is Channels

diplomat who had been Acting Secretary-General since 1983, and voted for Ide Oumarou, a fellow Fulani Muslim from Niger Republic.

In all the public offices he had occupied, Gen. Buhari hardly appointed women into official positions. This is hardly surprising, given that he seems to be a conservative Muslim male.

There is nothing to suggest that Buhari has changed in this regard, which implies that if he becomes President, the progress already achieved in women empowerment might be jeopardised.

Gen. Buhari was an active participant in the revenge coup of July 29, 1966.

RochasOkorocha, Ogbonnaya Onu, Sam Nkire and other historically blind politicians of Igbo extraction should investigate his role in the u n e x p l a i n e d disappearance of dozens of Igbo officers and men of the Nigerian army in Abeokuta immediately after the murder of Gen. J.T.U. Aguiyi-Ironsi. They should also consider that Gen. Buhari has always treated Igboland as an inconsequential part of Nigeria, as minister of petroleum, military head of state, and PTF chairman.

Television which has for the better of a decade won the Nigerian Media Merit Award as the best station in Nigeria not part of the debate group along with the other main broadcasting stations of the nation? Is there something channels-our credible station knows that the rest Hence, despite the shibboleths from agabtaekee APC politicians from the Southeast, voters in that geopolitical zone must think twice before voting for Buhari.

APC has been trumpeting the slogan of change. But the party is dominated by ageing conservatives many of whom stink with corruption. From all indications, Gen. Buhari has a Spartan orientation.

Unfortunately, he is propped up and swamped by some of the most corrupt Nigerians to hold public office, and his jackboot approach to the problem is out of tune with the sophisticated mutations graft has undergone since 1985. Buhar seems to

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HE refusal of the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), General Buhari to participate in this year’s Presidential debates has once again thwarted our efforts at organizing a debate to enable Nigerians assess the candidates properly so as to determine who to vote for. From the hue and cry which followed the refusal of the General to be part of the debates, it would appear that some Nigerians did not expect what happened. That is strange because General Buhari did not do anything new as we have never had any proper debate since the return of democracy in 1999. Indeed, the nation waited in vain for the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in 1999, 2003, 2007 and 2011.

The last of the debates, that of 2011, took the format of drama as 3 of the candidates appeared in one debate at one platform while President Jonathan undertook a one-man debate in his preferred platform.

There are a number of reasons why we can therefore not blame Buhari

of us do not know? Is it not instructive that Dele Alake, the Director of Strategic Communications of the APC team said the other day that his party ’s candidate would attend a debate solely organized by Channels TV? What these questions establish is the correlation between the success of a political debate and the faith each party has in the organizing body. Of course, political debates cannot stand in isolation; they are part of the totality of political broadcasts of an electioneering period.

Although no one knows when electioneering begins in Nigeria as we see candidates campaigning for a new term from the day they were first sworn-in, no substantive issues are ever raised by the average Nigerian politician.

For longer than made sense for example, the APC kept telling us that our President was clueless without offering clues itself.

To make matters worse, some of its leaders decamped to the so called clueless PDP making it look as if there is some gain in being clueless. On its part, the PDP wants the nation to note is that the candidate of its main rival party has some personal defects; first it was an alleged prostrate concern, then the focus shifted to the nonpossession of school certificate which was later changed to forged certificate. Could it be that the party did not appreciate that Buhari’s personal defects if any, cannot over The body language and pronouncements of APC kingpins indicate that they are desperate to capture power as an end in itself, not as a means for providing quality service to the people.

As a party campaigning on the platform of change, it ought to demonstrate clear departure from the usual mode of doing politics, from business as usual to business unusual.

Unfortunately, for Gen. Buhari and his supporters, the forthcoming presidential election is a war. The retired general threatened, in a manner reminiscent of the hideous ISIS terrorists, that "If what happened in 2011 should again happen in 2015, by the grace of God, the dog and the baboon will be

APC has been trumpeting the slogan of change. But the party is dominated by ageing conservatives many of whom stink with corruption

ignore the implication of the fact that a significant percentage of prominent APC members are disgruntled PDP renegades who decamped for selfish reasons - such political chameleons cannot be genuine change agents.

Besides, Gen. Buhari is an old wine in a new wine bottle, whereas the bulk of APC stalwarts are old wines in an old wine bottle. It is very unlikely that meaningful change can come from such an awkwardcombination.

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soaked in blood." Indeed, Buhari is not alone in exhibiting a do-or-die attitude to the forthcoming elections, especially when a Northerner is contesting against a Southerner.

Junaid Mohammed, Isa Kaita, and Ango Abdullahi also threatened violence unless a Northerner wins the election. But must a Northerner rule Nigeria for there to be peace and progress in the country?

Why are some members of the ruling elite in the North too fixated about the presidency to the extent of

shadow our poor economy, increasing corruption and unprecedented insecurity during its own administration.

The certificate issue for instance should be challenged in court instead of using it to push serious national concerns to a second fiddle.

In other parts of the world where the culture of political debates is firmly rooted, political broadcasts are usually dedicated to a nation’s current problems and its viability.

Between 2004 and 2005 for instance, this writer watched political debates in no less than four countries. In Germany, the economy was the issue because of the restructuring policy of Chancellor Gerhard Schroder which many believed caused the rise in unemployment in the country. In France, foreign policy especially the survival of the European Union was the controversial matter of the moment. Thus, President Chirac had to undertake a LIVE political debate with the opposition to persuade his fellow citizens against voting negative on the issue of the European Union Constitution. For the May 2005 elections in Britain, what each party could do to improve the welfare of the citizenry was overtly canvassed following an opinion polls organized by the Mail Newspapers which showed that the rival political parties-Labor and conservatives were 37% at par. Some 6months earlier, the situation was the same

in Ukraine where an election was stalemated.

Prime Minister Yanukorych whose initial victory was declared illegal because of massive electoral fraud had to face opposition leader, Yushchenko in the 100 minutes debate which was televised LIVE on Ukraine’ State television.

Unfortunately, Nigeria has never been able to hold real election debates where diametrically opposed viewpoints are canvassed at a time for meaningful comparison. What we have are “party talks”. Even at that, we are supposed to be talking to the undecided voters because enlightenment usually falls on the deaf ears of political fanatics. If so, who are undecided Nigerian voters?

I dare think that many of them are the poor rural illiterate dwellers who are unaware that a man like Babangida or Obasanjo as the case may has since left office because irrespective of who leads, their own fortunes have remained static. Unfortunately, these people who by statistics constitute the majority of our people cannot understand the Queen’s English of our political debates. Even if a debate is organized today in their mother tongue, they would have no television to watch it while the few who may have TV sets may not have light. For whose sake then, are we holding debates and on what topics-the mundane and cosmetic or what immediately touches our people?

making incendiary remarks at this time in blissful forgetfulness of the lessons of history? Perhaps they still believe in thepernicious born-to-rule mythology invented by Ahmadu Bello and reiterated in 1992 by Maitama Sule. Whatever might be the cause of that fixation, however, I know that the warlike mentality of some Northern APC kingpins concerning the next presidential election is completely unnecessary; it vindicates those who argue that the North, using some elements in the Southwest as props, wants to reoccupy Aso Rock at all cost. APC is too desperate to rule, and it would be a fatal error if Nigerians allow the party to produce the next President.

alleged complicity in the murder of Gen. J.T.U. Aguiyi-Ironsi, brutality against Biafrans during the civil war and obsessive proNorth stance on issues of national interest? I do not think so. Gen. Danjuma is operating a double standard in his condemnation of Dokubo.

For him, it is acceptable for Buhari, Abdullahi and Kaita to threaten bloodshed if the elections fail to produce a Northern President, whereas a nonNortherner who issues the same threat should be sanctioned. Therefore, in Danjuma's biased political calculus, there is nothing wrong for Buharimaniacs to insult, ridicule and attack the campaign team of the President of Nigeria, just because Jonathan is not the preferred candidate of a powerful section of the Northern oligarchy. Of course, Asari Dokubo's vituperations about what would happen in the unlikely event that Buhari wins are hasty, unwarranted and silly. All the same, it is clear several hard-core members of the Northern ruling cabal still believe strongly that Nigeria exists just to minister to their bulimic interests and that the suffering masses in the North will perpetually remain yoked to their position as expendable cannon fodder in times of crisis. Thankfully, things are gradually changing; more than ever before Northern youths are getting better educated. In the near future, they would rise up in unison toreject the antiquated feudalistictheocratic system that has kept them in existential bondage for decades.

To be continued

Gen. Theophilus Danjuma, who was silent when warmongers from the North were threatening "fire and brimstone" if a Northerner fails to win and when President Jonathan's campaign convoy was attacked in Taraba, Katsina and Bauchi states, has suddenly found his voice.

Penultimate week, he demanded the arrest of Asari Dokubo for threatening war if President Jonathan loses. Now, the 1999 constitution guarantees freedom of expression for every Nigerian, including Dokubo and Gen. Danjuma, the latter facetiously described as a statesman by journalists ignorant of Danjuma's antecedents as a soldier who actively participated in the July 29, 1966 coup and the civil war.

Anyway, is Gen. Danjuma really deserving of that description, considering his

PAGE 12 — SUNDAY VANGUARD, FEBRUARY 8, 2015

•President Goodluck Jonathan in a handshake with the APC Vice-Presidential candidate, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, during February Holy Ghost Service of the Redeemed Christian Church of God at the Redemption Camp, Lagos/Ibadan Expressway on Friday night.

Oritsejafor cautions feuding communities over EPZ commissioning

By Charles Adingupu

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S the fire stoked by the two feuding communities, Ijaw and Itsekiri, continues to burn over the postponement of the ground breaking inauguration of the EPZ by President Goodluck Jonathan, the Ogwa of Warri Kingdom and former Minister of State for Defence, Dr. Roland Lere Oritsejafor, has advised them to sheath their swords and embrace the olive branch.

Oritsejafor, who made this declaration in an interview with Sunday Vanguard, warned that should the Ijaw, Itsekiri persist in their hardline posture, the gigantic project expected to usher in economic prosperity to the religion may slip through their fingers.

The former minister said the president’s decision to postpone the commissioning of the EPZ project may not be unconnected with imminent security challenge posed by the hard line

stance of both communities over the location of the project.

“Before the president took the decision to postpone the commissioning of the EPZ project, he may have received negative security reports from security experts.

The effect of what comes

•General Overseer, Redeemed Christian Church of God, Pastor Enoch Adeboye welcoming President Goodluck Jonathan, to the Redemption Camp also on Friday night.

during and after the launch may have prompted his decision”, he said.

He, however appealed to leader of both sides of the divide to embrace peace in order to enjoy the inherent economic benefits of the EPZ projects.

CDHR postpones Rights House Commissioning

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HE National Presi dent of Committee of Defense of Human Rights (CDHR), Comrade Sunny Enennuwedia, has announced the postponement of the commissioning of its Rights House indefinitely.

In a statement, Enenuvwedia stressed the need to put the program on hold due to the on going campaign by invited guests.

“The inconvenience caused by the postpone-

Mr Gbenga Adefaye, General Manager/ Editor-in-Chief (left) presenting Vanguard Personality of the Year Award 2014 to Professor Olu Akinyanju, Founder & Chairman, Sickle Cell Foundation Nigeria.

ment is not only regretted but not in any way intentional. Thus, we hereby appeal for your forbearance,” he stated.

•President Goodluck Jonathan (r) and the General Overseer of The Lord’s Chosen Charismatic Revival Movement, Pastor Lazarus Muoka, during the President’s visit to the church, yesterday.

Scores of insurgents killed in Borno, as army foils another attempt to take over Damboa

By Ndahi Marama, Maiduguri

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CORES of suspect ed members of Boko Haram were, yesterday, killed by troops of the Nigerian Army when they attempted to attack Damboa town, the headquarters of Damboa local government area of Borno State, sources said.

A resident of the area, Mallam Mohammed Bulama, told our correspondent on phone that the insurgents, who came at about 12:00 noon, were crushed by the troops of 195 Battalion of the Nigerian Army.

He said, “Scores of the Boko Haram insurgents, who attempted to attack Damboa at about 12:00 noon, met their waterloo, as troops of the Nigerian Army intercepted them at Kalla village on the outskirts of Damboa”.

A Civilian JTF, Abbas Haske, said the insurgents were intercepted

about two kilometers away from Damboa when the troops sighted them.

According to him, the

army did a good job, as the corpses of the insurgents and burnt vehicles were seen scattered by the road side.

A military source told our correspondent in Maiduguri that troops in Damboa foiled the attack.

OATUU crisis: Scribe shuns panel

By Funmi Komolafe

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HE crisis rocking the Organisation of African Trade Union Unity ( OATUU), which led to the suspension of the Executive Secretary, Nigeria’s Owei Lakemfa, took a new turn, last week ,with the refusal of Lakemfa to appear before a “FactFinding Committee “ of the Executive.

Rather, he asked to be reinstated especially as his colleagues were not suspended .

This, he argued, will create room for fair hearing.

Before then, the immediate past Executive Secretary, Comrade Hassan Sunmonu, had written to OATUU’s Executive and complained of the unfair treatment of

Lakemfa.

Sunmonu, a former President of the Nigeria Labour Congress, insisted that the OATUU Executive should investigate Lakemfa’s complaints before rushing to suspend him.

Last week, Lakemfa, in a letter to the Chairman of OATUU FactFinding Committee, Mr. Elamin Mahomoud, in Accra, dated January 22, 2015, and titled, “ Re- invitation to appear before OATUU FactFinding Committee”, said, “By this, I assume that you are referring to the communiqué of the OATUU Executive Committee meeting in Accra on 29th November, 2014 which found me guilty ‘…has been the centre of many problems…’ That

communiqué had said that “It is against this backdrop that the Extraordinary Executive Committee meeting has made a unanimous decision to immediately suspend Comrade Owei L akemfa as OATUU Secretary General pending comprehensive investigations… “ I am at a loss as to what “Fact-Finding” you as a sub-committee of the same Executive Committee is engaged in; should the “FactFinding” not have been done before the Executive Committee found me guilty? The trite in English language for your action, is putting the cart before the horse.

In popular African parlance, it is called medicine after death”.

SUNDAY VANGUARD, FEBRUARY 8, 2015, PAGE 13

C M Y K

PAGE 14 —SUNDAY VANGUARD, FEBRUARY 8, 2015

VANGUARD PERSONALITY OF THE YEAR AWARD

Amb Mokgrethi Monaisa,South Africa Consulate General, and his wife

Vanguard Personality of the Year Award 2014 was held at Eko Hotels and Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos, yesterday. Photos: Joe Akintola, Photo Editor, Lamidi Bamidele, Bunmi Azeez Akeem Salau and Oscar Ochigbu

From left: Mr Fred Odueme,AGM Brand Vanguard Newspapers; Mr. Jide Ajani, Sunday Editor; Mr. Sam Amuka, Publisher; and Mr Gbenga Adefaye,GM/Editor-in-Chief.

From left: Uzo Inno-Okoye, Udy Umudock and Alero Edu.

From left: Mr. Festus Mbisiogu, Mr. Kingsley Mbisiogu and Bassy Charles.

From right: Chief and Mrs. Tokunbo Thomas and Mrs. Tokunbo Ekukinam From left: Ursula Chibundu and Otunba Wale Bello

From right:Barr. Ernest Gbe and Barr[Mrs] Quneenette Gbe.

From left: Tayo Akinnagbe, Ieasu Teunsared and Mary Benjajime C M Y K

From left: Mr Dipo Adeshida, Creatives Director, Verdant Zeal; Joy Obiyan, Manager BSBD and Bunmi Amosu, Bytesize.

From left: Emeka Ugwu-Oju,Albert Okumagba and Claudine Moore of Heirs Holdings

From left: Mrs. Joy Bassey, Mrs. Wumi Oguntimehin and Mr. Taiwo Oguntimehin

From left: Mrs Tina Okonedo; Dr (Mrs) Cecilia Ibru, President, M &C Foundation; and Lady Maiden Ibru, Publisher, Guardian Newspapers.

From left: Mrs Tobi Odunaiya and Mrs Koma Sota

SUNDAY VANGUARD, FEBRUARY 8, 2015, PAGE 15

VANGUARD PERSONALITY OF THE YEAR AWARD

From left: Mrs Rita Amuka; Mr Sam Amuka, Publisher, Vanguard Newspapers; Professor Anya O Anya, Chairman of the occasion, and his wife, Inyang

From left: Godfrey Etikerentse; Alex Neyin and Felix Esisi.

Mr Mideno Bayagbo,Editor Vanguard Newspaper[r], Welcome Jigawa State Governor Sule Lamido.

From left: Prof Egerton Uvieghar, Anita Paul and Kemi Ayeni

L-R,: Mr Nduka Obaigbena,Publisher, Thisday Newspapers, Mrs Ekaete Unoma Akpabio,First Lady of Akwa Ibom State; and Governor Sule Lamido.

Mr Etim Caiafas, Commissioner for Finance, Cross Rivers State receiving Vanguard Tourism Development Award from Lady Maiden Ibru, Publisher, Guardian Newspapers.

C M Y K

L-R: Prof.Anya and Governor Sule Lamido.

L-R: Mr. Adeola Rahman Ipaye, receiving the Governor Fashola’s , award from Mr Sunmi Smart-Cole.

L-R:Prof Anya, presenting Governor Godswill Akpabio’s award to Mrs Ekaete Unoma Akpabio.

PAGE 16 —SUNDAY VANGUARD, FEBRUARY 8, 2015

INEC postpones elections Continued from page 5 But he was unfazed by some of the questions regarding his integrity.

He lampooned those calling for his resignation on spurious allegations of orchestrating an agenda to favour one candidate over another.

Although he made it categorically clear that the level of preparedness of INEC this year was far better than what obtained in 2011.

In fact, Jega charged that he “believes that the security agencies will do their best in ensuring that the new dates are sacrosanct”, pleading that there was need to keep hope alive.

Elections shift in national interest – PDP Presidential Campaign Peoples Democratic Party Presidential Campaign Organisation (PDPPCO), last night, concurred with the INEC decision to shift the general elections since “it is in the best interest of deepening democracy and in the national interest’’.

Director of Media and Publicity of the PDPPCO, Chief Femi FaniKayode, in a statement, said INEC ‘’must be commended for showing the courage to shift the elections after acknowledging the fact that its state of preparedness was not 100 per cent.’’

“Since this decision has been taken in the interest of deepening democracy and in national interest, we accept it in good faith and we commend INEC’s courage and obvious commitment to ensuring a free and fair election.”, Fani-Kayode said.

“With this decision, INEC has allayed the fears of many of our citizens that they may not have had the opportunity to vote for the candidates and parties of their choice on Election Day. “INEC has, by the decision, ensured that no one will be disenfranchised and has helped to guarantee the safety and security of every single one of our citizens during the course of the elections.

From left: Mrs Ayo Adekoya;Mrs Karin Uwaje;Sir Chris Uwaje and Mr Kunle Adekoya, General Editor at the Vanguard Personality of the Year Awards 2014, yesterday. Photo;Akeem Salau

“We are constrained to take this opportunity to wholeheartedly condemn the opposition APC for its paranoid delusions and its far-fetched and childish conspiracy theories when it comes to the issue of poll shift.

“By insisting that the elections should be conducted on February 14th the opposition was not only dangerously flirting with chaos but was also putting our country firmly on the path of confrontation, div i s i o n , injustice, disaster and destruction.

“This is especially so, given the fact that no less than 34 percent of eligible voters have not been able to access their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) up till todayjust seven days before the original date of the election. A situation where such a large percentage of our people would have been disenfranchised is unacceptable and the fact that the APC was insensitive to that fact speaks volumes.

“We are aware that INEC is having numerous logistical problems and numerous i n t e r n a l challenges and we believe that the poll shift will afford them the badlyneeded time to tackle and resolve those problems and challenges before we arrive at the new dates that have been fixed for the elections.

“We believe that INEC must have drawn a useful guide from available security reports from the North-eastern zone where, despite the very serious challenges that our people are fac-

ing there from Boko Haram, we believe that elections must hold.

We must insist on this in order to ensure that no parts of the country lose their right to freely, safely and peacefully participate in the coming elections and to vote for the candidates of their choice.

“It is against the backdrop of these developments that we commend INEC for finding the courage to do the right thing. In the same breath, we condemn the opposition APC leaders and members who are set to unleash confusion, mendacity and despondency everywhere and who are blaming everyone except themselves for the situation in which we have found ourselves.

“It is a glaring testimony to their irresponsible and reckless disposition that they continue to insist on having an election on a date that the institution that i s constitutionally charged to conduct that election has said that it would be i m p o s s i b l e to go ahead under the present circumstances.

“The shift of date is a welcome development.

It is solely the decision of INEC. The decision is not ours but we commend them (INEC) for showing courage by owning up to the fact that they are not ready to go ahead on February 14th. The shift will help INEC to organise themselves properly, to put their house in order and to put in place all the necessary arrangements for the polls. The shift

will also enable the nation’s security agencies to do what they have to in order to secure the north-eastern zone and ensure that elections can hold there.

“In conclusion, we wish to encourage our supporters and we urge them to remain calm and to be patient. Our party is strong; our candidate is confident; our cause is just; our God is mighty and our victory is assured. No matter what happens and no matter how long it takes, we shall prevail. God bless Nigeria.”

Troops ployed Abuja

dein

Meanwhile, there was massive movement of troops around the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) in what some security experts described as a ‘show of strength’ by the armed forces as tempers began to flare over the postponement of elections.

The troops, armed to their teeth, were allegedly coordinated by the Brigade of Guards, which flaunted some of its best arsenals, as the officers and men massed through major routes in the town.

The siren-blaring troops were heralded in a convoy of armoured tanks and trucks into major routes in the capital city, as they checked for possible trouble spots.

As the troops moved round, many residents cowered in fear, wondering whether a war had broken out. Many others ran in different directions as the troops sped off.

But the Nigerian Army came out with a statement, last night, claiming that the troops on the streets of the FCT and environs had nothing to do with the election shift but a mere ‘show of force’ by the soldiers.

According to the Acting Director of Army Public Relations, Col Sani Usman, “The presence of troops in Abuja and environs is an exercise displaying ‘national show of force’ to show preparedness for any unforeseen circumstance as the nation prepares for the 2015 election.

Usman said the exercise was a yearly training exercise which should not be mixed up with the ongoing discussions about elections.

INEC responsible for polls postponement – Uranta In a related development, the Secretary of the United Niger Delta Energy Development Security Strategy (UNDEDSS), Mr Tony Ipriye Uranta, yesterday, registered his concerns over the desirability of the general elections taking place on February 14 and

28.

In a press statement by Uranta, titled “UNDEDSS Emendations”, the UNDEDSS scribe said, “We take due cognizance of the Advisory Input of the National Council of States that INEC should consult widely, then decide whether the dates remain unchanged, and hope that nobody misconstrues to mean that INEC can be so ordered

by ANY body to hold or not hold elections on any date INEC so, independently, chooses!

“We are aware of the fact that general elections have been postponed severally in the past, in Nigeria, without the heavens falling (and that the INEC has shown a nigh-incapacity to optimally put all necessary machinery, men and materiel in place, even at this very late juncture!) but UNDEDSS is of the position that, for the sake of peace and earliest closure, the 2015 elections should hold as already fixed commencing, Feb 14, unless INEC declares itself incapable of conducting free, fair, equitable, secure & credible general elections on the afore-fixed dates.”

Uranta, who is also a member of defunct Presidential Advisory Committee on National Conference, maintained that the sharp shortfall in the distribution of PVCs, especially in the three southern zones of Nigeria, was enough reason for INEC to justify a shift in the dates of the elections.

SUNDAY Vanguard, FEBRUARY 8, 2015, PAGE 17

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e’s final journey Fallout of Muna Obiekw Obiekwe

We don’t abandon ailing actors, Ibinabo opens up

By Kehinde Ajose

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By Juliet Ebirim

N

OLLYWOOD actress and President of Actors Guild of Nigeria, Ibinabo Fiberesima has lashed out at all those who blamed the AGN for abandoning late actor, Muna Obiekwe to his fate. Speaking during the candlelight service held in honour of the actor in Lagos, she revealed that she was shocked at reports going round that the AGN dumped Muna.

Hear her: “Think first before you write. The man was married, he had a wife and children. When you go about writing rubbish about the dead, it will haunt you. If you don’t know the truth about something, don’t spread it. It’s even worse if you are an AGN member. Everyone is sad because of his death. If I had known, being the kind of person I am, I would die to save Muna. I didn’t know, most of us never knew and Muna begged the few people who knew not to tell anyone. He had his reasons and let us respect it. Let’s stop writing rubbish – He drank alcohol, does that make you better than him? Let us respect Muna, he’s no longer with us. Mind your business” Speaking further she accused some members of AGN of double standards, saying this lot were never the committed ones. “All those throwing daggers at AGN, dumping Muna and not taking care of him.

How many of you are registered and validated AGN members.

But when something goes wrong, you’ll remember AGN. This AGN is a guild, not a hospital. We are worried about your welfare, but if you’re not registered with us, we cannot help you. We have helped people we don’t even know because they came to us. If you need help, let us know” she says Continuing she said, “There’s also a publication going round about another ailing actor, Prince James Uche. My heart is broken because we have gone the length to help him, so I’m shocked to hear that we have abandoned yet another actor. We don’t abandon actors. We have paid his rent for three years now, we have paid his hospital bills and put him on a health plan. We have taken him to the best hospitals for medical tests.

I’m really shocked at the stories fllying around. If you don’t know the truth about something, you ask. I know the •Rita kind of heart God has given me and I Dominic have God’s grace upon me. So no matter what you do to destroy me, I can’t be destroyed. I love Muna and if I could help him, I would if I had known about his ailment. But God knows why this has happened” C M Y K

Filmhouse lands in Port Harcourt

•Ibinabo Fiberesima

ilmhouse Cinemas, a leading cinema company has landed in Port Harcourt after it berthed the 2015 model of cinemas in Apapa. Located at the Port Harcourt Mall (SPAR), Filmhouse Port Harcourt features 5 large digital screens including two 3D Screens. All screens have 7.1 surround sound, High Frame Rate (HFR) and stadium luxury seating. Of course the lobby ambiance is yet again a truly world class brand presentation, maintaining the same Filmhouse touch of quality as seen in Apapa.

“This is what Port Harcourt has been waiting for. A real big-screen, multi-screen cinema in a great location, excellent city centre mall, cinema with a difference, great guest service, affordable ticket pricing, upto-date digital experience, family-friendly, truly unmatched sight and sound film presentation, fit for royalty,” the managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of Filmhouse Cinemas, Kene Mkparu, said.

Wh e sho or Whyy w we shott a video ffor President Goodluck Jonathan – Rita Dominic Says `We did not demand or get a dime for it’

N

ollywood leading actress, Rita Dominic has broken away from her normal routine of acting to romance politics in the heat of the around-the-corner presidential election. In a letter she wrote to her fans, Rita explained why she and her company, Audrey Silva, a company she co-owns with her manager, Midred Okwo, shot a video to support President Goodluck Jonathan re-election bid.

According to her, President Goodluck Jonathan has done more for Nollywood than any Nigerian President in

history.

“I want to let everybody know that I will be supporting and voting for President Goodluck Jonathan. I am making this decision because he has affected my immediate constituency which is Nollywood more than any president in the history of Nigeria. He has built roads, Benin- Ore road, IbadanLagos road which is near completion, federal universities in almost all the states of the federation, maintaining peace in the Niger-Delta, resuscitation of the railways and a couple of other things. And I have a

strong conviction beyond reasonable doubt that Jonathan will lead us to a very good place” she posits.

And at the same time putting to rest speculations that she might have been sponsored for the production of the video, Rita has this to say: “For those who wish to know we did not demand or get a dime for the video. It was purely done out of conviction. So come February 14; 2015, I will be on the queue to cast my vote for PDP candidate President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan. I am not saying that he is perfect, but considering the times we are in, he has done very well” she declares.

PAGE 18, SUNDAY Vanguard, FEBRUARY 8, 2015 Onikoyi68@gmail.com

I don’t have the Beyonce kind of voice — Lola Savage

Celebrities heap praises on Lisa Omorodion’s First Cut

By Kehinde Ajose

L

O

RITSEFEMI, Monalisa Chinda, Mike Ezuronye and many other Nollywood top names and music stars have heaped praises on Lisa Omorodion’s production debut, First Cut which premiered at the Silverbird Galleria, Victoria Island, Lagos with a galaxy of entertainment stars in attendance.

Speaking during the black carpet, Lancelot Imasuen, a prolific and seasoned Nollywood producer gave his candid opinion. He said: “We are here to support Lisa Omorodion, she is a good actress likewise an outstanding producer. She has done quite a good job and I believe she will do even better in her subsequent productions” Another star personality at the event, Collete Nwadike, a former Miss Tourism Nigeria, who glittered in her celestial white short outfit, could not hide her admiration for a job well done by Lisa. She said: “First Cut is going to compete favorably with other existing movies in the industry”.

An excited fan, McDonald Bidemi after watching the movie said “I couldn’t just accept the fact that this is Lisa’s first attempt at producing, she quite has surprised me and many others here today”.

Orekoya Adesewa was another viewer at the Galleria and she was of the opinion that the movie is timely, particularly for her. She said “I have quite a number of take home lessons from First Cut; it is a very intriguing and educating movie. She advocates support for the industry from both government and corporate bodies for good productions as Omorodion’s.

First Cut brought together Nollywood stars of exemplified competence, mastery, class and real professionalism. Monalisa Chinda, Joseph Benjamin and Bobby Obodo lead the rich cast.

•Lisa Omorodion

OLA Savage may not have the alluring looks and powerful voice of Beyonce, but she believes she has what it takes to make her mark in the music terrain.

The Dem say crooner has this to say about her selling points: “ I will say its my look and my voice that is my selling point. I don’t have the Beyonce kind of voice or that of Tiwa, Waje or Omawunmi.

My voice isn’t as strong as theirs, but I do know that I can carry a note and I can harmonize very well .

I can sing songs that are out there right now and my interest also lies in old school music because I grew up listening to the likes of Obey and Fela. I am going to stand out with my own voice and my looks.”

•Lola Savage

Music goes beyond just opening your mouth — Tosin Inspiration

By Ivwurie John

O

luwatosin Mutiu Kuti, (a.k.a) Tosin Inspiration, is a songwriter, music producer and gospel juju singer. Tosin Inspiration started music as a choir member at the age of seven in Celestial Church of Christ (CCC) Ogijo some twenty five years ago. He is the choir leader of Celestial Church of

Christ (CCC) Emmanuel Cathedral, Shagamu Road, Ogijo, Ogun State.

His motivation for music came from Mega99, Prophet Oluwasegun Akinyemi and other juju gospel musicians.The motivation, he got spiced up his musical career and has kept going ever since. Commenting on what music means to him, he said:”Music is not just about opening your mouth to sing or saying something, there is more to it than meets the eyes

rtistes a w e n o w t ns Olamide sig kwe me

By Bartholo

.Music is about the message, lyrics and the inspiration”.

His music is devoted to affecting lives and evangelizing the gospel.

“Doing all these things is not easy at all, because as a family man one will think of how to take care of the immediate family and other family issues. Oluwatosin Mutiu Kuti has performed with the likes o f Mega99, St Janet, Esther Igbekele

w Madu

Hop Nigerian Hip larly s, d o g e th r u op ry fo e Adedeji, p his is no sto iste, Olamid e, has revealed two rt a g in rd reco Olamid stage name label. known by his ned to his YBNL record a, his native g b si new artistes o records mostly in Yoru of two other h in w sign g Olamide, nounced the hile the former is an ay d ri F n tongue, o d nd Xino. W ill be recalle inko Ekun a artistes, Ch tter does Afrobeat. It w Lil Kesh and la er a rapper, the viously had Shoki sing a n y. In a n p re p m L co N g B Y in rd at th th e re co to o f h im se lf d re e n tu g ic si ed a p Vik to h st o p iers”. e id m ew O la on, “N sold ti p ca e th In st a g ra m , h it two acts w alongside the

T

C M Y K

•Tosin Inspiration

SUNDAY Vanguard, FEBRUARY 8, 2015, PAGE 19 Onikoyi68@gmail.com

Ella Mensah goes selfie treat S

•Ella Mensah

Amber Rose puts paid to ‘disaffection’ rumour at Dbanj’s party

INCE Ella Mensah found love in Nigeria, the Ghanaian actress has seemed stuck in the country, practically living everyday of her life, hopping from one hotel to another. She has been staying at Eko Hotel and guess who may be picking the tabs, Oritsefemi of course! And it doesn’t look as if that is draining so much from the Double Wahala crooner, who was spotted with her at the Dbanj party, obviously smitten with the diva.

But staying at Eko Hotel all by herself, all the time, may be having a toll on the sexy actress as she has taken to taking some rather disconcerting selfies. She posted one of herself and a friend on her Facebook and set in motion an uproar that brought about so many excited comments.

Genesis Cinema, Play Zone, come to City Mall Onikan

M

OVIE and Game buffs who reside on the Lagos Island and its environs may just be in for more exciting times as Genesis Cinemas, a leading Nigerian cinema brand, and Play Zone, a fast growing family entertainment brand, are set to open shops at the renovated City Mall, Onikan.

This was announced last week by Mr.Emmanuel Efuntayo, Principal Consultant, Ibukun Efuntayo and Company, the managers of The City Mall, during the contract signing ceremony with the two new tenants.

The managements of Genesis Cinemas and Play Zone, expressed their joy and excitement at the

prospect of coming into The City Mall which is currently undergoing extensive renovations.

According to Opeyemi Ajayi, General Manager, Genesis Group, Genesis Cinemas is coming to the City Mall based on their conviction that the Mall is about to become a vibrant location once again, given the huge efforts by the current managers at repositioning it.

Ne w bab New babyy jo joyy: I never knew greater joy, cries Uche Nnanna

F

OR every great party that has celebrities swashbuckling in a merry-merry mood, there is always a rumour or two that might either be on or off point. For the Dbanj anniversary kick-off party that held at Oceanview penultimate Saturday, the gist that cast a rather gloomy epilogue to the whole glamorous night was the rumour that American diva, Amber Rose invited by Dbanj to grace the party eventually stormed out to show her disaffection at something at the gig.

However, going by Amber’s tweet on Thursday concerning her feelings about the party, it seems the rumour is one of many that is totally off point.

Amber said in the tweet she had a good time of her life and hopes to return to Lagos in April to have another good time. “ Thank you Lagos! I had a great time as usual.

I had to get back home to Bash but can’t wait to come back in April” she tweeted.

I

N less than a year of saying ‘I do’ to her Spain-based heartthrob, Richard Maduka in Port-harcourt, April 21st precisely, Nollywood actress, has welcomed a baby boy.

The ecstatic actress who has been in the United States for months in preparation for the baby woke her Blackberry contacts

•Uche Nnana and hubby, with baby

on Tuesday with the news of her delivery. “ Hurrayyy, welcome my prince. Only God made it possible. We are forever grateful. It’s a bouncing baby boy. Now, I am giving my testimony” she gushed with joy. Uche Nnana gave birth to her first child at a Brooklyn Hospital in the United States on Monday.

Speaking with Potpourri shortly after the news broke Uche confessed that the joy of childbirth is one she never knew before. “ Words can’t explain how I feel.

Overjoy, over-happiness, over excited, over fulfillment. It is only God that can explain how I feel being a mother. In fact, I never knew greater joy in my life” she said excitedly.

How Dbanj rocked Amber Rose at anniversary party O

LADAPO Daniel Oyebanjo, D’Banj certainly has friends in high places. Penultimate Saturday, it was these friends who made his day when they trooped out to join him at the Oceanview Hotel to kick off series of events to mark the singer’s 10th year anniversary in the entertainment industry.

Davido, Tiwa Savage, Phyno, Wizkid, Praiz, Olamide, Timaya, Seyi Shay, Ice Prince, amongst others graced the concert-like party.

The man of the moment D’banj, took to the stage to give a heart-warming and inspiring speech to thank the industry and all of his fans that have supported him through the years. But he was quick to remind everyone “This is not a concert, it is just a party to celebrate my tenth year in the industry and all of you

who helped me get here” The feverish tempo reached an exhilarating crescendo when the gorgeous Amber Rose also took to the stage to express her excitement at being in Lagos to party with her friend, D’banj and then went on to delight the crowd and set pulses racing with her own version of the Lil Kesh’s famous Shoki dance.

Though not without some encouragement from D’Banj who rocked her to the fans’ admiration. “I am here to support my very good friend, D’Banj” purred the delectable diva.

Also as part of the activities to commemorate the celebration DB Records has released the video remix to the hit single “Feeling the Nigga” which was shot in Atlanta, Georgia, featuring AKON.

C M Y K

PAGE 20, SUNDAY Vanguard, FEBRUARY 8, 2015 Onikoyi68@gmail.com

My pains, triumphs as entertainment publicist — Cornel Udofia Cornel Udofia is an entertainment publicist who has contributed so much to making many Nollywood stars into what they are today.

Though he has received several awards from different organisations for his impressive contributions to the growth of the movie industry, Cornel himself would tell you he is yet to be fulfilled. In this encounter with Potpourri he talks about his career, marriage and the movie industry.

By Juliet Ebirim

W It’s been great, though hectic, hat has been going on with you?

but it’s been worth it. We are trying our best to make sure we succeed. A lot has been happening. Last year, we got a couple of awards from various entertainment bodies. We got a Nollywood award from Nollyfan as the Best Publicist of the Year, another from City Pride Magazine as the Most Creative Public Relations Personality in Nigeria. We got another award as CAMA Showbiz Man of the Year. We got more than eight awards last year. That we are being recognised is a plus for us and we give God the glory.

The rate at which you gather awards is amazing, what makes you different from other publicists?

You stand out when you do things differently and when you’re committed and passionate about what you do. We try to be consistent and focused on what we do. Most of the people that are into what we do lay much emphasis on money. When we started, we weren’t really concerned with the money, we just wanted to set the platform that will bring in the money. When you have a good name and you’re good at what you do, the awards will come.

Even though you started as a publicist, it seems you’re branching out into other aspects of entertainment....

(Cuts in)?We decided to diversify and open an entertainment outfit known as Cornel Entertainment because of the way things were going.

Take Nollywood for instance, most upcoming actors and actresses don’t really have the platform to excel because some producers prefer to work with A-List stars. Most of these upcoming ones have to grapple with sexual harassment and all. We decided to fill this vacuum and support upcoming artistes by setting up this platform. So far, Cornel Entertainment and Cornel Media Consult is doing well.

We started with Nero Sexy in 2009. We groomed him and trained him and we’ve C M Y K

had other artistes since then; singers, dancers and comedians who we have helped to project.

How has your clientele been?

Right now, we are working with top Nollywood actress, Clarion Chukwura Abiola. She’s an articulate go-getter. We’re also working with Ghanaian actress, Ella Mensah, Nollywood actor, Femi Branch and a host of others.

What’s the most challenging aspect about being a publicist?

To me, they are not challenges.

It’s a learning process and I still do what I do because I enjoy doing it.

What is the motivation?

When I started, the money wasn’t really coming in. I just love and enjoy what I do, that’s the motivation. I love to help and support people.

Would you still continue with this job if it wasn’t financially rewarding?

Money is very important, but we should look beyond money. I want to make a mark for myself , that’s why I go the extra mile. I may not be making all the money but we’re still here.

When I started, the money wasn’t really coming in. I just love and enjoy what I do, that’s the motivation. I love to help and support people.

Some people might think that you lobby to get some of your awards.....

(Cuts in)One thing about life is that people must talk no matter what you do. If people don’t talk about you then you’re a nobody.

I think I deserve all the attention I’m getting at the moment having worked so hard to earn them. I started in 2004 and I’ve worked with the best and have helped to project the unknown ones. I’ve worked hard for so long and I’ve not given up. I didn’t lobby anybody to get awards and I have more than 60 awards altogether.

My commitment, passion and zeal speak for me.

How easy has it been working with these people?

In life, when you’re successful, you are saddled with more responsibilities. I choose to be involved in all aspects of entertainment. When you’re committed to a cause, even when you have issues with peole, you learn to manage and tolerate them.

How soon do you hope to tie the knots?

I prefer to keep my private life away from the public.

So, what attracts you to a woman?

She has to be very intelligent, beautiful and possess good manners. I’m looking for someone who is more intelligent than I am.

Does that mean you’re yet to find that person and that’s why you’re still single?

I’m single but I’m not searching.

What does it take for one to be successful in your field?

First of all, you must be very passionate about the job. Don’t be money conscious. Do the job and then the money will follow.

Secondly, you have to be very consistent so as to earn people’s trust. One has to also be prayerful.

Has anything ever made you regret being a publicist?

A couple of times, yes. An upcoming star will come to you in all humility hoping to use your platform to grow. Eventually, when they make so much money, they refuse to appreciate you.

They tell you that their contract with you has ended and so the fact that they now make millions shouldn’t concern you. They forget that you created the platform for them to grow.

Having been in the entertainment industry for a while, do you have plans to go before the camera?

The plan isn’t going to be unveiled now. I’m still keeping it under wraps. I’m just happy supporting these artistes, even though they are more popular than I am.

SUNDAY Vanguard, FEBRUARY 8, 2015, PAGE 21

Words can mak e or break yyour our relationship make

BY ONOZURE DANIA

R

elationships, no matter how firm they may seem, are fragile.

A relationship has many needs to be successful, but almost all these needs are subconscious.

Romantic gestures, memories, communication and pillow talk may be key requirements of a great relationship but there is another subtle detail almost none of us bother about. And that’s the power of words in a relationship.

Have you ever thought about how you speak to your partner, or how you treat them in private or public places?

The kind of words you choose or the way you behave can have a much deeper impact than you can imagine.

The words you choose can make your relationship a lot better, or at times, it can push your partner away from you forever.

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Account number 0011484694, account name Dangana Yusuf, Union Bank, 07057064410 •Joy, from Enugu, needs a good and God fearing person to sponsor her education.

09032138762

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You may communicate well, share your dreams, respect your lover, but the way you use the power of words could still affect your relationship on a subconscious manner.

The power of words in a relationship is a subconscious energy that balances the relationship. The words you choose and the way you say something can make your lover feel closer to you. Even as individuals, words play a big part in our lives.

A compliment is a compliment, yet, the words used to compliment you makes all the difference, doesn’t it? On the other hand, words that you personally associate with negativity affect you more.

If someone speaks about the traits of low confidence to a person who believes they are not confident, it would affect them more than it would a person who doesn’t believe it’s a negative trait of theirs. And just like that, in our respective

romantic lives too, the words we choose while speaking with your partner can subconsciously affect their views on the relationship.

You may believe you are sensitive and sweet because you never criticize anyone or never pick an argument with anyone. But your partner may subconsciously believe that you are rude at times, or perhaps even dominant.

And that’s all because of the words you choose in your conversation while talking about matters close to both your hearts.

How you speak to your lover affects the way they think of you, the relationship and the way they approach their own life. Their motivation and inspiration depends on the way you choose your words around them. Kind words make us feel safer.

Criticisms make us feel weaker and low on confidence, angry words make us angry. And

reassuring words comfort us. If you want a happy relationship with your lover, you need to focus more on positive words and reassuring words.

At times, when your partner is feeling down and you know it’s their own fault, you still need to use words that will make them feel better about themselves. Bite your tongue and save the accusations and the criticisms for another day when your partner isn’t feeling so low.

Do you listen to your partner’s views completely before giving your suggestion? Learn to do that.

If your partner has a suggestion or wants to do something, avoid contradicting them or saying ‘ no’ immediately. Instead, voice your negative opinions through calm questions so your partner can look at the big picture through your eyes. It will help both of you look at the relationship as a team effort instead of a battlefield of

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Searching Male •I.C 27 based in Lagos, needs a girl in Lagos for a serious relationship. 07037177183 •Chris, 26, handsome and good looking, from Delta state, needs a beautiful, caring and influential sexy lady for a serious relationship. 07038678547, 08182828871 •Fegor student, needs a lady, aged 22 and above for a serious relationship.

08169259303 • Henry, needs from delta state needs a serious girl for a relationship.call or text him on 08033181716, 07084416232 • Karo, from Delta state, needs a financially ok lady, aged 25-30, for a relationship 08068868016, 08162273528, 08068868016 • Richard, 22 from Port Harcourt, needs a pretty and busty lady, from a good home for a serious relationship, aged 17 and above.08068690884 •Paul, from Delta state but resides in Lagos, needs a lady, aged 25-26, for a serious relationship. 07065216859 • Hero, 45, loving, caring, employed and resides in Benin, needs a caring lady .08120503542 •A guy, humble, cool, sincere and God fearing, needs an employed lady, aged 24-29, who is God fearing, honest,

DISCLAIMER! Dear readers, please note that we neither operate, nor are we an affiliate of any match–making agency in or outside the country. Any reader who transacts business with any one claiming to be our agent does so at his/her own risk. Our mission is only to provide a platform for social networking.

Also note that neither Vanguard, nor Yetunde Arebi will be liable for any error in the publication of requests which may result in any form of embarrassment to any member of the public. We therefore request that text must be sent through at least one of the numbers for contact. This notice is necessary to enable us serve you better in our refreshingly different style. You can send your requests to 33055. For enquiries, text or call 08026651636

opinions and dominant partners.

Both of you should learn to be respectful towards each other in front of others. Don’t oppose your partner’s views unless you are joking, don’t cut your partner in between a sentence just because you feel they are not explaining something well.

It will only make your partner feel low on confidence around you. Join in the conversation, but never overpower your partner.

Compliment your partner often, and don’t just restrict it to physical traits.

Compliment them about their job, their personality and anything else that you genuinely feel.

When your partner believes that you have a high opinion about them, they’d feel more comfortable to reveal their weaker side and ask you for help.

On the other hand, if you constantly criticize your partner, they will feel unappreciated and will avoid telling you any of their mistakes because they’d be afraid of being judged negatively by you. relationship that will lead to marriage. 08034328866 •Grant, 28, handsome and gentle, needs a nice lady, for a relationship that will lead to marriage aged 22-26.

07063937996, 08059974975 •Daniel, 29,,6ft 4inch tall and resides in Lagos, needs a slim,sexy and pretty lady, who is a graduate, for a romantic relationship. 08142372211 or BB PIN-216D65F7 •David, 29, self employed, tall, dark in complextion and a graduate in Lagos, needs an employed lady, for a relationship. 08039405476 • Gaius, in his 40s and divorced, needs a lady that can take care of himself financially. 07044369793 Sugar Cares Searching Male •Courage 24, resides in Delta state, needs a sincere and wealthy surgar mummy, who can take good care of him, aged 30-40. 07053355027, 08063896072 •Frank, 27, from Lagos, state needs a sex starved sugar mummy capable of taking care of my needs.

07037177183 •Obinna from Imo state, needs a sugar mummy for a serious retionship who resides in Lagos. 0806635096 •Mike, tall, chocolate in complexion, handsome, hairy a graduate, employed and resides in PH, needs a sugar mummy for co-business transaction and a relationship.08097898076 •A guy, 23, 5.9ft tall, cute, energetic and from Delta state, needs a sexy, beautiful, buoyant &romantic sugar m u m m y. a g e d 3 0 - 5 5 .

08074760723 •Gabriel, 29 and resides in Lagos, needs a sugar mummy.0808212198 •Richard, 21, from Anambra, needs a sexy, energetic,

PAGE 22— SUNDAY Vanguard, FEBRUARY 8, 2015

Email: vanguardwoman@gmail.com

BY JOSEPHINE AGBONKHESE

B

ehold the only woman in the 2015 race for the lofty office of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria! Remi Sonaiya, KOWA Party ’s choice candidate for this Saturday’s presidential elections, is a Professor of French Language and Applied Linguistics.

Born in 1955, Remi graduated in 1977 with a Bachelor of Arts in French from the University of Ife (now Obafemi Awolowo University) where she obtained the best result in her faculty.

She is passionate about issues of justice, equity, and Africa’s development. Her interest in public affairs and development influenced her voluntary retirement from her over 30 years career at the Obafemi Awolowo University in 2010, in order to devote more of her time and resources to those pursuits. She is the author of Daybreak Nigeria – This Nation Must Rise! (2014) amongst others.

In this interview during an encounter in Lagos, Remi speaks on her desire to improve the lives of Nigerians as President while she leaves you to worry about her chances and the unpopularity of her party.

What’s the meaning of KOWA? KOWA is not an acronym but a word that can mean different things in different Nigerian languages. In Hausa, it means ‘everybody’; meaning all of us are members. In Yoruba, it means ‘let it (good life) come’. In Igbo, it means ‘explain’. That can also mean ‘openness and transparency’.

At what point did you decide to contest for the office of the president?

I cannot tell at what point. I just noticed there was no candidate I could support for that office. So, the question became ‘why not you?’

But what gave you the courage despite Sarah Jibril’s experience?

My party is not same as Sarah Jibril’s party. I belong to KOWA Party, a party that does not have the same practices as Sarah’s. If I had been in the All Progressives Congress-APC or Peoples Democratic Party-PDP, you wouldn’t have heard of me.

My party is a party where every single voice carries the same weight. We do not have king-makers and godfathers who decide what happens; I

I’m rebuilding Nigeria into a nation that works — Remi Sonaiya, presidential candidate could not function in such parties. That was why I chose KOWA. What has the experience been like since you won your party’s ticket and launched your campaign?

Very fine! I’ve been running my campaigns the way I am able to, given the circumstances. I’ve been very active on the social being media and as a matter of fact, that has been the major and most effective platform for me because it doesn’t require huge sums of money. ...and what has it been like as a woman in an unusual contest?

When I was sending in my nomination form, my gender was not paramount on my

mind. “I am a Nigerian and this country needs fixing” was the only thing that reverberated in me. But of course, being the only woman in the race has sort of pushed me further into limelight. I’m quite happy and encouraged with how things have turned out, especially by the response of majority of Nigerians. Of course there have been those who out-rightly condemn the idea of having a woman contest for this position, but I am not discouraged.

So what’s the inspiration?

T’S really a desire to see things change. When you see so much suffering around you simply because the situation of the country is not what it should be, you get motivated to bring about a change. This is not the way Nigerians ought to live, given the resources available.

I

Women in the South-West are rooting heavily for you; what’s your words to them?

Good for you if you believe in me, women! I just hope more people will root for me as well. If we really do want change, then why do we have to settle for less? In other parts of the world, people are taking very bold steps; why can’t we take such in Nigeria?

What exact changes do you plan to bring to Nigeria if elected?

My party has pledged itself to rebuild Nigeria into a nation that works.

This will not be an easy task, but we r e m a i n determined

nonetheless. The Nigeria we envisage is one in which every Nigerian has access to food, clean water, decent education, good health care, and can live in a safe, peaceful and stimulating environment where he or she is guaranteed opportunities for self actualization.

I was a student at the University of Ife before lecturing there for 30 years and I must tell you that in those 30 years, things just went down and down instead of improving. Students now are not getting half as good the experience of university as we had.

You’ve always said corruption is Nigeria’s major problem. How do we achieve the attitudinal change you preach with corruption being deeply rooted?

Look at what our present government told us; that we have entered a period of austerity. I would have

When I was sending in my nomination form, my gender was not paramount on my mind.

suspected that they would start with themselves. They should come out and tell us the sacrifices they themselves in leadership are willing to make. That is the attitudinal change I’m talking about.

That way, you and I will be inspired to also make sacrifices.

What qualities would you say make you distinct?

Hard-work, discipline and honesty. I hesitate at times of course but the question is: how will Nigerians be able to sift the wheat from the chaff?

We’ve had promises upon promises all these years, unfulfilled. I fear God and I believe that a day will come when everyone will give an account of his or her life.

What’s your assessment of governance in Nigeria and at what point did we go wrong?

I think the military really messed us up with people who had no business with governance coming to rule us.

They established a trend of impunity and lack of accountability.

But the military has over the years blamed civilians for Nigeria’s woes…

Go and research on Abacha’s regime for example and find out how Nigeria’s resources were mismanaged. They all did the same thing.

So what’s the solution to Nigeria’s problem?

Real change. Drastic change. Nigerians should be bold and shake off every fear.

Do not say a party is not well known. In fact, where have the well-known parties landed us?

SUNDAY VANGUARD, FEBRUARY 8, 2015, PAGE 23

08112662589

The antics of a dirty old man!

O

PEN marriages work when one partner, usually the wife, turns a blind eye to her husband’s shenanigans.

In most cases, the husband is usually careful not to push his luck by always flaunting his trophies. In a few cases, however, wives have been known to forgive the humiliation of serial adulterer all in the name of love and a sad excuse of hanging on to the marriage. When Ope met Abdul a couple of years back, it was at the insistence of Clara, her best friend.

“We both worked as nurses in the teaching hospital”, Ope said, “and she was there for me after my marriage of six years crashed. For months, I was depressed and weepy. Clara was a lot of help but when she realised I wasn’t going to get over my heartbreak in a hurry she suggested I had a chat with her dad.

“He is a good listener”, she said, “and had counseled a few people with reasonable success”.

I was a bit wary. Clara’s dad was in his 60s and had a reputation of a ladies’ man. The rumour

was that his wife of over 30 years didn’t mind his affairs and I found that a bit daunting. My ex was a dog and I was happy to pack up the marriage after humiliating affairs. I couldn’t begin to imagine any woman hanging on to a man like Clara’s dad, but who was I to judge?

“I’d seen him a couple of times when I went to their house. This time round, he knew why I came and he hugged me sympathetically whilst his wife looked on. For the next few hours, I spilled out my heart. He is a good listener and he hugged me whenever I got tearful. Inspite of his generous beer-belly protruding under his shirt, his hug was comforting. He urged me to feel free to call any time I needed sympathy but I knew I wouldn’t take him up on his offer.

“A few months later, I ran into him at a supermarket. He paid for the few items I had in my basket, then drove me home. He invited himself into my flat but nothing happened. He visited a couple of times

more and I found myself having feelings for him.

I was appalled. He was my best friend’s dad and married. I knew how I’d be feeling if my husband kept disappearing – jealous, suspicious.

“What does your wife think about you going out all of the time?” I asked him. He just shrugged.

“She doesn’t really mind”, he said. “She wouldn’t mind if we were having sex either”.

“I was flattered, but confused.

He volunteered to give me a massage and before I

knew it, he started peeling off his clothes.

His chest, crinkled and saggy had some white turf on it. I’d seen hundreds just like it – on the geriatric ward at my hospital job. But the love making that followed was mind-blowing. Later, two words kept playing on my mind – open marriage.

What kind of a relationship was that exactly? What did it really mean? How could his wife let him make love to other women? What exactly is in all this for me?

“From then on, we met twice a week and he was his old sexy self until the evening he started gasping for air as we made love. Was he having a heart attack? He said he suffered from angina but had effective drugs to control it.

“Still, that didn’t put me off. What he did was that every time he left my bed, he’d go back to his wife. I was very jealous and I told him so. I’d suffered the pain of losing a husband to another woman and I didn’t want that to happen to my friend’s mum. In the end, he offered to come clean to his family and make me a second wife.

“Telling his wife was a nightmare. He looked haggard and drained – and the fact that I was pregnant with my first child didn’t help. “How did your wife take our news”, I asked him.

“Badly ”, he said. “she just cried and cried”, I felt a bit guilty but relieved.

At last, I could have4 my child in peace. It wasn’t all as plain sailing as I’d thought. Our relationship seemed to offend everyone. Disgusted, Clara refused to talk to me for a long time. And, my

own family were appalled too. Even strangers seemed to judge us. He was labeled a “dirty old man”. While their silent stares seemed to scream `gold-digger!’ at me.

Yet, I didn’t love him for his money – we just clicked.

“So, now my new husband shares his time with me and his family.

I know his wife will never kick him out, why should she? They ’d been married for over 30 years and she allowed him to have an open marriage. Giving a passionate man like him permission to see other woman is crazy. I never set out to get him and it wasn’t a seedy affair.

Life’s too short to worry about little things, especially the 30 plusage gap between us.

“His wife confessed she allowed him an open marriage to try and make him happy. That she didn’t mind us being together because he was too randy and she couldn’t cope. He knows that I won’t stand for that nonsense. If he cheats on me, I would send him packing – to his long-suffering wife!”

08052201867(Text Only)

Exercise for strength and suppleness

I

once read some where that “the more the body does the more it can do”. I would frame the dictum a shade differently by saying “the more often the body does, the better it can do.”

When you start an exercise programme the aim should be two-fold— to develop strength and attain great suppleness.

Though you may not initially have any considerable supply of either, commitment, tenacious commitment for that matter, will soon make it possible for you to possess them.

And, with strength and suppleness you don’t wear and tear with as much rapidity. The body can take a lot more bashing and yet not break if we take proper care of it by way of healthy eating, regular exercise and relaxation and, of course, right thinking of a positive disposition.

When we make C M Y K

changes for the better in terms of more nourishing food, the body seems to respond to the challenges or demands of an exercise routine much better. When the food is not wholesome enough it has a telling on the body.

You become a lot stiffer and you tire rather easily at work and play.

When the diet is natural and is ready for eating in its raw state or with the least cooking time, there is very little toxic waste produced, the system becomes cleaner and lighter. If what goes into the body is health-promoting, then, if you top that with regular but moderate exercise, the body responds beautifully. Muscles that were once flabby tone-up and become well-defined and joints that were stiff and creaky before become supple. Your new-found fitness will enhance how good you feel inside and that will translate into how well

you relate with people and events.

Exercise doesn’t only toughen the body, it also improves the mind.

For one, it improves concentration (well, yoga exercise does), a veritable tool in all human endeavours.

The following are some yoga postures to help you improve your strength and elasticity.

THE SPREAD EAGLE

Technique: Sit down and spread the feet as wide apart as you can.

Keep the trunk very erect and hold as far down the legs as possible.

You can stay in this position five and 30 seconds. Bring the feet together when you’re done, rest a bit and repeat.

Benefits: The Spread Eagle stretches out the muscles of the inner

thighs. Helps burn fat about the hips and corrects a stoopy posture.

THE TRIANGLE Technique: Stand with the feet wide apart and then turn the trunk to the left and bend the left knee to waist level, keep the right knee locked with the foot horizontally placed to the position of the foot. Raise both arms up and clasp the hands together over-

head. Stay in the position for about 10 seconds, change sides and repeat.

You can go over twice or thrice.

Benefits: The Triangle strengthens the thigh muscles and like the Spread Eagle also promotes good posture.

LEGS AND TRUNK RAISE: Technique: Lying on your back, interlace the fingers of both hands and place them behind the neck. Breathing in, lift both legs and trunk off the floor. Now breathe normally. Stay in this position for five seconds or more.

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

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

9.00am — 10.00am

The Spread Eagle Pose

on Saturdays

P AGE 24 — SUND AY Vanguard , FEBRUARY 8 , 2015 SUNDA

bunmsof@yahoo.co.uk 08056180152, SMS only

Matured single men looking for dates and their dodgy encounters!

W

E’VE all been treated to the bad behaviour of men on casual dates – the married ones just out for on-the-spot sex, the ‘successful businessmen’ who turn out to be jobless contractors and the ‘spontaneous risk takers’ who are in truth secondary school teachers and crashing bores! Lately though, it’s been discovered a lot of women looking for love could be a lot more adventurous than their male counterparts.

Kazeem, 55, is a divorced private chef and was introduced to Remi by a friend when Kazeem let on he was now ready to mingle.

“I was at my friend’s house and he showed me a photograph of Remi at a party be attended”, said Kazeem.

“When I eventually met her at a joint I often went to with my friend she wasn’t like the fun-loving woman I saw n the photograph. In the flesh she was a bit plain and dumpy – not stylish and pretty and I was so disappointed I blurted out she was not tail and slim. It didn’t take me long to find my way home. I’d been trying to gt a decent date for ages and had been told one lie too many by these desperate women.

“She wasn’t to be my last dodgy date either. At the private club I worked with, I ran into one of our suppliers – very pretty and flashy, she invited me over to her place. She was cooking dinner in the kitchen at her pretty house when she continued bending to reach the ovengiving me a view of what was to come. I was entranced. Needless to say, the dinner was left uneaten. But after seducing me, she let me know she wasn’t 52 as she alleged, she was pushing 60! `All women lie about

their age to get men’s interest’, she explained.

Well, that was another one that bit the dust. If a woman was prepared to lie so early on in our relationship, what future would it have?

“I’ve also discovered that women today, especially the financially successful one are obsessed with sex. My next dodgy relationship was with Nikky, a a financially broker I met at a seminar. On our first date, she turned up at my house in a brand new SUV and designer clothes.

Some few minutes after she settled in, she suggested the pair of us performed an unprintable sex act. I’m no prude, but I was shocked to say the least. When I told her to leave, she looked taken aback, as if I should have been turned on. Men are often lambasted for sexual malpractice with women they just met, but women, it seems to me, are by far the more permissive gender!”

Jones, a 45 year-old writer started dating a few years ago after he lost his wife to cancer. “I naively thought getting back on the dating scene would be easy ”, he said. “I had no idea what a thick skin I’d need. One woman |I met in my club who was also a club member, though relatively new, claimed haughtily that she’d been out with a man called Sam the say before and was meeting another called Steve the following day. I was sandwiched between the two! I told her it didn’t make me feel very special but she just shrugged.

“I slept with two other women in those early months – both after our first dates. Neither of them answered my calls afterwards. The sense of rejection following such physical intimacy was awful, prompting me to

Y

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

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

Recipe For Happiness 1. Do not dwell too much on the past: Don't dwell on things that went wrong or mistakes you've made.

instigate a no sex on the first date. Yet one 40 something PA was livid with anger at the end of an otherwise enchanting evening because I wouldn’t sleep with her. `I’ve spend the day cleaning my house and getting ready’, she yelled.

“Sadly, a date I had some few years ago with a 35-year-old caterer that blossomed into a promising relationship ended because she was jealous of my dead wife.

She wanted me to get rid of her picture from my wallet and mantlepiece. I refused, determined to keep my wife’s memory alive. I still wear my wedding ring, and |’ll never forget my wife, but I’m happy again and, of that, she would be proud!”

“Most women I want to meet – single mothers my age – have older children”, said Bolaji, a 43-year old owner of a supermarket, raising his eight-eight-old son.

“They’ve passed the stage of early parenthood and looking for fun. They want a doctor, a lawyer or a politician with fancy cars and fat wallets – not a frazzled father who prioritises school runs and spelling tests. I’m currently expanding my supermarket and all my

energy goes into work and my son. I can’t go out every night. In that respect, meeting dates through contacts works for me. Not that all of these women are worth getting 5o know. A seemingly sensible sales woman I met later sent me a picture of herself wearing a gold chain and posing stark naked in bed.

After staring at my screen wild-eyed in hor ror, I spotted a tattoo of a tiger on her shoulder. I t provided my get out clause. `I’m terribly sorry, I have a phobia of tattoos’, I e-mailed. I never heard fro her again. She didn’t look like a woman after a lasting relationship. I owe it to my son to form a relationship slowly. I don’t want him to grow attached to a new girlfriend only for her to leave”.

“With hindsight, it wasn’t the wisest confession when I admitted to one of my dates – a retired divorcee in her 60s – that I’d cheated on my wife. She glared at me and spent the rest of the evening ranting about her ex-husband”, confessed Dominic, 68, a retired architect.

“Apparently her ex was a serial adulterer. As I sipped my drink in silence at the restaurant I took her, I wondered when I could

Concentrate on the present and make your future beautiful.

2. Cultivate the attitude of gratitude: Be grateful for the 'little' things in life, like waking up each day, the little gifts people give you, etc.

3. Forgive: Learn to forgive, when someone offends you and comes back to apologize don't harden your heart, at least the person has accepted he/she was wrong. Even if the person doesn't, forgive the person, not because the person deserves it but because you deserve happiness.

4. Don't expect too much: It's okay to expect some things from certain people but we shouldn't place too much expectations on humans, we should rather put our trust and hope in God. 5. Make others happy: Try making people around you happy, happiness is contagious. But don't try too hard, you might end up being unhappy yourself.

6. Be a person after God's heart: This is the most important, try your best to live by God's principles and always do good to people even if they hurt you.

decently make my exit.

“Ironically, this type of `arrangee’ date ruined my marriage. My wife and I had been married for 26 years when a friend introduced shade to me.

Two years before this, my wife and I hadn’t made love once. Our marriage was effectively dead and I was deeply unhappy, so I was delighted to meet Shade.

She was volumptuous and pretty and we had a hot romance that lasted a year. Then we were to go abroad together when I accidentally left our travelling details on our home computer screen.

My wife came downstairs, brandishing print-outs of the plans I’d made for my illicit `business’ trip.

Even though I never made the trip, that about nailed the coffin of our marriage.

“My biggest problem has been the baggage women in my age bracket carry. Life experience has made many bitter, though perhaps given how I behaved n my marriage, it is no surprise.

Otherwise, these women seem to be looking for a replica of their last relationship. The widows are the worst. I spend so much time listening to how wonderful their recently dead husbands are, I end up feeling inadequate.

“I’m realistic. I’m not expecting a goddess. All I’d like is a companion a couple of times a week – I’ll never live with a woman or marry again because I value my independence too much now all m y three kids are grown and out of my hands. Unfortunately, all too many dates want a ring on their finger and I do not want that kind of commitment. Four dates have ended up in bed, three after just one date.

The women have made the first move -I’m a

gentleman and would never initiate early sex, although I suspect they were doing so to win my affection. The build-up is rarely racy. One woman cooked me a nice dinner last month before kissing me on the sofa. The next morning, she cooked us breakfast and I left with a spring in my step. But she, like all the others, wanted more commitment than I am willing to give and so it didn’t go any further.

Make the most of what you’ve got! (Humour) A man and his wife visited Australia for the first time and stayed at a very exclusive hotel in the outback. On their second day, they hired a jeep and drive out into the bush. To their amazement they came across a man shagging a kangaroo. The husband was shocked that his wife had viewed such a tasteless sight and rove off as fast as he could, only to find a similar situation around the next bend. Yes, there was another figure shagging another kangaroo. “Come on Doreen”, she told the husband angrily, “that the last time we go out into the bush. Let’s get back to the hotel”.

To their dismay, as they turned the drive of the exclusive hotel, they noticed a man with a wooden leg, masturbating at the side of the road. “Oh John”, wailed the wife. “I just want to go home”.

They stormed into the hotel and demanded to see the manager. “In the past hour, we’ve seen two men shagging kangaroos and another man masturbating in the grounds of this very hotel.

What do you have to say to that?”, he rasped. “Oh come on mate”, said the manager, “have a heart.

How do you expect a man with a wooden leg to catch his own kangaroo?”

Chris Onunaku 08032988826/08184844015.

My Dearest,

My love, I have tried with all my being to grasp a form comparable to thine own, but nothing seems worthy; I know now why Shakespeare could not compare his love to a summer’s day.

It would be a crime to denounce the beauty of such a creature as thee, to simply cast away the precision God had placed in forging you.

Emma Mine 07051037749 Delta State

SUNDAY Vanguard, FEBRUARY 8, 2015, PAGE 25

Help me with N1.5m to fix my ailing heart or I die — Auto parts dealer

•Qassim Balogun... needs help

•Sends SOS to Gov. Amosun

BY DAUD OLATUNJI

A

father of two, Qassim Balogun, is down with heart disease that is threatening his life.

And unless financial assistance comes his way on time, he may bid the world goodbye.

Specifically, the victim begged Ogun State governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, to come to his assistance.

Balogun, 37 , was struck with heart problem which became manifest in January 2014 when he was rushed to hospital after he collapsed in his house.

Narrating his ordeal, the automobile spare parts dealer said he did not know he had heart problem until he was diagnosed of it at the Federal Medical Centre, Idi-Aba, Abeokuta.

“After I was diagnosed of heart problem, the hospital referred me to Lagos University Teaching Hospital, LUTH, where a doctor informed me that I would undergo surgery”, Balogun narrated..

“Since then,I have been receiving treatment at LUTH where I was told the surgery will cost N1.7million. I have been to a lot of people to seek assistance as well as government but all have proved abortive. That is why I have come to seek help from the good people of Nigeria.

“When the crisis comes, I

am rendered useless, unable to do anything. “I am seeking help from good Nigerians. My family has been taking care of me but we’ve been having problems getting that amount for the surgical operation. “So far, I have gotten about N400,000 but I need about N1.5million which includes money for drugs. I have been spending N30,000 on drugs every month since January when

So far, I have gotten about N400,000 but I need about N1.5million which includes money for drugs. I have been spending N30,000 on drugs every month since January when i took ill

it was discovered.

“I have written a letter to the government of Ogun State through the association I belong to, Auto Motor Spare Parts Sellers Association, which was received on March 5, 2014.

I live at Olosun estate, Ayetoro road, Abeokuta, my phone number is 08038005967".

In the letter, the auto mobile spare parts sellers association appealed to Governor Amosun to show mercy to its dying member.

The letter, signed by the Chairman, Akeem Owolabi, and Adediran Kehinde, the association said,”We are passionately appealing for your assistance in respect of the worsening health condition of one of our members, Qassim Balogun.

“He has been battling with heart sickness and has spent so much money at the Federal Medical Centre, Idi-Aba, Abeokuta, before he was referred to Lagos University Teaching Hospital, Idi-Araba, Lagos.

“According to the consultant in charge, the boy will require N1.7million for corrective open heart surgery.

“We are seeking your financial assistance for this patient so that he can be treated without any delay”.

When Sunday Vanguard visited Balogun at his residence in Abeokuta , he looked frail.

When asked why he was in hospital, Balogun, who claimed to have been assisted by friends with funds which had proved inadequate to resolve the health challenge, said he decided to go for treatment from home so as to manage the little money he had.

He said, substantial part of the money donated to him by mosques, friends and colleagues was being “I will be grateful to the people of the state and entire country if they could be of help to me and pay the money needed for the surgery.

“I can be reached through 08038005967 while anybody wishing to help can do so through payment into First Bank, Balogun Afolabi Qassim with account number 2025937316”.

Nigerians Should Pray Against Inter-Tribal War — Prophet Samuel

BY GBENGA OLARINOYE, Osogbo

T

he General Overseer of Christ Worshipers Church, Osubi, Warri, Delta State has warned Nigerians against what could lead to inter-tribal war .

Speaking at the church headquarters last Sunday, Dr. Prophet Samuel called on Nigerians to pray fervently against calamity that may befall the country as a fall out of the general elections.

He alerted that a plan was on going by some Nigerians going into a treaty “where by 30% of Nigerian resources would go to Iran, Lebanon and North Korea”. He went on: “After this, the army would come and give the impression that they are protecting the people but

Prophet Samuel underneath give tactical support to the Boko Haram insurgents” .They would go further to incite the soldiers against themselves, he added.

“The crisis and confusion would begin from the South-south region where brothers would be pitted

So, we Nigerians should pray earnestly against any calamity befalling this nation against brothers. And it is this that would lead to the avoidable inter tribal war.

“So, we Nigerians should pray earnestly against any calamity

befalling this nation. We should do everything within our power to ensure that we conduct these elections in an atmosphere of peace and tranquility”.

It was a three-in-one celebration as the church did a thanksgiving service on Samuel’s 50th bir thday, launched a book titled, “The Trials of A Prophet-The Prophet D.A.Samuel experience” while the G.O. Received an award of recognition bestowed on him by the authority of the Christian Leadership University, Kaduna, Nigeria.

Presenting the certificate of recognition to Samuel, the Vice Chancellor of Christian Leadership University, Prof. Paul Akinwunmi, disclosed that the cleric bagged his Doctorate of

Divinity Degree from the institution on December 6, 2014.

He added that this has made him to be admitted as a visitor in the Department of Theology and Spiritual Warfare in the university.

“It is this and his other contributions to humanity that the institution on behalf of Association of Christian Theologians decided to award him with the honour”, he added.

At the launch of the book, the chairman of the occasion, Elder Kayode Adepitan, stressed the need to have abiding faith in God. During the thanksgiving service, Samuel recounted how some people he described as enemies had attempted to terminate his life a day earlier by firing bullets on his car around Oluku area of Benin.

PAGE 26—SUNDAY Vanguard, FEBRUARY 8, 2015

Deaths, uncertainty as security forces, oil vandals battle for Ogun community

BY BOSE ADELAJA

O

ke- Oko, located in Ifo Local Government Area of Ogun State, is metres away from Agric bus-stop, Ikorodu.

Easily noticed from the junction is a plank market, buildings and shanties. The community has people from different parts of Nigeria with a police check point about 30 metres away from the entrance of the community.

From the first junction of the road is usually a police van with officers carrying arms and checking vehicles going in and exiting the community.

Also, within the radius of about 100 metres is the community centre which has stigmatised OkeOko. This is where illicit petroleum business takes place.

A peep into your right hand side exposes a heap of kegs, some of which may have been filled with products as their owners scout for buyers.

Around the area are trays of Indian hemp on display while some smoke freely on the road.

At Oke-Oko, life takes a different turn and a ‘mind your business life style” as some of the youths there are mostly armed and hang

•Oil pipeline vandals at work around the berth. This area is usually raided by uniformed men from the army, the police, the airforce, the navy, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps, NSCDC, the Customs and Immigration for illicit petroleum traders aka vandals.

On December 12, 2013, one Lamidi Adamo, a vulganiser, was allegedly shot dead by men of the NSCDC in the presence of his three year-old baby Zainab, who held the clothes of his father’s killer weeping.

At the end of confrontation, two policemen were said to have been felled by bullets. Although normalcy has returned to the town, residents are apprehensive of what will happen next and some have temporarily moved out of the community

And about a month ago, there was a shoot out between the vandals and law enforcement agents which put the community in turmoil as many could not gain access into their homes when bullets flew freely in the air.

Monday, January 26, 2015 was another tragic day in OkeOko as some NSCDC men were declared missing and their van reportedly set ablaze after they

were attacked by vandals. The NSCDC called for reinforcement and some vandals were arrested.

It did not end there as the vandals went back and mobilised for a reprisal attack. They were said to have rode down on motorcycles to Isawo Police Division with dangerous weapons suspecting that their men may have been detained there.

That was around 10pm. At the end of confrontation, two policemen were said to have been felled by bullets. Although normalcy has returned to the town, residents are apprehensive of what will happen next and some have temporarily moved out of the community.

When Sunday Vanguard visited the community on Thursday, there was a heavy presence of soldiers while residents were scared of venturing out of their houses.

A community leader, Ismaila Agbedo, said his life was in the hand of God. “If I see somebody ready to buy my property, I am willing to sell because shooting here is becoming rampant”,he stated. Also, Madam Maria said, “It is not good to raise children under this kind of environment,” Efforts to reach the officials of NSCDC proved abortive as none of them responded to calls by Sunday Vanguard.

Delta community, Shell resolve differences over oil spill

BY EGUFE YAFUGBORHI

Y

OKRI community in Delta State, Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) and the National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA) have resolved their differences over the crude oil spilled into the community’s fishing swamp following the alleged leakage on a Shell pipeline in Burutu council area of the state.

During the Joint Investigation Visit (JIV) following the discovery of the spillage mid-January, stakeholders agreed that the incident resulted from corrosion on the Yokri Well 114 Flowline, but the process was deadlocked when argument broke between the community and the company over the volume of crude spilled.

Present at the JIV were Agbramu Friday, Shell Team Leader at the Yokri Flowstation, Ikechukwu Ibe of industry regulator, NOSDRA, as well as Samuel Powede, Chairman, Yokri and Gabriel Agbala for owner families of the affected

fishing swamp among other community leaders.

It took parties an extended meeting in Warri to mutually agree that some 33 barrels of crude oil may have been discharged into the fishing swamps from the

failed pipe before the leakage was discovered and further spread halted.

Agbala said of the development, “Shell claims the corrosion is pin hole, but from what we observe of the extent of spread and the days it

took to halt further spread, we believe the volume was far higher.”

“However, there is relief that this time around there is no disagreement on the cause.

The Agbala family is in court with Shell over two of three previous unresolved spillages

which affected this same fishing swamp which is now the only viable fishing zone for the entire community.”

The amount of compensation due to the community and affected swamp owners was yet to be agreed at the time of this report.

KSM task Nigerians to care for the less-privileged

T

he Knights of St Mulumba, Lekki Sub-council has tasked Nigerians to support the care of the less privileged, promote positive values that would engender a better society and believe in good cause for common good.

Speaking during an outdoor function of the group, Arch. Jonny Ngonadi, Grand Knight, Lekki Sub council revealed that KSM, which is a group of dedicated Catholics whose main concern is to live life of holiness and use

their resources in furthering the missionary mandate in their homes and in the larger society, seeks to make the society a better place by being sensitive to the needs of the poor and giving succour to the destitute, the disadvantaged and the oppressed in the society.

According to Arch.

Ngonadi: “As a group, we work towards a high sense of order and discipline within society, work for justice always and everywhere for the benefit of mankind, live an exemplary catholic life and defend the

faith as well as support other intentions and actions that are good, noble, sacred, holy and beautiful. These virtues, members are encouraged to live out in their lives, in order to make the society that radiates love and peace.”

Chief Tony Idigbe, Deputy Grand Knight, Lekki Subcouncil, explained that KSM whose membership spans all cadres of professionals such as Government Administrative Officers, Teachers, Lawyers, Businessmen, Professors, Engineers, Bankers, Doctors

and other professionals in all strata of the economy and are practicing Catholics are called to a greater call of service by mirroring the faith, hope and charity of the Christian tradition in intention and actions.

Idigbe, who is also a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, explained: “From the structure of the Order, the Church carries out the missionary mandate through the efforts of the clergy, religious and laity of the people of God. In all, every member of the Church through unity and love strives

to accomplish the Lord’s sacred instructions”.

Mr. Ena Ofugara, one of the new initiates into the Order, noted that KSM, like all Nigerians are called to a greater service by promoting love, peace, avoiding any evil, criminal, ugly and insidious intentions and actions.

“By sticking to the mission, vision, aims and objectives of the establishment of KSM, coupled with the sacramental life of the Church, one is in tune to one’s spiritual life and called to a life of holiness of life,” Ofugara added.

SUNDAY Vanguard, FEBRUARY 8, 2015, PAGE 27

DAYO JOHNSON, Akure

S

IGNS of abject poverty in the society was evident on Thursday in Akure, Ondo State capital as miscreants exchanged blows over the sharing formular to be adopted for the 11 cows crushed to death by a luxurious bus.

The accident, according to Sunday Vanguard investigation, occurred around 4am along the Akure-Owo expressway in Akure.

No death was recorded or any passenger wounded in the bus.

But the sleep of many of them was disrupted following the accident.

Immediately the news of the accident filtered to the miscreants they mobilised themselves in their hundreds and the invaded the scene as early as 5am.

Armed with knives and cutlasses, the miscreants removed the dead cows before day break.

Argument about where it would be safe for them to carry the cows to for sharing reportedly caused confusion..

It was later agreed that it should be 12 to a cow and within few minutes they have divided themselves into groups and each group organised a vehicle to convey their own ‘loot’.

Sunday Vanguard gathered that fight broke out among the miscreants over how many people will share the cows and who should take which part of the animals.

Eyewitness account said that the luxurious bus, marked Anambra KPP 158XA, was coming from

Free-for-all in Akure over cows killed by bus

•One of the ill-fated animals. Inset: The bus Abuja and heading for Lagos when the accident occurred at the Sebi Filling Station in Akure along the expressway.

Immediately the accident occurred, the herdsmen in charge of the cows reportedly fled into the bush for fear that they may be lynched.

It was gathered that two herdsmen were with the over 25 cows when the crash occurred.

The younger herdsmen, it was learnt, had allowed the cows to cross the road without checking if it was cleared to do so. Also, the driver and passengers in the luxurious bus fled the scene

thinking that the Fulani heardmen may mobilise to vent their anger on them.

It was learnt that the driver and the passengers had to hide inside the bush till day break.

Speaking with Sunday Vanguard, one of the passenger of the bus, Rosemary

Nwachukwu, said the accident occurred at about 4am on Thursday.

She said many of the passengers were sleeping when the incident occurred. “ When we suddenly saw cows on the expressway, many of us that were awake thought it was one of the antics of armed robbers. “ We later learnt that it was not armed robbery attack but carelessness on the party of the herdsmen who crossed the cows without making sure that the expressway was free of vehicles”.

Sunday Vanguard gathered that the driver of the bus on sighting the cows crossing the road thought it was an armed robbery attack. He was said to have maneuvered the bus but the cows were too many on the expressway hence the number of the animals that were killed instantly.

The sound of the crash reportedly attracted the people living along the expressway to the scene.

Many of the cows were reportedly dragged off the expressway by travellers plying the road.

A police officer at the scene of the accident said it was discovered that the herdsmen caused the accident by making the cows to cross the expressway without checking if it was free or not.

Meanwhile, the police image maker in Ondo State, Wole Ogodo, said he was not aware of the crash.

BATTLE TO RESTORE TWO DELTA CONSTITUENCIES

Jega defies court order, faces contempt charge

BY FESTUS AHON

D

ESPITE the Federal High Court judgment, which ordered the Independent Electoral Commission, INEC, to restore the Ughelli South 1 and Isoko North 1 state constituencies in Delta State both of which were axed in 1998, the Chairman of the Commission, Prof Attahiru Jega, has refused to implement the court’s decision.

The Federal High Court, sitting in Warri, had, October 31, 2014, ordered INEC to restore and include the two constituencies in the 2015 elections.

Jega’s refusal or delay to implement the judgment is believed to be part of a northern agenda against the South. They believe that the judgment coming from the Federal High Court is

sacrosanct and should be obeyed in its entirety.

Chief John Ewenede, who is one of the plaintiffs in the matter, said similar judgments have been implemented in other parts of the country, wondering why that of Ughelli South 1 and Isoko North 1 constituencies should be treated differently.

According to Ewenede, three constituencies were resored through court judgments in Benue State and one in Kogi State. While calling on Nigerians to prevail on INEC to address the injustice meted to the people of the two affected constituencies, he said its implementation has no negative or financial implication on the Commission.

Another plaintiff, Chief Felix Onowakpokpo, who also spoke, described Jega’s attitude towards

the judgment as undemocratic and unacceptable.

Insisting that they would pursue the matter to its logical conclusion, Onowakpokpo said: “Nobody is above the law; not even Jega”.

Meanwhile, the Federal High Court, on Tuesday, dismissed the application for the stay of execution filed by INEC against the judgment of the court..

Dismissing the application without cost against INEC, the presiding judge, Justice Shitu Abubakar, said the Commission had no reason to delay the implementation of the court’s judgment.

The matter was adjoined to February 10 for the commencement of contempt of court proceedings against Jega.

Fielding questions from newsmen

shortly after the adjournment, INEC counsel, Mr Efa Oka, said his client was under obligation to obey the judgment after its application for stay of execution was dismissed.

Counsel to the plaintiffs, Chief Efe Akpofure, SAN, who also spoke to the Sunday Vanguard, described the dismissal of INEC’s application for stay of execution as a good judgment. Saying the matter deserved extreme urgency since the judgement was one for the restoration of state constituencies that should participate in the 2015 elections, Akpofure said: “There is nobody that is bigger than the court; you must obey court order.

“The court has made an order and that judgment is subsisting. I don’t want to believe that the delay in the implementation of

the court judgment is political; we expect INEC to do the needful, having been put on notice”.

The counsel held that unless Jega complies with the court judgment, they would not withdraw the contempt charge against him. He said similar judgements have been given in other states and those constituencies were restored.

Mr John Okoriko, who is also a counsel to the plaintiffs, said the ruling was fair, adding: “We are convinced that it has met the justice of this particular case. The reason is that, this is a matter in which we have gotten judgment on October 31, 2014 and the court copiously made the order that INEC should comply with the judgment by ensuring that Ughelli South 1 and Isoko North 1 constituencies be restored forthwith”.

PAGE 28—SUNDAY Vanguard, FEBRUARY 8, 2015

DIASPORA

Will you be my Valentine to the polling booth?

•Eugene Juway

•Mortimer Hope

Nigeria needs more spectrum to accelerate mobile broadband devt, GSMA economic development, he government income and

BY EMEKA AGINAM

T

HE Director, Spect-rum and Public Policy Africa, for Global System for Mobile Communication Association (GSMA), Mortimer Hope has said that opportunities in digital age can only be realised if Nigerian government acts now to allocate more spectrum for mobile to meet rising consumer demand and support the development of new mobile services in the longer term.

The GSMA represents the interests of mobile operators worldwide, uniting nearly 800 operators with more than 250 companies in the broader mobile ecosystem, including handset and device makers, software companies, equipment providers and Internet companies, as well as organisations in adjacent industry sectors.

Common position on mobile broadband While urging African governments to take a common position to increase mobile broadband spectrum availability in order to address the high cost of spectrum licence in Nigeria the rest of the African nations, Hope who was in Nigeria recently for the African Telecommunications Union’s third preparatory meeting for the International Telecoms Union (ITU) World Radio Communication Conference 2015 (WRC-15) told Vanguard in an interview that new spectrum for mobile broadband is vital to boost economic growth in the country.

Cost of spectrum still high: Calling on the African governments to speak with one voice and collectively agree on the need to increase mobile internet spectrum for Africa, he observed that cost of spectrum licences in Nigeria and the rest of the African continent is still high as a result of limited spectrum band for the continent.

Efficient spectrum use: Pointing out that broadband connectivity could be a driver of socio-

said that , “ The Nigerian Communications Commission, NCC, should ensure that spectrum is efficiently utilized by the operators. Nigeria has a large population of GSM and CDMA subscribers, with operators trying to satisfy customers with the limited spectrum licences that they have. Because the demand for mobile services is on the increase in Nigeria and across Africa, GSMA is of the view that there is need for government and regulatory authorities to allocate more spectrum to the operators, to meet the demands, and we have identified four spectrum areas that could address this,” Noting that the issue of spectrum licences remained a national matter that needed urgent intervention , he said that high cost of spectrum is affecting productivity and cost of services by operators who have invested so much in spectrum licence .

Economic assessment of C-band reallocation Speaking on the new report prepared by GSMA on Economic assessment of C-band reallocation in Africa, he said that based on the estimates of netbenefits of C-band reallocation, GSMA produced high level estimates of the impact on

taxes.

“We estimate that revenue to the governments in Africa through taxation and the auction of licenses would be over PPP $13 billion” While more efficient use of the current spectrum can deliver some of the capacity, he said that it is likely that the rest would need to be delivered by reallocating spectrum to mobile use.

He explained that Cband spectrum (3.44.2GHz) appears to be well suited to provide additional capacity in urban areas, and could help alleviate this expected spectrum scarcity.

“Africa uses a significant proportion of C-band spectrum to provide various satellite-based services, including TV distribution.5 Terrestrial TV is distributed to broadcast towers using C-band. TV networks and mobile operators are likely to have earth stations operating in C-band, and these are used as hubs for TV contribution and distribution, and global connectivity.6 VSAT-based applications”, he explained.

According to the report, access to C-band spectrum for mobile services will decrease marginal costs for mobile operators, leading to lower prices for mobile broadband in Africa.

MTN, Ericsson to drive e-waste recycling in Benin

M

TN Benin, has partnered with Ericsson under their Ecology Management Program, to launch the first electrical and electronic equipment waste collection and awareness drive in Benin.

With the new development, Ericsson’s Program covers the collection, decommissioning, transport, storage and disposal of obsolete technology This campaign is geared towards creating awareness and minimizing the potential environmental impact associated with the disposal of decommissioned electrical

and electronic equipment in the country.

E-waste, not recycled properly, is an under acknowledged environmental hazard around the world. Africa, particularly West Africa, is one of the more highly affected continents because large quantities of end of life materials from around the world end up at dumps in this region. This project is provides a sound platform for raising awareness and discussing these issues.

Already, a collection depot with a 20-foot container has been opened at Stade de l’Amitié de Kouhounou, Cotonou, Benin.

,

I

T'S a few days to the most important date in the history and future of Nigeria in recent times – February 14, 2015. This is the day Nigerians will go to polls to determine who will rule them for the next four years. Thanks to democracy, It is a day of choice. On Saturday, we shall troop out, armed with our PVCs and make a choice of the man or woman to steer the destiny of Nigeria in the new dispensation.

To some Nigerians, it will be another ordinary day. It is good to note, by activities and events in the country of recent, that these groups of citizens will be in the minority. Everybody is anxiously looking forward to this date. It is as if we have come to the realisation, unlike before, that the future of the country will largely be determined by us.

As a result of this, nobody is taking any chance. The sensitivity towards Saturday's election is high. Nigerians have woken up and taken the role of defenders of democracy. The queues of supporters behind the candidates shall be mixed. There shall be artisans, professionals, students, unemployed, employed, unemployable and many more. It all depends on how much they believe the manifestoes of the candidates.

It is instructive that February 14 is the date for the elections in Nigeria. Whoever, or the members of whatever committee that decided on this date for the 2015 General Elections in Nigeria must be believers in love. I have tried to justify the date selection on so many fronts, but the one that sticks is that the date was chosen for Nigerians to show how much they love themselves.

February 14 is Lovers Day, also known as Valentine Day. This event is celebrated all over the world. From Albania to Zimbabwe red will be the colour of love on this day. Lovers all over the world look forward to Valentine Day annually.

As a result it is a date when floral shops sell most because every lover is ordering flowers of different shapes and smell to give to their partners.

On this day lovers, married, unmarried, and probably divorced come together and, in most cases pretend to love each other more than any other day. On this day, lovers are unusually

I have tried to justify the date selection on so many fronts, but the one that sticks is that the date was chosen for Nigerians to show how much they love themselves.

,

generous with flowers, chocolates, cards and choice expensive gifts.

These are exchanged in celebration of the god of love. Hotels, restaurants and eateries are booked ahead of time to avoid disappointment. You can literarily feel love in the air However, this year while the rest of the world are checking into hotels, guest houses or restaurants to play the game of love, Nigerians shall be heading to the polling booths. This may be a new experience of "playing" and "enjoying" love. The queues at the polling booths shall, no doubt, witness a lot of smooching, kissing and 'touching.'

Valentine Day has become a commercialised "product". Everybody is in on it. This blame can be placed at the doorstep of social media networks.

In recent times, the outpouring of love on these media is so exaggerated that Cupid will cringe.

On Valentine Day, it is not uncommon to see a "serial" adulterous husband write the sweetest poem for his wife. It is just the game of "belong in". It is common nowadays to hear Primary School kids openly discussing who their “valentine” is. Do you blame them? It is the age we live in, where the celebration of love has been over rated to divert the minds of people away from the major challenges they face or the world faces.

Back to Saturday's election. We have seen pic-

tures and videos of the two major presidential candidates hugging, holding each other's hands and smiling sheepishly. President Goodluck Jonathan of the People's Democratic Party (PDP) and Retired Major-General Muhammed Buhari of the All Progressives Congress (APC) were locked in exaggerated show of love. You may question their body language, but you cannot question the symbolism of their act.

This is what Valentine Day is - Exaggerated display of love.

The pictures and videos were shot at the signing of the non violence pact between the political parties on January 14, 2015. This pact has actually gone a long way in dousing tension in the land. Apart from a few loud mouthed supporters threatening violence, the terrain has been okay for now. A couple of violent acts, such as burning of opposition's campaign vehicles have been witnessed but nothing of the scale were used to in past elections.

In line with the above and Nigeria's position in Africa, the international community has also taken keen interest in the build up to the elections.

The world at large is praying that the Nigerian voters' behaviour will be guided by the theme of February 14. This Saturday's election is ranked as one of the most important in the world in this quarter. The focus of the world is on us. To the international community, every election in Nigeria is a case study.

The focus on Nigeria at this time is understandable, most especially with the activities of the terrorist group, Boko Haram in the North Eastern part of the country.

The world is watching if violence will be the order of the day or the god of love will have its ways. It is critical this time around for us to get it right. It's another unique opportunity to boost the Nigerian profile in the comity of nations. Are we going to rise to this challenge or shall we fall the hands of everybody?

I have a strange feeling that we shall get it right this time around. I am not dreaming. I just feel we are seriously improving on the democratic experience in the country. It will only take a short time and we shall perfect our acts and measure up to the "international standard". God help us.

SUNDAY VANGUARD, FEBRUARY 8, 2015, PAGE 29

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POLLS: KWARA PEACE ACCORD IN TATTERS!

Two feared dead as campaign goes bloody!

By Demola Akinyemi, Ilorin

S

ince the journey to the February 2015 elections began, it has been crystal clear that the supporters of the ruling All Progressives Congress(APC) and the main opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Kwara State are desperate about power. The former has not hidden its deep interest to hold on to power, banking on the continuity of its achievements while the latter ’s campaign slogan is freedom from the incumbent.

There was, however, respite that the elections would not be marred by violence when the leaders of the contending political parties, penultimate Saturday, at INEC office in Ilorin, the state capital, signed a peace accord.

The peace agreement, dubbed “Ilorin Accord”, was signed by 15 parties and their candidates out of the 16 expected to take part in the elections. Labour Party was the only party absent at the event which took place at the INEC headquarters in Ilorin.

The Resident Electoral Commissioner for the state, Dr. Emmanuel Onucheyo, described the event as the first of its kind after a similar exercise by the national headquarters of the commission.

The state governor and candidate of the APC, Alhaji AbduFattah Ahmed, and his counterpart from the PDP, Senator Simon Ajibola,who earlier embraced one another to the delight of those in attendance, pledged support to the initiative.

Ahmed asked the organisers of the event to replicate the accord at the local government level in the state as he noted that, without peace, credible elections would be impossible.

The signatories pledged to ensure that their supporters follow the pledge they had made towards peaceful

•Alhaji AbduFattah Ahmed

conduct in all aspects of the elections.

Part of the commitment in the accord includes ensuring that campaigns are based on issues and devoid of religious, ethnic or tribal profiling and refraining from making statements that have the capacity to incite violence.

It included a provision to forcefully speak against provocative utterances whether perpetrated by their supporters or opponents.

The agreement committed the signatories to the monitoring of adherence to the accord.While hinting that a monitoring committee, consisting of statesmen and women as well as traditional and religious leaders may be set up, the accord tasked all the institutions of government involved in the electoral process, including INEC and security agencies, to act and be seen to be committed to the agreement.

Earlier, Kwara State commissioner of police, Mr. Salihu Garuba, had read a

• Sen Simeon Ajibola

But contrary to expectations, particularly because of the “ILORIN ACCORD,”the campaign turned bloody last Wednesday when the campaign team of the APC visited Isapa riot act to politicians in the state, saying any politician who carries firearms or dangerous weapons will be arrested and prosecuted.

Speaking at a security meeting with political stakeholders in Ilorin , the police commissioner said the state police command would not tolerate proliferation of firearms.

“We are not going to give

anybody permit to carry guns. We would not allow anyone to kill us. If you have disagreement with your opponent there is a better way to settle it through the ballot. And if you have cars with factory-fitted tinted glasses, please come and obtain official permit so that you can use it”, he said.

In view of this,the two rival political parties have since

commenced their campaigns wooing voters with various promises.

The ruling APC kick started the campaigns followed by the opposition PDP. Infact,the presidential candidates of the two rival political parties have also visited Kwara to drum support for their parties.

The presidential campaign team of the APC visited Ilorin, penultimate Saturday, while that of the PDP visited penultimate Monday.

But contrary to expectations, particularly because of the “ILORIN ACCORD,”the campaign turned bloody last Wednesday when the campaign team of the APC visited Isapa in Ekiti local government area of the state.

The campaign team was attacked and two people were feared dead following gun shots they received while about 20 others sustained critical injuries.

Three campaign vehicles of the APC were vandalised.

Meanwhile,Governor Ahmed has said he will not participate in any debate with the opposition PDP in the state, saying debate is not a key issue to him.

Supporters of a politician, who laid ambush, were alleged to have carried out the attack in Isapa when Ahmed ‘s campaign train arrived the town.

Sunday Vanguard reliably gathered that the hoodlums attacked and destroyed the APC campaign vehicles.

The attack caused panic as people ran helter skelter.

However, despite the attack, the governor led other members of the party to address a large crowd of supporters in the town. .

Ahmed described the attack as unfortunate, saying he was committed to peace.

“We have remained committed to a peaceful campaign everywhere we have gone to and we have been to virtually all the communities in this state without any problem”, the governor said.

“However its quite unfortunate that as we were coming here our advance team was met with resistance by some misguided youths.

Some of our people were shot and they have been rushed to the hospital. One of them was very critical and we don’t know what will happen to him but we are praying that he survives.

PAGE A15 — SUNDAY Vanguard, FEBRUARY 8, 2015

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BY ABEL DANIEL he 2015 general elections in Nasarawa State suddenly took a new dimension with the emergence of Labaran Maku, a former Minister of Information, who recently decamped from the PDP to All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, to pick the governorship ticket.

The two major political parties - PDP and APC and contenders least expected Maku to join the race after being defeated at the PDP primary election but resurfaced to join the race with Governor Umaru Tanko Almakura of APC and Alh. Yusuf Mohammed Agabi of the PDP. Maku’s entry into the contest has altered the political equation in the state. Now you have a candidate, who is not just a Christian but also from Nasarawa north and the majority tribe (Eggon) that has never tasted governorship since the creation of the state.

If Maku had not maneuvered his way to clinch the governorship ticket of APGA, the contest would have been a Nasarawa south and a Muslim affair from the minority tribe.

This is why analysts view the emergence of Maku as a balance in the political equation for the 2015 governorship race.

Feelers show that the APC and PDP see Maku as a threat and a candidate to beat in the governorship tussle.

APGA in Nasarawa is also seen in the mould of the Congress for Progressive Change, CPC, that brought the incumbent governor, Almakura, to power in 2011.

While the PDP is worried that Maku might split its votes, the APC sees his resurfacing as a ploy by some king makers in and out of the state to shift the seat of power to Nasarawa north even after being defeated at the primary election, and also being the only governorship candidate that is a Christian.

In 2011, nobody could have envisaged then that CPC would take the governorship seat from the PDP who claimed that the governorship was its political birthright in the state. Nasarawa was the only state where CPC won the governorship in that year’s poll.

Analytically, without any grudge or sentiment and going by precedent, Maku stands tall amongst the three governorship contenders in areas of administrative experience in politics, competence, dexterity,

•Labaran Maku

Gov. Umaru Tanko

•Yusuf Mohammed Agabi

Nasarawa:

Maku alters the political equation persuasiveness, charisma and relevance.

Almakura, though a business tycoon before his election in 2011, certainly has demonstrated his ability to use meager resources to fix the infrastructure in the state. This is what the business minded governor is relying on to convince the electorate to vote for him for second tenure.

Unfortunately, however, he failed in the past four years to secure lives and property of the people who voted him to power.

Nasarawa, celebrated in the past for peace, has now become an enclave of mercenaries and cultic strongholds where lives of citizens are shed for political interest on daily basis. Acute hunger looms in the state as farmers have been forced to desert their homes and occupation with their farm produce destroyed by Fulani insurgents.

In the case of Agabi, the governorship candidate of the

If Maku had not maneuvered his way to clinch the governorship ticket of APGA, the contest would have been a Nasarawa south and Muslim affair from the minority tribe PDP, a major opposition party which is supposed to be the hope of the masses, is viewed from the public domain as an unpopular candidate with no political structure. His popularity starts and stops at the level of having his posters and bill boards splashed across the state and the fact that he is running under the PDP platform.

A commentator once held, “It seems the PDP governorship candidates in the

state are always treading the same path. Agabi seems to be tranquil because after all he defeated the likes of former Governor Aliyu Akwe Doma, Labaran Maku, and Solomon Ewuga at the party primary election and probably feels Almakura and others will be a walk over for him”.

But Agabi has continued to debunk such claim at every given opportunity, saying ‘he is the only cndidate who carries the symbol of peace and development’.

No wonder Almakura and the APC don’t see Agabi and the PDP as the forces to halt them from winning the governorship race in a couple of weeks.

Sunday Vanguard gathered that the opposition party sponsored some candidates in the Labour Party in the state in a bid to frustrate Maku’s mooring in the party having being defeated during the PDP governorship primary election and was making moves to dump PDP for the LP. However Maku’s dream to win the race will be a mirage if he does not swallow his pride and join forces with the likes of Ewuga and reconcile with his aggrieved kinsmen and supporters who are angry with him because of his utterances.

His defeat at the PDP primary election was alleged to have been premised on his arrogance. He needs others to succeed. But the question is whether he learnt his lessons from his defeat at the primary.

Findings showed that Ewuga was already determined to campaign for Agabi with the aim of deposing Almakura and may not want to revert back to working for Maku. But a source close to Ewuga said he is a gentle man and is willing to work in the best interest of his people.

Sadly for Ewuga and Maku, the Eggon as well as the electorate from Nasarawa north are divided. Except the two political leaders from the zone drop their personal ambitions for the benefit and political future of their supporters, a repeat of what happened to the PDP at the 2011 governorship election will inevitably happen in the forthcoming poll.

PAGE A16 — SUNDAY Vanguard, FEBRUARY 8, 2015

BY BOLUWAJI OBAHOPO, LOKOJA

S

enator Smart Adeyemi has become part of those Nigerians who towered to the height of national recognition. Though this attainment may not be anything peculiar, there is another side of the ebullient senator that makes him different from many other politicians.

Many persons like him who have made it in life always forget their country home, they roar in the urban centers and cruise across the oceans to exhibit their affluence in famous cities without remembering what life is to people in their country homes. But Adeyemi has refused to be counted on the side of those who scorn their homes.

Aside from his political assignment, the senator is renowned for his philanthropist gesture in Kogi State.

Interestingly, this gesture cannot be emphatically asserted to be laced with political undertones as he has been known for that since his days as President of the Nigerian Union of Journalists, NUJ. Since service delivery has also become a focal point upon which elected representatives are now adjudged in the Nigerian context not minding the fact that their primary duty is lawmaking, his achievements since he emerged on the dais of Kogi West senatorial seat in 2007 to date is worthy of emulation.

Apart from his demonstration of excellent representation at the floor of the National Assembly, his service to humanity has become a focal point in the Kogi politics of development.

Though he has made a name for himself through his yearly empowerment scheme which he started in 2007, the recent ones of 2013 and 2014 are worthy for records keeping.

In December 2013, Adeyemi took Kogi State by storm when he presented health equipments worth over N600 million to his constituency and commissioned 100 lock -up shops and also performed the foundation laying of ‘Senator Smart Adeyemi’ Sports complex

The Kogi philanthropy without borders in Iyara.

Items donated include 22 fully equipped ambulances bought from Atlanta Georgia in America; diagnosis machines; 12 SUV vehicles for traditional rulers and other political stewards; 12 taxsi and X- RAY machines.

The medical equipment were not distributed to hospital within his senatorial axis alone. Many other local government areas of the state benefitted. Adeyemi said his decision to distribute the ambulances and other medical equipment was due to his desire to see reduction in infant mortality rate and for easy access to speedy and quality health care services within the constituency. “The idea is to have was at least, one ambulance within the locality, 15 minutes drive apart in the senatorial district.”

The senator turned his attention to students in 2014 when he splashed N10 million as bursary awards to 500 students of Kogi West origin, as well as distributed 50 vehicles to traditional rulers, party stalwarts and youths, and shared 150 hospital beds and mattresses as part of his annual empowerment scheme. While distributing the item on December 23, 2014 in Iyara, his country home, he stated that he has justified the mandate given to him by the people as their representative. “I have kept faith and defended your mandate through the process of lawmaking, oversight and representation at the upper chamber of the National Assembly.

I have also been providing basic social amenities, to complement the contributions of the state government to the infrastructural development of Kogi West and indeed the entire state,”Adeyemi said..

“Over the past years, the chronicle of my service to the good people of Kogi West has spoken for itself. My punctual, vocal and qualitative representation of our people at the floor of the Nigerian Senate; a plethora of empowerment programes and wealth and job creation for women and youths; community development services which span through health, education, commerce and sports sector; have evoked admiration from members of the public, home and abroad.

“I have not been busy warming seat at the Senate,

I have not been busy warming seat at the Senate rather, I have been there discussing and eventually legislating on contemporary national issues while also projecting our needs and protecting our cumulative political and economical interests to the entire nation. I have submitted more than 30 of my privately sponsored bills. I have equally sponsored and supported motions in the Senate.

“My activism on the floor of the Senate, persistence, perseverance and presentations of myself and my

•Sen. Smart Adeyemi colleagues to the Federal Government, on our needs, recently, occasioned the award of the contract for the rehabilitation of ObajanaKabba-Ilorin Express way, and, more recently, the approval for a federal airport to be sited in the state.

“Today ’s empowerment is encompassing. We shall be distributing SUVs to traditional and political opinion leaders while cars will be given out to men and youths who are able and willing to work, as part of my taxi scheme. The women will however enjoy the distribution of trading tools and machineries”.

Adeyemi also explained that the N10 million has become an annual bursary for students in tertiary institutions. “I have resolved to set aside a minimum of N10 million as annual bursary grants to students of Kogi West origin, throughout the subsistence of my representation.

This grant however excludes the other existing individual scholarships”, he said.

The senator’s philanthropy has

continued to elicit reactions from people across the state. Governor Idris Wada; the traditional ruler of Kabba who doubles as the Chairman of Okun Traditional council, Oba Micheal Olobayo; the Okun Students Union members, are among those who commended Adeyemi.

Wada eulogized him and begged other well to do individuals in Kogi to emulate the gesture and give back to the state.

Oba Olobayo, who prayed that the senator will continue to offer to the people what he has been known to do, said he was scared that no political office holder in the area can continue in the same manner the senator has raised the bar of representation in the area. The President of the National Association of Okun Students, NAOS, praised Adeyemi for his unflinching support to the students body and stressed that the gesture will go along way to reduce the financial burden of their parents.

Yuguda, Bala and the Jonathan stoning in Bauchi

BY RAY EDMUND OCHE

E

ver since he entered into politics, his conduct has been characterized by inconsistency, devoid of loyalty either to godfathers or supporters. He jumps from one political party to the other, a situation which earned him the sobriquet of ‘’alawada politician”.

Governor Isa Yuguda of Bauchi State has added another attribute to his profile.

His attitude of painting other stakeholders in the state in lurid colours has brought him on collision course with some of the stakeholders, including the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory and an illustrious son of the state, Sen. Bala Abdulkadir C M Y K

Mohammed.

Recently, he alleged that Bala was behind the attack on President Goodluck Jonathan’s campaign train in Bauchi in an attempt to ingratiate himself to the Presidency; drive a spike into the cordial relationship between the President and Bala so as to cut the latter ’s rising profile.

Yuguda probably thinks Nigerians have forgotten the role he played in trying to frustrate the move to empower the then Vice President Goodluck Jonathan to act as President when the governor’s late father-in-law, Umaru Musa Yar ’Adua, was medically incapacitated.

Because Bala mobilized his colleagues in the Senate to invoke the ‘Doctrine of Necessity’, which eventually

paved the way for Jonathan to assume power in acting capacity, he (Bala) must be barbecued.

Since then, Yuguda has been nursing a grudge against him and was merely waiting for the opportunity to vent his spleen.

So, his recent allegation against the minister is simply a by-product of that bitterness.

A self-acclaimed member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), it is an open secret in Bauchi that Yuguda, who is the PDP’s candidate for Bauchi South Senatorial District, is a stalwart of the opposition APC, which he has instructed his deputy governor to defect to preparatory to his own defection at a later date, whether he wins or loses the senatorial election. He is allegedly working underground with a view to

facilitating Buhari’s victory at the forthcoming polls.

There are concerns that he is destroying the economy of the state and mortgaging its future so much so that he has accumulated a mind-numbing debt of $1.9bn (about N400bn) in the last eight years. Going by the current revenue accruing to the state, even in the next 50 years, the state will still be unable to offset debt overhang. Because of this debt, banks have taken over the management of some key government properties just as the state civil servants are being owed six months’ salary arrears. Yet, none of these unsettling developments is of concern to Yuguda.

As the end to his reign draws nearer, the desperate governor is making the politics of the state messy. His

sympathisers strive daily to hit below the belt Bala, Yayale Ahmed, Adamu Muazu and others who differ with him politically.

It is increasingly clearer that Yuguda and his supporters are becoming shifty in order to survive the approaching end to their political career. They have seen the handwriting on the wall that the ground under their seats is caving in because the people no longer believe them, including the latest unsubstantiated claim against Bala that he hired thugs to pelt himself with missile at the rally where President Jonathan was present. What an unintelligent concoction.

May God save Bauchi State! *Oche is a public affairs commentator based in Abuja.

SUNDAY VANGUARD, FEBRUARY 8, 2015, PAGE 33

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PAGE 34—SUNDAY, Vanguard, FEBRUARY 8, 2015

Lecture as P ast or A debo ks Past astor Adebo deboyye mar marks 73 .

From left: Pastor Tunji Onileaja, the convener of Pastor Adeboye Annual Lecture planning committee, Pastor [Prof'] Yemi Osinbajo, Vice Presidential candidate of All Progressive Congress [APC] and guest speaker, Pastor Enoch Adeboye, General Overseer of The Redeemed Christian Church of God [RCCG] and celebrant and Pastor F.O. Lemoshe, chairman of the occasion.

T

he annual Pastor Enoch A d e b o y e Lecture Series held on Wednesday to commemorate the 73rd birthday of the General Overseer of The Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) at 10 Degrees Event Centre, Ikeja, Lagos . The theme of this year ’s lecture was ‘Harmonising Virtues to Gain Heaven and Earthly Prosperity’.

Guest speaker at the event was Pastor (Prof’) Yemi Osinbajo, Vice Presidential candidate of All Progressive Congress, APC. Photos by Bunmi Azeez

Baale of Arowojobe, Mar yland buries mum Maryland and dad

I

t was a razzmatazz of sorts when Baale of Arowojobe in Maryland, Lagos buried his mother and father, Chief Taiwo Hassan and Alhaja Asanatu Arowojobe as chiefs and prominent figures from the area and its environs gathered for the burial in honour of the Baale, Chief Kehinde Arowojobe. Photos by Bunmi Azeez

From right: Chief Kehinde Arowojobe, Baale Arowojobe, Mende, Maryland, Chief Akin Ajose, Baale Araromi Mende and Chief Dada Ojigan, Baale of Ojota.

From left: Pastor Tokunbo Olorunnimbe, Pastor Femi Obaweya and Pastor Idowu Iluyomade

From left: Pastor [Prof] Yemi Osinbajo, vice presidential candidate of All Progressive Congress [APC] discussing with celebrant, Pastor Enoch Adeboye, General Overseer RCCG.

From right: Alh. Hakeem Gbadamosi, Chief Kehinde Arowojobe, Baale Arowojobe, Mende, Maryland, his Olori Aisat and Hon. Kolawole Sunbola.

From left: Pastor [Mrs] Olatokunbo Olubiyi, Pastor[Mrs] Bunmi Obasa and Pastor Charles Obasa.

From left: Pastor Francis Oluwalade, Pastor Deji Afuye and Pastor Joseph Adeyokunnu.

Vanguard’s visit tto o China’s Consul in Lagos A team of Vanguard delegation led by Victor Gotevbe, Vanguard Administration/HR Manager paid a courtesy visit to Consul General of the Consulate of the People’s Republic of China in Lagos

From left:Oba Munirudeen Olatunji Yusuf, Oba of Onigbongbo, Alh. Kabiru Yusuf, Balogun of Onigbongbo and Chief[Mrs] Idaya Yusuf, Iyalode of Ikeja

L-R: Victor Gotevbe, Vanguard Administration/ HR Manager and Mr. Kan Liu, Consul General of the Consulate General of the Peoples Republic of China in Lagos

From left : Prisca Sam-Dur u, Vanguard Correspondent, Mr. Kan Liu, Consul General of the Consulate General of the Peoples Republic of China in Lagos, Victor Gotevbe, Vanguard Administration/HR Manager and Vera Anyagafu, Vanguard Correspondent

From left: Alh. Musibau Badmos, Chief Kolawole Ajilo and Oba Gbolahan Akanbi Timson, Jagunmolu of Somolu-Bariga.

SUND AY SUNDA

Vanguard, FEBRUARY 8, 2015, PAGE 35

after yourself well, you can’t be tired. I can still go another round if I’m allowed, but no.

I’m not Mr. Know All. I’m not Power Uti. I think it’s quite good.

But the Pontiff does not retire. Why should priests do?

It’s like asking me the question children usually ask, ‘daddy, why do you always say you are tired when mummy is not tired?’ You know the boss is always there to keep an eye on everyone and what is going on. And that is our own rule anyway.

Our Lord Jesus Christ Himself was not tired. His death was like an exchange of power.

Remember when you married your wife, its till death do you part. So we are married to the church so to say. So he is the one that gets this place running. Somebody must get to ring the bell. Look at Benedict XVI for example, when he felt it was getting too heavy for him, he called it quits and someone else took over. But of course it has to be according to the law.

•Okogie

What do you miss from your

A

NTHONY Cardinal Olubunmi Okogie was born on June 16, 1936 to the royal family of Uromi in Edo State. His father was Esan and his mother Yoruba. Okogie was ordained as a Catholic priest on December 11, 1966. He was drafted into the Nigerian Army, and served there as a chaplain during the civil war. In 1971, he was ordained titular Bishop of Mascula and Auxiliary of Oyo, and, in 1973, named Archbishop. From 1994 to 2000, Okogie headed the Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria and was the President of the Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN. He was proclaimed a Cardinal by Pope John Paul II on October 21, 2003. He was one of the cardinal electors in the 2005 papal conclave that elected Pope Benedict XVI and in the 2013 papal conclave which elected Pope Francis. His resignation from the pastoral governance of the See of Lagos after the attainment of the age limit of 75 years was accepted on May 25, 2012.

Religious affairs correspondents visited him at his Archbishop’s Court, Ikoyi, Lagos to speak on the state of the nation. Our Sam Eyoboka was there. Excerpts of the interview: Many Nigerians will like to know how life has been for you in retirement There’s a very slight difference between when I was in office and now because people still come to consult me; I still help people do things. Life has been very

C M Y K

POLLS

My dilemma on Jonathan, Buhari – Okogie * Speaks on the house Y ar’A dua ga Yar’A ar’Adua gavve him, life in retirement pleasant. If I say nothing much has changed, the APC will ‘hold’ me because they talk about change!. Some thing has changed. I’m no more in office. I have my own schedule, and I can answer you if I like or don’t.

Why did Cardinal Okogie retire? Were you really tired?

I’m not tired. In the Roman Catholic priestly life, there’s a law that once you are 75, you have to inform the authorities in Rome, meaning you have to retire. So that’s what happened. And I think 75 is generous enough; it is

The late President Umaru Yar’Adua gave me this place for example. He bought it.

And when we wanted to build on it, Lagos State government charged us not easy. Look at our lifespan in Nigeria today, some don’t reach 70 years, some don’t even reach 50. And if you look

active service years now that you are in retirement?

I miss moving around with people; not that I don’t move

around now, but it’s curtailed.

I always go round the schools to make sure that things are in order, and then at times I visit some departments. I miss saying masses; praying for the youths. I don’t want to step on the toes of my boss (Archbishop); he’s my boss now. So anything I know will offend him, I avoid. If I want to travel, I tell him, not that I can’t travel without telling him, but that respect should be there.

You call your successor your boss; we were told that you were the one who recommended him....

Well I recommended three and Rome was free to take from anywhere, not the one you recommended.

The speculation out then was that you were the one who anointed Archbishop Adewale Martins...

I think they are carrying it too far. It’s like Obasanjo and Jonathan, they say Obasanjo put Yar’Adua there, and then they said he put Jonathan there, how many people will he put there? I don’t think that is true. The Pope has the last say. You are free to say you want this or that one, but he has the last say. He has to go through the CV and all of that. It’s not an easy thing to be made a bishop in the Catholic Church.

But do you still say masses once in a while?

Of course.

Where?

In my house. I have my chapel downstairs, not quite large. And my parish is in Falomo. So, at times, when they need me, they call me.

And when I feel like, I tell them I’m coming. That’s the beauty of the Catholic Church. You don’t hold on to anything. We are the Levites of the New Testament. The good Lord is their inheritance; nothing is given to them except what people give to them. But our own is a step higher than that. Things are given to you to be used for the good of the people. This house is not mine. The name I put there ‘Cardinal’s Court’, my boss can tell me tomorrow to change it to something else and I will. I own nothing.

People think it’s a retirement gift or benefit...

No. You have to have a place to stay. When I retired, I had no place to stay, no house of my own.

How many years in service?

Thirty nine years as Archbishop of Lagos, that doesn’t include my honour of priesthood, it doesn’t include the 14 months I spent in Oyo. Does anything preclude you

Continues on page 36

PAGE 36—SUNDAY Vanguard, FEBRUARY 8, 2015

Continued from Page 35 from having a personal house?

What do you want it for?

When I had none, they provided one for me at No 1, MacPherson. The late President Umaru Yar ’Adua gave me this place for example. He bought it. And when we wanted to build on it, Lagos State government charged us. They said the land belonged to them; we could take our properties and get out. So we must obey the law. So we had to pay or we couldn’t stay there.

‘The problem with Obasanjo, CAN, Father Mbaka’

And they are gradually dying out. I think probably Obasanjo is in the last group.

Then we will have what is called refined Nigerians or, if you like, refined godfathers. The refined ones will not ask for all the power. They will just tell you this is what ‘ you have to do and this is what we want, and if you don’t do it, we will wait for you’. It’s a silent revolution. It’s already on.

Yar ’Adua gave you the place…

Even the present Head of State was there, he was the Vice President then, he was there when this place was allotted to me.

Just wondering that President Olusegun Obasanjo, a Christian, didn’t give you a place. It was a Muslim president that gave you a place...

This is the problem everybody has; you always like to bring in religion. We are all children of God. Must I only be ministering to Catholics or to Christians?

Then I’m not a priest and I’m not doing what God wants me to do. And this is what is killing us in Nigeria. It’s not fair. I think if we really want to make Nigeria one as it should be, we should see one another as brothers and sisters. That’s the correct thing to do.

How many years did it take you to plan for your retirement?

I didn’t plan. Once it’s 75, you should know. It’s there in the law. No time to plan, what do I want to plan?

Are you considering writing your memoirs?

Since I went to the warfront and came back, I started keeping a diary. As soon as the 31st of December comes, I throw it away. Now that you have brought it up, I will start looking for them. You mean you were not considering it?

No. For how many years have you been keeping diary?

Since during the civil war.

You fought in the civil war?

I didn’t fight. I was a chaplain.

You were part of the people who contributed one or two things to the civil war. Is the present Nigeria the Nigeria of your dream?

No. To keep Nigeria one is a task.... We are not keeping this nation as one. Look at soldiers who risked their lives, where are they today?

How many people remember them? It’s painful. BrigadierGeneral Benjamin Adekunle featured very well, he was my boss. He died; and how C M Y K

•Okogie... Politics is a dangerous game many people cried about him? Even if he was the worst soldier on earth, is that how to treat someone? It’s painful. Look at Boko Haram, how many of those sitting down there now are ready to go to sympathize with the parents of the abducted children? I feel bad. And now you are telling me APC and PDP, for what?

Is that how to keep Nigeria together? Look at the papers for example, instead of addressing issues; the campaign is nothing but abuses, the candidates disgracing themselves.

When you look at it realistically, those who think they are disgracing the other party, they are indirectly campaigning for that person.

You say he has no certificate, somebody says he has certificate, now another one came up that he forged his certificate, what about the issues on ground? How are you going to address education, unemployment and so on? Nothing. How many manifestos have you seen around? And we are preparing for elections.

Are you nursing fears over the elections?

I am.

What are your fears?

Bloodshed; and it’s already happening. I’m praying seriously and begging God that He should abort it.

Every day I pray for the abortion of blood. You can see the atmosphere is tensed.

Look at what is happening in Ekiti for example, how somebody will come and be doing whatever he likes and nobody to check him just because he belongs to a party. Do you think I could have done that in the Catholic Church?

But that’s the man the

The difference is clear. How often did you hear during our own period that we went to beg a governor for a favour?

people want...

No, point of correction, when he came in, what was he saying?

Stomach infrastructure. Why is he changing now? Nigeria belongs to us all. There’s no other nation we can call ours. The good Lord that brought us together under one umbrella and called us Nigeria knows what He’s doing. The Americans have been in this country since November, saying they wanted to help to rescue the Chibok girls. Put two and two together, what are they here for? Fulfilment of their promise that Nigeria will split or what? They came in and saw all the places they wanted to see and left. But thank God Nigeria is changing, the youths are coming up. Sometime ago I mentioned it that there’s already a revolution going on in this country.

Will that revolution you are talking about lead to the change that some people are talking about?

Oh definitely. There’s a silent revolution going on.

They are watching. Since the babas don’t want to go, they watch quietly as we kick

them out. That was the kind of thing that Ojukwu wanted to do but unfortunately he was too ambitious. Our Heavenly Father knows what He is doing with each and every one of us. He knows when to apply the brakes.

You can’t out do things because you are nothing.

You said Ojukwu was ambitious; you were in the civil war, will you really say Ojukwu was ambitious or he was pushed to do what he did?

What else do you think he could have done. What other name will you call that?

Peaceful ambition? When you look at the way this nation is going, some people must be checked. And if they don’t listen, they should be behind the bars. But they are not. I was watching the EFCC, they kept quiet. Now they are coming out gradually because of politics. For how long are we going to do this? Let’s be frank.

Where did we get it wrong and how can we retrace our steps?

We started getting it wrong from political godfathers.

Some people are saying that even the forthcoming generation might even be worse. In 2011, people said we’ve never had a younger person and a Ph.D holder as president...

Why is Obasanjo and Jonathan fighting? Why was Obasanjo and Yar ’adua at loggerheads towards the end? Politics is a ver y dangerous game; if you don’t know how to handle it, you’ll die before your time.

Didn’t one of our politicians say if you are not a good liar, you can’t be a politician? He said all politicians are liars.

And not a single person challenged him. What kind of politicians have we today?

Liars. All the politicians there now to me are all liars including those who said you have certificate or you don’t have certificate or we have done this or we have done that. Because none of them came out to say keep quiet because they are not liars.

I still recall your days as the CAN president. You were always coming hard on government and to some extent that kept them on track. There was one reverend father Mbaka in Enugu, who was criticizing Jonathan. I read an interview in which you condemned the man and said you will close down the place if you were his boss.

When you look at that man compared to when you were hard on government, what do you see wrong compared to what he did?

In the first place, he was not a leader of CAN. Where I think I went a little bit different from him was when he was talking about the Spirit. Some people claimed that not long ago he prayed for the First Lady and how come now he is saying all those things against the same government. And then he attributed it to the Spirit.

St Paul told us that you have to test every spirit before you start talking about it. Why didn’t he test the spirit before he spoke? And even if he said he did test the spirit, he has to know when to say things and when not to say things. On two

Continues on page 37

SUND AY SUNDA

Continued from Page 36 occasions, I ate my words.

The Spirit of God guides everyone, not only the clergy. We have something inside us that when you want to go wrong, that spirit inside you will tell you to stop. But when you are stubborn and do it, then whatever you get is your own business. I cannot condemn him but from what has been happening in that Adoration Ground... former Governor Chimaroke Nnamani had it tough with them, Chime too had it tough with them. Now these ones again. Then I started asking myself, what kind of prayers are they saying there? I’m not God. What is the purpose of the Adoration Ground? He may have large followers, no problem. He is a leader and he must try to lead them rightly. A good number of people have already swallowed what he said, they condemned what John Cardinal Onaiyekan said, they condemned what Okogie said. Okogie doesn’t care and I’m sure my brother Cardinal Onaiyekan will not care. The truth is bitter. And if he too slept over it, which I believe he must have done, he will see that he went a little bit too far. You know the devil is too powerful. You know about the battle there in heaven, when archangel Michael and archangel Lucifer fought because the latter refused to obey and serve God, God sent him down. The power belonging to good angels, which he had then, were not taken away from him; that is what he’s now using recklessly.

He still has all the powers and he can do anything.

Mbaka is a man that people appreciate. I like him but when a man is wrong, he’s wrong. That’s my own.

How do you assess the CAN of your days and now?

The difference is clear. How often did you hear during our own period that we went to beg a governor for a favour?

You call a spade a spade.

Thank God I have a very good Secretary, a Methodist, C.O Williams. He’s a very good man and I can never forget him. May his soul rest in peace. We had only one CAN and we knew the President was the President.

Whether you were from North East or South East or South West, if you had any problem, you bring it to the president. If he could not solve it, we will call a general congress and address the issue. Then we always asked for advice. But this one, I don’t know. God says judge not that you may not be judged.

You did say Yar ’Adua, a Muslim leader, gave this

land to you, and Bishop David Oyedepo recently expressed his support for Goodluck Jonathan’s administration. Are we then saying that religion is a yardstick for political office in the country?

Capital no! I’ve just said it that if you want to be a good leader, you must be a father to the world. If you can’t do that, then you are not a good leader. You don’t bring religion into politics. These people that are hungry, how do I feed them?

That’s the duty of a father. That’s what you should do. You don’t wait for people to come and tell you to do this or do that. If you wait too long, delay is dangerous. These are some of the setbacks that are easily visible. Look at the Chibok girls.

Look at the statement somebody made in the last elections that if he doesn’t win, this is going to happen. And they kept quiet. If I were the head of state I will call him to come and explain what he means.

Nigeria belongs to us all.

Why must we be afraid?

When you look at the way things are going, how do you think Obama runs America? They consult. But they have their own veto power that they take just to make sure that things move on well. But unfortunately, here in Nigeria, we are too much afraid of people.

I want you to take a look at the security situation in this country; it has grown so big that it looks like we cannot tame it any more. It started on a small scale. Today, several local governments have fallen to Boko Haram insurgents. How did it start and how can we get out of it?

Whose fault? It’s the fault of government.

When Obasanjo came to power, Theophilus Danjuma was the one in charge of the militar y. You saw what happened. All the giants in the army were sent packing.

That was the beginning. Not long after that, Obasanjo came on and said no more coup. When you have axed the big ones, what can the rest do? When he came out and said no more coup, I said so this is where you people are going. And did he not fall out with Danjuma after all?

Obasanjo is a very crafty person. He knows when to blow the whistle and when not to.

Things are happening under our nose.

Not until they begin to arrest these people and apportion blames where necessary, there will be no security.

Vanguard, FEBRUARY 8, 2015, PAGE 37

•Okogie... I had a dramatic encounter with Jonathan

Okogie: Religion and politics cannot mix I am one of them advocating postponement.

But they don’t want it because they have no money to start all over again Do you support any of the presidential candidates in this year’s elections?

What should I support anyone of them? They are all my children. My problem is I want somebody who will look after the downtrodden. Look at what the churches are doing.

Just open your eyes and you can see where the truth lies. It’s not when you come out and say this is what you are going to do. When are you going to do what you are going to do?

What should be the role of the church in this? Should the church endorse a candidate or a party because there’s this rumour all over town now that some religious leaders are taking sides and endorsing?

I don’t think that is right, except they know that this candidate is somebody who can deliver the goods and they have every

assurance. But how are you going to have 100 percent assurance? They get there and then bloody fool you. That’s it.

What is your candid advice to Nigerians as we go into another elections?

Number one, we have to pray.

We have to be deep in prayer because the atmosphere is tense. And I think only God can help us. Number two, there must be spirit of self sacrifice, love and to be our neighbour’s keeper. I think that is lacking.

We don’t care about what is going. We need a selfless leader, a leader who will see everybody as his own. And of course joining with prayer, there must be the fear of God. The fear of God they say is the beginning of wisdom. You can’t rule out God in our nation today. And that is one of the

things that is killing us. We think we know better. Whether you say the pledge or sing the national anthem, it’s very clear we don’t mean it. Who’s going to enforce it? I remember when I was President of CAN, we were sent to meet Obasanjo as the Head of State then. We sat down and debated on the pledge, we were not asking for change in the substance as such but just in arrangement.

Instead of saying I pledge to you my country, can’t we change it and pledge to God first? He looked at me and said ‘is that all?’

Then he pointed his finger to my face and said if you have not learned it, go and learn it now, we are not changing anything’. Look at what is happening today. I remember when the current President was the Vice President to Yar ’Adua, we were preparing for elections then. He said I should pray for him. So I asked an innocent question that, ‘Sir, what’s your intention?’ He screamed, ‘What?’ I said, ‘Sir, I just want to know so I’d be able to concentrate on what you are asking for’. He said, ‘You mean you are not going to pray for me?’ I said I didn’t say I would not pray for you, just your intention. Then he said ‘don’t you know I’ll be going in for the election?’ I said don’t worry about the election, you have won but you will not rule. He screamed ‘what? Why did you say that?’ I said sir; all these people around you are the ones that will rule in your place. He said okay bless me. So I blessed him and left. Look at what is happening.

That was Jonathan?

That was Jonathan Ebele Goodluck, when he was Vice President. It has been published several times. The truth is bitter but it must be spoken. Let those who are running the affairs of this nation fear God. Going by this prediction of yours that he will win but he will not rule, being that it has come to be, do you think he deserves a second chance?

I don’t know. Walls have ears.

Not that he is 100 percent bad, he has some credits to himself but when you put it on scale, that’s where the problem is. So I don’t really know but we all have to pray for Nigeria.

Money is not everything. Then you must remember that God is justice personified. What I always tell people is He’s a God of vengeance. The devil is very clever, so he won’t show you that side. I remember in my young days, they used to use thugs, and then they tell you where to hide when there’s problem. Those are what the politicians are doing.

PAGE 38—SUNDAY Vanguard, FEBRUARY 8, 2015

BY WALE AKINOLA AND OLALEKAN BILESANMI

S

ir Olanihun Ajayi 87, has seen it all in terms of Nigeria’s political development.

In the First Republic, he was a leader of Action Group (AG) under which the late Chief Obafemi Awolowo executed his revolutionary programmes. Between 1972 and 1974, he served as the Commissioner for Education in the defunct Western State and later as Commissioner for Health. Olanihun was also in Awolowo’s Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN) in the Second Republic. Today, he is a top member of Afenifere.. In this interview with journalists in his Isara Remo, Ogun State residence, the elder statesman, lawyer and author of many books, including ‘Nigeria: Africa’s Failed Asset?’and ‘This House of Oduduwa Must Not Fall’, speaks on the state of the nation.

The state of the nation appears cloudy. What do you think?

I am really devastated about what is going on. The politicians there are, in the true sense of it, very few.

What they are doing really irritates, saddens and, of course, disappoints me.

In specific terms, what do you see that makes you sad?

I don’t see what I expect to see, patriotism. What I see is, ‘oh, how am I going to get elected so that money will flow?’ ‘ How can I continue to be in power and authority?’ That is what I see. I don’t see seriousness, or deep sense of commitment, as you would find in Cameron (British Prime Minister), or the chancellor of Germany or as you will find in Obama (American President). I have said on several occasions that the pillars of democracy here are malfunctioning, if they are functioning at all. The first of it is the executive, what sort of executive do we have in Abuja or in the states? The executive is very bad, very irresponsible. We don’t have a strong, confident and powerful judiciary. And the judiciary is the most important part of democracy. It is not performing.

Even with the reforms in the judiciary?

Well, the lady who just retired started putting in place some reforms, but before we could begin to see the real impact of the reforms, she left. And they put another one there who may retire in two years time. Then the legislature, the National Assembly people are self-serving. They are the highest paid in the world. I used to have a senator here. I didn’t know him. Is it not surprising that I didn’t know the senator in charge of my district? In England, it is not so. If you have any problem, you go to your representative in the House of Commons. It is not so here. And yet we are so wealthy. Our lawmakers are self-serving people. How many bills have they passed since they went in there? The fourth pillar of democracy is the press. There was a time when we used to have a wonderful press in this country, particularly during the Babangida and Abacha time, oh fantastic, very strong and committed. Immediately after the Abubakar transition, we discovered that most journalists were being bought over by the governors, they were given cars, appointments, etc, and those things shut their mouths. And you find out that some

We do not need Nigerian President – Pa Olanihun, Awo’s associate

•Presidency th yye et’ •Presidency:: ‘It’s no nott the turn of the Nor North of these governors buy into the papers. Of course, when I own my paper, I dictate what you write. By the way, which of these political parties has ideology? Have you read their manifestoes, do they even have at all? Of course, if they have, they don’t do it the way it ought to be done. The First Republic, I love that period very much, I have a lot of regards and gratitude to God for that period, it was the golden era, particularly in this part of Nigeria. If you go to Lagos now, you find that some roads are made while some are neglected. If you go to Ibadan or Ijebu-Ode, or Abeokuta, you find flyovers, you find roads well done but if you ask what the governor of Oyo State paid per- kilometre, and then ask the governor of Ogun State the same question, you will see that the difference is wide, very wide, and, of course, if you ask who the contractors were, you will discover that the companies are owned by a governor or a politician. So, tell me how can we perform honourably in that sort of situation?

What advice can you give in order to return to that golden era?

What advice would I give them when election is already here? We are going into serious danger because the Niger-Delta people are saying if Jonathan loses, you are going to see hell and, of course, the boys in the North are saying should Buhari lose, you are going to suffer. Where are we? In any case, someone will win. If there is no stalemate, someone will win. I think the advice will be in form of question, and that is, what are they are going to do for us? The rhetoric we hear from time to time is, ‘We are going to do some roads, we are going to do this”. I think you should ask them how much you are going to pay per kilometre of road? Or if you are going to provide housing, how much would a two, three-bedroom house cost . If you say you are providing classrooms, how much will a classroom cost? Today, if you want to buy foodstuff, you go to the North. What if they shut their gate, what are we going to do about it?

Where do you have better land for agriculture? Is it in the North or here?

It is here, but government is not doing anything about it? If I were in government, I would have a special arrangement with all my chairmen of local government areas that, based on expert advice I received about a particular local government, potato would be very good to plant there in another, cassava will be good. ‘So, therefore, go and find land where we can plant all that I have mentioned. When you get the land, I will provide the money to implement the cultivation’.

So, it is a matter of supporting the minority.

Yes. What I detest, of course, is the boasting in the Niger-Delta that should Jonathan lose, heavens would come down. And on the other side, the northern boys saying if Buhari does not win the election, there will be hell here on earth. But may be they should go ahead and do whatever they like because the situation should not have arisen at all. Nigeria does not need President.

I think we should have something similar to what is going on in Switzerland.

How do we go about that one?

The conference we had in March was rubbish. Yes, we came back with state police, local government autonomy, devolution of power. This means we have shrank the exclusive list. In 1960, we had 28 functions in the exclusive list. When we became republic in 1963, the thing was about 29. In 1979, I think it went to about 60. In 1999, everything just went up. I think what we should do now if we don’t want trouble is to negotiate how to live together because we are not immune to what happened in Yugoslavia, it can happen here. I hope you remember Operation Wetie. There are people who benefit from the irregularities going on in the oil sector, they don’t want the status quo to be disturbed. They want it retained.

Pa Olanihun Afenifere recently endorsed President Goodluck Jonathan for re-election informed the decision?

Well, quite frankly, the question of presidential election should not arise in this country at all. In this place called Nigeria, there are so many nationalities, these are different countries before we became Nigeria, but, the white people just came, uninvited, and began to take positions as if you were taking positions in a farm. So, putting us together, as it is now, is absolutely wrong. We don’t need a monarch, or an emperor as we have in Nigeria; we are running a unitary form of government. This is not true federalism. We don’t need a president. Let everybody be on his own so that he can be making progress. When that happens, there won’t be animosity, hatred or witchhunting and jealousy as we now have. Until we do that, Nigeria cannot have peace; you know what happened in the defunct USSR, before 1989/91, where there was implosion in the place and the many regions there decided to break away from Russia. In Czechoslovakia, there were two dominant nationalities and there was no love lost between them, but they were staying together. Then the leaders met and said they could not continue like that. Eventually they met and agreed that the Czechs should return to their side and the Vakia to their own side, and there was peace. There was also the issue of Yugoslavia, a country precisely like Nigeria with about eight ethnic nationalities, but they were never the

want power back. And they are saying ‘if you don’t give us you are going to see hell’, and the other people who are holding on to it are saying ‘if you let the thing slip from our hand, we are going to show you pepper’. Now, talking about our approval of Jonathan for a second term, I think he is the third or there abouts of a civilian president that would be coming from the South.

In this kind of situation where majority of the presidents had come from the North, do you think there would be satisfaction and peace? So, this president is a southerner and we have not had southerners as we have northerners as President or Head of State. And, of course, Jonathan is trying to do a second term. I think we should give him.

So, this president is a southerner and we have not had southerners as we have northerners as President or Head of State same. They said the unity of Nigeria is not negotiable, stupid people! It is those who benefit from the irregularities going on the country that are saying that. The earlier we can sit down as we did in March to August last year and negotiate our unity, the better for Nigeria.

Why did the Afenifere endorse Jonathan for second term?

(Cuts in) Afenifere is dealing with a sta-tus- quo issue. What do we have and what have we been having?

Since 1960, we have had about 36 years of Nigeria’s rulers coming the North. And, now they are saying they

So what do you see happening in this election now?

I don’t know what is going to happen. Anything may happen. But quite frankly, neither of the two main presidential candidates has come to say I am going to do 1,2,3,4 and each is going to cost me xyz amount and this is where I am going to get the money.

The Afenifere endorsement of Jonathan will obviously pit it against the ‘progressives’ in the South- West, or what do you think?

We just had to make a choice.

Before APC came, it used to be ACN. But then, we had some boys who broke away from A.D and from PDP and formed ACN. It is a question of six and half a dozen, there is no much difference between APC and PDP. I don’t know the ideology of APC because I have never seen their manifestoe, ditto the PDP. I see the election as the shadow of our crisis that is thickening and our body politik is not well and very vulnerable particularly when you hear the reactions of the Niger- Delta people and the boys from the North. I hope we would get it right but not a great cost.

SUNDAY VANGUARD, FEBRUARY 8, 2015, PAGE 39

BY K. KYARI GUJBAWU

L

ET me commence this discourse with a citation from the divine scripture I am familiar with: “O mankind! Lo! We have created you from (a pair) of male and female, and have made you nations and tribes that you may know one another. Lo! the noblest of you, in the sight of Allah is the best in conduct. Lo! Allah is Knower, fully aware” [Quran:49:13].

My first chance acquaintance with President Goodluck Jonathan ( with the popular epithet now-GEJ) was as a Special Assistant to the then Governor of Yobe State in 2002, when he was still at the Bayelsa State Government House. The enabling environment was the investiture of traditional title in his honor by the Emir of Damaturu- capital of Yobe.

While I embarked on a political sabbatical leave between 2007- 2010, GEJ steadily climbed the ladder to assume the peak of political career to assume the office of President of Nigeria. But then, the raging debate as to the suitability of the incumbent President to contest or not in the forthcoming elections, based on the presumption that it was the turn of the North, abruptly disrupted my comfort of remaining apolitical to enjoy the serenity I have found in private clime of my bussines niche.

My modest knowledge of Nigeria’s political history and the experience garnered in more than a decade of sojourn amongst the people of the Niger Delta has bred a conscience in me that was so pricking that I was left with no choice but to delve into the murky waters of politics once again - I rose to the occasion to bring on board an NGO platform (DEMOCRATIC VISION) of friends and associates of like minds across the country so as to sentise our political elites, particularly my brethren from the north of the Niger to remind our fellow countrymen of the golden rule “ONE GOOD TURN DESERVES ANOTHER”.

My stay amongst the people of the Niger Delta convinced me that Nigeria is truly a nation where ‘though tribes and tongues may differ in brotherhood we stand’. They exhibit great respect and love for others, and northerners in particular, just the way they welcome the south-westerners and their cousins easterners alike. The best friends I made are from that part of Nigeria.

Little wonder that my personal experience in the midst of the breed of people the GEJ stock is made up tallies with my modest knowledge of Nigeria’s past political history of half a century. I’m talking about the political alliance between the NDPC ( Niger Delta Peoples Congress)/NCNC and NPC(Northern Peoples Congress) that created the constitutional advantage in the formation of the Tafawa Balewa-led government - the very first and indeed democratic government of our fledgling nation. Then came the 2nd republic, and we saw Rivers ( now Rivers and Bayelsa States) and Cross River ( now Cross River and Akwa Ibom States) allying with the northern dominated NPN that gave the decisive winning votes for the emergence of the Shehu Shagari Presidency.

MOMENTS OF CROSSING OF PATHS WITH JONATHAN Malicious accusation

•Kyari Gujbawu

These insurgents are not like the Niger Delta militants; they are not willing to talk, and the Nigeria that Mr. President is leading hasn’t got the tangibles they are asking to trade for, nor does any part of the modern world have what their ilk are agitating for The South-south in Southern Nigeria and the Middle-Belt in the northern part, to a large extent, are the glue that actually bind this nation together.

Providence again provided a platform in a government where I will be serving as a national legislator elected under the platform of the same political party (PDP) with a Nigerian of Niger-Delta extraction as President.

Insurgency

The same providence dealt a blow upon this chance crossing of paths- as C-in-C , GEJ will be shouldered with the misfortune of leading the most populous black nation at its most trying times- dealing with a global phenomenal malaise of terrorism that he inherited, and I, representing the very birth place of that insurgency- Maiduguri.

Little did I know that while I’ll be the national legislator representing Maiduguri, the present day capital of the famous Kanem-Bornu empire of more than a millennium history of civilization , it’s people and place will undergo the worst trials and tribulations in its history. So, it naturally fell upon me as part of this unenviable task of in-depth understanding, solution proffering and presentation of this national saga in the hallowed chambers of the National Assembly, the public domain via the media, and of course in different fora behind the scenes.

Understandably, my first meeting with Mr. President, in the company of select few of NASS members from Borno immediately we were inaugurated in 2011, was on the issue of the in-

surgency, then at it’s nascent stage. I was not only touched, but could immediately connect with him, when Mr President narrated his personal experience both as Governor and Vice President how pained he was dealing with militancy in the Niger-Delta region. I felt him that night, so much of the common bond of humanity that flows from and binds us all together. One could almost literally sense his palpable feelings as he not only emphatised with us as a human and a brother, but also, in the spirit of pragmatic leadership, offered to sit and talk with the leadership of the ‘Boko Haram’. His words still ring a bell in my mind as he kept saying- ‘What do they want? They are Nigerians and we are all brothers, why can’t we talk?’

Ever since then, whenever the call for duty brings us together in the same fora, this palpable sense of empathy and deep desire to find a solution for the nagging insurgency has remained the opening remarks from GEJ . But, then, sadly these insurgents are not like the Niger Delta militants; they are not willing to talk, and the Nigeria that Mr. President is leading hasn’t got the tangibles they are asking to trade for, nor does any part of the modern world have what their ilk are agitating for. Hence, even an effort at defining and understanding this new global malaise became a profound problem, much more of diagnosing and proffering remedies to it. It is still a changing and dynamic phenomenon, very unpredictable to both the proponents and opponents alike.

It is no doubt that we are all witnessing one of the most trying periods in the history of humanity since man first started sojourn on this earth. But the saddest part of all this to me, and I believe for many, can only be fathomed in paraphrasing the dictum- ‘Truth is the first casualty of war ’. Aren’t you sad when some folks allude wrongly that the insurgency is a creation of the political elite in the part of the country that I come from just to make governance uneasy for Mr President; or what about the still more absurd and malicious accusation for cheap and insipid political gains that Mr President or his government is sponsoring the insurgency just to weaken the North!!

Here, our paths crossed again!I only attempt to reason that Mr President will be the greatest individual loser to try and dismember this country via a war. Is he not human? We all have motives for our actions. I understand from my elementary knowledge of investigative criminology that the first thing one looks for in a crime is - if there is a motive. And Mr President will be the no-1 beneficiary only and only if Nigeria becomes better developed and stronger under his watch.

The fate of the Almajiri

Then, our paths crossed again and I find myself on the same page with GEJ- on the fate and future of 10 million northern youths that attend Almajiri education Borno by providence still is the home of more than half the almajiris that attend Tsangaya schools. About 6-7 of every 10 school age children attend only the Tsangaya schools, and don’t go to the modern schools you and I attend. Now, that’s not the real story. The only times government, yes! at both state and federal levels think of their existence, are at the periods of census and election.

The spur for the earlier reason is for the state governments to increase their population head count which invariably increases their monthly federal allocation. And the drive for the latter is for politicians to ensure that they are registered for large votes during elections. But when the monthly allocations start coming, and the politicians are now comfortably settled in their offices, where does the almajiris’ fate lie? Does his fate and future feature in the appropriations of the politicians as they appropriate the monthly allocations? No! Not in the last 60 years of either military or civilian rule did the fate and future of the almajiris feature in federal expenditure.

GEJ while trail blazing the launching of the school at Gagi, Sokoto, promised that 400 of such schools will be built in the 19 northern states of the federation.

He said the schools would be monitored on a continuous basis to ensure compliance with

minimum academic standards for basic education.

And here, our paths did cross The first task understandably that took my attention as a federal legislator from Borno is to conceptualise and sponsor a bill that will seek to provide for a robust legislative framework that will provide for standardisation and funding of the Almajiri education system. This bill once passed into law will legislative the backbone for the sustainability and further development of the Almajiri education as a standard and modern form of education whereby graduates will be issued with certificates that will prepare them for employment and contribute their quota to national development.

What about the unprecedented move by the GEJ government of establishing in one single swoop of 9 out of 12 federal universities established in the North alone to develop the teeming youthful human resources in the north of the Niger.

From food import to exporting

Yes. Our paths crossed againon agriculture: Nigeria’s major sectoral labour employer.

I read agric engineering, GEJ read zoology. His pet transformation agenda- agriculture.

His government is the only government in the annals of our history that has properly conceptualised and set in motion a policy to make Nigeria attain food security.

The second bill I sponsoredis a bill to provide for the establishment of Food Security Advancement Fund to provide for a legislative framework that will enhance funding mechanism for agricultural development, the like of TETFUND and UBEC in the education sector. Once this bill is passed into law, the agricultural sector will receive an annual funding boost of more than N250 billion and enhance GEJ’s transformation agenda aimed at saving over N1.3 trillion annually in capital flight, and ensure national food security regime.

Yes! Our paths crossed again, and found myself on the same page with GEJ- the chapter?

- Oil & gas, Nigeria’s major foreign exchange earner.

I’m from Borno that encompasses the Chad Basin area, where exploration for oil in a frontier basin is in earnest. GEJ is from the Niger-Delta home to Nigeria’s black gold- crude oil.

He sent in the PIB, the executive bill that seeks to comprehensively transform and uplift the oil and gas sector in a manner never envisaged in the history of oil exploration in the country.

And the current GMD of the NNPC appointed by GEJ is not from Niger-Delta. He is from Borno. The very first time in the history of this nation that a Nigerian of North-east extraction is manning this arguably largest federal agency.

Now you can see why as a northerner by nature and nurture, it is only natural that I am on the same page with GEJ! Cos, our paths kept on crossing!

*Gujbawu is a member of the House of Reps

PAGE 40 —

SUNDAY Vanguard, FEBRUARY 8, 2015

governor of the CBN spoke about missing funds, high level of corruption, all those have so far reduced our foreign reserve that if you compare it to the regime of President Obasanjo, that left N45billion dollars, today we are told it is barely above N20billion. The reckless spending in government, the high level of corruption, the high level of leakages account for this situation that very soon

Jonathan, Buhari and the bandwagon effect to come,

by Ogiemwonyi, ex-Minister

By SIMON EBEGBULEM, Benin-City

E

ngr.Chris Ogiemwonyi was Minister of State Works under President Goodluck Jonathan. The former

Group Executive Director of the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC) last month and since then has been working assiduously for the success of the APC in Edo State. It is speculated that the former NNPC boss is one of those eying the Osadebey Avenue, after Governor Adams Oshiomhole’s tenure in 2016.

In this interview, Ogiemwonyi says corruption stinks in the NNPC under Jonathan, just as he describes the recent attack on Gen.TY Danjuma by a former militant leader, Alhaji Asari Dokubo, and his colleagues as disrespectful and urges them to apologize to Danjuma. While declaring that the PDP has lost ground in Edo, he predicts victory for Maj. Gen.Muhammadu Buhari (rtd) and the APC in the forthcoming general elections. Excerpts: How has the campaign been?

I think both parties are trying to speak to the conscience of the people, both at the state and federal levels. But the people’s decision will be based on performance, they will look at the parties and what the parties have achieved for the people.

Are you comfortable with the war of words between some Niger Deltans and the North on the forthcoming elections?

I like to caution people, those that saw war, they know it is not what we pray for. Some of us saw war at the beginning as young students in 1967, we saw the aftermath, how people were killed. So in our electioneering dictionary, I will like us to take away threats, we should be civil because no one has monopoly of violence. We should pray for a civil election devoid of threats.

I equally expect those called statesmen to be responsible in their utterances so that we don’t encourage those who are throwing stones at their elders.

We should tell these younger children to respect our senior citizens, I can’t imagine Asari Dokubo saying such words to an elder statesman like TY Danjuma, it is very unfortunate, it is bad. Gen.Danjuma has seen battles; so when he is warning people to mind their utterances, he knows what he is saying. I don’t expect people to abuse him, rather he should be commended.

From what you have observed so far from the campaigns, how do you think Edo people will vote?

Let me talk as purely as an Edolite not like a politician.

What we are saying as a people here is that we want to look at issues the way they are.

They will vote for who has impacted positively on their lives. And here in Edo, Oshiomhole’s APC has changed their lives, modernized the cities and towns unlike the ten years reign of terror of PDP in the state. We want to compare PDP during their last ten years of governance in Edo with the six years of governance by the Adams Oshiomhole administration.

Today if you look at the ten years of PDP, nothing really was done. They had a very good opportunity, they did not achieve anything. Whereas in six years of the Oshiomhole administration, you can see tangible things he has done especially the road network.

And that is very critical to our economy. In Benin City, one of our biggest problems has been drainage, he has now tackled the problem with the Benin City water storm project which will take the flood through to Ogba River. If you go to Teachers House where houses submerged in the past, those houses are back to life today. If you want to help the people you must address education.

Oshiomhole has built schools almost in every ward, equipped them with modern equipment.

Teachers are happy, students and pupils are happy. There is peace in Benin City today because the governor created employment opportunities and those youths who used to be bad are all employed. Many

we might find ourselves not able to support imports.

•Ogiemwonyi states cannot pay salaries today but Edo is paying. He has rehabilitated the Okpilla cement factory, industries are springing up every day in Edo. He has taken the state out of poverty to wealth. All the governor will do now is to ensure that whoever will succeed him will ensure the continuation of that growth and if that is done we will start comparing Edo with Lagos.

On the elections, President Jonathan has not done anything for us as a nation and a state. You heard when the governor lamented that he gave N2billion to states where they did not vote for him in 2011 to fight erosion while Edo people who voted massivedly for him he gave us nothing just because Edo is not a PDP state. He did not remember us as his brothers, so in the elections we will not remember him as a brother. Edo people will vote Buhari because things must change in this country. I worked with Buhari as a young engineer in 1975 and 76. And I

worked with Jonathan as a Minister. If you look at Buhari, you can see a man that has courage, he has discipline, thorough, financial discipline, abhors corruption. So if you look at both of them, you will see that the APC candidate has all it takes to take Nigeria out of the woods.

Therefore I see a band wagon effect happening. Once people vote for Buhari, in subsequent elections, everybody will vote APC.I see a situation where you have APC at the center and probably about 25 states voting APC in this election. Because what the people are saying in a subtle way is that we need a change.

The import of that is that APC will win at the center and turn around the economy. In Edo, PDP is not on ground, they are just deceiving Jonathan.

Oshiomhole’s performance will give APC victory here, there is no road for PDP. I even heard that many PDP leaders are buying tickets to take off when Buhari wins.

What we are saying as a people here is that we want to look at issues the way they are.

They will vote for who has impacted positively on their lives

Okonjo Iweala Vs Soludo I used to respect Okonjo Iweala during her first outing with President Obasanjo. I had so much respect for her that time. But this second coming is rather unfortunate, all her predictions have gone the other way.

The indices have all proved very negative, our foreign reserve has depleted sharply.

Our exchange rate, the Naira is crashing daily. The oil price is going down, about 47 dollars per barrel. Unemployment is soaring, poverty level is on the increase and we are talking that the economy is getting better. I want them to leave Abuja and go to the cities and villages and talk to the average Nigerian.

People are collapsing out of poverty. You recall that a former

You were Group Executive Director in the NNPC. What is your take on the alleged fraud in fuel subsidy?

The history of fuel subsidy is one matter that Nigerians expect there will be scape goats, that was in 2011 when we spent about N2.6trillion to import products vis a vis a national budget of about N4.7trillion. In order words, we spent over 50 per cent on importation of products. People alleged scam, some paid for products that never came. If you recall, after that incident the number of private jets in Nigeria sky rocketed, that today in Africa we have the highest number of private jets in Africa.

But the sad story of that scam is that till today EFCC and ICPC have not sent one of the culprits to jail. So in a nation where you encourage corruption, what you expect is that because you encourage it, that thing will be on the increase. The institutions to check corruption in Nigeria are so weak.

The refineries are another issue. I have come our boldly to speak on behalf of the NNPC to say in terms of capacity, NNPC has the best workers, but the problem bedeviling NNPC is the high level of interference from the Ministry of Petroleum Resources, specifically the Honourable Minister. And until we allow the NNPC to run a business model, we should not expect much from them. The same just applies to the refineries where the MDs are handicapped in terms of ability to perform.

The staff of the NNPC want to perform but everything is interference from the Ministry of Petroleum. So my take on this is that we should allow NNPC to run a business model.

I spent 34 years in NNPC. During our time, we ensured that there was proper oil and gas accounting. We ensured true transparency. The proceeds from crude sales were deposited in the CBN, but now we are told that NPDC, for example, doesn’t pay directly to CBN, I think that is contrary to the extant laws.

That is why the CBN governor raises issues that there was some money he was expecting to be paid into the Federation Account but the money was hanging somewhere. These are areas that must be investigated seriously.

SUNDAY VANGUARD, FEBRUARY 8, 2015, PAGE 41 sameyoboka@yahoo.com

08023145567 (sms only)

ALLEGED N6BN BRIBE:

Pentecostal pastors threaten fire

By Sam Eyoboka

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*PFN CONFERENCE..(L-R) General Overseer of Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Pastor Enoch Adeboye, his wife, Pastor (Mrs) Foluke, wife of president, Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN), Rev. (Mrs) Abiola Omobude, her husband, Rev. Felix Omobude at the opening ceremony of the 13th biennial conference of PFN at the TREM headquarters in Lagos.

Dr. Oyedepo, Rev. Omobude said the governor should substantiate his claims by naming names. "I challenge Nigerian journalists to help the Nigerian nation by asking the governor to go the whole hug by revealing names of the pastors who had taken monies for such unholy endeavour and who had given our collective wealth to a few pastors."

Continuing, Omobude urged all Christians across the country who have not collected their Permanent Voter Cards, PVCs, to take advantage of the remaining few days to collect same to enable them to actively participate in the electoral process, stressing that PFN is not partisan because the churches represent all the political parties in the land.

"We will not be partisan. We are not partisan. We are not recommending any candidate for you, instead we urge you to pray and vote wisely. You must ask questions before you cast your vote. You must not mortgage your future for a bag of rice or a few naira notes. Your four vote is very important and you must use it wisely.

"Do not use your hand to vote for someone who will fight you tomorrow. It is important that we use our votes wisely in the coming elections. We must come out to cast our ballot for any of the candidates that build a Nigeria of our dreams", he said.

He called on all Pentecostal ministers in the country to ensure that they help to put the house in order, stressing that PFN must hold on to the values handed to us and must pass on the flame of love and oneness.

According to Omobude, God has been good to the Nigerian Church, adding that there are many nations in the world so blessed, noting yet "we have our shortcom-

,

IGER State governor and chairman of Northern Gover nors Forum, Alhaji Mu'azu Babangida Aliyu gave Nigerians a pleasant new year present when he declared five days into 2015 that only liars can survive in the game of politics in the country. The governor also reportedly added that there is no morality in politics. “If you cannot lie, get out of politics. Anything you are involved in has its own rule.....If you are talking of honesty or morals, go and become an Imam or pastor. Politics cannot be the way it used to be. The challenges are more now, the variables have changed, the issues that we are going to face in 2015 are different from the ones we faced in 1999 and we must bear this in mind. Our society is not as grateful as it used to be, the values and morals have gone down. If you want to win, use the modern morality,� he added.

Twenty nine days later, the former chairman of Nigeria Governors' Forum and the governor of Rivers State, Hon. Rotimi Chubuike Amaechi who once said that those who carry brooms are night soil men and juju priests, had made some damning allegations against PDP. The governor said PDP had given some pastors N6 billion to publicly endorse President Goodluck Jonathan and sabotage the APC and her presidential candidate, Muhammadu Buhari.

All major newspapers screemed with the news on a day the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria, PFN, was opening its 13th national biennial conference at the TREM headquarters in Lagos. The first salvo was fired by the General Overseer of Redeemed Christian Church of God, Pastor Enoch Adeboye who in his characteristic subtle manner, expressed shock at the gubernatorial accusation, and urged the PFN leaders to ask the governor to name names if he is sure of his facts.

"But as a small boy speaking to elder brothers, if there is any speck of truth in it at all, may I advise that if you take money from any politician for the purpose of influencing elections one way or the other, you should return the money quickly. Return the money very quickly! Because if you receive money to influence elections one way or the other; you are not just selling your votes, you are selling your anointing. You might even be selling your calling," Adeboye emphasised.

Speaking on "Expanding the capacity for His power", president of Living Faith Church, Dr. David Oyedepo described the allegation as a blatant lie, urging Pentecostal ministers to ignore the story and endeavour to forgive the perpetrators.

"I think if N6 billion ever transpired in this country for the Church, our president should have a share of it. May be they should remember me, as one of the small pastors in this country. It is a lie. There is nothing like that. I am speaking the truth.

Don't bother your heads for what you know is not true," Oyedepo said, stressing the need for the congregation to forgive the purveyors of ungodly gospel.

"Let us pray to God to heal our country against every traitor in every part of the nation," he added, noting that PFN is a Christian organisation that above evil plot against the Church.

Making brief remarks at the closing service of the conference, the national president of PFN, Rev. Felix Omobude assured the modest congregation that PFN had nothing to do with the alleged bribe taking because "it is not in our character."

Taking a cue from Pastor Adeboye and

Do not use your hand to vote for someone who will fight you tomorrow. It is important that we use our votes wisely in the coming elections

,

ings. We have our challenges. We must put our house in order. Enough is enough of indiscipline."

He noted that God did not bless the Nigerian Church not to compete with one another. As you leave this conference, please you must not forget our heritage.

Pentecostalism which started in Nigeria in a very small scale has grown to become a major voice in the country.

According to him, "we can harness this tremendous growth to renew our values," stressing that he was tired of hearing stories of 60-year old men defiling 12-year old girls and they are said to be pastors.

Rev. Yakubu Pam from Jos in Plateau State also lent his voice in defence of the Pentecostal leaders, saying that the governor must not play politics with the church. He should mention the names of all those who have collected any amount in order to influence votes for any candidate.

"I align myself with what Pastor Adeboye had said earlier. The governor should mention the names of the people who had collected money and the body will call them to order. We are in the period of politicking and everybody is trying to canvass for advantage and hear all kinds of things about monies exchanging hands here and there. Some of them are speculations and some of them could be real and you can't stop politicians from playing dirty politics," he noted.

According to Rev. Pam the onus is on Gov. Amaechi to tell the nation the source of his story, insisting that it should not be seen as an indictment on the Church, adding that the other faith is not isolated. Pam maintained that N6 billion is not something that can be parceled in a Ghana-must-go bag, "where did the money come from and who and who received the said money?"

Also reacting, a social critique and former senatorial aspirant from Edo State, Mr. Egheomhanre Emmanuel Eyieyien said: "I can't remember who now, but someone wrote in an article sometime ago that many Nigerians have lost their sense of "shockability". Many things happen and many things are said these days that Nigerians take for granted. However novel, absurd, incredulous, obscene, vain, ridiculous, ludicrous, rude, awkward, superfluous, fallacious, untrue....etc. a matter is, there are some Nigerians that would not bat an eyelid or even question its veracity.

Truth has become endangered.

Nowhere else is this the case as in our politics. And in this elections season, there are lies aplenty. If it is in the media, especially social media, it must be true. A popular refrain these days is "focus on the message and not the messenger". I don't know how this became received wisdom. I grew up knowing that the credibility of a message depends on who the messenger is. Why would anyone believe what a known liar says! And why do journalists refer to "usually credible sources" to give credence to a tale they know many would need more than a pinch of salt to believe?

It was the Facebook post of a Buharist that I first read the claim that the Federal Government had given N6 billion to some Nigerian pastors to campaign against Mr. Muhammadu Buhari and project him as an Islamic fundamentalist who is out to Islamise Nigeria if he becomes the President. I even shared the post on my Facebook Timeline and said it was the latest fabrication from the propaganda machinery of the All Progressives Party (APC) which is unlikely to gain traction since it was not first published by Sahara "Reporters". That was the night of Tuesday, February 3, 2015. I was wrong.

The Governor equally revealed that the Pastors were mandated by the Federal Government to distribute some literature about Buhari's Islamisation Plan to Christians. The Governor, as a devout Catholic, exonerated Roman Catholic Priests from the conspiracy and made it clear that it was the Commercial, Mammon-loving Clergymen (and Clergywomen) outside of his Church who were guilty of this unChrist-like conduct. He dutifully appealed to the sinning Pastors (apparently of the Protestant fold) to repent and return our money to the National Treasury.

Very impressive. Ehmm....but is this not a crime which His Excellency just uncovered? Should there be no consequences for this blatant case of stealing....and corruption? Since Gov. Amaechi is so highly placed, his uncovering of this illegality should not be sneered at. Surely, as a twoterm Governor, he has the contacts and requisite connections to get at the root of the matter. He couldn't be saying this openly at a Campaign Rally if he didn't have his facts and figures.

I hope I am not being preemptive here; the Governor most certainly must have compiled the names of those wicked Pastors and obtained the details of how the monies were surreptitiously paid to them.

It has never been easier to trace payments as it is today. N6Billion is unlikely to have been disbursed by cash. Or was it? Anyway, the Governor knows.

He probably already has his legal folks working on a petition to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

This kind of whistle-blowing is easier for a Governor: he has immunity from prosecution by anyone who would attempt to detract Nigerians from the issue by filing a libel suit and he needs no Whistle-blower Protection, thanks to his new Governorfriendly State Police Commissioner.

I have no doubt that Gov. Rotimi Amaechi knows that he has a civic duty to assist our anti-corruption agencies with all relevant information to deal with this crime. Moreover, as the Campaigner-inChief of Mr. Muhammadu Buhari, the Corruption Burster, nothing less can be expected.

This Pastor-bribing episode now makes me suspicious of those Pastors who recently met with Pastor Prof. Yemi Osinbajo in Kaduna and Makurdi when the APC

Continued on Page 42

PAGE 42—SUNDAY VANGUARD, FEBRUARY 8, 2015

Seven questions youths want Shekau to answer FOLLOWING the unceasing bloodletting in the North East by radical Islamic sect, Boko Haram, some Nigerian youths gathered in Lagos last week to navigate a way out of the in-surgency, reports OLAYINKA LATONA. The youth numbering over 500 under the aegis of Non Violence for African Development (NOVAD). Once they settled them, they declared enough was enough. The orgies of violence and bloodletting across the nation, they stressed, must stop forthwith. The youths, drawn from across the nation, frowned at the dehumanising acts of abduction and killing in the region.

Taking the battle right to the origin, they asked to engage leader of the Boko Haram sect, Abubakar Shekau, in an intellectual warfare. “If he succeeds in convincing us that violence is the only way to fix the country then we’d join him in the ongoing crusade,” Stephen Okon, one of the youth leaders offered.

“But if he won’t and cannot, then he should answer our questions before the next abduction and seizure of towns in the northeast,” he continued. Firing the first question, Okon asked: Why are you killing Muslims? According to him, if Shekau claims to be a good Muslim, he should know that no campaign is worth the killing of anyone, let alone fellow Muslims.

He reminded Shekau that when a similar orgy was carried out against Muslims in the old Borno Empire, the late El-Kanemi challenged the crusaders to stop the carnage. In the same vein, the youths told Shekau to stop further killing of Muslims in the name of Jihad.

Florence Agbo took the podium to direct the second question at Shekau: What exactly is your main objective? Agbo pointed out that Shekau has severally said he is after an Islamic state. If that is so, must it be by violence, she wondered. If the campaign is about abolition of western civilisation, what alternatives do Shekau have for the populace?

Granted Shekau has objectives, stated or unstated, but Sam

Pastors threaten fire Continued from Page 41 Presidential Campaign Team was in those cities. How much might they have also collected from the APC to campaign for Mr. Buhari? Since Mr. Buhari's Islamic fundamentalism is well known because of utterances he made himself about his commitment to entrenching Sharia nationwide and his urging Muslims to vote only for Muslims so as to protect the interest of Islam, it would appear more plausible that his Campaign Team may be more motivated to recruit and induce Pastors to sell his candidacy to Christians in Nigeria.

It would seem that Muslim clerics do not love money. Unlike their Protestant Christian peers, many Imams are happily and zealously promoting Mr. Buhari in their Mosques up north as Allah's Candidate gratuitously.

But if that be not the case no one has a smoking gun such as Gov. Rotimi Amaechi has on the conniving Pastors.

Okoye wanted to know if such objectives must necessarily be achieved through violence and bloodletting? “Must you kill to achieve your goals and purposes?” Okoye demanded.

Bimbo Olaleye recalled that the Arab Spring revolution in North Africa is similar to what the Boko Haram leader is championing.

But the Arab Spring, she argued, has not changed the Arab nations. There has been no significant improvement in the quality of lives in Egypt, Libya and Tunisia after the revolution. Is that what Shekau wants for Nigeria, she asked.

Niyi Adeoti reinforced the question on the main objective of the sect, asking “what really is your aim? What are you really after?

Adeoti explained this becomes necessary to know in view of the ambivalent acts and utterances of the terrorist leader.

Zainab Mohammed wanted to know what the motivation of Shekau is. The indigene of Zamfara State asked: “What is your motivation? What is driving you?

Are you driven by ambition or a thirst for blood? Is it the same Allah we know that is behind all your atrocities?”

Finally, Chinedu Ogbu asked to know the philosophy guiding Boko Haram’s operations and killings. According to him, it is imperative to know so that Nigerians will define the sect’s activities for what they really are.

“What is your philosophy? Is this about religion or politics? Are you a religious guerilla leader or a political warlord? Where do you really stand philosophically?”

While waiting for the response of the sect’s leader, the youths challenged him to be human for once and stop the carnage that has turned the nation to almost a theatre of war.

The coordinator of the group, Deji Abodunde, said the youths will keep engaging Shekau in verbal fisticuff until peace returns to the region. “We want him to pause and reflect on the grav-

ity of what he is really doing.

Something people do things with grave consequences without

them knowing.

“So, we want him to know what he is doing and be sure he is very

CAN sets agenda for next Lagos gov

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AGOS State chairman of Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, Apostle Alex Bamgbola has advised incoming governor of the state to be fair to every citizen of the state irrespective of their religion and tribe.

In his keynote address at a prayer session organized by the CAN for all the governorship candidates at the Hoares Memorial Methodist Church in Yaba, Lagos, Bamgbola said though Christians had clamoured for a Christian governor it will be ungodly for the eventual governor to favour only Christians.

He said: “You must bear in mind that there are people of various faiths in Lagos State.

There are those who are neither

Muslims nor Christians. There are those who just want to live their lives. All these people are going to vote and it will be unfair for the governor to disregard them. He must be fair to all.”

According to Bamgbola “ we are not asking you to get to government and favour only Christians. That will be un-Christian.

What you do for A you must do for B. Every form of discrimination on the basis of religion or tribe must be abhorred.”

He also advised the candidates not to be over confident in the midst of wolfs.

He specifically called on Christians to spend time to pray for all political leaders noting that the Church cannot afford to fail the state.

Lord's Chosen shops for another venue

F

The event, which attracted top church leaders in Lagos State was an opportunity for the candidates to showcase their plans for the state.

Many of the candidates including those of PDP, Mr. Jimi Agbaje, Mr. Ayodele Akele of the National Conscience Party, Mr. Bolaji Ogunseye, Alliance for Democracy governorship candidate and a host of others attended while APC's Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode was conspicuously absent.

The Lagos State resident electoral commissioner, Mr. Akin Orebiyi told the gathering that the 2015 elections will be different from all previous elections because the system that has been put in place will make it difficult for anybody to rig the elections.

CONFERENCE..(L-R) Presiding bishop of TREM, Dr. Mike Okonkwo, president, Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN), Rev. Felix Omobude, Bishop Simeon Okah, Bishiop David Oyedepo, Pastor Paul Adefarasin and others at the opening ceremony of the 13th National Biennial Conference of PFN at TREM headquarters in Lagos.

MGBIDI ANNUAL CRUSADE: OLLOWING incessant harassment of participants by the villagers of Mgbidi community during crusades, the authorities of The Lord’s Chosen Charismatic Revival Ministries, conveners of the famous Mgbidi annual international programme, on Wednesday, announced plans to move the annual event to another location.

Addressing newsmen at a postcrusade briefing in Lagos, the spokesman of the ministry, Pastor Louis Chidi said the yearly threat, extortion and bullying of participants orchestrated by the Mgbidi community in Imo State has become unbearable to the ministry as participants, mostly foreigners, have become very apprehensive of the restive community youths.

According to him, the Mgbidi youths have no respect for the things of God nor appreciate the economic benefit of the annual revival pilgrimage.

Speaking painfully while recalling what happened at the last Mgbidi programme, Pastor Chidi said: "It’s very dishearten-

aware of the dire implications. We want peace. We want progress and we do not want anything that will drag us back to the medieval era,” he said.

ing that the community after all we have done for them, will continue to disrupt our annual international programme.

"Despite imprinting the town’s name in the world map, we have not only brought the presence of government and international community to the town but have also contributed immensely in all ramifications both spiritually and physically to the development of the entire community but yet we are being paid with evil.

"Every year more than one million people from all over the world converge here under the auspices of The Lord’s Chosen for personal and national prayer and yet they are made to go with wounded hearts by the villagers and their vehicles are damaged because they refuse to be extorted,” he explained.

Asked why the church didn’t choose to pray than relocating venue, the Chief Press Officer said: “The land was not given to the church free, it was appropriately paid for and we have ensured our social responsibilities in the area of boreholes, roads etc were provided as the

case may be.

"On the other hand, yearly additional financial bonuses are given to the community. Of course, we are not ignorant of the fact that the attacks were a ploy to scuttle the good thing that is coming to the community. It makes us become more compassionate and show there is still serious spiritual work to be done.

Nevertheless relocating may be an answer to prayer made and that is why we have decided to relocate,” Chidi explained.

He maintained that the harassment, among other issues, have continued to be a source of concern to the ministry accordingly, the ministry has no other option than to relocate to the community that will appreciate them.

“We as a ministry that preaches righteousness and holiness cannot go into contention with them, our duty is to preach the gospel, and to show them love and we have not relented in these areas. Our heart desire and prayer is that they should repent and come to the knowledge of the truth,” he concluded.

Group backs Omo-Agege, Akpore

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group, Urhobo Awareness Youth Association in collaboration with Urhobo in diaspora yesterday threw their weight behind the Delta Central senatorial candidate of Labour Party,LP, Barr. Ovie Omo-Agege and the House of Assembly candidate of LP to represent Ughelli constituency I, Barr. Newman Demas Akpore in the forthcoming general elections.

The Ughelli North Coordinator of the group, Comrade Chikwendu Oghenenyerhovwo while briefing newsmen, said the group decided to support the duo after having x-rayed other candidates of other political parties and their antecedents.

The group had maintained that the choice of Omo-Agege and Akpore for the Delta Central senatorial district and Delta State House of Assembly bid was a good decision in a right direction, commending the Urhobo Progress Union President General, Chief Joe Omene for unrelenting effort in ensuring that Urhobo produces their best for the national and state legislative positions.

The group stated that OmoAgege and Akpore had in the past empowered Urhobo youths and deserved their backing.

SUNDAY VANGUARD, FEBRUARY 8, 2015, PAGE 43

T

HE rich young ruler, our fabled Central Bank governor, comes to Jesus earnestly wanting to know what to do in order to inherit eternal life. Jesus says to him: “You know the commandments, go ahead and obey them?”

The man replies: “Oh, I have already obeyed them.

As a matter of fact, I mastered them from the age of seven. I have been obeying them from my youth. I gave my life to Christ 20 years ago. I know the bible from Genesis to Revelation.”

As a result, the man shipwrecks at the report God gave to Isaiah: “For thus says the High and Lofty One who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy: ‘I dwell in the high and holy place, with him who has a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones.’”

(Isaiah 57:15).

Our Central Bank governor is determined to climb the Mount Everest of eternal life. Therefore, Jesus gives him one simple task to perform: “Then Jesus, looking at him, loved him, and said to him, ‘One thing you lack: Go your way, sell whatever you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, take up the cross, and follow me.’” (Mark 10: 21).

Suddenly, instantaneously; this wonderfully earnest Christian loses all interest in eternal life: “At this the man's face fell. He went away sad, because he had great wealth.” (Mark 10: 22).

One thing

life. Every room in the inn of his heart was occupied by his earthly possessions.

Presumptive righteousness

ONE THING YOU LACK (2) It is like in the days of Noah, when there were oh so many “Christians;” so many mighty men and women of God. But alas, they all perished in the Flood.

They lacked one thing; just one thing. They failed to get into the ark. So today there are oh so many wonderful Christians who lack just one thing. It is only one thing, but it is the main thing. It is only one thing but because of that one thing heaven is brass. It is only one thing but because of that one thing we continue to fail, even at the edge of breakthrough.

Because of that one thing our relationships fail. Because of that one thing, the enemy always has the last laugh in our life. Because of that one thing, our spiritual life has remained stagnant and we stand at a dead end.

Yes, it is only one thing but that one thing is needful.

Although Martha is a good and diligent Christian, working faithfully in the vineyard of the Lord, it is actually Mary who has chosen that good part which shall not be taken away from her. (Luke 10:42).

Every one of us has question-marks pertaining to our faith and our righteousness. There are some blemishes, some stains, some

Today there are oh so many wonderful Christians who lack just one thing wrinkles; some flies in our ointment. They are little foxes, but they spoil the whole vineyard. (Song 2: 15).

Spiritual check-ups Naaman was a great and honourable man. He was rich and highly exalted in society. He was the commander-in-chief of the armed forces of Syria. He was a military hero; a mighty man of valour. He was decorated with national honours for his military prowess. His people looked up to him as saviour.

But one thing was missing and evident to all. There was one major shortcoming in Naaman, the lion-heart: he was a leper.

Bartmaeus might have been a handsome man. He might have been intelligent.

He might have had unusual insight. But who cares? Nobody called him intelligent Bartimaeus or handsome Bartimaeus. Everyone knew him as blind Bartimaeus.

The one thing Bartimaeus

Oritsejafor frowns at undemocratic practices…says enough is enough of terror attack

By CALEB AYANSINA

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BUJA – NA TIONAL Presi dent of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor, Friday, warned Nigerian politicians against engaging in predetermined stand on election results, saying such acts contravenes the principles of democracy.

He also expressed worry over the spate of deadly terrorist attacks in the northern part of the country by Boko Haram, stressing that enough is enough.

Oritsejafor, who gave the warning at a retreat of National Christian Elders Forum, in Abuja, charged politicians to do the right thing to protect the unity of the country.

The cleric insisted that Nigerians should be allowed to associate with political parties of their choice without victimisation.

“It is very terrible that there are people who are even afraid to identify with certain candidates. Their fear is that they will be victimised. I think this kind of

atmosphere in parts of the North is wrong.

“If this is a democracy, every one should be allowed to do whatever they feel is right in their hearts, freely. Certain people have set the stage for such thinking, which is wrong. If this is a democracy, then we should not predetermine anything,” he stressed.

Oritsejafor, who was visibly worried about the spate of insecurity in the country, called on leaders at all levels to engage in meaningful dialogue to end the senseless killings.

He further noted that the country needs peace to make progress, arguing that the devastation Islamic extremism had caused would take years to rebuild.

“Considering the serious rage against the Church that is manifested in these attacks, how do we ensure that Christians are protected in the nation and the Church continues to flourish to fulfill the mandate of God? “Therefore, I wish to use this medium to call on religious leaders, traditional rulers, and political lead-

ers in the North to come forward, not only to condemn these unwarranted attacks, but also to engage in meaningful intra- and inter- dialogue to put an end to these senseless killings. While our faith may differ, we remain members of the same family.

“We are first and foremost Nigerians before we can be classified by gender or by religion. It is not right that brothers should be killing brothers because they choose to worship God differently. It is not right.

“Those who are behind these senseless killing of Nigerian citizens should desist, if they truly fear God. While other nations are marching forward, Nigeria cannot be marching backward! Enough is enough,” he said.

“Inasmuch as religious extremists have sorely provoked the Church, I wish to state clearly that Christians do not wish any religion in Nigeria evil. I understand fully that the sincere objective of the Christian Elders Forum is to deliberate and provide honest solutions to intractable problems in the nation,” he said.

lacked was the one thing used to define him. The one thing he lacked was the devil’s weapon against his life.

The one thing he lacked was the little leaven that leavened his whole lump.

(Galatians 5:9). It was the little yeast that fermented his whole bread.

Therefore, it is imperative to go periodically before the Lord for spiritual check-ups.

Ask God: “What are those things I still lack?” Believe me; you will discover they are there by the lorry-load.

We need to know what they are, not because we can do anything about them, but in order to ask God for healing. We need to ask for deliverance by he who can save to the uttermost. We need to look continually into God’s perfect law of liberty and make the necessary corrections.

Ask for help The refusal to do this was the downfall of our Central Bank governor. He did not say to Jesus: “Lord you got

A

me there. I thought I could do all things, but clearly, I cannot bring myself to forsake all I have. Can you help me to do it? Lord, I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!” (Mark 9:24).

Lord, I would like to inherit eternal life, but I don’t want to lose my life. Can you help me?

Jesus would then have replied in characteristically merciful fashion: “Be of good cheer; your sins are forgiven you.” “Be of good cheer; be healed of your infirmity. Go, and sin no more.”

No! The rich young Central Bank governor walked away. He lost all interest in eternal life. He claimed that he had kept all the commandments of God from his youth, but he had actually kept none. All the commandments are encapsulated under one: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind; and love your neighbour as yourself.” (Luke 10:27).

However, this great Christian loved his possessions more than he loved the Lord his God. Foxes have holes, the birds of the air have nests, but the Lord Jesus had no place to lay his head in this man’s

BUJA - CHRISTIAN Associa tion of Nigeria, (CAN) has raised alarm that there was a grand design by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to disenfranchise over 20 million Christians, who were displaced by insurgency in the North East, reports CALEB

There is great danger in the Christian presumption of spiritual strength, for by strength shall no man prevail. Our so-called strengths are far more dangerous for us spiritually than our weaknesses. Our weaknesses carry us to God: but our strengths take us away from him. It is dangerous to be strong in ourselves. The Lord himself must be our strength. The strength of the Lord is made perfect in our weakness.

Jesus, our great physician, has no ministry for those that are whole. He has come for the poor, the meek, the broken-hearted, the mournful and the sorrowful. He says: “I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.” (Matthew 9:13).

In contrition, David makes no promises to God. Lord Jesus, he pleads, I am not going to make resolutions I cannot fulfil. Unless you help me, I know for sure that I will sin again against you: “Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.” (Psalm 51: 10).

I cannot do anything unless you first do something Lord. I cannot be anything unless you make me that thing, Jesus. “Revive me,” says the psalmist, “and then I will call upon your name.”

(Psalm 80:18). “Draw me,” says the Shulamite, “and I will run after you.” (Song of Solomon 1:4). Without you, Lord Jesus, I can do nothing.

CAN alleges plan to disenfranchise 20m displaced Christians

AYANSINA

Director of National Issues and Social Welfare of CAN, Elder Sunday Oibe stated this while speaking on the plight of the IDPs and the general elections, in Abuja.

The national Christian body led by its President, Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor was in the IDPs' camp in New Knuchingoro in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) to donate relief materials to them.

Oibe said the association had scheduled a meeting with Prof. Jega last week on the matter, but was cancelled by the electoral body without giving reason.

He said: “Prof. Jega should do everything to ensure that displaced Christians from the North East should be given an opprtunity to vote.

“We have churches with headquarters in Maiduguri, like the EYN. They have been displaced with over 3 million people scattered all over the country. If over 20 million Christians displaced from the North East do not cast their votes, how can you say such elections are credible and acceptable?

“We wanted to meet with Prof. Jega, on the topic last week and he gave us an appointment but reneged, so we are calling on Jega to ensure that IDPs, particularly Christians displaced from the North East cast their votes, or we will not accept it," he said.

The CAN President, Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor, represented by the FCT CAN chairman, Isreal Akanji said the visit was to provide relief materials and other

*Prof. Attahiru Jega donations to the IDPs, in the spirit of being our brother’s keeper.

Representing the displaced persons, Philimon Emmanuel said there were over 700 persons from Goza local government area in Maiduguri, and that they had not felt so much of government’s impact on their lives since they became displaced.

“Since we became displaced, government has only been to see us once, through NEMA, last October, they promised to get us special camps with more comfortable houses and health centers, as well as schools, but we haven’t heard from them since then.

Responding, Akanji said he was part of a committee set up to address the challenges of the IDPs, and promised to take the people's plight to government.

The national president Youth Wing, CAN, Daniel Kadzai called on the IDPs to be calm and remain law abiding.

PAGE 44 — SUNDAY VANGUARD, FEBRUARY 8, 2015

Onuesoke calls for postponement of Feb polls

BY FESTUS AHON

F

ORMER Governor ship aspirant in Delta State, Mr Sunny Onuesoke has called on the Independent Electoral Commission, INEC to postpone the February 14th and 28th elections to allow the commission conduct a better election.

Making the call while chatting newsmen, Onuesoke decried that over 45 percent of Nigerians were yet to pick their Permanent Voters Cards, PVCs. He added that; “at least over 85 percent of registered voters should cast their votes.

“A situation where eligible Nigerians will be disenfranchised on account of not being able to collect their PVC for no fault of theirs is unhealthy and unacceptable.

“As I speak to you only

about 55 percent of Nigerians have collected their PVCs. I was in Ajoromi, Ifolodu in Lagos State, where I met with urhobos over there to sensitize them on the need to vote for President Goodluck Jonathan and the Delta State PDP Governorship candidate, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa.

“To my amazement, they alleged that the PVC’s were only being distributed to muslims, while the Christians are being deprived.

This is undemocratic practice and should not be encouraged.

“I therefore strongly call on INEC to postpone the election to give time for Nigerians to pick their PVC’s and vote candidates of their choice. It is obvious that INEC is not ready for the election because they are yet to put some things in place for a proper conduct of the election”.

X From left: Thandi Mgxwati, South African Deputy Consul General; Senator Florence Ita-Giwa, Convener; Oloye Jumoke Akinjide, Minister of State, Federal Capital Territory, representing First Lady; Senator Kofoworola Bucknor-Akerele, Chariman of the occasion and Hon Titi Oseni, former Speaker of Ogun State House of Assembly, during 'Women In Action' Town hall meeting gonvened by Senator Florence Ita-Giwa in Lagos. Photo Lamidi Bamidele

Okowa/Otuaro ticket equal opportunities project, says Group

C

ORE Democrats for Prosperity (CDP) says the Okowa/Otuaro Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship ticket is a unity project which gives hope that all ethnic groups in Delta State would one day have opportunity to become governor..

In a statement signed

by Comrades Louis Otuisi, Agbugba Paul and Julius Bowei, Chairman, Secretary and Public Relations Officer, PRO, respectively of CDP, the group said Otuaro’s demonstrated peace resolution skills which halted hostilities in the inter-ethnic Warri crisis in 2004.

According to them, this holds prospect for endur-

• As

T

ing peace and prosperity in Delta State.

The CDP added that Senator Ifeanyi Okowa’s SMART agenda draws from Okowa’s remarkable experience in various tiers and arms of government and holds key to massive transformation of communities from rural to urban status and move Deltans to attain wealth through feasible programmes.

The CDP which has begun door-to-door campaign from Patani LGA said the Okowa/Otuaro gubernatorial ticket is the first pairing of Delta North and South senatorial districts on a road that will finally give all parts of the state sense of belonging in the governance at top level of Delta State.

group endorses Okowa

HE Ogbe Political Movement for Change/Urhobo New Face Youth Association has endorsed Senator Ifeanyi Okowa, Delta State governoship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in the forthcoming election.

The convener and president of the group, King Ufuoma Onokpite, made this known during its meeting at Ugolo, Okpe Local Government Area, saying that after interaction between the

leadership of the group and all those in the governorship race “ we discovered that only Ifeanyi Okowa could carry Urhobo and Delta youths along.

His words: " I stand here on behalf of OPC and Urhobo youth association to endorse Dr. Okowa as Governor of Delta State.

He is the person we will work with, we have to support the minority, that was how Jonathan became President of Nigeria.”

SUNDAY VANGUARD, FEBRUARY 8 , 2015, PAGE 45

INTRIGUING EXPERIENCES

BY LEKAN BILESANMI

P

EOPLES Democratic Party, PDP, Chairman, Alhaji Adamu Muazu, in one of the on-going campaign rallies for this year ’s general elections, told on excited crowd that the party will continue to do well if it refrains from the habit of using and dumping its members. To situate this statement in its proper context, until 1998, there was no name like the PDP. The name became famous, perhaps than other parties, because it was the party of choice when it was founded to usher in the new political dispensation in 1999. The name, however, is not as popular as its logo, the umbrella. The party is so popular that sometimes, only its logo would suffice. The now celebrated logo was designed by a journalist, Gboyega Amobonye. However, Amobonye’s effort to the success of the party today appears an oversight as some have suggested. Thunder does not strike on the same spot twice. If after repeated efforts to get the party’s hierarchy to see the need why this unsung hero should be rewarded and, at every effort, there is a brick wall, one is quick to align with its Chairman’s postulation of use and dump. Amobonye wrote several letters to the party leadership without any response. Well, if the letters did not get to the addressee, the addressee cannot be blocked from reading Amobonye’s thoughts on the pages of newspapers.

He said, in one of the letters,” I proposed umbrella to the party in 1998 as its symbol and it was carried with spontaneous applause and commendation. The proposal for the adoption of the umbrella as symbol of the then emerging political party, PDP, was presented on my behalf by one time President of the Senate, the late Dr. Chuba Okadigbo, in his capacity as Chairman of the Publicity Committee of the political association, whose responsibility, it was, to consider a name and symbol for the association, in preparation for its registration as a political party with the Independent Electoral Commission, INEC”. His proposed symbol was not only accepted but was approved by the party hierarchy. However, in year 2000, according to the letter, Okadigbo introduced him to the then party Chairman, Chief Barnabas Gemade, as ‘ the man who gave PDP its logo, and said, please do something for him’. Gemade never did even when Amobonye had to officially write him. His persistent efforts appeared to be paying off when he learnt that the Special Assistant to the then National Secretary, Senator Aniete Okon, signed a letter addressed to some founding fathers of the party on the issue. It read, “I am directed to forward here the letter dated 27th June,2001 from Mr Gboyega Amobonye, Abuja Bureau Chief, National Concord Press of Nigeria Ltd, to our National Chairman claiming he suggested the umbrella symbol at the foundation stage of our great party, for your kind attention and advice. It will be appreciated if you throw more light on this matter to help

•Amobonye ... Logo is intellectual property

PDP keeps dribbling me, 17 years after designing its umbrella logo – Gbenga Amobonye the National Working Committee, NWC.” Segun Adeniyi, the Thisday Editorial Chairman, on December 15, 2002, published an interview with the late Okadigbo where he said, ” The name PDP was suggested by me at the Muson Centre in Lagos, including the symbol. There was a certain Yoruba guy from Concord Newspaper who wrote me a letter which had this symbol of umbrella, I thought it was interesting. So, I read it out and it was adopted”.

Evidence abound to show that indeed Amobonye was the brain behind the symbol through the collaborative claims of important party members.

One-time PDP Publicity Secretary, Gbenga Olawepo, in an interview with the defunct Monitor Newspaper of September 30,2001, corroborated the claim of the late Okadigbo.

Olawepo, in the interview, was expressing his view on his suspension and eventual expulsion from the party. He said: ’You, Gbenga Amobonye, even submitted the proposal for our symbol which we adopted at the Muson Centre, Lagos. Was Gemade at the meeting? That was when we were considering the logo and everything, you made a proposal. You know the story of the PDP better. How can any of these people now say they are sacking me from the

I proposed umbrella to the party in 1998 as its symbol and it was carried with spontaneous applause and commendation

party?”

Amobonye said he would continue to appeal to the PDP leadership rather than resorting to legal action over the logo issue, hoping that they would have a change of heart.” I think this option I have been pursuing is far better than the legal option you are asking me about. If you believe in a cause, see it to the end, and that is what I intend to do. I will continue to appeal to them, particularly Alhaji Adamu Muazu, the Chairman and President Goodluck Jonathan, the party leader, to see my little contribution to what the party is today and duly acknowledge it . I have written another letter to the President explaining my stand on the issue. I am yet to get a reply.

Yes, it is true that this is an intellectual property issue which ordinarily should resort to litigation. But what do I stand to benefit ultimately if I drag the party to court? If my design, which is my sweat, is appreciated by the party and adopted it as its official symbol, and the same party is now the largest on the continent, apart from being the ruling party since about 16 years now, I should be glad that my effort is what everybody is trying to associate with. So, I will contin-

ue to appeal to them, particularly through your widely read medium”.

Amobonye appealed to President Good luck Jonathan to appreciate his foundation effort that has led to the success of the party today.” I, most respectfully, therefore, crave Mr President’s kind indulgence that I may be so recognised, acknowledged and compensated for my intellectual property. I am appealing to Mr President, in his capacity as the leader of the party and father of the nation, having failed to receive due attention of every Chairman of the party to whom I have been appealing since 1999from Chief Barnabas Gemade to the incumbent and skilful crises manager, former action governor of Bauchi State, Alhaji Adamu Muazu, whose letter was delivered and acknowledged on April 14, 2014”. Just as the effort of the Nigerian flag designer, Pa Akinwunmi, was eventually acknowledged and appreciated by the Jonathan administration, let us hope that he would also do same for Amobonye.

PAGE 46—SUNDAY VANGUARD,

FEBRUARY 8, 2015

By Emmanuel Edukugho

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bout 16 million girls, aged 15 to 19, and some one million girls, under 15 years, give birth yearly in developing countries with Nigeria inclusive.

Complications during child-birth and pregnancy are the second causes of death for 15-19 years old girls worldwide.

For some adolescents, pregnancy and child bearing are planned and wanted, but for many others, they are not. Some girls do not know how to avoid being pregnant as sex education is still rare and elitist in many countries, including Nigeria.

Again, many girls are ignorant, poor or ashamed to seek contraception services. Nigerian girls easily give to sex overtures from men, unable to refuse unwanted sex or resist coerced sex which is often unprotected.

There are million s of unsafe abortions among teenage girls which parents don’t know about or some could be collaborators in attempts to protect the future of the girls.

Research has shown that in developing countries, babies born to mothers under 20 years of age face 50% higher risk of being “still births” or dying in the first few weeks as against those born to mothers aged between 20 and 29. Babies born to teenage girls are more likely to have low weight with risk of long-term health challenges.

Many girls who become pregnant have the tendency to drop out of the education system, with little or fewer skills and opportunities for gainful employment. Therefore, they may suffer social stigma.

Medical experts define teenage pregnancy as female conceived under the age of 20. A pregnancy can occur after the start of puberty before the first menstrual period, but usually after the onset of periods. In well-nourished girls, menstruation usually takes place around the age of 12 or 13.

In several parts of Africa, including Nigeria, risks of medical complications are greater for girls aged under 15, because an undeveloped pelvis can lead to difficulties in child birth. For many countries, developed and developing, obstructed labour during child bearing is normally tackled by caesarian section. But where this was unavailable, it can lead to obstetric fistula, infant mortality or even maternal death.

Indications are emerging about peer pressure of factors encouraging both girls and boys to engage in unprotected sex. This has resulted in the increase of sexual activities among teenagers and consequently higher teenage pregnancies and sexually transmitted diseases (STD), use of drugs and alcohol, including marijuana, etc which encourage unintended sexual activities that may end up in teenage pregnancy.

Rape Studies from South Africa have found that 11-20% of pregnancies in teenage girls are directly linked to rape, while about 60% of teenage mothers had unwanted sexual experiences preceding their pregnancy. A US research institute has also found that 60% of girls who had sex before age 15 were coerced

TEENAGE PREGNANCY

Anatomy of ‘the number one killer of girls!’

•Katsina worst hit; Edo, least

by males who, on average, are six years their senior. One in five teenage fathers admitted to forcing girls to have sex with them. Up to 70% of women who gave birth in their teens were molested as young girls. Adolescent girls are often in abusive relationships at the time of their pregnancy.

Another aspect is the media influence as teenagers expose to sexuality in the media were also more likely to engage in sexual activity themselves. According to Time magazine, “teens exposed to the most sexual content on TV are twice as likely as teens watching less of this material to become pregnant before they reach the age of 20.”

It has been gathered that Nigerian authorities has failed to adequately promote sexual health information for young people. The use of modern contraceptive methods among sexually active adolescent women is very little. Nearly onethird of sexually active women aged 15-24 had an unmet need for modern contraception information

Up to 70% of women who gave birth in their teens were molested as young girls.

Adolescent girls are often in abusive relationships at the time of their pregnancy

and services. The provision of appropriate contraceptive methods has been grossly inadequate for teens.

According to our investigation, teenage pregnancy in the Niger Delta is concentrated among girls with less formal education, unemployed, without adequate antenatal care and obstetric risk for poor pregnancy outcome.

Felicia Aremu is 17 years old, an apprentice in an hair dressing shop after a botched secondary school education which ended abruptly in JS3. She lived with her parents and two younger brothers in a single room apartment at Onike, Yaba.

Poverty is a growing problem in Nigeria. There is a high rate of educational drop-out for children from low income homes as her father is a daily paid casual worker in a b lock making outfit in the neighbourhood. Her mother sells vegetable leaves in the local evening market.

Children from such homes are often at higher risk of educational Continues on page 48

SUNDAY VANGUARD, FEBRUARY 8, 2015, PAGE 47

‘Effects of the loss of N846bn NSE money on the economy’

BY UDEME CLEMENT

The crisis facing Nigeria’s economy following the decline in crude oil prices at the international market is already taking its toll on foreign investment flow into the country, as foreign investors just pulled N846.53 billion investments from the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE). The National Coordinator, Centre for Societal Values and Development, also a legal practitioner, Mr. Silas Udoh, spoke on the need for the three tiers of government to invest more in Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs), blaming the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) on Naira devaluation and other issues in the economy.

OREIGN investors just pulled about N846.53 billion from the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE), at a time the economy is experiencing enormous challenges. What are the economic implications of this?

Well, to start with, N846.53 billion is a huge amount, but we have to look at the nature of foreign investments that we are talking about here. This is foreign portfolio investment and not manufacturing, so the foreign investors are looking for an economy where they can put their money to make profit within the medium term . We should also realise that portfolio investment is profit and not service-oriented. So, investors monitor the market, invest when the market is stable to make more money and move their investment away any moment they perceive uncertainty in the system.

This is exactly what is happening to us right now.

These portfolio investors speculate a lot because they invest only in an economy capable of bringing more returns to their investment.

Other reasons for pulling their investments include the dwindling oil prices at the international market and the anxiety about what becomes of Nigeria’s economy after 2015 elections. The reality is that N846.53 billion portfolio investments outflow cannot cripple our economy, but the exit of these investors from the stock market has negative impact on our economy. For instance, statistics show that the total transactions at the nation’s bourse increased by 41.83 per cent from N181.97 billion realised in January to N258.08 billion in December 2014. But the exit of these investors from the stock market contributed to the poor performance recorded at the end of 2014 fiscal year, as the market closed with a negative return of 16.14 per cent.

This calls for the urgent need for the three tiers of governments to channel their resources into the industrial

F

•Nigerian Stock Exchange sector, to ensure that local manufacturing firms function optimally. This is the best way to grow our economy.

Government must create an enabling economic environment and encourage Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) to thrive at every part of the country.

Governments should also support operators of SMEs with good business ideas to stand. This is the only way through which we can tackle the unemployment challenge in the country. O v e r 6 0 percent Foreign Direct Investors (FDI) in Nigeria are portfolio investors, who are out to make profit, to recoup their investments.

Your Centre is about economic development, do you think the recent devaluation of the Naira by the Central Bank of Nigeria was in the best interest of our economy?

Though some people said the CBN acted to ensure stability in the economy, to ensure that the economy does not derail from the macro-economic fundamentals already on ground, I do not share such sentiment. In my own opinion, I think the CBN acted hastily by devaluing the currency without taking time to study the situation to see what would be the aftermath of the devaluation on the entire economy. Naira devaluation is also part of the problems confronting our economy now.

At present, the exchange rate is about N200 to a Dollar and the devaluation is affecting every sector of our economy, the stock market inclusive.

Unemployment has become an issue of national debate in the country. An international agency at the just concluded World Economic Forum in Davos, rated Nigeria as a country with 50 percent youth unemployment. What is your

I think the CBN acted hastily by devaluing the currency without taking time to study the situation to see what would be the aftermath of the devaluation on the entire economy stake on this?

It is true that there is unemployment in Nigeria but I do not agree with the figure released by the company.

Saying that Nigeria has 50 percent youth unemployment is not correct because government is doing quite a lot in the area of creating jobs, especially for the youths. For example, look at what

government is doing with Subsidy Reinvestment and Empowerment Programme (SURE-P). Government has done so much to mitigate the spate of youth unemployment in Nigeria through this programme. Also, through SURE-P initiative government in collaboration with the Ministry of Labour and Productivity developed a

Technical Vocational Education and Training (TVET) programme for the citizens, and youths are the major beneficiaries of this scheme. So, rating Nigeria with 50 percent youth unemployment, to me is faulty.

Also, the scheme is designed to empower the youths with specialised skills to take up existing job vacancies in both private and public sectors.

Aside from SURE-P, the federal agencies are still employing people as well.

In this case, what would you advise government to do?

They should turn attention to the housing sub-sector to create more jobs. In 2014, government launched the mortgage re-refinance scheme aimed at making easy access to loans for housing for the citizens. This programme must be well implemented. At present, we have a population of over 170million and the demand for housing annually is estimated at about 700,000 units, which is far more than the current production level of below 100,000 units. So, resuscitating the housing scheme is quite imperative.

This implies that an average Nigerian should be able to own a house by accessing up to 20year loans from mortgage or commercial bank, which is what the scheme is all about.

This will make it easier for low income earners to own houses if the loans would be made available at a reasonable interest rate for the people. You would recall that by last quarter of 2013, government also approved $300m loan facility (about N48 billion) to be accessed from the International Development Association (IDA) to boost mortgage financing, in a bid to address the huge housing deficit in the country. This programme should also be adequately implemented.

Mr Charles Emeka, MD, Century Motors (3rd left-standing), Miss Jane, NAC representative (4th left), Mr. Smith Navi, Sure-P/BasconMulti Agent representative (3rd right), and graduands during the graduation of trainees of Sure-P/NAC/SMEDAN auto workers at Century Motors, Asaba.

PAGE 48 — SUNDAY VANGUARD, FEBRUARY 8, 2015

Why price of diesel remains high LCs, and necessarily, importation. There is also a nagging suspicion by many that the naira is going to fall further, and many do not want to be caught in-between a transaction when that happens. As a result, fewer LCs are opened for diesel and there are fewer persons able to import the product.

Yet the ex depot of diesel (for January 2015) averaged

BY EMEKA AKABOGU

M

Y home generator is no guzzler, yet my heart always skips a beat at the sight of my monthly diesel bill. In my side of town on the Lekki-Epe Expressway, the price of diesel is between N145.00 and N160 depending on the station. Interestingly, it often costs me less to buy at the stations that sell for N155.00/litre than at those that sell for N145.00/litre. That however, is the subject for another day. The truly befuddling question is why the more than 50percent crash in crude oil prices has left the price of diesel unaffected. The bigger concern is that diesel is a deregulated product, and I have been one of the fiercest advocates for deregulation of petroleum prices in the last few years. Is there now cause to question the argument for deregulation?

The Facts In January 2015, the international price of gasoil (as diesel is technically referred to by oil traders) averaged $445 per metric tonne. A metric tonne of diesel could yield an average of 1,120 litres of diesel, depending on the density of the particular specification.

Converted to naira, the international price of diesel per litre has been about N74.00 in the period under review.

Factoring collateral costs including foreign exchange, freight, port and storage, the landing cost of diesel in Nigeria per litre is between N85.00 and N90.00. Actual ex

Continued from page 46 failure than their counterparts from average income homes. Juvenile delinquency and teenage pregnancies occur among this group. In most cases, they often lack positive role models, only to become mothers in their teens.

Felicia was impregnated by a jobless polytechnic graduate. There are thousands of teenage girls between the ages of 16 and 19 years with unwanted pregnancies and babies without responsible fathers to care for them. The poor and illiterate are most likely to engage in risky sexual behaviours and other antisocial activities that could lead to teenage pregnancies, unsafe abortions, multiple sexual partners, smoking, alcoholism, etc.

Child bearing In Nigeria, according to investigation, affirmed by the National Population Commission, NPC, teenage pregnancy varies markedly in the northern and southern zones, as well as urban and rural areas. They are higher in northern rural areas. One

•Emeka Akabogu depot in January has averaged N95.50k. Diesel is therefore being sold at a minimum premium of N50.00 in Nigerian stations for every litre.

Perception and Reality Marketers of petroleum products are often seen as a cartel of rampaging shylocks that will stop at nothing to make profit. They are however faced with significant operational and business challenges that seem to (but do not necessarily) justify the prices that we pay. First off, with the naira in limbo against the dollar, banks have been extremely circumspect about opening Letters of Credit in favour of oil marketers. The forgettable and tragic experiences of 2008 are still very fresh for many, and have encouraged an abundance of caution. More directly, banks have been seeing the short end of the stick in the RDAS market, regularly getting only a slim percentage of what they bid for. Diesel not being as much of a priority as PMS for LCs, has to contend with fewer opportunities for opening of

The truth is that retailers and marketers who have struck price agreements are not breaking any law in Nigeria. In the first place, there is no regulatory framework for competition N95.50. For the very fear of foreign exchange risk, many importers are ready to quickly sell-off stock from the jetty tanks. With no such risk attaching to retail distributors, coupled with the slow turnaround for supply from the few importers, retailers look to padding profit from the pumps. The result is the N50 premium per litre of diesel.

Competition seems

meaningless in this context as obvious pricing agreements amongst retailers ensure that consumers are robbed of the benefit of a deregulated and potentially competitive market. Profiteering is the name of the game, and consumers seem helplessly at the mercy of its hard-nosed players.

Deregulating PMS This diesel scenario does not bode well for the deregulated PMS regime that I have severally advocated. I know as a fact that many market operators are also keen on having that market deregulated.

Such deregulation will be meaningless if some dominant players sitting over champagne glasses can agree a minimum price with no correlation to global or even local market realities and trends. The prospects of innovativeness, customer appeal and expanded options that are the drivers of the deregulation advocacy could be stillborn, with the real fear that Nigerians will be left the worse for wear. Even the operators would lose in such a scenario, as the market will not be one of skills or expertise or uniqueness but an open sesamefor all comers and a sure road to oblivion.

Obviously, successful deregulation needs effective regulation.

Regulatory Oversight?

The truth is that retailers and marketers who have struck price agreements are not breaking any law in Nigeria.

In the first place, there is no regulatory framework for

Katsina worst hit; Edo, least

•Teenage pregnancy ... More rampant in the North in every three teenage girls in the North has started child bearing compared to one in every ten in the South.

During last year’s World Population Day, it was disclosed that Katsina State has the highest rate of teenage pregnancy and motherhood in Nigeria, accounting for 65% of teenage pregnancy, while Edo State had the least of 2.9%.

The NPC reportedly noted that pregnancy was the highest killer of teenage girls globally. And that for girls and women, aged 15-19 years, pregnancy and child birth were the number one killer, causing the death of 50,000 of them every year.

NPC reiterated that teenage pregnancy not only imposes severe health and psychological strains on the baby and teen mothers but also has a long term negative impacts on

sustainable development efforts adding that “it worsens the population and reproductive health situation and compromises genuine efforts to promote gender equity, educational attainment, family values and economic development.”

Poverty was also blamed for rising incidence of teenage pregnancy as it remained the most prevalent among girls from poor homes.

Meanwhile, poverty has been identified as a major barrier to human development, and a powerful brake on accelerated progress toward the millennium goals.

The World Bank described poverty “as pronounced deprivation in well being”.

Research showed that poverty is inextricably linked with food insufficiency, food insecurity or inability to get nutritionally adequate foods in socially acceptable ways.

In the Nigerian food consumption and nutrition survey carried out recently, 42% of children were

competition, or in this case, anti-competitive practices.

Though the Minister of Petroleum has the power to fix the price at which any particular class of petroleum products may be sold (section 6(1) of the Petroleum Act), President Umaru Yar ’adua had by executive order in 2009, removed diesel from the class of price-regulated petroleum products. However the Petroleum Products Pricing Regulatory Agency (Establishment) Act of 2003 states one of the agency’s functions to include prevention of “collusion and restrictive trade practices harmful in the sector ”. This is the nearest provision there is to prevent abuse of market positions through cartelisation. Unfortunately, this provision on its own confers no powers on the PPPRA to rein in anticompetitive practices since no precise price nor price range has been fixed which retailers could be alleged to have colluded to breach. This is expected to be one of the areas where a strengthened legal regime for the agency under the Petroleum Industry Bill will ensure more precise powers of regulatory intervention.

But pending the PIB what should be done? I think the Honourable Minister of Petroleum Resources should use the strong suasion powers of her office and prevail on retailers to temper their greed.

Simple.

•Akabogu is the Chairman, OTL Africa Downstream

stunted while 25% were underweight. In a report by the United Nations Children Fund (UNICEF) 80% of chronically undernourished children were found in 24 countries including Nigeria.

Under nutrition undermines the survival growth and development of children and women and it diminishes the strength and capacity of the nation.

There are over 100 million street children worldwide.

The poor live in environments with inadequate living conditions with factors that can compromise health status like poor shelter, lack of good sanitation and clean water with limited health care. The World Health Organization (WHO) and UNICEF stated that 88% of deaths are attributed to unsafe water, inadequate sanitation and poor hygiene.

Diarrhea kills about 1.5 million children in developing world and 200,000 Nigerian children yearly. The poor are often exposed to hazardous working conditions like neighbourhood violence, pollution, and stressful jobs

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Vanguard, FEBRUARY 8, 2015, PAGE 49

CONVERSATION: FEBRUARY 14 EXPLODES

‘Blame my death on Attahiru Jega’ •Explains conspiracy in INEC •Decries North/South dichotomy •Wants Nigerians to be sincere in all they do

BY JIDE AJANI n this animated interview, I we present February 14, 2015, with some tough questions. This was first done sometime in 2013 when we presented 2015 as an angry guest.

Today, with the hoopla generated by the argument on both sides whether or not to kill February 14, we present thoughts that will add a fresh perspective to the entire debate.

You must feel like a star - everyone is talking about you?

Yes o. It’s fun being the centre of attraction. More importantly, I told you I would come and, when I come, it would be with a bang, a big bang. We spoke in 2013 and you raised quite a number of concerns. Some of the concerns were real, some were misplaced.

Misplaced? Which of the fears were misplaced? Can you imagine the overheated polity that we have today?

Yes, the polity may have been overheated but if you remember two years ago, I warned about the attitude of the Nigerian politician. Rather than disappoint the critics, they have even raised the bar to very ridiculous yet dangerous levels that I never even imagined.

Even I, the sole personae, cannot believe what these charlatans and silly people are doing in my name. They predicted doom for your country by 2015 and everything the politicians are doing is to work hard for the actualization of that doomsday. You Nigerians are just a bunch of impossible people.

Okay, now that you’re upon us, you’re here with us, let’s pick the issues one by one. First, the National Council of State said INEC should go

and make up its mind about you?

Which National Council of State?

Which State? You Nigerians are a very funny bunch. Good thing you asked but let me educate you.

Nigeria has 36 states; add the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Abuja, to make it 37. Of that 37, 20 are from the North while 17 are from the South. That cannot be described as a fair arrangement.

Secondly, there are past Presidents who are members. Count them: Yakubu Gowon, Shehu Shagari, Muhammadu Buhari, Ibrahim Babangida, Ernest Shonekan, Abdulsalami Abubakar, Olusegun Obasanjo. Of these seven, five are northerners and had Abacha been simply overthrown and not died, he would be sitting there with them – mind you, Obasanjo did not attend.

Then, add the former Chief Justices who are all from the North.

So, whoever designed the Constitution that allocated the membership of that contraption, called National Council of State, took the people of the South as fools. If anybody was expecting anything meaningful or sensibly unbiased from that body, the person must be a total idiot. Forget that joke. Lest I forget, the APC governors have been boycotting its meetings and Buhari, the presidential candidate of the APC, only attended last Thursday after a very long while.

So, having laid that premise, what were you going to ask about the Council of State?

I was going to relate the question to the premise you laid but, honestly, it would have been tangential because I wouldn’t have brought that broad, analytical perspective to the matter.

But wait, how come the North is always holding the ace?

Ask those who allow the North to

•Attahiru Jega always hold the ace.

Do you think Papa Obafemi Awolowo, a man who did not focus on aggrandizement as the self-styled champion in the South West focuses today, a man who refused to join forces with the North, you think he was a fool?

Those who have joined forces with the North now, especially because of the current mess that Jonathan has created, would realize in the fullness of time how unthinking the move is.

Let me tell you the truth, the type of resistance put forward by the National Democratic Coalition, NADECO, is what makes a nation strong. But then a certain Matthew Okikiolakan Aremu Olusegun Obasanjo, a very selfish individual as packaged for the Yoruba people of South West by these same northerners and foisted on the nation to be head of state, has put a wonderful definition to the phrase, ‘evil machination’. The question is, whose interest did Obasanjo serve from 1999 to 2007? Remember the man wanted to be life President. It is only in a country of morous like Nigeria that such a selfish elder

That would be Jega’s problem.

It would mean that Jega cannot be trusted. If I die, blame Jega.

Jega gave me life when he announced my coming

would still be relevant; a man who cannot even run his family – what with the public insults poured on him by his children.

Now, by twist of fate, Goodluck Jonathan, who is described serially as clueless, became President but turned out to be an ineffective leader, thereby allowing so many untoward things to pass. That is what has brought your country, Nigeria, to this sorry pass.

When you say ineffective leader, give instances?

The cheapest happened just two weeks ago. John Kerry visited Nigeria and your President came all the way from Abuja to Lagos to meet him. Was it that Jonathan was in Lagos and, for convenience, the meeting had to hold in Lagos? Can you imagine Kerry visiting France and holding a meeting with Hollande in Nice and not Paris? Worse still, the man threatened Nigeria not with serious sanctions but simply visa denial. Is that how cheap Nigeria

Continues on page 50

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Vanguard, FEBRUARY 8, 2015

‘Blame my death on Jega’ Continued from page 49 has become? And we all kept quiet!

This same international community pushed them in Syria; what has become of Syria today? Look at Ukraine! It was this same so-called international community that kept pushing them and giving them all the assurances that it would back the opposition; but look at how Donetsk and Luhansk have been destroyed by Russian-backed rebels and now America is just talking about sending military assistance. Look at what has become of Libya. Yes, they appear to mean well when they try to guide us to do what is right but when the chips are down they move on or look the other way.

Secondly, look at the issue of the Chibok abductions!

You want me to continue? Look at his wife! The measure of the strength of a man starts with how well he puts his wife on a leash – yes, a leash! But from what the naked eyes can see, you people have a collegiate presidency (husband and wife) – and in some cases it appears the wife overrules the husband.

Whether it was inappropriate verbalization or a warped reasoning, how can the President of a country open his mouth and say ‘ordinary stealing, they call it corruption?.

Pray, if stealing is not corruption,

what is corruption?

Now let’s come back to you.

I am not done! What I expect you to ask next is the man being proposed as the alternative.

Okay! What about General Muhammadu Buhari?

Please pronounce that name again – General who?

General Muhammadu Buhari (rtd)?

Good! You did not call him Mohammed Buhari – that was the name on the certificate that was eventually produced, but which is alleged to be a forgery. Look at the indecency with which the so- called opposition has gone about its campaign and you people clown about, claiming you want a free and fair election. This election is already flawed because an illegitimate candidate is seeking the highest office in the land. It is even all the more indecent when you have a crop of young men, state governors at that, queuing behind what is obviously a flawed process.

I am not going to parade the silliness of the Jonathan campaign but I am going to base my analysis on facts.

First, look at the form he filled and submitted to INEC: The only

organisation to which he claims to belong and of which he is the African President, Pastoral Association of Africa – these are the Fulani herdsmen who have been on the rampage for a while.

And since 2003, Nigeria has treated Muhammadu Buhari as a special candidate, never submitting any personal document apart from a court affidavit. But now, INEC’s form specifically requested that documents be attached, he did not.

When asked, he disdainfully said Nigerians should go and ask the military authorities. What arrogance!

When the military said they didn’t have it, he unashamedly came out to say something like ‘I did not want to address the matter but for associates and friends who prevailed on me to do so’. That is a man who is not yet your President. He then said Nigerians should wait for his school to publish the result. And when the result was published, it was not the result of Muhammadu Buhari but that of one Mohammed Buhari. You people are not being careful and thorough. Did you take note of what the General said three weeks ago, that his document was with INEC’s legal adviser? When did his document suddenly reach INEC? It was common knowledge that he never submitted anything. Was it submitted within the stipulated time

Ask those who allow the North to always hold the ace.

Do you think Papa Obafemi Awolowo, a man who did not focus on aggrandizement as the selfstyled champion in the South West focuses today, a man who refused to join forces with the North, you think he was a fool!

as permitted by law? If it had been one Chukwuebuka or an Alagbe who behaved like that, what do you think the North would do?

But you know that a time will come when such incongruities would come up in the future and Nigerians would simply tell the Yoruba people of South West to go and sit somewhere and shut up.

What point am I making here?

When we have a law or a process, let it work for all times; let us not bend it because it serves our interest today. Nothing lasts forever.

With what INEC tried to do under Jonathan regarding the 30,000 Polling Units, what do you think the Commission will do when you have a northerner as President - especially a Buhari who, even without being President, treats Nigerians disdainfully?

You touched on a fine point, the 30,000 Polling Units, PUs? Yes, what about it?

Is it conceivable that Attahiru Jega, our Mr. Integrity at INEC, actually meant to use that allocation to pursue a northern Continues on page 51

SUND AY SUNDA

Vanguard, FEBRUARY 8, 2015, PAGE 51

Continued from page 50

didn’t they pick a broad-minded Atiku Abubakar as the candidate; or a young Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso or even Nda-Isaiah, the publisher of Leadership?

That is where Tinubu comes in.

The thinking is that a Yoruba deputy to a Buhari comes with the tantalizing prospect, though morbid scenario of a Yar’Adua/ Jonathan. It is about having access to the centre. God forbid but even if that happens, what do you think the North will do? Sit and watch? How did Buhari emerge as APC candidate? It was the votes largely from the southern states and not from the North.

That is the Tinubu agenda within an agenda. Fayose must have been on something when he caused that morbid advert to be published. That was wrong. But those who worked to ensure that Buhari becomes their candidate know why they did what they did.

agenda?

Capital YES! You people have been hurled into what Lagos people call ONE CHANCE. The children and grand children of today’s champion will never forgive him when all the mess being created comes full circle.

Referring to Tinubu! How do you mean? He’s not related to Jega neither are they on the same page? Even Tinubu has had cause to accuse Jega of working with the PDP government in Abuja? (laughter, loud laughter) The North is decades ahead of you people in the South.

Let me educate you and please fault me if you think I’m wrong or if you think I’m exaggerating.

I will connect Tinubu to the North and to Jega for the right or wrong reasons.

Firstly, Jega said he wanted to delimit constituencies. He was advised against it but INEC still commenced the project before it finally dropped it. Before then, and you must give it to Jega, INEC planned to clean the voter register but, in carrying out the exercise, goats, sheep, cows and crawling insects that had been allocated voting rights in the North were removed, leaving the region with far less voting population contrary to what it had always claimed. What to do?

They came up with a very clever idea of allocating PUs. The excuse for that, genuine as it appeared, was that people in the North and a few other parts of the country needed to be closer to the PU for ease of voting. But in doing that, Jega and some northern elements in INEC allocated over 21,000 to the North and gave just a little over 8,000 to the entire South. Worse still, of the 12 states that got over,1,000 PUs each, Lagos State is the only state in the South. Some of the states in the North with the over 1,000 PUs each were not deserving, these were mere phantom allocations. The idea was to slice off the 1,000 across those 11 southern states and when you have not more than 500 persons per PU, that comes to 500,000 per state – multiply that by 11 states, you end up with 5.5million. Now, add that figure to any presidential candidate’s votes and the lead will be unassailable.

That was the ultimate agenda of lopsidedly allocating 30,000 PUs in the manner Jega’s INEC did.

But how does this concern Tinubu or the South West wing of APC? Good question. Consider that this fraud was exposed by your newspaper before it was finally dropped. Consider that even as the conservative North, which is behind the agenda, knows that it

‘Blame my death on Jega’ So, whoever designed the Constitution that allocated the membership of that contraption called National Council of State, took the people of the South as fools. If anybody was expecting anything meaningful or sensibly unbiased from that body, the person must be a total idiot

was in alliance with Tinubu’s South West, they still went ahead to deprive the South West enough PUs because in future, had that exercise not been stopped, the North may no longer necessarily need any alliance with the South West to win a presidential election. Consider that the real logic of PU creation and allocation was supposed to start with Registration Areas which, in turn, determines PU allocation. Consider, also, that one Dr. Lisa Handley, renowned consultant on delimitation, advised that INEC required a minimum of three years inbetween general elections to commence and conclude a review including managing the challenges and securing National Assembly approval. Consider that for the delimitation, whatever you do would require Senate approval; just as the Ward Review and then the creation of PUs. The two lead to PU creation. Consider, also, that Jega only claimed to have abandoned the Delimitation and Ward Review exercise in its bulletin of August 20, 2014.

So, why prepare an answer in the mold of PUs when the Delimitation and Ward Review exercise were yet to be done?

That could have been part of a grand plan to influence the coming census exercise. Jega’s planned Delimitation and Ward reviews were to be based on the unreliable 2006 census figures.

Worse still, what was his hurry when just next year fresh census would be conducted?

If Tinubu and his people cannot see through the grand design of the North, that is their problem.

Once the North gets what it wants, it may not even need South West in 2019.

No! Haba, that analysis is too cynical and wicked? Tinubu and Buhari have very strong bond of partnership in this APC thing?

Wicked? You people in the South are shallow – very, very shallow.

Tie what I have just explained now, to the Council of State lopsidedness. The head of state that gave you that Constitution is from the North. Do you think the National Conference report would be attended to again should a northerner become President?

Considering the lopsided nature of the Senate and House of Representatives, how many amendments do you think would be done under a northern President!

Let me tell you, don’t be surprised if, for instance, a Buhari becomes President and the APC Chairman or some of the leaders cannot access their President again.

You are an irredentist; a jingoist! You cannot go on and on labeling a section of the country…

(Cuts in) Truth is bitter. If the APC leaders were sincere, why

But some people are bent on dumping you?

Dumping me how?

As in, that they want to kill you; they want to cancel you and settle for another?

I have come to stay. They cannot succeed. I am February 14, Valentine’s Day, election day.

What if INEC doesn’t provide you with your life-line drugs and food in the form of all the materials you need to function?

That would be Jega’s problem.

It would mean that Jega cannot be trusted. If I die, blame Jega.

Jega gave me life when he announced my coming but he, in some cases, inadvertently allowed distraction and, in other instances, should be held responsible for pandering to his northern base.

That is why I am shouting loud that if I die or if I’m allowed to be killed, please blame Jega, hold Jega responsible. I will not say more than that.

Okay, talk to Nigerians?

It is high time you people understand what these politicians use you. They bring their problems to your doorstep and ask you to fight their battles.

They will settle and move on.

Didn’t a party leader dump his presidential candidate and urged his people to vote for Jonathan?

Do you know what happened?

What about this problem of PVC? Don’t mind Jega. The problems confronting Jega are more than the problem of PVC. Although he will not admit, he has more internal problems at INEC than that of PVC. * This conversation was prepared before INEC meeting of yesterday.

PAGE 52 — SUNDAY VANGUARD, FEBRUARY 8, 2015

LAGOS GUBER:

Why I parted ways with Tinubu – Jimi Agbaje •Says he is in contest to win •The reason some Fashola’s programmes must go’

BY OLAYINKA AJAYI

PDP gubernatorial candidate in Lagos State, Mr Jimi Agbaje, in this interview, speaks on his aspiration.

Y

our emergence as the governorship candidate of your party was enmeshed in controversy. What effort did Chief Bode George contribute to your emergence?

If you remember, I ran for the governorship of Lagos State in 2007 on the platform of the DPA. That 2007 campaign generated significant goodwill and I retained interest in running for the office a second time.

This time however I decided to use a stronger platform and engaged with ALL the leaders of PDP in Lagos State, including Chief Bode George, Chief Ogunlewe, the state Chairman, Captain Shelle, Rahman Owokoniran, who is now my campaign DG, Mrs Aduke Maina, Bode Oyedele, even Senator Obanikoro and many other leaders of the party. Most, indeed nearly all of the leaders were amenable to my candidacy and supported me in the primary election. Chief Bode George, of course, is one of the leaders and he supported us too, just like most of the other leaders.

Governor Raji Fashola has taunted you as being too old to govern the state. What is your reaction?

I think most Nigerians and Lagosians have answered the governor appropriately on that issue. If you look at his party’s governors in several states, some of whom are seeking re-election, they are my age-mates and some are my seniors. Their party is in fact presenting a man who is about 15 years older than me for the presidency. I am healthy, virile, agile and certainly very well preparedmentally, intellectually, politically, policy and administration-wise and in any other way for the governorship of Lagos State.

You have gone round the 20 local governments holding townhall meetings in the state. What has been your message and how has the reception been?

•Jimi Agbaje The reception has been fantastic and certainly very encouraging. We decided to go to town halls to engage directly with our people before commencing our rallies. The town hall meetings are a very good opportunity to listen to the people, to feel their pains, to hear their complaints and suggestions and also to deliver our message of hope, shelter, tr ust and a government focused on the needs of the people to them.

The reception has been very good and we think it has been a very worthwhile exercise.

The bad blood generated in

The Buhari edge over Jonathan - Prof. Adeyeye

BY GBENGA OLARINOYE Senator Olusola Adeyeye, a professor, represents Osun Central in the Senate on the platform of the All Progressives Congress, APC. He speaks on some national issues. Excerpts:

A

former governor of the Central Bank of Nige ria, CBN, Charles Soludo recently accused President Goodluck Jonathan administration of mismanagement of N3trillion. What is your reaction?

My reaction to it should be the reaction of every Nigerian patriot, we should all be embarrassed, we should all be scandalised, we should all feel great pain in the fact that our nation has been administered in a way as if government is nothing. But nobody is really sure how much accrued to the treasury of Nigeria, the figures you get at the Ministry of Finance are different from what you get from the Accountant General of the Federation, they are different from what you get from the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, different from the Ministry of Economic Planning, different from the Central Bank of Nigeria and NNPC. So, it seems

as if the whole nation rolls in an endless circle of abracadabra; the more you look, the less you see and nobody knows what is actually going on. But one thing is certain, every Nigerian knows that the nation is not being run properly; we pray to God that we may have serious minded people at the helm of the nation’s affairs this year.

Febuary 14 is around the corner. What are those qualities that you think are the selling point for Buhari?

Every Nigerian knows that this is a disciplined man, every Nigerian knows that this is a man that is not corrupt, this is the only Head of State in the history of Nigeria who has refused to receive even his own so called legitimate income because of the conviction that that income has been set so corruptily and so undesirably that it is nothing but mere looting of the national treasury. This is the only Head of State who, has said ‘I dont have an account anywhere outside Nigeria’ and this was the only candidate who while seeking the primary endorsement of his party members, told convention participants that he will not offer any money; be it in naira or dollar, but what he will promise

This is the only Head of State in the history of Nigeria who has refused to receive even his own so called legitimate income because of the conviction that that income has been set so corruptily was good government. For too long, we have tried to give this man bad names, so we could hang him but it is obvious that the God of history has been marching on his side and, right now, Nigeria has come to a stage where Nigerians are saying ‘ we dont care if you are Fulani or Hausa or what have you’, they want a competent, serious mind to take charge of Nigeria and I am convinced that that man is Buhari because of his discipline and patriotism and his can do

your party by your emergence as the PDP candidate created so much apprehension about your party ’s chances. Can we know the inside story of the mending of fences that resulted in the current unity of purpose in the party?

There is really no bad blood.

It is to be expected in a democratic political system that some people may be unhappy about the outcome of party electoral processes. We have certainly put all that behind us now and we are all Continues on page 53

a master’s degree. So what much do they want? This man gave Nigeria the best disciplined government it has ever had, sure, because of the character of the military government made him did some things which, in a democratic setting, may be considered as excessive but you can not compare how a man will rule under a military regime with how he will rule under a democratic setting where there are checks and balances. The Buhari regime gave Nigeria a sense of direction and Nigerians are crying for that again.

Senator Olusola Adeyeye spirit that things ought to be done differently from how it is being done.

What about the certificate saga hanging on his neck?

I dont see any scandal. Listen, I am a Ph.D holder. I went to Ilesa Grammar School, of all the boys who passed out of Obokun High School in 1963, I can give glory to God that when my School Certificate result came out, I had the best result but guess what? I dont know where my School Certificate result is and I don’t care because my life experiences and my subsequent education makes my School Certificate totally irrelevant. I went to University of Georgia where I got the award as the best Ph.D student of my department and I have a plaque to show for it. It is no secret that this man went to a military academy and senior officers’ course adjudged internationally as equivalent to

Why do you think Buhari is running away to face GEJ in an open debate?

If I were Buhari, I won’t dignify Jonathan by engaging him in debate and the reason is simple.

On every serious matter, this man(Jonathan) has told the country nothing but endless lies.

Has he told this country what happened to the N100billion pension fund?

This is the only country where a Level 14 officer will be guarded by 29 policemen and where when he was asked to come to the National Assembly to answer questions how he mismanaged the fund of the nation he was allowed to escape.

Has Jonathan ever told this country what happened to two full loads of helicopters carrying nothing but foreign currencies arrested outside our border and traced to this country and surrounded himself with jokers who called themselves pastors, men who professed God but knew nothing about God. Has he told this country what happened to the 49billion dollars that Sanusi said was missing, though they went to deny that it was 30billion naira, then 20billion, the thing just keep changing.

SUNDAY VANGUARD, FEBRUARY 8, 2015, PAGE 53

'The reason some Fashola’s programmes must go’ Continued from page 52 united by the imperative of reclaiming the freedom of our people in Lagos State.

Senator Musiliu Obanikoro is fully behind our campaign and we are all working together, along with all other leaders of the party.

It has also been said that you are sitting on a tripod of god fathers, considering the powers believed to have been responsible for your emergence. What do you make of that?

I said categorically in an interrraction with the media and I repeat today-I have no, absolutely no godfather or godfathers. When I ran on DPA platform, who was my godfather? The reason they rejected our candidacy in the other party is because they knew we were not the kind of person that would accept to be a puppet or stooge for their designs. Acting under the commands and manipulation of a godfather is contrary to

I will work with the members and leaders of the party and indeed the generality of the citizens of Lagos to govern Lagos responsibly and in the interest of our people, and not for the benefit of any godfather my personal inclinations and they know that. I proved that in 2007 . I have no godfather.

I will work with the members and leaders of the party and indeed the generality of the citizens of Lagos to govern Lagos responsibly and in the interest of our people, and not for the benefit of any

godfather. Lagosians actually know on what side of the divide they should be worried about godfathers and god sons or puppeteers and puppets!

You have said that if elected governor, you will retain 37 LCDAs in the state. Don’t you think doing that would contravene your party ’s stance on the matter?

It doesn’t. Our position today is that we have moved on, on the issue of 57 LGAs/ LCDAs. I certainly would retain the 37 LCDAS. In fact even our party structure recognises those LCDAs. Your proposed reversal of some policy actions of the APC administration has come under criticisms, from those who argued that you are not bringing anything new to the table.

Yes I insist and reconfirm that there are some things that need to be reversed! I certainly would not collect toll on the Lagos-Epe Expressway which is no longer a PPP project as the

state government has already bought out the interest of the private investors (for N30 billion more than the original amount even though the road was not completed!). The road was a pre-existing road, initially built with state resources and it is unfair to ask people to pay tolls to get to their homes and communities.

You said recently that PDP remains your last bus stop, what would you do if the governorship election goes the other way?

I am in this contest to win, and I believe that we will prevail.

I am not countenancing the prospect of not winning.

You have been accused of being a mole for Asiwaju Bola Tinubu in the PDP. How true is this?

Of course that is absolutely without basis, and illogical!

There can be no logical basis for any such hypothesis. I am not, and can never be a mole for anyone, certainly not for Bola Tinubu.

Also, when and why did you fall apart with Tinubu?

I think it is normal in politics

Federal might, incumbency factor will crash in Oyo – Ladoja

BY BASHIR ADEFAKA

O

yo is a state where many formidable power brokers are contesting in the next month governorship election. There is Teslim Folarin of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, whose source of strength is the federal might. There is the All Progressives Congress, APC’s Ishaq Abiola Ajimobi, who banks on the power of incumbency.

And, of course, there is Christopher Adebayo AlaoAkala, who still believes that the influence he wielded when he was governor of the Pace-setter State is intact to catapult him back to Agodi Government House.

All these combined, Ladoja, another major contender at the election, speaking to Sunday Vanguard in his Bodija, Ibadan home on the eve of his 2015 campaign launch, dismissed as not enough to stop him from returning to the office he once occupied. Ladoja said he was not only capable of winning the February 28 governorship election but also that the national and state assemblies elections, scheduled for the 14th and 28th respectively, would be in favour of the Accord Party.

Hate or love him, one thing that cannot be taken from Ladoja is his simple and humble lifestyle which has won him loyalists. It is so that over seven years after he left office, the former governor has never for once walked alone,

so much so that the party he prepared for general elections in 2011, under three months, not only earned him four members of the House of Representatives but also seven state legislators one of whom emerged deputy speaker. Also in his party today is one of the two senators of the Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN. Based on projections, Ladoja may be the first governor to be elected two times into office.

On the day of the launch of his party’s campaign in Oyo, the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Olayiwola Adeyemi III, who was on his way out of the ancient kingdom, met him on the outskirts; the convoys of both leaders stopped and the monarch, who wound down the tinted glass of his SUV, gave a thumb signal resembling the Accord logo meaning that, although the Alaafin has a son of his as a contestant on the platform of the All Progressives Congress, APC, as a traditional ruler, his role is to ensure amicability among the parties in the electoral race.”

That explained why in opening his speech at the Durban Stadium at the campaign launch, Ladoja, the seventh in rank to the Olubadan of Ibadan (Ashipa) said, “We would not be here if our father, kabiyesi, Alaafin, did not allow us. When we had the call to contest, we came to the Alaafin to seek his blessing, He asked us to go for it and that the

Oranmiyan would support us and that he the Iku Baba Yeye would bless us. So we did to other leading traditional rulers in Oyo State including the Olubadan of Ibadan, the Soun of Ogbomoso, the Aseyin of Iseyin.

They all backed us and so here we are.

The Friday before, upon the arrival of this reporter, Ladoja, who had consented to an interview meeting, receiving his guest, said, “We have just finished eating. So, you come and eat your own food before any other thing.” The journalist had walked through a long queue of people either waiting to see or take instruction from the former and “hopefully” incoming governor, sensing that meeting with Ladoja in that busy situation would be hectic. It was not only possible but the simplicity and humility of the man, fondly called “Agbe” (meaning, farmer by virtue of his dressing), also showed when he opted to speak with us in an interview session that lasted 28 minutes.

What will be done different from Ajimobi’s Ladoja kick-started the session: “The people of Oyo will be our focal point. Good governance means reaching the people. We intend making infrastructures for the use of the people. We will encourage our people to be productive by making opportunities available to them to earn a living. We will not

• Ladoja distort their means of livelihood as the present administration is doing. We will continue from where we stopped on education that earned the state university the best state university in Nigeria.

“We will make policies that will ensure that our primary and secondary school students are taught and not lectured. We will create a conducive working environment for our teachers in order to motivate them to work.

When you have the best teachers and the teaching environment is unruly, nothing good can be achieved. When you visit some of our schools, many students are without furniture. Do we expect our teachers to provide this too?

The morale of our teachers is low as many do not get their salaries.

During my last tenure, workers got their salaries latest 25th of the month even earlier when there was a major festival.

“But now I learned that many civil servants in Oyo were not paid their December salaries. My administration will provide incentives for all workers. Our slogan has always been, “Ladoja

for individual perceptions and interests to diverge. Bola Tinubu is not my enemy, but we are also not as close as we used to be. But I think that is the nature of politics. I think some politicians often get to a point where they want only subservient people around them. I don’t believe in that type of politics. I view politics as a sacrifice and service and I view it as the most honourable of vocations. I believe politics should actually be about truth, integrity and service.

APC seems to have outspent you in terms of campaign funding as the party ’s candidate is visible in all parts of the state through adverts, posters and billboards. Are you having a funding challenge and is this not a threat to your aspiration?

No one expects us to match APC in terms of spending!

They have ruled over Lagos for 16 years and some people have described this election as somebody’s attempt to have a fifth term! They have access to all the resources of Lagos State! Our campaign is resonating in the hearts and minds, the homes and communities across the state and, in spite of the noise and posters, we believe our campaign is gaining traction where it matters and I am convinced that we will prevail.

de, idera de” (meaning, Ladoja has come, comfort has come). We will bring comfort to the people of Oyo State”.

Asked what level of voting awareness and englightment he had done to ensure that invalid votes were not recorded against his party this time, he gave the idea of “tes’oju e”.

“All hands have been on deck regarding this. We have informed our people to “tesi oju e,” meaning, ‘put it on the box face.’

The last time we educated our people to put their votes inside the box at the right side. But, unfortunately, the box for Accord Party during the election was placed at the left. This confused many of our people. They cast their votes to a party with no candidate and that made their votes invalid.

“This will not happen this time as the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has told us that our people can thumb-print on the face of their party’s symbol and will remain valid, as long as the vote does not go and enter another box.”

‘Return of Ladoja is imminent’ “We have not lost focus. Many people of Oyo State still have nostalgia for our administration and our coming back to power is imminent. Our acceptability is high among the electorate and I know if we are to go to the poll today, Accord Party will have the largest votes of the people. Be that as it may, we have not relented. I will be visiting all the 151 wards in the state in the next two weeks to educate the electorate on how to exercise their votes, while another team will be doing a house-to-house campaign to mobilize more people. We are on top of our game.”

PAGE 54 — SUNDAY VANGUARD, FEBRUARY 8, 2015

POLLS: PDP sees Buhari as a threat—Igbokwe

BY DAPO AKINREFON

E

NGINEER Joe Igbokwe is the Lagos State Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC). In this interview, he expresses optimism that the party’s presidential candidate, Maj-Gen Muhammudu Buhari (rtd), will defeat the incumbent at the polls. He also bares his mind on INEC’s preparation for the general elections among other issues. Excerpts: What is your assessment of the campaigns so far?

Campaigns have been going on across the country but I regret to say that we are dodging the issues. We are leaving out the burning issues to dwell on personalities and this is where we are not getting it right. Desperation and fear have so gripped the ruling party that they now play dirty.

In the Presidential Campaigns, the APC Candidate, General Buhari has been a problem for PDP. The Buhari of 2003, 2007 and 2011 has turned to a political giant, a volcano, a bulldozer, an avatar, a caterpillar and a massive movement in 2015. A man who contested elections in 2003, 2007 and 2011 is being accused of not having a certificate in 2015 because the man has moved from the back seat to the Driver’s seat.

They talk about his certificate, his age, his health, his family, his religion, his wife, his culture etc.

The corrupt and desperate politicians and subsidy scammers are worried to the bones. The fear of Buhari is now the beginning of wisdom. They know that a president Buhari will not accept corruption as a way of life again. They know that he will plug the loop holes in the systems. They know that the people that ruined Nigeria will be brought to book. They are moving their families and wealth abroad because Buhari is coming and he is coming on strong. I fear for those who think it is going to be business as usual. All things considered, President Jonathan has lost this election the day Buhari was picked as a candidate of APC in Lagos.

From all permutations, calculations and analysis the game has been won and lost at the first ballot. I pity anybody who will not be wise enough to know that the market is over.

There is finger of God in all this. Did anybody remember that Buhari cried in 2011 for Nigeria? God saw that genuine tears and decided to pave way for him to help in fixing the land. Buhari’s coming in 2015 is a prayer answered. In Lagos, the campaigns are all about continuity of intelligent leadership, committed leadership and disciplined leadership. In Lagos, it is experience versus inexperience. It is Ambode’s 27 years experience and retired as accountant general in Lagos state versus Jimi

INEC should have the capacity in the 21stcentury to deploy the technology that is available to get things done.

Excuses are no longer acceptable

Joe Igbokwe Agbaje, a drug seller in a small shop in Apapa. It is capacity versus incapacity. It is capability versus incapability.

What are the issues that will shape the Presidential election and the Governorship election in Lagos?

At the Presidential level we expect that Nigerians will think about the very important issues of national security.

Nigerians will ask questions about the Chibok girls and our stolen territories by Boko Haram. Nigerians will ask questions about the power sector and why it has not worked after investing billions of dollars in 16 years.

Nigerians will ask questions about the abuse of law enforcement agencies etc. In Lagos, Lagosians will look at

the last 16 years of AC, ACN and APC governance. They have seen the transformation from what former President Obasanjo called a slum to a modern and cleanest city in Nigeria.

Lagosians have seen how the lives and property were secured through committed and effective leadership. They have seen their Lagos has been made a world destination in 16 years. They have seen their Lagos competing with great cities of the world.

They have seen their Lagos setting the pace for other states in Nigeria to copy. I can go on and on. The choice is there for Nigerians to make.

There is no meeting between light and darkness, between performance and non performance between littleminded elements and great

minds.

How can the votes count?

Votes must count if we want to help this country to grow.

If you rig a meretricious mediocrity into an exalted of the President or Governor, the people will suffer for four or eight years. This is the reason why our democratic institutions must help the system to work. When these kinds of people are elected to positions they do not merit, they convert the huge offices to become family assets. The Police, Army, Navy, Airforce SSS or DSS, Civil Defence, NYSC, Customs, etc must allow our democracy to work.

They must make our votes to count this time around.

Why are people not collecting their voter’s cards?

Some people are not collecting the PVCs because INEC did not get it right from the onset. You can’t plant cassava and hope to harvest yam. Whatever you sow, you will reap.

I have been told that the only way a small army can defeat a huge army is probably because the small army had a better training, well equipped, well organized and possibly led by a gallant general. If INEC had been better organized and prepared like we have seen in other climes like India, collecting PVCs would not have been an issue. People and institutions fail because they fail to plan.

Our mandate is to secure victory for Okowa, GEJ — Hon. Nwoko

BY HUGO ODIOGOR

P

rince Ned Nwoko is Del ta State Co-coordinator of the Transformation Ambassadors of Nigeria (TAN), a group mobilizing support for the re-election of President Goodluck Jonathan in the February 14 election.

In this interview with the a for mer legislator, Nwok o says TAN’s mandate in Delta is to promote the candidacy of Jonathan and the PDP governorship flag bear er, Senator Ifeanyi Arthur Okowa, in the elections. Excerpts: Can you give an insight into the visit of Delta State governorship candidate, Ifeanyi Arthur Okowa, to your country home?

The visit was a positive step on the part of Dr. Okowa who is the candidate of PDP in the February 28 election. First, the visit was a condolence visit which was occasioned by the unfortunate death of my 22 years old so, Tarik who was studying law in London. He died in the early hours of December 8, 2014, which was the date of the PDP primary election in Asaba.

Virtually, all the political leaders in Delta North were involved in the process of en-

Prince Ned Nwoko suring that the PDP governorship ticket came to Delta North and it was not going to be an easy task since we had 18 contestants from Delta North. When Dr. Emmanuel Eweta Uduaghan withdrew his support for Sir Tony Obuh, it was a major blow to our hopes of getting the ticket.

Of course, I have argued that if the governor was backing any of the aspirants from Delta North, that gives us a brighter chances of realizing our aspiration and as such we should not join the other zones to oppose the governor but support him to achieve our collective interest because the other zones will welcome such support from an incumbent governor So, it was a rude shock

when I heard of the governor ’s withdrawal of support for Sir Tony Obuh on December 6 and he went ahead to endorse Olorogun David Edevbie, from Delta Central which had been there for ten years.

Naturally, Delta North political leaders had to quickly assess the danger and think of how to avert the shame of failing to get the ticket. This was made difficult by the fact that none of the aspirant from Delta North was ready to step down. I had reached out to several political leaders in Delta North and we held series of meeting on that fateful Sunday, December 7, 2014, to harmonize our ideas of who has the best prospects of being accepted by Delta South and Delta North. Dr. Okowa was highly favoured and we had to dispatch messages across the broad spectrum that Dr. Okowa should be supported.

Unfortunately, I was not around to see how the drama played out as the news of my son’s death was relayed to me in the early hours of Monday, December 8, 2014, so it seems logical that Dr. Okowa should come on a condolence visit.

This seems to be your first meeting since both of you contested the Delta North sen-

atorial election in 2011 We have met in the court premises and the atmosphere was not cordial, this actually is his first visit to my country home, there was a kind of reconciliation and alignment of interest since he is a governorship candidate from Anioma area and a I am a member of PDP, I should be supporting him with the platform of TAN. The visit provided us the opportunity to think of how TAN and the Okowa Campaign Organisation could work to ensure massive support for both the President, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan and Dr. Okowa in the Governorship election.

What is the role of TAN in the forthcoming elections and its activities in the Okowa campaign We have launched the Delta State chapter of TAN, we have appointed co-coordinators in various local government areas in the state and they are mobilizing at ward levels. We have some initial challenges but all these are receiving attention. The National coordinator of TAN has come to Delta State to inaugurate TAN here. We have followed Dr.Okowa’s campaign since the flag off cam-

paign at Oghara township stadium; there was massive turn out of party supporters and even members of the opposition party who were curious to know what was happening. The same massive support was repeated at Koko in Warri North Local Government . From Okpe Local Government to Sapele, AkwukwuIgbo, Isele-Uku,Aboh. Okowa the story has been that of massive turn out.

What is the key emphasis of TAN’s contribution in these respects?

First we are highlighting what the administration of President Goodluck Jonathan has done in education, power, agriculture, transport, Road construction, Auto industry. We are also highlighting the inconsistencies in the campaign of the opposition.

On the part of Dr. Okowa we are presenting his Pan-Delta vision of a united and prosperous Delta State.

Dr. Okowa is a unifying candidate who has shunned ethnic divisions, he has equally outlined in his message in a five point agenda, which he has promised on the need to accelerate the work on the Warri industrial park as a step towards job creation and promotion of economic development. He has a promised to

SUNDAY VANGUARD, FEBRUARY 8, 2015, PAGE 55

What O'tega will do for Delta —Dafinone C

hief Ede Dafinone, the scion of the famous Dafinone family, engaged a team of journalists in his Sapele residence. Below are excerpts of the interview: As a chieftain of the APC and a former senatorial aspirant of DPP you are familiar with the Delta State political terrain. What is in the stable of APC that is different from what we have been having?

The APC is coming on the platform of change. In the old Bendel State we were all proud to be called Bendelites. We were first in everything; in sports, education, agriculture, insurance, commerce, Banking and Industry, just name it. I was lucky to be a product of that successful era. Today, all that has been eroded.

Deltans are yearning for a change and an APC government is poised to redeem the lost pride of Delta State through the restoration of Agriculture as the mainstay of our economy.

We would restore commerce, revitalize viable industries that have become moribund and build new ones that would substantially improve the lot of Deltans through creation of jobs and job opportunities.

Delta State is a multi-ethnic, multilingual state with varying interests and needs. How does the APC intend to unify all the ethnic nationalities in the State?.

There is unity in diversity but the way this state has been governed by PDP since the inception of our democracy leaves much to be desired. Delta State is now fractured along ethnic lines and I dare say that this is

not the Delta State of our dream. When resources are not properly distributed among ethnic stakeholders what do you expect? Inter-ethnic squabbles of course.

The APC government intends to restructure resource allocation and distribution in such a way that every local Government will have sufficient funds to carry out grassroots development. If this is properly done all these inter-ethnic bickerings will stop. Delta State would then become united again.

O’tega Emerhor will run an all inclusive government if elected governor. He will take care of the interest of all marginalized tribes and all the various interest groups, including professional bodies and artisans, civil society groups, students and women society groups.

If you recall the furor that followed the nomination of a Deputy Governorship under the PDP and the extent of marginalization cries that ensued, you will understand how badly the PDP has fared in managing the affairs of the State.

Compare it to the primaries of the APC and the adoption of the Deputy Governorship Candidate you will see it was noiseless, free of bickering and crises and very well organized.

We have been reading in the papers of many advertorials by the Ndokwa people, Itsekiri and Isokos that they would vote for APC in the February 28th Governorship election. Are you elated by this?

I also read some of these advertorials

•Chief Ede Dafinone

and I actually feel their pain and their frustration . The APC is reaching out to the Ndokwa people, and as you know, the running mate to Emerhor is from there. We are also reaching out to the Isokos, the Ijaws and the Anioma people. The story I hear is the same.

They want change now. The State has no single functioning industry and unemployment is so bad that our youths literally roam the street in search of livelihood. Our youths have taken to a life of criminally like kidnapping, armed robbery and pipelines vandalization. We in APC have the passion to change lives through a conscious and vigorous pursuit of job creation and the establishment of an enabling environment for genuine enterprise to thrive. I look forward to a state where no one would be jobless, I look forward to a state where we will call ourselves Deltans rather than Itsekiri, Ijaws, Urhobos and Isoko.

O'tega Emerhor will run an all inclusive government if elected governor………

Every Deltan will be made to have a sense of belonging as government is about everybody

The Uvwiamuge declaration by the UPU seems to suggest that the apex umbrella of the Urhobo people want only an Urhobo man to be governor. Do you subscribe to the declaration?

I have utmost respect for the PresidentGeneral and Leaders of the Urhobo progress Union (UPU) but the fact I must make very clear is that the APC governorship candidate, O’tega Emerhor had made his intention to run for the Governorship before the Uvwiamuge declaration was made. Yes! the Urhobos are the 5th largest ethnic Nationality in Nigeria and the most demographically populated in Delta State. The Urhobos have for a long time not been given a fair share and patronage in state and National Politics. That notwithstanding, Emerhor is not running for Governorship on an ethnic platform. He is what people will call a pan Deltan Candidate.

He is abhorrent of ethnic or tribal barriers and sentiments. While he is proud to be an Urhobo man he is prouder to be a Deltan. This orientation and background are going to be reflected on the spread of his projects in Delta State when he becomes Governor.

The Presidential and other elections are around the corner and we hear stories of attacks on political opponents during campaigns and rallies. Does this not portend grave danger for our nascent democracy?

Politics is not a do or die affair. It should be seen as a healthy contest and not war. The APC is a peaceful party and we refrain from mudslinging and physical attacks. Our Presidential candidate, General Muhammadu Buhari is a signatory to the Abuja peace and non violence accord. At the state level our campaigns have been done with utmost civility and decorum. When we see trouble we pass through the other way (laughter). I believe that the 2015 general elections will be peaceful, free and fair. In APC we believe in the unity of this country and every Nigerian should protect it and not attempt to destroy it.

2015: Judiciary will be tested on Buhari certificate saga —Uwazurike

member of the Ogunsanya family, please come and help! It was like a magic expression. We don’t joke with our friendship and loyalty. If you betray it, you are out. When Chief TOS Benson died, we gave him the same spectacular treatment. Just to give you some examples. Mallam Aminu Kano, till today, we still have him in high regards.

BY TONY NWANKWO

C

hief Goddy Anayo Uwazurike, lawyer, member, National Conference is President, Aka Ikenga, the apex Igbo sociopolitical group. In this interview, he discusses the Igbo position on the election of February 14 among other national issues. Excerpts: The Igbo is consistent on the support for President Goodluck Jonathan as he seeks reelection. And the man is not even Igbo?

The Igbo are people looking for a level playing ground and once somebody assures that confidence that there is a level playing ground, once somebody gives them the impression that he is clannish, shows them that he has a free mind, Igbo get to him. It is whenever we hear stories that you are not supporting this, or you hate people, that Igbo now run away from you.

Remember people make their impression not when they are in office, you make impression even before you begin to seek office. If for instance, you are known to be an expansive person, you fret and jive all over the world, they see you.

If you are coming to us now that you want to be voted for, we say, after we have voted for you you go away. That is why the Igbo are

•Uwazurike very careful on who they support.

And I will tell you so you can go and check the history. Once the Igbo regard you as their friend, they never go against you. Go and ask the Chief Adeniran Ogunsanya family. Till today, the daughter is called Ada Igbo.

Infact she will be the first person to tell you ‘I am Ada Igbo’. When Chief Adeniran Ogunsanya died, he was given an Igbo burial.

Yoruba were just standing there watching. Markets in Lagos were closed in his honour. Something you cannot do for any other person. When he was alive, I remember meeting him a couple of occasions. You come and see all of us rushing out to go and greet ‘Nnanyi Ukwu’. You will stop your vehicle just to go and greet ‘Nnanyi Ukwu’. And you will always hear people say, I am a

Can we seriously say Jonathan merits all this support?

Igbo are not looking for people who give Naira and Kobo. We only look for that person who gives you the feeling that ‘ yes, you are welcome’. That is how he merits it. If he had, I will tell you straight away. He has not done anything to destroy that relationship.. Not because he is an Ijaw man, but because as President he is yet to do something targeted against the Igbo.

Muhammadu Buhari is contesting for the fourth time.

And he is said to have these baggages?

He is now going round. Some people are getting to see who Buhari is. Even the governor of Imo State gave him an Igbo name and gave the impression that his mother came from Igbo land, which I know he will not say in Katsina. If he says that he will know what will happen to him.

Those are things you do in order to win election. And that is wrong.

Igbo are not easily carried away by cosmetic effects. They look for

real substance. They watch you say things and how you say them. And they take what you say to the heart. Most of those who attend the rallies, if they come back, ten years hence, they will repeat every word you said. And Buhari words have been very few. ‘We will fight corruption, we will give employment’. This is what he says everywhere and no more. Whereas the Igbo man wants to know whether you are aware that this road leading from this place is a federal road and is crying for repairs. So, if he had not said that, then we just watch and see.

That somebody is writing a statement saying he will do this or that, that is not what people want. That is the reason this TV debate will be paramount, because that is where he will be able to address issues himself.

Has he an obligation to participate in the debates?

Well, that TV debate is actually a time you are expected to really address the people frontally. Not what somebody has written down for you. So far we can remember ‘I’ll fight corruption, I’ll give employment’. When you are there, it means you will address issues like electricity. If there is problem with electricity, what do you do?

If there is a problem with food, what do you do? Its not sufficient to say I will do this. Yes, but how do you do it? We want macrodetails, bigger details not in three sentences.

Is the Yoruba support for Buhari’s candidacy total?

Well, I know of Press support among Yoruba. That does not translate into Yoruba support. The man who lives in Ilesha, the man who lives in Ado Ekiti is a Yoruba man. He has his own views which he will show during elections. The fact that if there is a campaign rally in Ogun State, those from Lagos will go, does not mean that Ogun State is voting. Look at a state like Oyo, where it is deeply divided. Sen. Abiola Ajimobi, Chief Adebayo Alao-Akala, Sen. Rasheed Ladoja, and then Sen. Teslim Folarin. So, how do you judge the strength of each? Those four parties are very strong and three of them are for Mr. President.

As a practicing senior lawyer, what do you make of the Buhari certificate issue?

Well, I know that for me to go to read law I had to present my certificate. Without it, I couldn’t have been admitted. So, if you see my CV you will see all those things because I still have my own. If I don’t have it, I know what to do. I will take steps before now to go and remedy the situation. So, the argument still remains whether he actually took the exams or not? INEC has no power yet to disqualify anybody, but time will tell whether he really had it. And I wish the courts can look at the argument. Going to court over it now is of no use. Let the candidates battle it out. Then let the judiciary decide.

Page 56, SUNDAY Vanguard, FEBRUARY 8, 2015

VIEWPOINT

By Femi Ayelabowo

TRIBUTE IN BRIEF

Projections on the presidential poll

W

HEN a relatively unknown retired Army Signals Corps officer from Ondo State was appointed President Goodluck Jonathan’s Chief of Staff almost a year ago, very few people rightly identified the move as a nod to the South-west ahead of the 2015 presidential election.

Retired Brigadier General Jones Oladehinde Arogbofa’s appointment was a deft manoeuvre by Jonathan, which signalled that he appreciated the pivotal role the South-west would play in the forthcoming elections.

Jonathan followed that up later in the year by mounting the podium in Ekiti State to support the gubernatorial comeback aspiration of Ayodele Fayose. At that time, Fayose was dismissed by the online community and given no chance of winning the seat he was kicked out of under ruinous circumstances during President Olusegun Obasanjo’s days of strong-arm politics. As we all know, Fayose not only won the election, he also did so with

Buhari vs Jonathan: How both will fare at the ballot such an overwhelming margin that the then incumbent governor, Kayode Fayemi of the All Progressives Congress, conceded defeat.

Now here we are again with an uncannily similar situation, at least as far as the online community is concerned. In online poll after online poll, whether rigged or not, the presidential candidate of the APC, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (rtd), has been favoured to win the February 14, 2015 presidential election. So far, no online poll has given President Goodluck Jonathan of the Peoples Democratic Party any chance of winning the election. Is it possible that we’re in for a déjà vu?

Away from the rather dubious online environment, let us examine how the presidential poll may likely play out in reality by beginning with the North West, which has the largest number of states of the six geopolitical zones. There are seven states in the North West, namely: Jigawa, Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, Kebbi, Sokoto and Zamfara states.

Other than Kaduna which may go either way, Buhari is certain to win the North West .

And now on to the North East, which has received the brunt of Boko Haram attacks. The zone comprises six states, namely: Adamawa, Bauchi, Borno, Gombe, Taraba, Yobe. Even though Adamawa, Bauchi, Gombe and Taraba are PDP states, there is a strong likelihood that the ruling party may lose its grip on the zone. Adamawa and Taraba appear relatively safe for PDP. But Bauchi and Gombe are less so. One out of the two, or even both, may go to the APC. So, on the basis of this fluid probability, the best bet is to assume that the two major parties are evenly matched in the North-east .

For the North Central, comprising Benue, Kogi, Kwara, Nassarawa, Niger and Plateau states, the PDP also holds sway.

Benue, Kogi, Niger and Plateau are PDP states, but the APC may yet again take a state or two in the zone. So, as with the North East, the two parties have equal chances in the North-central.

For the South-south, comprising Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa,

Edo 2015: Esan must get it right VIEWPOINT

By Eromosele Akhabue

VIEWPOINT IN BRIEF

The best representative in parliament

U

NLIKE many states where there have been reported cases of in-fighting among winners and losers of the party primaries, the All Progressives Congress (APC) primaries nationwide, particularly in Edo State, were different. The peaceful nature is attributable to the transparent manner the leadership of the APC handled the exercise.

Comrade Governor Adams Oshiomhole and the party

leadership exhibited uncommon integrity by providing a level playground for all the contestants. This afforded the delegates the opportunity to vote their choice of candidates. No candidate was anointed or imposed on the people. That is why the contenders accepted the outcome of the primaries in good faith.

For instance, the emergence of Chief Francis Inegbeniki for the election to represent Edo Central in the Senate was without speculation as many political observers saw it coming. It is quite commendable that Inegbeniki finally yielded to the call of his people to represent them in

the Senate. For good people like him to do nothing in the face of the visionless representation as witnessed in the outgoing dispensation to say the least would have amounted to gross insensitivity.

One should be bold enough to encourage the entire people of Esan land to be wise in this election because they have always been betrayed by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidates. The PDP has become a thorn in the flesh of Nigerians and February 2015 is a veritable opportunity to say good riddance to bad rubbish by massively voting for Inegbeniki. Inegbeniki, the Uzoya of Esan land, is a

Abia 2015: The Alex Otti factor VIEWPOINT

By Ifeanyi Amanze

VIEWPOINTS IN BRIEF

The APGA inroads into Igbo state

“A

BA ma ndi Aba (Aba knows its own people)”, the cheering crowd yelled as Alex Otti waltzed through Ariaria market; a characteristic smile playing on the corner of his lips.

“Alex Otti Ka anyi ma (Alex Otti is the one we know)”, a sea of locals chanted in Ohafia a few days later as the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) candidate made a campaign stop in the community.

It is this collage of fawning and adoring supporters that leaves hack writer, Madubuko Hart, uneasy. “It is an erroneous view of any observer to quantify the noise

that Otti is making in the media called campaign as being that “he has in abundant goodwill across the state”, Hart, now on the throes of an apoplexy, purred in his article titled: “Olusegun Adeniyi misfired on Abia”. Still unable to come to terms with the fact that one of the countr y ’s finest columnists had literally called the Abia governorship election for Otti, Hart belted his familiar rhetoric; one we’ve come to associate with his watery opinion pieces: “Otti whom Adeniyi has extolled beyond the fairness and balancing of report as is obtainable in journalism, knows that he is dead politically just on arrival; he knows that he cannot win election in the state, because he lacks the political sagacity and dexterity”.

This is where we have to

help Madubuko Hart. This is the point where we save Madubuko Hart from himself.

The cross-country appeal Otti is garnering from eligible voters in Abia State has nothing to do with a media blitz or a PR gimmick.

Everywhere Otti has showed up in the state on his campaign stops, he’s articulated a clear vision for the State which he will begin to implement come spring.

Like a fine school teacher, Otti never fails to lay out his blueprint on remaking Aba and Ariaria into industrial and economic clusters, mechanizing Agriculture in the State and improving healthcare and education across the State. The messaging has been constant and recurring. It is this attention to detail and policies that has endeared the APGA candidate to Ndi Abia, who

Cross River, Delta, Edo and Rivers states, the PDP is too wellentrenched to be dethroned.

Despite the fact that APC governors are in charge in Edo and Rivers states, the PDP will almost certainly win the presidential election in all the six states of the South-south.

The South-east, which has the least number of states, namely: Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu and Imo, is equally almost guaranteed to go to the PDP. Even Imo, where an APC is the incumbent, may slip to any other party at the gubernatorial poll.

But, assuredly, in the presidential election, the PDP will sweep the entire South-east.

That leaves the South-west as the beautiful bride of this election season. The zone comprises Ekiti, Lagos, Ogun, Ondo, Osun and Oyo. Peopled by some of Nigeria’s savviest voters, the South West is also the most unpredictable. While the enfant terrible will surely mobilise his supporters to vote the PDP in his home state of Ekiti, as will Governor Olusegun Mimiko of Ondo State, the remaining four states appear to be up for grabs,

successful business man who rose from grass to grace, from a humble beginning to becoming a universally acclaimed business mogul.

This he achieved through dint of hardwork and perseverance.

From Ikinago, Opoji in Esan Central Local Government Council of Edo, he is a graduate of public administration from the Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma. A Philanthropist extra-ordinaire, he is the sole sponsor of Esan Youth Movement (EYM). He gives scholarship to Esan students in tertiary institutions around the globe. The former PDP Youth Leader gave several job opportunities to Esan youths. He is accessible. All these explain his choice at can now spot a politician who means what he says because he has thought it through, from the herd of pretenders jostling for votes in Abia.

For so long, the electorate in Abia State have had to put up with political office seekers who come bearing vague promises or mouthing platitudes you could almost tell they will never keep or have never thought through.

For so long, Ndi Abia have had to choose from a cast of politicians not ready to govern; but who have been foisted on the people by rentseeking godfathers. At last, an office seeker appears on the stomp ground articulating his plans and delineating how these plans will be implemented.

That has been the difference between Otti and an Ikpeazu, for instance, whose plans for Abia State are still the subject of necromancy. “There is no electioneering promise of

though the PDP has traditionally done well in the zone in past presidential elections. Indeed, the PDP took all the states of the South West except Osun in the 2011 presidential poll.

While the 2011 presidential election may not be a pointer, as the appointment of Arogbofa showed, Jonathan knew where the battleground for 2015 will be and acted accordingly. A look at the geopolitical projections we’ve made shows that Jonathan may likely win in a total of 19 - 21 states. On the other hand, Buhari may likely win in a total of 15 – 17 states. So, clearly, the odds still favour the incumbent party, PDP. As for the online polls, the trouncing of Fayemi (whom the online community had tipped to beat Fayose) and the APC during the Ekiti election is a clear indication that they simply cannot be relied upon. Dear reader, when the results are announced after the elections and they tally with the projections given here, remember who called it first.

•Ayelabowo contributed this piece from Ibadan via Femilabowo@gmail.com

the primaries and also why 95% of the youth are standing firmly behind him to ensure his victory at the general elections.

The Zion train is coming our way. It is, as always, loaded with dividends of democracy, such as more scholarship, youth empowerment, massive infrastructural development, etc. These and many more Inegbeniki has promised to bring to Esan people. The people should not again allow the PDP people to divert this train for their personal aggrandizement. Let us allow the APC candidate steer this train of development to Esan land.

•Akhabue is the coordinaTor of Esan Youth for Good Governance, EYGG Governor Theodore Orji that he has not fulfilled; hence whatever anyone is saying against this is just “manufactured realities”, Hart writes, barely believing his own words. When people have to be forced to see “electioneering promises” on the ground, then there’s a problem. A huge problem.

In Abia State, prospective voters are coming to terms with the fact that they’ve been handed a raw and fake deal in the past and are ready to pitch tent with a thinker; one emblazoned with a track record of performance in the private sector. Alex Otti doesn’t only sound the part; he has looked the part on the campaign trail. Hart and his ilk may adduce all of these to media hype, which is quite unfortunate but not surprising; coming from a coterie of persons whose ‘ideas trough’ is virtually empty.

•Amanze is resident in Umuahia.

SUNDAY Vanguard, FEBRUARY 8, 2015, Page 57

VIEWPOINT

By Seyi Adeleke

VIEWPOINT IN BRIEF

The alternative to incumbent President

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MONG the contestants in the presidential election, General Muhammadu Buhari, no doubt, is the most formidable opponent of the incumbent, President Goodluck Jonathan. The political platform on which he is contesting, the All Progressive Congress (APC), is also undeniably the most competitive challenger of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the election This is the fourth attempt by Buhari, who was military head of state 30 years ago, to ascend to the Presidency through the ballot box, with the popular mandate of the electorate. Unlike the three previous attempts, things are looking up for him this time around because his party has a large followership and millions of admirers all over the country, running neck to neck with the PDP in popular support.

Accordingly, Buhari’s presidential campaign rallies across the country have witnessed mammoth crowds at virtually every place he visited. But there is something else attracting his

Why Nigeria needs Buhari now audience. The message of change he preaches appear to address the anxiety, worries and frustrations of a lot of Nigerians who are tired of the worsening insecurity in the land, the seemingly untamable corruption in high places and the economic downturn with the consequent mass poverty, rising unemployment and general destitution that have become the lot the masses of the people.

The seed of Buhari’s message of change is not essentially different from what he preached in 2011 when he lost the presidency to Jonathan. But now it has found a fertile ground in the hearts of the people. There is mass disaffection against Jonathan over his failure to live up to his promises. Many believe that the nation is now left with no other option than to try Buhari.

In 2011, many things worked for the good of Jonathan. There was mass expression of sympathy for the South- south region he hails from to ‘taste’ power at the highest level.

Jonathan himself appeared prepared for the job having been a deputy governor, governor and vice president. He was also well educated,

the first doctorate degree holder to hold the lofty post.

The mood of the nation has changed now. In four years of his administration the nation suffered serious reverses and the signposts are clearly visible. The insecurity situation in the country is far worse than what it was in 2011. Today, Nigeria’s economic well being is seriously threatened because of Jonathan’s incompetence. The robust foreign reserves left by Presidents Obansanjo and Yar’Adua have been badly depleted. Also, the money saved by the two former presidents in the excess crude account to prepare Nigeria for the rainy day had virtually been emptied by his administration even when oil price was still relatively stable.

Jonathan’s government failed to tackle corruption. Rather it appeared determined, right from inception, to encourage it. For example, Yar’Adua, his predecessor, tackled corruption in the fuel subsidy administration. He reduced fuel price from N70 to N65 per litre. But within one year of Jonathan’s administration, fuel subsidy jumped from N300 billion to N2.3 trillion

and he asked Nigerians to pick up the bill despite the revelations at the House of Representatives’ hearings on how the subsidy was maladministered. The report of that hearing never saw the light of the day.

The PDP and Jonathan know very well that Buhari is the game changer at this material time when they have failed the nation. This is why they have been trying viciously to rubbish him through false accusations, manipulated opinion polls, ill will advertorials and malicious documentaries. Their aim has been to use his military background to build the myth of a monster around his person. He has been called a dictator and an enemy of democracy for terminating Nigeria’s second republic, detaining political functionaries of that era and jailing some of them found culpable. It is unfortunate that his accusers are poorly informed about the nature and character of military regimes all over the world.

It is instructive that within the short time Buhari ruled then, Nigeria gained a lot from his uncommon self discipline, forthrightness,

patriotic zeal for national value reorientation and the courage to lead the people to do what was right and edifying of their aspirations to greatness. Above all his incorruptible disposition was and is still unparalleled.

Going by Buhari’s stand on leadership, it is inconceivable that he will allow all the evils that we have seen under Jonathan to prosper in a government headed by him. Like Rawlings did in Ghana when he moved on to become civilian president, there is no doubt that Buhari will lead by example and employ constitutional means to enthrone righteousness in governance. This is the leadership advantage that has been lacking in the country. It is the change Nigeria badly needs and it would flow from the top down. It is what the nation requires to address its current myriad of problems. This is why Nigeria needs Buhari now, if her dreams to become great and be exalted as a nation would be realized in the nearest future.

•Adeleke can be reached via Seuiadeleke92@gmail.com.

Agbaje’s ‘godfatherism’ postulation as political duplicity VIEWPOINT

By Hakeem Adisa

VIEWPOINT IN BRIEF Two gubernatorial candidates on scale

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LUJIMI Kolawole Agbaje, popularly called JK, a onceupon-a-time progressive, is surprisingly the Lagos State governorship candidate of the conservative Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). He stoked the fire of curiosity recently when he declared publicly that he is the ‘best man to rule Lagos because he has no godfather that can influence him negatively in office.’

Rather than address issues germane to governance in Lagos, he played to the gallery by laboriously trying to present himself as a man of himself and also by notifying Lagosians about his witch-hunting expeditious plan if ever he gets the chance to rule the state. He told journalists: “When it was time to choose my running mate, I chose my running mate; nobody chose her for me. The issue of a godfather hampering service delivery is not even on the table. I don’t have a godfather. I want the

people to believe me that it won’t happen.”

Agbaje may be competent to speak publicly on several issues but not on that of political godfatherism because his aversion for it contradicted how he got the governorship ticket slot in his new found love party- the PDP. Permit me to refresh readers’ memory by re-presenting the result and whole essence of party primary that produced Agbaje as governorship candidate direct from the mouth of his major challenger, Musiliu Obanikoro: “The entire primary was a sham. I still cannot comprehend how accredited delegates of 806 will turn out to be 868. To be honest with you, with the benefit of hindsight, you can tell that the outcome was predetermined.”

Perhaps it is pertinent to ask: W ho were those powerful PDP figures that predetermined the outcome of the Kangaroo primary that produced Agbaje as governorship candidate? They include Bode George and Seye Ogunleye, both central figures in the PDP National administration’s plan to cause chaos in Lagos. The two PDP leaders are beneficiaries of

godfatherism in all their political lives and will not support a candidate that would not treat them as such and therein lies the fallacy of Agbaje’s statement. Uptil today, he has not denied the discrepancy that gave him the PDP ticket, rather, he has been rationalising the political charade.

Yet, Akin Ambode, the candidate of All Progressives Congress(APC), empirically made nonsense of the claim of godfatherism when, after intense campaign across the 57 local governments in the state, participated in the APC governorship primary, widely acknowledged as the fairest, to emerge as progressive flag bearer in an untainted exercise. Ambode scored 3,735 votes while the second placed aspirant, Obafemi Hamzat, scored a distant 1,201 votes in an exercise and, unlike that of PDP, the number of approved delegates was not more than the number of votes cast. The result of the APC primary was a consequence of political decency of the APC candidate in Ambode and the PDP’s sham primary result that of the primitiveness of Agbaje’s godfathers that he has futilely been trying to deny in public. Agbaje

Between Buhari and Nigerians VIEWPOINT

By Chris Egbuna

VIEWPOINT IN BRIEF

Nigeria needs a leader of strong conviction

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O lead a nation as complex as Nigeria in the 21st century requires a man of solid stature, profound acumen with a panNigerian outlook ingrained in his psyche . As Head of state, Buhari’s track record speaks volumes about his bias and disdain for other sections of the nation. When he was Head of State (1983-1985), the treatment he meted out to Dr. Alex Ekwueme, the vice president and President Shehu Shagari exposed the disdain with which he

held Nigerians of South East extraction. Whereas Shagari, who was responsible for all the actions of his administration, was placed in cozy home arrest, Ekwueme was marched into detention at Kirikiri Maximum Security Prisons. As the executive chairman of the Petroleum (Special) Trust Fund PTF (19941999), Buhari supervised what arguably was the most one sided leadership of a federal institution.

Out of about 181 billion naira released to PTF, over 80percent of the contractors were from the North, with PTF locating and executing 84 percent of its projects also in the North. A Buhari presidency in 2015 is a recipe for disaster and therefore not tenable. It will mark the

return of ethnic hegemons who will confiscate our national resources’ in furtherance of their narrow ethnic agenda. Given the severity of our challenges, the nation needs an even handed detribalized leader to steer the ship of state. Those who are under the illusion that the passage of time may have tempered the general’s unhidden ethnic agenda which he now seeks to foist on the nation are merely deluded.

Rather than shed his ethnic toga, the presidential candidate of the APC has further reinforced his ethnic credentials if his recent utterances are taken into consideration. Buhari in his characteristic response to military waging war against the insurgents stated forcefully that

should stop living a life of political denial.

Apart from the issues of primaries, the political trajectory of Agbaje since his days in his touted Afenifere cliché, down to PDP, gave him away as someone in search of godfathers that would make his desperate governorship aspiration come true which he now, albeit erroneously, thinks he has found in Bode George and Ogunlewe.

Jimi Agbaje, a pharmacist, in his desperation to become Lagos governor, dumped JAYKAY Pharmaceutical and Chemical Company Limited which he founded. He joined the progressive Action Congress (AC), his first political party. He left in 2007 to join the Democratic Peoples Alliance (DPA) in search of his governorship ambition after losing the party ’s governorship ticket to incumbent Babatunde Raji Fashola in the primaries.

He got to PDP and hijacked the two main godfathers there to the chagrin of co-aspirants for the governorship ticket.

In contrast to the profile of Agbaje is that of Ambode. The

APC candidate, as chief custodian of Lagos treasury, his unflinching commitment was not in doubt as he buried himself in bureaucratic obscurity in accordance with the civil service norm of being seen but not heard. He helped the state to escape the illegal former President Olusegun Obasanjo seizure of Lagos funds after the creation of additional local councils in the state by Asiwaju Bola Tinubu’s administration. He created the successful financial infrastructural template at the time.

He was in the forefront of financial strategy formulation process for the operations and growth of Lagos State Treasury Office (STO) and for implementation and meeting of the state finance requirements. All these were attained because of his well grounded academic background both at home and abroad.

One thing is sure and that is the fact that Lagosians are not ready to trade experience for experiment in who becomes the next governor of the state.

any offensive against the Boko Haram is an attack on the North.

On the campaign trail promise to end the Boko Haram insurgency if elected president smacks of mischief, double speak and drips in insincerity.

Taming the Boko Haram requires self sacrifice, commitment and the understanding that this blood thirsty elements represent the face of evil which must be confronted and defeated. To rise in their stout defence the way Buhari had done is not only unpatriotic but smacks of insensitivity to the thousands of grieving families who have lost their dear ones to the brutal campaign. As the Dr. Haroun Adamu-led interim management committee probe of the activities of PTF discovered, corruption

flourished with Buhari at the helm of affairs. It recommended that the PTF be asked to explain the circumstances in which N25billion disappeared and could not be accounted for.

Nigerians needs a man of inner solid strength and strong convictions to wage an unwavering fight against corruption. In truth, there is no credible alternative to the present economic policies of the Jonathan administration. What is required is proper fine tuning of some of these policies to make them achieve the desired result. We cannot change course now for to do so is to unravel the gains of the past four years. Such a disaster is too real to contemplate.

*Adisa, a public affairs analyst, lives in Mushin, Lagos.

•Egbuna is based in Lagos.

PAGE 58—SUNDAY Vanguard, FEBRUARY 8, 2015 japhdave@yahoo.com 08066625505

I wrote Iredi War with Lit Price in mind — Ukala, 2014 Winner, The Nigeria Prize for Literature

By PRISCA SAM-DURU LITERATURE

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hen Professor Sam Ukala, Nigeria’s renowned playwright picked up his pen to write Iredi War, he was clear about what he wanted- The Nigerian Prize For Literature. As a goal-getter well focused on his priority, Prof. Ukala was said to have turned down the offer to be among the panel of judges for the 2014 Prize. Instead, he submitted his book Iredi War to compete with 123 others.

Iredi War eventually withstood the rigorous scrutiny and requisite checks for high standards that The Nigeria Prize for Literature is revered by the literati, as it emerged tops in that literary competition, fetching the playwright a whooping $100,000. With the cash prize, Ukala plans to set up Sufficient Grace Studios for entertainment services, artiste training, and theatre/film/music production and adapting in addition to producing Iredi War for screen.

In the tradition of the sole sponsore of the prize, NLNG presented Prof. Ukala as the 2014 winner of the most

prestigious literary Prize in the continent of Africa, the Nigeria Prize for Literature, and the winner of the Prize for Literary Criticism, Prof.

Isidore Diala, to the public, last Thursday, at the Agip Recital Hall of the MUSON Centre, Lagos. The hall was surprisingly packed full as guests came to identify with the renowned scholar, theorist, award winning and internationally known playwright for his feat.

The occasion commanded a strong attendance of the literati, the two runners up; Jude Idada, Friday John Abba, eminent Nigerians, Academics and students from more than seven secondary schools in the country.

Prof Sam Ukala’s Iredi War it would be recalled, last year, defeated a total of 123 other books to take the trophy. His book was announced the winning entry at a world press conference held last October, at the Eko Hotels and Suites, Lagos.

Out of the 124 entries for the 2014 drama, only 49 met the eligibility criteria. The panel of Judges headed by Prof Charity Angya, pruned the 49 entries to 29 which were further screened to an initial shortlist

(L-R) NLNG Deputy MD, Isa Inuwa; Prof Ayo Banjo, Chairman Advisory Board for the literature prize;Mr Babs Omotowa, MD, NLNG; Dr Kudo Eresia-Eke, NLNG GM, External Relations; Prof Ukala, 2014 Winner of the $100,000 The Nigeria Prize for Literature and wife, Grace at the presentation of Prof. Ukala in Lagos. of 11 plays. The 11 shortlist by Friday John Abba.

Association of Nigerian Authors was later screened to 3; Iredi Iredi War published by (ANA)/ British Council Prize for War by Sam Ukala, Jude Kraft Books Limited, Ibadan, Drama. Similarly, Skeletons, his Idada’s Oduduwa- King of the is based on an aspect of the collection of stories, won ANA’s Edos and Alekwu Night Dance history of Owa people of Delta Prose Prize in 2000.

The Nigeria Prize for Literature State. It is a historical drama based on the 1906 uprising sponsored by Nigeria LNG I whole heartedly within the Owa Kingdom. Limited rotates yearly around Ukala gives a vivid description four literary genres: prose fiction, and most of the issues relating to this poetry, drama and children’s gratefully accept war particularly the battle by literature. Its 2015 competition the Chief against the colonial will be for children’s literature. the award of The Receiving the prestigious forces.

The Judges Nigerian Price for unanimously chose Iredi War prize, Prof Ukala who was as the winning because the obviously excited, said, “I wholeLiterature, I “content is serious, the heartedly and most gratefully accept the award of The Nigerian dedicate the handling is quite mature.”

Prize For Literature, 2014. I Ukala has written, award to God performed and directed many dedicate the award to God Almighty for stage plays including The Log Almighty for inspiration, talent in Your Eye (UPL, 1986), and direction and to all writers inspiration, talent Break a Boil (Oris, 1992), and critics of Nigerian Literature, and direction and Odour of Justice (Oris, 1992) especially those who have and Fumes of Fuel in contributed to making it to all writers and Rumbling Creeks of the Niger significant throughout the world. critics of Nigerian Delta. In 1989, Ukala’s He thanked NLNG for “Offering Akpakaland won the the biggest literary prize in Literature Africa. I also thank the Advisory Board and Panel of Judges for processing entries with transparent integrity.”

In a rather poetic acceptance speech, Prof. Isidore who emerged as the first winner of the from revenue collection. Prize For Literary criticism,worth foundation.

We intend to unveil the The pension plan is for both one million naira, instituted in biometric ID cards this Feb- the aged and the young. For 2012 to reward literary critics of ruary which is why in all the the aged, once you are 65 Nigerian Literature from all over media interviews I’ve and want to retire, you also the world, noted that “ By granted, I made it clear that I get 10 million naira. With endowing the Literature Prize, will not allow myself to be dis- the same biometric card NLNG acknowledges one of the tracted, I came in here to do which is a multi-purpose oldest functions of criticism: a job, I’m doing the job and card, you have an automatic informed evaluation and unless I finish the job I will not ATM chip, that means if you judgement, discrimination react or respond to side have a current account with between the mediocre and the any of the banks, that con- great... Thus, the endowment of talks.”

To move the musicians for- nects you to the media dis- a specific literary Criticism Prize the sponsor ’s ward by ensuring that what tribution network. From is they’ve been unable to get in there, it connects with your acknowledgement of the the past 45 years, will be given royalty account through complementaries between to them in 3 years, Pretty said, the Global System 1 creation and criticism.”

(GS1)which collates and acNLNG Managing Director, is his uttermost concern.

“To access the biometric ID counts for royalty.”

Babs Omotowa congratulated The aim of putting all these Prof Ukala for his feat and for Cards is simple and the banks in place is to end the usual adding value to literature came in and made it simpler musicians through his writings. He than I thought. Once the bankruptcy experience as soon as they disclosed that inspite of the fall musician gets the card he or stop singing.

“No going back in oil prize, NLNG will remain she automatically gets the health care plan and that itself to zero. Junior and I cannot deeply committed to the Award will take care of the musician even boast of any royalty... of $100,000. Omotowa also noted and members of his/her fam- The GS 1 takes care of both that the Award has stimulated ily. The cards automatically music internet download significant number of new makes the bearer a PMAN and physical sales. We are writings since it was initiated. He member in case of death and trying to give back confi- expressed his satisfaction with according to the pension dence and wealth to the the standard of production and plan, the musician’s family musicians, industry as well publishing of the winning book. gets 10 million and that comes as the nation.”

“Nigeria LNG is happy to bring

PMAN se o un pose biome tric cards sett tto unvveil multi-pur multi-purpose biometric

By PRISCA SAM-DURU MUSIC

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he Interim President of the Performing Musicians Association of Nigeria, PMAN, Pretty Okafor has reiterated his plans to revamp the music industry such that its relevance in helping to boost standard of living of artistes and nation’s economy, is no longer undermined.

Plans have already been concluded by the Pretty led administration, to unveil the multi-purpose biometric identity cards for musicians.

With the availability of the Cards, Pretty noted that cases of Nigerian musicians soliciting for funds each time there’s need to access medical service and or, becoming paupers after retiring from very successful music career, would be history.

Okafor who disclosed that greed and selfish interest have been the major problems of the union, revealed his plan to revitalise the industry through the use of technology as well

as with the full support of banks and telecommunications in the country.

According to him, “We’ve been able to move further as we’ll be unveiling the multipurpose biometric Identity Card for musicians and luckily we’ve been able to get about four banks and two telecommunication firms to partner with us in this project.

The banks actually made it so easy for us musicians to be able to access the new formation.

First we need to get the data bank of the industry, because before you can get a structure you need to start from the

The aim of putting all these in place is to end the usual bankruptcy musicians experience as soon as they stop singing

SUNDAY Vanguard, FEBRUARY 8, 2015, PAGE 59 japhdave@yahoo.com 08066625505

Igboamaka, committed to promotion of Igbo culture

Fr Akpan’s Can You Say You’re one of them thrills fans at PH book reading

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•Festus receiving tusks and certificate at the ceremony ByPRISCA SAM DURU& VERA ANYAGAFU CULTURE

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s part of its commitment towards the preservation and promotion of rich cultural heritage of the Igbos through acknowledgment of laudable achievements of Igbo sons and daughters, Igboamaka, an Igbo socio-cultural organisation, held its 2014 Igbo Person of the Year Award.

The award ceremony which took place last week at the Golden Gate Hotel, Ikoyi, Lagos, attracted respected individuals which included the Consul General of South Africa, Amb. Mokgethi Monaisa; the President General, Aka Ikenga Barr.

Goddy Uwazurike who was Chairman of the occasion, Chief Audu Ogbeh, etc.

Igbo Amaka which is committed to promoting excellence in the nation’s interest in collaboration with various Pan Igbo organisations, was conceptualised to stimulate the spirit of industry and to acknowledge sterling achievements by Igbo sons and daughters across the globe.

While Mr Festus Mbisiogu, a native of Ideato South in Imo State, and China-based businessman emerged the 2014 Igbo Person of the Year, for his contributions towards a better life for his community as well as ensuring that Nigerians in China have a Consulate, the event also witnessed the presentation of an All-Time Igbo Personality Award to the Former African Footballer of the Year and one of Africa’s most decorated footballers, Kanu Nwankwo.

The African Wrestling Heavyweight Champion, Osita Offor aka De Ultimate Commander also received an

award for his display of sporting talent in wrestling.

DAAR Communications PLC also received an award for providing and sustaining broadcast time for Igbo cultural programmes on all its three platforms – Ray Power FM, AIT and DAARSAT since inception.

Ezeigbo Lagos State, HRH, Hyacinth Ohazulike seized the opportunity to charge all Igbo sons and daughters in the diaspora to cultivate the habit of celebrating Igbo culture wherever they reside emphasising that it will help revive, preserve and promote the rich cultural heritage of the Igbo.

Eze Ohazulike explained that any cultural event or occasion that honours any Igbo must be treated seriously since such events provide opportunity to showcase some of the Igbo traditional dances and masquerades.

According to Chief Ohazulike, “Our colonial masters said few years ago that Igbo cultures will vanish in about 50 years time. We are fighting very hard to see that that forecast never happens

The award was initiated in 2010 to acknowledge the contributions of Igbo sons and daughters who have distinquished themselves in their areas of calling

and that is why any well meaning Igbo should start investing into our culture. I started this and I am happy that it is gaining a lot of interest and I’m very happy that Igbo language and culture are recovering their positions in the country.

He encouraged Igbos to be law abiding citizen wherever they are as well as ensure that no matter the country they reside in, it is necessary that they maintain Igbo culture.

“Two years ago, I travelled all the way to Netherlands just to celebrate the New yam festival. I went to Italy, America and did the same, so I believe that if other well meaning Igbos join in this kind of celebration of our culture things will never be the same again. Just yesterday, someone called me from Spain to say that he watched my new yam celebration in the Netherlands, on television. New yam festival is a strong festival that promotes Igbo culture because we use Igbo language during the festival, there are lots of cultural dances and masquerades that are showcased and people learn so much about the Igbos through this festival.”

Obi Nwachukwu who is the Director of the Igbo Person Award, disclosed that the Award was initiated in “2010 to acknowledge the contributions of Igbo sons and daughters who have distinguished themselves in their areas of calling. They have taken out time to go the extra mile to better the society. They stand as role models to the younger generation because of change they bring to the society.”

He explained that Festus was chosen, among the 10 nominees based on his strong presence in the diaspora that gave birth to the Nigerian Consulate in Guangzhou China where over 15 million Nigerians reside. Beside that, he has taken it upon himself to provide portable water in his community in Ideato Local Government Area in Imo State.

prah’s book club author Fr. Uwem Akpan, the author of the book in focus Say You’re One of Them was the guest reader at the Port Harcourt World Book Capital, January Book-of-theMonth discussion and drama performance.

The well attended event which held at the Hotel Presidential, Port Harcourt witnessed a converge of students and the reading public who has been participating and enjoying the monthly book reading for months.

In a set panel, made up of students from Rainbow Book Clubs in Secondary Schools in Port Harcourt, moderated by Daniella Menezor of the Port Harcourt World Book Capital project office, Uwem interacted with the audience in a special way as he read a piece from Luxurious Hearses (one of the stories in his book).The part he read narrated an incident where the hand of Jubril (a young boy) was going to be chopped off because he stole a goat and Jubril expressed how he felt about the consequences of his deeds.

This dramatic scene set the tone of the evening that saw an enthralling drama

performance of An Ex-mas Feast, a story in his book about child prostitution by the Drama Troupe from University of Port Harcourt Institute of Arts and Culture.

Reacting to the performance, the author who commended the UNIPORT troupe said “ when I was writing the book, I never imagined something so visual and creative could come out of it.” The Port Harcourt World Book Capital outing was an eye opening and thought provoking one.

The book is a collection of five stories about children in various parts of Africa and some of the tragic and traumatic situations in which they find themselves.

These stories provoke questions such as ‘How do you react to the ‘stories’ you hear and see in the media?’‘Do you understand that these are real life situations?’ ‘Can you imagine yourself in the shoes of the people in the stories’‘Can you really Say You’re One of Them?’

For this month, the Port Harcourt World Book Capital adult book club will be reading “Children of the Revolution” by Dinaw Mengetsu.

•Guests listen during the reading

Finalists emerge for Vision of the Child 2015

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he 60 finalist for the 2015 edition of Vision of the Child(VOTC) were last Thursday presented to the public. The presentation which held at the Freedom Park Lagos was attended by many prominent personalities among them Nobel Laureate Professor Wole Soyinka, who is the consultant to the Lagos Black Heritage Festival, Chief Disu Halloway, Lagos State commissioner for Tourism and Inter Governmental Affairs, representatives of Diamond Bank,the sponsor and others like Microsoft and Honneywell Noodles, students and teachers.

The finalists emerged from a three- day intensive interview held January 26th - 28th at the Freedom Park, Lagos.

The competition with the theme, The Road to Sambisa is for school children in Lagos at the age bracket of 9-12 years.

A total of 250 students participated from 60 schools (primary and secondary) within Lagos state attended the interview. Their entries were assessed by a panel of eminent jury comprising teachers, artists, child careers, and social workers.

The journey to this stage started with registration and submission of a poem, essay or short story of fixed length on the theme.

The finalists shall be invited on March, 7th 2015, to the National Conservation Foundation Park, Lekki, provided with brush, paint and easel and, will be required to illustrate their literary presentation in the complimentary medium, of Painting.

PAGE 60, SUNDAY Vanguard, FEBRUARY 8, 2015

Chelsea extend lead as City stumble C

HELSEA have ex tended their lead on on the English premier league table as they beat Aton Vila 2-1 at Vila Park, while closest rival Manchester City survive a Hull City scare at the Ethihad Stadium.

Things appeared to be dire for City, with their title chances potentially on the ropes. James Milner produced the moment at the Etihad they needed after 90 minutes of wastefulness.

Milner, on as a substitute, struck an exquisite free-kick in the first minute of added time to cancel out David Meyler ’s first-half goal. The home side had nearly all the possession and creativity in the second half, but Hull defended strong throughout the 45 minutes of constant pressure, and frustrated Manuel Pellegrini’s side that will be utterly disappointed not to come away with the win.

Chelsea won for the first time at Vila Park. In just the eighth minute, Oscar poked a ball to Willian at the top corner of the box, and he found Eden Hazard cutting through the box, ahead of Alan Hutton for an easy finish.

Jores Okore broke Aston Villa’s goalless drought at exactly 11 hours with his equalizer just after halftime, but Branislav Ivanovic provided the winner for Chelsea with a scorcher to see the Blues through to a seven-point lead at the top of the Premier League table.

The visitors were clearly happy to sit back and hit on the counter, and Villa had little in response to finish out the first half. Villa had somewhat of a chance minutes before the halftime whistle but Chelsea poured numbers behind the ball and the visitors’ goalscoring drought continued.

Y

BLUESING...Chelsea’s Colombian midfielder Juan Cuadrado (l) vies with Aston Villa’s French defender Aly Cissokho during the English Premier League football match between Aston Villa and Chelsea at Villa Park in Birmingham, central England, yesterday.

Wenger takes Gunners defeat in good faith A

RSENAL manager Arsene Wenger has admitted that Tottenham were worthy winners in the north London derby at White Hart Lane.

Wenger’s side took the lead through Mesut Ozil in the first-half, but they spent the majority of the game having to deal with constant pressure from the home side.

Arsenal struggled to create chances or keep hold of the ball, and they were unable to hold onto their one-goal advantage. Harry Kane has been excellent this season, and he equalised from close-range shortly before the hour mark.

Tottenham continued to push for a winner, and Kane struck again to get the winner his team’s performance merited. A cross came in from the left, and he guided the ball over

David Ospina and into the far corner.

Speaking after the game, Wenger was critical of his side’s failure to create more problems going forward, and he had no argument with the final result.

He said: “I think we defend well but offen-

IONEL Messi says he and his Argentina teammates will “regret for the rest of our lives” the chances they missed when losing last summer’s World Cup final to Germany.

The 2014 World Cup decider went to extra-time after a goalless 90 minutes, with Germany substitute Mario Gotze secur-

ing the trophy for his country with a late strike.

With the score still at 00, Argentina attackers Gonzalo Higuain, Rodrigo Palacio and Messi all passed up decent opportunities to find the net.

Watching video footage of these misses during an interview with FIFA.com, the Albiceleste captain admitted not being able to

sively what we produced was not good enough.

“For me they created more chances and over all we can’t dispute [that] they deserved to win the game.”

Arsenal came into the game in excellent form, having won five consecutive matches in all com-

petitions before kick-off.

Wenger ’s side had scored 15 goals and only conceded two during that impressive run.

They were without Alexis Sanchez, who has a hamstring injury, though the Chile international could return against Leicester on Tuesday.

AYA Toure and Wil fried Bony will miss Manchester City’s match at Stoke on Wednesday after manager Manuel Pellegrini said it is “impossible” for his Africa Nations Cup finalists to play at the Britannia Stadium.

City vice-captain Toure and new signing Bony will represent Ivory Coast in today ’s final against Ghana in Equatorial Guinea and Pellegrini has ruled out using either of them 72 hours later in England.

It means 25 millionpound striker Bony ’s debut will be delayed until Newcastle visit the Etihad Stadium on Feb. 21, while Toure will have missed six games by the time he appears again.

Pellegrini said in a news conference: “We don’t need both of them to come back so quickly because it is impossible for them to play on Wednesday. After that we have 10 days without a game so they have time to come back.”

Athletico crush Real, blow La Liga race open A TLETICO Madrid blew the La Liga title race wide open by extending their unbeaten run over Real Madrid to six games this season with a 4-0 thrashing of the European champions on Saturday.

First-half goals from Tiago and Saul Niguez put Atletico in command before Antoine Griezmann and Mario Mandzukic sealed a first

Messi still suffers World Cup hang-over

L

Toure, Bony out of City squad for Stoke

score any of their chances in football’s biggest game would be difficult for he and his teammates to ever forget.

“I don’t know what to say, it’s a pity,” Messi said. “I think we had the better chances in the game. For the rest of our lives we’ll regret having those chances, and not being able to put them in.”

home league win over Real since 1999 just after the hour mark.

Atletico have now beaten their city rivals twice in La Liga and over two legs in the Spanish Supercup and Copa del Rey this season to bounce back in fine style from their heartbreaking loss in the Champions League final last season.

Real still lead Los Rojiblancos by four points, but Barcelona can move to within a point of the leaders should they beat Athletic Bilbao on Sunday.

World Player of the Year Cristiano Ronaldo returned from a twogame ban but the visitors were otherwise depleted without the injured Sergio Ramos, Pepe, Luka Modric, James Rodriguez and suspended Marcelo.

Atletico suffered an injury blow of their own

•Ronaldo after just 10 minutes when Spanish international Koke limped off, but that curse turned into a blessing as he was replaced by Saul.

The hosts went in front on 13 minutes when Mandzukic laid Juanfran’s cross from the right into the path of Tiago on the edge of the area and the Portuguese’s low ef-

fort had too much power for Iker Casillas, who will feel he should have kept it out.

Four minutes later Atletico doubled their lead with a move of real quality as Guilherme Siqueira hurtled down the left and his cross was acrobatically turned home by Saul with an overhead kick.

SUNDAY Vanguard, FEBRUARY 8, 2015, PAGE 61

D.K Olukoya meet ends in Lagos

A

THLETICS Feder ation of Nigeria officials are hopeful of selecting a strong squad of junior athletes for the African Junior Junior Championships slated for March 4 -8 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, and the African Youth Championships in Mauritius April 23 – 26.

This was after the Pastor D.K Olukoya Championships was concluded in Lagos yesterday. Over 500 athletes participated in the junior and youth categories.

“I am very impressed with the performance of the athletes. This is the first competition we are having for the season and for them to perform to standard was very encouraging.

“The athletes selected will head straight into camp and prepare for the two meets. We want to retain the titles we won in the two events in 2013,” said a technical official.

Some of the athletes who participated in the meet include Ese Brume who won long jump gold at the African championships and the Commonwealth Games last year.

•Ese Brume

Ibe will be great at Liverpool — Redknapp F

ORMER Liverpool great Jamie Redknapp believes the Reds have unearthed a star in young Jordon Ibe after an impressive Merseyside derby display at Everton.

Ibe, 19, made his first Liverpool start of the season after returning from loan at Derby this win-

ter.

He cracked a fierce effort off the post in the first half, which Redknapp says would have been a memorable strike.

The the former Reds player also praised Ibe for his ability with the ball.

“The moment of the first half has come from

the young man Jordan Ibe, for me,” Redknapp said on Sky Sports.

“What I really like about him is that everything he does is on the front foot.

“His touch opens the pitch up. His ferocious shot that hit the post was incredible. What a derby goal that could have been.”

Ighalo firing Watford to EPL O

DION Ighalo con tinued his rich vein of scoring form by netting the winner late on to give Watford a 1-0 victory they deserved on their second-half showing against Blackburn Rovers.

The Hornets had been marginally the better side in the first half, but they struggled against the visitors’ more direct approach after the break and needed goalkeeper Heurelho Gomes to stop them from going behind on at least two occasions.

Both sides sought to be

•Ighalo positive from the outset but it was Watford who had the first good opening when Ikechi Anya led a counter-attacking charge downfield and after reaching the edge of the Blackburn penalty area he slipped in

Miguel Layun, whose right-footed strike was superbly pushed behind

by Jason Steele.

Layun took the resulting corner himself and his deep delivery picked out Gabriele Angella at the back post, but the Italian defender would have been disappointed not to have tested Steele more with an unmarked downward header.

The goal by Ighalo a former Nigerian Under23 striker put Watford in pole position for a promotion to the premier league. It was his ninth goal from six league matches.

PAGE 62 SUNDAY Vanguard, FEBRUARY 8, 2015,

Aurier – We are in fine form

‘We ‘ll win it for Ghana' A

NDRE Ayew has vowed they will fight to win Sunday ’s AFCON final against Cote d’Ivoire for the whole of Ghana.

Ghana last won this competition in 1982 with Andre’s father, the legendary Abedi ‘Pele’ Ayew, one of the top stars from that triumph in Libya.

Ten years later, Ayew senior could not play another Africa Cup final after he picked up a second yellow card against Nigeria in the semi-final and Cote d’Ivoire went ahead to beat the Black Stars 11-10 on penalties after a goalless 120 minutes of action.

“I remember the red coat my father wore (sitting on the sidelines in the 1992 final). My father

C

OTE D’IVOIRE defender Serge Aurier says the Ivorians feel they are in fine form going into the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) final against Ghana on Sunday at the Bata Stadium.

Aurier who has proved he is one of the best rightback defenders in the African continent with fine displays at the competition said they have been working hard and it is starting to pay off.

“What is happening to me is wonderful. It was tough after our qualifying campaign. We picked up momentum following our very good preparation in Abu Dhabi. We knew it was going to pay off, we feel in full form, and I personally feel very good,” said the tough defender.

To reach the final, Cote d’Ivoire registered two 1all draws against Mali and Guinea before stopping Cameroon 1-0 in Group D.

•Ayew

•Aurier

Afcon 2015: Eagles’ absence ‘ll affect growth of Nigerian football – Ukeachu

BY EDDIE AKALONU

F

O R M E R Iwuanyawu

Afcon 2015

Continues from BP scored six goals apiece.

This is an indication that the match will be quite explosive and certainly there wouldn’t be a repeat of the 1992 final where players were too weary to take their penalty kicks.

The pressure will be on the Ivorians who are itching to win the trophy to make up for their misses even as they were tipped to win, because of the high individual quality of players in their team. One of such is Yaya Toure who has won the African player-of the year award four times in a row. Toure has been trying for nine years to lay his hands on the trophy and this could be his year even though he has only had one good match so far and that was the semi-final game against Congo DR. Toure struggled with the Elephants during the group stages, but once they got their acts together during the last game against Cameroon, the Ivorians they had what it takes to be champions.

In Gervinho and Wilfred Bony the Ivorians have fire power that could make the

is a Ghanaian and so I want to win this cup for all Ghanaians,” said ‘Dede’.

“When you get to the final, you need to do everything to win the trophy.”

He blamed inexperience for the Black Stars losing the 2010 AFCON final to Egypt.

“For the 2010 final, we had about 14 players from the U20 World Cup and we were in the final after just three months (of U20 World Cup). In this final we were attacking and attacking but we couldn’t score.

We lacked experience,” he admitted.

The 25-year-old Olympique Marseille forward has shone at this competition, scoring three goals but he insisted it was the result of the confidence he has enjoyed both from his teammates and the coach.

Black Stars sweat. However, the Blacks Stars have not also lacked players who can make the difference.

Christians Atsu Andre Ayew and his brother Jordan are in excellent form.

Ghana coach Avram Grant said he is looking forward to a tough game.

But his side will seize the day. “ Before the tournament, nobody gave us a chance.

Everyone talked about the other teams. Now we are in the final and we would want to win the cup,” French-born Ivorian coach Renard who won the cup with Zambia in 2012 believes that he has options that could swing the game his way.

“In football you have to be very strong from behind,” added Renard. “If you are not, you can’t win anything, and we have a chance to be able to score any time with the players we have like Gervinho, Wilfried Bony, Max Gradel. You have to put something very strong there to allow them to be free so they can make the difference.”

Nationale and Enyimba coach tony Ukeachu has expressed fears that the impact created by young players in the 2015 African Cup of Nations in Equatorial Guinea poses a serious danger to the future of Nigerian football.

“Though, I am happy at the number of youthful players paraded by teams at 2015 Afcon, I fear this could spell doom for Nigerian football.

“The danger this poses to our football is that we would still be far behind when the qualifiers for the next tournament commence.”

He noted that the standard of play have been high, a factor acknowledged by many

football fans, saying Nigeria’s absence was worrisome “By the next Afcon, these players who are in Equatorial Guinea now would have grown to become better for their national teams. We may find ourselves struggling to qualify for the next edition. So, we must do something now as a way to ensure our campaign for the next edition does not hit the rocks as was the case in 2014.”

Ukeachu, who played for the defunct Spartans of Owerri advised the Nigeria Football Federation to name a substantive coach for the home based Eagles to ensure there is a team on standby.

Oliseh Continues from BP contribute from outside than take up the full time job of leading the team.

Oliseh also noted that his qualified for the task, adding that it is only the attendant pressure that scares him.

“So many people have been asking me , why don’t you go and Coach the Super Eagles? I want to live long” Oliseh said.

“ In as much as I know I’m very much qualified for it, I love my Country and the proof of this abounds, but I’ll rather share my experience and allow my thoughts and knowledge reach a vast majority.”

Presently, Nigeria is without a coach, with Stephen Keshi voicing out last week that he was set to be offered any deal by the NFF.

BLOCKED: DR Congo’s forward Yannick Bolasie (L) challenges Equatorial Guinea’s midfielder Randy during the 2015 African Cup of Nations third place match yesterday in Malabo. Photo/AFP

DR Congo Continues from BP The keeper continued to frustrate DR as he made saves to deny Dieumerci Mbokani and Yannick Bolasie before the hour mark as Equatorial Guinea continued to come under pressure at the back.

As the end of the 90 minutes approached, the host nation started to look the more likely as they pressed for the late winner, but Fabiani had his long-range effort saved, while Viera Ellong curled the ball high and wide from a free kick.

SUNDAY VANGUARD, FEBRUARY 8, 2015, PAGE 63

C M Y K

SUNDAY Vanguard, FEBRUARY 8, 2015

Eagles job: Count me out, says Oliseh F would want to live long, inferring that taking up such job could shorten someone’s life-span.

The former Borussia Dortmund midfielder said that he would rather

Continues on Page 62

Kic ko ff:

Who succeeds Super Eagles?

8p m

AFCON 2015:

ORMER Nigeria captain Sunday Oliseh has blatantly turned down pleas to consider managing the Super Eagles national team.

Oliseh who captained the Nigerian national team for over six years, said that he

BY BEN EFE

G

HANA and Ivory Coast are set for the final of the Africa Cup of Nations that will be decided this evening at the Bata Stadium in Equatorial Guinea. Both teams are determined to shake off the toga of nearly men having failed to win the title since 1992 when they played in the final in Dakar, Senegal.

Ghana have won four finals the last being in 1982, Ivory Coast beat Ghana 11-10 after a marathon shoot-out to win their only AFCON trophy almost 23 years ago.

Before the Equatorial Guinea tournament, the Elephants have reached two finals in 2006 in Egypt and 2012 in Gabon/ Equatorial Guinea, they lost to Zambia in the ensuring penalty shootout. Ghana reached one final and that was in 2010 in Angola, the Black Stars lost to Egypt.

The two West African giants reached the 2015 final with pump as they blasted their way with emphatic victories against their quarter-final and semi-final opponents. The Elephants and the Black Stars

Continues on Page 62

•Bony

•Atsu

Congo DR clinch third spot CROSS WORD PUZZLE

ACROSS 1.Nobel-winning Archbishop (7-4) 5.Sailor (3) 7.Consumed (5) 8.Domesticates (5) 9.Ovum (3) 10.Electricity counting gadgets (6) 13.Highlander (4) 15.Poem (3) 17.One that contests (9) 20.Nigerian tribe (5) 22.Cereal (5) 24.Demoted (9) 27.Pig’s pen (3) 29.No one (4) 30.Sulks (6) 33.Away (3) 35.Presses (5) 36.Till (5) 37. Swine (3) 38. “The Man Who Saw Tomorrow” (11)

•Gervimho

DOWN 1.Sleeping vision (5) 2.Possessor (5) 3.Tax (4) 4.Depressing (9) 5.Argentinian dance (5) 6.Wash lightly (5) 11.Greek letter (3) 12.Distress call (1-1-1) 14.English boy’s name (5) 16.Obstacle (3) 17.Bovine animal (3) 18.Mindfulness (9) 19.Alarm (5) 21.Help (3) 23.Village house (3) 25.Gnome (3) 26.Vast age (3) 27.Condescend (5) 28.Youthful (5) 31.Circular (5) 32.Trades (5) 34.Old Russian King (4)

See solution on page 5

C

ONGO DR beat Equatorial Guinea 4-2 in a penalty shootout after the sides played a goalless draw in the third-place match at the Africa Cup of Nations yesterday.

The host nation almost took the lead inside the opening 10 minutes when Emilio Nsue tried to squeeze the ball in from a tight angle following a corner, but the Middlesbrough man was denied, while Robert Muteba also kept Javier Balboa’s follow-up effort out.

Cedrick had the first chance of the match for Congo DR after Jeremy Bokila set the winger up for

•Oliseh

Gambian ref to officiate Afcon final

G

AMBIAN referee Bakary Papa Gassama will be in charge of the Ghana – Ivory Coast Africa Cup of Nations final on Sunday.

The 36-year-old will be assisted by Djibril Camara and Waleed Ahmed Ali from Senegal and Sudan respectively while Zambian Janny Sikazwe who was in charge when Ghana brushed aside Guinea 3-0 in the quarter-final will be the fourth referee.

Referee Gassama took charge of the opening match which ended 11 between hosts Equatorial Guinea and Congo before handling the 1-1 stalemate between Congo DR and Tunisia. His last match prior to the final was in the quarter finals, when Ivory Coast comfortably brushed aside north Africans Algeria 3-1. He has shown 167 yellow cards and seven red cards in 63 international games with three yellow cards per game on average.

Meanwhile, Egyptian Ghead Grisha will officiate the third place match between Equatorial Guinea and Congo Republic for the second time after handling Ghana’s loss against Mali in 2012.

He will be assisted by Peter Edibe from Nigeria and Burundi’s JeanClaude Birumushahu, Malang Diedhiou will be the fourth official.

Results EPL

Tottenham Aston Villa Leicester Man City Q PR Swansea Everton

2 Arsenal 1 1 Chelsea 2 0 C. Palace 1 1 Hull City 1 0 Southampto1 1 Sunderland 1 0 Liverpool 0

A/Madrid 4

La Liga R/Madrid 0

a powerful drive from the edge of the box, but he failed to beat the keeper.

Congo DR came close again early in the second half as Cedrick crossed it in for Chancel Mbemba Mangulu, but his header was tipped over by Felipe Ovono.

Continues on Page 62

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