FG grounds Oshiomole's chartered aircraft

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2 — SATURDAY Vanguard,JUNE 8, 2013

SATURDAY

Vanguard, JUNE 8, 2013 —3

FG grounds Oshiomhole’s aircraft

BY SIMON EBEGBULEM, Benin-City

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HE prevailing politi cal tension in the nation as a result of the factionalization of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum became messier yesterday, as the Nigeria Airspace Management Agency (NAMA), grounded the chartered helicopter which was meant to convey Governor Adams Oshiomhole to Anambra state for the burial ceremony of the wife of Senator Ben Obi,the Special Adviser to the President on Political Matters, Mrs Colette Obi. The drama started when the pilot, Captain James Manahash, who was already airborne with the governor and his entourage was ordered to fly back to the Benin airport five minutes after taking off over what they described as failure to pay aerodrome and landing fees.

The pilot was threatened to fly back or the aircraft will be banned from flying. It was learnt that the governor who observed the argument between the pilot and the NAMA officials, prevailed on the pilot to come back and answer the call so as to sort out the issues raised.

But to the chagrin of the Governor and the pilot, they were delayed for over one hour thirty minutes even after the pilot paid the landing and aerodrome fees. After waiting for such hours, a visibly angry Oshiomhole en-

tered his vehicle and zoomed off. Saturday Vanguard later learnt that he headed to his village at Iyamho. He declined comment.

When newsmen met with the pilot, Captain Manahash, he was shocked by the incident, asserting that, “I have been a pilot for 35 years out of which 7 years in Nigeria. So I was surprised when I was recalled back to the airport after we took off. The Governor prevailed on me to come back and answer them. When we got back I was told to pay landing and aerodrome fees which ordinarily we could pay later.

“Even after completion of the process of payment, we were still delayed for one hour fifteen minutes with the governor still seated in the aircraft. Ordinarily payment of such fees doesn’t take more then ten minutes. This is not the first time I have been flying the governor and we have never witnessed such a disappointment. It is really shocking” he stated.

Saturday Vanguard learnt however that Oshiomhole’s ordeal might not be unconnected with the on-going onslaught against Governors who are perceived to be in support of Governor Amaechi’s re-election as Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum.

It was learnt that Oshiomhole was the one who insisted during the NGF election that the governors should see themselves as

democrats by conducting election for the NGF chairmanship, rather than consensus candidate which the pro Jonathan people were pushing for.

This it was learnt did not go down well with the anti Amaechi governors who had adopted Governor Jonah Jang as their chairman.

However, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Media, Prince Kaseem Afegbua, who reacted to the incident, asserted that “ I think the government of the day is competing with too many crisis and it is disturbing that governors are no longer respected, or recognized even in their own domain or when it is known that they were duly elected by the people.

“How else do you explain the role of NAMA clerk who grounded the governor’s aircraft and prevented him from keeping his appointment in Anambra state because he is acting out a script that has become the rule of

Pix shows the bad road at Odongunyan area after Ikorodu in Lagos State.

Pix : by Shola Oyelese. engagement by a dictatorial PDP regime. We remain unprovoked because we are civilized people” he stated.

When contacted on telephone, Mr Okolie of NAMA, told Saturday Vanguard, “I don’t have

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USPENDED Sokoto State Governor, Alhaji Aliyu Wamakko, will not quit the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, for any other one, Saturday Vanguard learnt yesterday.

An aide to the governor hinted that those who spearheaded the suspension of the governor might have made a big mistake, as their antics to edge him out of the party would not work.

Wamakko’s aide spoke just as it was learnt that majority of PDP leaders in

planning to ditch the party and work with the opposition following the perceived victimisation of members alleged to be opposed to President Goodluck Jonathan’s plans to contest the 2015 election.

The zone is made up of Kebbi, Sokoto, Kaduna, Katsina, Zamfara, Kano and Jigawa States.

Apart from Kaduna and Katsina, most of the states in the zone, voted for the opposition All People’s Party, APP, which later became the All Nigeria People’s Party, ANPP, during President Olusegun Obasanjo’s first term in

allow the pilot fly the helicopter conveying the governor to Anambra state. I am really angry, I don’t know why they did that and that is why I am still trying to make contacts because we have no problems with NAMA”.

Nigeria owes $6.67 billion external debt, says Okonjo-Iweala

BY EMMA UJAH, Abuja Bureau Chief

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HE Coordinating Minister for the Economy and Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, yesterday, put the nation’s external debt at $6.67 billion, (about N1.035 trillion). Nigeria spent $8.0429 billion to service debt in 2006 and $10.

1072 billion in 2005 be-

fore the debt relief of 2006.

However, the Minister said that the clarification became necessary in view of the various figures being quoted in the debate over the nation’s indebtedness.

Her words, “as at now, our external indebtedness is as low as $6.67 billion or about 3 percent of Gross Domestic Product, GDP.” According to her, “the

Suspension: You can’t frustrate me out of PDP success in Sokoto State. in 1999.

—Wamakko the North West zone were office Specifically, Sokoto By the time Obasanjo

BY SONI DANIEL, Regional Editor, North

anything for you.

The Managing Director of the OAS Helicopters, Mr Everest Nnaji, who was contacted, expressed disbelief over the incident, saying that, “I am still making calls to find out exactly why they did not

State was an ANPP state until Wamakko was wooed into the PDP in 2007. Before, bringing Wamakko into the PDP from the ANPP, the ruling party had adopted the current Deputy Governor of the state, Alhaji Muktar Shagari as its flag bearer, but the new arrangement later saw Shagari as subordinating himself to Wamakko, to ensure victory for the PDP at the polls then.

“Let me tell you the simple truth; Governor Wamakko is going nowhere.

He is the one who lifted the PDP from failure to

drafted him to the PDP, the party was losing election as a trademark. I suspect that those who do not wish the PDP well are the ones advising the Presidency and the National Working Committee, NWC, of the PDP to suspend those who have been helping them to win elections.

“I can tell you that rather than leave the PDP for any other party, Wamakko will still remain a strong force to be reckoned with in the PDP. You cannot build a house and leave it for onlookers,” the governor’s aide added.

external debt is typically owed to foreign creditors such as multilateral agencies [like the Africa Development Bank, World Bank, the Islamic Development Bank], as well as other bilateral sources [including the China Exim Bank, the French Development Bank or the Japanese Aid Agency], or to private creditors such as investors in our Eurobonds.”

The Minister said that most external loans were contracted on concessional terms.

“Many of the multilateral loans are at zero interests, 40 years maturity, and 10 years grace.

Others are at less than three percent rate of interest.”

Okonjo-Iweala assured that the Federal Government would continue to closely monitor the nation’s debt stock to keep it low.

Her words, “ we shall never be complacent about our national debt.

We need to be constantly vigilant to limit the amount of debt and create room for the private sector instead to borrow.

As such, we need to stay focused on three main

priorities. ‘’We should continue to monitor our external borrowing and ensure that we do not slip back to our high indebtedness prior to the debt relief programme. As I mentioned earlier, the External Borrowing Plan, helps to address this concern by ensuring that we always have a comprehensive, transparent view of our foreign borrowing. ‘’We should closely continue to monitor and limit our domestic debt, and ensure that it stays within a prudent and conservative range. We should pay off debt that is due to the extent of our ability. We should also continue to closely monitor borrowing by states to ensure that the debt burdens of our state governments remain within manageable levels and that borrowings are applied to specific projects that yield results for citizens of the state. In that regard, we enjoin banks and other lenders to be careful and prudent when lending to ensure that this is done within the existing rules, regulations and guidelines.”

4 — SATURDAY

Vanguard,JUNE 8 , 2013

Saturday TRIBUTE

Tributes galore as Senator Obi buries wife

BY VINCENT UJUMADU, Awka

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RIBUTES flowed freely yesterday in Awka during the burial of Mrs. Colette Ben-Obi, wife of the special adviser to President Goodluck Jonathan on intra party affairs, Senator Ben Ndii Obi, with the president of the Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor and other members of the clergy present saying the consolation to the family was that the deceased lived a fulfilled life.

The burial ceremony was indeed a gathering of who –is- who in Nigeria as politicians, the clergy and business moguls were there in large numbers.

The roll call included former vice president, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, deputy speaker of the House of Representatives, Chief Emeka Ihedioha, Anambra State governor, Mr. Peter Obi and his wife, Margaret, former senate presidents, Adolphus Wabara and Ken Nnamani.

Also present were Senator Uche Chukwumerije, Senator Hope Uzodinma, Senator Azu Agboti, former governor of old Anambra State, Chief Jim Nwobodo, former governor of Ebonyi State, Dr. Sam Egwu, former minister, Dr, Tom Ikimi, former INEC chairman, Professor Maurice Iwu, former Nigerian Ambassador to the USA, Dr. George Obiozor andformer governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Professor Chukwuma Soludo. There were also former national chairman of PDP, Chief Audu Ogbeh, former minister of women affairs, Mrs. Josephine Anenih, national chairman of APGA, Chief Victor Umeh, Nigerian Ambassador to Spain , Mrs. Bianca Ojukwu, Senator Mike Ajaegbo, national coordinator of Transform Nigeria Movement, Chief Obi Ochije, member of House of Representatives, Chief Ben Nwankwo and former minister of external affairs, General Ike Nwachukwu.

Multi millionaire, Prince Arthur Eze, business mogul, Alhaji Ishiaku Ibrahim, Alhaji Idi Farouk, Traditional ruler of Awka, Igwe Gibson Nwosu, chairman of South East Traditional Rulers Council, Igwe Cletus Ilomuanya and Obi Chris Onyekwulije of Umunya were also in attendance.

Primate of the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion), Most Rev Nicholas Okoh, in his sermon observed that the death of a

wife naturally creates uncertainty in the life of the man and assured Senator Obi that the best way to overcome the problem was to be close to God at all times.

He said: “Your marriage to Colette was a happy one while it lasted and the hope is that two of you will meet again to part no more. Your wife was a woman of great value and if she had a choice, she would not have

wished to die so as to continue to stay with you. But she had no choice because death is a necessary end.”

The cleric regretted that the disturbing aspect of things in Nigeria was that the people had lost their value system, adding that many people have forgotten that there would be a time when the earthly things would become valueless.

In his tribute, President Goodluck Jonathan ob-

served that by the passing of his wife, Senator Obi had lost an inspirational and a uniquely supportive partner and prayed God to grant him and his children the strength to cope with the pain of the loss. Governor Peter Obi, who commended prominent Nigerians for coming to sympathize with Senator Obi, said though Colette Obi was no more, the fact that she lived her life in accordance with the

Christian belief, inspired hope in those living.

Alhaji Atiku Abibakar in his tribute said that as a Moslem, he believes that it is God that gives life and it is He that takes it away at a time of His choosing, adding that all that is needed to be done is to thank God for the wonderful life she lived.

Others who sent condolence messages include the First Lady, Dame Patience Goodluck Jonathan, Vice President, Namadi Sambo,

Senate President, David Mark, deputy senate president, Ike Ekweremadu, former head of state, General Abdulsalami Abubakar, former Ghanaian president, Jerry Rawlings, former chief of staff, Commodore Ebitu Ukiwe and former chief justice of Nigeria, Justice Alpha Belgore (rtd). Governors of Lagos , Ogun, Abia, Edo , Ekiti, Ebonyi, Oyo, as well as ministers and members of the National Assembly also sent condolences.

LATE DEACONESS (CHIEF) MRS. COLETTE OJIRHOMU IN PIX. PHOTOS BY HILL EZEUGWU

Cross-section of Ndi Ben Obi’s family at the church service, Ben Atiku Abubakar, former Vice President of Nigeria (right) and Ndi Obi (2nd left) Chief Tom Ikimi

Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor, President CAN (left) and Rt. Rev. Ken Gov. Peter Obi of Anambra State and wife, Mrs. Margaret Obi Ifenene and General Ike Nwachukwu (Rtd)

Sen. Ken Nnamani, former Senate President (left) and Alhaji Isyaku Ibrahim

Chief Charles Soludo (right), former Governor of CBN and Prof. Maurice Iwu, former INEC Chairman

Hon. Chukwuemeka Ihedioha, Deputy Speaker House of Reps and R-L, HRH, Igwe Chris Onyekwuruje and Prince Arthur Eze, Hon. Ben Nwankwo, Chairman Committee on Culture & Tourism (Ezenakpo) House of Reps.

SATURDAY

Vanguard, JUNE 8, 2013 —5

Confusion, as police detonate explosive in Kaduna

BY LUKA BINNIYAT, KADUNA

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HERE was anxiety in in some parts of Kaduna, State yesterday as the police condoned off the busy Junction Road, in the heart of the city, before safely detonating an Improvised Explosive Device, IED, concealed in a computer carton and strategically placed on the road.

The incident which took place around 3pm led to a major traffic gridlock, leading to the Kaduna main market even as traders hurriedly locked up their shops on adjoining streets and ran for their safety.

Confirming the incident, Kaduna State Police Command Spokesman, DSP Aminu Lawan told Saturday Vanguard, “This afternoon, some vigilant passers-by saw a suspicious carton at the Junction road and immediately called the police. Our antibomb squad were mobilised to the place and they

confirmed that the computer carton was concealing an IED. “The roads linking the Junction Road were condoned off while those nearby were evacuated.

The bomb was then safely detonated. There was no injury of any kind. The bomb was not near any worship centre, as some

people were insinuating. If anything, it was near the Unity Bank. “We want to thank these vigilant residents who called the police and we urge everyone to report any suspicious object, persons or movements.

“We call on Kaduna residents to go about their business because there is nothing to worry about.”

FRSC impounds 49 vehicles in Kebbi fic mobile court was sequel

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HE Federal Road Safety Commission, FRSC, in Kebbi has impounded 49 vehicles for violating traffic rules.

The Sector Commander of the FRSC in Kebbi, Mr Seyi Daniel, made the disclosure in an interview with newsmen in Birnin Kebbi yesterday. ” We have so far impounded 49 vehicles that violated traffic rules and most of the offences border on failure to register vehicles.

“The operation of the traf-

to non registration of 50 per cent of vehicles and motorcycles.

“We will not relent in our effort to sanitise the highways.”

He said that the mobile court was a joint operation between the FRSC, Civil Defence, Internal Revenue Board and Magistrates’ Courts.

“The courts had assisted in the reduction of traffic offence that include out dated licence, over-loading and installation of number plates,” Daniel said.

Scene of the bomb scare in front of the Assembly of Church of God Junction Road, Kaduna yesterday. Photo by Olu Ajayi.

Ekiti monarch warns politicians against running down of traditional rulers

BY GBENGA ARIYIBI ADO EKITI

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first class traditional ruler in Ekiti State,Oba Adewumi Fasiku, the Elekole of Ikole Ekiti has warned politicians against run-

ning down of monarchs, saying traditional rulers are fathers to their subjects.

As leaders of the Action Congress of Nigeria in the area have adopted Dr Kayode Fayemi to run for second ter, Oba Fasikun

made this remark in his palace at Ikole Ekiti yesterday while welcoming leaders of the party to his palace.

ACN leaders had stormed the palace of the monarch to receive the blessing of all the 24 traditional rulers.

6 — SATURDAY Vanguard, JUNE 8, 2013

Murder: S-Court okays life sentence for ex-Naval Chief

BY IKECHUKWU NNOCHIRI

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HE Supreme Court, yesterday, sentenced a former naval chief, Mr Felix Olanrewaju Odunlami to life imprisonment after he was found guilty of snuffing life out of a commercial motorcycle rider in Lagos State in 2005.

The apex court, in a lead judgment prepared by Justice Bode Rhodes-Vivour, equally affirmed the dismissal of the convict from the Nigerian Navy as earlier decided by the General Court Martial and the Lagos Division of the Court of Appeal.

Specifically, Lieutenant Odunlami, with force number: NN 2121 was said to have killed the motorcyclist identified as Peter Edeh after the deceased accidentally brushed his car.

The convict was said to be travelling from the Lagos State Secretariat at Alausa in Ikeja to Apapa on July 25, 2005, when at the Allen Roundabout, the deceased hit his car from behind with his motorcycle.

On realising that the owner of the car was military personnel, Edeh was said to have knelt down to beg Odunlami for forgiveness.

However, Odunlami who was deeply infuriated, ignored Edeh’s plea, reached for his pistol from its holster and shot the deceased in his mouth thereby resulting to his instant death.

Enraged by the hardhearted action of the convict, passers-by were said to have pounced on him immediately and burnt his

car. It took the quick intervention of the police to rescue him from the mob which insisted that he ought to die.

Meantime, after an indepth investigation into the circumstances that surrounded the case, Odunlami, was on January 27, 2006, arraigned before a General Court Martial on a three-count charge.

He was charged with manslaughter, loss of serv-

ice item (for not being able to convincingly account for four rounds of 9mm live ammunition) and conduct to the prejudice of service discipline.

His offences were said to have ran contrary and punishable under sections 68(1)(a), 103(i) AFA 105 and 106 of the Armed Forces Act Cap A 20 laws of Nigeria.

He was subsequently found guilty and convicted on counts one and two,

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ORMER Ogun State Commissioner for Environment, Engineer Anthony Ojeshina has urged government at all levels to diversify the nation’s economy from its current dependency on oil proceeds and embrace industrialisation.

Ojeshina, a renowned environmentalist and international consultant, warned that Nigeria’s petroleum industry faces bleak future due to the increasing demands by many countries to exploit alternative sources of energy for domestic purposes.

court.

Meanwhile, upholding the decisions of the two lower courts yesterday, the Supreme Court, held that the appellant’s defence of provocation could not avail him in view of the glaring facts of the case.

The court equally held that the trial court could not exercise its discretion to give a lower sentence because under Section 105 of the Armed Forces Act, (under

which he was charged) “the trial judge has no discretion, but to sentence the appellant to life imprisonment.

“The confirming authority confirmed the sentence of life imprisonment and dismissal from service of the Nigerian Navy. It further stripped the appellant of his rank and directed that he was not entitled to his financial entitlements.

Bayelsa police killing: JTF nab gang leader

BY SAMUEL OYADOGHA, YENOGOA

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PERATIVES of the Joint Task Force in the Niger Delta code-named Operation Operation Shield have arrested the alleged mastermind of the killing of eleven policemen in the creek of South Ijaw local government area of Bayelsa State.

The suspect identified as Jackson Fabouwei aka Jasper Junior, aged 25, was arrested Thursday at Ikibiri, near Azuzuama in South Ijaw local government area.

The policemen were escorting a boat to Azuzuama and provide security for guests at the burial ceremony of late mother of ex-militant leader, Silky Torughedi a.k.a Young Shall Grow, when they were attacked and killed along the creek of Southern Ijaw on April 5, 2013 by armed gunmen.

Parading the suspect before newsmen at Sector 2

Jackson Fabouwei, a.k.a Jasper Junior, suspected mastermind of the killing of policemen in the creek of South Ijaw Local Government Area of Bayelsa State arressted by the Joint Task Force Thursday.

Command of the Joint Task Force, Commander of the Joint Task Force, Major General Bata Debiro said the arrest was achieved through sound intelligence gathering.

Represented by the Task Force Chief of Staff, Col Farouk Yahaya, the Com-

Only industrialisation, not oil, can transform Nigeria’s economy — ex-Ogun commissioner

BY DAUD OLATUNJI ABEOKUTA

even as the court sentenced him to life imprisonment for manslaughter and dismissed him from service on count two.

Dissatisfied with the verdict, the convicted naval officer went on appeal and lost. In its judgment delivered on January 31, 2011, the appellate court upheld the Court Martial’s decision and dismissed Odunlami’s appeal, a decision that led him to approach the apex

He spoke at the maiden edition of Guest Forum organized by the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) in Abeokuta, the state capital.

The former commissioner, who delivered a lecture entitled: “Industrialization, the key to Ogun State’s sustainable development,” charged the state government to explore ways of sustaining the state without dependence on federal allocation.

According to him, the current drivers of government in the Gateway State must create incentives for manufacturers in form of tax holidays, land and infrastructure and promote publicprivate partnership to

stimulate the economy.

He explained that industrialization of the country would importation of goods and services, there by reducing capital flight, and increase exportation of goods, thereby increasing foreign exchange and revenue generation to States.

Ojeshina said, “All countries that purchase Nigeria’s oil have been making alternative plans for their energy source. The United States that has deliberately refused to drill from her oil reserve over the last 25 years in order to preserve her reserve, has now commenced exploration and production activities under President Barack Obama.

mander said the JTF and other security agencies had been working seriously since the attack to track down the suspects to bring

them to justice.

He said, the JTF conducted series of operation around Lobia, Ukubie,

Ezetu, Ekeni and Azuzuama in Southern Ijaw LGA to haunt for these and other criminals.

According to him, this led to the arrest of some of the suspects, the destruction of their hideouts and recovery of some of their arsenals.

These operations, he said, destabilised the criminals and put them on the run while the deployment of troops to Azuzuama and Lobia made those areas untenable for them.

He said, “the suspect before you is the Jackson Fabouwei alias Jasper Junior. He is the mastermind of the dastardly act of April 5, 2013 that killed 11 policemen. He was arrested on June 6, around Ikibiri, near Azuzuama in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area.

Humanitarian organisations call on FG to honour Olorogun Okolie welfare of people of variBY TOMMY ANADUAKA

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RGANISATIONS in Delta State engaged in humanitarian services and care for the downtrodden/less privileged in the society have called on the federal government to grant a National Award to a Deltan philanthropist, Olorogun Ngozi

Okolie.

The plea is contained in a communiqué issued by the group at the end of its general meeting held in Warri.

The group described Olorogun Okolie as not only a true Deltan but also a Nigerian that has used his hard earned money to show love and concern to the overall

ous cadre.

The body noted that a National Award on Olorogun Ngozi Okolie, a former Commissioner and currently a director incharge of Delta-North in the office of the Direct Labour Agency, Asaba would go a long way to spur him to do more and serve as encouragement and honour.

Court docks man for bitting off neighbour’s ear His

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HE police yesterday arraigned a 32-yearold man, Ganiu Adeleke, before an Ibadan Chief Magistrates’ Court for allegedly biting off the lower part of his neighbour’s ear.

The prosecutor, Sgt. Foluke Adedosu, said the accused in the company of another person now at large, committed the crime

on April 26 at about 10 p.m. at Ashaka area of Ibadan.

Adedosu alleged that the suspect committed the crime with intent to leave an indelible mark on his victim, Aminat Otunkoyka.

The accused, however, pleaded not guilty to the two-count charge of conspiracy and assault.

lawyer, Tope Olayinka, thereafter applied to the court for bail on liberal terms.

Chief Magistrate Adams Adeshina granted the accused bail in the sum of N20,000 with two reliable sureties in like sum.

He subsequently, adjourned the matter to June 18 for further hearing.

SATURDAY

Vanguard, JUNE 8, 2013 — 7

NGF will not disintegrate — Gov Dickson •Declares N29.5bn balance for May

BY SAMUEL OYADONGHA

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ONTRARY to speculations making the rounds, Governor Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa State has expressed optimism that the current crisis rocking the Nigerian Governors Forum (NGF) would not make it to disintegrate.

Governor Dickson made this remark at a state banquet organized in honour of the National Executive Committee of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) in Yenagoa.

He said, the forum would come out of its present challenge unscathed and better repositioned to play the roles expected of it to stabilize the polity as well as strengthen the nation’s democracy.

According to the Governor, efforts are already underway to amicably resolve the crisis, stressing however that the emerging new NGF will not operate like a trade union but collaborate effectively with the federal government with a view to moving the country to greater heights.

Governor Dickson, who vehemently disagreed with those calling for the dissolution of the body, argued that the forum’s continued existence was relevant as it functions as a peer review mechanism.

His words, “Mr. President of the Bar Association was right about the history of our NGF and how we copied the tradition of the American Governors’ Association. Some say because of this development (crisis) the NGF is not necessary. But I disagree. We need the NGF as a peer review mechanism. The NGF will come up strong and united after all of this.

Meanwhile, at the monthly Transparency Briefing in Yenagoa, the Commissioner for Finance, Mr. Duate Iyabi announced N24.6bn as total inflow from the Federation Account after statutory deductions and capital payments as at the end of May, 2013.

Giving a breakdown of the figure, he explained that, the amount was made up Statutory Allocation of N2.7bn, Derivation fund

was N12.4bn, SURE-P came to N1bn, Excess Crude N4.6bn, Augumentation of N2.9bn and NNPC Refund of N233m.

On deductions, Mr. Iyabi explained that, the sum of N1.2bn was deducted for bond repayment, N11.1m for the servicing of foreign loans, refund on Derivation Indices for 2010 gulped N392m, while N41m went for commercial agricultural credit scheme refund.

The commissioner who announced an all time high IGR of N1.3bn, noted that total inflow after FAAC Deductions amounted to N22.3bn.

In his remarks,

Chairman of the occasion, Chief Serena Dokubo-Spiff commended the Governor for making the legal profession proud by giving the people of Bayelsa a purposeful leadership.

Also speaking, President of the Nigerian Bar Association, Mr. Okey Wali (SAN) expressed appreciation to Governor Dickson for providing a conducive atmosphere for the Association’s meeting in which fundamental issues bordering on the welfare of its members, a befitting national secretariat and the need to amend the Nigerian constitution were discussed.

Gov. Theodore Orji of Abia state (center) commissioning the chest clinic built and donated to Abia state by AGBANI group in Amachara-Umuahia.

With him from left are; Rt. Hon. Udo Oko-Chukwu, Speaker, Abia house of Assembly, Mr Emeh Onyekaba, Perm. Sec. Ministry of Health, Mr. Joe Jakpa, PH area manager, Chevron Ltd. and extreme right Prof. Augustus Mbanaso, CMD. Abia State Specialist Hospital and Diagnostic Centre.

Tears, eulogies, as slain Nwike, ex-Anambra deputy gov goes In his tribute to the family of home Among the dignitaries others.

The funeral rites which be- the deceased, the former govDr. Chudi Nwike as his re- present to bid him farewell

BY VINCENT UJUMADU, NWABUEZE OKONKWO Awka

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EARS flowed freely at the graveside of the slain former deputy governor of Anambra State and incumbent South East Zonal chairman of the Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN,

mains was committed to mother earth yesterday at his country home, Ibollo Village, Ogbunike in Oyi Local Government Area of Anambra State.

His corpse was lowered to the white tiled grave at about 1.30 p.m. inside his compound amidst grief, eulogies and sober reflections from sympathizers, friends, wellwishers and political associates.

were the former Governor of the state, Dr. Chukwuemeka Ezeife under whose administrationthelateNwikeserved as his deputy; Senator Chris Ngige, Chief Chekwas Okorie, Hon. Ben Nwankwo representing Orumba North/ South Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives; Governor Peter Obi; the former Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Ogbonna Onovo, among

AOCOED, organises career programme Deans of in themselves and work for youths programmes, schools, members of hard.

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OUTHS across the states have been admonished to shun social vices and imbibe virtues of integrity and honesty. This advise was given by Dr. Biodun Akinpelu of Faculty of Education Lagos State university on Tuesday 28th May, at the flagg-off occasion of Career and Sensitization programme with the theme: ”Youth and Nation Building: Matters Arising”, held at the Auditoriu I of Adeniran Ogunsanya College of Education (AOCOED) Otto-Ijanikin.

The event which was organized by the Adeniran Ogunsanya College of Education’s Centre For Lagos State Studies (CEFOLASS) in conjunction with National Union of Lagos State Student (NULASS), was graced by eminent Educators, Director of

academia, and nonteaching staff as well as students from various institutions across the state.

Mr. Biodun Akinpelu, the guest speaker at the occasion identified cultism, exam malpractice, peer group influences, drug abuse and nudity as major issues confronting youths in various institutions.

While speaking on exam malpractice, Dr. Biodun noted that it has eaten deep into the educational system both at secondary and tertiary level, stressing that it has become a tragedy to the nation. He further noted that the root cause of such practice is the GetRich-Syndrome which has affected most youths today, a desire to get a certificate without working for it.

Added to this is low self esteem among students, he observed. He therefore urged the youths to believe

gan with Holy Mass at the St Vincent Catholic Church; Ogbunike, was officiated by a Catholic priest, Rev Fr. Vincent Ejembi from Aokpe, Benue state who in his homily, admonished Christians to always remain faithful in God while calling on those that killed the former Deputy Governor to repent from their evil ways.

Rev Ejembi who started by saying that the perpetrators of the dastardly act could be in the church also called for repentance of those who indulge in all sorts of crime, addingthatunlesstheyrepent and turn to Christ, the wrath of God will come upon them.

ernor of Anambra state under whom the deceased served as Deputy, Dr. Chukwuemeka Ezeife said he was shocked by the death of his beloved obedient Deputy Governor, adding, I know how to talk and I can talk but if I begin to talk now, I may collapse. So, may his soul rest in perfect peace”.

He said the problem of the country has always been that of insecurity, adding “what I write is the loss of conscience in the country where human beings turn to beasts” and urged the family of the deceasedtotakesolaceinGod and prayed God to grant him eternal rest.

Briefs Kwara to install 100 transformers in 16 LGAs

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HE Kwara Government on Friday in Ilorin said it had released 100 electricity transformers for installation in rural communities across the state’s 16 Local Government Areas (LGAs).

The state’s Commissioner for Information and Communication, Mr Tunji Moronfoye, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that the measure was aimed at accelerating socioeconomic development in rural areas. ”When electricity is available in rural areas, it will reduce the ruralurban drift and boost

the economy of rural areas.”

The commissioner who did not list the communities to benefit from the transformer

installation gave an assurance that several communities would benefit across the state’s three senatorial districts.

Scholarship fund launching

I

LLUSTRIOUS sons and daughters of lssele Uku under the aegis of The Elite Group of Issele-Uku Kingdom’, United States of America, and Nigeria will on Saturday June 15, converge for the launching of Rev S.W. Martins Scholarship fund.

The Scholarship fund, according to Chief Francis Ozoma, a member of the planning and coordinating committee, will be used to provide financial assistance

to the under~privileged and needy students in the junior and senior secondary schools.

It would be recalled that Rev Martins devoted his entire earthly life to the promotion of education, missionary activities and philanthropy and through his assistance, many sons and daughters of lssele-Uku were taken to U.S.A. and trained in various fields

8 — SATURDAY Vanguard, JUNE 8, 2013

Don’t pass Arbitration Regulatory Commission Bill, NBA-SBL urges Senate

BY BARTHOLOMEW MADUKWE

N

IGERIA Bar Association, NBA, Section on Business Law, SBL, has urged the Senate to decline passage of the National Arbitration Regulatory Commission Bill.

Chairman of the section, Mr Gbenga Oyebode, the main crux of SBL’s opposition to the bill borders on the non constitutionality of the Bill as it infringes on the rights of people to freely practice arbitration.

He, said that the section was prepared to host its 7th conference, slated for June 17-19 at Eko Hotel, Lagos.

Speaking further on SBL opposition to the proposed arbitration bill, he said the arbitration by its nature does not need to be subjected to government because of the confidentiality of clients and the fact that the industry was self regulatory.

He added that SBL has a focus on continuous legal education through its various committees saying the conference will be rounded off with the chairman dinner.

On the forthcoming conference, with the theme: “The legal profession in an emerging economy,” Oyebode pointed out that the SBL has decided to choose a prominent Indian lawyer, Harold Paisner to speak on the theme to underscore the need to tap from jurisdictions that share common practice with Nigeria.

Dignitaries expected to attend the SBL

M

R Oluwaseun Ogunbambo, who is standing trial before a Lagos State High Court, Ikeja, over alleged fuel subsidy fraud, has petitioned the Chief Judge of Lagos State, Justice Ayo Philips, alleging bias against the trial judge.

Ogunbambo in the petition to the CJ, is praying for the transfer of his case from the trial judge, Justice Onigbanjo, citing third party influence on the judge.

The petitioner said that the case file in two suits Nos. ID/116C/12 and ID/ 122C/2012 should be taken to any other judge in the state in the interest of justice, as he has lost confidence in the trial judge.

“I write this letter, seeking transfer of the criminal proceedings brought against me by Economic and Financial Crimes Commission from Justice Onigbanjo to any other judge of the High Court.”

He alleged that the

From left, Deputy Governor State of Osun, Mrs Titi Laoye-Tomori; Governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola and Squad Leader, Osun Indigenes in the Nigerian Air Force Basic Military Training Course 30/2012, Corporal Adesiyan Kehinde, during a Courtesy Visit to the Governor in his office, Osogbo the State of Osun recently

We’ve achieved a lot in Borno — JTF M

AJ.-GEN. John Ewanshia, Commander of the Joint Task Force, JTF, in Borno, on Thursday in Maiduguri said the task force had recorded a lot of achievements since its operations began on May 14.

Subsidy fraud suspect alleges bias, petitions Lagos CJ

BY INNOCENT ANABA

conference include the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Mariam Aloma Mukhtar; Attorney General of the Federation, Mr Bello Adoke, SAN and the Lagos Chief Judge, Justice Ayotunde Phillips.

The governors of Lagos, Ekiti, Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa states are also expected as special guests at the event amongst others.

Apart from the main theme, other typical issues to be discussed at the two days conference are Niger Delta Amnesty Programme and Power Sector Reforms.

judge has made up his mind to jail him before the commencement of trial, adding that this was evident when his counsel applied for bail, but same was denied, as he was the only oil marketer denied bail out of those that were arraigned before the judge.

He noted that the said ruling of the judge was, however, set aside by the Court of Appeal, alleging that the turning down of the bail application was as result of prejudicial matter introduced into the matter

by EFCC, which involved the Stanbic IBTC bank with respect to a loan, which was unrelated to the subsidy matter.

He further alleged that it took him some time to realise that hard stance taken against him was premised on the fact that the judge was bais against him.

The petitioner alleged that notwithstanding the out of court settlement proposal written by the bank to the commission, withdrawing the case, he was stunned by the manner the judge turned down the bail application on the loan issue.

Ewanshia said this during the two-day tour organised for journalists to have firsthand information about on-going military operations in the state.

He said the task force was currently working on the basis of the state of emergency declared recently by President Goodluck Jonathan to restore law and order to Borno, Yobe and Adamawa states.

“As we speak, the operations are on-going

and a lot of grounds had been covered and achievements had been recorded, but I won’t go into details.

“I will rather allow the gentlemen in the field to do the briefings,” the force commander said at the beginning of the tour.

A member of the JTF, Lt.Col. Danladi Hassan, who is Commander of Combat Team One, said there had been tremendous progress.

While conducting journalists round the

suspected terrorists’ camp in Kirenowa, about 60 kilometres to Nigeria’s border with Chad Republic, Hassan said the suspects left their camp on May 16.

He said this was after an encounter with the JTF and the group’s members had lived under the trees, to evade being spotted.

“This is to ensure that the rays of sunlight, as well as our surveillance from the aircraft does not expose them,” the troop leader

said.

He said the camp also served as a training ground for the boys they recruited into the outlawed Boko Haram sect.

Hassan explained that members of the outlawed sect had destroyed their belongings when they discovered that the Federal Government troops were advancing towards them.

He also said when the troops moved into the camp, they discovered some drugs which were

MKO’s wife wants Fashola’s job M

ODUPE OnitiriAbiola, one of the wives of the late Chief MKO Abiola, ysterday declared her intention to contest the 2015 governorship election in Lagos State.

Onitiri-Abiola, wife of the acclaimed winner of the annulled June 12, 1993 presidential elections, however, did not mention the party’s platform on which she would contest.

She told newsmen in Lagos that her motive of seeking the votes of the electorate was to assist in the eradication of poverty.

Onitiri-Abiola said that she worked with her late husband in the struggle for the actualisation of the June 12 mandate annulled by the military regime of former president, Ibrahim Babangida, in 1993.

She said that the country needed to start

practising true democracy at all levels of government to meet the yearnings and aspirations of Nigerians.

The aspirant said if she became successful at the polls, poverty eradication would be the focus of her government.

She said that the same issue should be the major concern of governments at all levels.

“There should be no poverty in this state or in this country. There is so much poverty on the ground and the situation on ground is extremely terrible, worse than what we thought it was at that time, but, I am trying to look at what exactly is in the interest, actually, true interest of the people.

“What I am trying to do now is eradication of poverty; and, I know once you remove poverty,

you remove everything and for you to be able to remove poverty, you need to have so many

programmes.”

10 students win Dubai trip

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EN Students won a four-day trip to Dubai, at the Children’s Day event organized by Solution Media and Infotech Limited, as over 52 schools gathered to celebrate the day.

The event took place at the Pavilion, Tafawa Balewa Square (TBS) Lagos featured schools such as Treasure House Nursery and Primary school, Mayday college Surulere, Government College Surulere etc.

Children engaged in games such as basketball, machine gun adventures, car races, video games and dance competition.

Christ Redeemer International School came first position overall, in the junior secondary schools category, winning a trip to Dubai; Veritas College came second position, winning N500,000 prize while International School Unilag came third with N250,000 prize.

Paceli School for the Blind, in the senior primary school section, came third.

Present at the event was the Managing Director of Solution Media and Infotech Limited, Mr. Adeyanju Lipede, the First Lady of Lagos State, Dame Abimbola Fashola, was represented by Mrs. Rhoda Ayinde.

SATURDAY

Vanguard, JUNE 8, 2013 — 9

Oba, seven others remanded in prison

BY ONOZURE DANIA & IJEOMA NATHANIEL

A

N Oba of Egbin in Ikorodu, Oba Adeoriyomi Obateru, 48 and seven others were yesterday arrainged before a Chief Magistrate Court sitting in Ikeja, over an alleged murder of one inspector Ikpi Ikipi. The presiding Magistrate, Demi-Ajayi, ordered that the defendants be remanded in Kirikiri Maximum prisons.

The others suspects are Oderinde Olawole 51, Saliu Bilinu 43, Hassan Otija 25, Yaya Olaiya 26, Kamolu Odunbanjo 30, Yusuf Sulaimon Alabi (alias Suddan) 33 and Adesina Ojo 32.

The defendants who were docked before Chief Magistrate O.A Demi-Ajayi, are facing eleven-count charge of conspiracy, murder, attempted murder, robbery, terrorism and unlawful confraternity, preferred against them by the police.

The defendants and others at large, were said to have committed the alleged crime between 21 and 22 of May 2013, at Imowonla Village in Ikorodu area of Lagos.

When the charge was read to the defendants, they pleaded not guilty to the eleven count charge preferred against them by the police but their plea was not taken.

The prosecutor, Acting Superintendent of Police Chukwu Agwu, told the court that Oba Obateru alongside others committed the alleged crime on May 22, 2013, at about 2.25am at Imowonla Villiage in Ikorodu area of Lagos.

He said that the Oba unlawfully killed one Inspector Ikpi Ikpi, aged 45,who was attached to Mopol 22 Police Squadron in Ikeja, by shooting him with a gun.

Agwu, said that Obateru and the other defendants, attempted to murder one Corporal Iwaloye Olasunbo, with number F/NO 595875 and Corporal Daniel Amodu with NO 44541 attached to Mopol 22 Police Squardron Ikeja by inflicting cuts on their heads and all over their body with matchets, which caused them grievious harm.

Counsel to the Oba and second and third defendants, O. Fabunmi,told the court that the name of the first defendant is different from what is on the charge sheet, giving the supposedly right name as Akeem Adeoriyomi Oyebo, the

Obateru of Egbin in Ikorodu via Ijede.

He said that it is the wrong person that has been brought to court, adding that

the charge preferred against the first defendant is a wrong charge because of the name.

Fabunmi, urged the court

to grant the first defendant bail in a very liberal term but the Magistrate refused his bail application on the grounds that the case be-

fore her is unlawful killings and as such she won’t grant him bail.

However Magistrate Demi-Ajayi, ordered that

the defendants be remanded in Kirikiri Maximum prisons pending the DPP’s advice and adjourned to July, 29, 2013.

Enugu concessions Sunrise Flour Mills to Vietnamese Coy •As Chime honours 21 Youth Corps members

BY TONY EDIKE

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NUGU State Govern ment has handed over the State owned Sunrise Flour Mills Emene, Enugu to Dao Gia Vtv Nigeria Limited, a Vietnamese-Ni-

geria Company for resuscitation.

This is part of the Sullivan Chime administration’s determination to attract foreign investors that would boost the economy of the state and create jobs for the unemployed.

The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between the government and the firm early this year. The very brief but colourful ceremony which took place at the premises of the company was the cli-

Pupils of Christ Redeemer International School (middle), receiving their star prize dummy ticket from the Chief Executive Officer, Solution Media and Infotech Limited, Mr. Adeyanju Lipede (left), during the presentation of Children's Day High Impact 4 Creative Kids held in Lagos on May Day .With them is the Executive Director, Solution Media and Infotech limited, Mr. Adeyeloye Lipede

FRSC arraigns 89 traffic violators in Delta

BY FESTUS AHON UGHELLI

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HE Federal Road Safety Commission, FRSC, zone 5, has arraigned at east 89 persons for violating traffic rules in Delta State as part of its effort to reduce the rate of accidents on Nigerian roads.

Seventy-eight out of the 89 traffic violators who were arraigned before a mobile Magistrate court presided over by Mr Emmanuel Olunwa at Alishime, a boundary town between Edo and Delta state, were convicted with an option of fine, while the others were discharged and acquitted.

Assistant Corps Marshal, ACM in-charge of the zone, Mr Ayo Olaniran said the special operation code-named ‘Operation Shield’ was designed by the commission as a special intervention to shield road users from the hazards of roads

especially crashes and the attendant injuries and fatalities.

He said; “of the 273 vehicles that were stopped during the week-long exercise, 188 were booked for offences ranging from

seat belt violation, over speeding, overloading, light and sign violation and others,” adding that; “most of the motorists were allowed to go after they were cautioned and

max to months of deliberations, consultations and negotiations between the state government and the company.

Speaking at the handing over ceremony, the State Governor, Mr. Sullivan Chime who was represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Mr. Amechi Okolo described the ceremony as another significant milestone towards the actualization of his government’s promise to partner with local and foreign inventors to establish new businesses and revive the ailing industries.

Meanwhile, twenty-one (21) Batch ‘B” 2012 NYSC Corps members who served in Enugu State have received honours award from the state government for their exceptional performances during the service year.

Security expert urges JTF to focus on hunt for weapons of mass destruction

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ENOWN security ex pert, Dr. Ona Ekhomu has advised Nigerian military authorities to focus on search for weapons of mass destruction in order to cripple the capability of terrorists to carry out spectacular attacks in the country.

Aggressive searches and seizures of weapon would greatly limit the ability of terrorists to carry out bomb-

UNIBEN student killing: Edo Police Command sends case file to DPP BY SIMON EBEGBULEM B/CITY

B

ARELY 24 hours after the body of the 22 years old University of Benin (UNIBEN) student who was killed by the police last week Wednesday, Ibrahim Momodu, was exhumed for autopsy by the police, the Edo state Police Command yesterday, forwarded the case file to the Director of Public Prosecutions for legal Advice.

The state Commissioner of police, Mr Folunsho Adebanjo, who condemned any form of extra judicial killing, disclosed that the

DPO of Ogida Police Station, Mrs Carol Afegbai and her orderly PC Amadin Idahosa, who were alleged to have shot at the deceased, have been redeployed with a view to facilitate further investigations into the matter.

It would be recalled that the state governor, Adams Oshiomhole had set up a judicial panel of inquiry to investigate the killing of the final year UNIBEN students , following the outcry by the family that their son was not an armed robber contrary to the claim by the police that he was arrested with guns and was shot

The awards were presented by the State Governor, Mr. Sullivan Chime represented by his deputy, Mr. Sunday Onyebuchi on the occasion of the passingout ceremony of the year’s corps members, at Michael Okpara Square, Enugu.

Twenty-seven other corps members received commendation letters at the ceremony for their various contributions in the areas of their primary assignment towards the development of their host communities.

The State Governor ’s NYSC Honours award came with a cash prize of N100,000 for the first position while 2nd to the 10th positions received N80,000 cash each. The State NYSC Governing Board Chairman’s Merit award winners received a cash prize of N60,000 each.

while evading arrest.

But the Edo CP who briefed newsmen on the incident, expressed the readiness of the police to investigate the matter, just as he urged all the parties to maintain peace while the investigations are carried out. According to him, “ looking at the scenario now, it might be too early for any one to dismiss either the claim of the police or that of the bereaved family. In order to demonstrate the Edo state Police management team’s desire for justice and fairness as it concerns this case, the case file has been forwarded to the DPP for legal advice.

ings, shootings, killings and maiming.

Reacting to the seizure this week of a large cache of arms on Gaya Street, Bompai Kano, Ekhomu said that Nigeria was under grave threat from weapons of mass destruction (WMDs). He said that it was unfortunate that foreigners were always implicated in plans to undermine Nigerian security.

Adding that it was totally unacceptable for a foreigner to sell dangerous weapons in Nigeria including surface to air missiles that could constitute grave threat to Nigerian civil aviation.

Ekhomu, who is also Chairman of the School of Management and Security in Lagos commended the Joint (Military) Task Force (JTF) on the large arms haul and urged security agents to expand the search for weapons throughout the country. He said that the JTF team that made the arms seizure should be rewarded to motivate other service personnel to exhibit greater alertness in the search for weapons of mass destruction.

10—SATURDAY Vanguard, JUNE 8, 2013

BY CHIOMA GABRIEL Across the nation’s states, there is a class of children who neither feel good nor happy. Their outlook paints a vivid picture of their state of helplessness. They appear unkempt and totally hopeless regarding their future. In their tattered clothes, they find homes in the most filthy and awkward places like abandoned buildings, under overhead bridges and school premises. Usually, they retire to these “abodes” at dusk and dash out early in the morning before the prying eyes of security agents or the rightful owners of the structures turn out for business.

Holding a bottle of water mixed with little soap, another detergent in one hand and an improvised brush in the other, he walks up to a car in traffic uninvited, and begins to wash its windscreen, hoping the car owner or driver would be compassionate enough to give him some money.

At the other end of the road, a teenage girl of school age hawks oranges when she should ordinarily be in the classroom.

Yet, there are others whose only source of livelihood is begging for alms. These ones approach you with words that will soften any heart. In that brief encounter of less than

Sorr y tales of Nigeria’s kids living on the streets The best way to make children good is to make them happy — Oscar Wilde When I grew up, I married,” she says, rather proudly. “I used to carry my husband around to beg. Now, he is sick and I’m doing the begging with my child one minute, they will tell you the grief they have been passing through.

Welcome to the lives of Nigeria’s street kids! They seem uncovered by the Nigerian constitution which clearly spells out in Section 34, sub-section 1c that “no person shall be required to

perform forced or compulsory labour.” Many of them, indeed, are “forced” to perform “compulsory labour.”

And because “pretty much all the honest truth telling there is in this world is done by children” . As Oliver Wendell Holmes said, these needy children make no pretences about their poor state nor would they conceal the hardship they had been made to endure.

However, there are some among them who turn to odd jobs and use the proceeds to train themselves in schools or to start off a trade.

Their reasons for resorting to living off the street are common: abject poverty, battle to survive, being deceived to come to the cities for nonexistent jobs and/or househelps pushed to hawk or into the streets by their host families.

For Sa’adatu Ibrahim, she had lived in the street since she was five. She is now 16 and says it is her child that now does the job more.

“This (begging) is what I have been doing from when I was very young, maybe about five years. I was living with my mother in the Quarters in Oyingbo. At that time, I was giving my mother whatever I made. We also had an overall head. Even my mother went to deliver daily account to him.”

The more pathetic story is that Sa’a (as she prefers to call herself) married a cripple who himself was a beggar.

“When I grew up, I married,” she says, rather proudly. “I used to carry my husband around to beg. Now, he is sick and I’m doing the begging with my child.

“It is not nice to beg. I know it but what do I do? Some of

us become sick and die.

Others run back to the North.

Some of us (girls) marry beggars like us who have no homes. Some just get belle (pregnant) and they give them husbands.

“The girls don’t go far because there is always someone watching them. The boys, at times, go back to the North. Some get jobs as mai guard (security guards) or mai suya (meat sellers) in Lagos.”

But is there really anything that can persuade Ibrahim to stop begging? “I don’t like it.

Many of us don’t like to beg.

We do it because we don’t have anything (with which) to feed ourselves. If the government gives me a job as a cleaner today, I will stop this work.”

Okechukwu Chibueze, 14, is an Ebonyi State indigene.

He was lured by his uncle to join the latter’s retail business. He knew he ought to be at school rather than on the streets. But poverty drove him out of home to an uncertain future.

“It was my uncle who brought me to Lagos,” he told Saturday Vanguard. “We were selling air freshner, dryer, key holders and other things for him. I found out that one had to trek all over Lagos to sell these things.

Sometimes, we would trek to many places without food and without sales. And we were only allowed to take pure water.

“One day, a friend of mine told me we should go to where there’s always traffic and where there is traffic light so that when the light shows red, we could wash people’s windscreens. He told me that the kind ones would give us money.

“That is what I have been doing instead of going up and down without food. I didn’t want to starve to death.

I must not deny what God has done for me. At the end of the day, one makes up to N500 or more . On a very bad day, you can make less.

“But the trouble now is that many other children are getting into the business. You see small small boys of about seven, eight years doing the same work. I may soon quit or change location.”

Though he prefers what he does today to life in the past, Okechukwu is far from recommending it to other young people. “No, I don’t support any child from a good (wealthy) background to do it. I’m doing it because I have no choice. I would have loved to continue with my

Continues on page 11

SATURDAY Vanguard, JUNE 8, 2013—11

SORRY TALES OF NIGERIA’S KIDS LIVING ON THE STREETS

Continued from page 10 education and not drop out.

But there was nobody to help me.

“Again, there are some car owners and drivers who are very wicked. That they won’t give you money is not the problem. The way they would shout at you and talk to you would make you cry when you get home. Such people should know that if we had the opportunity, we would want to be like their own children, going to good schools and not lacking anything.”

The job of cleaning people’s windsreens without invitation comes with its own hazards, as Chibueze learnt one day. It was a bitter lesson and an experience he says he will not forget.

Hear him: “One day, in the process of lifting someone’s wiper, I broke it. I have never cried like I did on that day because the man actually told me not to wash his windscreen. He just parked his car and arrested me. As I was crying, other people continued begging him to forgive me. When he released me, I felt like going back to my village. But what will I be doing if I decide to go home tomorrow?”

Olufemi Lawal, 15, shares the same feelings with Chibueze. “I have done all kinds of jobs since I came to Lagos from Abeokuta. I have hawked pure water, sweets and biscuits. But how many people buy sweets and biscuits? And it’s like everybody is now hawking pure water.

One day, in the process of lifting someone’s wiper, I broke it. I have never cried like I did on that day because the man actually told me not to wash his windscreen “So, I decided to join those who clean car windscreens when there is go-slow (traffic jam). You don’t need much capital to start off. Just a bucket, detergent, water and a brush and that’s it. I have done this in many parts of Lagos: from Apapa to Ijora and sometimes Ojuelegba bridge. But it is frustrating.

Some people don’t want you to even touch their vehicles.

Some will not give you anything after you had finished washing their windscreen. Some people will even shout at you when you come close as if you are a thief.”

What are his ambitions?

“Ah, ambition ke! If I have money, I’ll get a shop and start something. I’m also not too old to return to school. I left school when I was in JSS II because my father and mother separated. My mother said she could not train three of us at the same time and I decided to come and see what I could do in Lagos.”

Isa Abubakar (8) and Idris Salihu (10) spoke to us through an interpreter. Hear Abubakar: “I’m not in school

because I don’t have anybody to train me. My father is dead and only my mother can’t send four of us to school.

That’s why we beg.”

A

sked to choose between going to school and begging, Isa replied: “If I see somebody to help me, I’ll like to go to school.”

And what about his other siblings? “Three of us are doing the same thing with our mother, but we don’t know where Shehu (first son) is. He left the house since last year.”

Salihu’s case is not different. “I would like to work if you can give me one,” said the twelve-year old. “Yes, I like to work than to beg. But there is no job for me to do. I live with my family.”

Asked who his father is, and where they live, Idris looked a bit agitated. “I don’t know.

Why do you want to know?”

“Just to go and beg your father to send a fine boy like you to school,” he was told.

“Will you give him money?”

“Yes,” he was told.

“Then, give it to me to take it to him,” he hit back. He

smiled and walked away.

Tina Mordi, 13, hawks oranges. She told Saturday Vanguard: “I was brought here by one of my relations to live with one family. My parents were told that I would help my madam (who’s nursing a baby) to take care of the child when she goes to work and to learn a trade in the evening. This is my second year and I’ve not started anything. I’m not happy doing this but I know that one day, I’ll find a way to go home.”

Temitope Mudashiru from Badagry, Lagos State ran away from his grandmother under whose custody he had been for years. His mother re-married and now lives with her husband in Osun State. What bothers Mudashiru more is that he does not know his father or how to trace him; neither does he know his mother very well because he had always lived with his grandmother who is now old.

“I have lived under the bridges for a long time,” Temitope revealed. “I have been a bus conductor and sometimes, my friends and I stay at the bus-stops to carry loads. There are some lorries that bring in big loads from the North to Lagos. I mean trailers and even containers for some big companies around the market. We do the off-loading and at the close of the day, they pay us and I go to where I usually sleep.

Sometimes, we sleep inside the vehicles which are no longer in good condition and use them as our house.

“There are days too that

there is no business at all. For instance, since Easter, business has not been good because some of these companies that bring in the goods opened not too long ago. So, we just hang around, looking for small businesses to do. Sometimes too, I join vehicles plying Ojuelegba and do the conductor job but not all the time. There are even days I don’t do anything and I sleep throughout the day.

“But I want you to know that I don’t do drugs. I don’t steal. Many Nigerians think that those of us who sleep under the bridges are Igbo (Indian hemp) smokers or that we are all thieves. It is not true. Some people do this, I agree, but it’s not everybody. Some of us are there because we have nobody to support us.”

Temitope’s dream is to meet his parents. “My greatest desire is to meet my mother so that she will tell me who my father is. I’d asked my grandmother but she said she doesn’t know. I want to learn a job or start a business but I don’t have the money.

Maybe, if I meet my father one day, he will be able to help me. I am not happy the way I’m living because sometimes, policemen come to arrest us. I don’t want this kind of life.”

Emmanuel Inyang hails from Ugep in Cross River State but hawks oranges.

“I live with one aunty who is Igbo,” he says. “My cousin brought me to Lagos and handed me to her. I don’t know whether I’m paid any money (salary) because it was my cousin who discussed with her.

“Her (the woman’s) kids go to school but I don’t. I don’t like how I am treated. I am always the last to sleep. I don’t eat when they are eating. I’ve told my cousin (that) I want to go home but he says I should wait a little .”

Inyang knows that things would not dramatically change for the better when he returns home. But he prefers to endure whatever deprivations than to be enslaved. “The other day, a bus hit one boy who was selling groundnut and I don’t know whether he died or not.

I don’t want that kind of thing to happen to me.

“If government makes education free at all levels, it will help many of us from poor families. I am ready to return to school if I see someone who can train me. I am not happy that my madam’s children go to school and I only wash

Continues on page 12

12—SATURDAY Vanguard, JUNE 8, 2013

SORRY TALES OF NIGERIA’S KIDS LIVING ON THE STREETS Continued from page 11 clothes, sell anything they give to me and do all the work in the house.”

However, there are some teenagers who utilise what they get from doing menial jobs to pursue their goals in life. They vow that there is no giving up because there is no fall-back situation.

Ayuba Okosage is a secondary school student but works in a car wash company.

At the close of school and during weekends, he comes around like some others to make some money with which to support their education.

Said Okosage: “I’ve been into this for four years. The owner of this business has another one in Ikotun area. When he told me he has built another one in Ejigbo (in Lagos State), I moved. Every weekend, I am here from the Ikotun area where I live with my parents. My father has six children and I am the fourth. I come from Agenebode in Edo State.”

Asked why he was not in school on this day, he said: “we’ve just resumed but nothing is serious yet. You see, I discovered that the car wash business is very lucrative. I started it when I found out that my parents could not provide for what all of us needed. They (parents) do their best but I told myself that we needed to help them.

“Yes, they always pay our school fees but you don’t expect them to take care of everything. So, the money I make helps a lot. During holidays, I come here as early as 8.30 a.m. and do not go home until 6 p.m. or 6.30 depending on how the customers arrive.

“I would love to study engineering if I ever have the opportunity to go to the university. I pray to God everyday to give me the chance. But let me tell you something: if government makes education free, those of us whose parents are not wealthy, can go to the university.

“From the little I make from this job, I also give something to my other brothers and sisters. My appeal is that those in government should make the suffering less for the poor families. It is so painful to see young girls and boys who should be in the classrooms going around selling oranges, apples and pure (satchet) water.

“I say so because most of the

Some of the children living on the streets are escapees from unhappy homes, while others recall travelling to the city in search of adventure armed robbers we have in Nigeria are those who did not have the chance to go to school or to learn a trade. We appeal to President Jonathan to do something now to help the youths.”

Emmanuel Omosun from Irrua, Edo State told Saturday Vanguard that he dropped out of school almost at the time he was about to write his junior secondary school examinations. He was, indeed, blunt. “I came to this place (car wash) to help myself. I live with my elder sister who sells petty things. My mother lives at home just as my daddy and it was extremely difficult to make ends meet until my friend introduced me to this place. I have been here for the past four months.

“My aunty, poverty is a big sin. My age mates have everything they need while I am here struggling to survive. That is how cruel life is.”

Asked if he would love to go to the university and what course he would love to study, Emmanuel said: “Abeg, make man chop first. I wan save the money before I know wetin to do with am. Poor man dey dream say im wan chop rice?

Sola Ladipo is in SSS III and took his destiny into his own hands. “My family is extremely poor. I pay my fees

from the return I get from what I do. My family members do not even know what I do. I am the one training myself. I take nothing away from my parents. The simple truth is that they don’t have and the government doesn’t care.

“Since I am in SSS II, it means our school certificate examination is coming soon and I need more money to register for the exam. I would work extra hard to make that amount. After that, I’ll decide what to do next. It’s one thing at a time. But the Federal Government must be ashamed that her youths have to go through all these to be educated. What is the future for the little ones that are not in school and cannot train themselves? It’s a shame.”

Fifteen-year old Haruna has spent five years living on the streets of Lagos. Like hundreds of other children, he spends his days and nights in this sprawling metropolis trying to fend for himself. “It is not easy living on the street but what can I do? I have two sisters that I have not seen in five years. I have smoked Indian hemp like other boys of my age, got beaten by bigger boys, robbed of my money, took my bath in the canal and slept under the bridge. The good thing is that I am alive!”

Given the opportunity to go

to school, Haruna said he would like to become a lawyer. “I want to be defending people,” he explains.

Some of the children living on the streets are escapees from unhappy homes, while others recall travelling to the city in search of adventure.

They end up selling water packaged in plastic bags or washing the windscreens of vehicles in heavy traffic.

Haruna works as a ‘bus conductor’. He earns between N350-N500 a day.

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t the age of 10, Haruna left his home in Ogun State. A friend, who turned out to be a child-labour recruiter, invited him to Lagos along with 11 other boys. “We left home without telling any of our parents. The man took me to a place I do not know; my duty there was to be a housekeeper.” But Haruna decided to run away. He met other street children who showed him how to survive on his own. “I started to sleep under the bridge or inside any of the buses parked under the bridge,” he said. “If mosquitoes are too many, I sleep inside the boot of the vehicles.” ‘I am a big man now’ Ifeoluwa, 13, said he used to sleep under the bridge in Ikeja, sometimes under a car or a bus or inside a dry gutter. He does not know his parents as he was abandoned when he was three years old.

He started attending a pentecostal Church in Ikeja where they took a particular interest in him because they thought he was well behaved.

He worshipped with them every time, especially on Fridays for the night

vigils and Sundays for worship. They accomodated him and promised to help him settle down.

Eventually, after two years of which he did not run away, a member of the church took him to Ikorodu where he currently resides. Since he is a teenager, he is learning the art of welding .

Sule, also 13 years old, said he used to stay with his mother on Lagos Island, but at the age of seven, she decided that she wanted him to go and live with his father at Yaba which he did not like.

He explained that he ran away from his father’s house after about four years and went back to Lagos Island where he started sleeping under the bridge. When there was a big fight on the Island then, he ran back to Yaba where he started hanging around again.

Gbemi is 11 years old and Rasheed is 13 years old.

These boys all have one thing in common: they were all found on the street. The phenomenon of street children in Nigeria results mainly from family breakdown which could be as a result of marital problems or instability in the home, poverty, hunger, insecurity, abuse and violence from parents, displacement caused by clashes in the community, insufficient parental care, death of one or both parents, inadequate family income, unemployment of one or both parents, lack of (or limited) opportunities in education, abandonment by parents, housing difficulties, amongst others.

In an increasingly individualistic society, such children quickly learn to survive on their own and in the process are exploited through child labour and trafficking. Many take to the streets for refuge.

Indeed, street children are found in large numbers in urban and rural areas. They work as vendors or hawkers, beggars, shoe shiners, car washers, head-loaders, scavengers and bus conductors. The majority are boys but there are a few girls among them.

The situation of the street children is indeed pitiable but several non-governmental organisations have shown interest in rescuing, rehabilitating and and giving them a chance for a better life.

SATURDAY

BY EMMANUEL EDUKUGHO

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oing by a report of the United Nations Children Fund, Nigeria is among the 24 countries with a good number of undernourished children in the world. The reason for this trend is not farfetched. Inadequate nutrition in childhood undermines the ability of individuals to develop their full capabilities. Lack of essential minerals like iodine and iron, for instance, can impair brain development.

In developing countries such as Nigeria, it is estimated that 40 per cent of children aged four years and younger suffer from anaemia because of insufficient iron in their diets.

Poverty is inextricably linked with food insecurity and hunger. It also increases the cycle of homelessness as there are thousands of street children across the country.

To lend credence to this, the World Bank says 66 per cent of the Nigerian population live below the poverty line of less than $2 USD a day. This clearly indicates that poverty is still and would remain a growing problem for some time to come.

At present, many children live in environments without adequate shelter, sanitation, clean drinking water and adequate health care facilities. About 10 million children of school age are not in school due mainly to poverty and the unemployment status of their parents who cannot afford to provide them with basic education. This situation could be alarming considering that the Federal Government had assured of nine years primary and junior secondary education as stipulated in the Universal Basic Education Act 2004, with stringent penalties for parents whose children and wards are found on the streets during school hours.

Thanks to poverty, many parents have been compelled to send their children to the streets to hawk food

Vanguard , JUNE 8,, 2013—13

Many travails of Nigerian child About 10 million children of school age are not attending schools due mainly to poverty and the unemployment status of their parents who cannot afford to provide them basic education items such as groundnuts, oranges, mangoes, sachet water, minerals, bananas, carrots, tomatoes, pepper, vegetables and cooking oil, just to mention a few. Due to their tender ages, some of these child-hawkers are usually kidnapped by ritualists, sexually abused or knocked down by moving vehicles on busy street. The few lucky enough to be in school experience so much hardship as a result of unconducive learning environments like over-crowded classrooms, inadequate ventilation, insufficient reading books, writing materials and disgruntled/poorly paid teachers.

In the rural areas, some children often go to school every morning

with their own small writing desks and chairs.

Yet, as of 2012 over N80 billion made available by the Federal Government under the UBE 2004 Act in respect of funding remained in the vault of the CBN because most of the states had been unable to provide the counterpart funds required to access the UBE money.

Infrastructural decay has become prevalent in most schools as classroom buildings are dilapidated, windows destroyed, school compounds flooded during the rainy season, even as toilets are inadequate and potable water/ recreational and sporting facilities are lacking.

Five-year-old Master Femi Adeola attends a community primary school at Nosada. He is in Primary 2. His father is a cassava farmer while the mother sells vegetables in the local market. Speaking in Yoruba, he said: “I don’t eat in the morning before leaving home. My dad gives me N20 which is not regular. I will wait till break time before using the money to buy rice and beans without meat. On my return home, I go immediately to help my father in the farm.”

Meanwhile, over 50

per cent of children are malnourished in developing nations as against less than 5 per cent in the developed ones. In the Nigerian food consumption and nutrition survey recently carried out, 42 per cent of Nigerian children were stunted while 25 per cent were underweight.

Undernutrition undermines the survival, growth and development of children and diminishes the strength and capacity of the nation.

According to WHO and UNICEF, 88 per cent of deaths are attributed to unsafe water, inadequate sanitation and poor hygiene. Diarrhea kills about 1.5 million children in the developing world and 200,000 Nigerian children annually.

Those living in poverty have a higher prevalence of disability and chronic illness and suffer lower life expectancy than those of higher income levels.

Children from poor homes are more commonly affected by diseases, respiratory and gas-trointestinal infections, wheezing

illness.

Research has shown that there is a high tendency of educational failure for children from poor or low income backgrounds. They usually drop out faster than their counterparts from affluent homes. The situation is the same regarding juvenile delinquency and teenage pregnancies.

Education, the main driver of growth and economic, technological and scientific development is still not adequately accessible in Nigeria, thereby contributing to high incidence of poverty in the country.

To worsen the situation, corruption has held the nation captive coupled with bad governance, bribery and all manner of malpractices at all levels of government and strata of the Nigerian society.

Children and youths are the worst hit as they roam the streets jobless, homeless, eventually resorting to social and other vices.

14—SATURDAY

Vanguard , JUNE 8,, 2013

BY OPEOLUWANI OGUNJIMI, ANOZIE EGOLE & OLUYEMI OBA

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ow that the annual Children’s Day celebra tion has come and gone,the question of what happens to the average Nigerian child after that one day jamboree still lingers in the hearts of concerned parents and education stakeholders.

As a matter of fact, it appears the Nigerian child is only celebrated once a year, May 27. Even the socalled annual ritual celebration organized by each state of the federation doesn’t really go round as it parades and favours mostly children of the high and mighty. But to children of the masses, May 27 is just like any other day. And a normal day for an average Nigerian child pictures him already turned into an adult before his time. He not only has to worry about attending a school that lacks almost all necessary amenities , but also has to hawk on the streets and do other menial jobs to assist his family. And while hawking and roaming the streets, some fall prey to the antics of social miscreants.

Meanwhile as a sovereign country, the Nigerian child is supposedly protected by rights which ought to ensure his basic needs are met. But on the contrary, these laws hardly cater for every child’s education, feeding, shelter, protection and so on.

What about the classrooms where learning takes place? Although some public schools have had touch ups,others remain in a sorry state.

When a visit was made to the likes of Shokunbi and Mushin Mission Primary Schools,Mushin, it was appalling to discover the conditions in which they operate. With faded coloured buildings, wooden windows and caved in roofs,sources hinted that the schools’ management have written severally to the government to come to their aid - all to no avail. Aside the leaky roofs which allow water into the classroom now that it has started raining, it was also learnt that pupils of the schools fetch water in buckets from home to school everyday. When asked what the water was meant for, sources revealed that pupils use it in their almost non-existent toilet. But in a move to speak with the headmistress(es) of the schools who share same compound concerning the deplorable situation of the schools, she refused further comments, but said they had been instructed to direct anyone who needed information to the secretary of the Local Government.

If we don’t hustle for money, we don’t eat—Musa

Ten-year-old Musa is one of those Nigerian children born into life’s harsh realities. Having left his parents who reside in Kaduna at a tender age,he begins to cater for himself. Accompanied by his 15 year-old elder brother,Ahmed who actually brought him down to Lagos, they join forces as shoe repairers near a pedestrian walkway in Mushin area of Lagos. From their garage abode,they resume work as early as seven in the morning to hustle for at least N100 for breakfast.

What about lunch and dinner? “Only

If we don’t hustle, we don’t eat— Street Kids Ten-year-old Musa is one of those Nigerian children born into life’s harsh realities. Having left his parents who reside in Kaduna at a tender age,he caters for himself Allah can determine that by sending us customers. If we don’t hustle for money, we don’t eat, “ said Musa in a rather sad mood.

I fend for my family — Biodun

Biodun, 11, also has his share of hardship to contend with. His wish is to become a medical doctor but for the untold hardship, he keeps wondering how his dream will come true. Obviously tired as a result of hawking sachets of water which had already lost its chilly nature, he sits on the floor under the scorching sun, probably whiling away time before going home. Refusing to look into the camera, he narrates how he has to fend for his parents who are without jobs. “My name is Biodun.

I’m nine years old. I school at Ajegunle and I’m in primary five. I don’t go to school every day because I have to hawk pure water for my parents. My mother is at home because she doesn’t work, but I don’t know what my father does for a living. I like it whenever I see medical doctors in their uniforms saving lives. But how do I become one of them when my parents can hardly provide three square meals?”

My daughter was a victim of

sexual abuse—Mrs. Okafor

According to Mrs Okafor, a parent and entrepreneur, her daughter was a victim of sexual molestation.

Because of the nature of her work, she seldom spends enough time with her child. She would leave her in the care of a neighbor whose brother was so sex-driven and experimented on her daughter.

“Mothers should never turn a blind eye to their children’s predicament, especially their daughters because it’s their responsibility to monitor what revolves around them,” she advised, adding that most parents like herself are to be absolved for the hapless conditions children face.

She advised that parents should always provide enough basic needs for their children so they don’t indulge in the act of stealing or begging from others.

Abused children are products of poverty—Mrs. Chinwe

To Mrs.Chinwe Madu, some of the abused children are products of poverty as no normal woman will like to see her child suffer. In her words, “there is no way a woman will suffer for 9 months, give birth only to subject the child to suffering.

It is not done’’. But in this case, the children need to help their parents

to take care of some of the family needs though it is not their civil responsibility to do to. But as a child, it would be unfair for you to sit and watch your parents suffer so much when you know you can be of help to them. I think this is one of the reasons why there is a higher rate of child abuse now in the country, especially in big cities like Lagos and Ibadan”, she said.

Chinwe then narrated an ugly experience she finds difficult to forget. The sad incident happened where she resided here in Lagos. To her, if Bose(deceased) had the premonition that leaving her aged mother back in Togo to live with her divorced aunt here in Lagos, Nigeria would bring her shame, she would have stayed behind. Bose, 12, left her widowed mother back in Togo for Lagos to acquire a sound education. But instead of being enrolled in school, she was forced to take up the role of breadwinner which subjected her to several abuses. She woke up every day by 5 am, went out to hustle and returned in the evening to provide for her aunt and three children. But whenever there was nothing she could do to raise money for their daily meals, she involved herself in prostitution.

Not only that, she was used by her aunt to satisfy her sex starved customers who would pay between N50 and N100 after touching and fondling her body. And refusal to yield to her aunt’s instruction earned her some strokes of the cane and sometimes food denials.But when she eventually got pregnant to Saidu, 14, she was bundled back to her mother in Togo. Saidu happens to be another product of child abuse.

SATURDAY Vanguard Vanguard,, JUNE 8, 2013—15

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don’t like airports. They take people away’. So said a young boy in the book, ‘Two Weeks in another Town’. I am on all fours with this boy who had seen his loved ones depart via the airports. (Although it can be argued that airports also bring people home).

I envy my friends who look forward to trips outside the country and count the days in anticipation.

Even the dreary chores of checking in, going through immigration and boarding, can not take away the pleasure they derive from meeting new and old faces, and window shopping in between flights. A friend told me that his feet become lighter as soon as he knows he is due to travel. But the peak of it according to him, is when the plane taxies off and begins to gain height. It is as if he has left all his burdens behind.

The sigh that escapes from his lips is that of relief and anticipatory pleasure.

While I also count the days before a trip, it is in the hope that the cup will quickly pass away.

Yet, for all my reluctance, I have indeed clocked more than decent air miles, starting from my reportorial days when I travelled extensively in the line of work.

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ecently, I have had to visit more than ten international airports in as many weeks — not a small feat for someone who likes to stay at home. One thing is clear.

More efforts are being made in many airports to satisfy travellers like me who are uncomfortable at airports. Checking in is quicker and friendlier with little or no waiting time. Same thing with immigration and baggage claim where you hardly ever stop for more than ten minutes at any point. Long walks at huge airports have also been minimised with trains that take you from point A to B. And the changes are sometimes fast and furious. At an airport I visited last year, the self-check in computer was optional. This year, it was mandatory. More automation.

It is with this in mind that I

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nd why the queue for Nigerians?

Why can’t there be more officers treating Nigerians so they don’t have to wait to enter their own country?

How come countries where planes take off and land every two seconds have faster immigration and custom services than we do? And why do we still have two officers seating together to treat the same passport? This was the practice I met some 40 years ago when I made my maiden foreign trip.

And why do we have to wait for over an hour to collect our luggages even when only one flight has landed?

I brought in a golf bag a month ago and had to wait until all the luggages had come out before I was told it would not come through the belt. Again, I had to ask around before I found it — with other similar luggages — in a locked room. The owners huddled together, waiting for the person with the key to saunter in. A traveller had to wonder why they were treating the luggages as illegal or contaminated items to be locked away without any information.

Clearly the upgrading at our airports must go beyond brick and mortar

he airport is the first contact a traveller makes with a country, and it is possible for me to differentiate a third world country from a developed one, or a country struggling with its economy just by passing through the airport. I am sure other people have their barometers but for me, the air seems heavier and warmer, some fittings in the arrival halls are out of place or missing, and the officers are more lethargic. They are also either belligerent or obsequious.

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welcome the changes at our airports, especially the Murtala Mohammed International Airport with which I am familiar. But the upgrading I see does not even take us near where the others were some 20 years ago. A lot still needs to be done to create the ambience that other airports take for granted. It is still hot, claustrophobic and dishevelled. Directions are also lacking — a black foreigner had once lined up with Nigerians only to find out after 30minutes, that he was on the wrong queue.

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learly the upgrading at our airports must go beyond brick and mortar.

Still on air travel, I was just a few hours to a trip to the UK last year June 3, when a distress call came in that a plane had crashed and some people could still be saved if help came quickly. I spent the next couple of hours in a blur, making phone calls and packing until confirmation came that no life was saved. I was about to board when an email came in with the list of those who died. It was all I could do not to scream when I saw names of people I knew.

I can only imagine what their families had gone through during the past year and how the incident would have affected their relationship with God and humanity.

It is disheartening therefore, a year later, that these people had not been paid their due and the official report of the crash, not published.

Dana, Federal Government or whoever, please do what is right and let these people have some closure.

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

Everything that is in you that appears dead or that is dead will rise again. Once again I beseech you to just receive and believe this word of the Lord. He sent His word and healed them and delivered them from destruction. Hear me, God’s word cannot fail. The entire world is upheld by the power of God’s word. In John 11, Lazarus was sick and later died. He had been buried for four days and was already stinking when Jesus got there. In this case the devil thought he has succeeded in cutting short the life of Lazarus and that Lazarus story was over but then there is a God who has a plan for His people. While people were weeping Jesus came to divinely alter the plan of satan concerning Lazarus.

The one that was dead and stinking was brought back to life by His word and multitudes gathered together to see him. Hear the Spirit of the Lord, for you it is not over until you win. Don’t accept your present situation as final. The Glory of the Lord shall be seen all over you. The God who altered Lazarus situation is alive and will do the same for you. The devil shall not rejoice over you nor sing your last song.

Beloved, this is not your last bus stop.

There is still a great journey ahead of you.

The doctors or financial report is not a determinant of who you are or what God is capable of doing. The bible says now unto Him who is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think according to the power that worketh in us (Eph. 3:20). God shall divinely alter the plans of your enemies and challenges.

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

Many have committed suicide while some

are contemplating suicide. Many can’t see their way out and things are getting more difficult. Despite this condition, there is good news for you.

In 1st kings 17, a woman was in a very difficult situation just like everyone else in the land. There was great scarcity of food and water. Barrenness was the order of the day. It was a case of everyman for himself and God for us all. This widow had an encounter with God through the prophet of God. She said to God’s prophet “as the Lord thy God liveth, I have not a cake, but an handful of meal in a barrel, and a little oil in a cruise, that I may go in and dress it for me and my son, that we may eat it and die. And Elijah said unto her………for thus saith the Lord God of Isreal, the barrel of meal shall not waste, neither shall the cruise of oil fail, until the Lord sendeth rain

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upon the earth……and the barrel of meal wasted not, neither the cruise of oil fail, according to the word of the Lord, which He spake by Elijah”.

From the above text the woman has made up her mind to eat her last meal and die. But then God had set out to divinely alter her situation by sending Prophet Elijah to her. At the end she believed God’s prophet and obeyed his instruction and began to prosper in the midst of lack. Instead of death she began to celebrate life. This did not come as a result of her own strength but by the mercies of God that divinely altered her destiny. Know that your destiny is not in the hands of any man or devil. If you will turn to God and ask Him to alter any challenge in your life He will do it. No situation is greater than Him. He is the most High. I pray that God by His

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No matter the design or plan of the devil and his agents concerning you and all your concerns, know for a surety that they shall surely fail

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mercies shall extend His grace to you to divinely alter your life into His perfect plan for you in Jesus name, amen. God bless you and alter your life in to His perfect will and bless and alter the great destiny of our great nation Nigeria.

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

For more details, contact us at Christ Reality Church, beside Gossard Hotel, opposite First Bank Sports Ground, Community Road, Satellite Town or P.O.Box, 3196, Yaba Lagos. Tel: 08023062635 08168955932; 08033378769. E-mail: Johnson_crm@yahoo.com. Website: www.christrealityministries.org.

Our account details are Pastor Johnson Omomadia, Guaranty Trust Bank, A/C Nos. 0005171407; Christ Reality Ministries, Zenith Bank A/C 1011711622.

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

16—SATURDAY Vanguard , JUNE 8, 2013

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e must write and continue writing about “the labours of our heroes past”. Else, they will be forgotten very soon. Even right now, the heroic deeds in our nationbuilding efforts are subverted even while they are being performed.

The heroes of my youth followed the path of grace and honour. Some of them had made a name before their subsequent deeds proclaimed their patriotism. The example of Nnamdi Azikiwe who became the first President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria is easy to cite. But that was long before he had published that great work, “Renascent Africa”, founded and edited the historic “West African Pilot”, and further lent his name to the first

*in the pantheon of heroism

nationalist movement in Nigeria, “The Zikist Movement”. Of course, there are not many like him whose claim to heroism was multifaceted, jutting into diverse chapters of our national life.

Once Azikiwe’s name is mentioned, it is customary to pair it, in the next breath, with that of Obafemi Awolowo, first Premier of the old Western Region. Awo actually emerged on the heels of Zik, as a hero of another mould who earned his spurs through a dissimilar process. He was really there with Zik at the beginning.

It is one of the circumstances of our political history that Awolowo was Azikiwe’s assistant when Zik was the scribe of the Nigerian Youth Movement at the dawn of our nationalistic awakening. The story of their interaction must wait for another day. However, Zik’s acclaim as a hero especially among his own people, the Igbos from where it should naturally start, was inhibited by their traditional trait of the republican spirit which, on the other hand, never had any strong roots among the Yoruba, thanks to the age-old system of monarchy in their own society.

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ther heroes have come and gone without the credit of the due celebration of their noble deeds. You may never have heard of a man called “Marshall” Kebbi. He was one of my heroes when I was young. He was neither wealthy nor well-learned, neither a millionaire nor a high-ranking military officer. He was a man on the fringes of the journalistic profession who loved his country with an over-riding passion and dared to suffer because of his love. Today, he belongs to that group of the unknown, unsung corps of dedicated nationalists whom fame shunned and honours neglected.

There were not many groups of such patriots some six to seven decades ago.

Those who are still alive, and they are very few, must be wondering today if it was all worth the effort— all the turbulence and the turmoil, all the sacrifice and stress, and “all that glee at high noon”.

Marshall Kebby belonged to the Zikist Movement which was

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hey proclaimed him as their mentor and drank deep of his cup of bubbly rhetoric. And the more they imbibed, the more their thirst was sharpened for more zestful, more meaningful action.

Eventually, unable to wait for their leaders, they took the lead themselves with all the vigour and brashness of youth.

In broad daylight, they called for a revolution against British rule in Nigeria.

They perpetrated this brave but brazen action at an open lecture in the heart of Lagos, then the Capital of the colonial C M Y K

events amongst its treasures. Their rightful places in our temples of honour and renown remain unfilled. The nation has held them in almost total disregard as though they had never been. They were all real-life heroes, although they have less to show than highly-rated footballers for their valour and towering commitment to the duty they felt they owed to their country... even in the conferment of national honours.

That fact is stated, not to establish any wearisome comparison, but as a backdrop against which we might cast the observance itself, with regard to its quality and worth.

We have to appreciate that true heroism goes far beyond ordinary bravery. Some actions which become transmuted into bold deeds originate from sheer rashness. On the other hand, it should be emphasized, a heroic act is usually performed in the face of well-known dire consequences. The hero accepts the performance of the task without counting the cost, whilst actually knowing the score. Sometimes, the action takes place on the battlefield; at other times it could be at an entirely different sphere of confrontation. But no matter in what sphere it occurs, a culture of appreciation swiftly apprehends the worth and content of patriotism, and bequeaths the adequate tribute.

T

•Oby Ezekwesili territory of Nigeria. And for their pains, they were sent to jail in shoals for sedition — brilliant, vigorous, young men in the prime of their lives.

The country was shocked, shocked and shaken, at a time when imprisonment was considered worse than leprosy. But the young men saw it coming. Some of them even invited it. They are all but forgotten now.

Those who are remembered owe that to their success in other endeavours, sometimes towards the autumn of their days, after that blistering summer of their youth. Tony Enahoro later became a parliamentarian of note, and served as a minister at cabinet level in both the civilian and military administrations.

Mokwuogwu Okoye became known through the brilliance of his publications. The central figure, Osita Agwuna who raised the call for revolution on that hot afternoon, later became a highly respectable traditional ruler.

Those were actually connected with the call, but others volunteered to be counted among the unsung heroes and became victims of the harsh colonial rule which decreed imprisonment for

,

Once Azikiwe’s name is mentioned, it is customary to pair it, in the next breath, with that of Obafemi Awolowo

named for the man who, in those days, was like a beacon in the darkness of colonial rule.

,

In broad daylight, they called for a revolution against British rule in Nigeria

anyone found in’ possession of a copy of the rebellious lecture. Many of those who faced the music on that score simply served their sentences and were heard of no more. But one or two, like Ikenna Nzimiro and Peter Osugo, also emerged into the awareness of national consciousness for their attainments in other pursuits - Nzimiro for his erudition as an academician, and Osugo for his pre-eminence as a sports journalist. In the case of Nzimiro, it should be stated that he was not caught with copies of the lecture. Rather, he took them to a podium in Onitsha market to read them out publicly, daring the police to do their best.

In the main, the names and the awesome price they willingly paid are now dim in our memory in a land that does not count the records of past

hose young men, six decades ago, readily accepted the prescribed social and personal deprivations, to say nothing of the stigma of imprisonment, as their own contribution to the freedom of their country. Each of them gave away a precious slice of his life when the sap was still running full and strong, with all its pride and promise. A few of them recovered some of the pride, but fewer ever realized the promise. They saw the freedom for which they gave their dreams trampled by armed tyranny and their protests silenced by the strength of steel in the hands of their own kin ..

But their labours have indeed not been in vain. They bore names that should be enshrined in our national archives, names that should flow and bubble in the stream of our national folk lore— Abdallah, Nzimiro, Enahoro, Amosu, Ntup, Osita Agwuna, Marshal Kebbi, Imoudu — men who looked tyranny in the eye and refused to blink. We must not stop writing about them. For though only fragments of their patriotism still persist in our fading memory, a more ebullient expression of their remembrance would form a link of inspiration between their revolutionary spirit and succeeding generations.

A

nd they do have successors, as you may appreciate, because tyranny is for ever regenerated by moral turpitude in the form of greed, dishonesty, vaunting ambition and flagrant abuse of power; but that only creates room for the addition of other names in the pantheon of patriots, like Amaechi, Fayemi, Ezekwesili, Oshiomhole.... who stare tyranny in the face today and refuse to wilt. To make their “tribe” continue and flourish, we must not stop writing.

Echoes: What a shame, indeed! Whose “democracy”? That was the date Aguiyi-Ironsi and Fajuyi were killed. I bet Ndigbo and Ekiti State didn’t celebrate anything. As for me, I was at an Ndigbo parley that was on, “Lest We Forget” ...

(08023193939) They have probably almost totally forgotten Aguiyi-Ironsi and Fajuyi, anyway.

Echoes: The summary of your article, “What A Shamel”, is “No shame any longer. Or, have they any honour to defend?”

Truly ! They are undergoing slow evolution. They can defaecate in the street like dogs without shame. And adage in Edo says:”Iri gha tua gbe, oghi jian. “ That is, if a rope (knot) is too tight it must cut. “ In physics law of young modulus of elasticity, when stress is inversely proportionate to strain, the object must break. (Engr. Asemota; (08067856313).

Let us just continue to pray that “the object” here may not break.

Echoes: I have often read your articles but never before have I been able to identify with your points so completely and painfully as with the last one. Perhaps it is because I’m just coming back from the birthday celebration of Archbishop Adewale Martins of the Catholic Church, or because the confusion of youth in the past beclouded my judgment of your yesteryears’ write-ups. Every single word and letter in the article has been inspired and its truth well within our reach.

Thank you. (Dr. Ejike Orji; 08034023008) Thank you, too.

Echoes: I do not know when invitation to a family dinner has become the avenue for nominating a candidate for a presidential election. Wonders can never end in Nigeria.

(080054461074) It says one thing for sure: it could not have been a “family dinner”. And those who described it as such lied blatantly, and the truth is not in them.

Time out.

Vanguard, SATURDAY, JUNE 8, 2013 — 17

C M Y K

18—SATURDAY VANGUARD, JUNE 8, 2013 Dear Julie, I have been going out with a wonderful girl for over a year now. She is smart, caring, and pleasant. But, someone else has come into the picture. She is also wonderful, smart, and pleasant, and I can’t stop thinking about her. My girlfriend doesn’t know this, but it’s changing me on the inside.

I have this terrible feeling it’s only a matter of time before something big happens. I am at total war on the inside, sometimes my heart says “stay” while my mind says “leave.” Other times, my mind says “stay” while my heart says “leave.” I am so confused.

Please help.

Tommy, Ilesha Dear Tommy, Think about what you would lose and what you would gain by “leaving” and by “staying.”

What kind of relationship do you have together? What plans do you and your girlfriend have for the future?

He doesn’t kiss me anymore

Should I stay or leave?

What do you want right now and in the future? Your answers to these questions may help you understand what you’re feeling at the moment.

Sometimes, we look for the path of least resistance out of a relationship.

Could it be that this new girl is your ticket out of a relationship you no longer want to be in? Perhaps, you want your current relationship to become more open to the idea of see-

ing other people . Or, maybe you need “alone time” — not to be in any relationship so that you can decide what’s best for you at this time?

Then again, there’s the possibility that you’re attracted to this other girl.

Nothing more, nothing less. And, it may have nothing to do with your girlfriend. If you act on this attraction, something will

happen. But, a few weeks or months down the road, you might realize that what happened (say, a breakup with your current girlfriend) was not what you really wanted. Try to decide what you want, and then act on that.

One last thought..the grass isn’t always greener on the other side . You have to decide if you want to take the risk to find out.

There’s no harmony in my relationship Aunty Julie, I’ve been dating a lady for the past six months but there is no harmony in our relationship. We love each other very much and cannot afford to stay apart but there are always problems. Is it possible to love someone and just not be able to get along with that person? I’m afraid of losing her and fear I may not be able to cope alone without her. If this relationship ends , how do I get over it especially when none of us wants to let go, yet it seems to be a necessity?

Taiye, Ibadan Dear Taiye Yes, it is possible to love someone and just not be able to get along with that person.

No relationship is conflict-free.

The important thing is not whether you disagree, but how you disagree. Sometimes couples argue a lot because they have simply not developed simple, respectful ways of talking and listening. Sometimes they want to persuade the other person to change his/her opinion, behaviour,

It is possible to love someone and just not be able to get along with that person.

No relationship is conflict-free.

The important thing is not whether you disagree, but how you disagree. or mind.

If this might be the problem, consider seeking counsel for the express purpose of learning how to disagree constructively. A couple can often make rapid progress toward a more harmonious relationship when poor communica-

• * A lady who had been married for several years was growing more and more frustrated at her husband’s lack of interest in sex. She wondered about ways to add some pizzazz to their relationship, and finally decided to purchase some crotchless underwear she had seen in a lingerie shop.

One evening when she was feeling particularly desirous, and he was, as usual, watching television, she took a shower, freshened up, and donned the crotchless undies, and a slinky negligee. She then strolled between her husband and the television, and suggestively tossed one leg up on his chair arm. ‘Want some of this?’ she C M Y K

tion is truly what’s at issue.

On the other hand, in many cases, a relationship that has formed and endured despite constant disagreement and argument is a relationship that is perhaps not based on love between two independent adults, but rather between two co-dependent people, stuck in a challenging dynamic. However, if you are a young, childless couple and your relationship is fraught with not being able to get along, and you try counseling and don’t see reasonably rapid results (that is, some discernable easing of tension within six months), then it might be wisest for you two to move on and see if you can each find partners with whom you are more compatible.

Remember, it is important, when it comes to relationships to use your head, as well as listen to your heart. A healthy relationship needs to make you feel good, not stressed or unhappy.

If you decide to dissolve the relationship, how do you get over that loss? It will

probably be hard at first, and you may never get over it completely. What are your fears, how do you feel, what has changed, and how will you cope? Look to family and friends for support. Allow yourself time to grieve, and see a counselor if the grief and sadness linger for more than a year. With time, people heal and move on.

If, over time, you discover that your relationships all seem the same, where you care about one another but you disagree, then this is important information to have as you talk with a therapist, gain new perspective, and create new patterns.

What is it that gets you to choose people with whom you can’t get along? What do you bring to relationships that contributes to disharmony? When you can get to talk about and learn from these kinds of questions, you will be more likely to choose a more appropriate partner to love and with whom you can build a healthy, happy relationship.

C O C K - T A L E S purred. ‘Are you kidding?’ he replied. ‘Look what it did to your underwear’ • * Wife was mad at me Two deaf men were in a coffee shop discussing their wives. One signs to the other, ‘boy, was my wife mad at me last night! She went on and on and wouldn’t stop!’ The other buddy says ‘when my wife goes off on me, I just don’t listen. How do you do that?’ Says the other. ‘It’s easy! I turn off the light!’

• This guy called up his lawyer to tell him he was filing for divorce, and the lawyer inquired as to the grounds for the suit.

My guy and I used to kiss a lot before, during and after sex. But he no longer kisses me during sex? We still have sex on a regular basis, but he no longer looks at me while we have sex. He always covers his face when we are together. It has been months since he has kissed me. I am starving for affection. I happen to be in love with this man.

Felly, Calabar Dear Felly, To find out why this man has stopped the smooching, you may need to start moving your lips for a different reason , to communicate by way of talking. A dose of healthy communication with your partner about your sexual and emotional needs and desires will most likely lead you to a better understanding of the current situation.

Before you start the conversation, consider ruling out any physical reasons why your partner has stopped kissing you. It’s possible there’s a simple reason for his change in behaviour. Maybe he developed cold sores and is embarrassed or doesn’t know what to do about them, or he could be worried about his breath (or yours).

Since it takes two people to kiss, have you tried initiating kissing him? If yes, how did he respond? This will give you a little more information about the situation.

To start the conversation, try letting him know that you really like kissing, and that you like to look at him when you’re having sex. Let him know that you’ve been missing this affection and that it means a lot to you. Give him a chance to respond; find out if this is just a phase he’s going through, if it has been an unconscious behaviour on his part, or if it’s evidence of something else that may be going on in your relationship.

”I’ve got grounds, all right,” sputtered the irate husband. “Can you believe my wife told me I’m a lousy lover?” ”That’s why you’re suing?” pursued his lawyer. ”Of course not. I’m suing because she knows the difference.”

• Husband & wife - Why divorce?

In a divorce court, a woman told the judge: “Your honour, I want to divorce my husband.”

“But why ?” asked the judge.

She replied, “Because he is not faithful to me.”

The judge asked, “How do you know ?”

She replied, “My lord, not a single child resembles him.”

SATURDAY Vanguard JUNE 8, 2013—19

Infidelity:Men who don’t know where to draw the line

,

I

T was a most harrowing day with the traffic,and Rebecca thought she couldn’t handle more stress as she made her way to one of the high-rise complexes she lived in with her family. It was night already but thank goodness there was electricity. As she moved wearily towards the lift, she saw the typical ‘out -of-order’ sign and she nearly wept with frustration.

She lived on the ninth floor! She took her time climbing the stairs until she got to the fourth floor.

She met a group of housewives discussing in the corridor and all of a sudden, their eyes were on Rebecca. Some looked hostile but the majority had nothing but pity for her. Then it all came back to her:a few days ago, on a night almost as bad as this one, she’d just made her way to the flat when there was an angry ring at the door. She yanked her door open, ready to tell whoever the nuisance was off when she saw a neighbour with whom she was fairly friendly.

“Mama junior”, she greeted but the woman snorted in reply and pushed pass her to the living-room where her husband was reading the evening papers. Her back was up. “I’ve come to report this animal to you”, she shouted, her eyes flashed hatred and anger as she pointed to Rebecca’s husband.

“Wura (her 16 year-old daughter) was sent to your floor and your husband lured her into your flat. He told her a lot of rubbish about being alone and helpless and asked her to help him clean around the house.

I reminded him that all I asked him to do was put my daughter in school, not in the family way

,

Some years ago, Francis, a reputable lawyer nearly wept for joy as he watched his elder daughter being called to the bar. He’d already arranged for his bosom friend, also a lawyer with international connections, to take Rosy his daughter with him on his next trip. ‘’Rosy was born in England”, explained her father, “and she insisted on doing her masters there.

Martin, my friend, was to settle her into a good school with a view of finding a reputable law firm for her to work with afterwards. Rosy wanted to work for a year or

S

ince we were all family friends, Wura agreed to do the dishes. She was at the sink when your husband crept behind her, cupping her breasts in his hands. My daughter said she protested and your husband struggled to rape her until she started screaming. ‘’When he eventually let her go, her clothes were rumpled. I was so enraged when she came crying to me that I dragged her down here, thinking your husband would try to deny it. He did try but Wura contradicted him and he shouted her down. He said, in my presence, that he knew all her friends were screwing around, so why was she pretending she’d never had sex before? I couldn’t believe what I C M Y K

that Martin said, almost proudly, that he was responsible for the pregnancy. I wanted to hit him. I reminded him that all I asked him to do was put my daughter in school, not in the family way.

“In the end, it was resolved that Rosy should have the child abroad. Martin’s wife, who was also a good family friend was bitter and bewildered. How could her husband humiliate her that way? If he wanted a third wife (he already had a second) couldn’t he look further afield than his back yard? All the children were thoroughly confused.

“Anyway, Rosy had her child, my first grandchild and I stayed on in England. She wrote later that she had a good job and that as soon as her son was old enough, she would take her to a nanny, so she could continue with her programme.

“You can, therefore, imagine my bewilderment when she showed up in Nigeria with her son who was now a year old, already pregnant again. She came with Martin and a determined glint in her eyes — they were getting married,and it was obvious the least we could do was give our blessings.

M

was hearing. Can you imagine this pervert telling that to a child that I virtually gave birth to in his presence? How low can you sink? The other mothers have complained about him too.

This contracting jobs he says he’s doing, when does he have time for them? If this happens to Wura again, I’m not going to be as civilized as I was today, so please ask your husband to keep a tighter rein on his pants or there will be fire o”.

U

nfortunately, this would not be the first time

Rebecca’s husband had humiliated her and she wondered why she still stuck to the marriage. Her co-tenants’ tittering and sniggering finally put the nail on the coffin of her dead marriage. She would leave her husband. No, better still, she would put out his personal effects in the corridor—afterall the flat was allocated to her.

And that’s exactly what she did— though with much protest and bitterness from her spineless husband.

so to enable her set up a fairly comfortable flat before she went back to school.

When she phoned that she was coming on holidays some six months later, I was angry. Who did she think she was, jetting up and down the place? But she assured me she had a very important decision to make and I was to be part of it.

“As soon as the squeals of welcome died down, my wife blurted out: “You are pregnant”? Rosy said “yes” and before we started asking any questions, Martin came in. The long and short of the story is

y wife looked really resigned and Martin immediately beckoned that his friends, who were my friends too, and who were waiting in a car should be let in. But did I need that much persuasion to give my blessing to this awkward alliance with the second child on the way?

“On the day the supposedly quiet traditional wedding was to take place at my residence, Martin turned up with a couple of huge vans. Within minutes, tables, canopies and food items were set up. A combo band was in attendance and he announced with glee that he’d bought his new family a house in Ikoyi and a posh car to boot. That rogue certainly knows how to make offers you cannot refuse — albeit grudgingly...”

20—SATURDAY Vanguard, JUNE 8 8, 2013

beginning, you will go out on dates such as out to dinners, movies and other places of interest.

This is all fine and good, but if after a while you find yourself still in the dating stage, only seeing this person when you go out to treat him or her to dinner, movies, etc,then it is possible that you are being used for free dinners, movies and other treats. When a real relationship is building, both of you will want to see more and more of each other, outside the dating

08052201257 anyagafu@yahoo.com

Are you being used ?

I

t happens all the time.

You’d just realise that the person you thought you have something genuine with is only using you to satisfy his/her selfish ends.

Often, we hear people are used and dumped.

He/she becomes nice and so friendly because of what they hope to gain from you. And once they get that thing they want, you become history and life goes on.

Nobody wants it, but people do it.The last thing we want when we find someone that we really like is to discover we were just being used. As cruel, selfish and immature as it may be and seem, the truth is, there are people out there who will use others to fulfill their own selfish needs, whether it is for sexual purposes, money, free dates, temporary companionship, etc. It is very common for some to choose the path of denial when they see the red flags that they are being used, because they do not want to believe that the person they like actually is using them, nor do they want to believe they could fall victim to such a thing.

The truth is, there are people out there who will use others to fulfill their own selfish needs Denying the truth is helping no one. If you suspect you are being used for anything, you should become more observant in such a relationship, and collect the facts, so that if you are being used, you can put an end to it as soon as possible.

There are some signs that point to the possibility that someone is most likely being used: *You mainly just have sex: No matter how amazing the sexual connection may be between you and another person, a relationship should not be mainly a sexual one.

There is more to a relationship and you should be connecting in more ways than just sexually. Both of you should be going out on dates, talking and getting to know each other. If you are mainly meeting up at each other ’s homes for some talking and sex, then there is a high chance that you are being used for sex. *The relationship does not move beyond dates: Okay, we all know that every relationship starts with dating, so in the

Climaxing chokes me Ques: I’m a thirty-year-old woman. Re-

cently I started having a terrible experience.

When I am having intercourse, in the moment of my orgasm, my throat closes and I cannot breathe for a long time. Last time was scary because I spent more than 30 minutes with my throat completely closed and every 1 or 2 minutes, I could take a big breath and again it closed. I felt like I was going to die; my partner gave me mouth-to-mouth respiration and I survived. I am really scared about having an orgasm again. It happened sometimes, but not so strongly as last time.

Do you know if this is some kind of disease or something? Asthma? What should I do?

Thanks for your help,

Lulu, Abuja

Ans: Some people do have asthma attacks during or after strenuous activity. This can sometimes be treated by using an inhaler prior to engaging in the activity.

It’s hard to tell whether your experience is due to asthma or something else. It certainly sounds as if whatever is happening to you is enough to warrant a trip to your doctor.

Exposure to substances to which you are allergic can also cause difficulty in breathing. For example, was your partner wearing a latex condom? Allergies to latex are common. Allergic reactions become more severe with repeated exposure, so you might want to use a different type of condom, such as one made of polyurethane, or you can use the female condom for a change. Be aware that these condoms may have a slightly higher failure rate than

scene. You will want to hang out at each other’s homes and have intimate experiences ,both physically and emotionally, meet each other’s friends and/or family and eventually agree that you are in an official relationship. If you cannot get this person to be officially involved with you, but he or she does not mind your taking him or her out on dates here and there, beware! * You find yourself giving/ loaning more and more money:There is nothing wrong with helping someone out with money once in a while, especially if it is someone you really like and have a strong romantic interest in.

We all could use some help

latex condoms. See your doctor to be tested for a latex allergy, to get information on how to avoid ex-

posure to latex and to learn how to treat a reaction, if you are truly sensitive or allergic.

Panic attacks, a chemical phenomenon in your body, can also cause difficulty breathing. They can occur for any number of reasons. It’s not a “mind-over-matter” situation that you can easily control. It’s a series of chemical events that cause symptoms. Sometimes, a history of sexual trauma can be a factor in panic attacks associated with sex. Caffeine, alcohol and/or other drugs and certain medications may also increase a person’s likelihood of having a panic attack. Your doctor can tell you about the variety of treatments available for

sometimes, and helping each other out is wonderful. There is a limit, however, on how much money you keep giving/ loaning someone no matter how much you like them, especially if they are not really paying back the loans.

If you are seeing someone and their asking for money becomes more frequent without giving you much in return relationship-wise, then there is a good chance that you are being used for money and you should then stop giving him or her money to see whether they will really stick around once the money lending stops. * You mainly hang out when he/she is bored or has nothing else to do: Naturally, you are going to want to spend as much time as possible with the person you are interested in, but are the feelings mutual? If the person you are seeing makes a lot of excuses for not seeing you (they are busy, already have plans, something came up, etc) and seems to only see you at the last minute when he or she has some time, then it is possible that you are being used for company when he or she has nothing else to do that they consider more important.

Really watch out for this, because if a person is really into you, they will want to spend as much time with you and will not keep making excuses.

panic attacks, including psychotherapy, behavioural techniques for lessening the effects of a panic attack, and medications that can prevent or limit them.

When did this start to happen? What is different? Perhaps you are holding your breath on the path to orgasm.

Perhaps you don’t want to orgasm for a while. Perhaps you have feelings about your partner, your life, and/or the sex you are having; feelings can have impact on sexual response.

If a doctor rules out a medical cause for your orgasm-related symptoms, a sex therapist may be your next step, with the goal of getting back to enjoying sexual activities. In the meantime, don’t strive for orgasm, just allow the pleasurable feelings to come in and be present. Pleasure, not or-

gasm, can be your sexual goal.

•Chris, 30,male, chocolate, from Edo, wants to meet a •Chris,dark in complexion, needs a lady for a working class lady, aged 25-32, from any part of the serious relationship that can lead to marriage . country, who is God-fearing and caring on 08130734007 07035646780 •Niceman,47, Cleric, educated, based in Edo •Ken, 31,is searching for a caring and loving lady State,needs an educated lady pastor who is aged 21-35, who is finacially independent for a relationworking class and aged 37-44 on ship on 08104478554 08060347918 •Daniel needs a woman who is ready for a •Faye, needs a good looking lady, for a serious relaployed, desires a lovely lady based in Calabar of age 18-30 for serious relationship.08021054321 tionship. 07030449020 a serious relationship on 08157040267 •Destiny, male, •Raphael, chocolate in complexion, tall, wants a lady of 18-23 needs a mature, pretty and well to do lady, Do you have reactions to our stories or have you any experience you want for a relationship for a serious relationship. 08026696958 to share with our readers? Please e-mail,anyagafu2@gmail.com that could lead to •Seyi, 32, is searching for a lady for a relamarriage on tionship on 08152891073 Do you want to be linked?

07033297886 •Michael, 35, from Delta State but resiNeither Chioma Gabriel nor Saturday Vanguard has any relationship with anybody wanting to be dent in Lagos, wants to be linked with a linked. We have no agents anywhere and charge no fees. We have no personal information of people

caring and Godfearing lady for a wonderful relationship on 08059649934 •Jimi, 31, based in Calabar, graduate, em-

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who have been linked or want to be linked and therefore, are not answerable for disappointments or embarrassments some people may encounter in the process.

D

on is a basketball “nut.” He’s the kind of sports buff who can talk nonstop about his favourite basketball teams with anybody who’ll listen. One evening, Don’s wife took a seat next to him on the couch.

She placed her arms around his neck and asked him point-blank: “Do you love me more than basketball?”

Puzzled, Don considered her question for a long minute before answering. He finally said, “College or NBA?” While most men would never make a blunder of that magnitude, they often miss the opportunity to affirm their wives. Marriage is not a spectator sport. Nor is it a place for verbal jabs or cynical put-downs. Those male digs might work in the locker room with the boys, but they’re out of bounds with wives.

What do Don’s wife and your wife, need? Affirmation. Lots of it. Soft, tender, thoughtful, unexpected, meaningful, heartfelt affirmation delivered with no sexual demands attached.

That’s difficult for a man, I know. A man usually sets goals and generally acts only when he is after something.

When it comes to romance, he’s tempted to give affirmation only because he hopes to “get sex” in return.

You will score big when you make your goal unconditional affirmation— no strings attached. The aim is to make your wife feel loved, valued, cherished, and affirmed as the love of your life.

King Solomon in the bible referred to his wife as “my beloved” forty times in the Song of Solomon. That choice phrase is packed with affirmation. It’s a romantic expression, a call to rich friendship. Each time Solomon said, “My beloved,” his words clothed her with dignity and value.

What woman wouldn’t flourish under such a constant stream of loving affirmation?

There are several nonsexual ways to cherish your bride through words and acts of affirmation. And by the way, these are nonsexual so that you speak her romantic love language. It’s important to remember that you are not doing these things to get something in return. Perhaps she will reciprocate in your language back to you, but that’s not your goal. *Hug and kiss her every morning before leaving the house. Research indicates that marriages that practice this simple discipline are much healthier than those that don’t. If she’s sleeping, leave her a note, or gently kiss her forehead and whisper, “Have a wonderful day, sweetheart.” *Reach across the front seat of the car when you drive and hold her hand, even for a few moments. Allow your fingers to become entwined.

SATURDAY Vanguard, JUNE 8, 2013—21 go for a walk and talk? I’d love to hear about your day.” *If you overhear her engaged in a difficult situation on the phone or with a child, compliment the way she handled the conversation. *Initiate daily prayer with her. This one spiritual discipline has transformed millions of marriages. Make a commitment, and then begin to pray together every day. Begin by giving thanks for her and your family, then pray with her about her worries and challenges. Ask her to pray for you about a challenge you are facing. *Say, “Thank you,” after every meal she serves. Then, help her clear the table or offer to do the dishes with her. *If she has wrestled with a specific spiritual issue (such as gossip, envy, a lack of compassion), tell her how much you appreciate her desire to handle it in a godly manner. *Express appreciation for her doing the laundry and folding your clothing. *Each day try to say, “I love the way you... ,” and fill in the blank with something you’ve observed. *Call her or send her an e-mail mid *When your wife irons your shirts *Write, “I’m crazy about you, Honey. You’re the best!” or another per- afternoon and ask her how her day is or picks up the dry cleaning, say, “Thanks, Honey, for taking such good sonal message on a yellow sticky note. going. *Try your hand at making breakfast care of me.”

Attach it to her bathroom mirror. *When the alarm goes off in the *Call her from work and say, “I’ve on Saturday morning. Tell her she debeen thinking of how good I have it serves a break and should feel free to morning, wrap your arm around her, press your body next to hers, and with you in my life. Thanks for all that sleep in. *Take her car to the gas station, fill cuddle for several minutes. When you are as a woman and all that you the tank, vacuum the floor mats, and you leave, say, “I wish I didn’t have do for me and our family.” *The next time you get a pair of tick- clean the windows. When you park it to go.” *The next time you go to dinner, ets to a concert that she’d like to go at the house, leave a note on the dash to, make a with just a say, “You’ve had a tough day, sacrifice. heart and Sweetie. Why don’t you pick the Instead of the words, spot tonight?” going with a *When you are together in a “Thinking Hug and kiss her every buddy, tuck crowd, find a way to brag on her. of you.” morning before leaving the them in her * W r i t e Say, “My wife is such an amazing purse with a her a short cook,” or “I’ve got the best wife, her house. Research indicates note saying, love letter cooking never ceases to amaze that marriages that practice “You dein which me.” this simple discipline are serve a *The morning after making love, you list sevnight off. eral ways touch her tenderly, and tell her how much healthier than those Have fun that she has wonderful it was to be with her. that don’t with a girl*With your wife in the room, tell blessed friend.” you this your kids, “You’ve got the best *Go an mummy in the world. Isn’t she year. entire day without criticizing anything *Resurrect common courtesies. great? I just love her so much.” about her. Instead, try to notice her Start opening the car door for her as *Bonus for those with young famidoing something that you really ap- you did when you dated, pull out her lies: Help her put the kids to bed each preciate, and tell her how much you chair for her at the dinner table, offer night. value her.

For some men, the thought of afyour arm while walking down stairs, *Go to bed at the same time with her and help her put her coat on. firming their wives sounds like a lot of for a week; just talk or read a book and *If she’s doing the laundry, pull work. Others are anxious about being share the quietness together. Or play yourself away from whatever you’re so vulnerable with displays of affira card game that you used to play when doing and offer to bring the hamper. mation. Whatever the reason, they you dated or were just married. *Put the toilet seat down when you’re hesitate to step out and pursue the *Brush her hair and compliment her finished, and wash your hands. I’d es- call to love . If you’ve hesitated afhair and eyes. timate that 40 percent of men don’t. firming your bride, or if you’ve *While she studies her face in the Their wives do know. Stroking her face been slow to praise her qualities, mirror, come up behind her and gently after you’ve been to the bathroom trust me on this: just do it. Affirmkiss the back of her neck. Say, “God suddenly loses its romantic appeal! ing your wife through even just broke the mold after He made you. You *Put down the newspaper or turn off three or four of these ideas will do are so beautiful.” the computer, and say, “Why don’t we wonders for your romance. Is that

30

Ways to love your lover

too difficult to believe?

Ask the Sexpert Ques: I pass gas when I orgasm. Is it normal?

When you climax, the muscles around your genitals , including the sphincter muscle relax, so it’s not unusual for a little gas to escape. But even before orgasm, the in-and-out motion may trigger gas because the penis rubs against the anus through the vaginal wall. If it happens frequently and is embarrassing, take an over-thecounter anti-gas medication that contains simethicone before having sex.

My breasts not matching. Why is this so?

Unless you’ve had a boob job, most breasts aren’t perfectly matched.

That’s because they’re made of mamC M Y K

mary gland tissue and fat and have naturally different amounts in each. For some women, the difference is more pronounced, and it’s usually a cosmetic issue. If it’s embarrassing or affecting your sex life, surgery is an option.

But if one breast suddenly becomes much larger than the other, it could indicate an infection or tumour, so have your gynaecologist evaluate it immediately.

Ques: Can certain exercises really lead to better sex?

Absolutely. For starters, a good cardiovascular routine helps build energy and stamina. Strength training and stretching can help you build muscles and improve your flexibility so you can get into and maintain various positions during sex.

The best exercise to improve sex is the Kegel squeeze , basically strength training for your pubococcygeus (or PC) muscles, which hold up your vagina, anus, uterus, bladder and urethra. The stronger these muscles are, the more intense your orgasms will be . To locate your PC muscles, try to stop your urine flow when you pee. Hold the squeeze for five seconds, then release. Doing 50150 Kegel squeezes a day will help keep those muscles in good shape. Don’t do Kegels regularly while urinating, because it can lead to urinary tract and bladder infections.

Ques: I’ve never had an orgasm during intercourse. What’s wrong with me?

If you can’t have orgasms with intercourse, you’re normal. Sometimes women get upset because of what their partners say.Now, assuming you don’t dump him for being an insensitive cad, you’re well within your rights to point out that about 70% of women don’t orgasm during intercourse without direct clitoral stimulation. You can also clue him in to the fact that it’s perfectly OK for one of you to lend a hand.

Touching your clitoris during sex really ups the chances that you’ll have an orgasm. Don’t get discouraged if there are no immediate fireworks. “The first time, it might take an hour of stimulation to produce an orgasm; it might also take many tries to get comfortable with the feelings of strong arousal.

22—SATURDAY

Vanguard, JUNE 8, 2013

Undoing the ravages of office work The Crescent Moon

Technique: From sitting on your heels, rise up on your knees and streteh back the right leg as far back as you can, and keep the left knee bent to waist level. Now, with hands together, raise them overhead and bend backwards. Hold the position for about 10 seconds, then change legs and repeat.

The Crescent Moon tones the muscles of the hips, thighs and legs.

It is also said to promote balance and concentration.

The Camel

Tehnique: Sit on your heels and arrange hands next to the feet with fingers pointing backwards.

Now lift yourself up and hump the chest and let the head drop.

The is the Camel, stay in the posture for some 15 counts.

Lower the body, rest a while and repeat.

Benefits: The Camel, Ustrasara in Sanskrit, endows the practitioner with elasticity. The chest expansion that conies with this exercise coupled with gentle but deep breathing are most rejuvenating.

People with chest and respiratory disorders will gain help from the practice of the Camel.

The Twist Over

Technique: Lying flat on your back with feet together and arms spread out at shoulder level, place your right foot on top of your left thigh. Now, bring your left hand to hold your right knee and gently press the left leg down. In all of this, try to keep your back flat down on the floor. Hold the position for some 10 to 15 seconds and repeat on the other side.

Benefits: The Twist Over endows the spine with suppleness and the digestive organs and kidneys get gentle but effective massage.

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

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SATURDAY Vanguard, JUNE 8, 2013—23

T

HEY are attractive and seductive, but have a bad reputation. At every corner, they lurk, mesmerizing, tantalizing. Their allure is overpowering.

Just thinking about them captivates you.This is temptation! Yes, but the attraction is deadly, the fascination irresistible—deriding and debasing.You do not wish to yield, particularly when you’re trying to loseweight. But these “bad” foods are so, so “good” to eat. Helplessly,your will depletes, your confidence diminishes, your ego deflates.

Hopelessly you fall, like a pack of cards.I’m not on a diet, in fact, I have never been on a diet, but I have learned to appreciate that just about any “bad” food can be part of anyone’s weight loss plan if one learns to stick to small enoughportions.

In fact, Dietitians advise against outright banning of your •Eggs favourite treats. The nutritious for most adults — reason is simple — and if you eat that egg for depriving yourself of breakfast, you’ll boost your the foods you crave odds of losing weight. could set you up for The reason is simple. Eggs long-term failure. are packed with protein, A better strategy is to which takes time to digest. set limits on quantity — Eating protein in the for example, one morning keeps your chocolate truffle a day, stomach full, so you eat less or one egg a day — and during the rest of the day. stick to them. In truth, many foods that have Steak gotten a bad reputation For years, experts have are indeed quite so been admonishing us to eat terrible after all. less red meat. But steak is But it helps to learn not always bad for the which tempting “bad” waistline. foods can actually help In fact, a lean cut of beef you lose weight and has barely more saturated keep it off. Here are the fat than a similar-sized best six of the skinless chicken “baddest”. breast. Like eggs, steak is loaded with protein and can Eggs keep you feeling full longer.

When it comes to To get plenty of protein with healthy eating, few less fat, choose tenderloin, foods have sparked as sirloin, or other extra-lean •Steak much debate as eggs. cuts — and limit portions to maintain healthy weights.

We all know that an egg Pork the size of your palm.

It’s been proven that a day is safe and Talk about a bad reputation!

“Pork” is used to describe all eating whole grains rather than refined grains can kinds of excess, so it’s no This information could save your life also help burn belly fat. wonder dieters often steer clear. Here’s a case where Nuts the meat itself is not what it Groundnuts, cashew nuts, used to be. hazel nuts and other kinds In truth, cuts of pork tenderloin are up to 31 percent leaner than 20 years ago. You don’t need to if you do not want to, but in moderation, pork is really TYPE 2 diabetes vision, nerve and organ no worse off than beef. It is a strikes people of all damage, and other lean source of protein with serious conditions. ages, and early benefits similar to those of A simple blood test can lean beef. symptoms are subtle. of nuts are high in fat, but diagnose diabetes. With In fact, about one out it’s the good kind. And a fasting plasma glucose Pasta of three people with they are also rich in test, a result above 126 Rather than avoiding pasta type 2 diabetes don’t nutrients,protein, and is considered diabetes. (noodle, rice, macaroni) know they have it. fibre, which can help An oral glucose when you’re dieting, making Type 2 diabetes stabilize blood sugar. challenge test with a the switch to whole grain thwarts the body’s You’ll get a few extra two-hour blood test is and keeping your portions ability to use the grams of fat from diagnostic. In people small is the sensible thing. carbohydrates in food munching on a handful of with classic symptoms Research suggests people for energy. The result is nuts, but it’s worth it if it of diabetes, a random who eat several elevated blood sugar. helps you avoid reaching blood glucose level of servings of whole-grain Over time, this excess for cookies, cakes or greater than 200 can foods per day are more sugar raises the risk for other sweets. Even help diagnosis diabetes. likely to slim down and heart disease, loss of peanut butter can be a

Bad’ foods that help you lose weight

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,

Type 2 Diabetes

dieter’s friend. Small amounts of nuts can control hunger without causing weight gain.

Cheese As a dieter, you are likely to try to cut calories by

,

A lean cut of beef has barely more saturated fat than a similarsized skinless chicken breast

cutting down on calciumrich dairy foods such as milk, butter and cheese.

This could be a mistake.

One theory is that the body burns more fat when it gets enough calcium, so eating low-fat cheese, yogurt, and milk may actually contribute to weight loss.

Calcium supplements don’t seem to yield the same benefits, so high-calcium diets may have other factors at work as well.

24— VANGUARD, SATURDAY, JUNE 8, 2013

Building strong brands, delighting consumers is my passion —Nsima

BY PRISCA SAM-DURU

She is a member of the Lagos Business School Alumni community, having obtained a Master’s degree in Business Admin from the prestigious LBS in 2007. She also holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Food Science and Technology from the University of Nigeria and is pursuing a Chartered Post Graduate Diploma in Marketing with the Chartered Institute of Marketing, UK. Nsima Ogedi-Alakwe who recently unveiled some mobile advertising trucks from the stable of her promotional communications company, JigsawDBS, has acquired over fifteen years postgraduate experience building brands and businesses within Nigeria and across Africa. Indeed, her career has spanned various fields, including Quality Assurance, Logistics and Planning, Brand Management, Marketing Communications in addition to enjoying the unique opportunity of working with successful multinational companies in Nigeria such as Cadbury Nigeria Plc. and Unilever Nigeria Plc. Find out more about the go-getter who says, “I feel really empowered to take on the mantle of leading a new Marketing Services business, doing what I love doing – marketing!”

What’s your motivating factor?

Passion, dedication, courage, knowledge, professionalism, integrity and a strong positive can – do spirit is required to break off to a new business venture in Nigeria. The business environment is competitive and challenging, yet full of untapped opportunities. One must really be daring and focused, and be ready to nurture an idea to blossom.

Above all, I believe in myself and abilities, and trust in God to bless the work of my hands.

How would you rate African women in terms of development?

Nigerian and African women are very progressive and have taken up prominent roles as front liners in the corporate and political scenes. The numbers increase by the day and more women are encouraged by the achievements of women leaders such as Oby Ezekwesili, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf and Malawian President Joyce Banda; Bola Adesola, Managing Director of Standard Chartered and WIMBIZ Executive Council Member, among others. There is also increasing focus on gender diversity by companies, recognizing the achievements of female executives in different managerial roles in Nigeria.

Given the additional responsibility that comes with being a wife and a mother, especially in our continent with a very low rating on rights of women, I think Nigerian / African women are super!

What is your company out C M Y K

to achieve?

JigsawDBS Limited is a Promotional Communications Company set up to provide an extensive and innovative range of below-the-line marketing services across

•Ogedi-Alakwe...Nigeria is an untapped potential

It may interest you to know that multinational companies like oil companies, United Nations, USAID are among our key clients FMCG’s, Financial Service Institutions, Telecommunications, Oil & Gas, Schools, High Net worth Individuals and Governments in Nigeria and the rest of West Africa.

JigsawDBS represents a team of professional facilitators primarily offering advisory services in Promotional Marketing, developing ideas on consumer and trade promotions that would guarantee brand success and dealing with all key and ancillary functions for the successful management of all types of marketing events.

The Promoters of JigsawDBS Limited have garnered several years of diverse experience from working with various multinational companies in Nigeria and building great brands that constantly exceed consumer expectations. Building strong brands and delighting consumers is

our passion, our strength, a way of life!

Why do you think JigsawDBS would make a difference?

Nigeria is an untapped potential! There are increasing numbers of new companies and brands making entry into the Nigerian market. These brands and companies need to recruit consumers and build brand love and loyalty. We are positioned to work with companies to establish their brands at point of purchase and also create awareness and experience among their target consumers. Our approach is professional and unique; we are focused on delivering outstanding customer service. We are confident that referrals would come from our clients!

What specific changes do you hope to accomplish in the advertising industry?

We would bring on board real professionalism, great customer service, and unbeatable value creation.

We would constantly innovate and leverage technological advancement to ensure our clients have the winning edge all the time. And of course, establishment of JigsawDBS has taken some individuals off the labour market and hopes to do more.

Can there be a lasting solution to unemployment in Nigeria?

The Statistician-General, National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), Dr. Yemi Kale, recently put the current rate of unemployment in Nigeria at 23.9 per cent!!! This has huge implications on the country’s social stability, economic growth and human dignity, especially considering that a good majority of these unemployed are youths, full of energy! Some of the solutions to unemployment would include creating the right infrastructure to support small business growth in Nigeria. There is a lot of focus and emphasis towards encouraging foreign investment, but small businesses form the bedrock of economic growth. Can you imagine the explosion that would occur in services and manufacturing if we had power, good road network,

functional and efficient sea ports and a revamped educational system? Think about the ripple effect that would come with these!

Where do you see Nigerian women in future?

I see more Nigerian women taking up leadership in multinational and indigenous companies across various sectors. I see many more women getting involved in active politics and delivering dividends to the electorate. We should have female Governors and someday a Female president.

We are on a speed jet, moving fast, moving forward and making great impact with every stride.

What strategy will help achieve this goal?

Focus and determination.

We must build our credentials in our various sectors, we must support each other and also blow each other ’s trumpet! Charity must truly begin at home; we should celebrate our internal successes and build trust.

As a career mum, how do you meet responsibilities at home and at the office?

I try to strike a balance, set clear priorities and boundaries, difficult as these may be. There are some overlaps but I manage these creatively to still deliver on the objectives. I recall having to run an activation shortly after resuming from maternity and had to take my baby to the location! A win-win situation it turned out to be. I often work from home too, without denying my family our cherished moments. I however have to be very mindful that my young adventurous junior Engineers do not reconfigure my laptop!

Any hobbies?

I love to write, mostly in my journals or on my pages.

I enjoy good music and love to dance. Travelling and seeing new places and reading relax my mind. My best moments are moments spent with my family! They are a fun bunch!!

What are your thoughts about Nigeria?

A land of untapped opportunities and challenges; we need to look beyond the challenges and unravel the abundant opportunities.

Nigeria is one country that almost every business sector is waiting to be discovered and daring Nigerians and foreigners are discovering these every day. In one phrase, I would say Nigeria is a maturing volcano!

Vanguard, SATURDAY, JUNE 8, 2013 — 25

08116759764 anozieegole@yahoo.com

I’m privileged to be an X fact or judge factor —- M.I

Davido to tour 8 cities in Europe T

his month,HKN Music hit-maker, Davido, is determined to take Europe by storm with a 22 day tour. After the May release of his single video , ‘One of a Kind’, the award winning superstar announces a headlining tour of Europe.

The tour, which is presented by Big Jamz World Entertainment, will begin in Vienna, Austria today and run through 7 other cities like Belgium, Holland, Italy, Spain, among others, before ending in Prague, Czech Republic on the 30th of June.

The talented singer, Davido, confirmed this with a series of Tweets “Catch me Performing Live In Vienna, Austria June 8th @ Club Opera...” “Catch me Performing Live in Turin, Italy June 16th @ The GLAM CLUB”. The tickets are on sale for 15 Euros each.

Davido got two nominations at the Nigerian Entertainment Awards [N.E.A]: Album of the Year for his debut album, O.B.O and Best Pop/R&B Artiste. His African tour is also set for July 2013.

is latest release, “Chairman”is giving him that extra edge that his career needs. He has proven beyond every reasonable doubt that he knows his onions when it comes to music. Still ecstatic at being one of the Glo X factor judges, the talented singer, MI, has this to say to his numerous fans: “It was good news and I am grateful for the privilege. It came as a huge blessing. From nowhere, I was chosen for something so remarkable. I felt ecstatic and I thank God greatly for making it possible. To be a judge for the X-Factor means you possess a solid understanding of music.”

According to the rapper, he is currently working on his album billed for release later in the year, having just dropped its first single, Chairman, which is enjoying massive airplay.

Kate Henshaw gets another Samsung deal

S

*Kate Henshaw

ome months ago, Kate Hen shaw got a brand ambassa dorial deal with Samsung West Africa Mobile. Now the buzz is that the glamorous actress has landed contract with the electronics giant. The screen idol was unveiled yesterday in Lagos as the brand ambassador for electronics and home appliances giant, Samsung.

Indeed, this year has been a very rosy one for the actress as she has been enjoying one mouth-watering deal after another.

Bez set to drop album I

t would obviously interest music lovers to know that Bez is about to drop a new album which is packed with a lot of energy . The talented singer who commented on his Glo ambassadorial deal said he’s very happy to be among those chosen by Glo as ambassadors. “ The Glo deal came to me as very good news. I was very happy I must say. For a big brand like Glo to want me as one of their ambassadors, its awesome. I see Glo the way I see myself - unique and passionate,” Bez said.

According to the singer, he’s not just celebrating his deal with the telecom giant because his upcoming wedding to his long standing lover is also a thing of joy.

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H

Twon dr ops drops new single P

eter Udejimba a.k.a, “Twon”, could be said to be sailing on a very smooth sea as he makes a bold entry into the Nigerian music industry with the release of his debut single titled, “Samba”. The Anambra State born scintillating singer who is presently signed to SQN Records has also collaborated with some top Nigerian artistes like Olamide, Chuddy K, Zanga, among others. The hit single which enjoys massive airplay on radio and TV stations was produced by McVance2. For fun seekers and music lovers, wait for another hot single , “No Retreat, No Surrender ”from Twon very soon.

26—SATURDAY Vanguard, JUNE 8, 2013

SATURDAY Vanguard, JUNE 8 , 2013 —27

28 — Vanguard, SARTURDAY, JUNE 8, 2013

My fiance wiped away my shame —

BY OPEOLUWANI OGUNJIMI

bonus tracks like Without My Heart ft Don Jazzy and Kele Kele.

Among the many words that can describe Tiwa Savage’s sojourn in the Nigerian music industry, the most apt is ‘meteoric’.

The reason is not farfetched. Just a few years back, Tiwa, amidst fear of the unknown, left the U.K where she already had everything going for her as a backup singer and songwritter for most UK’s high-flying artistes to build her music career in Nigeria.

Despite facing series of discouragements,she did not give up on her resolve to break new ground in the nation’s music industry.

Today, she is one of the best things that ever happened to the industry. In this interview, she talks about her career, her music and the man in her life.

Looking back to when you stormed the nation’s music industry a few years ago, how do you feel today?

Like you said, a lot of people tried to discourage me from coming home. They told me that people who came before me were not really welcomed home, and that it is even worse for a female singer. They even said there was no way I could be on the same stage with the likes of Tuface, Wizkid and many others. I got discouraged somehow. As a matter of fact, after I dropped Kele-Kele, I moved back to Los Angeles. Then, I dropped Love Me Love Me and it grew even bigger. So, I decided to move back to Nigeria because people around me encouraged me that I could make it if I’m consistent in what I’m doing.

That was how I was encouraged to do more. I thank God for where I am today.

Your debut album will drop any moment from now. What are your fans expecting from you?

This album is straight from my heart and it’s something that I’ve worked so tirelessly for. A lot of people wondered why it took me so long a time to drop my own album. That’s because we had to go through a lot of legal processes to clear some of the samples that we used, and that took us some months. Also, we wanted to work with notable producers outside the shores of the country like Oak who produces Rhinna. So, we had to work around his schedule and waited for them to have our time. But this album is something that I really took my time with because I didn’t want it to be the usual Nigerian album that contains just party tracks from the beginning till the end.

Why did you title your album ‘Once Upon A Time?’

Once you hear ‘Once Upon A Time’, you know it’s story time. My life has been an amazing story and I wanted to reflect that on my album. Also, I wanted to motivate other upcoming artistes that, once upon a time, I was a little girl living at Isale Eko and I dreamt of doing this, and here I am doing it. So, I want their ‘once upon a time’ to turn into reality. It’s a 19 -track album.

There are tracks like Wanted, Ileke, Middle Passage, Olorun Mi, Why Don’t You Love Me, Fela Interlude, Love Me Love Me Love me, Eminado ft Don Jazzy, Folarin, Oh Yeah ft Don Jazzy, Shout Out ft Ice Berg Slim & Sarkodie, Written All Over Your Face, Get Low, Ife Wa Gbona ft Leo Wonder, Eji ma fia, Baby Mo ft Flavour, Stand As One ft General Pype, and Thank You. It also has two

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A lot of female artistes complain of being marginalised in the industry.Do you have the same experience?

I think every female artiste needs to work ten times harder than the opposite sex and that’s why I put much effort into what I do. Usually, what most artistes do is wait until when they drop their album to do an album launch. But I think it’s important to do an exclusive listening because the press are the ones who are going to project my image to the outside world. And that’s why I had to organise a press listening party so that you guys can assess me, and also, to let you know how much you mean to me.

Now that you’ve become a big brand, aren’t you scared of competition from other female artistes?

Why would I be scared? Back in America, we have the likes of Beyonce, Nicky Minaj, Mariah Carey and other female acts standing tall. So why would there be just one person shining here? After all, here in Nigeria, we have male acts like Davido, Wizkid, M.I, Tuface and other big names at the same time. It’s not fair to have just one female act in the industry.

So, I’m glad that more female acts are springing up. Having more female acts in the industry will open more doors.

In the song, Ife Wa Gbona, you featured an artiste and there’s this scene where both of you were in the forest singing to each other. He spoke Yoruba to you but you replied in English. Is it that you don’t speak Yoruba?

Of course, I speak Yoruba fluently, omo Yoruba ni mi(I’m a Yoruba ). We did it for a purpose because I have a mixed audience. If he speaks Yoruba and I reply him in Yoruba language, how will my fans in South Africa, Uganda and all over the world be carried along?

The track Eminado has this special kind of tone. How did you come about it?

That sound and name is the handiwork of Don Jazzy. We got the idea when we were in the studio rehearsing. We were just playing around with words and sounds. So when it came up, we thought it was a good one and we decided to turn it into a song.

What was growing up like for you?

Vanguard, SARTURDAY, JUNE 8, 2013 — 29

Tiwa Savage I don’t think I’ll feel bad whenever I read a negative story about myself. I believe everybody is entitled to his or her opinion and that’s life for you. No matter how beautiful you look, there’s someone somewhere who would still say you are ugly.

,

,

Growing up was very interesting. There were no barriers, I was just free. I had a very healthy upbringing. My parents ensured that I was grounded and I had lovely brothers.

You appear like someone who will easily be affected by negative stories. Have you had any scandal?

I don’t think I’ll feel bad whenever I read a negative story about myself. I believe everybody has an opinion and that’s life for you. No matter how beautiful you look, , there’s someone somewhere who would still say you are ugly. So, for me, I’ve only done something from my heart and haven’t compromised my integrity. In my album, I have party songs and tracks for everyone no matter your preference.

So, I’ve satisfied my fans and I think I’m going to leave the rest to God. A lot of people see you as a sex symbol.

Are you one?

No, I’m not. If you ask my family whenever I’m home, I’m not like this. I’m far from the Tiwa Savage you see on stage. I’m a quiet person.

What has fame done to you?

Naturally, I’m the outgoing type but fame has made me more reserved unlike some artistes who would claim they haven’t changed once they start making more money. It’s a lie.

There’s nobody that can tell you they haven’t changed. I think I’ve changed because I’m more wary of those I move with, where I go and those that come around me. I trust people less now because I want to keep my sanity. I also think people around me have also changed because they expect more from me. I might make a mistake and that’s normal for everyone but because it’s Tiwa Savage, my mistakes get blown up and exaggerated. So I’m more conscious of what I do and say in public than before.

Why did you suddenly go into partnership with Tunji by co-owning 232 Entertainment.

Are you not scared of the unexpected?

Tunji is an exceptional man. We’ve worked together and we trust each other. So, I’m not scared that anything negative will come up between us. I don’t work with fear because fear is not of God. Why was the Marvin crew absent at your album listening session?

You well know that I’m also part of the crew and the day I held my album listening session was an important day in my life and career.

So, their absence wasnt deliberate. They were

away in South Africa for the opening show of Big Brother Africa- The Chase.

They had to perform live. But they surprised me on that day when they sent in a live recorded message to me.

It was played for all to see . I was so happy because I didn’t expect it, honestly.

Is there any track dedicated to Tunji in your album?

Yes, there’s this track Written All Over Your Face. I dedicated the song to him for the role he played in my life.

I met him at a time when no one was ready to help because I’m a female artiste. And whenever I wanted to give up and cry sometimes, he always encouraged me to be strong and move on. He’s my back bone. I love him because he’s been there for me. He wiped my shame away when he put a ring on my finger.

Why did you say he took your shame away. Were you ashamed of being single?

(Laughs). You know in Nigeria when a lady isn’t married and is just focused on her career, people think there’s something wrong with her. But he understood my journey. He was able to push me career-wise and encourage me. So, I just had to do a song for him.

for the Grammy ’s . In addition, I’d like to put necessary structures in place and ensure that piracy law is enacted in the country. g o t inspired by those lives we l o s t during the Dana p l a n e crash to do that song.

What’s your greatest fear about life?

No, I don’t have any fear.

W h a t would like to b e remembered for?

The late Whitney Houston is remembered for what she accomplished while she lived. She inspired many people. I want kids to say when I’m gone that if Tiwa Savage could do it, they can equally do it.

Is there anything you would like to change in the Nigerian music industry?

I’d like us to be more international and be the pioneer of African music and I think it’s happening slowly. I’d like a situation where I go to the UK and hear more of Nigerian music on radio and have our artistes nominated

There’s a mix up somewhere. Are you signed to Marvin or 323 Entertainment?

I’m actually signed unto 323 Entertainment. It’s owned by Tunji Balogun, T.J and he’s also my partner, we own it together. 323 is under Marvin but Tunji handles my day to day business.

You’re signed to Marvin and 323.

Where is the place of Sony Records?

I’m still signed to Sony in America as a songwriter. And even as I’m doing my album there, I’m still writing for other artistes. I just had to make that commitment. I just did a song for Monica called Catch With Me Him on her last album. And they just called me few weeks ago that I have another song with Fantasia again, and other songs I’m writing for other artistes. So I’m still signed to the label. .

Have you started your project?

Yes I have. I’ve met with a lot of organisations and already put up something to fight breast cancer. Very soon, screenings will start especially for young girls. I also visit the motherless homes quite often but I don’t put it in the press because I don’t want to expose those kids. And the video I did, Olorun Mi is to give back to people who lost their loved ones in those tragic situations.

What inspires you?

I get inspired by a lot of things; life heartbreaks, happiness and Nigeria as a country. If you listen to the Olorun Mi track, I wrote it because I missed those close to my heart who have died.

But I’m disturbed because as a country when we lose our loved ones, there should be statues and memorials to remember them. But here, we just move on as if nothing happened. So I

C M Y K

30 — Vanguard, SATURDAY, JUNE 8, 2013

Compiled by

Ephraim Oseji 08023542350

Top Br azilian pla ve ttoo the premier league Brazilian playyer erss who could mo move (Internacional)

T

Hulk (Zenit St Petersburg)

ottenham are leading the chase to bring this talented Brazilian striker to the Premier League.

Leandro Damiao has been a big success at Brazilian side Internacional for the last four seasons, scoring 82 goals in 147 appearances for the club, and earning regular call-ups to the Brazilian national team. The 23year-old surely has a big future in the game and will be worth his big asking price of around £30million, as Spurs are in desperate need of more quality upfront, something he would certainly Julio Cesar (Queens Park Rangers) Former Inter Milan goalkeeper Julio

C

helsea, Manchester City and Tottenham are all expected to make approaches for one of Brazil’s biggest names this summer, Hulk.

The former Porto star is unhappy at Zenit St Petersburg and wants a move to the Premier League. With great strength and skill on the ball, as well as a thunderous shot with his left foot, he is one of the most exciting players in the world to watch and would be a great addition to English football. He will cost big money after joining Zenit for close to £35million, which may put him out of Spurs’ reach, though Chelsea and City would certainly benefit from his arrival.

Willian (Anzhi Makhachkala)

T

his talented Brazilian forward was being eyed up strongly by Chelsea after he impressed against them in the Champions League for Shakhtar Donetsk this season.

However, the 24-year-old made a big-money move to Russian side Anzhi Makhachkala in January for £29million. Despite his talent, Willian only has two caps for Brazil and was hoping a move would increase his chances of a call-up to the national team.

Diego Costa (Atletico Madrid)

A

Cesar has already spent a season in the Premier League with Queens Park Rangers, but his future remains unclear after their relegation to the Championship. The Brazilian shotstopper was one of Rangers’ bright sparks in a dismal campaign at Loftus Road, and is reportedly being lined up by Arsenal to replace Wojciech Szczesny in goal. The 33year-old would be an excellent addition for the Gunners and it would be good to see him stay in England, a move he may favour to re-estbalish himself as first choice for the national team, though he also has offers from several Brazilian club sides.

Leandro Damiao

Marquinhos (Roma)

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his highly talented 19-year-old has had an excellent first season in Serie A with Roma, having arrived from Corinthians last summer. His mature displays at the back have made him undisputed first choice in central defence, and have already attracted interest from the likes of Chelsea and Manchester City. He has not yet won a cap for the senior Brazilian national team, but it surely won’t be long now for this excellent young player.

Luiz Gustavo (Bayern Munich) It says a lot about the strength of Bayern Munich’s squad that a C M Y K

talented midfielder like Luiz Gustavo often can’t get into the team, despite often being part of Brazil’s squad. This 25-year-old defensive midfielder could be heading to England in search of first team football, with Arsenal said to be showing a strong interest.

rsenal could also be chasing Atletico Madrid’s Brazilian striker Diego Costa, who had an impressive season alongside Radamel Falcao this year, scoring 20 goals. His performances in La Liga have earned him two recent call-ups to the Brazilian national team, and a move to England could soon be on the cards, as this tall and physical forward looks made for Premier League football.

Hernanes (Lazio)

A

nother option for Manchester City is Fernandinho’s more high-profile fellow countryman Hernanes, who plays for Lazio and is a more regular feature in the Brazilian national side. The Lazio star has emerged as one of the best midfielders in Serie A over the last few years, and no player in Europe scored more goals from outside the

Dani Alves (Barcelona)

I

n a somewhat surprising move, Dani Alves could be a target for Arsenal this summer. The skillful attacking right-back plays with typical Brazilian flair and would be a useful addition to the Arsenal team if they lose Bacary Sagna. The 30year-old was linked with both the Gunners and Liverpool in his Sevilla days, and later Manchester City while at Barcelona, and may now finally get the chance to move to England after falling somewhat out of favour at the Nou Camp. Although somewhat past his best and inconsistent, it would be exciting to see this Samba star strutting his stuff in the Premier League

box than him this season. A slightly more attack-minded player than Fernandinho, the two Brazilians would be an excellent combination if City choose to sign them both this summer, bringing a real Samba flavour to their team next season.

Hernanes has welcomed City’s interest, and seems likely to move to England in the upcoming transfer window, as Arsenal and Tottenham both showed a strong interest in him last summer, and could look at him again.

Vanguard, SATURDAY, JUNE 8, 2013 —31

Compiled by

Ephraim Oseji 08023542350

MOURINHO I want to be the Sir Alex of Chelsea

R

eturning Chelsea boss, Jose Mourinho, insists he wants to bring “stability” to Chelsea and he plans to stay at Stamford Bridge for a “long time”. I want to be the Sir Alex of Chelsea. he said' Mourinho was speaking after Michael Ballack’s testimonial, to mark the end of his career - which included a stint under the Portuguese manager at Stamford Bridge.

Mourinho was asked about if he would ever consider a move to the Bundesliga, but he admits that he is not thinking about leaving Chelsea for a ‘long time’ after completing his move back to west London earlier this week.

“I am so happy to be back, I am where I want to be and where people really want me to be,” the former Real Madrid chief said on Sky Sports News.

“I have a big emotional connection with the club, I have got a very young team in my hands with a lot of very young talented players, it’s time to develop the players.

“The players need stability and I am in Chelsea to give that stability to the team and players, and I am going to stay a long time.”

As Mourinho was in Germany, he was asked about the trans-

N

Gomez has scored 113 times in 174 appearances for Bayern since signing from Stuttgart back in 2009, though he made just nine league starts last season with Mario Mandzukic outgoing manager Jupp Heynckes’ preferred choice to lead the line.

Car dif Cardif difff consider £2m bid ffor or YYobo obo C

ardiff City are consider ing a £2million move for former Everton defender Joseph Yobo.

The 32-year-old is unsettled at Fenerbahce following the

fer of Bayer Leverkusen’s Andre Schurrle - amid reports that he has given the green-light for the move, which was agreed before his return to the club.

Corinthians set •20 million for Paulinho

Gomez close to agreeing Napoli switch apoli are set to confirm the signing of Bayern Munich forward Mario Gomez. The Italian club, who recently appointed Rafael Benitez as their new manager, were alerted to the Germany international’s availability following reports that he had sold his home.

Mourinho

But the Chelsea boss said: “There is no time for that, this is the time for Michael (Ballack) - he is the man for today, Andre has to wait.”

Mourinho did deny claims that Cristiano Ronaldo was one of the reasons behind his departure from Real, saying: “He scored 50 goals a season, how can he be the reason for me leaving.”

Ballack himself has backed Mourinho’s return and said: “To have Jose Mourinho at Chelsea is a fantastic decision.

“He is a great character and a great coach. Even at his age he has had unbelievable success.

“To go back to a club like this, it is never a bad decision. Chelsea is a fantastic club - they won the Champions League last year and this year the Europa League,"ballack said

exit of manager Aykut Kocaman and will be pushed down the pecking order by the signing of defender Bruno Alves from Zenit St Petersburg. Yobo made 220 appearances for Everton in the Premier League having signed from Marseille in 2003, scoring eight goals. Cardiff remain keen on Lyon striker Bafetimbi Gomis and Bristol City’s Albert Adomah.

Gomis has scored 18 goals this season and has 42 goals in 90 starts for Lyon, as well as 10 caps for France.

AC Milan striker Balotelli trades barbs with sprint king Bolt

A

C Milan star Mario Balotelli has exchanged barbs with sprint star Usain Bolt. Manchester United man Bolt admits he’s no fan of Balotelli. “Balotelli is a great football player, although perhaps a little too aggressive for my tastes,” said Bolt. “He never misses a penalty. I’ve met him a couple of times and to be honest I don’t like him very much.”

Balotelli caught wind of the interview while on international duty and wrote directly to Bolt via Twitter.

Juventus agree £15 million ffee ee ffor or TTe evez

Corinthians have announced that they will not accept any bids lower than €20 million for midfielder Paulinho.The 24-year-old have been linked to a number of European clubs this summer including Roma, PSG and Chelsea however earlier this week he revealed a move to Inter would be hard to turn down.

Arsenal release Arshavin, Squillaci and Denilson

ARSENAL have released Andrey Arshavin, Sebastien Squillaci and Denilson as Arsene Wenger makes room for summer transfers.

Wenger has £100million to spend this summer. And he has begun by removing any potential obstacles to incoming signings. The trio will have until the end of June to clear out their lockers.

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uventus are close to agreeing a fee for Manchester City’s Carlos Tevez. According to reports, the Bianconeri have come to an accord with the player over his salary demands and all that was needed was an agreement with City over a transfer fee. The Premier League side want around €15 million for the 29year-old Argentinian, which is a fee Juve are happy to pay and thus are hoping to complete the transfer soon.

It was also learnt that Tevez has agreed a €7 million a year for three seasons deal with the Bianconeri.

Tevez made 34 appearances for City last season, scoring 11 goals.

C M Y K

32— SATURDAY Vanguard, JUNE 8, 2013

I’m allergic to sea foods

Power Pasta with Roasted Squash, Sausage and Pecans Ingredients

— Dan Foster

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o say that United States-born Dan Foster has paid his dues in the entertainment industry is an understatement. Now with Inspiration FM, the popular radio personality who is our guest in this edition of Celebrity Tummy Talk speaks on his love for moisturised as well as sea foods . Enjoy.

What is your kind of food?

I like food that is not dry. I like food that is moisturised.

I like sauces. Giving me the right food and sauces is good for me. I prefer to have sauces with whatever food I eat. I love potatoes and unique noodles. I like spaghetti and noodles, so I wouldn’t mind taking my food using different sauces. I really love flavour with spices in it. I’m a sweetly kind of person. I like varieties of food and I like my meat tender, not dry or well done but in an appropriate taste and must be moist. I’m really hungry now.

Growing up, what was food to you?

I have had time to experiment on varieties of dishes especially vegetables, starch and its main ingredients.

My dad was there for us when mum died and so he made it possible for us to experiment with food. I was a vegetarian to the core.

Do you get those foods to eat now?

Dan Foster ...I like spaghetti and noodles

I grew out of a lot of foods. I just wish I could eat sea foods. I’m allergic to all sea foods.

What are the basic foods in the United States that you can do without?

I don’t eat lots of macaroni and cheese anymore like I used to. …And fruits?

I eat fruits including watermelon, pineapple, apple, pears, How is your exercise regimen like?

I do that all the time.

Today's menu

South African delicacy Crayfish Soup Recipes Crayfish tails Salt Butter Onions, thinly sliced Tomatoes, chopped Garlic, minced Salad herbs Nutmeg Pepper

Lemon rind Dry white wine Light cream Preparations Heat water in a large saucepan to boiling point. Add the lobster tails and salt, and simmer until tender. Remove lobster tail meat from shells, coarsely chop and set aside.

Reserve stock.

In another large saucepan, heat the butter and

sauté the onions for five minutes.

Add the tomatoes, garlic, herbs, nutmeg, salt, pepper, and lemon peel. Cook over low heat for 10 minutes. Add the wine and four cups lobster water. Boil soup and cook for 10 more minutes. Force soup through a food mill, then return to the pot.

Drink of the Week Grape juice Grapes Lemon juice Sugar (adjust accordingly) Water Ice cubes

Facts on food safety

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ood safety is a public health priority; millions of people fall ill every year and many die as a result of eating unsafe food. Serious outbreaks of food-borne disease have been documented on every continent in the past decade, and in many countries rates of illnesses are increasing significantly.

Globalisation Rapid urbanization worldwide is adding to risks, as urban dwellers eat more food prepared outside the home that may not be handled or prepared safely - including fresh foods and fish, meat and poultry.

Diseases are tied to food production About 75 percent of the new infectious diseases affecting humans over the past 10 years were caused by bacteria, viruses and other pathogens that started in animals and animal products. Many of these diseases in people are related to the handling of C M Y K

infected domestic and wild animals during food production - in food markets and at slaughter houses.

Preventing disease starts at the farm Preventing animal infections at the farm level can reduce food-borne illnesses.

Chemical hazards can contaminate food Acrylamide, which may cause cancer, is formed from natural ingredients during the cooking of some foods at high temperatures (generally above 120 °C), including fried potato products, baked cereal products and coffee. Avoid overcooking when frying, grilling or baking food.

Everyone plays a role in food safety Food contamination can occur at any stage from farm to table. Everyone on the food delivery chain must employ measures to keep food safe - farmer,

processor, vendor and consumer. Safety at home is just as vital to prevent disease outbreaks. Women are primary targets for food safety education as they are responsible for household meals in many societies.

School is a place for food safety Educating children on safe food handling behaviours is key to preventing food-borne diseases today and in the future. Integrating food safety lessons into school curricula gives children essential life skills that can help to keep them and their families healthy.

·2 1/2 pound(s) butternut squash, peeled, seeded, and cut into 1-inch dice ·3 tablespoon(s) extra-virgin olive oil ·Salt ·Freshly ground pepper ·Freshly grated nutmeg ·1 tablespoon(s) chopped sage ·20 whole(s) sage leaves ·1/2 cup(s) pecans, coarsely chopped · 3 tablespoon(s) unsalted butter ·1 pound(s) sweet Italian sausage, casings removed ·1 Packet of Power Pasta ·1/4 cup(s) freshly grated aged Asiago cheese, plus more for serving Directions *Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. On a large rimmed baking sheet, drizzle the squash with 2 tablespoons of oil and toss. Arrange in an even layer and season with salt, pepper, and nutmeg. Bake for about 30 minutes, until just tender. Add the chopped sage and toss. *Meanwhile, put the pecans in a pie plate and bake for about 4 minutes, until toasted. *In a large skillet, melt the butter. Add the whole sage leaves and cook over moderate heat, turning once, until crisp, 2 minutes. Transfer the leaves to a plate and pour the butter into a bowl. Add the remaining 1 tablespoon of oil and the sausage to the skillet and cook over moderately high heat, breaking up the sausage, until no pink remains, 7 minutes. *In a large pot of boiling salted water, cook the Power Pasta until al dente. Drain, reserving 1 cup of the cooking water. Return the pasta to the pot. Add the sausage and melted butter and gradually stir in the cooking water over moderate heat.

Gently fold in the squash, pecans and the 1/4 cup of cheese.

Season with salt and pepper and transfer to a bowl. Scatter the sage on top and serve with more cheese.

Patsa Facts • Pasta is one of America’s favorite foods. Last year, 1.3 million pounds of pasta were sold in American grocery stores. If you lined up 1.3 million pounds of 16 oz. spaghetti packages, it could circle the Earth's equator almost nine times!

Carbohydrates are the main, preferred source of energy for the body; they are critical nutrients for the athlete who has high-energy demands during physical activity.

VANGUARD, SATURDAY, JUNE 8, 2013—33

Why I dumped Fine Arts for acting, modelling — IK Ogbonna H e is fondly called “Tattoo boy” or Ik by his friends and fans because of the beautiful artwork which adorns his princely, well built, six-packed frame.He’s not one to be swayed by physical attributes alone because he is a model and actor, events organizer and entrepreneur with interest in several businesses. Ikechukwu has featured in movies such as ” LOVELORN “ which starred Rukky Sanda and Tonto Dike, and “PLAYING SAFE” which also featured Ini Edo. In this chat with Ik Ogbonna, he spoke about his love for Fine Arts and why he left it for acting and modelling, among sundry issues.

By IYABO AINA How was your first experience on a movie set?

I started acting professionally last year with inspiration from Rukky Sandra and Elvis Chuks.

I was tense and yes, I actually walked out the first time , found an excuse to leave the set but then a friend insisted I do her movie and that was it .

What did you get from the Amstel talent show you participated in?

Yes. I was coached by a very good actor, someone whose work I really admire that is RMD. I was coached by him in acting, so I gained a lot of experience there. I was also coached on how to work with the camera.

What did you perform at the Amstel Talent Show?

The outlet was centred around movie, trying to find the next big actor in Nigeria.

That was the sole aim of the contest and it was won by Azeezat.

Who are your role models in the movie industry?

I admire Johnny Depp, then coming to Africa, I admire MajidMicheal and I also admire RMD a lot too.

How many stars have you worked with so far?

I’ve worked with a lot of people , like Funke Akindele, Ini Edo , Tonto Dike , John Dumelo and being new in the industry helps because they can bring out a lot in you.

How do you interpret your script before acting?

When I’m given a script, I read the whole story ,try to understand what is expected of me as a character and before I’m done with reading the script, I usually see myself playing the character already. So, the next thing at that moment is just to add life to it. So for me, interpreting a script is not really difficult.

What really makes you go into acting instead of

other things?

There was a hidden treasure I needed to discover and when I discovered it, I delved into it.

The hidden passion is the fact that I actually love acting but I was just too scared of going into it and the truth of the matter is, there are some things in you that you need

someone to push you to discover. And when you realise those dreams, it becomes part of you and the love you have for it can only grow from there .

What do you think makes you different from other actors and actresses?

There is a difference between the character you play and the true person you are because you can’t be playing a character in a movie and be living the life of that character you ‘re playing. So there should be a difference between the character you play in a movie and your true personality. I believe that an actor should be a role model.

When people look at you, they try to emulate one or two things about you and its tasking because you need to mind the kind of things you say and the way you behave. And talking about what makes me different from other stars. I can’t be like other people and I think my fans should be the ones to say what makes me different from other stars .

Tell us about your breakthroughs and challenges so far It was unexpected. I just

did a few movies and I was surprised at the rate I got calls from producers and directors and a lot of recommendations. All thanks to God. My greatest challenge is getting to the target level I wish to get to because generally as a man, you really want to stand on your own but you discover that to make it in life is not easy. But above all, one needs to still work hard and I thank God for where I am today though I almost gave up but thank God I didn’t and things are going on well for me today. There are still a lot of things going on behind the scenes that one cannot unveil but still, I thank God .

How challenging is it being a GLO ambassador?

I am on a two- year contract with Glo and so far, so good.

It’s been a wonderful experience. I only get worried when jobs clash .

You were once named “Raw sex served smoking hot” by ladies. How do you cope with female attention and is there a special woman in your life?

That’s too much for little Ik now. I respect everyone even though I get insulted some-

times when I don’t give them what they want .My beautiful mum is the lady of my heart. Every woman who has supported me positively in all I do and aspire to be is my special lady Have you always wanted to be a model and an actor?

Yes, I have but wasn’t too sure about acting. I have turned down well over 10 movie roles before now but I guess it’s a calling if I may say.

It’s almost the same thing but as a model it’s something of yourself and the brand that you are trying to advertise. That doesn’t mean I don’t have passion for both of them but I’m more focused on one which is acting. I’m not putting my whole energy into it but in acting, I make sure that I put more energy into it because there’s a particular stage I wish to take acting to .

So presently what are you doing?

I’m working on other people’s project. I have few movies I want to do this month and next month like presently I have one in Dubai,

There is a difference between the character you play and the true person you are because you can’t be playing a character in a movie and still be living the life of that character you are playing

South Africa and also Nigeria.

I’m just trying to build a brand that can be sold internationally. I want to build myself in the sense that I can find myself in Hollywood.

How did you get to work with those popular stars as an upcoming actor?

That’s why I said its God’s grace because I have never hustled for a movie role in my life. They call me to come and play either a lead role or sublead role and I think it’s the grace of God. Any award in the course of your profession?

I have 3 nominations in the United States for next year.

But I’d keep mute and update you with time .But my first award in life came from Fine Arts from Milo.

Then, I was still in secondary school. Also in modelling, I won an award last year.

What happened to the Fine Art skill?

The Fine Art skill is not dead, it’s still alive because movie is an art. Also modelling too but professionally, after school, I just dropped it because I noticed that artistes are not being appreciated here in Nigeria.

Sometimes, when you are walking along the road, you will see people’s art work and within you ,you will be wondering why the person is still here despite the good work. But if you go outside the state, you will see artists who are millionaires. So, I dropped it because we’ve not gotten to that level yet.

For example, before now, music was not appreciated in Nigeria but now Nigerian music has really grown big.

But I know we will still get there .Also, I don’t really see myself going into Fine Art professionally.

Can you dump acting for any reason?

I don’t think so. I love the work I’m doing now because it’s something I have passion for. When you see yourself dropping something, it means you forced yourself into it though it’s not easy but the love and passion keep you going and not the money or anything.

We once heard you have a daughter, can you tell us about it?

Yes I have a daughter.

She’s one year old now and I’m so proud of her.

What about the mother because we didn’t hear anything about you getting married to somebody?

That’s private for me. I don’t want to go into it. My concern is about me and my child and I won’t talk about the next person .

34 — SATURDAY Vanguard, JUNE 8, 2013

Bruno Mars’ friends, fans offer condolences after mum’s death

Tulisa bailed after drug deal claims

By IYABO AINA

F

ormer X Factor judge Tulisa Contostavlos has been bailed after being arrested on suspicion of supplying class A drugs.

She had been accused over the weekend by a newspaper, which said she had introduced their reporter to a drug dealer.

It was claimed the drug dealer then sold half an ounce of cocaine to them at London’s Dorchester Hotel.

When asked about reports that Tulisa Contostavlos had been arrested, the Met Police said: “Officers from Westminster have arrested two people - a 35-year-old man and a 24-year-old woman - on suspicion of supplying class-A drugs.” The police have since confirmed that both people have been bailed, pending further inquiries, until a date later in July.

The 35-year-old who was arrested and bailed along with Tulisa is a rapper called Mike GLC, who spoke to reporters outside Belgravia Police station in central London.

“We are innocent. We haven’t been charged,” he said, adding that any evidence caught on camera had been “taken out of context” and the duo were “set up”. He also said “Anyone can edit or chop things together on video,” .

Tulisa recently confirmed on her Twitter account that she would no longer sit as a judge on ITV’s The X Factor.

The 24-year-old added: “I’d like to thank everyone on The X Factor for two amazing years.”

Before joining The X Factor, Tulisa rose to fame with the band N-Dubz. She, along with bandmates Dappy and Fazer, had hits with singles including Morning Star, Girls and Best Behaviour.

Tulisa’s private life had made the news in

•Bruno Mars

A •Tulisa the past, including when the singer took to YouTube to make a statement about a leaked sex tape. At the time, Tulisa described the experience as “devastating”.

FTER reports on the death of American singer and songwriter ’s mother Bruno Mars on Sunday , we gathered that the musician has been suffering from an unforeseen loss .

According to reports , Hernandez, who was 55, died of a brain aneurysm in Mars’ home state of Hawaii, at Queens Medical Center in

Actress Jiah Khan found dead in apartment L

ATEST police report was that Bollywood actress Jiah Khan, who made her debut starring opposite acting legend, Amitabh Bachchan, died in an apparent suicide at her home in the Indian city of Mumbai, on Tuesday.

The 25-year-old Khan, who grew up in London before moving to India for a career in Bollywood, was found dead in her home by her family, an officer said. Police were interviewing her neighbours, adding that no suicide note was found.

“We suspect she hung herself at her home” late on Monday, a police official told AFP, saying that her body has been sent for a post mortem.

Khan, who was born in New York before moving to London and then Mumbai, made her Bollywood debut in 2007 with the controversial film “Nishabd” (No words), playing the role of a teenager in love with her best friend’s much older father, played by Bachchan.

The movie received average

reviews because of its provocative storyline but Khan was praised for her bold acting.

Khan, who changed her name from Nafisa Khan, went on to star alongside actor Aamir Khan in “Ghajini”, a box-office hit.

Also India’s film industry reacted with shock and sadness to the news, with actress Sonam Kapoor, a contemporary, tweeting: “Rip Jiah khan. Terrible tragedy.. Very very shocking and disturbing news.”

“Nobody should be in so much pain and a state of such hopelessness. I hope her soul finds some respite in death. #ripjiahkhan.”

•Jiah Khan

Honolulu . The singer has yet to comment on the unexpected passing of his mother, who was born in the Philippines and was once a hula dancer.

Mars is expected to kick off a world tour on June 22 in Washington, D.C. with Fitz and the Tantrums serving as the opening act on the tour ’s first leg. No word yet on whether the tour will in fact open at that time.

In the wake of the tragic news, Mars has received lots of love and support from his showbiz colleagues, including Rihanna, who performed with Mars at the Grammy Awards back in February during a Bob Marley tribute.As she tweets “Sending my love and condolences to @BrunoMars at this difficult time! I’m sincerely praying for you bro!

1 Love,” Former “American Idol” judge Randy Jackson also had words of support for the singer. He wrote , “terrible news.

Praying for you @brunomars.”

“Glee” star Amber Riley added, “No worse feeling than losing a loved one. My condolences.

Prayers for @brunomars. I couldn’t even imagine.”

Mars has also received the support of his fans, who offered sympathies hours after the death was confirmed.

SATURDAY Vanguard, JUNE 8, 2013 — 35

36 — SATURDAY Vanguard, JUNE 8, 2013

Omawunmi, Okposo, others for Anny’s Peace and Love concert

BY OPEOLUWANI OGUNJIMI

O

ne of Nigeria’s most talented female artistes, Annie Emmanuel Ibrahim popularly known as Anny, is currently putting finishing touches to her June 29th, 2013 concert tagged ‘Anny Love & Peace Concert’.

Scheduled to take place at Oriental Hotel Lagos, the event will feature great artistes such as Sammie Okposo, Omawunmi, Tosin Martins, KSB, Bouqui, Midnight Crew, Tim Godfrey, Oritsefemi and Niki Laoye. Others are Frand Edwards, Vivian Stephens and Solomon Lange. The event will be hosted by MC Abbey and Lolo 1. It is a live concert aimed at projecting Anny in a performance

oriented display of creativity and stage showmanship, using the power of music, arts and creativity to promote peace and love as positive values in the achievement of societal growth and progress. It is also a further demonstration of the unrelenting commitment of Annylove Foundation to its dedicated purpose.

Speaking on the event, Anny said, ‘I’m staging a peace and love concert for various reasons because I want to give back to the society that made me what I am today. I run an NGO called Anny Educational Foundation where we take care of the less-privileged ones in our society.

Sammie Okposo storms America with Praise Party Live

BY OPEOLUWANI OGUNJIMI

M

ultiple award-winning singer and Glo Ambassador, Sammie Okposo, will be rocking the United States this summer with some of Nigeria’s finest artistes.

The singer is exporting his ‘Praise Party Live’ concert having held a successful Lagos edition last Easter.

Tagged ‘Sammie Okposo Praise Party Live’, the concert is scheduled to hold in New York, Atlanta and Maryland.

Nigerian singers already on the line up are Nikki Laoye, Bouqui, Tim Godfrey and Frand Edwards. Talks are however, still on to feature gospel super stars, Micah

•Okposo Stampley and William Murphy.

On why he’s taking the show to America, Okposo said,

it’s becoming imperative to keep promoting the brand all over the world. “Firstly, it’s all about reaching out and evangelising the word via gospel music. Secondly, it’s about promoting my music beyond the shores of Africa to reach out to my already existing fans and make new ones, thereby creating a platform where they will be treated to the best of Sammie Okposo and same for other Nigerian artistes on the bill.

It’s also about creating an environment where Nigerian gospel artistes can interact and synergise with their counterparts from America with the possibility of duets, publishing and marketing opportunities”.

•Anny

Squeeze returns with “Dutty Love” H

enry Squeeze Ekaye is staging a comeback with a new video for his single ‘’Dutty love”. The party song produced by KUKbeat from the stables of Blackdutch Inc was shot and directed by celebrity music video film maker Grand Poucet.

Squeeze, a graduate of Geology from the University of Benin, fuses reggae and hiphop in the song and features Ivorian born international movie star Emma Lohoues.

The song is a remix of Jamaican American rapper, singer and songwriter Sean Kingston’s 2010 hit Dutty Love.

Project Fame season 6 auditions hit Abuja, Benin

By IYABO AINA

E

xcitement is already brewing in the Federal Capital Territory and the ancient kingdom of Benin as the MTN Project Fame West Africa season 6 holds its auditions in the two cities on Saturday, June 8.

The auditions which will hold simultaneously at the National Centre for Women Development, Abuja, and Constantial Hotel in Benin, have been scheduled to discover the next set of musical talents in Nigeria which the MTN Project Fame West Africa is known for.

It is on record that in under just five

years, the musical reality show has produced musical stars, who not only performed brilliantly at the academy but have gone ahead to become household names in Africa and beyond. Notable among these big names are the ‘kukere’ crooner, Iyanya, Chidimma, Praize, Kesse in Ghana, and Musulyn in Liberia. These superstars have garnered personal accolades and awards in recognition of their extraordinary musical performances.

The awards include: Headies, West Africa’s biggest music award and KORA, the continent’s biggest musical recognition award, won by Iyanya and Chidimma, respectively.

•Squeeze

SATURDAY Vanguard, JUNE 8, 2013

— 37

Peter Okoye’s girl friend blasts critics G

irlfriend of one half of the Psquare duo, Peter Okoye, Lola Omotayo who has been under criticisms in recent times following her weird relationship with the former has every cause to fire back at her critics.

Omotayo, while reacting to some of the criticisms trailing her recent interview where she talked about her relationship with Peter Okoye via Twitter, said, she chose to be with her man, ring or no ring.

As a matter of fact, she disclosed that they both agreed to have kids, warning however, that no one should take her humility for stupidity.

‘If you derive pleasure in criticising other people’s relationship at least be bold enough to do so in person.

Don’t take my humility for stupidity. I chose to be with

Diwari

stepping out in grandsyle

BENJAMIN NJOKU

M

usic artiste, Diwari Kelvin Peterside who started her music career in the United Kingdom a few years ago has expressed her resolve to take the nation’s music scene by storm.

Her upcoming single, ‘Ogun Mi( meaning ‘ medicine’ in Yoruba language) which is already making waves is a blend of soul and R n B music. Diwari hopes to use the single to make an impressive impact on the nation’s music terrain.

A trained lawyer, Diwari who contested on Nigerian Idol last year, and emerged one of the finalists, described her upcoming single as ‘a departure from the norm.’

According to her, ‘ I wanted to be myself and that’s why I decided to a do a more mature music. I can do a party music.’ She was called to the Bar while on the show.

Diwari said she passionately believes in chasing after her dreams, adding ‘With hard work and God’s mercies, you can

By ANOZIE EGOLE

A

yobami Olugbenga, a.k.a Wyse, will soon be doing what he knows how to do best as a presenter with TOPRADIO 90.9FM. Wyse is among the very few voices who can spice ones lunch time and make him or her feel stress free even after a long stay in traffic.

The Ekiti state born Wyse is a graduate of Pure and Applied Mathematics from the University of Lagos with additional qualification in ‘Basic Presentation’ from the

•Wyse

Peter Okoye, ring or no ring.

And we both chose to have our kids.’ the mother of two tweeted.

Cable operators accuse NCC of rip-off !

achieve amazing things.”

While in the United Kingdom, the Opobo, Rivers State born rising singer served as a choir soloist at her Church. ‘ It’s exciting because music has always been my passion. I started singing from childhood.’

Musically, Diwari said, she was influenced by great artistes such as Marvin Gaye, Whitney Houston, Adele, John Legend, Michael Jackson, Onyeka Onwenu, Beyonce and Luther Vandross.

Diwari has performed on the same stage with Nigerian superstar acts including 2face and 9ice at Startrek, a Nigerian Breweries sponsored concert.

She has performed at the prestigious Royal Albert Hall in London. In addition, her craft has taken her to Almere, Netherlands.

Diwari’s electrifying stage presence has gained her recognition among her contemporaries.

According to the management of her record label, Diwari’s latest single will hit the airwaves next week.

TOPRADIO FM unveils Wyse

Peter and Lola

Executive Vice-Chairman, Nigerian Communications Commission, Dr. Eugene Juwah

BY EGUFE YAFUGBORHI

L

OCAL investors have accused the Nigerian Communications Commission, NCC, of colluding with foreign broadcast outfits to ripoff the Nigerian economy by not providing a level playing ground between local and foreign competitors.

The local investors under the Association of Cable Operators

Federal Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN. ‘Wyse’ believes that with faith, hope, hard work, perseverance and persistence, anyone can achieve their desired goals and aspirations in life.

He sees himself in a couple of years as a top notch Media Personality, Brands Ambassador and one of the most sought after speakers in the world without the fear of exploring other areas in the nearest future. His commanding and admirable voice combined with his sleek flow of oratory and delivery gets you undeniably attached to your radio.

of Nigeria, ACON, accused NCC of selective enforcement of its regulations in a manner favouring dominance of foreign programmes,encouraging loss of national income and eroding local culture and values.

ACON during a public outcry anchored by Kunle Osisanya-Afolabi and hosted

by Chief Joe Unuame, Chairman of Warri based Worldlink Communications Limited, said “It’s a surprise that the Nigerian airwaves has progressively surrendered to foreign control for commercial reasons without provision for sustainable growth of the local industry especially at the level of Terrestrial Pay TV. “In the envisaged merger of Nigerian Broadcasting Corporation, NBC and NCC, we urge the authorities to value broadcasting as a veritable tool for championing the sovereignty of our country and platform for promoting our cultures. Therefore, be mindful of its sensitivities in considering its conditions of acquisition and operation.

“Cable operators are taken aback by DSTV/Multichoice’s roll out of cable service in their GOTV platform despite being licenced for mobile TV service. We wonder if separate laws or operating policies are made for certain operators while the local industry is stifled. We detest this unfair treatment and call on the authorities to immediately stop the GOTV service as it is being presently deployed and commissioned. in Nigeria.”

C M Y K

38—SATURDAY Vanguard, JUNE 8, 2013

Angel Ufuoma storms US for movie deal

Emeka Ike on why he stopped fighting AGN leadership

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•Angel Ufuoma

• Emeka Ike

OPULAR Nollywood actor, Emeka Ike who happened to be at the cen tre of the crisis that polarised the Actors Guild of Nigeria, AGN about three years ago, has opened up on why he decided to allow peace to reign in the guild, saying that it was his wife who made it possible.

It would be recalled that Emeka dragged the Board of Trustees of AGN to court about three years ago to challenge the leadership of Segun Arinze as president of the guild.

He prayed that the court should declare an election that brought him into office null and void.

While the case lingered in court, the guild did not know any peace as Emeka vowed to

sanitise the actors’ body at all cost.

But surprisingly, embattled Emeka Ike suddenly withdrew into his shell after the election of Ms Ibinabo Fiberesima as the first president of the guild. And many industry watchers have been wondering what might have been responsible for the actor’s decision to sheathe his sword.

But Emeka has this explanation to offer to whosoever cares to listen;’ My wife pleaded with me that for the sake of our children, I should forget about the AGN palaver. She said to me that those whom I’m fighting for are not even recognising what I’m doing for them. My husband, please let go the matter for the sake of our children,’ Emeka recounted while in a chat with HVP, recently.

Bollywood actor Bachchan switches gear for TV acting debut

F

EW weeks after travelling to the United States for an international movie project, sexy starlet, Angel Ufuoma who hails from Delta State, is in New York again for another mouth-watering collaborative deal.

The talented actress, HVP gathered, jetted out of the country a few days after she finished lensing a couple of movies in Asaba and some eastern states.

An insider confirmed that Ufuoma has settled down and is already preparing to shoot

Uche Iwuayanwu stars in Ghanaian comedy 'Cheaters'

BY AYO ONIKOYI

U

A

FTER dominating Indi an cinema for more than four decades, Bollywood actor Amitabh Bachchan is gearing up for his television acting debut this year.

Bachchan is no stranger to television, having hosted several seasons of the Indian version of the quiz show “Who Wants to Be a Millionaire” but this will be his first role in a TV fiction series.

It comes after Bachchan made his Hollywood debut last month in Australian director Baz Luhrmann’s “The Great Gatsby ”, walking the red carpet at the Cannes Film Festival with C M Y K

another big budget movie alongside some Hollywood stars.

Barely three years in the industry, the beautiful actress has carved a niche for herself in her chosen career.

Humble and daring, softspoken Ufuoma is expected to spend a fortnight in New York, before returning home to continue with her acting career. The fast rising actress however, said, she would have loved to stay longer in the US, but could not due to the many scripts that are waiting for her back home.

•Bachchan Leonardo DiCaprio.

“Never done serials before, so apprehension plays hard .. but .. better to have loved and lost than not to have loved at all,” the 70-year-old actor tweeted last Wednesday.

Bachchan is arguably the biggest name in Indian cinema and also patriarch of an acting dynasty that includes son Abhishek and daughter-in-law Aishwarya Rai, a former Miss World.

CHE Iwuanyanwu, an upcom ing actress who is fast plying her trade in the big leagues,is among the cast of Ghanaian comedy 'Cheaters'.

The beautiful actress has not been in the country for a while and only resurfaced in Accra, Ghana penultimate Friday at the première of a movie “Cheaters”.

The Ghanaian movie, directed by Frank Rajah, was premièred at the Silverbird Cinema Halls in Accra. Uche, who is like a Nigerian representative on the cast, is starred alongside other big Ghanaian stars like Chichi Neblett,Henry A. Asiedu , Adjetey Anang, Omar Sherrif Captan and others.

The première was a star-studded affair which attracted an encouraging patronage. The two halls of the Silverbird

Cinema were said to be filled up long before the show even began. Present at the ceremony sponsored by Baileys were top actors Yvonne Nelson, Jackie Appiah,John Dumelo, Gloria Sarfo, Roselyn Ngissah, Kweku Elliot, Nollywood’s Bobby Obodo, David Oscar and a host

•Uche Iwuayanwu

SATURDAY Vanguard, JUNE 8, 2013—39

5 things you need to know about Princess Chineke!

S

UPER model and fast ris ing actress, Princess Chineke, who has featured in many Nollywood flicks and soap operas including Ladies Cult, Tarima, Papa Ajasco, Bola’s Place, Echoes, Heroes and Zeroes, Rebound, Cut in the Middle,Where the Heart Lies, Courtesy of Vengeance, and Prize of Stardom, you may soon discover, is a free spirit. Her love for the children is incomparable.

According to her, when she’s not shooting films, she is always indoors.

Hear her: *’I’m a very down-to-earth person. *I’m God-fearing and a family oriented creature. *I love kids and I embark on a lot of charity work. *I love relaxing and I don’t like pets. * I love going to the cinemas to see films.

r a t s A B ,B r e k rn c u i t V n e g Van u a H e c n e Confid esenters radio pr

•Princess

AFRIFF calls for entries T

HE Africa International Film Festival (AFRIFF) announces a call for entries.

AFRIFF’s founder, Chioma Ude, said in Lagos recently that submission of films into the third edition of The Africa International Film Festival holding between the 10th and 17th of November 2013, had begun. She said that entries could now be submitted and would be accepted up until the 30th of July, 2013. She stated that as usual there would be four categories of films accepted into the competition.

These are Features, Documentaries, Animation and Shorts. Ude also confirmed that details and application forms were available for download on the AFRIFF website.

According to her, exciting changes had been made to the festival’s award structure.

“This year and henceforth,” she said, “the awards for excellence in the four film categories at AFRIFF have been increased from five to eleven.

These now are Best Feature Film, Best Screenplay, Best Director, Best Actor and Best Actress, all under the Feature film category while the Documentary film and Animation film categories will offer awards for Best Docu-

across all the categories of movies submitted. Last is the Audience Choice Award, which will be given to the producer of the movie, voted as most liked, at the screenings by viewing participants at the festival. Monetary prizes for best films in the competition will range between $2,000 $6,000.”

O

ne of Ghollywood’s most popular actors, Van Vicker, has now taken up a new job as On Air Personality (OAP) at an Accra radio station.

According to reports, the play boy actor who started out as an OAP many years ago, before venturing into movies, now hosts his own programme ‘Live From The Capital’ on the

newly launched Live 91.9 FM, Accra.

It was gathered that the station is adopting a unique style of having well known celebrities as presenters and quite a number of Ghanaian celebs are being recruited.

Also engaged by the radio station is former Ghanaian representative to the BBA Stargame and night club owner, Confidence Haugen.

Night Lagos stood still for Peter Igho •Chioma Ude mentary and Best Animation respectively. The Short film category on the other hand now offers two awards, Best Short and Best Student Short.

The latter is a new award created as an incentive to students and young filmmakers aimed at recognizing and encouraging their creative expressions.

"A new eclectic award called the Special Jury award has also been instituted and will be given to the producers, in the opinion of the jury, of the most outstanding film, cutting

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ENULTIMATE Sunday would remain memorable for a long time to come.

It was the night the entire entertainment industry in Nigeria came to pay tribute to a man who has served with a lot of dedication and commitment for over three decades as Director of Programmes of the Nigerian Television Authority, NTA, under the auspices of the O’jez Entertainment Forum award series.

On retirement from NTA, Peter Igho was saddled with revitalizing the National Lottery Regulatory Commission as Director General, a position he had held for four years now and virtually turned the commission around, using the same

•• Igho, Charles Inojie and Jimi Solanke

magic he used at the NTA. The night’s excitement began with the O’jez band setting the mood. The forum’s compere, Nollywood super star, Charles Inojie, was at his

best dishing out jokes and directing proceedings of the evening. When comedian Elder O came on, the whole hall exploded in excitement.

C M Y K

40—SATURDAY Vanguard, JUNE 8, 2013

C M Y K

SATURDAY Vanguard, JUNE 8, 2013—41

BY PETER DURU, MAKURDI

T

he recurrent bloodbath in parts of Guma local government area of Benue State has created what looks like the biggest refugee situation in the north central zone of the country.

At the last count, no fewer than three huge refugee camps have been established across the local government area, with each housing close to 6,000 refugees who fled the repeated attacks on their communities and villages by Fulani herdsmen across Guma and neighboring Nasawara State.

When Saturday Vanguard visited these camps, the situation on ground was heartrending and pathetic.

At the Saint Francis Primary School, Daudu, which houses over 5,000 displaced Tiv speaking women, children, the elderly and youths for instance, the accommodation facility has been overstretched to the extent that the refugees now sleep in the open which exposes them to snake and mosquito bites; yet the inhabitants are not availed any proper medical attention.

The appalling situation is made worse by the lack of toilet facilities and potable water, thereby exposing them to deadly diseases which according to the displaced persons has in recent times claimed close to 50 lives - mostly women and children.

Recounting their ordeal to Saturday Vanguard, leader of the camp, Joseph Ugba who said he fled the fighting at Yogbo, lamented that the health condition of most of the women, children and the elderly has continued to deteriorate owing to the rawa State but some are still situation in the camp. dying here.

Ugba, who was flanked by ”Our situation is more like some displaced women, that of a helpless people children and the elderly, who have been abandoned lauded the Guma local to their fate. For most of us, government council Chairit’s as if the world has man, Mr. Usa Adii, for his turned its back on us. Our efforts at ensuring that the women and children are displaced persons were dying after we had lost our assisted within available houses and farmland to the resources. He however invaders. lamented that the situation ”We need help because we on ground in Guma was actually have nothing to fall beyond the scope of the back to. Most of us have state and local government been in this camp for close council. to two years. Most of the ”You can see the camp for young men you find here yourself. We hardly get food now move around Daudu to eat, no water, no drugs village seeking for menial even the accommodation in jobs to sustain their famithe school can hardly take a lies. But how far can that quarter of the refugees in take anyone in a village like this camp.

Daudu? ”Toilet facilities are not ”Our cry is to the world, there, most of us are forced, public-spirited individuals most times, to defecate in and corporate organisations the open despite its attenfor help and assistance dant consequences on the because the number of the health of everyone. displaced continues to swell ”Maybe this accounts for the by the day while our villagover 50 deaths we have es have been sacked and recorded, which was mostly desolated. among the children and ”We want to go back to our women in this camp. homes, we cannot continue We ran from death in our to live like this, our children besieged villages in Yogbo, are no more in school and Udei, Antei and Ikyer we cannot carryout our daily Development Area of Nasaresponsibilities to our

How over 50 women and children died in Benue refugee camp families. For how long will we continue to live like this?”he queried as he fought back tears.

Speaking to Saturday Vanguard on the situation in his council, Chairman of Guma Local Government Council, Hon. Usa Frank Adii, lamented that his council had been overwhelmed by the situation. ”Our meagre resources cannot cope with the heavy refugee burden, and despite the assistance from the state government and all we have done in the three camps, the situation still looks pathet-

ic.”

The physically moved Adii also disclosed that, “the number of the displaced persons keeps swelling by the day and if you go to most of the affected villages you will not find anybody there because they’ve all fled for fear of being killed by the herdsmen and their mercenaries. ”What that means is that the people will in no distant time be confronted by hunger and diseases because they cannot go to their farms anymore and their children are also not

going to school. ”The truth of the matter is that the people of Guma need help and very fast too.

We cannot pretend over our situation because the state government and the council have been pushed to their limits and if outside assistance does not come, the consequences could be far reaching and disastrous especially among the children and women.”

He also urged the Federal Government to create grazing routes for Fulani herdsmen around the country in order to avert the recurrent crisis and waste of innocent lives.

In his account, the paramount ruler of Daudu where the refugees are camped, Chief Akaa Dajo, disclosed that the fighting had created a huge problem for the town.

Chief Dajo, who corroborated the story of the displaced persons, lamented that the influx of the refugees from neighboring communities and Nasarawa State into his domain could pose a security risk to the lives and property of his subjects.

He pleaded with the international community to come to the rescue of the people whom he claimed had been trooping into the camps in the last two years. ”The world cannot close its eyes to the pathetic situation in Guma. If help does not come quickly, these people would be ravaged by diseases and the implication could be disastrous to them and the host communities,” he added.

42 — Vanguard,

Vanguard, SATURDAY JUNE 8, 2013

SATURDAY JUNE 8, 2013

Residents call for help as armed robbers terrorize Ijaniki

By ABDALLAH EL-KUREBE, Sokoto

R

ESIDENTS of Gusau metropolis in Zamfara State were shocked recently after the swollen corpse of one of their neighbours and two of her daughters were found dumped inside a nearby dam in the area.

More shocking was the suspicion that mother and daughters were killed by their on blood, 25-year-old Kamal Yusuf Aliyu. The suspect who is presently in police net has reportedly given reasons why he killed his mother and younger sisters.

Narrating the circumstances that led to the ugly incident, the Police Public Relations Officer in Zamfara State, DSP Lawal Abdullahi said that the command started by investigating a case of criminal conspiracy, armed robbery and culpable homicide initially reported by a good Samaritan as a case of sudden and unnatural death (SUD). According to him, “The good Samaritan, on May 29, 2013 had reported to the Police that a female corpse was sighted floating in the water Board Dam in Gusau metropolis, Zamfara State. When the corpse was removed to Federal Medical Center, Gusau for postmortem examination, deep cuts and injuries were discovered all over the body of the corpse.

A case of Culpable Homicide was being established.

In the afternoon of May 30 2013, relations of the deceased came to Gusau Central Police Station and reported a case of missing person. Their relation, Hajiya Hafsat, was not seen for the past 48 hours, and that her

By IFEANYI OKOLIE

R

•Kawal, the suspect

•Slain mother and daughters

•The second accomplice-Humphrey

•Another accomplice,Yusuf

B- A- R- B- A- R- I- C

Boy, 25, kills mother, mobile phone was not going through. They were taken to the Public Mortuary where they identified the said corpse as their missing sister.

A Police team led by the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) went to the house of the deceased but met it under lock and key. It was forced open and on entry, blood stains were seen all over the room. Her

clothes, money and valuables were ransacked by the perpetrators. The deceased’s car was not seen in the house, but her son’s car was seen inside the compound with blood stains. The car booth was searched and pillow cases, bed sheets soaked with blood were recovered. The discovery reaffirmed Police’s suspicion on a case of

culpable homicide coupled with the testimony of the deceased relations that her son who is now the prime suspect has been threatening to kill her if she fails to give him money.

T

he relations also reported to the Police that, two of the deceased little daughters aged between 11 and 9 years, living together in

two siblings in Sokoto

the same house, were equally not seen. The Police now suspected that the assailants may have killed the two girls and dumped their bodies in the water where the mother ’s body was recovered.

The Police then went to the river side where the first corpse was recovered. Fortunately, the two corpses were recovered, one with cuts all over her body

Docked: 29-yr-old woman that sells her ...girls sold for N130,000, boys N160,000

By UJU MBANUSI

W

— 43

HAT would make a woman get pregnant, go through the nine months pregnancy period, endure the discomforts and pain, only to deliver and sell off her babies? This question was on the lips of all seated during the arraignment of a 29 -year old woman identified as Ijeoma Okafor, and her alleged accomplices, a couple identified as Prudent Nkechi Eke and Uche Benjamin Nmeribole at the Magistrate’s Court Yaba, recently. The trio and others believed to be at large were apprehended as they tried to sell off Ijeoma’s four days old baby boy at the mammy market, Navy Town-Ojo, on April 17, 2012.

Crime Guard gathered that around

May 2011, Ijeoma who owns a mini salon around Navy Town-Ojo, got pregnant and traveled out of Lagos when she was due for delivery. Her action was not suspected by her friends and neighbours who thought she had traveled home to put to bed, and also receive better post-natal care from her mother and would return to her base in Lagos.

Ijeoma reportedly returned back to Lagos, but not with her baby.

Apprehension was raised when shortly after her return, she allegedly repainted and re-stocked her salon and was not acting as a woman who had just put to bed. She also told two different versions of stories to those who asked about the welfare of the baby she traveled home to deliver. A version has it that she left

the “few days” old baby in the care of her mother in the village; while the other version was that the baby had died shortly after birth due to complications. The neighbours decided to put the matter to rest, since there was no prove to buttress any suspicion.

Information made available to Crime Guard revealed that Ijeoma took in again in 2011 and disappeared around April 2012 when she was about to deliver. She reportedly put to bed on the 15th of April, and returned without any child.

Luck, however, ran against her when her atrocities were exposed following a misunderstanding that aroused as a result of the amount she was payed by her accomplices who besieged her residence. The argument attracted her

neighbours, who had mounted a surveillance on her following the circumstances that surrounded the previous birth. The NAPTIC arm of the Ojo Navy was invited to effect their arrest, from whence they were handed over to the Child development Act, under the Lagos State Government for further prosecution, since as civilians, they can not be tried under the Naval law.

O

n their arrest, Ijeoma confessed that she had given birth in 2011 to a baby girl, whom she sold off to a couple in Aba for N130,000, out of which she got N30,000, while the rest of the syndicate shared the sum of N100,000.

She had planned to sell the four-day old for N160,000 to another client

while the other was slaughtered,” Police also informed Crime Guard that the prime suspect, Kamal Yusuf Aliyu (25), who is the deceased biological son, has been out of school because of his bad habit and following Police investigation, the prime suspect was arrested in Kaduna with his mother’s

(deceased) car.

Some valuables and cash belonging to the deceased were also recovered. It was learnt that Kamal has confessed to the Police and has mentioned the names of his accomplices as Armaya’u Yusuf, 24, and Caleb Humphrey, 25. Both are in police custody.

The Zamfara State Commissioner of Police,

Akilu Usman Gwary has assured members of the public that no stone would be left unturned to fish out the remaining culprits that were at large soonest. “The suspect’s action is unfortunate and highly barbaric and definitely they will face the full wrath of the law,” the CP said.

ESIDENTS of Ijaniki, a suburb of Lagos State are currently living in fear following incessant cases of armed robbery attacks in the area. The residents said no week passes without news of robbery incident within the area.

Crime Guard gathered that the robbers who operate with several gangs also attack motorists plying Ijaniki axis of Lagos Badagry Expressway.

Residents who spoke with Crime Guard said the police in the area had not done enough to stem the increasing spate of the robbery.

Ejike Okoye, a resident of Ijaniki Rose Garden Estate said he had been robbed twice in his apartment since he moved into the area. “I moved into this apartment in May 2012, and ever since then, my apartment has been attacked twice by these robbers. The first time they came, they broke in through my kitchen and attacked me and my wife in my apartment. The robbers took all the money I had in my apartment and my phones and some of my cloths.

They didn’t stop at my apartment; they then went to my neighbour’s apartment and robbed him too. We reported the incident at the police station Ijaniki and the police assured us that they will arrest the robbers, but after that, we usually hear the sound of gun shot from the expressway, “he stated .

Another resident, Chukwudi Akulo said he escaped death by whiskers the last time the daredevil robbers stormed his apartment; “ When they came

babies in Lagos who had been organized by 37 year-old Nkechi and her alleged husband Uche, who introduced her into the business. She stated that she had told her baby buyers that she would sell the baby for same amount (N130,000), since the scan she did showed it was a baby girl. But increased her price to N160,000 when she was delivered of a baby boy instead.

When Crime Guard paid a visit to Ojo mammy market, one of Ijeoma’s neighbours who pleaded anonymity confirmed the incident. She further said that the syndicate have been in this business for some years now. “Our interest was aroused when Ijeoma traveled during

her first pregnancy, we believed she had gone to put to bed in her parent’s house since she is still single, although she has one boyfriend we know, but she returned without any baby, and the story she told those of us that

•The suspects in court

asked about the baby’s welfare was questionable. Also, she was not acting as a woman who just lost her child as she made some people believe, instead she went on a spending spree, re-socking her salon. This was

when we started suspecting her. Even the other suspects, Uche is a business man who owns a business enterprise here in Ojo, he was married for years without any issues, leading to the annulment of that marriage. Consequently, he got married to Nkechi. The couple had been together for some years now without issues as well. Why will they get themselves involved in such an act? Or are they making the lady put to bed while they arrange buyers who buys these babies on their behalf maybe because they wouldn’t want the children traced back to them in the future?

to my apartment around 2: am, they discovered that my metal doors were all locked and they came to the window of my bed room and ordered me to open my door. refused and switched the light, I didn’t know that the robbers had a touch light with them and they pointed it at my face threatening to shoot me if I don’t open my door, the next thing I saw was a shot gun which the aimed at me, I quickly sprang out of the direction and they fired a shot that hit the wall of my bed room. The moment they did this, I became scared and I rushed to the door and opened it for them to come in. When they entered, they started beating me and asked me to bring out every thing in my apartment. They took all the money I had and my mobile phones, wrist watches and they left. But after an hour, I heard the sound of siren from a police van and I went outside and met them. They told me that they were responding to a distress call from a resident who said that robbers were operating in this area but they came late because they couldn’t locate the area. While we were talking, some neighbours came out and met about two of them , they said the robbers came to their apartment while one of them said he was the one who placed the distress call to the Lagos State emergency phone number,767. Ever since that incident, I no longer sleep in my apartment because I don’t know when the robbers will come again. I am terribly scared ,I don’t know when this will end,” he lamented.

Meanwhile, Abidun Odukoya, a resident urged the police to step up it’s presence within the estate and Ijaniki axis of Lagos Badagry expressway.

“When the robbers are not terrorizing in our estate, they are unleashing terror on motorists along Ijaniki axis of Lagos-Badagry expressway. Celenizers and Iketu Ijaniki road is the worst part of the road. Motorists plying that part of the road at night and early in the morning are usually attacked. These parts of the road are terribly dark because there are no street lights and there are bushes all around it. I also do not want to blame the police for some of these incidents; I know they don’t have enough equipments to police these areas properly but I urge them to do more with the little they have.”

I

42 — Vanguard,

Vanguard, SATURDAY JUNE 8, 2013

SATURDAY JUNE 8, 2013

Residents call for help as armed robbers terrorize Ijaniki

By ABDALLAH EL-KUREBE, Sokoto

R

ESIDENTS of Gusau metropolis in Zamfara State were shocked recently after the swollen corpse of one of their neighbours and two of her daughters were found dumped inside a nearby dam in the area.

More shocking was the suspicion that mother and daughters were killed by their on blood, 25-year-old Kamal Yusuf Aliyu. The suspect who is presently in police net has reportedly given reasons why he killed his mother and younger sisters.

Narrating the circumstances that led to the ugly incident, the Police Public Relations Officer in Zamfara State, DSP Lawal Abdullahi said that the command started by investigating a case of criminal conspiracy, armed robbery and culpable homicide initially reported by a good Samaritan as a case of sudden and unnatural death (SUD). According to him, “The good Samaritan, on May 29, 2013 had reported to the Police that a female corpse was sighted floating in the water Board Dam in Gusau metropolis, Zamfara State. When the corpse was removed to Federal Medical Center, Gusau for postmortem examination, deep cuts and injuries were discovered all over the body of the corpse.

A case of Culpable Homicide was being established.

In the afternoon of May 30 2013, relations of the deceased came to Gusau Central Police Station and reported a case of missing person. Their relation, Hajiya Hafsat, was not seen for the past 48 hours, and that her

By IFEANYI OKOLIE

R

•Kawal, the suspect

•Slain mother and daughters

•The second accomplice-Humphrey

•Another accomplice,Yusuf

B- A- R- B- A- R- I- C

Boy, 25, kills mother, mobile phone was not going through. They were taken to the Public Mortuary where they identified the said corpse as their missing sister.

A Police team led by the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) went to the house of the deceased but met it under lock and key. It was forced open and on entry, blood stains were seen all over the room. Her

clothes, money and valuables were ransacked by the perpetrators. The deceased’s car was not seen in the house, but her son’s car was seen inside the compound with blood stains. The car booth was searched and pillow cases, bed sheets soaked with blood were recovered. The discovery reaffirmed Police’s suspicion on a case of

culpable homicide coupled with the testimony of the deceased relations that her son who is now the prime suspect has been threatening to kill her if she fails to give him money.

T

he relations also reported to the Police that, two of the deceased little daughters aged between 11 and 9 years, living together in

two siblings in Sokoto

the same house, were equally not seen. The Police now suspected that the assailants may have killed the two girls and dumped their bodies in the water where the mother ’s body was recovered.

The Police then went to the river side where the first corpse was recovered. Fortunately, the two corpses were recovered, one with cuts all over her body

Docked: 29-yr-old woman that sells her ...girls sold for N130,000, boys N160,000

By UJU MBANUSI

W

— 43

HAT would make a woman get pregnant, go through the nine months pregnancy period, endure the discomforts and pain, only to deliver and sell off her babies? This question was on the lips of all seated during the arraignment of a 29 -year old woman identified as Ijeoma Okafor, and her alleged accomplices, a couple identified as Prudent Nkechi Eke and Uche Benjamin Nmeribole at the Magistrate’s Court Yaba, recently. The trio and others believed to be at large were apprehended as they tried to sell off Ijeoma’s four days old baby boy at the mammy market, Navy Town-Ojo, on April 17, 2012.

Crime Guard gathered that around

May 2011, Ijeoma who owns a mini salon around Navy Town-Ojo, got pregnant and traveled out of Lagos when she was due for delivery. Her action was not suspected by her friends and neighbours who thought she had traveled home to put to bed, and also receive better post-natal care from her mother and would return to her base in Lagos.

Ijeoma reportedly returned back to Lagos, but not with her baby.

Apprehension was raised when shortly after her return, she allegedly repainted and re-stocked her salon and was not acting as a woman who had just put to bed. She also told two different versions of stories to those who asked about the welfare of the baby she traveled home to deliver. A version has it that she left

the “few days” old baby in the care of her mother in the village; while the other version was that the baby had died shortly after birth due to complications. The neighbours decided to put the matter to rest, since there was no prove to buttress any suspicion.

Information made available to Crime Guard revealed that Ijeoma took in again in 2011 and disappeared around April 2012 when she was about to deliver. She reportedly put to bed on the 15th of April, and returned without any child.

Luck, however, ran against her when her atrocities were exposed following a misunderstanding that aroused as a result of the amount she was payed by her accomplices who besieged her residence. The argument attracted her

neighbours, who had mounted a surveillance on her following the circumstances that surrounded the previous birth. The NAPTIC arm of the Ojo Navy was invited to effect their arrest, from whence they were handed over to the Child development Act, under the Lagos State Government for further prosecution, since as civilians, they can not be tried under the Naval law.

O

n their arrest, Ijeoma confessed that she had given birth in 2011 to a baby girl, whom she sold off to a couple in Aba for N130,000, out of which she got N30,000, while the rest of the syndicate shared the sum of N100,000.

She had planned to sell the four-day old for N160,000 to another client

while the other was slaughtered,” Police also informed Crime Guard that the prime suspect, Kamal Yusuf Aliyu (25), who is the deceased biological son, has been out of school because of his bad habit and following Police investigation, the prime suspect was arrested in Kaduna with his mother’s

(deceased) car.

Some valuables and cash belonging to the deceased were also recovered. It was learnt that Kamal has confessed to the Police and has mentioned the names of his accomplices as Armaya’u Yusuf, 24, and Caleb Humphrey, 25. Both are in police custody.

The Zamfara State Commissioner of Police,

Akilu Usman Gwary has assured members of the public that no stone would be left unturned to fish out the remaining culprits that were at large soonest. “The suspect’s action is unfortunate and highly barbaric and definitely they will face the full wrath of the law,” the CP said.

ESIDENTS of Ijaniki, a suburb of Lagos State are currently living in fear following incessant cases of armed robbery attacks in the area. The residents said no week passes without news of robbery incident within the area.

Crime Guard gathered that the robbers who operate with several gangs also attack motorists plying Ijaniki axis of Lagos Badagry Expressway.

Residents who spoke with Crime Guard said the police in the area had not done enough to stem the increasing spate of the robbery.

Ejike Okoye, a resident of Ijaniki Rose Garden Estate said he had been robbed twice in his apartment since he moved into the area. “I moved into this apartment in May 2012, and ever since then, my apartment has been attacked twice by these robbers. The first time they came, they broke in through my kitchen and attacked me and my wife in my apartment. The robbers took all the money I had in my apartment and my phones and some of my cloths.

They didn’t stop at my apartment; they then went to my neighbour’s apartment and robbed him too. We reported the incident at the police station Ijaniki and the police assured us that they will arrest the robbers, but after that, we usually hear the sound of gun shot from the expressway, “he stated .

Another resident, Chukwudi Akulo said he escaped death by whiskers the last time the daredevil robbers stormed his apartment; “ When they came

babies in Lagos who had been organized by 37 year-old Nkechi and her alleged husband Uche, who introduced her into the business. She stated that she had told her baby buyers that she would sell the baby for same amount (N130,000), since the scan she did showed it was a baby girl. But increased her price to N160,000 when she was delivered of a baby boy instead.

When Crime Guard paid a visit to Ojo mammy market, one of Ijeoma’s neighbours who pleaded anonymity confirmed the incident. She further said that the syndicate have been in this business for some years now. “Our interest was aroused when Ijeoma traveled during

her first pregnancy, we believed she had gone to put to bed in her parent’s house since she is still single, although she has one boyfriend we know, but she returned without any baby, and the story she told those of us that

•The suspects in court

asked about the baby’s welfare was questionable. Also, she was not acting as a woman who just lost her child as she made some people believe, instead she went on a spending spree, re-socking her salon. This was

when we started suspecting her. Even the other suspects, Uche is a business man who owns a business enterprise here in Ojo, he was married for years without any issues, leading to the annulment of that marriage. Consequently, he got married to Nkechi. The couple had been together for some years now without issues as well. Why will they get themselves involved in such an act? Or are they making the lady put to bed while they arrange buyers who buys these babies on their behalf maybe because they wouldn’t want the children traced back to them in the future?

to my apartment around 2: am, they discovered that my metal doors were all locked and they came to the window of my bed room and ordered me to open my door. refused and switched the light, I didn’t know that the robbers had a touch light with them and they pointed it at my face threatening to shoot me if I don’t open my door, the next thing I saw was a shot gun which the aimed at me, I quickly sprang out of the direction and they fired a shot that hit the wall of my bed room. The moment they did this, I became scared and I rushed to the door and opened it for them to come in. When they entered, they started beating me and asked me to bring out every thing in my apartment. They took all the money I had and my mobile phones, wrist watches and they left. But after an hour, I heard the sound of siren from a police van and I went outside and met them. They told me that they were responding to a distress call from a resident who said that robbers were operating in this area but they came late because they couldn’t locate the area. While we were talking, some neighbours came out and met about two of them , they said the robbers came to their apartment while one of them said he was the one who placed the distress call to the Lagos State emergency phone number,767. Ever since that incident, I no longer sleep in my apartment because I don’t know when the robbers will come again. I am terribly scared ,I don’t know when this will end,” he lamented.

Meanwhile, Abidun Odukoya, a resident urged the police to step up it’s presence within the estate and Ijaniki axis of Lagos Badagry expressway.

“When the robbers are not terrorizing in our estate, they are unleashing terror on motorists along Ijaniki axis of Lagos-Badagry expressway. Celenizers and Iketu Ijaniki road is the worst part of the road. Motorists plying that part of the road at night and early in the morning are usually attacked. These parts of the road are terribly dark because there are no street lights and there are bushes all around it. I also do not want to blame the police for some of these incidents; I know they don’t have enough equipments to police these areas properly but I urge them to do more with the little they have.”

I

44—SATURDAY Vanguard, JUNE 8, 2013

Funeral for a bull called ‘the king Chinese village buries beloved 28-year-old beast to honour his career in the ring. It was known as the King of Bulls, and was regarded as a hero of its village. So it was only right that villagers in China gave this much-loved 28-year-old bull a funeral fit for a king. Large crowds of villagers in Leishan county, Guizhou province, attended the funeral of the bull, which died on Sunday.

‘I played guitar during brain surgery’ A hospital in Los Angeles has become the first in the world to live-tweet a brain surgery using Vine, Twitter’s new way to share videos online. Incredibly the footage shows the patient happily strumming away on his guitar while doctors operate. Patient Brad Carter, 39, was filmed while surgeons placed a pacemaker implant in his brain yesterday to counteract the effects of Parkinson’s disease.

Not for the squeamish or faint-hearted, the tweets of the surgery are accompanied with video that shows each stage of the procedure in brief but graphic clips.

Family that grows two by two Mother beats odds of 500,000 to one to give birth to THIRD set of twins Rowan and Isla Rodger born at Southern General Hospital in Glasgow. Parents Karen, 41, and husband Colin, 44, were ‘over the moon’ Couple have four boys: Lewis and Kyle, 14, and Finn and Jude, 12. Pair had decided to try for another baby after her 40th birthday.

Rochester tries workk of offf to wor some excess pounds playing beach volleyball She recently admitted to putting on 105 pounds. But Australian weight-loss guru Ajay Rochester attempted to burn a few of those calories while playing volleyball on a Santa Monica beach Friday. The once-svelte 44-year-old, who used to host The Biggest Loser, frequently courts the paparazzi to capture her obese figure in tiny bikinis.

The ghost fleet of Chuuk Lagoon World’s biggest ship graveyard lies at site of WW2 battle where US crushed Japanese fleet It may look like a tropical paradise, but this stunning lagoon masks a dark secret... under the clear blue waters lies the biggest graveyard of ships in the world. In the Second World War Chuuk Lagoon was Japan’s main base in the South Pacific, but in 1944, American forces launched an attack and over a two day bombardment more than 60 warships ended up on the floor of the lagoon.

Years later the Japanese still pay their respects at the watery graves each year, but now the site, formally known as Truk Lagoon due to a mispronunciation, offers scuba divers a chance to explore a piece of living history.

SATURDAY Vanguard,JUNE

8, 2013 — 45

46—SATURDAY

Vanguard , JUNE 8,, 2013

ONE YEAR AFTER DANA CRASH

Owner of crash premises, residents lament neglect

Pastor Omowunmi in sorrow

BY EBUN SESSOU

O

ne year after the ill-fated Dana air crash at Iju, Ifako-Ijaye Local Coun cil Development Area, LCDA , Pastor Daniel Omowunmi, the owner and occupant of the site where the crash occurred says the only things he has been enjoying since the incident are neglect, pain and anguish at the hands of both the Lagos State government and the management of Dana airline.

Pastor Omowunmi, who wouldn’t spare a word, told Saturday Vanguard that since the incident, his family, business and entire life have been marked by a cycle of depression and anguish from the management of Dana airline.

At first, efforts to track Pastor Omowunmi almost proved abortive, but with the help of one Madam Ramota, an 80-year old woman, one of the residents at Popoola street made it possible.

The pastor has since the incident

The plane crashed into my premises on June 3, 2012. My property is situated on four plots of land quit the area to an unknown destination, and can only be tracked down by phone whenever he is needed.

“The plane crashed into my premises on June 3, 2012. My property is situated on four plots of land - two plots facing Popoola Street and the other two facing Olaniyi street. I lost four different

structures to that crash. I had in the compound a 6-bedroom detached building, as well as two warehouses.

“I had a bungalow at the back of the warehouse. The bungalow was used as office and staff residence.

There were about eleven containers of both educational materials and kitchen utensils - six containers for educational materials while the other five were kitchen utensils. All the goods were worth N300m; while my own property was worth N200m.

A total of N500m worth of goods altogether were lost to the crash”, he lamented.

Pastor Omowunmi disclosed that at the point of submission of his claim, the only thing he could remember was his property and four fish ponds.

“That site served as both residence and company for me. I also had a furniture factory and interior decoration. It was a new building. Those structures were completed in De-

cember 2011. I moved to that place in January 2012, the crash happened in June 3, 2012. So, I didn’t spend six months in that place and the Cof O was issued barely few months before the crash,” he quipped.

Asked what happened to all the properties, he said, “Everything was razed totally by the crash. Since then, we have made several efforts to get the attention of the management of Dana airline but all efforts proved abortive.

“The crash happened on June 3 and we submitted our claim on June 20, 2012 and until now, the management of Dana airline had refused to respond adequately. Except for the N4.5m made available for my accommodation which I rejected outrightly four months ago but my lawyer insisted I should collect it.

“There were lots of pressures from my lawyer before they chose to give the money. I wouldn’t know why they chose to treat me with neglect.

Perhaps, they thought, I was living on a tree before the crash.

“I know I was living inside a house and I did not built on the runway neither did I build in the sky. I got my building plan approval and every other document was legally processed, documented and handed over to me.

“So, I do not know why I should be the one to suffer all the pain. As we speak there is no response from the management of Dana airline even though it claimed to have started negotiation with one Pastor Daniel. I wonder who they are negotiating with. For me, there is no response from them as they claimed. And if they have started any negotiation at all, I challenge them to present the documents to back up their claims and make all the acknowledgment copies available to the public.

“For me, what the management of Dana airline had succeeded in doing is making me redundant.

Since the incident, I have not been working. I have not earned a dime. I only sleep and and wake up redundant every day.

“Out of frustration, I marched to the premises of Dana airline three weeks ago to stage a protest. I have been battered and I really need to let them know what I am going through. Surprisingly, the management alerted policemen that some gunmen attacked the office. But, when the policemen came, they saw me and were shocked.”

On why he refused to attend the

Continues on page 50

SATURDAY Vanguard Vanguard,, JUNE 8,, 2013—47

ONE YEAR AFTER DANA CRASH

By ANOZIE EGOLE

T

he once busy Popoola street, Iju- Ishaga in Agege local government area of Lagos State now looks like a ghost town with passersby consciously avoiding a look at the Dana crash site for fear of having flashbacks. Some who buried their emotions came to have a look at the cenotaph unveiled on Monday. Walking into the street, you wouldn’t need a soothsayer to tell you something terrible happened there. The gory story of Sunday 3rd June, 2012 which many Nigerians termed , “Black Sunday” resurfaced on Monday when the state, led by the governor, marked a year ’s remembrance of the tragedy with a cenotaph unveiled by Governor Babatunde Fashola.

As if on cue, residents of the area decried the exodus of their neighbors since the disaster, describing the place as a ghost town that is not conducive for living. While some have left, others are still busy with their normal daily activities, trying to make ends meet.

For Abiola Garuba, songs of praise can never cease as she escaped death by a whisker.

The young girl said that since the crash, the government and management of Dana have been making promises to them and none had been fulfilled. Abiola, who should be in her mid-20s, has this to say: “ The government is not doing anything to ensure that they fulfill their promises of compensating the victims who were affected.

They have forgotten that it is not only people who are on air that were affected, there are also ground victims. Part of our house was affected. My grandmother ’s new shop which was located beside

‘Our lives are no longer the same after air crash’ the crash site was destroyed and the government seems to be doing nothing about that. They have not even compensated the landlord on whose house the plane crashed.

They should come and do something. As you can see, we are tired of speaking to journalists all the time with the government making little or no effort to help us,” she said.

According to Abiola, the road construction that seems to be going on in the area was as a result of the cenotaph unveiled by the state government on Monday marking the one year anniversary of the crash. “The government is just busy repairing the roads with the hope that dignitaries like the president would come. They are grading the roads and constructing gutters so that people who would come for the unveiling of the cenotaph don’t find it difficult going back. This is not how the road was when the incident happened. In fact, they have destroyed most shops on this street just because they want to construct gutters. My grandmother ’s new shop that is about a month old has been destroyed. The road that they claim they are constructing didn’t get to the extreme. They just constructed the places people can

easily see and praise them. We are begging the government to do something,” she quipped, adding that she is so grateful to God for sparing the life of her grandmother whose one-year transition they would have been marking if not that she left to get something from the market five minutes before the incident happened last year.

The old woman, who should be in her mid 70s according to Abiola, fainted when she heard of the crash that happened almost where she left some five minutes before, and she spent over 2 weeks in the hospital before recovering.

When the aged woman was contacted for her reaction, she said in Yoruba language that she had no strength to say anything.

If John Dapo had any premonition that people who swooped on his partly affected apartment that fateful day had plans to loot some valuables like TV sets, CDs, Home theater, among others, he surely wouldn’t have allowed them. But on that day, he gave them the freedom to help. John has been living from hand to mouth since June 3rd 2012 when he lost some parts of his apartment and properties to the crash. Not only that, he now struggles to put food on the table with his menial vulca-

As you can see, we are tired of speaking to journalists all the time with the government making little or no effort to help us nizing job. “Maybe you journalists would help us tell the government to come to our rescue. It seems they have abandoned the ground victims. Things are no longer the same since the incident. Our affected house was taken care of by the tenants with the help of the landlord. We cannot sleep outside so we have to source for asbestos to roof the house for us to sleep,” John decried.

According to him, many people have moved out of the area which they describe as a ghost town with more than 100 people buried in the same place at the same time. “ This place is abnormally very quiet unlike before. If you had come to this place before the crash, you would enjoy staying here. It bubbled very much. The affected house was one of the most beautiful houses in this area and now, the concerned do not want to compensate the landlord. It is so bad,” he lamented.

48—SATURDAY Vanguard, JUNE 8, 2013

Anenih’s call for automatic ticket for President, Govs is satanic—Ihonvbere *Says PDP’s criticism against Oshiomhole nonsensical Professor Julius Ihonvbere is a renowned political activist and one of those who fought doggedly to wrestle power from the military. Formerly Special Adviser to President Olusegun Obasanjo on Programmes Monitoring and Project Implementation, the Political Scientist was among those who negotiated amnesty for Niger Delta militants and participated actively in ensuring the emergence of President Goodluck Jonathan as President while he was in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). Currently, the Iyase (Prime Minister)of IIuleha is the Secretary to the Edo State Government, following his decision to pitch tent with the Governor Adams Oshiomhole-led Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) in Edo State prior to the July 14, 2012 governorship election in the state. Just last Monday, he decided to break his silence to Saturday Vanguard as he reviewed the political situation in the nation which he described as shameful. Excerpts: was smart enough, along with my supporters, to recognize that we cannot continue in such a party.

And moving from there, I have moved into a party that I have friends, comrades and no godfather controlling my movements.

You don’t move in fear of anybody. So for me, moving from the PDP to the ACN was a very worthwhile decision. I have no regrets at all.

You have persistently expressed your admiration for the Oshiomhole-led government in the state but your former party, the PDP, doesn’t see it that way. They even refer to Oshiomhole as a dictator.

What is your take on that?

I think they should go and read the meaning of dictator and dictatorship. When they do some little reading, they will be better enlightened. The truth of the matter is that they are not in government. Are they in our Exco meeting, or the Security Council meeting? Are they in our decision-

,

T

wice you ran for the governorship of Edo State under the PDP and lost.

Today you are SSG and a lot of people believe that the position does not befit you?

Yes, I wanted to be governor; it did not come to pass, not because I did not work hard enough, not because the people did not like me but just because the party I belonged to did not believe in merit, hard work, integrity and track record. I wanted to be governor to serve the people of Edo State, that means that if I don’t become governor and if service was legitimately and genuinely my reason, I should be able to serve at any level, even as Local Government chairman if that is where the people want me to be. So I have absolutely no form of regret at all. Being SSG actually enables me serve the people the more because a lot of issues I deal with, the governor does not even see them. I am like a stop gap for the governor. I have to deal with all the Ministries, Departments and Agencies. I take a lot of the courtesy calls on behalf of the governor who is busy with state and national issues. So for me, it enables me really deliver for the people because you meet people of different opinions, agenda, class and even integrity. This position is a testing ground for how you are able to meander through the various interests and emotions in order to produce a clear, sustainable, holistic and acceptable decision-making process. So it has been quite exciting so far and I am enjoying it. I will say I have no regrets whatsoever. I think leaving Edo PDP for the ACN is one of the best decisions I have ever made in my life. And I believe I made it at the right time. It was obvious to me that a handful of the people in the Edo PDP led by their national leader were bent on ensuring that I will continue to labour in vain for the party in the state. And I think I

Ihonvbere.. I wanted to be governor; it did not come to pass We are setting a standard that they can never keep. We are laying a foundation that if they try to touch, they will face the wrath of the ACN. Let them go and solve the problem of their factions, let them go and solve the problem of leadership. They have not won any election in a very long time, that should concern them, they should re-strategize.

Let them stop sitting down waiting for the day Oshiomhole will cough so they can say whether it is a dry cough or a wet cough and what medicine they will use. Look at the amount of time they wasted debating whether he is 60 or 61. To whose benefit? We were just laughing at them. In ACN and its government, there is debate, there is consultation, ideas are welcomed from people who are not even in government because I receive a

What is happening here is that Edo is becoming a virgin investor destination and for no other reason, because of the quality of governance

making body? So they cannot know what is going on there. But I can tell you without playing to the gallery that Oshiomhole is not a dictator. If he were a dictator, I will not be there because having gone through what I went through in my life, there is no way I can sit down and tolerate a dictator. We are already used to the PDP, they are always toothaching and belly- aching, finding faults and excuses. They never see anything good in the system.

What hurts the PDP is that we are fixing the Edo State they ran aground. That is their problem.

,

lot of proposals and we invite such persons to speak on those proposals. Nobody has monopoly of knowledge no matter your level of education, we learn every day.

So we are not disturbed by allegations from an already crushed and ruined party like the PDP which is in tatters. Let them face their own problem.

What’s your take on Brazilian investors?

What is happening here is that Edo is becoming a virgin investor destination and for no other reason than the quality of governance,

the quality of leadership, the total rehabilitation of the infrastructure, the refocusing and repositioning of the state and the new confidence that was given to our people. Dangote is coming here to put a multi billion naira fertilizer plant. We have Roxin Engineering coming to put in one, we have Oshomo Investment also coming to erect a Petro-chemical Plant in Ologbo. We have Ekae Industries and we are getting about one hundred thousand acres of land to grow cassava to produce ethanol. We have Okomu expanding, we are getting a lot of proposals. The 30-person delegation from the Rio Del Sol, the 4th richest province in Brazil, is like the food basket of Brazil. So they want to invest in agriculture, housing and health. Some tentative agreements were reached and they have invited us to come to Brazil so that we can sign the necessary MOUs, so that their investors will come here and bring in cash and their skills. We are also expecting a visit from another delegation from China and another one from India. So Edo is open for business , they are coming in here to meet with us. Most of them are bringing in the finances, so we are not taking any loans in order to work with them. They will create jobs which will also impact on issues of security and also promote infrastructural development in Edo State.

Do you think celebrating Democracy Day is worth it?

The credibility I have with which I make my comment is that I was in the frontline of those who fought for this democracy. Whether at the level of the UDFF or the level of JACONS, with people like Enahoro, Akinade, Bolaji Akinyemi, Fayemi, Bola Tinubu, Bola

Ige and others, this is not the democracy we all fought for.

What is going on in Nigeria today is not democracy. Democracy is about people, it is about structures, institutions, and the ability of the people to hold those who represent them accountable on a consistent basis. Democracy is a system that allows for the process of democratization, to accompany the emergence of discourse and disagreement and institution building. A situation in which the will of law and the democratic principles enshrined in the constitution guide the conduct of people within and between political platforms. That is not happening in Nigeria; we are detracting from democracy. But in reality, there is a lot of authoritarianism, a lot of distractions, a lot of manipulations, a lot of repression, a lot of political gangsterism and rascalism. We thank God the military is not back.

Yes, we fought for that, but as a political scientist, I will tell you that no developing country in the world is coup-free. But we thank God in Nigeria that our military is being civilianized and made to understand the tenets of democratic rule. Today as we speak, the Central Bank and the Federal Ministry of Finance continue to give us figures of growth, but where is this growth? In my own family alone, I can count names of at least ten graduates who are unemployed. Where is the growth? The private sector is not expanding, only banks are building new places and they are announcing huge stupendous profits which could not have been made from legitimate banking.

Most people can’t go by roads because they are afraid of armed robbers or pot holes, yet you hear billions and billions being spent

Continues on Page 49

SATURDAY Vanguard, JUNE 8, 2013—49

Continued from page 48

people that are being led by Akpabio in the PDP Governor’s Forum that are in Jang’s Nigeria Governor’s Forum.

How many PDP Governor’s Forum are we going to have in Nigeria? I think it is time for Mr President who is the leader of the PDP to save us from all of these shenanigans and let us resort to the challenges of job creation, environmental protection and promoting the general welfare of the Nigerian people.

on roads. Go to our schools, hostels are still packed like prisons, the laboratories are dead.

Then go to the prisons itself: no water, no light, no food. The Federal Government will set up an Army, Police, Civil Defense but they can’t even fund them, they can’t even buy vehicles for them to operate. Like in Edo State, we have to buy vehicles for the Army and the police to operate.

Then, you take the question of manufacturing: the Manufacturing Association has made it clear that capacity utilization is still under 40 percent. So where is the growth? Where is the economic extension except in the oil sector where we don’t know who is stealing and who is not stealing?

NGF crisis is still hitting the polity. What should be done?

It is a question of oppression and abuse of the privilege of power and location of the Federal level.

When this incident happened, I did not make any comment, I wanted to be sure of what exactly took place. But when I saw the video, that an election took place, that it was supervised by Governor Uduaghan and Okauro, the DG of the forum and that the votes were counted and Jang scored 16 and Amaechi 19, I could not understand how a President who is in control of the politics of a nation will take the position that he is taking at the moment. I would have expected him to even send Jang back and say you guys go and clear up your house and all of you come and see me instead of taking sides. But this whole charade started a long time ago when they formed the PDP Governors Forum with Akpabio as leader. Right now, they cannot account as to why all the PDP governors are not in one place.

How many went for the commis-

•Ihonvbere.. I don’t like to compare government because every government has its own style

‘PDP’s criticism against Oshiomhole nonsensical’ sioning of the new secretariat? 16.

The same number that voted for Jang. How many went to see the President? 15 . So where are the others? I am shocked at the infantile and pedestrian nature of the interpretation of some of the governors. That because they signed a paper before the election, there is no way they could have lost the election. It’s childish.

Even the market women in Oba market will do better than this. So it is shocking and embarrassing and if this is a pointer to what will happen in the future, I think it is a good thing for the opposition and it is a message to those in power that they have not done well. So no matter how many times you tell us you have done well, if we believe you have not done well

,

We don’t know about the control of the statistics and data of how much oil we export. We have a DPR that is located in Lagos, relying on statistics supply from those who are stealing the oil. Every day you pick up Nigerian newspapers, billions and billions are being stolen and nobody is in jail. The truth of the matter is that we do have a government but I do not see any administration. Administration means the ability to carefully and selectively allocate opportunities, resources and politics in ways that will increase the productive capacity of a people, and move a nation forward. It is not happening here.

They said they want to set up a new national carrier. Is that the problem of aviation in Nigeria?

Most of the airports have no perimeter fencing, goats, animals and beggars are entering the runway regularly. Some of them have no light like in Benin here.

By 6pm, you cannot land or take off. The basic issues are not being dealt with and I know we can do it in this country. We have some of the best brains in the world. But when we politicize everything, corrupt and contaminate everything, the possibility for growth and progress is compromised.

more work we need to do on our process for democratic consolidation because the governors are the sub-managers of this democratic process and if this is what they are giving to us, they must learn that once you have submitted yourself for an election and there was no violence, you must accept the result. Now what has become obvious of course is that they met somewhere and 19 governors endorsed Jang and they expected the result of the election to match what they endorsed in-house and when that did not happen, they began to protest and I think that is very immature.

The other point is that Jang as a former military officer, should not allow himself to be used. He

what is going on is troubling because the Presidency has a hand in it, they have not handled it very well

what matters is our belief and not yours. So for me, I think what is going on is troubling because the Presidency has a hand in it, they have not handled it very well, they are disgracing the country and disgracing themselves and disgracing the governors and I think until President Jonathan takes charge and calls the governors to sort this matter out in favour of Amaechi who won this election free and fair, the nation will wait for the worst. One thing we must not ignore is that it shows very clearly how much

,

should have other priorities. I believe Jos needs stability, they need growth and development. Not running from a new secretariat to another, or one visit to the President or a thanksgiving. He should go to his state and promote development because what he is doing now is very embarrassing to the nation.

Finally, I believe that what Jang is leading now is a mini PDP Governor’s Forum because it is the same

What’s your position on Anenih’s call for automatic tickets for governors and presidents?

That is his style as usual; corruption and contaminating the political process. When they are afraid of competition, they look for shortcuts. It is one way of telling people ,don’t even bother. But that is not in the PDP constitution or in the constitution of Nigeria. And it does not help democratic development, it does not help democratic contestation, it does not help the strengthening of political institutions. If they have performed, their records will stand for them and they will win. In Edo State, Oshiomhole performed to the point that across the three senatorial zones, across religious divides, across ethnic divides, the support was overwhelming.

For the first time, he did what no governor has probably done in Nigeria: winning in all the local governments in the entire state. So Anenih does not have the locus standi, he does not have the constitutional authority or the moral authority to compromise, to negate, to subvert that option for the Nigerian people. And I think the PDP will be doing themselves a disservice if they listen to that kind of very dangerous undemocratic approach. That immediately tells you that the people he is campaigning for are afraid of competition. They are afraid to test their popularity which is what democracy and the Nigerian constitution calls for. But I am sure many in the PDP will not accept such satanic call.

There is this fear that the politics of 2015 may disintegrate the nation?

Nigeria will not break up, let them register the APC so that Nigerians can relax and make a choice between the APC and the PDP. APC is not afraid of free and fair elections. We are the champions of one man, one vote. Let all of us go out and play the politics freely and fairly. If they win, we will give it to them; if we win, they give it to us and we will teach them the true meaning of democracy, governance, transparency,

accountability, social justice and responsible leadership . We will not break up. What we are

witnessing is temporary intimidation like when two boxers are getting ready for the big fight. I don’t think Nigeria will break up, we have gone beyond that level.

Let people who say they are politicians go and mobilize, let them respect the constitution, let them respect the constitution of their parties, let there be free and fair elections, period.

You served under President Olusegun Obasanjo, how would you compare his regime with that of President Jonathan?

I don’t like to compare governments because every government has its own style. When Jonathan came in, I worked for him. I counted his votes in the night of that primaries. I was in the Presidential campaign council and other organizations that worked for his election. And that was because I believed that as an enlightened person and a young person, he will approach the office with the zeal, energy, confi-

dence and vision expected of somebody of his generation.

But so far, I have not seen that.

Not because he does not have the capability to do it but maybe he does not have the structure in which to actualize his potentials as a leader and I hope that those around him will spend more time planning for the progress of Nigeria than abusing and distorting statements. But Obasanjo was pertinently and pathologically focused on moving Nigeria forward. We had a clear economic agenda, we were taking off from a totally decayed situation. And I think at all levels, we achieved substantial progress. In agriculture, our food reserve had more in stock than ever in the history of Nigeria to the point that we won a price from the Food and Agricultural Organization. Nigeria was self sufficient in poultry and poultry products. We had also started to reserve cocoa farming. In every sector, we achieved success. In the area of corruption, Obasanjo brought in the ICPC and the EFCC and they did more work as at that time than they are doing today and that is because of the support they got from the leadership.

Those agencies can only work when the environment is suitable and they have the support and encouragement of the leadership.

So the point is that we had two different types of government, two leaders with different temperament, different exposure, and different visions. And I think Obasanjo did his best for Nigeria.

He was not perfect, he was not an angel, but I think when I was in that government, the energy we put in there, the zeal we put in

there, the exposure we gave to Nigeria, the confidence we gave to Nigeria and the respect we generated around the Nigerian Passport and identity is what laid the foundation of what they are doing now. I think Nigerians are already compiling their score cards on how well they are doing.

50—SATURDAY Vanguard Vanguard,, JUNE 8,, 2013

ONE YEAR AFTER DANA CRASH

Residents commend Fashola over roads to Cenotaph brought a lot of psychological trauma to many people around the World, but we living in this vicinity suffered more than that, to the extent that traditional cleansing otherwise called ‘Oro’ was done for seven days to avert further occurrence of such national disaster that rocked the nation which kept most of us, mostly women, indoors until the traditionalist declared the community safe for movement, ” she stated.

BY OLAYINKA AJAYI

T

he recently unveiled Cenotaph built in honour of 157 Victims of the DANA Plane crash in the densely populated Iju Ishaga area of Lagos State by the Governor Raji Fashola administration has generated positive reactions from a cross section of residents.

One Alfa Opemipo, in a chat with Saturday Vanguard, said despite the loss of lives involving well-meaning Nigerians, the tragedy had brought Iju Ishaga into the minds of many people around the world.

He further stated that the speedy construction of major roads leading to the cenotaph was commendable: “I was very happy to see tractors and men of the Lagos State public works speedily constructing the roads in order to welcome sympathisers and families of the victims both on ground and in the plane.”

A female resident who pleaded anonymity also said the construction of roads leading to the cenotaph was commendable as the women suffered more than

Nigerians could imagine. “Although when the accident occurred last year June, it

Owner of crash premises, residents lament neglect Continued from page 46 one year remembrance of the illfated Dana air crash at Iju organised by the State government, Pastor Omowunmi said, “I had no business there because I am not happy with what is going on. The state government has succeeded in taking over my land and built its cenotaph on it.

I can’t imagine a government that issued a Cof O to its citizen and because an accident happened, the land was taken over by the same government.

“The highest level of lawlessness is for a state government to take over a land that is legally acquired without due process. I am aware that government can acquire any land but that is not to say there are no principles to be followed.

“So, they acquired that land illegally and built on it illegally. As I speak, there is no response from the state government. At first, when the incident happened, I was invited by the state government through the Ministry of Lands that the government had the intention to use the land. At that meeting, I was given a privilege to write out what I expected of the government especially on that site. And I wrote that they should relocate me to a commensurate size and location. But, as I speak nothing of such has happened.

“Rather, I was being pushed from one office to the other. Then, I was finally introduced to the Executive Secretary of Ministry of Lands who later promised that the state government would not carry out any work on the site until my compensation is duly paid. That I would be relocated before they commence any work on that site.

“Surprisingly, on May 7, officials of the Lagos State government moved to that land and commenced work on it the following day.

“I don’t expect the state government to build a cenotaph to celebrate the dead to the detriment of the living. Perhaps, they are planning to increase the number of the dead.

Everything they have put down there is in the memory of the dead.

“I am not against the fact that they are celebrating the dead. As a matter of fact, I sincerely commiserate with the families who lost their loved ones, but that is not to say the number of the dead should be increased.

“The federal government built the same cenotaph in Abuja but not at the crash site. So, if the state government prefers to build the cenotaph on the crash site, I think it should have good intentions for the real occupant.

“I don’t know what I have done wrong. Perhaps, it is a crime to acquire property in Lagos with all

the necessary documents? The annoying part is that getting all the necessary landed properties in Lagos State is like a camel passing the needle’s eye.

“There has been no assistance of any kind from the government except when the affected people were moved to a relief camp. I find it difficult to believe that the Governor of Lagos State, Babatunde Raji Fashola, knows what is going on. f the same government which approves Cof O to its citizens deems it fit to take the land back without due process, then, it simply means that the government has failed. I believe there must be a process of revocation of the Cof O with the assurance of relocating the individual”, he added On his perception about the government on the land, he said, “I expect that the government should be on top of affairs. The government should go ahead of the people not the people going ahead of the government.”

I

Saturday Vanguard gathered that before the crash, the presence of Pastor Omowunmi and his businesses had put smiles on the faces of several young people living within and outside the community. Another resident, Madam Ramota Akinnusi, an 80-year-old woman who is popularly called Ijasope, also lamented neglect by the state government.

Her house is the first building located at Popoola street as she shares boundary with the cenotaph.

She lamented that since the incident, she has experiencing trauma from the state government.

“I had received several letters from the state government demanding that I should quit the house, that they want to make use of it,” she disclosed.

Madam Akinnusi has been occupying her building for the past 30 years. Presently, a road construction is ongoing in the area. Due to the project, many houses have been affected, including Madam Ramota’s fence and shops.

Other Popoola residents, meanwhile, are not comfortable with the situation.

They claim that they have been cut out of the favour that was supposed to be theirs after the crash. “The state government preferred to repair the road from railway to Okunsanya and Olaniyi, but left out some major roads including Adebayo, Popoola and Akande Streets that link the Dana crash site,” some of them lamented.

In the same vein, they complained that the quality of materials used for the road construction are poor, saying that for that reason, the reconstruction might not stand the test of time.

SATURDAY

Vanguard, JUNE 8, 2013—51

Education and human development

BY SALIHU MOHAMMED LUKMAN

O

ne of the important lessons that students of history, politics and society learn is that Ancient Egypt was the origin of human civilisation. Dating back to around 3000 B.C., more than 30 centuries ago, the first organised society with government and leadership evolved. Located in the Nile Valley on the North East of Africa, it covered Upper Egypt, spreading Northwards to Mediterranean, occupying the Syrian coast, Southwards to present day Sudan, up to the Red Sea in the East and along the Nile Valley past Nubia in the South, and spreading west inland into the Libyan Desert.

Being the first human civilisation, it has attracted a lot of scholarly attention, investigation and enquiry, especially with respect to factors that made the people to respond with such organising initiative. Some scholars were very passionate about issues that bordered on identity of the people, mainly based on racial notion of Ancient Egyptians being blacks. Leading historian, anthropologist, physicist and politician, Prof. Cheikh Anta Diop (1923 – 1986) was a proponent of the black racial identity of Ancient Egyptians. Some of the explanations proffered include factors of cultural influences linked to racial hierarchy.

Many scholars have contested such interpretation of the developments and accounts of the Ancient Egypt.

In contrast to racial notion, theses and propositions highlighting factors of constant flood from the Nile River were presented as critical factors that necessitated some responses by the people of Ancient Egypt. These responses shaped and enhanced the capacity of the people of Ancient Egypt to control and direct processes in their environment resulting in the emergence of the first human civilisation.

The responses mainly helped in tackling effectively problems of flood through regulating the flow of water along the banks of Nile Valley. The main tool that stimulated such landmark development that is today the most important heritage from the Ancient Egyptian civilisation include the invention of hieroglyphics (written words) which greatly facilitated the emergence of administration as well as innovations in the areas of quarrying, survey, mathematics, architecture, irrigation, agricultural production methods and ship building.

With these, Ancient Egyptians controlled the Nile Valley flood and in the process, created dams and canals. Work on the first canal joining Nile River with the Red Sea

Governor Aregbesola was said to have started in the 2nd Millennium BC under the legendary Sesostris between 1897 BC – 1839 BC. Knowledge of mathematics was deployed to construct pyramids and temples. They (Ancient Egyptians) also recorded tremendous progress in the areas of medicine and the art of governance resulting in the emergence of a ruler – Pharaoh – who was regarded as representative of gods on earth.

The Pharaoh was in charge of the army and governed the entire territory with officials and scribes organised in what is regarded as the world’s first civil service. Divided into about 42 regions (nomes) with nomarch, Pharaohs had ministers and courtiers (Vizier). The economy was mainly agricultural and the people predominantly peasant farmers. Fertile land on the Nile Valley enabled production of large surpluses that sustained the exotic lifestyles of the Pharaoh. The peasants are also the source of mass labour that was employed to build the pyramids and temples along the Nile Valley.

This is the origin of modern governance. In fact, it can be argued that the most important legacies of Ancient Egyptian civilisation were knowledge of hieroglyphics, which resulted in development of mathematics and science, the emergence of structure of government administration with a ruler who is responsible for directing

affairs, and monuments that are more represented by the Egyptian Pyramids.

Virtually modelled around the structure and orientation of Ancient Egypt, all modern nation states are organised with rulers, army under the command of the ruler, administrative structure (civil service) and regions (or states). Like in Ancient Egypt, in all modern nation states, the people are the source of mass labour. Similar to the situation where mass labour was employed in the construction of pyramids, temples and canals in Ancient Egypt, modern nation states recruit mass labour for all manner of constructions ranging from road, railways, building structures serving as schools, hospitals, offices, residences, factories, etc.

The logic is that governance is defined by initiatives based on the interests of the rulers. This means that the art of governance is about leading societies to take proper control of their environment to the advantage of humankind. The machinery of government should be embodiment of knowledge strategically employed to primarily eliminate all threats to human advancement. With good heritage of hieroglyphics and the emergence of institutions of learning therefore, unlike perhaps in the case of Ancient Egypt whereby learning is at best spontaneous based on the need to respond to challenges that

were in most cases unknown to humankind, modern nation states have acquired a system of learning through schools that enabled proper orientation and development of skilful citizenry. With that also modern nation states can be argued to have by far more productive citizenry.

In some ways, given that these legacies have also produced what can be regarded as resource threshold, whereby through development in commerce and modern financial superstructure, nations are associated with minimum value often referred to as gross national product, gross domestic product or purchasing power parity. They all represent different measures of economic activities, which aggregate values of production and transaction in the geographical territory that define the nation state.

Therefore the critical underlying factors are production and transaction. The responsibility of government since the emergence of modern states has been to regulate processes of production and transaction. Leaders (properly put rulers) are expected to come with clear vision on how to direct society towards growth and human advancement, just like the Pharaohs in Ancient Egypt have directed their societies to produce hieroglyphics, quarrying, survey, mathematics, architecture, etc. resulting in development in irrigation, agricultural production methods, ship building, construction of dams, canals, pyramids and temples.

Partly on account of the aspiration to shape and orient citizens to become more productive, a critical function of all modern states is educational delivery. Accordingly, governments associated with good records of human progress are also reputed with functional and efficient public educational services. United States, United Kingdom, Germany, France, China, the Scandinavian countries, etc. all have efficient public education. In the case of most African countries, public education has been on the decline since the mid-1980s with the introduction of IMF/World Bank promoted structural adjustment programme (SAP).

Systematic and continues decline over the years has left public education in African countries unable to meet the task of developing productive citizens. In some ways, this has undermined and constrained the capacity of African states to mobilise resources for development, thereby increasing the propensity to be poor and further pulling African people into poverty.

Lukman, a development economist and activist, lives in Abuja. He can be reached at smlukman@gmail.com

52—SATURDAY VANGUARD, JUNE 8, 2013

S

hina Loremikan is the National Coordinator, Campaign Against Impunity, and a member of the Consumer Rights Advocacy Network of Nigeria. He is also a member of the Committee for the Defence of Human Rights and immediate past Coordinator, Zero Corruption Coalition in South-West Nigeria. In this interview with Saturday Vanguard Business, Loremikan urges advertising regulation agencies to treat industry players alike; while advising manufacturers to respect consumers’ choice. Excerpts: What is the biggest challenge around the issue of consumer rights?

One of the greatest challenges is the fact that some manufacturers of consumer products tend to take the average consumer for granted in the delivery of their products and services.This is equally linked to the fact that there does not appear to be a level playing field for consumers to be able to determine what is best for them, hence the consumer’s space is narrowed down since he or she is denied the full range of information necessary to make informed choices. For some manufacturers of consumer goods, it is business as usual if they can muzzle their competitors and prevent them from gaining access to the consumer’s attention; thereby denying him or her the opportunity of making an informed choice. The ideal situation should be that the consumer is the king and his or her ability to make a choice is sacrosanct - but the opposite appears to be the case. Some manufacturers behave as if the consumer owes them an obligation to buy their products under any circumstance.

So, what is responsible for the anomaly - are there any institutional flaws in the process?

Certainly. It can be seen that the regulatory agencies have not lived up to expectation. Those who are supposed to be on the side of the consumer and guarantee that the space for choice is wide and free give the impression that they are

There are institutional fla ws in alcoholic be laws bevverage adv er adver ertt regulation

As a group, we are not interested in big business in themselves, but on how their actions impact on the right of consumers

—LOREMIKAN

compromised. For example, one of the issues that have attracted our concern and for which we are currently running an advocacy campaign has to do with the way the advertisement of alcoholic beverages on terrestrial television (etc.) is being handled by the regulatory body. With the recent happenings in the industry, it is clear that the regulatory agencies are sleeping on their duties. The regulatory agencies have been turning a blind eye to some brands that are flouting the advertising watershed for alcoholic beverages in the electronic media; while bringing the whole weight of their sanctions to bear on others – this is selective justice. You can imagine a situation where two brands in the same sector err and only one is sanctioned. As a group, we are not interested in big business in themselves, but on how their actions impact on the right of consumers.

Why should leverage be given to one brand at the expense of its competition?

This restricts the space for consumer choice and can almost be posed as a question of human rights. Remarkable instances in this direction invite the examples of the Anti-trust advocacy, which has led to legislation in the United States where big corporations seek to muzzle out their competition; this ultimately impacts on the consumer whose capacity to make a choice

Mr Loremikan is infringed upon, and he can only consume what is visible to him despite the availability of better alternatives.

More precisely, there have recently been advertorials from your group on what you described as double standards in the advertising regulation of alcoholic beverages. Are you advocating for a ban on the advertising of alcoholic products or that the Consumer Space should simply be widened to admit all stake-

Local pr oducer vt suppor producer oducerss seek good policy policy,, go govt supportt ocal producers in the country have asked L the President Goodluck Jonathan administration to support them with a good economic policy and operating environment to help create jobs in the country and also compete for foreign products. They advised that much reliance on foreign goods will not grow the economy until such a time when government would decide to empower home made goods, adding that many developed economies of the world achieved development through empowerment of local producers.

In addition, Balogun Ola-

tunji, who was a banker with MBA Marketing, B.Sc Accounting, left a banking job to become self-employed. Today, he produces fibre class products such as mannequin, washing basin, roofing sheet, ceiling board, mounds of different sizes and shapes.

He said that his products can compete favourably with imported ones if government can support them locally to produce these materials for the interest of Nigerians using the products.

Olatunji said further

that there is demand for fibre class products in the country, requested government’s financial support and provision of raw materials for continuity in production.

He stressed the need for government policy that could protect locally made goods in the face of importation, thereby creating jobs locally instead of abroad.

According to the entrepreneur, his outfit, B-Soft Technologies, engages in repairs because imported goods are not strong enough due to their low quality. However, he

encouraged Nigerians to believe in and partronise locally made goods rather than always trusting imported goods.

Olatunji enthused that he left his bank job because he wanted to be selfemployed and also employ others. According to him, fibre class products need the services of a make-up artist, a spread partner and to a large extent a welder. “These are areas we can create jobs for others. But these days the attitude of our youths towards skill development is a big challenge. Therefore, there is the need for re-orientation for the youths to begin to create jobs for themselves.

“However, we are ready to partner individuals, government and corporate organisations for effective productivity and for the growth and development of the economy,” he quipped.

We Pla o Win, Fir st Hydr ocarbon aid yyouth outh de Playy TTo First Hydrocarbon devvelopment We Play to Win, an international non governmental organisation in conjunction with First Hydrocarbon Nigeria Company Limited (FHN) celebrated Children’s Day in Benin City by hosting a youth sports camp for young women.

We Play to Win is an NGO that uses the power of sports and physical activity to inspire, empower, and strengthen young women living in poor communities within

Africa. It focuses on emphasizing the power of health and wellness; development and education; community involvement and spiritual enrichment.

FHN, the lead sponsor of the event, partnered We Play to Win to address, unify, and empower disenfranchised populations and demonstrate how sports can have a positive impact on the

lives of young girls by helping them develop a positive self-image.

The President of We Play to Win,Kasia Muoto, said, “It is important to inspire people early on and teach them the basics about their true value. I am impressed with the vision and commitment to the local community ’s social development and wellness”.

Chief Executive Officer, First Hydrocarbon

Nigeria Company Limited, Mr Constantine Labi Ogunbiyi, said “We are pleased to be taking part in the Benin City Youth Development and Empowerment Sports Camp. At FHN, our values support providing guidance and empowerment in order to equip people in all walks of life with the confidence to effect a positive change on their surroundings.”

We Play to Win has had several projects through which they sought to impact the lives of young children through some sports. These initiatives serve to help the children learn how to make positive life changes, and to have healthier lifestyles.

holders?

Well, to clarify things, we are not campaigning for a ban on the advertising of alcoholic products, and like I have also said earlier, what we are concerned with is having equity and fairness in the execution of the laid down rules of advertising governing all players - whether big or small.

Recently there have been reports in the papers about one alcoholic beverage company’s flouting of the Advertising standards code on the advertisement of alcoholic products and the subsequent withdrawal of its advertising licence. While we are not against the regulatory bodies carrying out their duties in seeing to the enforcement of the codes, it is disheartening to note that there are double standards in that one company is allowed to flout the advertising codes while others are punished for the same thing. This not only shows a skewed sense of justice but, more importantly, restricts the consumer’s space for choice, which is our main concern.

What we are advocating for is one standard for all players in the industry. Every organisation should have an equal playing ground to advertise their products and services and the system should not favour one over the other, as this also sends a very bad signal to the international community at a time when Nigeria is positioning itself for Foreign Direct Investment.

Can you expatiate on the issues involved here?

We learnt from our investigations that the brewery in question was sanctioned for showing an alcoholic advert on satellite television before the stipulated watershed period and was subsequently banned even after complying by taking down the said material, after being given a warning. On the other hand our investigation further revealed that a competitor brand also runs advert slots for one of their premium alcoholic brands at an even earlier time slot than the company in question.

Now why should there be this sort of disparity in dealing with two companies in the same industry? This narrows the visibility of all the information required by the consumer and I believe it sends out a very negative signal to foreign investors in that what we are telling them is that they may not be able to play on an even playing field when it comes to marketing their products and services. The sad thing about this is that it is the consumer who ultimately bears the brunt of the negative effects of this warped regime of information access.

SATURDAY Vanguard,JUNE

8, 2013 — 53

54— SATURDAY VANGUARD, JUNE 8, 2013

World championships:

Abuja Stadium ready for Eagles soon — Engineer •States why pitch went bald

H

OME matches of the Super Eagles and other national teams may soon return to the Abuja National Stadium as comprehensive rehabilitation of the main pitch is going on in earnest, and is almost completed.

The contractor handling the project, Julius Berger PLC has completed the first phase of the work, which includes removal and replacement of the topsoil, and planting the approved specie of grass.

“Where we are at present, is the nurturing of the grass and this will terminate on August 15 this year,” said Engr.

Ibrahim Shehu, Director

of Facilities at the National Sports Commission, NSC, adding that the main pitch of the stadium would be ready for use from that date.

“The pitch would be ready for light use from August 15 and we will observe it for two weeks.

After that, the pitch can be used regularly for football and other sporting activities,” he assured.

On plans to regularly maintain the stadium, Engr. Shehu stated that the NSC has an arrangement with the contractor to maintain the stadium for six months after it is handed over to the Commission.

He further added that

the Commission has put in place systems to ensure that the stadium is well maintained all year round.

“The problem we had was that the power cable that was used to power electricity to the stadium was vandalized. Without electricity we could not use the sprinklers to wet the grass.

“Now we have put systems in place to check all that. We now have water tanker for the manual watering of the grass.”

Engr. Shehu also assured that the NSC had perfected plans to put the stadium to active use throughout the year.

AFN chases ticket for Nigerian men quartets A

THLETICS Federation of Nigeria,AFN has set up a ‘task force’ to ensure that Nigerian men’s relay teams qualify for the World Championships in August.

The male folk have somewhat relegated themselves to the background in world and continental sprints and also in the 4x100 and 4x400m where they had commanded respect.

They failed to qualify for the world championships

in 2011 and also the London 2012 Olympics.

“We have mandated Gabriel Okon and Brown Ebewele to ensure our male teams qualify for the world championships.

We have the athletes to do the job and we are encouraged by the performances they put up in the golden league and the junior meets we have organized.

There is a camp running for the team and we expect that they will be able to meet the 39.20 seconds and 3.05.00

seconds qualifying time as soon as possible,” said Navy Commodore Omatshyeye Nesiama who is technical director of the AFN. The women teams have already booked their qualification with their performances at the Penn Relays in April in Philadephia, USA. The women 4x100m ran 43.52 seconds and the 4x400 team did 3.26.26 seconds well above the qualifying times of 44.00 and 3.33.00 respectively.

Cross River Schools’ athletics championships ends

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OUR days of athlet ics competition at the 2013 Cross River Schools’ Athletics Championships will end today at the U.J Esuene Stadium in Calabar.

Primary and secondary school pupils from all the 18 local government areas featured in the catch them young championships, which threw up new talents, for the Cross River grassroots athletics development coaches to consider for grooming.

“We have a totally new group of athletes, some of whom are competing here for the very first

time.

And we are very excited about what we are seeing and I am particularly glad that we have established a culture of athletics in this state,” said Dr. Bruce Ijirogho.

Commenting on the championships, which kids in the state now look forward to every year, a parent of one of the junior athletes, Emmanuel Eyo stated that, people in Cross River are happy with the effort of the governor to give the youths a chance to express their sporting talents.

“In the next five to ten years, Cross River will

dominate Nigeria athletics. There was an improvement in this year’s championships as all the kids were clad in their local government colours.

•Ogba

All Nigeria/Cross River Championships:

We expect world class efficiency, says Ugbe

A Abuja Stadium getting ready to host Super Eagles matches again

Elegushi Tug of War tourney holds in Lagos

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HE 2nd Oba Yekini Adeniyi Elegushi annual Tug Of War National Open Championship has been slated to hold at the Elegushi Beach Resort, off Lekki Expressway in Lagos, from June 13 to 23, 2013.

The power and skill game which has

attracted entries from across the military, police units and all States of the nation, is in honour and celebration of the worthy legacies of the immediate past Oba Elegushi of Ikate Land.

According to AbdulKareem Macaulay, Secretary General, Tug of War Nigeria

federation, the participating teams featuring both male and female from the States, police, military, paramilitary and Nigeria Navy have since began preparation for the event.

This year ’s event has already attracted more entries than the maiden edition.

S the 2013 All Nigeria/Cross River Athletics Championships trickle down to seconds and minutes, Cross River commissioner for sports, Patrick Ugbe has reiterated the need for athletics officials to ensure clock efficiency, when the event begins on June 19.

Nigerian officials have a penchant for making athletics a boring spectacle, even as the Athletics Federation of Nigeria, AFN is striving to cut down on such encumbrances.

“We are looking forward to an exciting championships. We want a flawless organization

better than what we have been seeing before and we have asked the AFN to raise the bar.

We are in constant touch with the president, Solomon Ogba and we have agreed on certain novel ideas, which we will unfold during the championships,” said Mr. Ugbe.

The AFN confirmed June 19-23 for this year’s championship, which will be a selection trial for the World Championships billed for Russia, Moscow in August. The Cross River State government is sponsoring the championships for the third year running after oil giants, Mobil withdrew.

Meanwhile Cross River grassroots athletics development coordinator, Dr. Bruce Ijirigho stated that Cross River athletes will strive to dominate the event with their enterprising pool of young athletes.

“We have a group of young athletes whom we are looking forward to seeing perform at the Championships.

There are the likes of Patience Okon, who has the fastest time in the 400m in Nigeria this year, Ishmael Sadjo in the long distance and some juniors we expect to put up good performances. Some of them are currently in the national junior camp in Port Harcourt,”he said.

SATURDAY VANGUARD, JUNE 8, 2013—55

Obuh names Flying Eagles squad

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LYING Eagles coach, John Obuh yesterday named a final 21-man squad for the 2013 FIFA U-20 World Cup in Turkey, which kicks off on June 20.

Nigeria U-17 international Wilfred Ndidi, a highly promising central defender, is one of the several additions to the

Ogba reaffirms resolve to tackle challenges of athletics •Promises to assist Delta in sports

By TONY AGBAZA- OLEH

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E-ELECTED presi dent of the Athletics Federation of Nigeria, AFN, Chief Solomon Ogba has reaffirmed his resolve to tackle the challenges facing athletics in the country so that Nigerian athletes could reclaim their position in world athletics.

According to Chief Ogba, efficiency, consistency, high level of preparedness and performance are the key words in sport, especially in the area of athletics, stressing that “I will make policies that will be favorable to sports men and women nation wide.”

His pledge was contained in a press statement issued on Tuesday, June 3, 2013 to journalists in his country home at Avaira in Isoko South Local Government Area of Delta State.

The AFN president stressed that Nigerians should imbibe the spirit and culture of maintaining sport facilities provided to help develop people in the field of sports, adding that inadequate facilities for athletes to train with remains the major challenge to the development of sports.

Ogba also emphasized that without identifying and tackling the problems bedeviling sports, it will be difficult for the

Barca fans plan programmes for youth empowerment

A

Okagbare,(l) and Asumnu are two members of the women’s 4x100 relay team who have qualified for the World Championships later in August. AFN president, Solomon Ogba has promised to tackle the challenges facing athletics in the country. country to climb to the top as he assured the National Sports Commission, NSC, that his tenure will embrace high level of efficiency and maintenance of sports facilities for good performance at all levels in athletics.

He also promised to work with the Delta State ministry of youth and sports development to ensure its sports men and women are properly groomed in order to take the State to a higher lev-

el in athletics. He urged youths in Isoko South and North to use this great opportunity to engage themselves in sports as it will be beneficial to them. The

HE 2013 Zenith Bank Women’s Basketball League Final 8 play-offs dunks off today at the Indoor Hall of the National Stadium in Surulere, Lagos with eight teams which qualified after the first and second phases decided earlier drawn into two groups of four each.

According to the the fixtures released by the C M Y K

Nigeria Basketball Federation/League Board, First Deepwater, Sunnshine Angels, Nigeria Customs and FCT Angels are in Group A while First Bank, Dolphins, IGP Queens and Plateau Rocks are in Group B. In today ’s games, First Bank battles IGP Queens in the first game, Dolphins play Plateau Rocks, First

former Delta State sports commissioner said he will key into the three point agenda of the Delta State government on human capital development,

stressing that “this is to make sure we remove our youths from the streets and engage them in meaningful activities like sports.”

Nadal dismisses Djokovic, cruises into final

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AFAEL Nadal moved to within one win of a record eighth French Open title with a 6-4 3-6 6-1 6-7 9-7 semi-final victory over world No 1 Novak Djokovic.

Basketball: Zenith Bank Women’s League play-offs dunk off

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squad.

The squad is drawn mostly from the Nigeria league, which provides 18 players, with three foreign-based professionals.

The pros are Belgiumbased goalkeeper John Felegha, Michael Olaitan from Greek champions Olympiacos and Edafe Egbedi of Danish club AGF Aarhus.

Sixteen of these players featured at the 2013 African Youth Championship in Algeria, where Nigeria placed third to qualify for the World Cup. The Flying Eagles were knocked out by France in the quarterfinals of the 2011 World Cup in Colombia.

They are drawn in the first round against Portugal, debutants Cuba and South Korea.

Their opening game is on June 21 against Portugal.

Deepwater take on Nigeria Customs while the last game is that between Sunshine Angels and FCT Angels.

Tomorrow at the same venue, Nigeria Customs and Dolphins take to the court first, First Bank and FCT Angels play next while IGP Queens versus Sunshine Angels and First Deepwater versus Plateau Rocks follow in that order.

The Spaniard looked on course for a straightforward afternoon in the Paris sunshine after racing through the third set, only for Djokovic to launch a ferocious comeback.

Third seed Nadal served for the match at 65 in the fourth but the Serb broke and then won the tie-breaker 7-3.

The momentum was now firmly with Djokovic as he broke in the opening game of the deciding set and held his next three service games.

But at 4-3 deuce, Djokovic carelessly touched the net as he killed a simple smash and although the top seed saved the subsequent break point, Nadal won the next to level the match.

The set went with serve

until the 16th game when Djokovic missed an easy smash in the first point and then watched a superb forehand winner from Nadal fly past him, before going long with a forehand.

Djokovic was finally a beaten man and he put another forehand long to hand victory to Nadal in a shade over four and a half hours.

Nadal’s record at Roland Garros is now an incredible 58-1. He will face either home hope Jo-Wilfried Tsonga or fellow Spaniard David Ferrer in Sunday’s final.

Djokovic - who was beaten in four sets in the final

by Nadal last year - must wait at least another year to complete his haul of all four Grand Slam singles titles.

GROUP of concerned and well-meaning Nigerians and members of FC Barcelona Fan Club led by Mr. Leslie Oghomeinor is poised to give the youths, a lease of life, harness their talents, support youth develop-ment, emp-owerment, leadership and education projects. In addition improve and promote grassroots football via academy and tourna-ments, and all these ultimately lead to changing the face of football in Nigeria.

Serena battles Sharapova

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ERENA Williams and Maria Sharapova will renew one of the greatest rivalries of the modern era today with the French Open crown at stake.

World No 1 Williams enters the final at Roland Garros unbeaten in 30 matches while her Russian adversary seeks back-to-back French Open titles.

Victory in their respective semi-finals on Thursday means Sharapova and Williams will enter combat once again with the American holding a nine-year winning streak over the world No 2.

SATURDAY Vanguard, JUNE 8, 2013

Brazil 2014: Form books favour Eagles to land ticket, says Emeteole replied “all is well” Harambee Stars ‘lucky’

By EDDIE AKALONU

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ORMER coach of the Beach Eagles, Kelechi Emeteole simply

when called for his reaction to the Eagles away win over Kenya in Nairobi last Wednesday as he tagged the

GOAL RACE... Super Eagles forward, Ahmed Musa outruns the Harambee Stars’ defenders to score the vital goal that sent Nigeria ahead of Group F of the 2014 World qualifier with eight points from four matches.

By EDDIE AKALONU

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ORMER Super Eagles player, Garba Lawal has hailed the Super Eagles for picking the maximum points against Kenya’s Harambee Stars in the 2014 World Cup qualifier decided at the Moi International Sports Centre in Nairobi last Wednesday.

Lawal said that in football, “goals matter, we got the goal, victory, and three points and that is the important factor.”

Though he expressed sadness that Nigerians could not watch the game live which could have given more room for analysis, the Eagles former defender commended the team’s coach, Stephen Keshi for executing the tie with a winning plan as he equally praised the players for prosecuting the game with “super attitude”.

“To me it’s not over until the ticket is safely

to have conceded just one goal on home soil.

“But for the long traveling our players went through, moving from place to place without enough rest coupled with the antics of the Kenyans who were bent on frustrating our team, I’m sure the scoreline would have been more,” he said.

The former Golden Eaglets assistant coach to Canada ’87 FIFA U17 World Cup, Saudi ’89 World Youth Championship said despite the odds the Eagles faced, they have improved game after game, he has the confidence they are in good shape to beat Namibia next weekend in Windhoek .

“Like I said, the players having gone through a lot, are now more determined because they understand the language of winning. I believe they will give Namibia the same treatment that Kenya got,” he added.

World Cup qualifiers CAR Botswana S/Leone C/Verde Gambia Morocco Zambia Gabon Angola Uganda

Battle of Namibia:

v S/Africa v Ethiopia v Tunisia v E/Guinea v CIV v Tanzania v Lesotho v Congo v Senegal v Lberia

Maintain same form, momentum, Lawal advises Eagles in our hands. I would like to tell the the team not take anything for granted so as to avoid surprises. So they should keep the same winning attitude and have it in mind that the job can be accomplished,”he advised.

Lawal reminded the team that it would take just one good show of might to secure victory in the next game against Namibia for the deal to be sealed.

“It is important that we maintain the same attitude, form and with full concentration to secure victory,” he stressed.

CROSS WORD PUZZLE Across 1 President, Nigerian Football Coaches Association, Bitrus – (8) 5 Former Cross River State Governor, Clement – (4) 7 Headgear – (3) 8 L.G.A in Nassarawa State – (4) 9 Super Eagles Striker, Ikechukwu – (4) 10 Dolphins F.C Assistant Coach, Ndubuisi – (5) 12 Swaziland Currency – (5) 16 Cote D’Ivoire “Elephants” Fullback, Guv – (5) 18 Cameroun “Indomitable Lions” Striker, Achille – (5) 19 L.G.A in Borno State – (5) 21 Former Ekiti State Governor, Chief Adebayo – (9) 24 Nigerian Currency – (5) 27 Ebonyi state Commissioner for Information & Orientation, Mr. Ken – (4) 28 Country in Africa – (4) 29 L.G.A in Enugu State – (3) 30 Enugu Rangers Defender, Haliru – (4) 31 L.G.A in Delta State – (8)

Down 1 Switzerland, Capital City – (4) 2 Minister of Labour & Productivity, Mr. Chukwuemeka – (4) 3 Colombia striker and Fulham Centre-Forward, Hugo – (9) 4 Country in Africa – (5) 5 L.G.A in Cross-River State – (5) 6 Deputy Speaker, House of Representatives, Hon. Emeka – (8) 11 Adult Female Rabbit – (3) 13 Asian Ox – (5) 14 President, Enugu Chambers of Commerce, Mines and Industry, Mr. Okechukwu – (9) 15 Ethnic Group in Nigeria – (4) 16 Yobe State Capital – (8) 17 Adult Female Horse – (4) 20 Battle – (3) 22 Ingredient used in Making Bread – (5) 23 Proportion – (5) 25 L.G.A in Ebonyi State – (4) 26 Former Plateau State Governor, Chris – (4

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