How we'll recover subsidy loot by Okonjo-Iweala

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How we‘ll recover subsidy loot, by Okonjo-Iweala Continued from page 1

L-R: National Leader, Achion Congress of Nigeria (ACN), Asiwaju Bola Tinubu; governors Ibikunle Amosun (Ogun State); Dr Kayode Fayemi (Ekiti); Adams Oshiohmole (Edo); Mr. Babatunde Fashola (Lagos);Ogbeni Rauf Aragbesola; and former Minister of Foreign Affairs, Chief Tom Ikimi, during the Re-Election Campaign of the ACN for next week's Gubernatoral Election in Edo State... on Saturday

National leader, ACN, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu raising the party’s flag during the rally for the re- election of governor Adams Aliyu Oshiomhole for his forthcoming governorship election slated for saturday.july 14 2012 in benin Edo State

Nnaji annual lecture at the Enugu State University of Technology, Enugu.

President Goodluck Jonathan raised the Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede Committee, on Thursday, to reconcile the findings of the Technical Committee set up by the Federal Ministry of Finance to conduct a detailed review of all subsidy claims and payments made in 2011.

According to the minister, the Presidential Committee, which has been given a tight deadline of one week, would enable marketers, who may doubt the report of the Technical

HIGH DRAMA AT INEC/STAKEHOLDERS’ MEETING

Jega shocks Edo guber candidates *How Chairman refused to meet contenders privately *Commission exposes dangerous flaws in petitions *Electoral Officers to be named on eve of election *Three EOs to be deployed from each geo-political zone

BY JIDE AJANI

I

F governorship candidates in this Saturday’s election in Edo State had hoped to outdo one another based on the plethora of petitions alleging grand fraudulent plots to rig, Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Professor Attahiru Jega, deflated such overblown expectations.

At a closed door stakeholders’ meeting, on Friday, at the INEC headquarters, which lasted six hours, the INEC boss’ first shocking action was the open disclosure to all those present of the contents of the petitions the candidates had written against one another.

A competent source at the meeting told Sunday Vanguard: “One after the other, the INEC Chairman began to disclose the contents of the petitions each candidate and his party had forwarded to the electoral commission for action.

“Before today’s (Friday, July 6, 2012) meeting, each of the governorship candidates had pleaded with the INEC Chairman that a private audience was needed. Almost all of them had one thing or the other to complain about and the request for a private confidential meeting with the chairman became the order of the day. However, Prof turned down all the requests because he felt it would be inappropriate for him to hold private meetings with governorship candidates in an election he would preside over”.

“Instead”, the source continued, “what the chairman did, sequel to the first stakeholders meeting of May 18, was to request that all the candidates should put their grievances in writing in form of petition.”

Sunday Vanguard was told that on the vexed issue of Electoral Officers, EOs, it was disclosed at the meeting that the commission has already

SOLUTION

appointed two EOs from Lagos State, an ACN state, and the PDP team wanted to know why such an appointment should be made within the context of the full implications of such a move.

It was a disclosure that even shocked the INEC leadership that wanted to know how and where the leak came from.

But to this, Jega was said to have told the gathering that the EOs would be appointed from across the six geo-political zones of the country.

“The commission”, the source explained, “plans to appoint three EOs from each of the six geopolitical zones in the country. In Edo State, there are 18 local government areas and three EOs from each zone come to 18. In fact, to those who were raising the objection to the nominees from Lagos, they were told that in the South West zone, the CAN held sway, just as the zones of South South, or North Central of North West from where other EOs would be picked are zones controlled by the PDP and, therefore, the ACN, too, would not be wrong to object to such nominations – at the end of the day, the EOs would be nominated from within Nigeria”.

The nominees as EOs are all yet to be aware of their posting.

The announcement may likely be made not earlier that some 48hours to Saturday’s election.

Sunday Vanguard learnt that beyond the veiled attacks in public which the parties, specifically the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, and the Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, had engaged in, the petitions sent to INEC were very damaging, dangerous and malicious.

“For instance”, according to the source, merely putting it that the “PDP alleged that the ACN was inducing youth corps members with money is an understatement. The content of the petition regarding that allegation is better imagined than stated word for word. There was also the allegation by the PDP that because two of the Electoral Officers to conduct the

Committee, to come forward and be confronted with the bare facts of the earlier committee’s findings.

Okonjo-Iweala noted that although over 50 per cent of the N888 billion fuel subsidy, budgeted for 2012, has been utilized owing to the heavy 2011 arrears, substantial recovery would be made from the excess payments which would augment the current balance.

Her words, “In terms of the subsidy, it is true that we budgeted N 888 billion for the year. We have used N451 billion of that.

We still have N370bn left that we are working on. So it is not like all the money is finished and we will be working on that.

“As you know, there was a recent report to verify 2011 arrears that , with the support of Mr. President, I set up, and chaired by Aig-Imokhuede. We set it up in the Ministry of Finance and they have worked.

They used over 20 forensic accountants and bank examiners. As a result, Mr. President two days ago,

Continues on page 8

election at the local government level were picked from Lagos State, it means that those two coming from Lagos were going to work for an ACN victory wherever they are posted” On the part of the ACN, Sunday Vanguard was made to understand that the party alleged that the leadership of PDP was involved in massive purchase of voter ’s cards. In fact, the party requested that voters without cards should be availed the opportunity to vote using other

means of identification.

To all these, Jega, who had “subjected all the allegations to forensic investigation, prepared specific water-tight responses to each of the allegations.

“So, at Friday ’s meeting, armed with the findings that were now in black and white, the chairman handed the documents to all the candidates, thereby allowing them to have a first hand official glimpse of the allegations each had leveled Continues on page 7

30 killed in fresh attacks in Plateau

BY TAYE OBATERU

A

BOUT 30 people were killed yesterday when gunmen, suspected to be Fulani herdsmen, invaded some villages in Barkin-Ladi and Riyom Local Government areas of Plateau State in early morning attacks.

Those killed by the assailants, said to have been well armed and numbering about 100, included two security men, women and children. Many were left injured and several houses torched in the attack which occurred at about 6.30 a.m.

The attack came days after the new National Security Adviser, Col. Sambo Dasuki (rtd), visited the state during which he initiated a dialogue among various stakeholders designed to forge peace and reconciliation.

Sunday Vanguard learnt that the assailants, dressed in black, launched ,attacks on the Berom villages of Kakuruk, Kuzen, Ngyo, Kogoduk, Ruk, Dogo, Kufang, Kpapkpiduk, Kai in Barakin-Ladi Local Government Area.

About 15 people were said to have been killed at Kuzen, eight at Kakuruk and another eight in other villages in the local government.

The attackers were said to have

later moved to villages in Riyom LG where they destroyed houses and other property but were successfully repelled by the people who, having got wind of their attack on their neighbors, mobilized and confronted them.

The member representing the two local government areas in the House of Representatives, Hon. Simon Mwadkon, described the attack as unfortunate at a time efforts were on to restore peace to the area.

He said the attack was a vindication of his outcry that there were terrorist elements in the two local government areas which ironically are under a state of emergency.

He confirmed that 20 bodies of those killed had been recovered while efforts were on to recover other bodies. He also confirmed the killing of two security men during the attacks.

It was learnt that men of the Special Task Force (STF) maintaining security in the state moved men into the area to track down the assailants. Residents said they heard multiple gun shots, yesterday evening, in what looked like an exchange between the security men and the attackers.

Media Officer of the STF, Captain Salisu Mustapha, said he was yet to get details of the casualty when contacted.

PAGE 6—SUNDAY VANGUARD, JULY 8, 2012

Educationist challenges students on excellence

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N educationist, Dr. Femi Adedina, has urged students of Loral International Boarding Secondary School, Igbesa, Ogun State to sustain the high moral standard and academic

excellence the school is known for, stressing that doing so would put them on the path to greatness.

Adedina, the pioneer Head of the Theatre Arts Department, Adeniran Ogunsanya College of Education, Ijanikin,

Lagos, gave this advice while speaking at this year ’s ‘Loral School Distinguished Students’ Clubs Day’.

In a lecture entitled; “You Can Change Your World”, the educationist enlightened the

students on how they could change and transform their world and make the society a better place.

He challenged the students to make good use of learning facilities provided by the school to

improve on their learning so as to excel in their academic endeavours. on the Speakin g rationale behind the founding of the clubs, the Senior Principal of the school, Mrs Maria

Uzuegbunam, explained that the clubs were formed to guide, direct and inspire the students to discover their talents and maximize their potentials.

Loral Distinguished Students’ Clubs Day is a day dedicated to honour students who had distinguished themselves in character, learning and innovative ideas.

SUNDAY VANGUARD, JULY 8, 2012 — PAGE 7

‘79 babies born by HIV positive couples are negative’

BY SUZAN EDEH

S

EVENTY-NINE babies out of the 160 born by HIV/ AIDS positive couples whose marriages were contracted under the auspices of Bauchi State Agency for the Control of HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria (BACATMA) were HIV negative.

The agency chairman, Dr. Mohammed Liman, said the HIV negatives babies are healthy but not without support from BACATMA, even as he said 11,232 HIV positive individuals in the state were receiving antiretroviral therapy (ART)..Liman also disclosed that the HIV prevalence in Bauchi is 2.0% as against 6.8% in 2001 when the prevalence rate hit an unacceptable level.The BACATMA boss, who disclosed this during a press briefing in Bauchi, stated that the HIV/AIDS control program of the agency coordinates a broad spectrum multisectorial response in collaboration with other ministries and the Office of the First Lady of the state.He explained that strategic interventions of the agency include behavior change communication and prevention of new infections, HIV counseling and testing, anti-retroviral therapy services, management of opportunistic infections, prevention of mother to child transmission, and community home-based referrals.Liman said the state governments in

Nigeria’s first female envoy buried amid tears

BY FESTUS AHON

N

IGERIA’S first f e m a l e Ambassador (Mrs) Elizabeth OgbonDay has been laid to rest in her home town, OgoniOlomu, Ughelli South Local Government Area, Delta State, amidst tears.

Ogbon-Day was the first in a royal family of twelve.

In a sermon during the funeral open air service, Rev. Dickson Madoghwe, of the Baptist Church, Effurun, said death was the most dreaded phenomenon in human existence, adding; “but we must face its reality.”

Senator Pius Ewherido, Chief Ighoyota Amori, Olorogun Taleb Tebite, Chief Emmanuel Aguariavwodo, Olorogun Oscar Ibru, Mr Abel Oshevire, Olorogun Ebenezer Okorodudu and Chief Fred Majemite said her death was painful.

collaboration with development partners and NGOs have made substantial progress in the response to HIV/AIDS epidemic in the state.According to him, resources have been mobilized to upgrade health facilities, train personnel, provide equipment, essential drugs, reagents and other supplies

to combat HIV/AIDS in the state.To this end, Liman revealed, the agency has established 11 comprehensive antiretroviral therapy centers that provide treatment to HIV individuals and 23 new HIV counseling and testing centers with support from global fund thus totaling the HCT to 51 in the state.

Entitlements: Ex-militants give Jonathan two weeks ultimatum

BY ADEOLA ADENUGA

N

IGER Delta Exmilitants Phase 3 has given President Goodluck Jonathan two weeks ultimatum to give its members their entitlements or they will return to the creeks and blow pipelines.

The national chairman of the group, which parades about 10,000 members in the nine oil producing states, Julius Joseph, said the Federal Government was yet to keep to its terms of agreement after they surrendered their arms two years ago.

He said members of his group had endured for so

long. “If the government is not ready to give us our entitlements then they should return our arms. We are hungry; we want to go back to the creeks”, Joseph stated.

“We have tried to reach the president through the Minister of Niger Delta, but the minister has refused to attend to us. We have tried different means of dialogue but nobody is listening to us. We even wrote a petition to the Senate President but there was no response.

“We are open to dialogue.

But government doesn’t want to dialogue with us.

They want to dialogue with Boko Haram that is faceless. We are not faceless yet they don’t to dialogue with us”.

Chief Emeka Anyaoku (middle), flanked by Governor Peter Obi (left) and Bishop Albert Fasina of Ijebu Ode, during the launching of Loyola Jesuit University in Lagos.

From left: Mr. Ademola Akinbola, CEO, BrandStewards Nigeria Limited, Pastor Wole Oladiyun, Senior Pastor, Christ Livingspring Apostolic Ministry (CLAM) and Dr Abiola Ogunrinde, CEO, Tropical Naturals Limited, Dudu Osun, during the opening ceremony of a one-week All Round Business Success Summit organised by CLAM in Lagos.

Atiku: Obstacles should not derail our goals

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ORMER Vice desired job on graduation, President Atiku among other things. They Abubakar has a task your ingenuity, message for Nigerians: creativity, problem solving Don’t allow obstacles skills, endurance and along your path to derail perseverance”. your goals.

According to him, there Atiku disclosed this, are numerous things that yesterday, at the graduation can form distractions as ceremony of El-Amin people strive to realize International School, life’s goals. “They may be Minna and launching of friends and acquaintances, the school’s year book. excessive partying, eating He spoke about the and drinking, too much or obstacles in the context of “distractions, naysayers who say you cannot do it, failures that you may experience along the way, doubts that set in as a result Continued from page 5 of delays in getting results and the lure of instant against the other ”. gratification”.

The source said as “each The former VP explained: “Obstacles are of them read through the inevitable in human allegations and the made by INEC, it affairs. Rarely do we go findings was obvious that it came as through life’s journey a rude shock”. without encountering On the alleged bribery of obstacles and bumps. youth corps members, Some are very serious INEC reportedly made it while others are not. As you clear that “the money paid embark on the next phase by the Edo State of your life’s journey you government to the corps are likely to encounter members was the normal obstacles or bumps along hazard allowance that the way. Just treat them as state governments pay to such – mere challenges that youth corps members and try to take you off course. that it was a legitimate These may include allowance and not a inadequate infrastructure bribe”.

However, the PDP team, or reading materials, shortage of good teachers, at the meeting, wanted to poor performance in a know why INEC could not particular examination, employ the services of difficulties raising money, corps members from states difficulties finding a other than Edo?

too little sleep, excessive use of the internet or smart phone or addictive substances. Those that try to take you off course are distractions. You have to deal with them in ways that ensure they never constitute severe impediments that take you off course. Never lose sight of your goals; and stay the course”, Atiku said.

The former VP continued: “As you strive to

realize your goals, there would be those who tell you that you cannot make it.

Some might even say that you will not amount to anything. Some of these people may even be close to you or actually love you.

But they may think that you cannot achieve your goals either because they are using themselves to judge you or they do not understand your real

strengths and capacities.

Prove them wrong. If others doubt your capacity, it is the more reason why you have to double your efforts and make them believers through your achievement.

Others do not control your destiny; it is in your own hands. As long as you remember that and let it guide your plans and actions, you will stay the course.

Jega shocks Edo guber candidates At this point, discussions became a bit heated.

The ACN would not have any of that.

It was suggested at the meeting that civil servants may who are already in the employ of the state government may not also be a better option, just as the logistics of mobilizing youth corps members from other states would make it near impossible to use fulltime INEC staff.

Sunday Vanguard gathered that “to the allegation of voter ’s cards purchase, findings by INEC revealed that ‘there was a suspicion of veracity in the claim” – this was the reference Adams Oshiomhole, the ACN governorship candidate, made, after the meeting, that INEC had confirmed that the PDP was involved

in the purchase of voter ’s cards.

The INEC source said: “Even at that, the mere purchase of voter ’s cards does not mean the cards would be used because the chairman explained to them that the cards could not be transferred and, therefore, were of no use to those buying them”.

At that juncture, the gathering was made to understand that buying of cards does not mean it is intended for voting use; that the cards could be mopped up with a view to disenfranchising prospective voters.

To this, it was gathered that the idea of using another means of voting instrument was dropped but “this was quickly rebuffed by the commission because such

an idea is very alien to the letters and spirit of Section 40 of the Electoral Act – that section stipulates that only the voter’s card can be used as an instrument for voting”.

Jega was said to have given assurances that the commission would do all within its powers to ensure the doctrine of one man one vote.

The politicians were said to have spoken very frankly.

At the end of the session, the candidates engaged in back-slapping.

The INEC source said “the commission became pleased that it appeared that the meeting had succeeded in bringing down the tension a bit”.

The election is slated for Saturday, July 14, 2012.

PAGE 8 — SUNDAY VANGUARD, JULY 8, 2012

We will expose corrupt senators —Mark

BY HENRY UMORU

S

ENATE President David Mark has vowed to expose corrupt senators and those eng aged in acts capable of tarnishing the image of the N ational Assembly.

Mark stressed that no amount of blackmail will deter the institution from carrying out its oversight functions.

He, h o w e v e r, cautioned members of the public against c o m p r o m i s i n g lawmakers in the discharge of their duties, stressing that the National Assembly will continue to clear itself in its strong determination to meet the expectations of the electorate.

Speaking at the National Assembly-Private Sector Forum organised by the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) in Lagos, the Senate president noted that allegation of corruption against the National Assembly was exaggerated.

According to him, ”There are those who say that the National Assembly takes the bunch of the budget.

This is very ridiculous. I know that what goes to the National Assembly is not more than 2.5% of the total b u d g e t . ”The National Assembly members are always accused of corruption but Nigerians ,to a large extent

,are responsible for this alleged corruption. ”If a businessman gives a bribe to a lawmaker, is it only the lawmaker that is corrupt? If the business man didn’t offer the bribe, the lawmaker will not accept. But the question remains: Why did he accept it? If our National Assembly members are found wanting, we will discipline them.

“We will clean our house to earn the respect of those that elected us into our respective offices. We will continue to clean our house and those who bring us to

shame will get their punishment accordingly.”

Stressing that the legislature as an arm of government is on a steady growth and improving by each legislative day, Mark recalled that the level of rancour that characterized the legislative houses between 1999 and 2003 has been reduced. ”We would continue to improve on legislative business until we attain a level where the average Nigerian will be satisfied with our performance, he said.

Lack of platforms hinders navy’s peace support operations’

BY EVELYN USMAN

T

HERE are indications that the Nigerian Navy is handicapped in the discharge of peace support operations (PSO) in Africa in particular and other parts of the globe should the need arise, owing to lack of necessary platforms to perform this role.

The danger this portends if not addressed, is that the Nigerian Navy might not measure up to standard with its counterparts worldwide to participate actively in Peace Support Operation in future..

It was against this backdrop that he NN, organized a two-day peace keeping operations training seminar with the theme: ‘NN Transformation and Peace

Support Operations: Challenges and Prospects’, at the Nigerian Navy Ship QUORRA, Apapa, Lagos.

Declaring the two-day seminar open, the Chief of the Naval Staff, Vice

constituted a Presidential Task Force, also chaired by Mr. Aig-Imokhuede, to try and just complete work on the verification and then begin the recovery.

“The verification is to give a chance to any of those marketers who say, ‘oh, maybe you got it wrong here or there’ to come forward.

And the President has given them a very tight deadline of about a week. When we finish with that, then the next stage will be for us to try and get our money back.

“We must get some of those resources back.

Let’s wait for the resources to come back. I am sure Nigerians will like that and then we can take it from there.

“President Jonathan has directed the 15-member committee, headed by Mr. Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede, to begin work immediately and conclude its assignment by 1700 hours on Friday, July 13, 2012 as

action on all identified cases of fraud”.

Earlier in her lecture, the minister noted that science and technology holds the key to the muchneeded rapid development and, therefore, must be accorded a place of priority by government at all levels, on the one hand and the private sector on the other.

She lamented the abysmal attention science and technology currently suffers in both sectors and, therefore, called for a closer collaboration between the two with a view to creating the efforts that would transform research findings in the laboratories of universities and research institutes to increased industry production, in the country.

The minister also called for concerted efforts towards diversifying the nation’s economy which depends on oil as its major foreign exchange earner.

Sectors that require immediate attention according to her, include agriculture, solid minerals, and services.

Admiral Sa’ad Ibrahim, explained that the key objective of the seminar was to examine the modalities for the maritime component of Nigerian contingent in

peace support operations and Nigerian Navy ’s pledge to ECOWAS Standby Forces(ESF) in line with the navy transformation plan.

He noted that across the

globe, navies were being charged with the peace support operations roles, with the presence of some navies of the world already in the nation’s region performing this roles.

Soyinka: Why Abiola must be declared elected president

“M

KO Abiola was the nation;s elected president. Let that fact be enshrined in the nation’s records, then we would have embarked on one of the tributaries to the amplitude of true national reconciliation”.

With those words, Nobel Laureate, Prof.

‘How we‘ll recover subsidy O m a g b e m i dies at 75 loot’ a prelude to immediate Continued from page 5

National Vice Chairman (Southwest) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Segun Oni, speaking during the inauguration of Lagos State PDP Youth Mobilisation Committee (YOMOCO) and defection of Mr. Abdulkareem Rafiu and his supporters to the PDP in Lagos. He is flanked (right) by Chief Olabode George, State Chairman of the PDP, Capt. Olatunji Shelle and Chief Balogun

C

APTAIN Rowland O b i o r u Omagbemi (alias Oshofu), 75, of Orugbo in Warri South L.G.A of Delta State, is dead.

According to a statement by Tony Obioru Omagbemi, the son, burial arrangements start on July 19 with a service of songs at his residence, 5 Ugbofor Street, Ugborikoko.

Funeral service and interment hold at his home town Orugbo on Saturday, July 21.

He is survived by his widow, 7 children, 5 grandchildren, brothers and sisters.

Wole Soyinka, spoke on the anniversary of the death of Chief MKO Abiola, the acclaimed winner of the annulled June 12, 1993 presidential election.

Abiola died 14 years ago, precisely on July 7, 1998.

According to Soyinka, redressing June 12 goes beyond “dubious renaming ceremonies

which generate needless and distracting controversies”.

The Nobel Laureate message was entitled, ‘National Day of Treachery

Varsity dons proffer solution to food shortage

BY DAYO ADESULU

E

XPERTS in crop protection and environmental biology at the University of Ibadan have said that to arrest the shortage of food in the country, apart from embarking on massive production of food, adequate measures must be put in place to protect harvested crops in store and the ones in the farm.

Speaking at a press briefing in Ibadan to mark 50 years of the Department of Crop Protection and Environmental Biology, University of Ibadan, Professor Adeniyi Togun,

Head of the Department, said, “The missing link between abundance supply of food and shortage of food production in a nation is the measure put in place to protect and preserve the crops.” He noted that no amount of energy put in food production without adequate measures to protect both the harvested and non harvested crops will yield the desired result, adding “Complete understanding of the way of life of these organisms, progress may be made in increasing the productivity of plants and overall production of various agriculture products.”

According to Togun, if

Prof Umerah goes home

R

A D I AT I O N M e d i c i n e P r o f e s s o r,

Benjamin. C. Umerah is dead.

A professor of professors, as he was known, Umerah had to his credit well over 100 articles in peer-reviewed international journals, apart from his numerous other academic works.

tertiary institutions offering this course have all the wherewithal to train graduates in this field, our country will have little or no problem feeding the over 140 million population.

Passage

C

HIEF Anthony N w a m k p a

Onyemekwalam is dead.

He was aged 65.

His remains will be laid to rest after a non denominational service in his family house at Umuoshi Umuofuga on Saturday,14th July, 2012.

He is survived by several relations comprising brothers, sisters, his widow, cousins and nephews, among whom are, Lolo Sussan and Nicholas Onyemekwalam.

He is survived by seven children.

Late Chief Rowland Omagbemi

Prof. Umerah

Late Chief Anthony Onyemekwalam

SUNDAY VANGUARD, JULY 8, 2012, PAGE 9

THIS SEGMENT PRESENTS INVESTIGATIVE REPORTS, IN A MANNER NEVER BEFORE EXPLORED, ON CRIME AND NATIONAL SECURITY MATTERS. THIS IS DEPARTMENT 'C'

Govt should resolve Boko Haram threat or.... —Anglican Primate Says it is both a political and religious crisis; not one of poverty Attacks on Christians now a Sunday, Sunday medicine'

ARCHBISHOP Nicholas Dikeriehi Orogodo Okoh joined the Nigerian Army during the civil war in 1969 and rose to the rank of lieutenant colonel. On September 15, 2009, he became the Primate of the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion). Today, he is also the president of Southern Christians Association of Nigerian, SCAN. Last Sunday, the Primate returned to a familiar terrain, the All Saints (AHQ) Cathedral, Abalti Barracks, Surulere where he was the foundation vicar in his army days, this time to preside over the 70th birthday/thanksgiving service/ holy communion of a family friend, Mrs. Ibiyemi Olatomi Odeka. He obliged our SAM EYOBOKA the following interview which centered mostly on the security situation in the country. Excerpts…..

ow does it feel coming to a familiar terrain?

This is not my first time here since 2009, but today I’m giving glory to God because of the person concerned, that is Mama Odeka. She’s been instrumental to so many things in our lives. For instance, during my wedding, she was in charge of the reception and made the cake. When I was made a bishop, she actually travelled with me to London to arrange for my roles. Even before I had a family, we have been very close. So, I’m very happy to be with her; and this environment gives me a very wonderful memory of our younger days. We enjoyed being here, building this place and glorifying God. You can see many of the people here; we are very friendly because we had a wonderful ministry together. I was here from 1984 to 1989. I was the first vicar here and later I came back in 1999 to 2001.

You are the president of Southern Christians Association of Nigeria. Since the inauguration of that body, nothing seems to be happening…..

We just had a meeting in Benin City and we issued a communiqué. There’s going to be another meeting also in Benin shortly. I do not remember the date but it is scheduled for St Matthew Anglican Church in Benin City this July.

There has been heightened state of insecurity in the North.

How do you feel about it?

Of course I don’t feel fine because Christians are being killed and their properties looted. Some are burnt. So, I cannot feel fine. What I feel, not withstanding, we believe that it is the responsibility of the Federal Government to protect the people because that’s what they were elected to do. If you check our constitution, the security and welfare of the citi-

zens shall be the primary responsibility of the government.

By government, I don’t just mean the executive alone: I mean those who are in power, including the National Assembly, all the people who form the government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria; including the judiciary. And I mean at every level of governance. So, it’s not something the governors would rise up and say they are not at the center and therefore it’s the responsibility of the central government. In fact the traditional rulers are not left out. If they pay lip service to it, that means the country is in trouble.

Is this another way of saying that government has not done enough to protect the people?

The government itself has

,

H

not fulfilled the responsibilities of their offices, of course, he has the right to change them. But whether these changes will solve the problem is what I don’t know. I’m not sure that the police have done enough.

The Inspector General of Police was changed over this same insecurity matter. Has the new one lived up to expectation?

These are issues that we need to properly address as time goes on.

In making the recent changes, did the president consult your constituency?

I think the constitution does not direct him to consult people like us. The people he consults are members of his cabinet. Any discussion with the president at our level is informal. If he discusses with us, it’s a privilege. You don’t demand

Like now, we have just had a service, then somebody drops money in the offering plate, then I call a CID to go and investigate the man because the money he dropped is big. What kind of attitude is that

accepted that the efforts it is making have not yielded the desired results; that’s why you can see all the changes taking place. So, it’s an indirect acknowledgement that the efforts of the government have not yielded the desired results.

A

s a retired military offic er and now a spiritual leader, will you say that the latest changes are desirable?

I don’t know. The president should know better. Why I said I don’t know is because I don’t know precisely the definition of the assignment of the National Security Adviser and that of the Minister of Defense. If the president considers that they have

,

such a thing; and it’s not something you can quote; saying I told him so and so and he didn’t do what I said or he did what I said. The point is that he has a group that he should consult before taking decisions—those that are appointed to advise him.

I asked that question because there are so many Nigerians who believe that we are in a state of war, and, in a state of war, there’s need for the president to reach out to different interest groups….

Yes, he does reach out in the sense that the national CAN gives its opinion, and we are all part of CAN. What I cannot say precisely is whether CAN

ARCHBISHOP Nicholas Dikeriehi Orogodo Okoh is being given adequate reflection in the policy of government.

Do you agree that Nigeria is in a state of war?

Not strictly! Before you get to a state of war, there must be a formal declaration. So, constitutionally, we are not at war.

But there’s a serious crisis. The crisis is about insecurity. People in the North are running helter-skelter because people are being killed indiscriminately. You cannot even go to church freely. So we are in a state of crisis, and, if the crisis is not properly managed, it can develop into something bigger which will not be in the interest of anybody.

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want you to look at what happened in Kaduna a few weeks back, when churches were attacked and Christians had to react. Why was that?

It was as a result of frustration. I’m not making excuses for people attacking innocent people, who did not attack you; but the point is that the Christian community has been expecting a permanent solution to this problem. They have issued communiqués, they’ve spoken to the authorities of the land, they’ve made appeals times without number, they’ve pleaded with Boko Haram; pleaded with traditional rulers, pleaded with governments at the federal and state levels to bring this thing to an end so that it doesn’t encourage hooliganism, indiscipline, taking laws into your own hands. But these things keep recurring, and unfortunately, lately, have become a Sunday, Sunday medicine. So I think that is what led

to the frustration that we witnessed in Kaduna. Having said that, if we make that a pattern, then the country disappears, we get into a state of anarchy and it is not going to be helpful. So, again, I go back to what I said in the beginning, government should solve the problem so that private individuals do not take the laws into their own hands.

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orthern governors, northern political leaders and so many other opinion leaders in that area are still insisting that what we have on our hand is not a religious crisis….

That may be half true. What we have is both political and religious. If it’s not a religious war or crisis, why are you throwing bombs into the Church? How many Government Houses have been attacked? How many political party offices have been attacked? So, you see, no matter how dispassionate you want to be, it happened before, it is happening again and again.

What other interpretation are you going to put on it? If they don’t want the world to see it as a religious problem, they should stop it. If they want to attack government, they should face the government and leave the Church alone. So, if they leave the Church alone, and relate with the Christians on a friendly basis, then we know that this matter has nothing to do with religion. But as long as Christians are being killed, as long as they taking AK 47, and going around and shooting people in the Church, and Continues on page 10

PAGE 10—SUNDAY VANGUARD, JULY 8, 2012

THIS SEGMENT PRESENTS INVESTIGATIVE REPORTS, IN A MANNER NEVER BEFORE EXPLORED, ON CRIME AND NATIONAL SECURITY MATTERS. THIS IS DEPARTMENT 'C'

Continued from page 9

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nd what do you think the problem is?

The problem is that there’s a crisis which presents itself in the garb of politics as well as religious. And why that is going on, we don’t know; the government has said over and over again that they know those who are causing the trouble. Why should we be allowed to be held hostage by these people is what we don’t know. Hopefully, the new security adviser will answer that question. If we wait patiently, and he doesn’t answer it, then somebody is telling us what we don’t understand.

Are you satisfied with the way northern leaders have handled the matter thus far?

They said they are doing something, but what I want to remind them is that in the event of this issue continuing unchecked, it will certainly destroy Nigeria, and if it destroys Nigeria, both the North and the South will lose, including even the Boko Haram. They will also lose. Because all of us are happy to be Nigerians; there is no country in the West African sub-region that can accommodate Nigerians in the event of a major crisis. We will overwhelm them. They will not tolerate us. So it is in the interest of all of us to make sure Nigeria is peaceful and has prospects to our progress.

But you are aware also that Islamic leaders in the nation are making frantic efforts to prevent America from label-

ARCHBISHOP Nicholas Dikeriehi Orogodo Okoh

'Boko Haram is both a political and religious crisis; not one of poverty' ing Boko Haram a terrorist group?

Yes I’m aware that America has done so to three of their leaders, and, after that, the Secretary General of the Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs, Dr. Lateef Adegbite, reacted in a way that more or less appears as if it was wrong for the Americans to do so. I’m not aware why he said that because if these people who are doing all these things are not terrorists, who are they? What are they? So maybe he has a better approach which is not

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throwing bombs into the Church, then, of course, to that extent, it has something to do with religion.

They are insisting that it has to do with poverty and not religion.

I don’t agree! How many times have you killed people because you are a poor man?

The poverty level in Nigeria is not higher than the one in Chad, it is not higher than the one in Cameroon, it is not higher than the one in Guinea Bissau, it is not higher than the one in Niger Republic. Have you heard that people there carry weapons to kill people?

If it’s about poverty, how much does it cost to make a bomb?

How much does it cost to buy an AK 47? Is it the poor man who buys AK 47? So they are deceiving us. Somebody is telling us a lie. And if it’s about poverty, who is to be blamed?

Goodluck Jonathan has spent only one year in office. Previous governors and presidents, what have they done with the money given to them? So who’s to be blamed for the poverty?

So you see there’s a problem not yet clear to everybody.

and sympathize with the deceased. But for this issue of Boko Haram, the government is actually getting on top of the situation, and so it was not going to play a good role by staying at home. I have no choice than to believe him. He’s our president; he’s our leader. At the moment, we pray for him, we want to encourage him to do more so that this terrorism will be put behind us.

Will you say that the Jonathan administration has tackled corruption sufficiently enough as it promised the nation?

Every administration has its own style. The president is tackling corruption in his own method. Whether this method is yielding the right dividends

government believes that it’s doing its best by the approach it has adopted. The only thing that is clear to the ordinary people and the government now is that that approach is not yielding the desired result which is why, I think, they are changing gear. Hopefully, the new leadership in the security outfit will do a better job.

Many people criticized the president for traveling to Brazil recently while Nigeria was in tumoil What’s your reaction?

The president said, in his

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The government should solve the problem so that private individuals do not take the laws into their own hands

clear to me, and I respect the man. I know him, but I have not met him since he made that statement; otherwise I would have asked him to explain more to me why he preferred that those people should not be labeled the way the Americans labeled them.

As a retired military officer who is presiding over one of the biggest denominations in Nigeria, what do you think is the handicap of the government in tackling this menace?

The government has not said that they have a handicap. The

explanation, that he did it to avoid giving the impression that Nigeria has broken down under the threats of terrorists.

That if he didn’t go, it means the hostages have held Nigerians completely in its hands.

That he did it to tell the people of the world that Nigeria is still functioning. I’m not in his position. Some Nigerians think otherwise, others think that the president is right. I’m not in the position to know.

The president said if it were a matter of the plane crash, he would prefer to stay at home

is another matter. Some sections of the society say it’s not yielding results. In the interview he gave, you heard what he said.

So maybe you should make allowance for time. His one year in office as president elected by Nigerians; may be in the next one year….If he completes two years in office and we are unable to see the results of some of these things that are being done, particularly the probes and so on, then you can come to a different conclusion. Otherwise, at the moment, we have no choice than to believe him.

I say that corruption is in the land, and that the government should take action to make sure that they regain the confidence of the people, because if the matter is left unattended to, people will lose hope.

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here are some people who are accusing the Church of not doing enough to tackle corruption….

The Church does not receive allocation from the Federal Government. Have you ever heard that at the end of a particular month, bishops gathered to share money? There’s nothing like that. So if they are talking about the Church not preaching hard enough to those who come to church, nobody is praying for stealing.

The Church is doing what it considers to be its responsibility—trying to maintain the conscience of the people and try-

ing to raise the level of morality in the society. But whether the people who are being spoken to want to obey or not is another matter. The Church has no police to enforce what it decides to do.

The Church has no soldier.

The Church is only a persuasive organ to persuade people.

If the Church persuades you not to steal and you go ahead to steal, you cannot blame the Church. But when they talk about the Church having a share in corruption, clearly the Church does not have a share.

People don’t gather at the end of the month and say N50 billion has been allocated to the Church to share for so so so project.

The Church does not receive money for any project, from any government. Individuals, who make offerings in the Church, give money for what they believe in to run the Church. But if it’s all about proclamation and encouraging its members to live above board, the Church is doing that, which is believed to be the responsibility of the Church, but anything outside that, the Church cannot do it. If you come to us in the Church and you bring donation, and we preach and say make sure you don’t steal, help Nigeria to be a better place.

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hat is the best that the Church can do. If you obey, it is because God has spoken to you. If you refuse to obey, you can’t blame the Church because it has no policeman, it has no soldier, it has no civil defense to enforce what it preaches. Even the government has handicap that it was unable to verify the source of money people have, let alone the Church. Like now, we have just had a service, then somebody drops money in the offering plate, then I call a CID to go and investigate the man because the money he dropped is big. What kind of attitude is that? Do you think that will succeed? It’s not going to succeed.

What the Church can do is not to sing the praise of people who are manifestly known to be evil people or corrupt people, not to ask people to go and steal government money.

Not to praise them. But you will agree with me that those who are contributing to these things are many.

At the traditional level, people who are known to be corrupt and have done evil are given chieftaincy titles. Then the universities have also taken a cue from there, they are giving honorary doctorate degrees for money. So you have a greater job to do than looking at the Church. Look at all these places.

SUNDAY VANGUARD, JULY 8, 2012 , PAGE 11

$3M BRIBERY SCANDAL

Reps gamble with Gambo Ethics Committee It has become embarrassing — Lawmakers *’We are being ridiculed’

Farouk Lawan

Femi Otedola

BY OKEY NDIRIBE & EMMAN OVUAKPORIE

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OME of members of the House of Representatives have expressed displeasure over the embarrassing dimension the bribery scandal involving the former Chairman of the House’s Adhoc Committee on Petroleum Subsidy Regime Farouk Lawan assumed last Tuesday.

Chairman of Zenon Petroleum and Gas Ltd Femi Otedola who had accused Lawan of extorting $620,000 from him as part of a $3 million bribe the law-maker allegedly demanded had appeared before the House Committee on Ethics and Privileges in response to an invitation extended to him by the Committee which had earlier been mandated by the leadership of the House to investigate the allegation.

However, the Committee’s session with Otedola ended in a stalemate as the oil mogul refused to comply with the directive of the Committee Chairman that the investigative hearing be held behind closed doors.

Otedola had insisted before the Committee that he would give evidence relating to his allegation of giving $620,000 to Hon. Farouk Lawan only if the Committee conducts an open hearing.

The oil magnate spoke through his lawyer, BabaJide Koku (SAN), immediately after he left the venue of the investigative hearing into the allegation he leveled against Lawan.

Giving further reasons why his client won’t speak to the Committee in camera, Koku said Farouk Lawan had exhibited a high degree of inconsistency in his responses to the allegations against him.

Gambo Musa Dan-Musa According to Koku: “Lawan has lied four times. He initially denied collecting any money from Otedola and later admitted”.

He continued: “ Again he said he handed over the money to the Chairman of the House Committee on Drugs, Narcotics and Financial Crimes, Hon Adams Jagaba, but Jagaba has denied collecting any money from him.”

Indeed, the Committee’s insistence that it must conduct its hearing in camera raised a lot of dust as many Nigerians expressed surprise over the development thereby questioning the integrity of the House.

Nevertheless, members of the Green Chamber who spoke on the incident in confidence complained that the Lawan bribe saga had dragged the name of the House in the mud and resulted in some members removing the number plates of their cars bearing the National Assembly to avoid embarrassment from members of the public “ who now see us all as corrupt.”

Other members who spoke to Sunday Vanguard said that the leadership of the House made a major blunder by not making the hearing by the Committee on Ethics and Privileges public since the House had established a tradition of conducting such probes openly to promote transparency.

In fact, a member who felt “seriously embarrassed by the show of shame last Tuesday” cited a past investigative hearing into the N2.3billion car scam of 2008 during which all the proceedings were made public and at the end of the day the whole “issue was amicably resolved because there was nothing to hide from the public.”

Another member who spoke on the issue remarked: “Why the House leadership is shielding

Farouk Lawan from the public is what we find extremely difficult to understand because in the first place, in order to allow proper investigations, the House ought to have suspended him.”

Commenting on how Otedola’s request for an open hearing diminished the moral authority of the investigative panel, another source close to the leadership asked: ”How do you expect a committee Chairman that is a first timer to

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offences of this magnitude before the former Speaker Dimeji Bankole sent them packing from the House and he threw open the probe of the car scam in 2008.

“The Speaker has done a lot to carry everybody along but the truth is that in some cases he should throw diplomacy into the garbage can and deal decisively with this matter that has made it almost shameful to be a member of the House of Representatives.

My brother it is a shame.”

How do you expect a committee Chairman that is a first timer to professionally handle such a sensitive panel without making unpardonable mistakes?

professionally handle such a sensitive panel without making unpardonable mistakes?”

He continued: “His utterances smacked of somebody who easily forgets that as a leader of such a panel, words should be scarce from his mouth, but most of us were not surprised because the man is new here and went a long way in exhibiting his inexperience.”

Appraising the composition of some committees of the House, the source explained that “there are certain House Committees that should not be handled by new members or those suspected to have oily hands”.

He continued: “Committees like Ethics and Privileges, Public Accounts, House Services, Public Petitions and a few others are rather too sensitive for new members to chair because they need to know the rudiments in legislative matters to handle such committees.

“The leadership has not been firm on this issue; Dino Melaye and others did not commit

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Another member who is also not too happy with the bashing the House has received of late did not mince words when he told Sunday Vanguard: “Everything we did in the last one year has been rubbished by one individual’s greed. Most of us feel ashamed before our constituents that believed in us to deliver the elusive dividends of democracy.”

Indeed, there has been public outrage over the bribery scandal which emanated from the decision of the House to investigate the disbursement of the Petroleum Subsidy regime for the past three years. This was on display mid last month- on the very first day of the current legislative year when a group of protesters stormed the premises of the National Assembly to protest against corruption in the House. Members of the House were actually holding a plenary session when the protesters arrived.

Joe Mesele, spokesman for the

group which consisted of youths under the umbrella of Nigeria Youths for Good Governance (NYGG) said their mission to the National Assembly was to protest against corruption in the legislative arm of government.

Speaking to newsmen at the premises of the National Assembly, Mesele lambasted legislators for repeatedly getting involved in acts of corruption.

The protesters carried placards with different inscriptions.

According to Mesele: “We feel that as responsible and patriotic Nigerians we should come here today to formally make a presentation in the form of a protest to the National Assembly so that members would know we are watching them keenly and we are not happy about what they are doing”.

He reminded members of the House that “It was our protest that gave room for the setting up of the Adhoc Committee on Fuel Subsidy by the House of Representatives. The work of that Committee was applauded by the people. But now that many allegations have been leveled against Farouk Lawan the Chairman of that Committee, those allegations have to be thoroughly investigated.”

Many other civil society groups and organizations across the country have also expressed disgust over the unfolding scandal.

However, the Chairman of the House Committee on Media, Hon. Zakari Mohammed, does not share the views expressed by some of his colleagues.

Commenting on the impact the scandal may have had on the public perception of the image of the House, Mohammed said that the alleged misdeeds of a member should not be used to judge the entire House adding that there were many members of the lower chamber who were well respected in their various professions and communities.

N PAGE 12 — SUNDAY VANGUARD, JULY 8, 2012

President Jonathan

Ekpeyong Ita

Mohammed Abubakar

The Farouk Lawan we know T

he alleged 620,000 dollars bribery involv ing the former chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Subsidy,Honorable Lawan Farouk,and the chairman of Zenon Oil,Mr Femi O t e d o l a , h a s , o f late,dominated national discourse.

The passion the alleged bribery has generated among Nigerians is understandable given that the public officials in the country are looked as with suspicion and often seen as corrupt. No matter how corrupt a system may be, however, there must be an exception. In the particular instance of the 620,000 dollars bribe, the story is that the House of Representatives raised the Farouk committee to look into the pre-January subsidy regime of the Federal Government in the downstream sector of the petroleum industry.

The probe is a direct fallout of the hike in the price of petrol following government’s bid to completely remove subsidy on the product and the protests it generated. There had been allegations of sharp practices in the disbursement of the subsidy to the petrol importers that shot up the cost of government was paying to cushion the importation of the product to unimaginable levels. So the mandate of the House panel,led by Farouk,was to dig into the rot and unearth what was amiss.

The committee actually dug into the rot and found the scenario stinking.

For instance,one payment running into hundreds of millions of naira was said to have been

made almost 30 times within 24 hours. Many importers who did not import petrol were alleged to have benefited from the subsidy regime.

The whole place was riddled with corruption. And the beneficiaries were powerful people in the country. Now it is not yet clear who between Farouk and Otedola approached the other in the 620,000 dollars alleged bribe saga. What we have been told, however,is that the former panel chairman along with

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By Felix Bassey

The passion the alleged bribery has generated among Nigerians is understandable given that the public officials in the country are looked as with suspicion and often seen as corrupt

the secretary, Mr Emenelo, collected the money to remove the name of Otedola’s Zenon Oil from the list of indicted firms in the final report of the committee. The indictment of Zenon is alleged to have been established in that it was a beneficiary of the subsidy regime but was not importing petrol.

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forces were trying to influence the outcome of the probe,and that he planned to turn the money over to the House.

Arising from this is a theory that there is a conspiracy to kill the House report on fuel subsidy probe which has now been sent to President Goodluck Jonathan to act upon.

The strategy is to target the arrow head of the committee,Farouk,cast aspersion on his integrity,and thus made nonsense of the outcome of the inquiry. Some of

he firm’s beat is impor tation of diesel which has, for sometime, been removed from the subsidy list.

Zenon is alleged to have collected foreign exchange at the concessionary rate from Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN. Farouk says he collected the money from Otedola to reinforce the alarm he earlier raised that some powerful

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the strong recommendations of the House Committee in the report include: the termination of the services of two top accounting firms involved in the subsidy regime, as well as their blacklisting from being engaged by government agencies;investigation by the House Committee on petroleum resources(downstream) into the operations of the Petroleum Fund Management Board in order to ascertain the management of the bridging funds under the subsidy regime;investigation and prosecution by the anti-corruption agencies of those in the Federal Ministry of Finance,Office of the Director General, Budget, and the Office of the Account General of the Federation involved in the

extra-budgetary expenditure under the Petroleum Support Fund Scheme(20092011);and critical examination and review of the policy guiding payment for the importation of petroleum products to avoid the current fraudulent system that allows importers to bring in products from offshore Lome or Cotonou to qualify for foreign exchange payments by the CBN and the Federal Ministry of Finance.

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he report also listed 71 oil marketers that should be disqualified from collecting subsidy payments worth N230billion. And to get the forces more desperate to rubbish the messenger and thus kill the message is an indication that government was disposed to acting on the committee report.

The Special Adviser to the President on National Assembly Matters,Senator Joy Emordi,said her principal would not spare anybody indicted in the fuel subsidy investigation. According to her,Jonathan has vowed that anybody found culpable in the large scale theft of the fuel subsidy would be dealt with in accordance with the laws of the land. Viewed critically, the circumstance of the 620,000 dollars alleged bribe appears to be a backlash from the forces operating in the downstream sector of the oil industry to stall the harsh recommendations of the House Committee. Unfortunately, Farouk is caught in the web. Perhaps, he should not have taken the alleged bribe money which, according to him, he wanted to tender to his colleagues as evidence that he was indeed under pressure by the forces opposed to reforms

in the oil subsidy regime.

The last certainly has not been heard on this saga especially when one considers what Farouk said in the House last Thursday that he would be vindicated by the time the whole saga is concluded. We ought to wait for the findings of the Ethics Committee set up by the House to probe the alleged bribe. After all, until this case, the lawmaker had been above board, promoting, through his actions in the House, transparency in governance. Recall his various battles in the House to entrench integrity in the system.

This is a Farouk that has availed Nigerians of his legislative experience,having been in the House since 1999. He has unblamished records of about 13 years. As a matter of fact, he is still the best to have come out of Kano State. Having said that, the House committee report,irrespective of the outcome of the on-going bribery saga, should not be thrown into the trash bin, which is ultimate aim the forces behind the saga.

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any other reports of this nature have come and gone, with their recommendations stalled because the forces benefiting from what was investigated did not want them implemented.

One can only pray that this does not go the way of the other reports.

The SSS and the police are also said to be investigating the bribery saga. The onus lies on the SSS DG, Ita Ekpenyong, and the IGP, Muhammed Abubakar, to investigate all the issues in the saga and come out with unbiased findings.

SUNDAY VANGUARD, JULY 8, 2012,PAGE 13

6 days to go

THE CANDIDATES THE July 14 gubernatorial election will be a landmark event. The incumbent governor, Adams Oshiomhole, who is seeking re-election, is being challenged by six other candidates who are trumpeting different advantages they claim will put the state on a higher footing than it is now.

*Airhiavbere

*Oshiomhole

*Edebiri

*Ukoga

*ORUMWENSE

Oshiomhole, Airhiavbere, Edebiri in last-minute battle S

ix days to the governorship election in Edo State, the three major political parties in the race: The Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP), are putting finishing touches to their campaigns. The remaining parties: The Social Mega Democratic Party (SMDP), the National Conscience Party (NCP) and the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) ,are expected to endorse the candidature of Governor Adams Oshiomhole, candidate of the ACN, and incumbent governor of the state. Oshiomhole is roaring with confidence, outlining his achievements so far to the electorate in the three and a half years of his administration. In order to ensure that he campaigns in all the nook and cranny of the state, Oshiomhole hired a helicopter and continued to preach against god fatherism while harping on one man one vote. On his part, General Airhiavbere, the PDP candidate, has been battling to inform the people of the state that they must vote for the new PDP which he said he represents and assured to give the people better governance if voted into power. Being a new comer into Edo politics having retired from the Army early last year, Airhiavbere must have been sweating it out battling the forces of Oshiomhole whom

How

they stand ahead of poll

many believe is the emerging new god father in the politics of the state, having harvested many of the leaders of the PDP into his ACN. Luckily for Airhiavbere however, the patriarchs of Edo politics: The Esama of Benin Kingdom, Chief Gabriel Igbinedion, Chief Tony Anenih and Dr Samuel Ogbemudia, seem to have come together to battle Oshiomhole.

In addition, he will be hoping

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BY SIMON EBEGBULEM, Benin City

Obviously, Airhiavbere is banking on his tribe people to help him, but, unfortunately, the Benins are predominantly Oshiomhole’s supporters and that was why the entire Enigies and the Benin royal family have publicly acknowledged his achievements in the kingdom and assured him of their support.

The ANPP candidate, Solomon Edebiri, is also not

Airhiavbere the PDP candidate has been battling to inform the people of the state that they must vote for the new PDP which he says he said represents

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for any help that may come from the Federal Government, after the party had openly begged President Goodluck Jonathan to come to their aid, at least to halt Oshiomhole’s political dominance in the state.

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onsequently, a 45member committee was set up by the national leadership of the PDP, to assist the home boys campaign in the state. That they have doing that but not without receiving knocks from the ACN dominated members in Edo South senatorial district.

sleeping. He has been campaigning seriously but, because the ACN and the PDP are the two major political parties in the state, people seem not to talk about him much. He is enjoying the support of those who said the PDP and the ACN are both the same, therefore they needed a change in the politics of the state.

He proved that he meant business in this election during the recent governorship debate where many scored him higher than Airhiavbere. As a matter of fact, Oshiomhole acknowledged, in an interview, that

Edebiri seems to know the problems of Edo people more than Airhiavbere who stated during the debate that he knew the problem of the state when he was at NIPSS. Edebiri’s advantage is that he has not worked for government before and therefore you will not ascribe any negative acts to him.

However, as the campaigns hot up, there have been accusations and counter accusations mainly between the ACN and PDP supporters. The ACN has persistently raised the alarm that the PDP was buying voter ’s cards particularly in Edo South, to reduce the number of voters in the area to the detriment of the ACN. As a matter of fact, a top PDP leader, who was alleged to be involved in the purchase of voter’s cards escaped arrest by the whiskers on Tuesday in Benin City.

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ut the PDP has persistently denied buying cards. Rather, the PDP accused the ACN of buying voter’s cards. However, with the achievements of Oshiomhole so far, he is expected to garner more votes in his Edo North senatorial district, where he comes from.

Edo North has six local government councils.

Airiavbere’s deputy Johnson Abulagba is from Owan West, but, in that area, Prof Julius Ihonvbere, who recently joined

the ACN from the PDP, and the former deputy governor of the state, Rev Peter Obadan are expected to give Oshiomhole the votes in that area. As expected, Oshiomhole will have to sweat it out in Edo Central, Chief Anenih’s domain. Edo Central has five local government councils.

ACN lost this zone during the senatorial election but has since re-strategized.

But Oshiomhole is expected to win in Igueben, Chief Tom Ikimi’s domain and Esan West and Central having won the heart of Iruekpen people where former Governor Osarhiemen Osunbor comes from.

Edo South is predominantly ACN area.

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his is where the Deputy Governor Pius Odubu, Chief of Staff Osarodion Ogie, South South Vice Chairman of ACN, Osagie Ize-Iyamu, Charles Idahosa, Speaker of the state House of Assembly, all hail from. Edo South, with seven local governments, enjoys almost 60 per cent of the population of the state and no body becomes governor in the state without the support of these people. Oshiomhole is expected to win Ikpoba Okhai, Egor, Uhumnwonde, Orhiomnwon Ovia North East and Ovia South West. But he must have a strong and reliable force that can check the influence of Chief Igbinedion in Ovia North East and Captain Hosa Okunbor in Oredo if he intends to win in those two local governments.

PAGE 14—SUNDAY VANGUARD, JULY 8, 2012

6 days to go

Benin-City Last Sunday, we published an interview with the PDP governorshiop candidate, Charles Airhiavbere. Today, we bring you Governor Adams Oshiomhole, the candidate of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), who speaks on his chances in this week's election. Excerpts: What promises did you make to the people of Edo State and have you been able to keep faith?

I think my promise to the people of Edo State is two fold. First, the politics of the state because I believe that unless you get the politics right, sustainable development is impossible. And Edo politics had been privatized by some god fathers and the result was that since 1999, only those anointed by these god fathers could aspire to political office. The 1999 election, 2003 and even up 2007, they had the machinery to rig every body out. I came in to challenge that order and to promise Edo people that the god fathers were not indeed invincible. Even the god father-general did remain strong until challenged by the forces of progress. Today, that issue is settled so much so that we have had series of election since I came in, we had about four by-elections.

And those the god father-general fielded lost. All those we supported won.

In the last general elections, for the first time, the PDP rigging machine in Edo was completely demobilized and a collaborator in INEC was prosecuted and dismissed.

For the first time, that sense of impunity that you can do it and nothing will happen, some thing is beginning to happen. So the last result has settled the question whether the votes will ever count in Edo State.

All those the god father supported in Edo South, which accounts for 65 per cent of the votes, they lost. Edo North has about 33 per cent, all those who contested on the platform of the godfather, they lost. In Edo Central, which accounts for about 15 per cent of the votes, ACN won about 45 per cent of the over all votes and we won in one or two of the local government areas. This has settled the question that in Edo, the people, not the god father, now decide who becomes what.

Edo State electorate has acquired such sophistication that in the presidential election every body agreed that Jonathan deserved the votes and he got the votes after the

Six days to Edo 2012

My works will speak for me — Gov. Oshiomhole *On rigging: ‘We take Jonathan by his words’ that we have built, enrolment has returned in public schools by more than 50 per cent. But that does not mean that we have built all the roads we want to build. Our urban renewal project is not yet completed. The erosion and flood control under the Benin-City water storm master plan, we have started a N30billion project. We need to revitalize the industries. So much has been done but so much more is yet to be done. We have made a lot of progress and we don’t want to abandon the progress that is on.

Tension

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Gov. Oshiomhole National Assembly elections in which we won two of the three senatorial seats. And these two are very important representing 65 per cent of the electorate, the other one representing about 33 per cent.

And subsequent election for the House of Assembly, we asked the electoral umpire in a simple advertorial that now it is time to return to the party and we won 19 of the twenty seats; in fact it was twenty but the result in one of the local governments was manipulated by a DPO who used to be an orderly to a god father. So I think now the politics of Edo has been liberalized, Edo electorate has regained the confidence that their votes can count and the votes counted in the last election. Now what is the benefit of this?

Having got the people to elect us, not the god fathers, we are now accountable only to the people; so the resources are now channeled into massive and aggressive urban renewal in Benin-City, aggressively finding the solution to flooding and erosion, building rural roads across

the 18 local government areas, connecting communities that had given up that they will never have access to the cities. For the first time, we have walk ways, street lights, all of those things which you never found any where in Benin City before. We have not only solved all the problems for

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By Simon Ebegbulem,

he desperation is com ing from one side. It is coming from the god fathers because they are insisting that they have a right to unrestrained access to the common wealth of Edo people.

And because they misled themselves into thinking that the resources of the state are there, they won’t give up the fight. But the good news is that they do not have the political muscle and political muscle is a function of your connection with the electorate, they don’t have that because, for ten years, they took the electorate for granted.

Violence

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irst, President Goodluck Jonathan was here on Saturday, 30 June and, at least, made a profound state-

he good news is that they do not have the political muscle and political muscle is a function of your connection with the electorate, they don’t have that because, for ten years, they took the electorate for granted

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sure, but we have also made a very bold statement that Edo is viable and, for the first time, the state is working. And the people are unanimous that Edo is working again.

Why I need second term

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do can be described as work in progress. If you look at the quality of schools

ment that, yes, as the leader of the PDP, he had come to campaign for his party but, as the President of Nigeria, he warned them that, this time around, there will be no rigging. No stuffing of ballot boxes, no thuggery, that he had instructed the IG of police and the Chief of Defense Staff to provide adequate security and he had been assured they

will deliver. I don’t think we need more assurances. What we now need to do is to assist the President to give effect to this profound commitment he has made to the people of Edo. Also, significantly, the President was fair enough in reminding his party men that it was in Edo that we launched one man one vote and that he participated in that declaration and therefore the state election offers him the first test as President to demonstrate that he means this as regards transforming the ways elections are held in Nigeria. I want to say I believe he was honest about it and July 14 will confirm the commitment of the President to those very profound statements that he made. But let us also ask the question, who do you think the President was talking to?

As governor of Edo, who rigged me out of the governorship in 2007? Who did the court find guilty of stuffing ballot boxes? Who was found guilty by the court of hawking thumb printed ballot papers? Who was found to have cheated? It was the PDP. So I feel, that the President demonstrated uncommon courage in telling his own party men that that method will no longer be accepted. And he told them that if they mobilize, they can win. Look at the condition, ‘ if you mobilize, you can win’, not that you can rig.

So, to me, this is sufficiently reassuring. And once it is clear that thuggery will not be permitted, violence will disappear because the reason for violence in an election is that to be able to dispossess the electoral officers of ballot boxes and papers, you need a level of thuggery. For thugs to instill fear in the electorate, they must resort to violence so that they can scare people away.

So I believe that the President has a clear understanding that the way out of violence is to uphold and defend the right of one man, one vote.

One man, one vote

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f we conduct the election on July 14, on the basis of one man one vote, with INEC not colluding to cause confusion by delaying supply of voting materials, manipulating the process, we will get not less than 90 per cent of the votes across the three senatorial districts. Why? Because, for the first time, the people of the state have seen how governance has affected them. Our children have seen the difference in their schools, modern roof, good desk, qualitatively learning environment. What makes this election so simple for me to talk Continues on page 15

SUNDAY VANGUARD, JULY 8, 2012,PAGE 15

6 days to go

Continued from page 14 about victory is that, as some one told me, like a man has been married for thirteen years, the first ten years he was married to a woman, he gave every thing to this woman and behaved like a true man and yet for the ten years there was no child.

He then decides to divorce and, after a prolonged legal battle, he succeeded in divorcing the woman and married a new one. This one he divorced, you can call her the PDP, then the new one called ACN. Under three and a half years, he can see progress. At the beginning, they said it was only in Benin City that I was working but now they can see it across the state. They see erosion control challenge being decisively tackled. They see the mass transit where children in uniform enjoy automatic 50 per cent discount.

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o people can easily rec ollect what their experience was and what they can see today. So all I need to do is to remind them where we are coming from and show them where we are and ask them to answer the question, do you want to return to the other way where your children

Gov. Oshiomhole

On rigging: ‘We take Jonathan by his words’ will be sitting on the floor? Do you want to go back when children will be washed off in their bedrooms due to flooding? And they can recollect easily how those coming to Benin City or going outside Benin will rather avoid Benin and go through bypass because they could not pass through Tomline, the Traditional Ground or Adolor area because if it rained for five minutes, you will be washed off the road.

‘Ogbemudia confession’ In fact, Dr Ogbemudia, who is one leader respected across Edo North,Edo South and Central, on account of his stewardship for about nine years under Gen.Yakubu Gowon, confessed to the fact that his own part of the city where he lives, Iheya Street, he was thinking that towards the end of his tenure, he will build the area but unfortunately he could not do that before he was over thrown.

He has been a leader of the PDP since 1999, yet even the government he put in place and he supported, for ten years, they did nothing in his area. I visited him once and

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t is so easy for the aver age voter to say in ten years of the PDP what is it that they did that I can point out?

In three and a half years of ACN we can see good schools, we can see roads, we can see water, particularly in areas like Edo Central where the PDP had said it will be impossible for them to get water. We have water in Ekpoma, we have water in Igueben, we have water in Iruekpen, we have water in Ubiaja, we have water in Ugua, we have water in Ugboha and other places. We have built new health centers, a lot of things. And the PDP saw workers as cursed agents and, because they saw workers that way, they retrenched over six thousand in 2000 without paying them any benefit. They sacked teachers even as we don’t have enough teachers in our schools. Pensioners have to go into demonstrations before they got their monthly stipends. Even in the social sectors, things were so bad. Our hospitals were leaking, even the Central Hospital, our prime hospital.

And they ran down all the industries, Okpilla Cement, Bendel Breweries, these were outstanding businesses employing thousands of our people but all these were grounded by the PDP under ten years.

go and listen to the opinion of market women, Okada riders, traditional rulers, they all said they have not seen a thing like this. Again quoting the Oba of Benin in a statement read on his behalf by Edun Akenzua during a meeting of Edo People Abroad, in Atlanta, he said and I quote: “One of the things the Comrade Governor has achieved is that he has opened the eyes of Edo people that never again will a future government come to tell them that Edo is not viable, it is not a major oil producing state, that it is a civil service state and therefore nothing can be done. Comrade has shown that every thing can be done. ”So what more do you want to hear? You can now see why those who used to be celebrated as national leaders, people who now can no longer fix, that they now agree that the Edo situation is now beyond them to fix.

That they now have to persuade the President, the Vice President to come here repeatedly, they now needed a 48-man team where he is only a member, the man who used to be the leader was only a member of the team to fight to reclaim Edo State, quoting them.

Ethnic politics

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am not worried because it is a familiar thing in Nigeria that those who have no ideas try to substitute that deficit by appealing to primordial sentiment. But when the choice is between a man well known on account of his pedigree, now, additionally, on account of my performance, how does where you come from become an issue? Out standing Benin people have said that I am even the Benin candidate. Now we have two Benins in the race, Mr Ede-

The word Edo is an ethnic category, every Edo man comes from Benin and, if you listen to the language, you will understand that they are basically the same

he said he was being asked to relocate but that, at old age, he does not see why he should relocate from that area.

Now we have built not just that road, all the network of roads along that area, about 13 of them. Today that area is more beautiful than any part of the GRA. So he said there is no way he is going to tell those people living there not to vote for Oshiomhole. Just

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biri, the ANPP candidate, and Airhiavbere of the PDP, because, I don’t want to confuse the matter, because what ever you want to say, Mr Edebiri has shown that he is a different human being, he understands that the issue is about development. So I want to be specific. The PDP candidate Airhiavbere who is promoting advertorial that says the Benin people should vote for

one of their own and that they should remember that what ever a stranger does, a stranger will remain a stranger and any time he is going he will go away with the things he built. These are adverts which the PDP put out. Now school children now asked him, if Oshiomhole is a stranger, where is he going to? But that even if he is a stranger and he wants to go away, will he carry the Idia College building, will he take away Maria Gorreti College, will he carry Akpakpva Road, Airport Road, Oba Market Road, will he carry away Siluko Road, will he carry the Central Hospital that he is building? In any case, who is the stranger? Edo people are very rich in history, culture and tradition and you do not need to be a professor of history to know that, unlike several other states, Edo is not an artificial amalgam that was put together for political convenience.

The word Edo is an ethnic category, every Edo man comes from Benin and, if you listen to the language, you will understand that they are basically the same. They are putting an advert where they doctored my comment to give the impression that we are in an abnormal situation, the governor is Edo North, SSG Edo North, Head of Service Edo North, Speaker Edo North and then they said Benin people should see what Comrade has said.

‘Lamentations of imperfections’

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ut like I have always said, my task as governor was not to lament the imperfections in our environment. That advertorial was the situation PDP created which I inherited but now corrected. PDP appointed the Head of Service in question, PDP appointed the Speaker in question. What has the Comrade done about it? The Comrade has replaced that Edo North Head of Service with an Edo South Head of Service, not on account of just ethnic balancing but because the woman merits the position on account of her exposure and demonstrated level of competence. It is not a secret that the PDP took me to court for allegedly removing the Speaker. A Speaker from my own local government. Who succeeded the Speaker today, the new Speaker is from Edo South. So I am happy to say that one of the things I keep preaching is to say that while the PDP wants to break those bridges of unity, we will continue to build those bridges because Edo is one, and we will build it both in words and action.

PAGE 16—SUNDAY VANGUARD, JULY 8, 2012

6 days to go

By Johnson Momodu

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UT for Solomon Iyobo sa Edebiri, the candi date of the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) in the July 14 governorship election in Edo State whose responses to questions were spot-on and helped to moderate the tension occasioned by innuendoes that Governor Adams Oshiomhole of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) and Major- General Charles Airhiavbere (retd) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) hurled against each other, the July 5 governorship debate organized by the Nigeria Election Debate Group (NEDG) and aired live by the Africa Independent Television (AIT) could have passed for a platform of raw and undisguised personal attacks.

Well, the reason Edebiri did not join in the fray or was not drawn into the arena of conflict is understandable. The permutations and calculations do not accommodate or position him as a force to reckon with or a game changer of sorts in the election.

In other words, Edebiri is far away from the odds of winning the election and therefore, it is needless to say whether or not the odds favour him. He is, in fact, no threat to the two frontline candidates. So, in essence, he has been working at his own pace and not ruffling any feathers, especially as demonstrated during the debate when he was waxing utopian in his own world, sandwiched by Airhiavbere and Oshiomhole.

Although the organisers had, from the outset, clearly stated the ground rules for the debate, they could not enforce one of the rules

EDO GOVERNORSHIP:

A debate marred by innuendoes

that forbade candidates from leaving the issues to attacking personalities: Oshiomhole emerged as the greatest culprit on this score. In his bid to respond with equal venom to Airhiavbere's interrogations of his governance style and penchant for disobeying court orders, Oshiomhole had embarked on a voyage of blackmail and intimidation when he said that he had information that Airhiavbere left the Army under questionable circumstances.

But Airhiavbere said he would not join issues with Oshiomhole on his retirement from the military.

On two occasions during the debate, Airhiavbere had answered questions on his background that was capable of building trust and the length of his military career, explaining how he spentforty-two and a half years in army uniform, winning all the honours that were there to win.

It was on the second occasion

when Airhiavbere was clarifying the issue of length of service raised by Ide Eguabor, one of the panelists, that Oshiomhole went for the person of Airhiavbere who must have shocked him by resisting his strategy to drag him into making a public show of the structured and disciplined system in the military in public because Oshiomhole had made a spurious allegation which was a counterpoise to the proposition

by Airhiavbere that it was immoral for the governor to award contracts without due process and divert public funds to build a mansion and other structures in his Iyamho village.

Responding,Oshiomhole spoke on his capacity for propriety right from his years as a labour activist, and said he was not a saint but a decent human being.

The PDP candidate faulted the process of awarding contracts without following due process as well as wasting billions of naira on some road infrastructure such as the 6.82 kilometer stretch Airport Road which, according to him had gulped over N11 billion.

Said Oshiomhole: "He (Airhi-

avbere) keeps on talking about advertising contracts but he was in the Army at that time (and) I don't know what time he had to look out for tenders."

When Airhiavbere challenged Oshiomhole on his failure to conduct local government election but rather keeping in office appointed Transition Committee Chairmen for Local Government Areas in the state, Oshiomhole responded that it was a general problem that was not peculiar to Edo State.

I must admit that Oshiomhole is good at talking and also very clever in all ramifications. That was why he was able to circumvent the real issues and played up inanities around Airhiavbere and other leaders of the PDP; that was why he was able to run the NLC as president from 1999 to 2007.

When he was asked to talk about his background in his opening gambit at the debate, he dwelled on his activities in the labour union thereby denying the Nigerian people of hearing from the horse's mouth whether or not he only attended a modern school as claimed in some circles.

It would not have taken Oshiomhole more words to capture his education career than he used for his self-adulation as a global phenomenon. Read him: "I served as the NLC president for eight years; I was the longest serving NLC president... Some of us denied ourselves of comfort, we lived on our pedigree. I have made my name around the world. I am not a saint, but a decent human being."

Momodu sent this piece from Benin City.

Oshiomhole’s diversionary tactics

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HAT the July 14, 2012 governorship election in Edo State will be the watershed of all electoral contests since the state was created on August 27, 1991 will be stating the obvious. All indices point to that billing coming to fruition.

That the initial headstart and the reliance on superficial development strides by the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) candidate has been considerably whittled down by the re-branded Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) cannot be overemphasised.

Many Edolites have embarked on voyages of discovery outside the realm of propaganda and mass hysteria to properly assess the misplaced and overpriced “development” projects of Comrade Adams Aliyu Oshiomhole. They have been able to appraise the overwhelming “dictatorship of the proletariat” these past 36 months of an Oshiomhole governorship.

It is common knowledge in the state that less than 40km of road (inter and intra-city arteries) have been REHABILITATED not RECONSTRUCTED out of over 20,000km of both urban and rural roads. For example, in Edo South Senatorial District, only a cumulative total of about 10km of rehabilitated roads has been done without any being commis-

sioned for use.

A startling revelation is the fact that the initial N4.4bn Airport Road, Benin City rehabilitation contract awarded in 2009 was enough to have re-built all the over 132 roads, streets, avenues and lanes that constitute the sprawling ghetto called the Government Reserved Area (GRA), Benin City! It is even more reprehensible that rehabilitationwork got nowhere after two upward reviews to the tune of over N3bn!

As I write this, the contract has been re-awarded for a fresh fee of N6bn of Edo taxpayers’ money.

In the midst of this and other misplaced and over-bloated projects, one would have expected the Comrade Governor and his associates to concentrate on telling the people how those “infrastructure development” projects have affected their dayto-day-living and at what costs, and what their future plans are.

The reverse has been the case.

Oshiomhole and his ACN have taken bare-faced insults, disrespect and mind-bending to high-art of deception and accusations. It is not surprising that the ACN and its desperate candidate woke up from their slumber of complacence when they discovered that their constant refrain and mantra of “godfathers” and “eight wasted years of PDP” was now sounding like a broken gramophone record in the ears

of well-meaning and discerning Edolites. To make matters worse, the revelation by the PDP that the Comrade Governor was constructing a palatial mansion, tentatively valued at N10bn, in his Iyamho homestead in Etsako West Local Government Area of Edo State, rattled Nigerians.

The misguided and misplaced accusations against Edo PDP of complicity in the self-inflicted convoy accident on WarrakeAuchi road and the unfortunate death of Oshiomhole’s private secretary have cast a slur on the

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BY IFUEKO OSAMUDIAMWEN

was busy re-strategising, re-inventing and re-branding itself in its avowed bid to regain the tenancy of Government House, Benin City that it lost through judicial fiat in 2008.

As soon as it was becoming apparent that their self-delusion of taking Edo people’s votes for granted will backfire on July 14, 2012, Oshiomhole and his garrulous partymen and women took panic meansures.

They hit the campaign trail with three self-serving mindsets.

The first is to prosecute a

The main aim of this diversionary ploy and brain-wash is to prepare the people’s minds, albeit surreptitiously, for the rejection of the inevitable PDP win

reasonableness of the comrade who later offered a reward of N10m for useful information to the police of the killers of Olaitan Oyerinde – a crime he accused the PDP of.

In the last quarter of 2011, the prevailing catch-phrase and sing-song of the Edo ACN supporters and Oshiomhole had been, “We will not campaign.

Our good works will speak for us”. At this period, the Edo PDP

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sustained programme of denigrating and rubbishing the persons, and pedigrees of Chief Anthony Anenih and the PDP governorship ensign-bearer, General Charles Ehigie Airhiavbere (retd), while leaving the real issues at stake at the background.

Secondly, a new system of “almagamating” ACN supporters from adjoining local government areas to a chosen

campaign ground was concocted to create a mirage of a “mammoth crowd”, hoodwink onlookers and convey a panorama of “general acceptance and grassroots appeal”. In the depth of their minds, they know that this will not translate into votes on election day.

Thirdly, they are presently conducting a Freudian-based mass hypnosis of Edo people along selfish lines designed to create a false impression that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has a grand “do or die” plot to rig the July 14, 2012 governorship election.

The main aim of this diversionary ploy and brain-wash is to prepare the people’s minds, albeit surreptitiously, for the rejection of the inevitable PDP win and the insistence that only an Oshiomhole /ACN victory at the said polls will signify a FREE AND FAIR ELECTION! It will interest all watchers of Edo politics that, below the table, the ACN and its loquacious governorship candidate have cleverly fashioned out an ingenious programme to rig the same election using the platform, personnel, organs and utilities of state.

Inevitably, July 14, 2012 signposts the terminal date of Oshiomhole’s rule in Edo State. * Osamudiamwen, a political analyst is based in Benin-City, Edo State.

SUNDAY VANGUARD, JULY 8, 2011, PAGE 17

Tribute to my dad DENRELE ANIMASAUN FROM LONDON

“No man will be a sailor who has contrivance enough to get himself into a jail; for being in a ship is being in jail, with the chance of being drowned”. Dr Samuel Johnson, 1709-1784.

EING on a speed boat is worse; you get drowned before any res cue effort can succeed. I was forewarned of the danger involved in this trip to Abigborodo. However, there was an incredible claim to be verified; and I have developed a mania for testing claims made by government officials; out of an abiding belief that “every government is run by liars”. Skepticism has been my armour against being fooled by official pronouncements – until proved to be true.

So, on Wednesday, June 27, 2012, I first of all jumped on a plane. In Nigeria, being on any of the flying coffins, called

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When minorities eventually reach the top, they are often afraid to favour their own people, who invariably have been marginalized, for fear of annoying the majority who might gang up on them

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planes, is also being in jail with a chance of getting blown to bits. But, road travel offers no totally acceptable alternative – especially the Sagamu-Benin Road – you could be permanently disabled. The flight was Arik Air scheduled for 1.20 pm to Benin, in Edo State; but my destination was Abigborodo, in Delta State. For all I knew, it might turn out to be a one-way trip…

Don’t blame yourself if you have never heard of Abigborodo. Unlike the fellow who walked shoeless out of Otuoke, this town’s most famous son is so self-effacing, he had forgotten to place the town on the international map. And, that was what fascinated me about the place. It is the sort of place which leaves you wondering, if you get there alive, that is, how anyone can crawl out of that remote area of Nigeria to become, first, a medical doctor; then a governor of the state. By now, you probably can guess that Abigborodo is the home town of Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan—the only home town of a governor in Nigeria which today cannot be reached by road. The point had been raised by one of the Commissioners during the retreat in Warri – which I gatecrashed with the help of Uncle Sam – that the governor cannot drive to his home town. To me that was carrying sycophancy too far. It was too good to be true. So, I was determined to verify it. Hence the trip by air, road and water – three terrible risks to take in Nigeria of today.

Lest anyone thinks this is another case of Lawan running a solo show, I went to the Publisher of Vanguard, Uncle Sam and told him why the trip was being made. If the claim made about Uduaghan’s place is true, it would have confirmed a point made by a former Governor of the South south, during one of our conversations. The former governor had lamented the “double tragedy of minorities in top positions, both in public and private sectors – President, Governors, Ministers, Chairmen and Managing Directors etc”. According to him, when minorities eventually reach the top, they are often afraid to favour their own people, who invariably have been marginalized, for fear of annoying the majority who might gang up on them. To some extent, President Jonathan, Governors Yakova of Kaduna State, Jang of Plateau State, Suswan of Benue State and Uduaghan are victims of the tyranny of ma-

jorities – defined as Hausa/Fulani, Yoruba and Ibo at the national level as well as the majority tribes in some states. So, it was a trip meant to verify how far a Chief Executive from a minority tribe can be forced to neglect his own peoples’ self-interests and still be the subject of hostile attacks. They simply cannot win; irrespective of what they do. I once drove with Suswan when he inaugurated an Annual Fishing Festival, near Katsina-Ala, meant to become a tourist attraction. Some of what he told me would melt a stony heart. He is still being hounded till today. David Mark, an Idoma, became Senate President in spite of stiff opposition from Benue State. And the list is endless…

Abigborodo can only be reached by motor boat, today. But, that will soon change. The reason for the change will be addressed shortly. Abigborodo, like most island communities, in the Niger Delta, is a rebuke to our collective sense of equity and justice. It is a community with one foot planted in the modern “Age of oil” as David Halberstam had called out era in his epic THE RECKONING; because the extensive island on which it is perched is an oil and gas producing area – contributing immensely to making all those modern buildings in Abuja, Asaba, Warri, Lagos, Kaduna, Kano, Enugu, Jos, etc, possible. eanwhile, the other foot of Abig M borodo, like other communities, is firmly rooted in the Stone Age. There is no water, no power supply from PHCN, no road, no filling station, nobody owns a car, no motor park, not even okada. Until recently, the only school had few teachers. The few solid brick buildings now in the place must have sprung up about thirteen years ago – when Uduaghan first became Commissioner, then Secretary to State Government, under Ibori, yet, a flow station, sucking oil and flaring gas, with all the creature comforts provided to the “suckers”, was established in Sapele more than thirty years ago – a mere twenty five minutes boat ride from Abigborodo; which like many other oil producing communities was deliberately kept in the Stone Age by the combined conspiracy of the majority tribes – Hausa/Fulani, Yoruba, Ibo (at Federal level) and by the fact that Abigborodo is situated in minority territory in Delta State. The scene was enough to bring tears to the eyes of any objective observer. More on that later.

Uduaghan had suffered a great deal on account of guilt by association; he was Ibori’s cousin and served in the former governor’s cabinet before becoming governor. Conventional wisdom has it that he was imposed on Delta state to cover up for Ibori. So on the way to Abigborodo, I also stopped at Ibori’s home town —Oghara. From what I saw in the two places, the two cousins could not be further apart in attitude and orientation. It was like Cain and his brother Abel. Ibori, being Urhobo, the majority ethnic group in Delta, could do with impunity what any other governor from other ethnic groups ( Ijaw, Itsekiri, Ika, Anioma, Isoko etc) in the state would not dare; or would only attempt after months of sleepless nights pondering the consequences.

At Oghara, one did not have to be told which building is the former governor’s mansion. At Abigborodo, I stood in front of a modest yellow bungalow, one of the few constructed with cement blocks, and asked to be shown the governor’s house. “You are standing in front of it”; was the reply. Cain and Abel….

NIGERIANS DESERVE THE IN

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Fact finding in Abigborodo, Delta State — 1

A truly rich man is one whose children run into his arms when his hands are empty.-Anonymous cannot tell you when I first had my first proper conversations with my dad, but I know he has always been present and handing out those pearls of wisdom of his for as long as I can remember. I know for sure , that I am a daddy’s girl and when I was younger . I remember going to my father to report my mother!

Of course, they both saw the funny side of it. My father does not chastise us much but I dreaded displeasing my dad . Not because he was explosive, he wasn’t . He was always very calm and it takes a lot to anger him. He would tell you off by asking what was the rationale behind your action. That hurts more, much more.

My father reminded us earlier on that it is best to help others and to be helpful to others. He often reminds us the futilities of human lives and although I did not want to hear but he lets us know, that he too, will die sometime. I love my dad because I can always talk to him.

He has a way of making things look simpler and always makes solutions accessible. I have tried my dad’s patience; many a time if he was disappointed, he never let on. He was happy for me to follow my dreams as long as I am being productive.

In terms of my relationships with men. He warns me that if a man should

My dad said make friends who will add to your life and not subtract from it. This has always served me well when I choose friends and my friends have always been like family to me

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lift his hand in anger, I should leave the man. My father also shared this: if he had a choice to choose who to save between his wife or his children.

He will save my mum because he had known my mum much longer than any of us! My dad taught me how to live in the moment and to celebrate life. I was told by my dad that education is an inheritance that once you have it , no one can take it away from you. I like the fact my dad drops nuggets of quotations. These are life lessons for as long as I can remember . So here are some that I got from him and that I live by and that serves me well.

On one of his many visits to London, dad and I went to Dalston market to get things for the folks back home in Nigeria. He went for some trousers for my brothers and the other young males living in our home(it is very common for relatives or my brother’s friendsto come and stay and never leave!).

He picked the trousers all the same colour, cut and sizes. But there was not enough to go round so I told him to just get for my brothers.

Why do you have to get for the others when they go to their folks who will buy them clothes and not my brothers!

My father smiled and said: “it is not what others do for you that what matters, it is what you do for others” Dad said always ensure you treat people equally. I have always had the im-

pression that dad prefer to have had sons but he told me that he was always excited when mum had daughters. Because sons grow up, leave home and have their own families. Daughters, he said, would always take care of their parents in spite of having a family of their own.

We travelled abroad as a diplomat family; we experienced different countries, cultures and privileges.

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ad was always there even af ter a busy day. He always had time to talk. On return to Nigeria we weathered the changes and through it all, dad has always remained positive and with an unshakeable faith in God.My dad said make friends who will add to your life and not subtract from it. This has always served me well when I choose friends and my friends have always been like family to me. I have always known my parents to be loving and accommodating towards one another and to others people. My mum and dad are complimentary. My father says my mother completes him, I beg to differ: they complete each other. In my years of living at home during which they have had their good and bad times , I have never witnessed or heard heated arguments.

There are traditions that remain till today: our yearly call from mum and dad on our respective birthdays , Eid celebrations and Ramadan .Music has always featured in the background of my childhood and I attributed my love of different genre of music from funk, soul to Apala music to my dad.

My dad has always come up with some innovative ideas. Dad started rabbit breeding because he learnt that they had lean meat and that they were very nutritious. Well, there was no way I was going to eat fluffy bunny rabbits so I became a vegetarian and my dad took delight in telling me how tasty they were!

My father was patient and generous with me, in particular, when I raided his bespoke shirts and suits and fashioned it to my taste. My father has fine taste in clothes, very dapper and loves good quality shoes and he had a walk that shows he was one of the boys in his time.He is a man of integrity, very content with his lot, a loyal friend, dutiful husband, a family man and one who believesdeeply in God. He insists that we are devotional with our prayers and zakat. Always ensuring that I honour my obligations to Allah .

My dad is my biggest cheer leader who seems to know that I am much more than I think I am! He also believes that I have at least a book in me and I might surprise him. As my dad gets older, I have learned to take on all the advice he freely gave us through the years and use it wisely to guide myself through life and pass them down to my own children.

It has not always been smooth sailing but my dad has always said to us that Allah is in control.

When my dad became unwell, it was the faith that my dad instill in all of us that saw the family through and, Insha Allah, he recovered and I look at him as I always have ... he remains my hero . I pray to God that he remains well and stick around for a while longer. *Kola Animasaun turned 73 last Thursday.

PAGE 18—SUNDAY VANGUARD, JULY 8, 2012 man one vote of the two combatants?

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One man one vote: Impossible in Edo gest that ‘Edo 2012’ as the coming Governorship election in the State is now tagged would be the freest in Nigerian history.

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ut then, a visit to Ben in City will show to any observer that the prospects of a hitch-free and fair exercise are exceedingly slim. To start with, the posture of the average politician in the State is not in any way conducive for the attainment of one man one vote. Some influential people in the State are already

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N Saturday, June 25, 2012, Presi dent Goodluck Jonathan gave a solemn assurance at a political rally in Benin City that the Edo State Governorship election of July 14, 2012 will be a ‘one man one vote’ affair and that it would be free and fair. Some two weeks earlier, Vice President Namadi Sambo in a similar rally at the same venue had made the same pledge. The National Chairman of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) Alhaji Bamanga Tukur had urged his party’s campaign committee for the same election to work towards victory on the same basis of one person per vote. Interestingly, many people in Edo State see their current Governor, Adams Oshiomhole as the architect of the over popularized one man one vote. At the same time, his biggest rival, General Charles Airhavbere has since his emergence as the PDP candidate made the same point that the determination of his party to ensure that the one man one vote philosophy prevails is the main reason why he is so confident that he would win the election.

It would therefore look like an understatement to sug-

dent Jonathan that his party members in the state are mountain movers. In the circumstance, one man one vote may be a casualty more so as the allegation that the PDP is made up of riggers is yet to disappear from the sub consciousness of the citizens of the state.

Incidentally, more than half of the members of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) moved there from the PDP. Indeed, some are members of one party in the day time while they belong to the other party at night.

It is only in the rigging strong holds of the ACN that the PDP would have difficulty in rigging and vice versa

unduly influencing the vote of the ordinary people. For instance, members of the PDP appear provoked by two factors to do whatever to win the election because they believe that they won the last which the current State Government snatched through judicial victory. They also seem anxious to prove to Presi-

,

Consequently, both parties now have their fair share of riggers who may also be experts in similar tactics. It also means that it is only in the rigging strong holds of the ACN that the PDP would have difficulty in rigging and vice versa. Why then would those of us outside the state believe in the common slogan of one

Governors and the law On assuming office, one of the very early actions which Rochas Okorocha took was to ‘sack’ the elected Chairmen and councilors of the 27 local government areas of Imo state, and to replace them with what he called “transitional committees” of his cronies. It was an egregious action to put it mildly, and in my view amounts to an executive coup.

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ritics of Okorocha’s action were consistent in pointing out to the governor that he lacked the constitutional power to sack an elected and equally constituted government. More so, that under the federal constitution of Nigeria, the local government is a third tier of government, not a mere appendage of the state government and its administration. In other words, the constitution makes the various local government authorities equal authorities within their specific jurisdictions with the governor of the state who is simply primus inter pares – that is first among equals.

Not even the president

of the federation is invested with the authority to remove or countermand the authority of an elected head of the local government. I think this is a lesson Okorocha ought to have learned had he taken even elementary civics or basic high school government

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T

HIS week the Fed eral Court of Ap peal handed down a long-expected judgment in a suit instituted by the elected Chairmen of local governments in Imo state against the governor of the state, Mr. Rochas Anayo Okorocha. In their suit, the chairmen prayed the court to declare ultra vires the decision by Mr. Okorocha acting in his power as the governor of the state, to depose them, and in so doing to recognize their stature as an independent tier of government.

The court in its deliberation and decision apparently agreed with the chairmen by declaring the Imo state governor ’s action as unconstitutional, and an overreach of his executive powers. I would say no surprises there. The court of appeal is right in coming to this conclusion, and thus hopefully brings to some resolution the specific question raised by Rochas Okorocha’s action about the validity and independence of the local government as its own epicenter of civil authority.

f the PDP has shown signs of determination to take back power, what the ACN portrays is desperation to hold on to power.

Some analysts may have imagined that the Comrade Governor would not seek a second term because when he was new in office, he reportedly said that it is only those who fail that seek to repeat. In his 4th year in office, the Governor is now seeking to repeat notwithstanding his daily propagation of an excellent performance. He has undertaken perhaps more campaigns than most of his challengers although he earlier said that it is his projects and caterpillars that would campaign for him. Everything has been thrown into the businesspublic institutions and structures, vehicles and personnel thereby stretching the advantage of incumbency beyond rationality.

Overwhelming taxes which hitherto pitched several professional groupslawyers, doctors, teachers etc against the Governor are being relaxed in this electioneering period. So has it been with the demolition of houses that were ‘courageously’ done earlier to beautify the State Capital; thus making the one man one vote slogan a victim of perverse desperation. While there is nothing wrong in educating their members to appreciate the essence of elections, the Nigerian Labour Congress- the Governor ’s former constituency is exercising a militant peer pressure on workers that

which left the state government controlling the financial resources and independence of the local government administrations. Successive administrations have operated on the premise that the local government authorities are under them.

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his is not so. I think the Federal Court of Appeal’s decision ought to make this very clear.

Just on Wednesday, the Ekiti State governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, in a statement released by his Chief spokesman basically issued an executive order to the Ekiti state Local Government Service Commission to query work-

Under the federal constitution of Nigeria, the local government is a third tier of government, not a mere appendage of the state government and its administration

on the meaning and structure of federalism.

But it does seem that there is too much military-style mentality still at play in the understanding of the relationship between those levels of government.

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his problem in Imo state apparently did not start with Rochas Okorocha. In the Ohakim administration before it, there was an inexplicable forced appropriation and pooling of local government grants from the federation account,

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ers in the Ilejemeje local council to explain their absence during his unscheduled visit to the local government Council secretariat. The query apparently may be issued to both the Chairmen and the Director of Administration, and Council Treasurer, as well as elected Councilors who were not there to receive the governor. First, I’m afraid that the governor has no grounds on which to issue such a query. Secondly, the elected Local government chairman of Ilejemeje is neither obliged to receive the governor of

would no doubt adversely derogate from the beauty of one man one vote. We can only hope that PDP’s General Charles will not also resort to his former constituency

P

erhaps the most harm ful of the undue influences that would characterize the coming election is the open partisanship of traditional rulers. Apart from his Royal Majesty, Omo N’Oba N’Edo, the revered Oba of Benin who issued a public statement to clarify his position and maintain his neutrality as the father of all, most other so-called royal fathers have in this electioneering period been made to publicly proclaim support for each of the candidates who comes calling with exorbitant gifts. It is instructive that the candidates of the financially poor parties are not similarly patronized.

Meanwhile the uneducated, the poor and the unexposed rural dwellers who are supposedly part of our so-called one man one vote scheme are virtually hypnotized by the awe of the ‘companions of the gods’ Our people are so exploited because pervasive poverty is still the lot of many of them.

With poor public enlightenment, many rural dwellers donot register to vote. For such citizens, it is one man, zero vote.

The few who vote, wrongly thumb-print and invalidate their ballots. To this group, it is one man with a cancelled vote. Others are either too poor to find any means of livelihood or are so greedily in search of immediate cash flow that they sell their voters’ card for

the state paying an unscheduled visit, nor even to respond to a query issued by the Local government service Commission.

The chairman is not answerable to the governor.

He is answerable only to the people of Ilejemeje who elected him. Who says that at the time ofthe governor ’s visit without a prior notification to his office, the LG chair was not having a committee meeting, or a constituency meeting, or visiting a road project in some outlying district, or carrying out any one of the numerous functions for which he was elected? He was certainly not elected to anticipate the governor’s unscheduled visit.

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t is also a terrible throw-back to military-era mindset to spring surprises on public servants and disrupt their schedules by such rude and unplanned visits by state governors calculated at proving what? Public servants are not employed simply to sit in their offices. They conduct meetings outside of their offices. They meet other officials for lunch or coffee; they have inter-departmental meetings; they conduct community outreach functions. The unscheduled visit of governors are far more disruptive to the function of administration than the absence of an official from their offices. It is left for the Chairman of Ilejemeje Local Government Council to determine whether his Director of Administra-

whatever fee which are then used to vote by other persons in our one man one vote elections.

Only last week, the State Government had to issue a statement to condemn those who claimed to be buying voters’ cards on behalf of the Governor. May be our our friendly Police Force is already on top of the matter and therefore set to ensure one man one vote because last week it was reported that they arrested six members of one of the parties for allegedly ‘buying’ voters’ cards but no one was arrested for selling to them! Sadly, such electoral malpractices occur because the new gadgets of our electoral body like the magical DDC Machines which should have created a framework for nullifying such acts are only as efficient as the ill-fated Dana aircraft. That is why INEC cancelled the update of the voters register for Edo 2012 before it found that the allegation which influenced its decision was false.

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he week before, I al most believed that nothing would hinder our one man one vote arrangement following the ease with which the NYSC Director General persuaded INEC that his corpers were incapable of doing any evil.

A few days later, the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in charge of Edo State, Kassim Gaidam, behaved as if he doubted the NYSC as he was reported to have warned the angelcorps members in the state not to derail the electoral process during the July 14, governorship election.

Now, I know better.

tion or Chief Financial officer or Treasurer have been derelict by their absences. It is not up to the governor of Ekiti State.

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t is the job of the elected councilors of Ilejemeje to carry out the oversight duties, and query the elected chairman of the local government, not the governor.

Indeed, the Local Government Service Commission is an antiquated and unnecessary carryover of the military government under a unified a dministrative structure that placed oversight of local administration in the hands of a military governor. Under a civil democratic government, such a power does not exist. The local governments, deriving their power from the constitution, and their grants straight out of the federation account, are endowed with both financial and political independence to function as legitimate third-tier governments. It is enough time already for these authorities to assume full governance of their jurisdictions. And this brings me to the question of municipal services: given their autonomy, local government officials must be held fully accountable for the expenditures or lack thereof they make of allocations to basic municipal services – roads, street lights, garbage collection, schools, county hospitals, sports, libraries, art galleries, local security, etc.

It is the function of the local authorities to provide these basic services.

SUNDAY VANGUARD, JULY 8, 2012, PAGE 19

Threats from all sides!

Dear Rebecca

I

AM a nineteen year old boy. My girlfriend is seventeen but big for her age and bigger than me. Our relationship started July last year.

A year after, my brother no longer wants to see her in our compound, and her brothers too do not want me to come to their place. We have both suffered on their account, and my girlfriend is now hard on me, although we are still fond of each other.

How do I bring her to visit at my place when my brother does not want to see her? How do I conduct myself before her brothers in order to make them accept me? She is so good to me. What am I going to do? I have suffered so much because of her, and at a time, I was sent away from home by my people.

Unhappy boy.

REPLY

S

INCE both of you are still living at home and being cared for by members of your family, I would advise that in the interest of peace, you should cool the relationship. Your families must have good reasons for not supporting your friendship any more, after allowing it for one year. Was there a quarrel between the two families?

You did not say what you both do, but could it be that you are both still studying, and your constant visits to each other prevented you from doing well at your studies? Or were you both caught in a compromising situation, trying to have sex?

It is unusual for two families to institute a ban of visit at the same time like they have done in your case. However, you both have to thread carefully and be sensible, so as not to incur the anger of your families. Explain this to your girlfriend.

There should be no secret meeting anywhere.

Greet each other when you meet and then move on. I know this is not easy when you are young and are fond of each other, but it can be done. Have other girls as friends too and carry on with what-

her that you should both revert to just ordinary friendship with no romance attached, and be just friends.

This said, take care so that you don’t get landed with unwanted pregnancy, and be forced to marry her, or, have a child with her. Make sure you use the condom always, and she should use a contraceptive which a doctor has recommended for her. Also tell her that you don’t want children before marriage, and that you should both stop having sex with each other. After this, start winding up the relationship, and finally bring it to a stop.

ever you are doing about your future. Until a girl is married, her family constantly has to fret over her, so that she does not move with wayward and irresponsible people, which may lead to unwanted pregnancy and interrupted/abandoned studies. Understand this and conduct yourself properly. I am sure your people will not object to your relationship later when you have both got jobs, or are firmly established in a business, and you can stand on your own feet financially.

She only calls when she wants intimacy!

Dear Rebecca I am a business man and a part time student as well. I still live in the family house though with much family responsibilities. I have been with my girlfriend for two years, even though, in those two years, we see once in a blue moon - She only calls me when she need sex, but whenever I express my desire to be with her, she talks about work - how demanding it is...

She had repeatedly asked me about the plans I have towards her - and sincerely speaking, my late lovely Mother always advised me against making marriage promises to just any woman and with that in mind, I have suggested to her that we need humility in order to forge ahead. Kindly help my emotions.

Owino, Lagos.

REPLY

Y

OU didn’t state in your mail how old both of you are, but I assume you must both be in your twenties, since you’re workers. I don’t see any display of deep affection or commitment in this relationship, and despite the two years you’ve been dating, I doubt if you both have studied each other enough to take the relationship to a higher level. Although you said your girl contacts you only when she wants sex, she hasn’t shown in her actions that she considers you her ideal man to marry. This may be

part of the reason she doesn’t want you claiming her attention when she doesn’t want you to. She prefers calling the shots in the relationship, and keeping you aside to fall back on if she doesn’t get a marriage proposal from her ideal man. She does like you, of course, and she considers you safe for sex. That’s why she uses you as her sex object, to satisfy that need.

She will end the relation-

ship when she gets who she considers right for her. This attitude is not a crime at all. You are not ready yet for marriage, but she obviously is, and that’s why she asks you what plans you have towards her.

You’ve been stalling on this, because at the back of your mind, you’re not convinced that she’s the lady you should marry when you’re ready. It would be foolish of her not to want to know how

she stands with you.

Much as you must be enjoying the sex she readily supplies, I think it’s time to put your cards on the table and have a sincere discussion with her. Let her know that you won’t be ready for marriage for quite some time, as you have your studies to complete, and also, you need to have your own place. This takes time and you don’t want her to keep waiting for you indefinitely. Tell

Don’t be tempted to resume again because of the free sex.

Actually, your business and studies are more important to you now than girls. Start dating seriously when you’ve completed your studies and have accommodation of your own. Meanwhile, have several girls as mere friends, so that you can have the opportunity to study and understand members of the opposite sex more.

She dumped me without any reason!

Dear Rebecca

I

AM a graduate awaiting youth service. There is this girl I have been dating for four years. I love her even though I have seen imperfections in her.

Recently, she came to east from Lagos where she is doing her industrial training to collect some documents from our former school.

She told me she was now born again and so we should stop doing some of the things we used to do. I agreed.

After she went back to Lagos, she stopped all communications with me. From her friends, I got to know that she levied certain accusations against me that I had been gossiping about her and her people. This is not true. I have never made our relationship a topic of public discussion. I phoned her to deny the charges but she would not listen to anything I

had to say. All she wanted was that I return her pictures.

But a month ago, one of her friends hinted that my girl had begun going out with another man before her talk of being born again. For me, I now see girls as more dangerous that live snakes, and I am beginning to dread them.

Should I return her pictures or burn them?

Should I consider any type of revenge or do I leave it to God? What should I do to forget her?

Donald, Abakaliki.

REPLY

N

o relationship is ever plains a i l i n g , particularly a romantic one. Along the way, one party gets hurt. There is nothing in your mail that should generate hatred, revenge or even illfeelings. I know rejection is painful, but for any sensible person, it is part of living, and life must

go on. Maybe your pride is hurt because she has found someone else and people might be pitying you for being cast aside!

Well, they are entitled to feel anyway they like.

Concentrate on your life and show yourself a disciplined and cultured man. That a girl left you doesn’t mean that you’re a failure in life.

Rearrange your life and make casual friends with other girls so that you can have the opportunity to continue studying girls so that you can understand them more.

Don’t rush around with a girl in order to show that girl that another girl fancies you. That would be childish.

Return all her photographs by courier, and in a polite accompanying note, thank her for the friendship you once

enjoyed and say that you wish her well in life.

When next you meet, greet her politely, ask her after her studies and move on.

Don’t mention her relationship with another man, or the born again business, or the supposed gossip about her and her people.

Show her that you are mature and civilized.

You can’t be the love of every girl’s life and you too may have cause to leave a girl sometimes.

There should be no bitterness even when a marriage ends.

So, leave this girl alone, and don’t encourage gossips about her from her friends. Face your future. You will meet another girl who will appreciate you..

Wishing you a meaningful and safe youth service.

•All letters for publication on this page should be sent to: Dear Rebecca, Vanguard Media Ltd, Kirikiri Canal, P.M.B 1007, Apapa, Lagos, Nigeria. E-mail: dearrebecca2@yahoo.com

PAGE 20 —

SUNDAY Vanguard , JULY 8, 2012

0808 066 0660 (Texts only!)

When your sister is the other woman!

M

ARIA and Faith were very close sisters with only fifteen months between them.

Always in and out of each other ’s pockets, Maria was on a visit to Faith this fateful day her lfie turned upside down. Faith was in the bathroom and Maria needed to get a message to Alex, her boyfriend of three years.

“My mobile was out of credit,” said Maria, “So I grabbed Faith’s phone.

‘I’m just going to use your mobile to text Alex,’ I called out. But she was in the shower so didn’t hear me. Thinking she wouldn’t mind, I went ahead anyway. But as I scrolled through the menu, I was surprised to see the first message in her box was from Alex.

“Thinking he might have been trying to get hold of me, I opened the message. It read: ‘Can you get away? I want to see you asap (as soon as possible)? My mind swirled. Was this my Alex? There must be an innocent explanation. But I told myself to get real and stop making excuses for them. They must be having an affair. Lately, they’d been very friendly towards each other and Alex never complained if we had to go out with Faith. In fact he seemed to look forward to seeing

her!

“Trying to control my anger and tears, I wasn’t sure what I should do.

Should I confront them?

Then suddenly, Faith came out of her room and grabbed her phone, heading for the door.

‘See you later,’ she called - and with that she was gone. So I decided to turn detective and follow her. Outside, I watched as she strutted down the street and turned off to the next street where Alex lived.

Burning with furry, I followed her into his ground floor flat. ‘So you two are having an affair!’

I spat. Alex looked bemused. ‘What?’ he said.

‘Don’t be ridiculous. Of course we’re not having an affair ’. ‘Don’t lie to me,’ I fumed, trembling.

‘I just read the text you sent to her. I’ve just caught her red-handed’.

‘It’s not what you think,’ Faith said. ‘We just arranged to meet so we could check out the new shopping mall. That’s all.’

“I desperately wanted to give her the benefit of the doubt. Our relationship would never be the same again if I was right about them having an affair. Faith gently put her hand on my arm.

‘You’re still depressed from losing your job,’ she soothed. ‘I’d never

try to steal your boyfriend.’ There was an awkward silence and I began to doubt myself.

Afterall, the text message I’d found hadn’t actually said anything incriminating. ‘Sorry’ I said, suddenly embarrassed. ‘I jumped to the wrong conclusion.’ Yet deep down, I still couldn’t shake the awful feeling there was something going on.

Not long after this incident, Alex and 1 had one of our blazing rows and he sneered: ‘You think you’re clever. You think you know everything ,don’t you? Well, I’ve got news for you. 1 am sleeping with your sister!’ Seeing the shock in my eyes, he quickly

Excess body fat: A solution quickly in the body’s attempt to maintain the correct body heat.

The action of the lungs is tied to that of the heart. When you have to breathe faster, the heart naturally beats faster.

Too fast a heart rate, and the heart itself is denied of enough oxygenated blood for its own upkeep.

The picture is clearer now as to why the fatter the person, the worse a state his heart will be in.

Now, you think you need to cut down on the amount of fat you’re carrying around. Good.

But the problem must be approached with caution.

You must have a weight loss programme that your body can tolerate. Too great a pace and the attendant exhaustion might discourage you from trying anymore.

The sensible thing to do is to modify the diet and introduce the kind of regimen that the body can take and not leave you feeling totally wiped out, as it

were.

As far as diet goes, I favour a breakfast of fruit and a lunch and dinner that has a lot of vegetables.

Fruit being predigested,

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F

AT is a necessary component of the human organism.

It serves as a source of energy; you need it to maintain proper body heat when the surrounding atmosphere takes a dip in temperature; it serves as a carrier of Vitamin A, D, E and K and it is also a source of energy.

It is the excess of fat that is dangerous. With too much of fat there obtains the situation where there is not enough skin area for the body to regain its optimum temperature when there has been some vigorous activity.

The fatter the person the quicker it takes for the body ’s temperature to rise and the longer it takes it to cool off.

While the lean individual can race up a flight of stairs with very little effort, the same activity at the same pace will almost kill a fat person.

A fat person pants too

The fatter the person the quicker it takes for the body’s temperature to rise and the longer it takes it to cool off

,

leaves very little residue in the system. When you eat fruit, you save enough energy, that way your body has enough power of its own to start dealing with all the toxins that have

grabbed my arm. ‘I didn’t mean that,’ he said, looking panicked: ‘I just said it in the heat of the moment.’ He continued to deny what he said but I knew it would gnaw away at me until 1 had proof one way or the other. So, later, when he was in the bathroom, I reached for his mobile and sent my sister a text: ‘Fancy coming round?’

Her reply flashed up moments later - and destroyed my world. ‘I don’t want one-night stands any more,’ it said.

‘I want a serious relationship and you can’t give me that because you’re still with Maria.’

“It was proof of the ultimate betrayal - my lit-

tle sister was sleeping with the love of my life!

When Alex came out of the bathroom, I showed him the text . ‘It was just a one- off ’ he babbled.

‘Stop lying to me! I shrieked. ‘Stop treating me like an idiot.’ 1 was fuming. Yet my anger at him was nothing compared to what I felt for Faith. My own flesh and blood! Usually, she was the one who helped me through heartbreak. Now she was the cause of it.

“The next day, I went to see her. I ranted and raved until I managed to calm down.

“How could you?’ I said quietly. By now she was crying, finally realising the damage she’d

wreaked on our relationship. The love between us had diminished. All the trust we’d had was gone. ‘I’m sorry’ was all she could say. Then, as if I hadn’t suffered enough, 1 started bleeding a few days later. I’d suspected I might be pregnant, but the stress of their betrayal took my mind off it . Now I’d had a miscarriage.

“Alex begged constantly to be given a second chance vowing he’d never cheat again.

Through my loss, people gathered to comfort me my mum, my friends.

And then came the one person I’d thought I’d never want to see again: my sister. She didn’t say anything. She just held me tight. And in that moment, I vowed to do my best to forgive. She was only 18. Who doesn’t make mistakes at that age? But it was hard.

“Alex and I tried to make a go of the relationship. We even had a son together. Yet, despite our best efforts, things were never the same and we broke up. Happily, I now have a new man I’m engaged to and I’ll make sure Faith’s kept at arm’s length from my fiance. Even now she and I are no way near as close as we were. I might have forgiven her ? but I’ll never forget.”

come about on account of an improper eating pattern.

The practice of deep breathing will enable you cut down on a runaway appetite.

When the appetite is unbridled, you can almost eat or feast to death. Come to think of it the human being is about the only animal on earth that does not wait to be hungry before eating. Little wonder, we seem to be the only creatures with a weight problem. Animals fare much better as regards food.

They only seem to have problems when we domesticate them, turn them into pets. That way we spoil them and soon they become affected with all kinds of conditions.

We should heed Hippocrates advice that our food should be our medicine.

So, you have resolved to deal with your excess fat.

In that case, here are some exercises that will really help you achieve your goals of a sleek and efficient machinery of a body.

The Triangle: Technique: Standing with

feet about 3 feet apart, bend the left knee to the same level with your hip. Keep the right leg straight with the foot placed horizontally to the left foot which is facing leftward. Leave the left hand open and placed next to the left foot.

Straighten the right hand and bring it down so that your bicep touches lightly your right ear.

Stay in the posture for some 15 seconds and repeat on the other side.

Benefits: The triangle

posture firms the thighs. It reduces fat on the sides and upper arms The Single Leg Raise: Technique: Lying flat on your belly, place the hands by your side. With your chin on the floor, raise up the left leg to an angle of about 90 degrees from the floor. Hold the posture for about 10 - 15 seconds.

Change legs and repeat.

Benefits: This posture tones up the muscle of the legs. It firms the buttocks by reducing excess fat.

* The Triangle Pose

Yoga classes at 32 Ademola Adetokunbo Victoria Island, Lagos, 9.10am on Saturdays

SUNDAY Vanguard, JULY 8, 2012, PAGE 21

bunmsof@yahoo.co.uk

08056180152,

SMS only

How does he intend to pull this wedding off?

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HERE is no fool like an old fool.

After the failure of a relationship, most women, instead of staying back to lick their wounds and restrategise, rush into the arms of the first glib-tonged men they run into. And make the same imstakes all over again – if not worse!

When Vivian divorced her husband, eight years ago, she went into a ‘relationship’ that lasted five years. “Most of which were stormy.” She said sadly. “The only good thing that came out of it was my catering business. It grew to such an extent I was able to complete the re-construction of my house so that the ground floor could be used as a decent restaurant. Now, I was more than happy the place pulled in good customers from most of the offices around it.

“Paul was one ofthe customers that came in fairly regularly. He usually came in after work with some of his friends.

Quite a tall handsome man, he had a shaved head and a good physique. He was a good spender too,paying for his guests most of the time and encouraging me to join in. I never mixed business with pleasure.

After being singed twice, I didn’t want to go near any fire. Paul had a wedding ring on his finger and I wasn’t ready to be anyone’s mistress. When he persisted in trying to draw me into his happygo-lucky circle, I told him I wasn’t interested in married men.

He laughed as if I’d just cracked a joke. ‘I’m divorced,’ he confessed.

‘The wedding ring is to ward off all the women who want to throw themselves at me.’ Cheeky!

But it put my mind at rest.

“After that, he stayed over a lot at the house

after the close of day. The affair was passionate to put it mildly. We made love most nights and Paul sometimes helped in the restaurant when he could. He ran his own business and one of his friends had even let it out he was to inherit some money soon from his late father’s estate. ‘Both my parents are dead,’ Paul confirmed when I asked him about the inheritance. ‘My brother ’s a lawyer sorting out the details. My share of things will arrive any day.’ Thank God he wouldn’t be another gold digger.

mundane things in your life.

What you get instead is a sense of satisfaction with life as you feel more secure in your relationship. But you can get complacent. Without working at your love life, nights together can soon become mundane and routine.

The wages of sin?

(Humour)

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e’d been going out eight months when he said we should get married. I was wildly surprised. I liked things the way they were and even though I’d been to Paul’s flat, I wouldn’t want to leave my comfortable house for a flat.

But he promised his inheritance would have been a reality by then.

He might even get a house from his parents’ estate. In the meantime, we started planning the big weddin& he insisted on, with me paying most of the deposits for the hall and caterers, a designer cake and suits for him and his best man.

But with only a month to go until the big day, Paul still didn’t have access to his money. He became jittery and quiet, vowing to get a bank loan until his money came through.

“Shortly after, his blood pressure shot up and he had a mild stroke. Thankfully, he made a quick recovery and told me he was travelling to his home town to sort out his inheritance. I was a bit fed up with talks of money that hadn’t materialised and told him to take all the time he needed. Then he virtually disappeared. I rang

most of his friends but no one had heard from him.

And I only had the number of one member of his family, the brother he said was a lawyer. So I rang him.”

‘That time he brought me to your restaurant was the last time I saw him’, he said. The only person he speaks regularly with is our mother’. His mother?.

Wasn’t she supposed to be dead? So there was no inheritance. Just a pack of lies.

“I was still in shock when his brother told me he was likely to be in their home-town with his wife and children. How many of them? Six, he said cagily, realising I didn’t know much about a wife. When I eventually got through to him, thanks to his brother, he confessed he was still married. ‘But I honestly love you,’ he whined. ‘I don’t know why I lied to you. I love you heart, body and soul.

I actually had an inheritance from my dad, but I chose to sign it over to my children long before we met...’ I just switched off the phone. There was nothing more to say. Now I’m really broke and my

confidence is at an all time low. Paul’s love for me felt so real.

How could he have made me look such a fool?” .

Do couples enjoy sex better than singles?

If you’re single, you imagine all your problems would be solved if you had a partner. If you’re in a relationship, you might wonder if life would be more exciting on your own. But when it comes to sex, is it better when you’re single or is there something about a relationship that makes sex more intense? ingle Sex: Single tons can enjoy casual sex with no strings attached. You can sleep with who you like when you like.

You’re free to enjoy the moment and may not think too much about the future. Sex can be spontaneous, carefree and exciting. You can have sex with somebody you know, but sex with a stranger can be more

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everythings to me..

I cheerish, embellish,adore,honour the dignity of your love...my swthhrt Sologidi Donatus, Delta State, Warri 07068239599, 08179737434

My Dearest Ema

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

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

My Angel Love is the composition of a single soul inhabiting two bodies....stop loving u is tantamount to committing suicide..u are d only thing that means

Sometimes I feel like there's an ocean of love in my heart for you, because I feel it whenever I go to bed and when I wake, hour by hour and through the day its you! I pray nobody takes ur place. I love you baby.

Onyi Eze (08033737927)

True Love True love is not physical beauty, but an inner splendor that glows in the soul and radiates through all impediments,forsaking all boundaries,true love is not perfection.

The perfection lies in the melding of two hearts,and two souls, to create a bond that survives all imper-

of a thrill as it can be easier to lose your inhibitions.

Casual sex is seen as risky and naughty and can give deep physical satisfaction. It can also leave you emotionally empty. They are only life-affirming if both of you want the same. Be sure to protect yourself and your lovers from sexually transmitted infection and pregnancy by using good contraception and condoms every time you have sex. ouple Sex: Most relationships go through an intense period at first when you can’t keep your hands off each other. Because you’ve invested more in each other emotionally, the sexual highs and sense of fulfilment are immense. But the stakes are high and you risk greater heartache if things go wrong. After about a year, the intensity of sex and the passion changes. You know your partner and it’s difficult to shut out the more

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A painter decorator called Wayne thins down his paint to make it go further. One day, he lands a big job to repaint the outside of the local church. So he erects the scaffolding, then buys the paint and thins it down as usual. L ater, Wayne is up on the scaffolding painting, when there’s a clap of thunder.

The rain pours down, washing off the paint, and knocking Wayne from the scaffolding to land amongst the gravestones.

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ayne is no fool and know;’this is judgement from the Almighty, so he gets on his knees and cries: ‘Oh God! Forgive me! What should I do?’ An angry voice from above booms: ‘Repaint! Repaint! And thin no more!’

Why not call a spade A spade?

(Humour) A woman is out driving with her young daughter and they get stuck behind a dustbin lor ry. Suddenly, a vibrator flies out of the lorry and hits the car windscreen. ‘My! What a large insect!’ The embarrassed mum says, trying to protect her daughter. To which the girl replies: “I’m surprised it can fly with a willy like that!”

fections and the passage of time,true love is not fire, but the kind of warmth one feels from a golden fire's glow, an incomparable comfort in the face of despair, an offering of hope when all is hopeless, true love is us with heart and soul, warm glowing light, and everlasting hope.. .

Chris Onunaku 08032988826/08184844015. dekris4real@gmail.com

Is it a crime to love?

Is it a crime to love someone so much that when ever she is not around you it looks as if something is giving up in you per seconds? is it a crime to love you the way i do, if it is, tell the judge to sentence me without looking back, cause when am out i will commit the crime again. love you babyluv now and always.

Ekhas Obazee, 07031338939 d4greatness@yahoo.com

PAGE 22—SUNDAY VANGUARD, JULY 8, 2012

NEWS: State of the Nation

Remember, no refund if the dead refused to rest in peace!......ok?

MAILBAG

All letters bearing writers' names and full addresses should be typed and forwarded to: The Editor, Sunday Vanguard, Kirikiri Canal, P. M. B. 1007, Apapa, Lagos. E-mail: sunvanguardmail@yahoo.com

Insecurity in Nigeria: The past, present and future Dear Sir, HERE is no doubt that the development of any society is largely hinged on the level of security of lives and property of its citizens. While a thoroughly secured society breeds intellectual minds that are great assets to nation building, it also allows an enduring environment for the growth of infrastructural development.

At the moment, the world stands

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precariously at the precipice of insecurity. It is the most contemporary problem staring the world in the face today. It could be food insecurity, financial insecurity, education insecurity, national insecurity or insecurity of life and property.

This has disrupted the country during and after the civil war affecting mostly the southerners, Niger Delta and the Ibos in Nigeria. The Nigeria that our founding fathers, Nnamdi

SOS to IGP on Idimu Police barrack Dear Sir,

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N behalf of all residents of Adekoya Street, off Barrack Road, Idimu, Alimosho Local Government Area of Lagos State, I humbly appeal to the Inspector General of Police, Alhaji Mohammed D. Abubakar, to save them from the menace of drug (Indian hemp) dealers and addicts who had laid a permanent siege on our neighbourhood.

This army of criminals, who are being openly aided and even patronised by some uniform men in broad day-light, took occupation of this street when their former “base” within the undeveloped portion of the adjacent Idimu mobile police barrack were cleared for construction work.

The recourse to this medium became inevitable when all entreaties by various representatives of the street and the community development association to the Idimu Police authorities yielded no fruits.

Rather than abate, the activities of these hemp dealers and smokers are escalating.

They operate almost round-the-clock from as early as 6.00 a.m. within this precincts of a police barrack, making life virtually unbearable for residents of this street with their billowing smoke. They have become great dangers, especially to our impressionable children.

It is highly scandalous that these criminal acts could be allowed to take root directly behind a police barrack and within the ear-shot of police divisional and area commands. As it

were now in the neighborhood, only your intervention will save our souls.

Chief Olatunde Odusanya, 14B, Adekoya Steet, Off Barrack Road, Idimu, Lagos State.

Azikiwe, Herbert Maucaulay, Obafemi Awolowo, Michael Okpara, and Sir Ahmadu Bello fought for is now facing serious security challenge.

The amalgamation of the upper Niger and lower Niger in 1914 from where the name Nigeria was derived by the British Colonist, has done us more harm than good? Looking at the situation in Nigeria, the late Libyan President, Mummar Gaddafi concluded that “Nigeria should be divided into two countries, in terms of religion, the North and South. One will suggest that this will save Nigeria from future crisis (religion) massacre and ethnic division.

Looking at the situation of insecurity in this country, experts observed that the nation is currently facing challenges and if not urgently tackled it is capable of leading the country to disintegration.

The Boko Haram group is threatening to do more harm if its demands are not met. The bombings in Borno, Niger

, Abuja, Kaduna, and Kano to a great extent have resulted in the destruction of lives and property, most northern states have all had their fair shares of bombing and this Islamic sect has claimed responsibility for most of the attacks. Thus, leaving many Nigerians dead or wounded. The deteriorating state of security truly call for urgent attention as it is capable leading to a violent and unprecedented collapse of the Nigerian state.

The root cause of insecurity cannot be easily determined but it can be traced to poverty and ignorance.

Federal government should tackle this problem by establishing northern development commission, the way Niger Delta development commission was established years back to tackle their problem. This will ensure speedy alleviation of poverty.

Atoba Oluwaseun Adeniyi, Mass Communication Department, Federal Polytechnic, Bida, Niger State.

Lesson from Edo guber debate: No to do-or-die politics Dear Sir,

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HE gubernatorial debate organized for governorship candidates of some political parties in Benin City recently must have come and gone, but the memories will continue to linger for a long time in the mind of those who witnessed it whether live or on television. Aside from the intellectual angle, one other aspect of that event that will hardly go away from their memories is the war of wits, by the gubernatorial candidates of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Gen. Charles Airhavbere (rtd) and Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN. The gubernatorial debate organized by Nigeria Elections Debate Group, NEDG, was meant to give each candidate an opportunity to showcase his plans to better the lot of Edo residents. The organizers mapped out relevant questions to lead the candidates on to reveal their parties blue prints for the state. The audience was equally poised to hear, first hand, from the candidates about what the people should expect from them. The questions were explicit and direct. Kudos to the organizers of this debate, because

it took every contestant and its manifestos to every home. This is the beauty of Democracy.

During the debate, other candidates commended the spirited effort of the incumbent state government in repositioning the state, but stressed the need for more to be done, which was why they were in the race, because they believed they had better plans to improve on what was on ground.

For example, in is remarks, on health, Prince Frank Ukonga of Social Democratic Mega Party, SDMP, told the audience that: “We are not here to run down anybody, Adams Oshiomhole has done well in the area of healthcare. He has already started well by giving free medical services to citizens of 60years and above”.

Given the unprecedented achievements of ACN government in Edo led by Comrade Oshiomhole in the past four years, it is always a pride to the real Edo man. But, meanwhile, aside from the PDP, which has been struggling to find its feet in the state since it kicked-off its campaigns, no other party has had the courage to come into Edo State to campaign for votes. It is not altogether surprising. They are intimidated by the monumental

transformation that has taken place in the state especially in the last four years.

It is, indeed, a sad commentary from General Airhavbere and Solomon Edebiri of the All Nigeria’s Peoples Party that the industries in the state had been run aground.

Of course, the quick response of Oshiomhole is already in the public domain and I believe it is a water-tight answer. Incidentally the PDP candidate himself unwittingly collaborated with Oshiomhole's answer when he admitted the failure of erstwhile government in the state as he alluded to leadership failures that occurred from 1999 to 2007 when his party was in power.

Thank God the situation in Edo from 1999 to 2008 in terms of development is not a matter of conjecture. Edo State, particularly Benin City, happens to be a stopover state for many travellers across the country and therefore, the situation between that time and now is very well documented in memory and in print. Given what is on ground, therefore, Edo is, indeed undergoing great transformation at the moment.

Charles Afe Ikhaghe is an author and public analyst based in Lagos

SUNDAY VANGUARD, JULY 8, 2012, PAGE 23

Pregnant without a man (2)

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VF is an alternative option to many couples going through the problems of infertility in marriage and some young women who may not want to go through the process of copulating with a man to have a child and for women who may not be waiting to marry a man anymore but who still want chidren whether these women have reached menopause or passed it. IVF which is carried out in the labouratory could be a success.

Egg retrieval When the ovarian follicles have reached a certain level of development, maturation is then induced by injection to trigger ovulation which would occur within 2 days a single HCG injection; within this time, the egg retrieval is performed at a time usually between 34 and 36 hours after the injection, just prior to when the follicles would rupture. The eggs are then retrieved just at a time where they are fully mature. HCG injection carries a risk of ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome. Using a GnRH agonist instead of hCG eliminates the risk of ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome, but with a delivery rate of approximately 6% less than with hCG. The eggs are retrieved from the patient using a transvaginal technique involving an ultrasound-guided needle piercing the vaginal wall to reach the ovaries. Through this needle follicular fluid is aspirated out and then the ova is identified in the IVF labouratory. It is common to remove between ten and thirty eggs. The retrieval procedure takes less than 30 minutes.

Egg and sperm preparation In the laboratory, the identified eggs are stripped of surrounding cells and prepared for fertilization by oocyte selection to select eggs for optimal chances of successful pregnancy. Meanwhile, semen is prepared for fertilisation by removing inactive cells and seminal fluid in a process called sperm washing. If semen is being provided by a sperm donor which is then bought and used by of female-same-sex couple or unmarried ladies, it will usually have been prepared for treatment before being frozen and quarantined, and it will be defrosted ready for use.

Fertilisation The sperm and the egg are incubated together at a ratio of about 75,000:1 in the culture media for about 18 hours wherein, the egg will be fertilised by that time in most cases. In certain situations, such as low sperm count or motility, a single sperm may be injected directly into the egg using intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI). The fertilised egg is passed to a special growth medium and left for about 48 hours until the egg consists of six to eight cells.

Gamete intrafallopian transfer: This process involves eggs being removed from the woman and placed in one of the fallopian tubes, along with the man’s sperm. This allows fertilisation to take place inside the woman’s body.

Therefore, this variation is actually an

in vivo fertilisation, not an in vitro fertilisation.

Embryo culture Typically, embryos are cultured up till three days after retrieval. In many Canadian, American and Australian programmes, however, embryos are placed into an extended culture system with a transfer back into the woman’s uterus done at the blastocyst stage(taking up to 5 days) to increase chances of successful pregnancy. In Europe, transfers after 2 days are common. Embryo culture can be done using artificially culture medium containing glucose, peruvate and energy providing component, but amino acids and vitamin improves the embryo development. Embryo can also be cultured on top of a layer of cells from woman’s uterine lining. A new method in development uses the uterus as an incubator and the uterine fluids as culture medium.

Embryo selection In order to increase the rate of pregnancy happening, laboratories have developed grading methods to judge oocyte and embryo quality . There are other methods of embryo profiling performed in order to optimise embryo selection.

Embryo transfer Most clinics and country regulatory bodies seek to minimise the risk of pregnancies carrying multiples, as it is not uncommon for more implantations to take than desired. The embryos judged to be the “best” are transferred to the patient’s uterus through a thin, plastic catheter, which goes through her vagina and cervix. Several embryos may be passed into the uterus to improve chances of implantation and pregnancy. The number to be transferred depends on the number embryos available, the age of the woman and other health and diagnostic factors.

IVF Success or failure factors The factors that influence pregnancy (and live birth) rates in IVF have been suggested to be maternal age, duration of infertility or subfertility, and number of oocytes, all reflecting ovarian function. Optimal woman’s age is 23– 39 years at time of treatment. Other factors include smoking, body mass index, semen quality e.t.c Complications in the IVF procedure Possible risks may occur throughout the procedure, and depend on the specific step of the procedure. During ovarian stimulation, hyperstimulation syndrome may occur. This results in swollen, painful ovaries, heartburn, gas, nausea or loss of appetite. In severe cases patients have sudden excess abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting and will result in hospitalisation.

During egg retrieval, there’s a small chance of bleeding, infection, and damage to surrounding structures as well as difficulty breathing, chest infection, and allergic reactions. During embryo transfer, if more than one embryo is transferred there’s always a risk of multiple pregnancy, infertile couples may see this is good news but there may be risk to the embryos and to the mother such as premature delivery.

Ectopic pregnancy Multiple Births The major complication of IVF is the risk of multiple births. This is directly related to the practice of transferring multiple embryos at embryo transfer.

Multiple births are related to increased risk of pregnancy loss, obstetrical complications, prematurity, and neonatal morbidity with the potential for long term damage.

PAGE 24—SUNDAY VANGUARD,JULY 8, 2012

Determined women who are making waves

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T’S always a joy to hear of women who are dogged in the pursuit of their ambition. Women who don’t allow culture or the usual societal concept of what a woman has been assigned by nature to be in life, discourage them from what they desire to be, or, what they want to do with their lives.

This year, there has been news of some focused women who have excelled and are still excelling at their career; the majority of them, past the usual sell-by-date that we assign to women.

The first of these women is Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II of Great Britain who celebrated 60 solid years on the throne, recently. Some people may scoff and say that hers is inheritance, and not a profession. Wrong. She’s head of the British nation and also of the Commonwealth. Hers is a job and a profession, from which she could have opted to resign, in order to pursue a more quiet, peaceful and private life, instead of a life where she and members of her family are constantly being heavily monitored, criticized and sometimes condemned by the public. Some of her subjects feel that the monarchy is obsolete, money-sapping and no longer relevant to their nation.

This is enough to discourage some of us and make us throw in the towel, but she has been plodding on, holding her family together, and getting members to adapt to the changing world and behave responsibly. Some time ago, there was speculation that she might abdicate in favour of her son, Prince Charles, because, if she has inherited the genes of her mother who died at 101, in 2002, her son who is 63, may be a very old man before he gets to the throne. The queen is 86 herself. We thank God that she decided to hang on to her reign, because today, she’s Britain’s greatest asset, bringing respect and dignity to her country.

The name Tamae Watanabe, may mean nothing to many of us, but this 73 year old Japanese grandmother, in May this year, became the oldest woman to climb Mount Everest, the highest mountain in the world. What an amazing feat! Not only for a woman, but for her age! A British paper reported it thus: ‘A 73 year-old Japanese woman climbed Mount Everest yesterday (May 19th), smashing her own record as the oldest woman to scale the world’s highest mountain. Tamae Watanabe reached Everest’s 29,035 ft (8,850m) summit from the northern side in Tibet with four team members, said Ang Tshering, of the China Tibet Mountaineering Association in Nepal. Mrs Watanabe set the original record when she climbed Everest in 2002 at the age of 63.’

Very little is available on the background/family life of Mrs. Watanabe,other than that she’s a grandmother. ‘She was born on 21st of November 1938 in Japan.

After completing studies at Tsuru University, she worked as a public office employee of Kanagawa Prefecture. It was at this time, at age 28, she began mountain climbing. In 1977, she climbed Mount McKinley. She then climbed Mont Blanc, Mount Kilimanjaro and Aconcagua. After her retirement from service, she returned to her hometown, where she lives at the foot of Mount Fuji, Japan’s tallest mountain, and in May 2002, she became the then oldest woman to climb Mount Everest.’

What makes this lady ’s achievement stand out is the fact that after retirement from service, she went back to what she loves doing. She hasn’t allowed age or her sex to deter her from the tough challenges of mountain-climbing. I’m sure that we have women her age here who had dreams they never realized, not because they’re timid, but for the simple fact that they would be ridiculed for trying to do something which is considered outside her age. Take driving for example. In western countries you have men

View-Point

Helen Ovbiagele Woman Editor

The essence of this write-up is the need for us to raise focused and determined ladies who keep their goal in life in view all the time, and who refused to have their ambition scuttled by failure, set-backs, and societal pressure and women in their nineties who still drive, because they’re still able to. They go for regular scheduled driving tests, and as long as they ’re capable and all their reflexes are there, the law permits them to drive.

In our country, a woman of fifty, driving on our roads, is made fun of by some other drivers who consider her too old to still be driving! She doesn’t have to commit a traffic offence before she’s heckled – ‘Go get driver, mama!’ ‘Commot for road, madam!’

If you’ve always loved gardening, and you continue when you’re above middle-age, people around would mock you for being too stingy to employ a gardener to do it for you. If you’re known to have a vehicle, the day you dare trek anywhere for exercise or whatever, you would be asked by concerned onlookers what happened to your car, as if you’ve committed an abomination by going on foot. That’s how narrow-minded and restricted in our thinking we are, and this is not good for the well-being of our women. Every young person prays to grow old, and be able to continue doing many of the things that he/ she has always enjoyed doing. How would we feel, if we attain old age, and then we’re made to feel bad about being able to act independently? I’m sure those who used to heckle others would take offence when heckled.

The other week, I read that 52 year old Merlene Ottey, a veteran sprinter, is in the frame to compete at her 8th Olympic games!

‘The Jamaican runner, who now represents Slovenia, set a season’s best time in the 100m of 11.82 seconds at a meeting in Maribor recently.

Although the time is short of the Olympic qualifying standard of 11.38, she could yet form part of Slovenia’s 4x100m relay team. Ottey made her first Olympic appearance at the Moscow games of 1980, and then featured at every one of the next six games. Though she was a multiple world champion in her favourite event, the 200m, she missed out

on a gold medal on the biggest stage of all. She was silver medallist in the 100m and 200m at Atlanta in 1996 – her fifth Olympics – and four years later, won silver again in the 4x100m relay. In addition, she scooped 6 Olympic gold medals across five different games.

In 2010 she competed for Slovenia in the 4x100m relay at the European Championships in Barcelona at the age of 50, making her the oldest athlete in the history of the event.’

What a wonderful drive this woman has! At 52, many people, not only women, would hang up their running boots. Can you imagine a woman of 52, still entertaining hopes of continuing as an athlete here? No way! She would be booed off the field while practising. Some may even suggest locking her up for ‘losing her mind’.

In politics, the name Segolene Royal, a 57 year-old French politician, comes to mind. She is the president of the Poitou-Charentes Regional Council, a former member of the national Assembly, a former government minister, and a

prominent member of the French Socialist Party. The first woman in France to be nominated by a major party, she was the Socialist candidate in the 2007 French presidential election, but lost to Nicolas Sarkozy. She and her private life-partner of 30 years, Francois Holland, the current president, separated later that year.

They have four children together.

She’s suffered several defeats in her political career, the most recent being a failed attempt to win a seat in the National Assembly in the June 2012 parliamentary elections, but she’s not giving up. She isn’t quitting active politics but remains in the field of play.

The essence of this write-up is the need for us to raise focused and determined ladies who keep their goal in life in view all the time, and who refused to have their ambition scuttled by failure, set-backs, and societal pressure. Ladies whose god is not money; who are not looking for godfathers to make things happen for them, but rely on their hard work to be successful. The nation would be better off with such women, because, hopefully, they will raise well-adjusted citizens for the nation.

London Fashion Week spring 2012 fashioncollections.org

SUNDAY Vanguard, JULY 8, 2012, PAGE 25

The injured part of Fati’s head

The victim...critically ill in hospital

A shot so fatal, fired by a trigger-happy policeman Hajia Fati Ali embarked on a business trip to Abuja but could not get to her destination as a triggerhappy policeman shot her for reasons yet unknown. The widow and mother of two is lying critically ill at the National Hospital, Abuja with a bullet lodged in her brain.

By JOSEPH ERUNKE

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f she had known that her decision to accompany a her family friend, Kabiru Mohammed, from Kaduna to Abuja was going to cause her excruciating pains, Hajia Fati Ali would have boarded a commercial vehicle direct to her destination March 31, 2012, as she had always done in the past.

She had prepared herself and was ready to hit the road for Abuja when Kabiru, who resides in Kaduna and was travelling to Abuja that day, informed her that he was going her way. She felt going with him was not only going

to give her comfort but also reduce her transport expenditure.

Even when Kabiru informed her that he was not only passing through Minna but would also spend a day in the Niger State capital before proceeding to Abuja the next day, Fati was still at home; they both left Kaduna for Minna.

No sooner had they arrived Minna after over three hours journey than they learnt that one of their family friends lost a relative. They both decided to pay their condolence. But as they were returning to where they wanted to pass the night after the condolence, tragedy struck. A trigger-happy police-

man at a check point fired gunshots at their vehicle as they made to pass after being searched and cleared to move.

As Kabiru turned to find out what happened, he saw his companion in a pool of her own blood. A bullet had hit her. The bullet lodged in Fati’s brain.

It was a shock to other policemen at the checkpoint that one of their colleagues went that far.

They rushed Fati to the General Hospital, Minna but was later transferred to the National Hospital, Abuja on discovering that the situation was beyond their control.

Niger State Government,

contacted on the ugly development through its Permanent Secretary, Hospitals Management Board, Alhaji Ibrahim Taffin, promised it was going to foot the hospital bill but, three months after, no government official, according to the victim’s elder brother, Adamu Sadiq, has been sighted.

Since her admission at the Female Ward, National Hospital, Abuja, three surgeries have been carried out on her brain with a view to removing the bullet but these have proved unsuccessful.

The family said it had outstanding bill of over N1.3 million at the hospital, disclosing that the bill was still running just

as Fati’s case seemed to have no solution.

According to Sadiq, surgeons who carried out the surgeries to remove the bullet from the victims’s brain said the situation is better handled abroad.

Niger State Police Command, whose personnel was allegedly responsible for the tragedy, has not shown any concern about the development.

The victim’s brother also expressed dismay at the attitude of their family friend, Kabiru, saying he had abandoned them to their fate. “He was the one negotiating with the Permanent Secretary in the Niger State Hospital Management Board for the release of money which thestategovernment promised for the victim’s medical bill but eventually stopped communicating with us. As a result, I had to follow up by calling the Permanent Secretary myself but have not been given any positive response till now”, he told Sunday Vanguard.

Following this development, the family, according to Sadiq, planned to seek redress in the law court. The family has approached the Legal Aid Council to help on the matter.

‘How we use Abia councils as devt agents’

By Eric Ugbor, Aba

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Nwabuko

ON. EMMANUEL NWABUKO is the Abia State Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs. He was also the State Commissioner for Works and Transport until August 2010 when he assumed the present position.

He speaks, in this interview, on issues concerning his Ministry and Governor T. A. Orji’s determination to transform the third tier of government and the traditional institution in Abia State.

In the first one year of this administration, how have you been able to coordinate Abia councils and handle the issue of creation of additional autonomous communities in Abia State?

We have 759 autonomous communities in Abia State and it is quite a large number to handle. What we are really concerned about now is not actually creation of additional autonomous communities, because, in the real sense of it, some of these autonomous communities are not supposed to be created but that is something that the present administration inherited. We are

only concentrating on some of the autonomous communities that lost their Ezes and it is only in extreme cases that we can create new autonomous communities like what happened last year when three autonomous communities were created due to the yearnings of the people. They went through all the conditionalities for the creation and it was granted but we are not using that as a yardstick, we want to have manageable autonomous communities and tradiContinues on page 26

PAGE 26—SUNDAY Vanguard, JULY 7, 2012

Country News

For four years, I operated as fake dep superintendent of police —Femi, alleged impersonator

By Ruth Chukwuemeka

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s 54 year-old Ajewole Femi, clad in deputy superintendent of police uniform, was being led by policemen to the Oduduwa office of the Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer, Ngozi Braide, everyone assumed he could have been arrested for illegal duties .

But no! The Ondo State born father of four was later discovered to have never been enlisted into the Nigeria Police Force all his life. Rather, he was discovered to have been impersonating a DSP, an act he disclosed to have been engaged in for four years.

But the bubble burst following a complaint by one Olusoji Sadamu at Igando police division last week. Reports said the complainant alleged that Femi collected t N50,000 from him, with a promise to use the money to facilitate his recruitment into the Nigeria Customs

Service. But to Olusoji’s disappointment , his name was not included in the list of those who were eventually enlisted . Olusoji reportedly demanded for the refund of the amount he said was borrowed , with a promise to pay the lender back when he secured the job.

Having waited patiently , without any words from Femi, Olusoji, according to spokesperson for the Lagos State Police Command, Ngozi Braid, went to report at Igando where, to his surprise, Femi was discovered to have only been masquerading himself as a police officer.

Parading Femi before journalists Friday, Braide disclosed that, during investigation, it was discovered that the impersonators were five in number, with an arrest of another person whose name she gave as Julius Sadamu.

Asked why he took to the illegal act, Femi told Sunday

Vanguard it was because of his love for police job.

His words: “I have always wished to be enlisted into the Nigeria Police. I have been trying to join the force since but it had not been possible. I also made effort to go into SPY and I was told I would have to register. And if I had to register, they said I must have some military or security related experience first”.

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sked how he got the po lice new uniform, he disclosed that he bought it from a serving police policeman. “I bought the uniform from one sergeant for N7,000 in February this year” . Before he started using the new uniform, which is strictly meant for senior police officers from the rank of Assistant Superintendent of Police(ASP), the father of four was reportedly using the conventional black and black uniform which he claimed was also bought.

Suspect...I did it for the love of police job His arrest came as a surprise to residents of Igando who, for long, said they believed he was a serving policeman . His wife and children were alleged to have also been in the dark of their bread winner ’s true occupation until his ar-

rest. The suspect, according to Braide, would be charged to court for impersonation. She warned others who are still parading themselves as policemen to desist henceforth or have themselves arrested as Femi.

‘How we use Abia councils as devt agents’ That is why the state House of Assembly established the law on Joint Project Account so that if you now bring the resources of the state and local governments together, you now are able to meaningfully execute project.

What happens is that in the JAC meeting, the local governments could come up with

tional rulers that this ministry can handle. We don’t want to bastardize the traditional institutions. We want our royal fathers to have respect and the Abia State House of Assembly is also doing something to make sure we harmonize the status of the royal fathers in Abia State. So far, we don’t advocate the creation of new autonomous communities.

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hat happens to the state, local government joint account committee (JAC) and how is the state government playing its role in the committee?

All decisions taken at the state JAC are backed by law.

The JAC account concerns all the seventeen local governments in the state. That is where the allocation from Federation Account comes in and is distributed accordingly. The JAC is statutorily managed by the Permanent Secretary and Accountant General of the

Nwabuko state and disbursement of fund from that account is in agreement with the 17 local governments of the state. They hold meetings and agree on how to spend the money. But the Joint Project Account is maintained to ensure that developmental projects are extended to all the nooks and crannies of the state. There are certain projects that the local governments cannot handle alone, likewise the state government.

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Continued from page 25

state. There is the allegation that the money was mismanaged. Did your ministry monitor the use of the funds?

There is no truth that the funds were mismanaged.

What we have tried to establish is to ensure that when money is released and it is meant for a particular project, we make sure that the project

There is no truth that the funds were mismanaged.What we have tried to establish is to ensure that when money is released and it is meant for a particular project

projects and the state government would provide counterpart funding for the projects.

So you cannot unilaterally pick a project.

Recently, the state government released N40 million and additional N20 million to each of the councils in the

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is executed. The first N40 million you spoke about, if you look at the structures of councils in the state, you will discover that you could just pass the council headquarters without notice. What we did with the money was to give a facelift to the council headquarters.

So if you take a trip to many of the councils, you will notice what is happening as the funds are being channeled for renovations. And we are following up with inspection and monitoring and we don’t want to come up and announce publicly our mode of inspection to avoid compromise. We have an inspection and monitoring team in the ministry and they are ensuring that the funds released are appropriately utilised and many of the projects are still ongoing.

The recent money, that is N20 million, released to the councils is for the fencing of primary schools which is the responsibility of the state and we looked at it from the perspective of insecurity and encroachment into most of the schools. So we are taking them in turns to bring a facelift into the primary schools, by fencing it round with a befitting gate and they are four for each council now. And in all the councils, we are building skill acquisition centres.

SUNDAY VANGUARD, JULY 8, 2012, PAGE 27

debbiemoments@gmail.com

How Nigerians oppress Nigerians (1) President Goodluck Jonathan to the issue of declaring his assets publicly and the kid-glove manner the police, anticorruption agencies and judiciary handle elephantine corruption cases against “big men and thick madams.”

Therefore, the best concrete evidence of the oppressive character of our

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HE caption of our discussion today is cloned from Walter Rodney ’s How Europe Underdeveloped Africa, but its major thrust is not the recurrent problem of underdevelopment in Nigeria.

Indeed two recent incidents motivated me to write this essay, because although at first sight they might seem trivial or insignificant when compared to the critical issue of underdevelopment, the underlying themes of civility, humaneness and duty of care embedded in them call for rigorous interrogation.

The first one took place at First Registrars, Iganmu, Lagos, whereas the second happened at the Faculty of Arts, University of Lagos. But before I discuss them, Ishould make it clear that by far the most atrocious oppressors of Nigerians are members of the business and ruling elite, both military and civilian.Nothing emblematises this ugly situation better than the brusque response of

nately the people do not have enough courage, moral indignation and revolutionary spirit to, in the words ofthe German philosopher, G.W.F. Hegel, “negate the negation.”

The critical point here is that Nigerians are in existential bondage and they seem powerless to do anything about it,

Honestly the uncivilised attitude usually exhibited by employees of big companies towards the average Nigerian is deplorable

ruling class isdeepening pauperisation of ordinary Nigerians in tandem with increasing Sybaritic lifestyles of top government officials and their cronies in business and finance.

These large-scale oppressors are well known to Nigerians. Unfortu-

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apart from endless armchair complaints and prayers to an impotent God who seems to enjoy the theatre of the absurd playing out in the country. But then, aside fromoppressors “from the top,” ordinary Nigerians also oppress one anoth-

y home is situat ed in Nigeria; country of my birth, the treading grounds kings and warriors of old. A land blessed with a rich cultural tapestry, great

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archaeological treasures, resplendent in human and mineral resources. It is the nation of the set apart and the stand alone; you can tell a Nigerian apart from any black person; they say we are cocky; I say we are confident and not intimidated by anything or anyone; they say we are loud, I call it exuberant;

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crepit or grand, it doesn’t mean much to its occupants, the heart is not its nucleus. A home on the other hand is a place put together by a huge emotional investment; often demanding great and continuous sacrifice; the heart is its nucleus. Emotions run very high in homes because people care a great deal, so they laugh, cry, shout and fight but they remain very vested in the home.

A house on the other hand can be a very sterile and an even polite environment; you have to care to cry or laugh or even bother to shout or fight; emotions are totally unnecessary in a house; it means nothing to its occupants so it is unaffected by love or hate.

ted booth 326. After about half an hour my number was announced and I went to meet a bespectacled lady who I suspected might be thesame person that refused to speak with me some days ago.

I gave her my dividend warrant of N8, 605.44; she looked at it brieflyand nonchalantly gave it to a male colleague on her left. The fellow took a signature confirmation form, wrote briefly on it and condescendingly handed the paper and my dividend warrant back to me. He then told me to come again after my banker had confirmed my signature on the form.

I was crestfallen; I just could not understand why I have to come back again since I have the necessary documentsto prove thatthe dividend warrant was truly mine.

In any case what point was First Registrars trying to make, I wondered, when two other registrars had even revalidated my dividend warrants through proxy – was it that the company suspects I might defraud the firm of a paltry N8, 605.44? My dejection turned to anger when the bespectacled lady ordered me to leave my seat so that that she could attend to another customer. I bluntly told her that I was going nowhere, that I was very unhappy with the way my matter was being handled.

She angrily repeated her “order” as if my complaint meant nothing to her, as if I was a nuisance. Instinctively, I wanted to tear the divi-

dend warrant in her presence, but I managed to control myself at the last second. To be candid, I could not see why I should abandon my work and go through the stress of chaotic Lagos traffic for the second time, in addition to the insult I had received already, just because of N8, 605:44. I demanded to see a superior officer to lodge my complaint. Luckily, another female staff who graduated from UNILAG invited me over: after a brief explanation she asked the man who gave me signature confirmation form earlier to revalidate my dividend warrant“on personal recognition.”When the process was completed I thanked her and left. My first thought as I drove off was that,if I had an account with First Bank I would close it immediately I get back to the office.

Honestly the uncivilised attitude usually exhibited by employees of big companies towards the average Nigerian is deplorable.

Probably, the imposing office building, intimidating interior decoration and expensive clothes and cars give them an over-inflated feeling of self-importance and power, which is a psychological foundation of the illusion of grandeur.

For example, the irascible lady in First Registrars thinks that working in a big financial institution has transformed her into a tin-god such that she could treat an “ordinary customer ” like me anyhow.

TO BE CONCLUDED.

ra remains a Nigerian; maybe it’s something in the water or in the air but Nigeria is the home of all Nigerians, its where our heart is no matter the situation or circumstance.

sumed to be a thief or a fraud and a special brand of humiliation is meted by immigration officials and other foreign government authorities.

There are countries where Nigerians are openly targeted and killed. Most of us had thought democracy would mean that those in diaspora would come back home and we could all build a country together we could be proud off. If indeed Nigeria is the heart of all of us who call it home then we are having myocardial infarction; that’s a big name for a heart attack.

riches. Your armoured cars and fenced off palaces will not save you from the wrath of the curse you bring on yourselves with the shedding of innocent blood; starvation will not depart from your houses as you feed off the fat of the people.

I try not to be despondent but it’s hard to play the ostrich and ignore the desecration of my home. Brings to mind the song I sang as a youth anytime I travelled away from home.

Home my home 2ce, When shall I see my home, when shall I see my native land, I will never forget my home.

My brothers at home, my sisters at home, when shall I see my home, When shall I see my native land; I will never forget my home.

It feels very sad to be home and not feel at home; Nigeria my beloved country; the place of revelry and thunderous laughter is evolving into the land of suspicion and melancholy. I wonder whether it even qualifies to be called a home! But then it was never qualification that makes the home; it is the heart, the passion it elicits and the sacrifices it demands.

These are demanding days and we all should remember that there will never be another home like our home…

f home is where the heart is and Naija (a fond nickname) remains the home of all Nigerians we are going to need life support real soon. Lately our home has become a place where blood is shed and our passions are running at a height of volcanic velocity; hate is in the air. The different cultures and tribes have co- existed for centuries and I pray that we remember that brotherhood is still the key to our corporate survival. One of the things I looked for-

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Home, my home!

HEY say home is where the heart is and that normally assumes a home is a place. A place where one can lay a weary head, find some emotional and physical nourishment and retreat from the world to refresh and re energise. In the process of my personal evolution I have concluded that a home does not necessarily have to be a place; a physical location. If home is where the heart really is then it could mean that a home could be a country, person or even an event. The heart in its spiritual and emotional form is a strange organ as it feeds off feelings aroused by passion whether it be love or hate and it dictates where one’s home is.

A lot of people live very unhappily in palaces and this is where I draw a most timely difference between a house and a home. A house is a building that provides shelter and it can be de-

er with impunity. The unsavoury incident at First Registrars which I mentioned a moment ago is a case in point. Such incidents make one wonder whetherNigerians working for big corporate organisations really understand the meaning of civilised behaviour in a globalising world. It happened like this: Last month I had three expired dividend warrants from Sterling Registrars, Africa Prudential Registrars Plcand First Registrars. I asked a doctorate student in my department to help me revalidate the documents.

A few days later he called me and said that he had successfully revalidated the first two and that he was having problems with the one from First Registrars, because the lady he met there refused to process the document despite my letter of authorisation. I asked him to give herthe phone so that we can discuss.A few seconds later he replied that the “thick madam” does not want to speak with me. I was surprised and disappointed that a supposedly reasonable employee who should be considerate to customers would behave that way.

Anyway, on June 19 I went to First Registrars myself, with my drivers’ license, international passport and statement of account for proper identification. On getting to the large office for revalidation, I was allot-

If indeed Nigeria is the heart of all of us who call it home then we are having myocardial infarction; that’s a big name for a heart attack

we are a bubbling people. The Nigerian spirit is a never say die spirit! We don’t give up or give in; we adapt and we survive. There are the obvious challenges of corruption and lack of advancement but a Nigerian at home or in diaspo-

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ward to when democracy finally returned to us was the restoration of national pride. In the course of my work, I have the opportunity to visit places near and far and it’s not always a thing of pride to carry the green passport. One is pre-

he soap opera that is our government plays out on television daily. In these days of technological advancement our shame is not limited to NTA; the whole world watches us in disgust and dismay as opportunities and resources are squandered with ignominy! Democracy is flat on its face and is being redefined as a government of a few to destroy the land and its people. Those who spew integrity and honour have none and they hide behind those who expose the failings of a few and cover atrocities of the powerful. History will judge those who have contributed to the tearing of our national cloth in their thirst for power and

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28—SUNDAY, Vanguard, JULY 8, 2012

Lawrence Adeniyi-Adefuye laid to rest With Ayo Onikoyi

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Grand burial of Madam Apostle Ajibola celebrates Ogundipe birthday MODUPE Oloruntoba, wife of the Ifako-Ijaiye Local Government Chairman, recently buried his mother in Ijebu and the occasion turned out to be a social gathering of top-notch politicians, most of whom came from Lagos to honour her and husband with their presence

Hon Toba Oke and Wive Mrs Modupe Toba Ogundipe -Oke,The Celebrant Right

R-L: Otunba Doyin Ogungbe and Colonel Dayo Ogundipe (Rtd)

Minika and Samuel

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hildren, family and friends of Pa Lawrence Adeniyi-Adefuye gathered at St. Peter ’s Church, Faji, in Lagos on 25th of May for the funeral service of the Late man described by the children as a rare dad. Many notable personalities graced the service. Photos by Diran Oshe

A special thanksgiving service to mark 42nd birthday of Most Senior Apostle Abayomi Adewale Ajibola, founder C and S Movement Church, Ibudo Ayo, Jah to Funmi was held last Sunday in the Church at Iyana Ipaja, Lagos. Photos by Joe Akintola, Photo Editor

L-R: Senator Bode Olajumoke, Olori Bukunola Adefuye-Oyekan,daughter and Prince Ademiju Oyekan R-L:Apostle Abayomi Ajibola, Celebrant; Mother in Israel, Folakemi Omolola Ajibola and Apostle Shina Adekunle (Choirmaster)

L-R: Ekerin M. Oluwatoyin; Mrs Yetunde Odejayi, Iya Ijo; Apostle Tunde Olaewe, Secretary and Mrs Funmilola Oludiran

L-R: Peter Muir, MD,TOTECH, Olori Bukunola Adefuye-Oyekan and Chief Bakar

Presentation SAMUEL Ihezie took his bride, Minika down the aisle to be joined as man and wife, recently. Family and friends witnessed the union.

HON. Lucky Ayomanor, National Chairman, Niger Delta People’s Network, NDPN, recently presented a proposal of training of youths on solar energy to the national executive memebrs of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Abuja

L-R: Prince Ayodele Oyekan, Bajulaiye of Lagos and Olori Bukunola Adefuye-Oyekan with Oba of Lagos Staff.

Consecration CONSECRATION of Right Reverend Michael Dare as Bishop of the First African Mission held at the Cathedral Church of Jehovah, Shammah, Iju Ishaga, Lagos. Photo by Lamidi Bamidele Dr. J.E Ntibi and Deaconess Dorothy Ntibi and couple; Samuel and Minika Ihezie

Senator Bassey Otu, the couple; Samuel and Minika Ihezie, Hon. Daniel Asuquo and Maxi Okey Maduekwe C M Y K

L-R: Hon. Lucky Ayomanor, Nat. Chairman, NDPN, presenting report to Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, PDP chairman and Dr. Kema Chikwe, Nat. Women Leader

L-R: Omunakwe Gordons, Bamanga Tukur, Lucky Ayomanor, Olagunsoye Oyinlola and others

L-R: The Archbishop of the west of the first African church mission, Most Revd, Dr Paul Onanuga JP. The newly consecrated Bishop, Revd Michael Dare, his wife, s Dare JP and the Primate, His Eminence Most Revd. Dr Olabode Koya J

SUNDAY, Vanguard, JULY 8, 2012 —29

Deaconess Peju Ajibade celebrates @ 40 With Ayo Onikoyi

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Onilado receives Staff of Dupe Omisore marks 80 Office hief Dupe Omisore, an Ibadan based notable

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ba Mobadenle Obalade Oyekan, the Onilado of Ilado in Lagos state has finally been giv en his Staff of Office and Instruments of Appointment by the Lagos state Government. The ceremony took place last Saturday in Ilado. Photos by Lamidi Bamidele

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architect celebrated his 80th birthday penul timate Saturday in Ibadan, Oyo state. In marking the special occasion a thanksgiving service held at All Souls Church Bodija followed by a reception at Civic centre Idi Ape. Many important personalities graced the ceremony. Photos by Dare Fasube

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eaconess Peju Ajibade, Pastor Funmi AyoOdugbesan’s sister, her family and friends stormed Christ Apostolic Church[Oke-Iyanu] Ajegule District, Lagos last Sunday for a thanksgiving ceremony in honour of the celebrant. There was much singing and praising at the church to glorify God for the good things he has done in the celebrant’s life. Photos by Bunmi Azeez

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Deaconess Peju Ajibade, celebrant with her husband and children L-R:Princess Remi Olajumoke and Senator Bode Olajumoke; Olori Bukulola Oyekan; HRM Oba Mabadenle Obalade Oyekan, Onilado of Ilado and Chief Tayo williams

Chief Dupe Omisore and, wife Dayo

L-R: Pastor Funmi Ayo-Odugbesan, celebrant's sister, Mrs. Bola Odimayo and Mrs. Funmi Ajayeola

L-R: Olori Abioye Oyekan; Princess Remi Olajumoke, Olori Toyin Oyekan; Olori Dola Oyekan and Olori Joke Oyekan

Celebrant, Chief Dupe Omisore being congratulated by Ooni of Ife, Oba Okunade Sijuade and Tejumade Alakija

L-R: Deaconess Alaba Taiwo, Deaconess Tyna Babatope, Deaconess Peju Ajibade and Deaconess Dorcas Ojo

L-R: Princess Dolo Oyekan; Prince Isiola Oyekan and Chief and Chief (Mrs) Tokunboh Coker

The celebrant with the Clergy men

St. Catherine’s Specialist Hospital marks 13

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he management and staff of St Catherine’s Specialist Hospital, Port Harcourt along with their families, friends and well-wishers came together to celebrate the 13th anniversary of the hospital.

The celebration was led by the Chief Medical Director, Dr. John Okoye and Chief Emmanuel Chikeb who was the chairman of the occasion. Photos by Chijioke Nwankpa

L-R: Chief Chikeb Emmanuel, Chairman of the occasion, his wife, Dame Nonye Chike with Mr Dave Oghor

Dr John Okoye 4th from right in company of Family, friends, client and well wishers

Eguono and Okefa THE traditional marriage ceremony between former Miss Eguono Aghogho Kogoro and Mr. Okefa Igbuya took place at Aragba-Okpe in Okpe LGA of Delta State recently. Both families of the bride and groom filed out in pomp to rejoice and entertained guests with lavish aplomb

Mr. and Mrs Okefa Igbuya after their union

PAGE 30 —SUNDAY VANGUARD, JULY 8, 2012

SUNDAY VANGUARD, JULY 8, 2012, PAGE 31

PAGE 32—SUNDAY VANGUARD, JULY 8, 2012

BY VICTORIA OJEME

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hat is the state of re lationship between Sudan and Nige-

ria?

Sudan and Nigeria have a historically long relationship.

However we feel that despite the fact that there are millions of Nigerian citizens in Sudan and there are thousands of Sudanese in Nigeria yet the relationship has not been up to expectations of the people of both countries.

We still feel that there is a lot of common ground which has not been tapped. We still feel that there are great potentials in both countries which have not been explored.

Talking about trade, what is the volume of trade between the two countries?

There is no clear record of organised trade between Sudan and Nigeria. Now what’s happening is trade that is moving across the borders of Sudan and Nigeria. We are yet to make an effort to improve relations between the private sectors in both Sudan and Nigeria, so that we can reach some sort of common strategic partnership. This is going to be one of the key things in Sudan, Nigeria Commission which is supposed to meet. It is a bi-lateral commission.

What challenges have you faced so far?

We have challenges in both Sudan and Nigeria. There is the challenge of peace, the challenge of stability, the challenge of cordial relations between both countries and peaceful co-existence. These are the global challenges. The major challenge for us in the Sudan is that of the establishment of peace in the Sudan and the stability in the country. I see the same thing in Nigeria, there are lots of challenges here - the challenge of being one country intact, the challenge of potential opportunities that exist in Nigeria as the biggest country in Africa in terms of population; and the manpower and the wealth that is here in Nigeria.

What are you doing to get these challenges out of the way?

That is what I see as a priority for me. I would like to get the bi-lateral commission between Sudan and Nigeria off the ground effectively. I feel that Nigeria has got great talents.

Now when I read newspapers in Nigeria I really feel proud of the kind of issues that are raised, the kind of mentality that we have in Africa and I think these people are capable of removing any of the obstacles along the way to create a real African renaissance that people look for.

ICC has issued an arrest

ICC only targets African countries — Tagelsir Magoub Ali, Sudanese Ambassador being convinced on what is going on and so I think it is gradually weakening Don’t you think African countries are divided on this issue of the arrest warrant for for your president?

Maybe some African countries but how many African countries are really in the African union and the African union has made its stand known on the ICC. Africa is seen as a soft target for the ICC and now African leaders are beginning to realize this.

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Ambassador Tagelsir Magoub Ali, Sudanese Ambassador: 'We're tackling the ICC challenge' warrant for President Al Bashir; how has this affected Sudan’s diplomatic relations with other counties of the world?

The ICC has been an issue for so many years and it is very controversial because of the kind of powers vested in the ICC. Its a new institution that has got 70% of the world population - outside the panel like the United State of America and the Russia, China, India involved. If you take countries like USA, Russia and China and India and all these are not members of the ICC yet the ICC, with very few countries with very small population makes it appear as if ICC was deliberately created for less developed and privileged countries.

So far we haven’t seen the ICC do anything to major powers despite the fact that there have been so many infringements of human rights and so many issues that make them subject to what is there in the ICC. Yet we have seen only Africans that have being dragged before the ICC. I

don’t think that it is something that matters much because the President has been moving around the world freely.

We know there are a few countries whether it is the ICC or not, they are still being manipulated by some powers that are really targeting the Sudan. As far as Sudan is concerned, I don’t think it has been very much affected by the ICC. President Al Bashir is not at all concerned with what is happening in the ICC.

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e have got good lawyers, we are really facing the situation very squarely; thanks to a lot of countries that have received president Al Bashir. He has been doing his work well, he has relations with African countries, with the Arab world and so on and even as far as China and Latin America.

I don’t think that the ICC will affect any country that is sure of itself so we hope that people will correct the situation. It is so many years now and nothing has taken place so far so we believe that things will come to an end. So many countries are

ow has the libration of South Sudan affected the economy of North Sudan,?

Yeah, to some extent because about 70% of the oil has gone to the south but definitely we are aware of it, we know that Sudan is going to give the south the right of self determination and we thought that yes the south might opt for having its own sovereign country.

We’ve got our mineral resources which are being tapped now, we have got our agricultural resources, we have got our animal resources and we have got a lot of things that can really offset this but part of the oil is still in the Sudan. We’ve got people working on other resources so that it doesn’t cause any kind of economic collapse that was probably intended.

People had thought liberation of the South Sudan was going to be a peaceful transition but it seems to be creating many problems for both countries?

That’s what we hoped for, we never expected that and even people who have been following what is going on at least a few days before attacking Hegleg, the south delegation came to Khartoum and they left our counterparts there, they even invited president Al Bashir to come to the south and all that was a camouflage; we honoured everything that was honourable, the peace agreement was fully honoured by the Sudan government, even the President went to the south and he attended the ceremony of declaring the south a sovereign country. We never expected that such things as are happening now will take place.

I was a member of the political committee for the Sudan

peace agreement, I was the head of the wealth sharing team in Naivasharbougs and even after that we have been in good terms with the south even before separation, I was also in the Sudan national strategy.

We built railway lines up to the south, we built roads, we rehabilitated homes and we built schools and medical centres and so on despite this is from Sudan National budget and all that was to make unity attractive so that these people would really co-exist with their brothers from the north.

But suddenly they came up with this surprising attitude of launching these attack on the oil fields. Honestly as a member of the negotiating team Hegleg never came up as one of the controversial areas in Sudan, never, it was always known that its part of north Sudan and only Abyei was the bone of contention and not Hegleg.

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t was so sudden that they came up with this but now people are back to the negotiating table and we hope that things will get better. We are in for a peaceful solution, we are in for peaceful co-existence of the two countries that have always been together.

Let us see a common ground between the two countries, let us see synergy of ideas, let us see how we can work together to boost relations that have already existed and try to avoid war because war only brings destru c t i o n . We agreed with the UN decision, we said yes that is why we are now in Addis Ababa for the peace talk .

You agreed to the peace talks with conditions?

No, it was according to what UN decided, we are committed to the decision made by the UN and we did agree to it that the African union should come on board and so we are respecting these institutions. Yes, we probably have some few concerns about some of the things but at the end we had to comply with some of the decisions that the UN came up with.

We don’t have problems with the UN. We have been in good terms with the UN.

SUNDAY VANGUARD, JULY 8, 2012, PAGE 33

rof.(Mrs)Mopelola Omoegun is the newly elected Dean of the Faculty of Education at the University of Lagos. A zealous educationist who began her profession as a primary school teacher, Prof.Omoegun rose from her humble beginning by virtue of her hardwork and ardent desire to be a success. She served as a Head of Department from 2004 to 2006 at the Faculty, and has also served as Chairman of the University of Lagos Counseling Centre Management Committee.

Prof.Omoegun started the Counseling Association of Nigeria, Lagos State Chapter, in 1993. On July 11, 2012, she would have her inaugural lecture at the Main Auditorium of the University of Lagos. Vista Woman was at her office recently.

Enjoy!!

P

How do you feel about this new position?

My election was God’s own doing and I’m grateful to Him for His blessings. I did start my career as a primary school teacher in 1969 at Baptist Girls School in Lagos. I enjoy teaching because my main focus is helping people. I love children, and I enjoy talking to them. I believe this influenced my decision to study Counseling. When children enjoy my class and they’re happy, then I am happy as well!

People now believe the teaching profession to be a dumping ground for never-do-wells; in what way do you think this mentality could be changed?

Let me start by acknowledging the effort of my predecessor, the outgoing Dean. He started a programme which I quite appreciate and I’m going to work more on that. Only students who actually want to go into teaching should be given admission into the Faculty of Education. He started that by discussing with the Admission Officer of the university that students who chose education as their first or second choice should be given priority rather than allowing people who have failed to gain admission into other programmes to switch to education.

At the end of the day, many of such students try to cut corners while running the programme because they are not where they intended to be! As the Chairman of the Counseling Centre and of the Student Welfare Committee of the Faculty, I’m already organising seminars for students so that they do not consider themselves as being the dregs of the society.

There are actually a lot of opportunities in Education for people who are good at it, and that is what I am trying to expose them to. I’m also doing my best to encourage lecturers also. I also want to introduce mentoring in the system because most students in the university these days are very young. Therefore, they easily succumb to peer-pressure. They need to have people in the system they could look up to as their role models.

Let us deviate a little; how do you feel about the name change of the University of Lagos?

I’m not happy about it, and all alumni members are also not happy.

The University of Lagos is 50 years old this year, and it is ridiculous to give it a different name at this time.

Everyone who has also passed through the school is not happy!

There is power in a name, and we know that people actually want to be

Prof.Omoegun

Educational standard will improve if we accept our responsibilities—Prof Omoegun

By JOSEPHINE IGBINOVIA associated with the University of Lagos because of its name.

What pressing problems do you see in our educational system?

The social rating of teachers is a huge problem in our society! That’s why so many are not happy to be identified as teachers. In other societies, teachers are well rated and well cared for! When teachers are not happy teaching, we cannot get good results. They ’re already trying to professionalise teaching, and I believe that will address most of the problems we’re having. Some private schools send teachers away at any point because they can easily replace them, but when teaching is actually professionalised, people who are not qualified will no longer be allowed to teach. The professionalisation is already in process, and this would help get rid of quacks. Parents are part of the problems as well. The way they address and challenge teachers in the presence of their kids does not allow some children to respect their teachers. Such parents even end up engaging their child in exam malpractice by helping them pay their way through. This weakens the rating of teachers. We actually have so many problems confronting the educational system, and I will say that everybody is responsible for the fallen standards.

We should all go back to the drawing board before we start pointing fingers.

Things will get better if we all accept our responsibilities as parents, teachers, students and governments.

But what is the hope of an industrious student in a situation where some teachers make bribery the criteria for promoting students?

I believe there is still hope for those who are hardworking. Without giving money to anybody, if you’re good, you stand the chance of doing well! When

people learn to stop giving money, teachers will learn to stop relying on bribes. I believe in hardwork, and my students who work hard get good results. We encourage students to report lecturers who ask them for money, and if they are ready to back their claims with evidence, we would deal with such lecturers. If universities learn to take adequate measures like the use of suggestion boxes as well, the trend will reduce drastically if not eradicated. I tell people, the salary they pay us in the university is sufficient for any lecturer to live well and not harass their students for any purpose.

I understand every school must have counselors; what are these counselors doing about the increasing moral decadence in our institutions of learning?

We’re supposed to have counselors, but the truth is that we do not have enough counselors.

Ideally, it is supposed to be about 300 or 350 students to one counselor.

Rather, we find schools with over a thousand students having just one counselor, and sometimes, the counselors are asked to teach. I’ve always advocated that counselors be allowed to face the job which they have been trained to do. In some schools, you have Vice Principals or Principals who are envious of their counselors, and who even deprive them the right of owning a whole office to themselves. They question why parents go to see the counselors

and not them. Maybe they think the parents go to give money to the counselors. It is so stated in the National Policy of Education that in view of the apparent ignorance of many young people in their career prospects, and in view of personality maladjustment among school children, career masters and counselors should be appointed in all post primary institutions in Nigeria.

But where are the counselors? That’s why we’re having all the problems we’re having amongst students in our institutions. Counselors apply psychology and they know how to set people in the right direction if they find them derailing.

What innovations do you intend bringing into the Faculty of Education as the new elected Dean?

I’m looking at innovations that will elevate the morale of staff and students. The welfare of both staff and students is paramount to me because I believe that when they are happy, things will move on well.

Environmental beautification will also be a priority. I want to ensure we have good lecture rooms, including our Education Hall. Maybe I have a soft spot for our Education Hall because that was where I had my wedding reception in 1975. I want to restore the first-class image the hall had. I also want to work towards having a new building for the Faculty.

In all, I want my students to be proud of being in the Faculty of Education.

The professionalisation of teaching is already in process, and this would help get rid of quacks.

PAGE 34— SUNDAY

VANGUARD, JULY 8, 2012

Prof. Ezeigbo: ‘We ‘ve the potentials to become a top gas economy’ Professor Joseph Ezigbo is the managing director of Falcon Petroleum, an indigenous internal piping and gas conversion company .In this interview, the former lecturer at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka where he served for 29years before leaving, explains why Nigeria is a gas country with little drop of oil. He points out a grand conspiracy to ensure that Nigeria’s iron and steel industry does not work . Excerpts.

How did you come into gas exploration?

ELL, I am not an engineer but a m e d i c a l parasitologist. I lectured in medical parasitology in the university for 25 years before I left.

What actually brought me out of the system was, when I came back from the U.K, I took my students to Port-harcourt and saw the gas flares at night which I saw as a very wasteful exercise .It is criminal for us to flare close to 2.2 billion dollars every year and we are still flaring it till today . It is a waste of our resources and it is so painful. Here is a resource that can be used to develop the country and we just allowed it to waste away. That actually made me to leave the university and, went into gas distribution. I left University of Nigeria, Nsukka on sabbatical to start that and then run the business until it fully stabilized, before I moved down to Lagos and then retire from the university So, what impact have you made so far in curbing gas flaring in the country?

We have done quite a lot because, at this point in time, I have a gas station that is doing 12-15 million scuff of gas everyday and, if you calculate the volume of gas we have actually converted in the last 5-6 years, it is enormous. So, I think we have impacted on the economy positively, contribute to cleaning the environment and also responsible for reduction in cost of gas production in the country because gas is cheaper than diesel or LPFO. So, we have actually helped in reducing the cost of production in industries particularly in our contract area.

Apart from that, before moving to distribution, we have converted about 90 percent of all the industries firing on gas from Ikeja to Apapa in Lagos and then Ota in Ogun State among others. So, I would say modestly we have imparted the country economically, ensured clean environment particularly in the reduction of flares and in the cost of manufacturing by our industries.

W

our company recently signed an MOU with Y Nirmal Industries Limited, an Indian company. What is it about?

When we started gas distribution, it occurred to me that we were purchasing everything we needed for C M Y K

distribution from overseas and we started looking for ways and means of doing a few of these things back home, so we could start to fabricate part of the things in Nigeria .We have always talked about local content in the oil industry yet we have nothing to show for it. There is no country in the world today where oil has been found that doesn’t have an input into the exploration and gasring of the oil and gas . For us, the question should be, how can we get our partners to transfer technology gradually into the system. Ordinarily, nobody would want to transfer technology to another. You have to find ways of picking it. In countries like India, they possibly picked technology.

They get an equipment, dismantle it and rebuild the parts, it may not work initially but gradually they refine and perfect it . But, in this country, we lack the basic structure of the building item- the builder and that’s the iron and steel because without it we cannot do anything. All we do here is to produce rods and tins. We are yet to start producing flat sheets which you can knock into any shape you want . Successive

,

BY AKOMA CHINWEOKE

Professor Joseph Ezigbo four weeks is to equip the fabrication yard and then get a few of the initial materials from India. Some of the machinery we would require would come from India at the end of the month . So, we are looking at being able to start putting together the smaller stations from August this year.

How would that impact on the country’s economy?

When there is a reduction of time from the time you design, manufacture and deliver to the country , that shipment time is gone because, ordinarily, when

When things are done properly, Nigeria would witness an industrial explosion and we would be on the right track for full development

attempts by Nigeria to do that have been thwarted by the powers overseas . see no reason why Ajaokuta steel company should not I function today but there is a conspiracy to ensure that the Nigerian iron and steel industry does not work because the full development of the Iron and steel is the bedrock of any industrial revolution. So, what we are trying to do here is to see what are those items that we can bring in and slowly we can start fabricating.

Now there is a major move in the country today to try and see if we can address the imbalances in our system. We can start fabricating in our system , in our gas stations and start to build some components to reduce the volume of importation of parts.

So, there is lots of benefits that would accrue to the country the moment we start to assemble, fabricate and manufacture the components of our gas stations .

Our MOU with Nirmal Industries is on 60-40 basis . So, Falcon Gas and Nirmal Industries have formed a company called Nirmal Nigeria in which we own 60 percent stake and Nirmal of India owns 40 percent and we provide the local engineers . This partnership would bring toNigeria the first ever fabrication of natural gas station in Nigeria. We have already built fabrication stations in Ikorodu and Lagos and what we are going to do within the next

,

we design, we go to India, UK or any other country to design our stations and come back . But now if you are to do the design in Nigeria, it would cut cost, save time and you will employ more people . So, you have reduction in cost of your equipment, more employment of Nigerians who would work in the fabrication yards and then you cut down the time of your production.

Can natural gas be used for cooking?

The answer is yes. Overseas they use it for cooking but in Nigeria when it is economical for them to use natural gas in their homes is when they use it in heating their homes when it is cold . If you look at the entire Lagos, the volume of gas they would spend in cooking for one month , an industry would fire it in one hour . So, it is not economical to send natural gas to homes because of the cost of the infrastructure but what you can do with it is to generate electricity that can be used for your appliances and air conditioners. There are gas air conditioners but they are much more expensive than the electric ones.

You mentioned that gas can be used to generate electricity yet stable power supply is still elusive?

You know if you go up in the North, they don’t have drinking water but they have water underground. If you have what you don’t have access to, you don’t have it. We have natural gas

but we don’t have access to it. It is easier to flare it than to clean that gas and pipe it as it is very expensive. That is why the IOCs can’t do it . They prefer you surcharge them a minimal amount for flaring the gas instead of commissioning the gas and actually utilizing it. In most civilized countries, they would not allow you to flare but our system is so loose and allows these flares. But once the PIB is passed, it would ensure that our gas is well utilized and that we actually benefit from the its potentials. At the moment, we are losing so much from the sector as it is not properly harnessed. When things are done properly, Nigeria would witness an industrial explosion and we would be on the right track for full development and unless that happens we are not going anywhere.

Is there any end in sight to gas flaring?

As we speak today, gas is still being flared and we are expecting that with the introduction of the PIB, it will be reduced. I do not see any reason why this country will still flare gas because we don’t have the legal framework to actually drive this issue of gas within the country’s economy.

What other impact do you think the passage of PIB will have on the economy?

The the PIB is an all embracing law. Gas is only a segment but why

I talk about gas is that Nigeria is a gas country not an oil country.

Nigeria is a gas country with little drop of oil but, because our major revenue earner has always been oil, the tendency is for a lot of people to begin to think that crude oil is the mainstay of the country’s economy. No, because of the cost of the infrastructure for the development of gas, many tend to run away from it . If they flare the gas, it is easy to pick up crude oil, pass it into a tanker, then you go but for gas you can’t do that . It must go to a dedicated user because you can’t treat it. You either pipe it or you liquify it as LNG. The cost of liquidation is something to think about . Pipping again is something that can be quite expensive. The development of gas has all this while taken the back stage but, with the PIB, things would become normal and change the country to become a top gas economy instead of a crude oil economy. Another thing is that the crude oil we have in Nigeria would probably last the next 30-40 years while the gas we know we have at the moment would last for at least over a hundred years .

Do you mean that gas has the capacity of generating more revenue than oil?

There is no gainsaying it. When gas is harnessed properly, it would generate more revenue than oil .Again, for the fact that the oil we have in this country would last for the next 30-40 years on the average, while the gas gas would last us conservatively another 150 years but again this is based on gas available from crude oil exploration . By the time we start looking for gas, we may find that gas we have in this country might exceed 200years.

From left: Mr. Thobo Makoko, Head of Business Stanbic IBTC Bank Plc, Mr. Maxwell Loko, Director NTA-Startime, Mr. Joshua Wang, CEO, NTA-Star and Mrs. Bola Ajibode, Head Large Local and Chinese Corporates, during a press briefing by Star TimesStanbic IBTC Bank Plc, on Mobile Money Service, in Lagos. Photo: Joe Akintola, Photo Editor.

From right: Facilitator, Mindplus Facilitation Limited, Miss Ivie Igbinosun; Managing Director/CEO, Mr. Noruwa Edokpolo and Business Development Manager, Mr. Vincent Goldfinger Chukwuka, during a media biefing on the official launch of Mindplus Training Centre to the Nigerian Business Community, at Ogba, Lagos. Photo: Kehinde Gbadamosi.

SUNDAY VANGUARD, JULY 8, 2012, PAGE 35

Customs intercepts air-pistols, security gadgets at Airport

BY UDEME CLEMENT

Comptroller Charles Edike

T

HE Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Murtala Muhammed International Airport, (MMIA) Ikeja, Command has intercepted air pistols, camouflages and other security equipment, smuggled into the country in four different bags during an operation within the airport. This is happening barely two months the

Command seized explosives imported into the country through the same airport.

The equipment, which include air-pistols, bullet proof, overall uniforms, jackets, face caps, purse, combat caps, walkie-talkie, shockers, knee pads, cans of tear gas, chargers, head scanners, camouflages, knives, baltons, traffic bars and many others items, were seized from a passenger identified as Mr. Bashiru Ali, who arrived Nigeria from South Africa.

Briefing newsmen at the Command, the Customs Area Controller (CAC) of MMIA, Comptroller Charles Edike, said, “On Sunday July 1, 2012, Mr. Bashiru Ali, a passenger from South Africa came into the nation’s airport with luggages and went towards the green channel, a channel, which shows that passengers have nothing to declare. He was stopped by customs officers for examination but he

tried to resist by offering the officers $400 bribe to enable him enter the country with his bags. The officers who refused the bribe became curious and searched his bags only to discover these weapons and security items concealed in his bags. He was immediately apprehended and the items were seized.”

He continued, “The normal practice is that when passengers arrive in the country, those who have something to declare often move towards the red channel to make their declarations, while those who have nothing to declare move towards the green channel. Our officers noted that the suspect deliberately went towards the green channel in order to escape security checks at the airport. For instance, the airpistols can easily be converted into regular pistols and such is not good for our economic environment. All the items he

smuggled into the country are prohibited goods. As such, he contravened section 1, 9, 13 and 16 sub-section 4, of Customs, Excise Tariff, Etc. (Consolidation) Act of first September 2008 as amended.

He also contravened the Customs and Excise Management Act (CEMA) Cap 45, Law of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004 as amended.

Therefore the items are seized and the suspect must be handed over to the police for further investigations into the matter. We are very vigilant at the airport. By May this year, we also intercepted explosives coming into the country from South Africa ”.

Responding to question on whether the suspect had official permits for the items, he said, “Ali had no police permit, no official paper from the appropriate security agency in the country and no paper from Customs management, which

necessitated why he tried to bribe the officers. We commend the Customs management for adequate motivation of officers, because this has made them to be disciplined and committed to their statutory duty. This is the first time in the history of this country that Customs officers are receiving 100 per cent salary increase.

If the officers had taken the $400 bribe and allowed those weapons into the country, imagine the security implications.”

Giving insight in the activities of the Command, the CAC said, “We ensure that every airway bill must be accounted for no matter how small. A small airway bill can be much more expensive than a bigger truck-load of goods.

In May 2011, we had 2064 declarations but in May 2012, we had 5,342 declarations. In June 2011, we recorded 2,316 declarations but in June 2012 we had 4,811 declarations, not withstanding the fact that agents closed shop for 12 working days. In June 2011, we realised N2.6billion revenue but in June 2012, we made N3.1billion, in spite of the fact that agents did not work for 12 days.”

After our Africa exploits,we now chase international laurels– FLP boss FOREVER Living Products h as become a household name in Nigeria providing health, beauty and wellness products. Just back from an African Rally at the serene resort of Sun-City, South Africa where with a strong contingent of 1,600 distributors, it created an amazing performance beating other African countries back-to-back since 2010, providing the top four of the topmost-five African distributors; first in overall continental sales as well as winning the African Sonya Beauty contest.

In this interview, company Managing Director, Mr. Cornelius Tay, relives the excitement that was Nigeria’s participation at the Rally. Excerpts:

F

LP has been doing well in Nigeria. How do you compare with others involved in the business in the continent?

There is no doubt that Nigeria is the foremost country in FLP business in Africa today.

And in fact, we are ranked among the top countries in the whole world. Four years ago Nigeria was not the Number One country in Africa, but we soon took over that leadership position when the African Rally was held in Abuja, Nigeria.

And ever since, we have maintained the top position in terms of continental sales in the past three years. We held that position in 2010, 2011, and this year, 2012, when the African Rally was held in South Africa. So, in the past four years, Nigeria has always set the pace for the rest of the conti-

Mr. Cornelius Tay nent. We are very grateful for the success of our distributors, and for their exceptional achievements in this multi-level marketing business which has become extremely popular and extremely rewarding for all the Nigerians who are either fully engaged in it or are doing it on part time basis.

You had the largest contingent and we hear you had four of the five topmost positions in the African Rally.

How did you manage that?

Nigeria recorded a number of firsts in this year ’s African Rally. Firstly, Nigeria had the largest number of attendees.

Ours was a huge number, almost 50 percent of the entire Rally participants were Nigerians. For every two people, there was a Nigerian. The country was well represented.

Secondly, Nigeria was declared as the number one country in Africa on the basis of continental sales in the period 2011 / 2012. Thirdly, Nigeria recorded the highest growth rate in terms of sales per year to date which the chairman of the company, Mr. Rex Maughan, pronounced as one hundred percent growth.

That is spectacular for us. In addition, Nigeria produced the Sonya Queen for Africa, this year. Chioma Ajah, the Nigerian Sonya Queen, beat

all other contestants from all over Africa to emerge the continental queen in Sun-City, South Africa. So, she represents Africa at the Super Rally in Phoenix, Arizona, USA, during the World Rally in August, this year. And as if that was not enough, Nigeria produced the highest number of profit-share qualifiers. Of the 120 profit share qualifiers in the continent, Nigeria pro-

Nigeria was declared as the number one country in Africa on the basis of continental sales in the period 2011 / 2012

strength of their network, their team capacity and the overall quality of their multi-level marketing business. Also Nigeria is the first company in Africa to offer on-line registration for distributors.

There are many other ways in which Nigeria is miles ahead, and we are just very grateful to God and we thank all our distributors for their support.

This is an international business known all over the world.

How does these achievements make you feel as the company M.D.?

Well, I am humbled by this experience. I am also humbled by the many congratulatory messages we have received and I am humbled by the appreciation of the founder and chairman of the company. I am humbled by the kind words of the president of the company for the performance of Nigeria. And everybody is saying that I have done a great job. But I must say very quickly that I only provided leadership

duced 45 of that number, and of the US$3 million shared among African profit share qualifiers, almost 70% went to Nigerian qualifiers. Nigeria received the two topmost cheques at the event. The number one cheque of US$335,000+ went to the Ekperigins, and the second topmost cheque of US$279,000+ went to Kikelomo Apeji. In the top five cheques, Nigeria had four. In terms of the volume of business, turned over by the various distributors across Africa, Nigeria produced Numbers 1, Number 2, Number 3 and Number 4 of the top five distributors in the continent, based on the volume of their business, the

L-R: His Excellency, Mr Chris Cooter, High Commissioner of Canada, Engineer Ola Folorunso, the Managing Director, Western Concrete Limited and Otunba Babatunde Ogebule, the Owu of Oke- Olowu Kingdom, during the 145th edition of the Canada Day in Lagos.

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BY TONY NWANKWO

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and direction, I also provided the vision, I set the rules that will ensure that we succeed as a company. So, personally, I am not surprised that we achieved these results. The appreciation should go to the distributors of the company, who share the vision with me, and who are ready to challenge themselves to be very successful. Those of them who realise that if they put all their efforts into something, that the company is sound and well organised, to give them the platform that they can really fly.

So the distributors are the ones who have made this success story possible. I am also grateful because I have a team of staff, who, even under pressure and difficult circumstances were taught to give their best and understand that their job as my staff are to make the distributors succeed in the market place.

These are simple management principles that have brought about these results.

PAGE 36—SUNDAY VANGUARD, JULY 8, 2012

SUNDAY DISCOURSE The Legislature: Roles, misconceptions and experience in democratic Nigeria (2)

The Buhari – NaÀbba – Etteh era The House of Representatives similarly witnessed a crisis of leadership which also had its origin in the meddlesomeness of the Executive. The undisguised and open support by the Executive for Hon. Salisu Buhari compelled other major contenders for the post of speaker like Hon. Farouk Lawan and Hon. Sadiq Yar ’Adua to step-down their ambitions, thus paving the way for the emergence of Buhari. But due diligence was not conducted on his background and that eventually proved costly Both Enwerem and Buhari were eventually removed. In the Senate, Okadigbo replaced Enwerem while Hon. Ghali Na’Abba emerged in the House of Representatives in accordance with the wishes and aspirations

through its Committees on Public Petitions, has the constitutional mandate to receive and enquire into public petitions and complaints brought to its attention.

In the last 12 years of our democratic experiment, many of such petitions and complaints have been received and conclusively addressed by both

inquisition has now become the cure of executive recklessness.

Holding government accountable The legislature, through its oversight functions, holds the Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) accountable to the public. Since it has the responsibility to appropriate and allocate funds to the various government institutions for their operations, it naturally follows that the legislature must oversee these institutions to ensure that the public get value for their money and also ensure that these institutions are run in accordance with the laws of the land.

chambers of the National Assembly.

This is one of the representative functions of the National Assembly.

Power of confirmation The legislature also has the sole power under the constitution to screen and confirm nominees for appointment into the Executive Council of the Federation (EXCOF) and other federal executive bodies.

The legislature also approves government nominees for ambassadorial postings. This power is exclusively performed by the Senate. There are however some exceptions in which the concurrence of the House of Representatives is required. For example the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) Act, 2000 requires the Senate to consult with the House of Representatives in the confirmation of nominees into

Emeka Ihedioha of the majority of the members.

The crises of leadership in the National Assembly, however, could not go away because of the dangerous seed of discord that had been sown at inception.

The musical chair continued in the Senate with very high leadership turn-over. In the House, several attempts were made to remove Na’Abba from office, but he managed to stay on till the end of his tenure.

The instability in the House continued during the era of Patricia Olubunmi Etteh, the first female Speaker.

Her emergence also had its root in the interference of the Executive in the affairs of the House. In the crisis that ensued, she was forced to resign.

These series of crises which were as a result of the combination of external interference and the relative inexperience of the legislature at inception (which had its roots in the prolonged military domination of the political process) were mainly responsible for the initial public misconception and misperception of the legislature.

Legislature as the bulwark of democracy In my introduction, I identified the basic roles of the legislature to include law making, representation and oversight.

Beyond these, the legislature carries out many other important functions in our polity which are intended to promote good governance and development.

Investigative roles The legislature, in a democracy, has the sole constitutional power to conduct investigations into any agency of government with a view to exposing corruption and correcting any lapses in the conduct of public policy. This power is enjoyed under Section 88 of the Constitution as amended.

In carrying out its investigative roles, the National Assembly can summon any person in Nigeria “to give evidence at any place or produce any document or other thing in his possession or under his control, and examine him as a witness, subject to all just exceptions”.

Public petitions: The National Assembly,

Power of appropriation: Under its lawmaking role, the National Assembly is saddled with the power of appropriation.

Perhaps, this is the single-most important function of the legislature under our Constitution.

The power of appropriation is conferred on the legislature by Section 81 of the Constitution as amended. Under this section, no money shall be withdrawn from the Consolidated Revenue Fund or other public funds of the Federation without the authorization of the National

,

PERHAPS this forum offers a platform to emphasize that following from the power sharing formula between the North and South in the 2 nd Republic, the PDP, which won the 1999 elections, was expected to zone the Senate Presidency to the North but the newly elected President, at the time in his wisdom (which I don’t want to fault), zoned the Senate Presidency to Dr. Alex Ekwueme, a South Easterner whom he defeated in the party primaries.

However, Ekwueme declined on the basis of honour but rather recommended Senator Onyeabo Obi, a 2nd Republic Senator who was not even a candidate in the elections, but the complications arising from the refusal of Dr. Nnamdi Eriobuna, who had won the Anambra South Senatorial seat on the platform of the ruling PDP, to step down and pave the way for Onyeabo Obi frustrated this project.

Consequently, Dr. Chuba Okadigbo, from the same Anambra State, became the obvious and popular choice of both the PDP and South East, for the coveted seat.

However, the desire of the Executive to exercise total control over the Legislature led to the imposition of leadership in the two chambers of the National Assembly against the preferences of majority of members. It will be recalled that Dr. Okadigbo had, prior to the inauguration of the National Assembly in 1999, been adopted for Senate Presidency by the caucus of the PDP which was the majority party in the National Assembly.

But through acts of subterfuge, the Executive infiltrated the ranks of the Senators-elect, used a splinter group of the PDP caucus and members of the opposition parties (APP and AD) to frustrate the choice of Dr. Okadigbo as Senate President.

Instead, the Executive propped up Chief Evan Enwerem and rallied support to him, thereby enthroning him as the President of the Senate contrary to popular expectations. With this development, the seed of discord and instability was sown in the National Assembly.

The legislature is a highly misunderstood institution in our country today. Because it is misunderstood as a result of what I call crisis of expectations, it has also become highly maligned even by those who should know better

Assembly.

Much of the influence which the legislature enjoys in the polity is derived essentially from its power of appropriation which it has effectively deployed with regard to the siting of government projects and infrastructure.

However, no one is in doubt today why the budget was never funded in spite of our huge infrastructural deficits.

We believe that going forward; the Nigerian public will take a more sympathetic interest in the huge efforts we put up in the nation building process.

Our circumstance is not helped by the skepticism that has been the lot of the legislature, given many years of military domination of our polity. Some persons still see us as meddlesome; a burdensome institution and, in some cases, an overweight in the democratic project.

Going forward, we should be assessed by the savings we make for the nation as the fear of our

,

NDDC Governing Board.

Conflict mediation and resolution The legislature also has the added responsibility of conflict mediation and resolution.

I can testify that in this area, the legislature has established an enviable record of performance.

For instance, since 1999 the legislature has positively intervened and settled several government – labour disputes, be it over minimum wage, ASUU demands for better conditions of service in the universities or most recently, the fuel subsidy crisis.

Leadership recruitment The legislature performs the functions of political recruitment and leadership development. The parliament has over time served as major channels of recruitment, providing a pool of talent from which leading decision makers emerge (PARP: 2010: 16). For example, this is evident in the number of legislators that have

moved up the political ladder in our country today.

Protection of the interests of the people EAs the representatives of the people, our responsibility is, primarily, to protect and defend the interests and rights of our constituents.

Much more importantly, as the true representatives of the people, we also ensure that the dividends of democracy are attracted to our respective constituencies to serve the best interests of our people. We also assist them in getting job placements.

The public misconception of the legislature The legislature is a highly misunderstood institution in our country today. Because it is misunderstood as a result of what I call crisis of expectations, it has also become highly maligned even by those who should know better.

Most often, people confuse the roles of the executive with that of the legislature. The doctrine of separation of powers, which assigns different responsibilities to different arms of government, does not seem to make any sense to most Nigerians who expect the Nigerian legislator to provide roads, schools, bridges, markets, hospitals, electricity, water, etc, in the community, even when this does not fall within the schedule of the legislature.

The provision of such social infrastructure falls within the ambit of executive functions. We only appropriate the money for the Executive to provide these infrastructures. most often, our B ut constituents including the enlightened ones believe that an elected representative is empowered with resources to provide public infrastructure.

This is one of the many misconceptions which have continued to dog the legislature.

This brings me to the question of the running costs of each legislator in the National Assembly which has been highly misconceived by the public. It is from the money budgeted for running costs that every member of the House meets his obligations to his office in the National Assembly and the constituency office back at home.

For instance as the Deputy Speaker, I must attend social and community functions of my colleagues like burials, weddings, turbanning ceremonies, thanksgiving services, birthday celebrations etc. I also have security aides and assistants attached to my office who must travel with me on official engagements. In addition, we are entitled to consultants who research on our Bills and Motions. The vehicles with which we travel all the times on constituency visits also need to be regularly maintained.

All these activities are funded from official running costs which can hardly subsist. But the

Continues on page 39

SUNDAY VANGUARD, JULY 8, 2012, PAGE 37

P

erhaps, had Labaran Maku, Information and Communication Minister, been one of the bereaved parents of youth corps members who lost their lives in the wake of the violence that erupted after the April, 2011, general elections, he would not have spoken so gleefully about an assurance by the federal government to parents whose children are now being posted to troubled areas in Nigeria’s North East geo-political zone.

Maku said parents should not fret that their children are being posted to places like Borno or Yobe or Bauchi or, lately, Kaduna and Kano, to serve the nation as corps members – he said this shortly after the Executive Council of the Federation, EXCOF, meeting of last Wednesday. Already, most parents have caused their children to reject postings to these troubled areas.

The wanton destruction of lives and property in many states of Northern Nigeria, by Islamic fundamentalists has created fresh problems for the management of the National Youth Service Corps, NYSC, led

by Brig. Gen Nnamdi OkoreAffia.

There was palpable apprehension among prospective 2012 Batch ‘B’ corps members until last week, when the callup letters were released. The heartless killing of corps members in Bauchi and Borno states were all too fresh on the minds of Nigerians and coupled with the escalating attacks by Islamic extremists, the concern for the personal safety of corps members can be appreciated.

Brig. Gen. Okore-Affia is now battling to save the principle of equitable distribution of corps members among the states of the federation on the one hand and ensuring the personal safety of each corps member, on the other. The one-year National Service which was established, by former Head of State, General Yakubu Gowon, in 1973, shortly after the Nigerian Civil War to foster national integration. The programme is now threatened by insecurity.

The NYSC helmsman recognizes the challenges the scheme now faces and had in February promised not to send corps members to volatile states, unless governors of such states take responsibility for their personal safety.

“Any of the volatile states that want corps members to be posted to there must write with firm assurance of adequate security and would bear the consequences of any threat to the

INSECURITY

NYSC faces posting challenges

Corp members (Inset) DG, NYSC, Brig. Gen Nnamdi Okore-Affia

,

BY EMMA UJAH & CALEB AYANSINA

Although governors of various states in the North have been giving assurances on safety, these assurances no longer carry weight, considering the fact that even those governors are themselves targets of attacks

,

security of the corps members,” Gen. Affia said at the unveiling of a new posting policy of the NYSC. The D-G had also said earlier, while assuming office “young Nigerian graduates are trained by their parents, 4/ 5/6 years in the university, in pursuance of this educational obligation are set out irrespective of where they come from, lining them up and killing them is not part of agenda of integration.

“We will not in any way expose these young men and women to death; we will not waste them because of the obligation”, he said.

Okore-Affia added that corps members are not armed to defend themselves; therefore, any crisis-prone state will not receive any corps member.

He stressed, “Any of the volatile states that want corps mem-

weight, considering the fact that even those governors are themselves targets of attacks.

It was therefore not a surprise that a large number of corps members who were posted to the North stormed the Yakubu n that spirit, Gowon House headthen Minister quarters of the NYSC, of Youth Developlast week.

Their mesment, Mallam Bolaji sage was very Abdullahi, as a reclear. They sult of outbreak of won’t accrisis in Yobe cept their and Borno posting States dito the rected the North. immediate T o redeploythem, ment of be2011 Batch ing ‘C’ who Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, posted w e r e Minister of Youth Development t o posted to the North was a death sentence. the states, to other parts of the country after they completed Even those posted to some their mandatory induction ex- states in the North West and ercise in Nasarawa and Benue North Central were scared to report to camp because accordStates.

He said, “No corps members ing to them North is North.

“We prefer to die here instead under the current batch ‘C’ should be posted back to the of being killed by Boko Haram two states after their camp ac- in the North”, some of them tivities in Nasarawa and Benue told journalists.

States. he peaceful protest which “I observed the on-going constarted Friday June 29 troversy and confusion over the marked the climax of agitation fate of would-be corps memby parents and the corps members originally posted to the two States. I wish to state clearly bers to avert the recurrence of that no new corps member killing of NYSC members.

The plea by some NYSC staff, would be posted to these states for them to report to their camp under the current ‘Batch C’ mobilization of corps mem- and commence redeployment bers”. Although governors of process fell on deaf ears.

“I have started by camping various states in the North here since Friday last week, have been giving assurances that they would ensure the when I complete my 3 week orisafety of corps members, these entation exercise, I will go back assurances no longer carry home if they don’t do any bers to be posted to their states must write with firm assurance of adequate security and would bear the consequences of any threat to the security of the corps members”.

I

T

thing”, a protester told Vanguard. “Let them give exemption letter, that is better than serving in Borno State”, another concluded.

Most of the protesters were mainly from south-south, south-east and south-west, who said “even routes to the camps are more deadly than camp; we don’t know any short-cuts”.

Investigations have shown that many parents have refused to release their children for the service, saying that they would rather miss the service than go to a state where there is bombing and killing every day.

Some of those posted to the perceived troubled states are frantically visiting hospitals, looking for health certificates to present as reason why they must be redeployed to other states.

Meanwhile, the Director of Mobilisation, Mrs Mercy Kolajo, while addressing the protesters, explained that corps members have to report to camp first before they could talk of relocation, insisting that they could not do redeployment in the headquarters, except the state coordinators after they might have filled the redeployment form.

“The 2012 batch ‘B’ prospective corps members who have collected their call-up letters from their institutions should immediately proceed to their respective orientation camps for registration and camping exercise. Whoever is interested in seeking relocation should make a request for relocation while in camp”.

A

lso, the Director of Press and Public Relation Unit, Mrs Abosede Aderibigbe, confirmed that any corps member who feels threatened has right to apply for redeployment, maintaining that loitering around the headquarters will not assist corps members.

She said: “We cannot force parents to release their children. If they are not releasing them, their children can wait for the next batch, but we can assure that there is not going to be a problem in our camps.

“And it is the right of those wanting to be redeployed, but they must first resume at the orientation camps for registration because we cannot redeploy unregistered corps members”.

Continues on page 38

PAGE 38—SUNDAY VANGUARD, JULY 8, 2012 tion Agenda, the FCT Administration can now generate its medical oxygen in the Asokoro District Hospital because an oxygen refill plant has been installed and commissioned.

Under medical laboratory sub-section, the FCT Administration has procured and installed automated haematology analyser (18-Parameter) as well as Semi automated chemistry analyser respectively and has been deployed to all the 12 FCT City Hospitals.

This is in addition to Siemens analyser to handle reproductive cases in eight of the FCT City Hospitals and Urine analyser in all the 12 FCT City Hospitals. Under the same laboratory sub-section, the Minister has been able to procure and install Adaltis Machine, Tumour Makers, P24 Antigen, Hormone Assay in six Hospitals comprising Wuse, Asokoro, Maitama, Gwarinpa District as well as Kubwa and Nyanya General Hospitals respectively.

How Bala transformed FCT hospitals renovated as well as reconstructed, equipped and commissioned to the glory of God and service of humanity.

The FCT Administration is conscious that medical services and facilities cannot be advertised, but facts ought to be put across to enable Nigerians appreciate the dividends of democracy and that Transformation Agenda of the Federal Government is on course in the Federal Capital Territory as expressed by the Minister who is the representative of President Goodluck

Board to oversee the Primary Healthcare in Territory; aside the up-scaling of the FCT Mobile Outreach Programme (The Mailafiya).

F

rom all ramifications, the quality to Healthcare in FCT has been increased by the procurement, installation and commissioning of certain sensitive modern equipment under radiology which include 64-Slice City Scanner as well as Digital Fluoroscope XRay machine at the Asokoro District Hospital.

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oday hospitals globally have become standard places where people go to seek medical attention but it all started at Les Invalides in France in 1671.

The institutions created specifically to take care of the ill also appeared early in India according to the earliest surviving encyclopedia of medicine in Sanskrit is the Charakasamhita (Compendium of Charaka).

There are also evidences of Hospital care at the time of King Ashok. Early hospitals in India were built by Ashok (273-232BC). During that time even, the importance of nutritive value of fresh fruit and vegetables were known.

Gentle care, personal hygiene and herbal medicines were given to the sick. The allopathic system of medicine was introduced in India in 16th century.

However, a modern hospital has become highly scientific and complex institution over the years particularly in the last three decades. This is due to the introduction of diagnostic and therapeutic technologies.

From the time Senator Bala Abdulkadir Mohammed took over the mantle of leadership of the Federal Capital Territory, access to Health care has been drastically increased maybe because it is encapsulated in the Transformation Agenda of President Goddluck Jonathan.

The Minister embarked on new and in some cases strived to complete on-going hospital infrastructures and aggressively scouted for qualified personnel as well as capacity building drive. For instance, in 2011, 80 beds capacity secondary care facilities were provided in FCT including the Zuba Cottage Hospital 40 Beds, Nyanya Hospital 20 beds, Gwarinpa Hospital 10 Beds and Kubwa 10 beds.

Accordingly in 2011, another 48 beds have been provided under the Primary health Care at various locations of the FCT including the 12 beds each in Shere, Wasa, Apo Resettlement sites and Kubwa owner occupier site respectively.

It may be recalled that the General Hospital Rubochi which was abandoned, was

It may be recalled that the General Hospital Rubochi which was abandoned, was renovated as well as reconstructed, equipped and commissioned to the glory of God and service to humanity Jonathan by employing 900 Health workers cutting across all the health and medical professions in 2011.

On treatment of the most disturbing disease in Africa, the malaria, no doubt, its incidence in FCT has dropped from 57,705 in 2010 to 46,504 in 2011(22% reduction), 15% increase in outpatient attendance in Secondary Care Facilities in 2011 (Total outpatient seen in 2010 was 59,5264 compared to 654,553 in 2011) The Minister has also established the FCT Primary Healthcare Development

,

Another giant stride is the procurement and installation of Digital X-Ray machine in Asokoro and Maitama District Hospitals by Senator Mohammed which happens to be the first in the entire Northern region of Nigeria; in addition to the Mammography Machine for detecting breast cancer in the Maitama District Hospital.

The Asokoro District Hospital now has Ultra-Sound and Echo Cardiograph machine; while four new Static X-Ray machines have been installed in Gwarinpa, Wuse, Maitama

Continued from page 37

Reps directs cancelling of NYSC posting to N/E The House of Representatives, on Tuesday, directed Corps headquarters to cancel all posting of corps members to states in the North East which are facing security challenges.

Also in its resolution on a motion moved by a member, Mr Peter Edeh, under matters of urgent public importance, the House has further directed the NYSC to maintain such stance until the security threats in the affected states have been satisfactorily addressed.

The Reps however asked corps members who opted to serve in the troubled states to be allowed to do so.

Hon Edeh explained that the call for cancellation of all corps members' posting

Senator Bala Abdulkadir Mohammed District and Kubwa General Hospitals respectively.

The FCT Administration under Senator Mohammed has been able to procure four new Mobile X-Ray Units and have been deployed to Asokoro, Maitama, Wuse and Gwarinpa District Hospitals; apart from the four new HD3 Ultra-Sound Machines (Philips) for Maitama, Gwarinpa, Wuse District and Nyanya General Hospitals to help check pregnant women and patients with liver or abdominal medical cases.

The FCT Administration in compliance with the Transformation Agenda of President Jonathan has been able to procure ventilators and established Intensive Care Unit (ICU) in Maitama, Aokoro and Wuse District Hospitals respectively which services were hitherto provided only in the National Hospital in the entire 8,000 square kilometers of the Federal Capital Territory.

Courtesy of the Transforma-

I

n looking at the 2012 statutory budget of the Federal Capital Territory, provision had been made for the procurement and installation of 1.5 Tesler MRI Machine in Asokoro and 64-Slice City Scanner in Maitama District Hospitals. Meanwhile, approval has already been obtained for the procurement and installation of Operative Laposcope in general surgery, gynecology and Urology, as well as endoscope to upper and lower gastrointestinal track.

From the fore-going, the dream of Senator Bala Mohammed in making Abuja the hub of medical services in the West African sub-sahara is close to becoming a reality as he has been able to make Asokoro District Hospital a referral medical institution, no wonder all health facilities in the FCT are always filled to capacity especially by patients from the contiguous states to the Federal Capital Territory, thereby inundating the system.

Muhammad Hazat Sule is Chief Press Secretary to the FCT Minister

NYSC faces posting challenges to the troubled states was further necessitated by the fact that corps members were "ill-equipped and ill-trained to defend themselves" in the face of unprovoked attacks. His submissions were corroborated by Minority Leader of the House, Hon Femi Gabjabiamila, who argued that the notion that corps members must serve outside their states of origin was wrong, as according to him, framers of the NYSC Act did not envisage such threats to lives of innocent Nigerian youths.

H

e said where there are obvious se curity threats there was nothing wrong to temporarily leave out crisis-prone areas in the posting of corps members.

Similarly, Hon. Bitrus Kaze said the call

was in order. Recalling the experiences of the post-election violence in which corps members were specifically targeted and killed, the lawmaker said the move was to protect the lives of innocent Nigerian youths.

However, Ahmed Kaita and Kyari Gujbawu who opposed the motion argued that it was not in tandem with the philosophy of the NYSC scheme.

While according to Kaita, the action would defeat the purpose of the scheme, Bujubawa cautioned that if complied with, it would set a dangerous precedence, adding that the security agencies should rather be urged to step-up their operations to guarantee the security of the corps members when posted.

When the question was put to vote by

SUNDAY VANGUARD, JULY 8, 2012, PAGE 39

By Favour Nnabugwu

T

he Minister of State for Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Oloye Olajumoke Akinjide, has inaugurated a Ministerial Monitoring Committee to ensure a hitch-free Hajj operation for this year.

The Committee is chaired by the Secretary, Area Councils Secretariat, Hon. Yahaya Alhassan Gwagwa, and has as secretary, Alhaji Isiaka Kehinde, the Personal Assistant to the Minister of State on Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board.

Other members of the ministerial monitoring committee for the Hajj are: Director of Treasury, Federal Capital Territory Administration, Alhaji Ibrahim Bomai; Director of Security, FCTA, Mallam A. Bashir; Director of Special Duties in the Office of the Minister of State, Alhaji Sagir Hamidu; Special Assistant to

Hajj: Minister to monitor operations

Oloye Olajumoke Akinjide

the Minister of State on Area Councils, Alhaji Ibraheem A. Ibraheem; Deputy Director, Admin in FCTA, Hajiya Suleiman Danbatta; Special Assistant to Permanent Secretary, FCTA, Salihu Ismaila Evuti; Alhaji Umarfarouk Adamu Auta, and Dr. Abdullahi.

The minister mandated the Committee members to monitor the conduct of the 2012 Hajj operation as well as en-

sure the success of the operation.

“As the members of the Committee are expected to do a clinical assessment of last year’s Hajj with a view to correcting any mistake made, we should be mindful of other novel factors which can impact on this year’s Hajj.

“The overall task, succinctly, is to make this year’s operation the best ever. It is expected that you will put in

your possible best in this noble assignment,” she stated.

The Chairman of the ministerial committee commended the minister for putting in place various measures, including the constituting a ministerial body for the operation, to ensure a smooth Hajj operation for the pilgrims.

He assured that the committee would assiduously accomplish the mandate given to them.

REFORM PROGRAMMES

FG, EU, Sign N43 billion Financing Agreements

By Chris Ochayi

T

he Federal Government has signed Financing Agreement with European Union, EU, for five European Union- funded projects valued at N43 billion to support the Federal Government’s reform efforts in the areas of justice, water supply and sanitation, electoral cycle as well as fight against drugs and related organised crime.

Minister of National Planning Commission, NPC, Dr. Shamsuddeen Usman signed the agreement on behalf of the government, while Ambassador and Head of Delegation of the European Union to Nigeria and ECOWAS, H.E. Dr.

David MacRae signed for the European Union.

The signing ceremony followed a similar event on 19 March 2012, during which the financing agreement for a project supporting the fight against corruption in Nigeria was signed.

The project on water supply and sanitation sector reform programme phase 11 (WSSSRP-11) is valued at 97 Million Euros while the support to the Federal Government Reform Programme (SUFEGOR) and support to electoral cycle have a contract value of 20 million Euros each.

The justice sector project which is worth 27 Million Euros (about N5.3bn) will contribute towards improving the

effectiveness, accessibility, accountability, transparency and fairness of the justice system while 36 million euro is dedicated to support the Fight against Drugs and Organised Crime.

Speaking at the signing ceremony, the Minister of National Planning Commission described the two projects as remarkable and also fully aligned to the Government’s vision 20-2020 as well as the present Administration’s reform agenda, in both its broad and specific terms.

Dr. Usman also said that the two projects are aimed at promoting good governance, security, transparency, accountability, curbing drugs, organised crime and reform-

Dr. Shamsuddeen Usman ing in the justice sector.

The Minister stated that Federal Government recognises the need for a better coordination of the entire justice sector, which involves the police, the courts and the prisons.

Dr. MacRae noted that the overall objective of the projects is to promote good governance and the rule of law, and contribute to Nigeria's efforts in the reform of the justice sector and in addressing drug and related crime in Nigeria. In both cases the expected results are intended to enhance the development of Nigeria for the benefit of its citizens.

The justice sector project is targeted to benefit amongst others, the Federal Ministry of Justice, the Federal Judiciary, the National Judicial Institute, the Nigeria Police Force, the Nigerian Prisons Service and the National Planning Commission. Other important stakeholders are expected to benefit from the project are the National Human Rights Commission, the Legal Aid Council of Nigeria, and selected State Ministries of Justice and Judiciary.

The main beneficiaries of the 35 million Euros (N6.8bnb) project targeting at the fight against drugs and related crime, are the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), the Nigeria Police Force, the Nigeria Customs Service, the Nigeria Immigration Service, and the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), together with nonstate stakeholders (CSOs, media, academia).

The Legislature: Roles, misconceptions and experience in democratic Nigeria (2) Continued from page 36 erroneous impression created in public opinion is that these are slush funds for members of the National Assembly. Some even erroneously call it allowances.

Nothing can be further from the truth!

7th House of Representatives and the experience at the consolidation of our democracy: House of The 7 th Representatives was inaugurated on 6th June, 2011 with Rt. Hon. Aminu Waziri Tambuwal and my humble self overwhelmingly elected the Speaker and Deputy Speaker respectively.

Against the background of recurrent leadership crises in the National Assembly, the seeds of which were sown in 1999 as I noted earlier, the crop of men and women elected into the 7th House of Representatives decided to chart a different but refreshing path for the House by seeking to enthrone the leadership of their choice, away from any political interference.

The new legislative agenda: One of the first decisions we took when we came on board was the designing of a New Legislative Agenda to guide the House in the conduct of its proceedings and its engagement with the polity. I chaired the Adhoc Committee on the New Legislative Agenda. After several weeks of brainstorming and intellectual introspections, the Committee finally came up with a draft Legislative Agenda which was presented to the House for deliberations.

The document was thoroughly debated by Honourable members who hailed it as the legislative compass of the 7th House of Representatives. It was subsequently adopted, having been further enriched with new perspectives from our colleagues.

The new Legislative Agenda encapsulates the vision and aspirations of the House Leadership in charting a different but refreshing path for the House in the process of nation building.

The legislature and Constitution making Our grundnorm, the Constitution, confers on the Legislature at federal and state levels the powers to alter the Constitution. Indeed, section 9(2) of the 1999 Constitution provides for this.

The powers conferred on the Legislature to amend the Constitution can however only be exercised with popular participation and support in order for it to win legitimacy.

In 2010, the Legislature, for the first time in Nigeria’s history, achieved a broad amendment of multiple sections of the 1999 Constitution. The amendments addressed popular agitations and pressures from Nigerians for the reform of the electoral process. These amendments helped achieve the improved elections conducted by INEC in 2011. With the inauguration of the Seventh National Assembly, there have been pressures for even wider and more groundbreaking amendments of the Constitution to reflect demands for greater fiscal responsibility,

devolution of powers, fiscal federalism, citizenship rights, and land use reform. The Legislature has started the process of amending the Constitution. We intend however that the process must be inclusive and participatory.

A new partnership with the media We in the House of Representatives appreciate the need for a robust engagement with the media in order to deepen the values of democratic governance in our country. We see the media as a major partner in our collective aspirations to enthrone the culture of transparency and accountability in the conduct of public policy.

We need the media to build our democracy.

And democracy cannot thrive without free speech and free press. We do recognize the enormous responsibility imposed on the media by Section 22 of the Constitution as amended which empowers it to hold government accountable to the people.

Conclusion The Legislature occupies a central role in any democratic framework. While there can be government without the legislature, there can be no democracy without the legislature. Therefore, for our democracy to thrive, the legislature as a major institution of representative governance must be strengthened. I call on the general public to do away with the misconceptions and misperceptions in which they have continued to hold the legislature.

The misconceptions, which are without any basis, have continued to affect negatively the public image of the legislature.

CONCLUDED Being extracts from a paper presented by the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Emeka Ihedioha, at a public lecture organised by the Department of Political Science, University of Lagos.

PAGE 40—SUNDAY VANGUARD, JULY 8, 2012

SUNDAY VANGUARD, JULY 8, 2012, PAGE 41

chimeena@yahoo.com

BY MCPHILIPS NWACHUKWU

BOOK

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s Nigeria gradually matches on to her centenary year come 2014, the modest effort of Port Harcourt based non governmental organization, the Rainbow Book Club, the organizers of Garden City Literary Festival, Garden City Book Fair and Get Nigeria reading may bestow on the nation a garland of honour in the area of book and human capital development.

This feeling is anchored on the decision of the organization to bid for UNESCO’s right for the city of Port Harcourt to becoming the next host city of the global body’s world book capital.

Rainbow Book Club was formed in the Niger Delta State of River during the high rise militantism by disgruntled Niger Delta youths over Federal Government’s neglect of the region in its socio-political and infrastructural development programmes.

Following the activities of these disgruntled youths, all forms of economic and governance activities were brought to the lowest ebb, and the city, which was known for its rich social and enchanting night life and tourists’ potential became a shadow of her former self.

Therefore, the decision of a dynamic young woman, Koko Kalango with the strong backing of River State government under the leadership of His Excellency, Chibuike Rotimi Amechi to use the platform of the Rainbow Book Club to initiate a state cultural cum intellectual meeting that is capable of redirecting the minds of the aggrieved youths from militancy and criminality to a more civil and cultured behaviour paid off handsomely and laid the foundation for what has become a strong intellectual and cultural renaissance in the state .

S

ince coming on board in 2004, Rainbow Book Club has organized the now popular, Garden City Literary Festival, an intellectual feast that brings to the dynamic city of Port Harcourt, scholars, authors, publishers, book sellers and other facilitators and stake holders in the book industry and trade to engage on issues regarding the development and sustenance of the book culture.

Hinging her belief on the fact that education is a key factor not only in the development of human capital, but also as the most important factor in the positive development of the human conscientiousness, the organization expends much energy in not only promoting

Ngugi wa Thiong with Koko Kalongo during a garden city literary festival

Port Harcourt: The bidding for World Book Capital the book, but also in ensuring that it invites renowned scholars to be part of this transformational agenda.

To her credit, the festival has had the honor of hosting Nobel Laureate, Professor Wole Soyinka, popular Kenyan writer and critic, Ngugi Wa

,

It will galvanise stakeholders to addressing wide array of challenges that confront the African book

Thiongo, Africa’s Eagle on World Literature, Chinua Achebe , Ghanaian playwright, Ama Aita Aiido and African/American Civil Right campaigner, Jesse Jackson.

Established after the successful flagging off of UNESCO’S initiated World Book and Copyright Day in 1996, the global body adopted with the nomination of Madrid , Spain in 2001 to become the first World Book Capital city.

Why We Are Bidding

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city for the 2014 world book capital will help not only to galvanizing the rich cultural and intellectual potentials of the oil city, but will also go long way in fast tracking the book and other allied economic and tourism

ddressing the media in Lagos penultimate week, founder of Rainbow Book Club, Koko Kalongo explained that the granting of hosting right to Port Harcourt

Hoping to be granted the hosting right, Kalongo revealed that she has chosen the theme, Books: Window to the world of Possibilities to drive book activities for 2014.

This theme, she further explains, captures the

fundamental argument that knowledge derived from reading is the needed catalyst for the over all human development.

There are also indications that Federal government is behind the River State Government in the support of Rainbow Book Club in this campaign bid. According to Special Adviser to President Goodluck Jonathan on Documentation, Strategy and Research, Mr Oronto Douglas, Nigeria will support the bid given the antecedents of the campaigners, Rainbow Book Club, whose activities key in several ways to one of the President’s campaign programs of Bring Back the Book.

According to him , “ The importance of this campaign cannot be over emphasized and the many laudable activities of Rainbow Book Club key in very strongly into the citizen driven nature of the initiative, adding that “ in line with the federal government’s transformation agenda, Rainbow Book Club has been very positive influence in Port Harcourt, which is the heart of Nigeria’s once restive Niger Delta.

Other cities of the world bidding for the hosting right of World Book Capital include; Ganja( Azerbaidjan), Incheon( Republic of Korea), Krakow( Poland), lyon(France), Moscow ( Russia), Pula( Croatia), Sharjah( United Arab Emirate), Vilinius( Luthuania) and Younde( Cameroun).

Uncut, Abike’s thoughts and experiences

,

treasures of the entire Niger Delta region.

“Port Harcourt will demonstrate what is possible in the African context. This positive step towards meeting a pressing development need amongst the world’s illiterate population would have a ripple effect in other areas like the HIV/AIDS awareness in line with United Nations Millennium Development Goal.” She Said.

Continuing, she added that , “ it will galvanise stakeholders to addressing wide array of challenges that confront the African book and reading culture which include; low school enrolment, high level of illiteracy and limited availability of books.”

BY JAPHET ALAKAM

REVIEW

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oetry is one area that many people do not understand very well because it embraces the accessible as well as the inaccessible. But which ever way people see it the mere fact that a poem is unclear does not disqualify it from being a poem as long as it possess all the poetic devices like rhythm, profundity, imagery etc. This is what many will see as they go through the refreshingly rich collection of poems by Abike Muyiwa titled Uncut .

Abike Muyiwa, a media and public relations specialist cum child rights advocate who has to her credit three books, Dear JB (a book about John Brown, the abolitionist), What is wrong with us? and Nuggets about mature singles in her determined bid to contribute to the reading culture in the country came out with her latest addition titled Uncut, a poetry collection that thematically span a wide spectrum of her thoughts and

experiences.

Uncut, the 132 pages book published by Cares Global Network in 2010, is a book straight from the author ’s heart. It contains 100 short poems that embodies a wide range of topics ranging from thought provoking, inspirational to humourous topics that will elicit every reader no matter his/her age.

It is drama, hymn, lyric, song, rhythm, melody, satire, soliloquy. Written in very simple language, the author in the collection masterfully selected the poems from a wide range of her personal thoughts , experiences in life and other raw imagery from the mind .

Beginning with a poem titled Choice, the author carefully transverses all aspects of life from one issue to the other with the aim of making a statement in the life of many. For many who are too occupied with the issues of life, Abike in this collection admirably addresses a wide Continues on Page 42

PAGE 42 — SUNDAY VANGUARD, JULY 8, 2012

chimeena@yahoo.com

T

he Agip Recital Hall of Muson Centre, Lagos, last week wore a fresh glamorous look with it’s stage aesthetically decorated to depict the town of Kutuje, thereby, bringing back fond memories of Nigeria’s literary giant, late Prof. Ola Rotimi.

The event was the reenactment of the icon’s masterpiece,“The Gods Are Not To Blame” by The Childville Schools, Lagos. In what has become an annual event, the captivating performance by the young minds as produced and directed by Gboyega Jerome, narrated the tragic story of a child(Odewale) born to the king of Kutuje, king Adetusa, who has an evil destiny of killing his own father and marrying his mother. As fate would have it, rather than killing the evil child as instructed by the oracle- Baba Fakunle (Afolabi Fashola) he is allowed to live and unfortunately, ends up fulfilling his evil destiny.

The debut performance of The Childville School which took place at same venue last year, in which the pupils performed Prof. Chinua Achebe’s Things Fall Apart was a huge success and this year’s was no less. The Hall was completely filled, leaving many people either standing or squatting along the isle.

The children themselves were indeed, a delight to watch more especially,for the maturity with which they doled out the numerous proverbs embelished in the rich African tale.

F

rom the onset of the play down to the ending which was like saving the best for last, the audience was wowed and wished there was a better way other than offering a long standing ovation, to appreciate the efforts and talent of the children. To buttress this, immediately the play ended, they stormed the stage without restrain for photographs with Aduragbeminiyi Olawuyi (Odewale) who once again, stole the show as well as with other actors who displayed outstanding creativity.

Aduragbemi was consistent in his performance and that projected him as a prospective Nollywood star although he maintained his earlier stance to take acting as mere hobby. Another actor whose performance was brilliant was Akintola who played the role of Alaka, he humourously drank real juice which represented palm wine, ate fufu and vegetable soup right on the stage. His glutony in no small way, ignited wild laughter from the already excited audience. Viewers

The Childville School stages The gods are not to blame

A scene from the play

,

BY PRISCA SAM-DURU

DRAMA

One reason the children are to be commended was their ability to carry the audience along

actually wondered if he truly was a friend of King Odewale because of the manner in which he devoured food and drink while the king burned with anxiety.

One reason the children are to be commended was their ability to carry the audience along. They interpreted their lines both in times of tragedy or comic relief in a manner such that the audience found themselves, feeling the impact of the storyline which simply warns of impending danger or consequences of non adherence of the instructions of the gods or any reliable authority.

I

t was no doubt an evening of super entertainment because even after the curtain was drawn, entertainment continued with humourous cultural dance steps by Gboyega and the Head of School, South African born Warren Townsend.

The play production according to Warren Townsend in his closing remarks, “has become an annual event because of the school’s commitment to train future leaders who are

,

confident and well prepared to be able to handle themselves in a unique manner ”, adding that “it is another way of giving back to

parents/guardians, what they are putting into the training of their children/wards” Speaking shortly after the show, the proprietor of the school Lady O.M Smith saluted the flexibility of the children who were selected from different classes, and revealed that "after visiting the Igboland with Achebe’s Things Fall Apart” last year, and this time, Yoruba land through the performance of “The gods Are Not To Blame”, we shall be traveling all the way to Benin with another interesting show next year”.

Presenting the cast as next Nollywood stars, the artistic

director, Biletan Gboyega Jerome, a multi-talented dramatist and 1988 graduate of International Moorish America University of Culture and Technology, Cleaveland Ohio, USA, expressed joy at how the pupils maintained the enviable standard with which they debuted in 2011. He said that his preference to work with children rather than adult has been a contributing factor to the success of the project and promised that the next performance come 2013, will only be bigger and better.

In attendance were some schools in Lagos including students of Atlantic Hall School and Grange.

Uncut, Abike’s thoughts and experiences Continued from Page 41

range of issues that make people relax and forget most of the stressful moments. In the poems, Abike has a word for almost every situations for example in the pieces like Okada, she has a word for everyday hustle; Location reminds the reader that a dollar bill is a dollar bill, whether you find it in the church or in a bar; Husband throws up wishes gaainst realities. As for advice, Abike dishes out a bunch of them, including Al ‘apa ma sise which admonishes the lazy to go to work, and Gbeborun which casts a disapproving glance at gossip-peddling.

There are also other pieces like BufJet, Solution, Leadership, Mr. Right and Fashion, in these poems, the author answers some of the questions people often ask

and offers advice to parents on how to handle their wards. She did not end it there, she also goes on to give her unique definition where she sketches with a playful take on words.

In other various poems, the author illustrates her dept to which her mind was stirred as a result of certain issues, they include: Right There, Oyingbo market, Poverty, Abortion, Globalisation, I did it etc.

The poem shows the writer’s ability to use short everyday language and phrases, but yet employ them to powerful effects. As a first timer, the author deserves commendation for assembling up to 100 poems but one noticeable flaw is that most of the poems in the collection are very short that somehow takes away the meaning. The author would have arranged it in a

Uncut, Abike Muyiwa, Cares Global Network, 2010, pp.132.

such a way that will make readers enjoy it.

But that notwithstanding, the book is a new addition to the growing foray into literary works by women in this country and is commendable.

SUNDAY VANGUARD, JULY 8, 2012, PAGE 43

chimeena@yahoo.com

From 1939 to the vanguard of modern journalism: The story of a Musulumi 1939: An autobiography – Kola Muslim Animasaun; Tellettes Consulting Coy Ltd, 2012. Pp: 205 Reviewer: Steve Ayorinde, MD/Editor-in-Chief, National Mirror

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ONSIDERING the cen tral, even towering, role that journalists play in shaping the thoughts and perception of a nation, it often makes sense to acknowledge their contribution to national discourse whenever it comes in form of a book. For journalists who are blessed with long lives and remarkable careers in particular, the tendency to make their narratives the barometer for measuring the nation’s pulse is very high.

Alhaji Kola Animasaun’s autobiography falls within the category of memoirs that fulfil the requirement of literarily killing two birds with one stone – that is, telling the story of his own life and that of the larger professional and political environment around him in a complimentary, easy-to-read manner.

And for a man who clocks 73 today, more than 40 years of which he spent in active journalism, there is indeed a lot to say about life, the media profession and, interestingly, about how the practice of it connects with the political trajectory of the nation.

Whether it is called 1939 or aesthetically referred to as 1 thousand 9 hundred and thirty 9, the title of Alhaji Animasaun’s book is very functional in using the date of his birth as the pathway into a telling testimony of a life worth recollecting. And there is no pun intended in his choice of word as the book’s functionality is not limited to the aesthetic lustre of its title or in the silhouetted, artistic impression of the author on the cover of the book alone. The form and content of the 205-page book attest to the author’s firm control of the art of storytelling; lucid, even-paced and witty, all signposting an abundant capacity for effective narration.

Divided into nine broad chapters, with additional shorter writings from previous articles penned under different pseudonyms, in the annexes, 1939 appeals to a reader that is interested in the Kola Animasaun persona – as a journalist and writer of note; as a contented family man unabashedly devoted to Almighty Allah and as a man whose ideological convictions might be modest, but are nevertheless duly advertised as a Progressive.

But it is the professional persona of the author that resonates throughout the book, leaving no surprises as to why the opening chapter, aptly titled Back to Front and the closing chapter, Drawing the Curtain: Front Cover, perform two main functions – to celebrate him as an accomplished media professional and perhaps, more importantly, to acknowledge a number of people and institutions to whom he owes a debt of gratitude. The Vanguard newspaper where Alhaji Animasaun worked for 19 solid years, as the culmination of a career that took him to different parts of the world – as a student, professional and a devoted Muslim – expectedly gets a fair share of mention in the book.

More importantly is the honour accorded an icon of the profession

From left: Amb Hamzat Amodu, representing the Sultan of Sokoto; Chief Bisi Akande, former Governor of Osun State/National Chairman of ACN; Alhaja Dupe Animasaun, Alhaji Kola Animasaun, author of the book; Gov Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State; Aremo Olusegun Osoba, former Governor of Ogun State and Mr Sam Amuka, Publisher, Vanguard Newspapers, at the event. Photo: Kehinde Gbadamosi. and the publisher of Vanguard, Mr. Samson Oruru Amuka Pemu, as the man whom the author celebrates more than others being the person used by the Almighty Allah to give his career the needed fillip.

And there is a unique style, with a tinge of humour and camaraderie, to how Alhaji Animasaun writes about people he holds in high esteem, whether they are friends and benefactors like Uncle Sam Amuka, Akirogun Segun Osoba and the Sultan of Sokoto, His Eminence, Alhaji Mohammed Sa’ad Abubakar 111; or even the woman he describes as his own ‘jewel of inestimable value’, his wife and mother of his seven children, Modupe.

On the man whose name is now synonymous with Vanguard newspaper, the author has this to say: “Uncle Sam has been most generous to me...in 19 years of work, he was angry with me, not directly, only once...even when I got him angry with my columns, he would call me as he did on an occasion: ‘you are costing me some of my friends’, he would quietly lament.”

But in eulogising the publisher of Vanguard newspaper, the au-

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Nigeria. The reader will see through the eyes of the author the hurdles and challenges associated with the profession, the fame and the opportunities as well as the politics of it. An example of the latter was how the author initially lost a plum job at the Sketch to his friend and junior colleague, Peter Ajayi.

The good old days come with clear recollection by the author and the reason for devoting a great deal to people that added value to his life becomes apparent. The author reveals himself as a product of referrals – combining his qualifications and skills with pedigree and social contacts in climbing the ladder of success.

From the early days with Chief Bisi Onabanjo to Chief Olu Adebanjo, Chief Dapo Fatogun, Dapo Fafiade (Don Nugotaf), Alhaji Ganiyu Akintola-Bello, Alhaji Lateef Teniola (Dan Newsman), S. B Osunlolu (ESSBEE) and Chief Eddie Aderinokun, who wrote the book’s foreword, the author nurses fond memories of his formative years on the job. Those were the days when all he wanted to be was a sub-editor: “It is still a job I love to do,” he writes on page

The reader will see through the eyes of the author the hurdles and challenges associated with the profession, the fame and the opportunities as well as the politics of it

thor has also thrown a subtle challenge at Uncle Sam himself and the entire Vanguard family, just the same way that Chief Osoba did a few months ago at the launch of his biography – The Newspaper Years, that at 77, not only is Uncle Sam the oldest practising media professional in Nigeria today but is also undoubtedly the most celebrated. This fact, therefore, calls forth the need for the Sam Amuka book, either in form of a memoir or a biographical account from a gifted insider.

But I do not wish to digress.

In dissecting the Kola Animasaun years in active journalism, from his youthful days as a sub-editor in Daily Express to his cub reportorial days in Tribune and ultimately to the unforgettable years in Vanguard, where the author worked in various capacities as the Chief Sub-Editor and Chairman, Editorial Board, the reader comes in contact so intimately with the renaissance years of contemporary journalism in

,

32. “To give character to a story; it is like dressing up a mannequin.

You highlight the selling points.

Nothing can be more pleasing to an artiste more than that.”

But he is not the type that is all wrapped up in self-adulation. He uses kind words in appreciating other writers dear to him like Chris Okojie, Doyin Omololu, the late Hakeem Ikandu, Bisi Lawrence, Pini Jason, Dele Sobowale and Gbenga Adefaye to mention but a few.Notably, for a journalist who reported the political upheavals of the post-independence era and was involved in the media machinery deployed during the Nigerian civil war, it would be near impossible to remain ideologically and politically neutral, even while maintaining a semblance of balance and fairness.

Right from the beginning, the author pitched his tent with Awoism and has consistently aligned with those he considered to be progressives – from Chief Obafemi Awolowo’s Action Group

and Unity Party of Nigeria, to the short-lived Social Democratic Party of the third republic and subsequently metamorphosing ideologically with the Alliance for Democracy and Action Congress to the present Action Congress of Nigeria, Alhaji Animasaun has not seen the need to change his position.

But he has a word of caution for those directly in the fold, according to him: “True you cannot make out the progressive policies anymore today but hope they will show the promise to the old slogan: Vita Plenor et Liberta Omnibus – Freedom for all; Life more abundant!”

Today’s eagle-eyed professionals who sometime reckon that journalism is but a springboard to the political arena will find the author’s foray outside of journalism profession instructive.

Whether in the corporate world, diplomatic service or politics, Alhaji Animasaun often learned the hard way - that considerations other than merit tend to determine how you measure on the ladder of success.

He first learnt that as an Officer at the Ministry of Information where boredom nearly killed him.

“You had to be inventive not to lose your mind,” he declared. “So you find the creative ones writing plays, or acting them or writing novels.”

It was hardly better when he got posted to the National Provident Fund (NPF) as its Public Relations Officer. His experience there on account of workers protesting over benefits was a stuff made for live theatre.

He writes: “The NPF office on Broad Street then was like a war front. There were shouting bouts and actual fisticuffs. It was not unusual to find people come to the office with juju or deadly reputation – Epe, Afose and gbetugbetu.”

Where people didn’t resort to black magic to register their grievance, they simply resorted to character assassination in form of letters and petition as Alhaji Animasaun would later experience when he served as a caretaker chairman of Abeokuta North Local Government. It was a perplexed Animasaun that declared in the book: “I have never been in a more thankless job...they would come for all sorts of assistance that are not provided for in the budget.

Those who would want the antenatal bills of their wives settled would come; those who would want to bury their newly dead parents or relations or re-bury their long dead relations made routine calls.” In frustration he tried to resign the post by sending his resignation through the deputy governor, Alhaji Gbenga Kaka. But his friend, the governor, Chief Osoba, from whom he had accepted the invitation to serve, would have nothing of such. “He told me I should take the challenges and not run away”, the author recalls.

Although he lived the life of a nomad while growing up and had fond memories of Ibadan where he got his wife, a job and a rich immersion into the world of arts and literati that was the hallmark of the city in the 1960s, the author is unequivocal in highlighting his Islamic and Abeokuta heritage, as succinctly captured in Chapter 5.

He was named after a fearless Islamic scholar, Alfa Musulumi Dindi, the revered Mallam of Abeokuta. And he carried the Islamic toga with him for some

time, particularly when he first arrived in London as a student, when it was said of him in the Nigerian communities that omo Alhaja mura bi Alfa – meaning Alhaja’s son is dressed like an Islamic scholar.

If he had acted fearless as a commentator on the ills of certain Nigerians going on hajj for unholy purposes like drugs, theft and prostitution; or acting in a principled way as to initially reject the title of Alhaji, because he argued that you could not be an Alhaji again once you have returned to your country from the pilgrimage, it is because Kola Animasaun is just being true to his name – Musulumi - and the fearless but godly man he was named after.

But this author is also a pragmatist. No undue pretences. When Nigerians, almost always given to titles and fanciful accolades, insisted in referring to him as an Alhaji, he simply allowed them.

Also, he realised in no time during the 1960 Independence euphoria among the newly educated who subscribed to Marxism and Socialism that “ideologies soon wear thin where the stomach is empty...”

But religion and social ideologies aside, he is also alive to his roots and would spare no detail in narrating how he traced a part of his roots to Omu Aran in present day Kwara State. All through his odyssey, a noticeable tread of modesty and decorum runs through. But those are values borne out of good upbringing than social denials. His background was middle class and unlike those who ride on their days of little beginnings and lack of shoes to gain popularity and power, Kola Animasaun had enough shoes while growing up; he was indeed trendy and fashion conscious. He recalls with nostalgia how he got the nickname of Anny Wool because woollen material was in vogue and he had them in all textures and description.

Except in few areas, one is not likely to call to question the editing in this book, the only glaring exception being on page 32 when July 30, 1988 was recorded as the date when the author approached Uncle Sam Amuka for job- hunting, when in fact it happened three years earlier in 1985 as recorded in previous and subsequent pages.

The printer’s devil also reared its head more than once in the captioning of the photographs. But by far the most exasperating as a drawback, aside the absence of an index, is the persistent non-separation of words on several pages.

This, one guesses, must have happened at the printing level. But all these hardly detract from the import of this well-written and absorbing memoir.

In concluding, therefore, the book succeeds in establishing that in a materialistic era where everything has become fast, fierce and dangerously competitive, not many people would declare as the author has done that he has never been ambitious but has been happy to take whatever comes to him with gratitude. 1939 essentially reveals a contented and fulfilled man.

Yet, by far the most remarkable summation for the book appears in the last paragraph of the first chapter where the author declares with a heart full of thanks: “19 years in Vanguard had been the crowning glory of my career. A substantial population of educated Nigerians know me or have heard about me. All thanks to Allah, Uncle Sam and Vanguard.”

This is Alhaji Kola Muslim Animasaun at his most heartfelt; and this, indeed, is the thrust of 1939 – the book.

I thank you all for listening.

PAGE 44 — SUNDAY VANGUARD, JULY 8, 2012

Church urges Edo politicians to play by the rule

By Gabriel ENOGHOLASE ENIN – DIOCESE of Benin, Church of Ni geria (Anglican Communion) has admon ished politicians against seeing the July 14, 2012 governorship election in Edo State as a do-or-die affair, just as it called on the electorate to go the polls and elect a governor of their choice that would develop the state.

The Diocese lamented the high level of corruption in the nation, insisting that this has adversely affected the economic growth of the country. It also decried citizens, lamenting that the continued killing of government officials of- innocent Nigerians, ten permit fake drugs to kidnappings, armed robflood the Nigerian mar- bery, religious intolerket, stressing that life in ance and bombing of Nigeria is brutish; “to- churches by the Islamic day we have a nation so sect, Boko Haram, sayrich but the people are ing that a situation where homeless. Our con- citizens were not free to science doesn’t prick us live anywhere in the when we see fellow Ni- country was unacceptgerians sleeping under able. bridges”.

In a communique at the The cleric also lamented end of its “Third Session that values and relation- of the 16th Synod” in ships, which were the Benin and signed by the hallmark of the African bishop of the Benin Diohospitality, don’t matter cese, Rt. Rev. Peter *Continued on Page 47 Imansuen and chancellor of the Diocese, Justice Samson Uwaifo, the church noted with dismay the seeming helplessness of government to curtail the security challenges facing the country.

It therefore enjoined Christian leaders to pray fervently as there was no situation God cannot fight. On corruption, the Synod called on church leaders to speak out and condemn the canker worm that is ravaging the Nigerian society.

The Synod which commended Gov. Adams Oshiomhole for his developmental strides in the state, however, called on the government to empower local government councils to enable them function optimally.

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Prayers alone can't heal Nigeria---Onosode ...as BSN honours Bamiloye, Amu, others

By SAM EYOBOKA & OLAYINKA LATONA NTIL there is a deliberate plan to disallow bad people from running our national life through the infusion of dedicated Christians into politics, all current efforts by the nation's Christian Community; including the preachment of the gospel and prayers to transform the nation will not accomplish their mission.

Nigerian technocrat, administrator and erstwhile presidential candidate of the All Nigeria People's Party, ANPP, Deacon Gamaliel Onosode on Thursday expressed this concern in Lagos at the 8th annual luncheon and awards ceremony of the Special Members Forum (SMF) of the Bible Society of Nigeria, BSN. In his opening remarks as the chairman of the occasion, Onosode who spoke on the theme; ‘Value reorientation: A panacea for National Transformation’, noted that at the inception of democracy in Nigeria, no Christian has minister asked faithful to stay away from politics, categorizing it as a dirty game. Rather, he said, the Church has looked inward to identify people God may have called to play important roles in the polity.

According to the Baptist minister, the only medicine that cures all is Jesus, adding, that it is in only Him that we can find all answers, urging Christian faithful to be confident about themselves, "as we are only pilgrims passing thro-ugh the earth."

Lagos State deputy governor, Mrs. Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire in her address, said that every Nigerian knows the problem with Nigeria, agreeing with the chairman that the only solution is in Jesus.

According to her, if Christians in the country will be

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true believers in both deed and word, Nigeria will change for the better.

The deputy governor, who was represented by the permanent secretary, Lagos state ministry of information and strategy, Mrs. Oluranti Odutola, hailed the theme of the programme, saying it is very relevant given the sharp decline in value systems in the country, which should be the needed guide for doing what is right.

She opined that a number of social vices in the society today have arisen from the value decline, noting that a meaningful national transformation should begin with value reorientation. Mrs. OrelopeAdefulire therefore urged parents to leave a good legacy for their children to emulate, while charging the faithful to imbibe the fear of God and self sacrifice, "if we desire the growth of Nigeria."

Former National Public-

ity Secretary of CAN and presiding steward of Soul Winning Chapel, Lagos, Rev. Moses Iloh, in a lecture of the same theme, is of the opinion that for any meaningful transformation to take place in Nigeria there must be a proper diagnosis of the foundational problems before the prescription of appropriate drugs that would heal the plague.

He expressed disappointment that Nigerian governments are not truthful to the nation's

2012 BSN AWARDEES: From Right: Evangelist Mike Bamiloye, Mrs. Ifie EzenwaUgwoke, Archbishop George Amu and Mr. Verkey Verghese.

Catholics celebrate ‘Mother of Perpetual Help’

By Benjamin NJOKU EMBERS of S a i n t s Michael, Rachael and Gabriel Catholic Church (the Archangels’ Parish), Satellite Town, Lagos, last Sunday, defied the heavy downpour to celebrate this year ’s feast of the Blessed Virgin Mary, tagged our ‘Mother of Perpe-

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tual Help.’

The event which was combined with the Parish Day celebration 2012 took place at the mini stadium, Trade Fair Complex, Badagry Expressway, Lagos.

In his remark, the parish priest, Rev. Fr Lawrence Odoemena said the celebration was an expression of members' love and appreciation to the woman who was first hono-

ured by God, as the mother of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ.

According to him, "we have decided to reflect on one of the titles of Our Lady as contained in the Litany of Loreto, namely: Comforter of the Afflicted.

The reason for this, he said, is not farfetched.

The Church and her members today are going through a period of affli-

ction because of the threat posed by the Boko Haram Islamic sect, "we now worship with one eye open, not knowing where or when the next bomb would blast.

"In the situation of affliction, such as we have found ourselves today, the Blessed Virgin Mary becomes our beacon of hope as the crusader of the afflicted.” Rev. Fr. Odoemena remarked .

*Why Boko Haram is targeting our churches

Pages 45 & 46

Founder’s Day ACTIVITIES marking this year ’s Founder ’s Day anniversary and thanksgiving service of Motailatu Church, Cherubim and Seraphim Worldwide, Alagbado, Lagos, begin with a 3day revival between tomorrow and Wednesday at 6.00 p.m. daily as well as Bible quiz involving all parishes and Night of Praise on Thursday and Friday respectively.

SUNDAY VANGUARD, JULY 8, 2012 — PAGE 45

REACTION....

RE: THE BIBLE IS NOT THE WORD OF GOD, JESUS IS

HOW DOES JESUS SAVE? ESUS is our Sav iour, but how ex actly does he save?

Paul says he saves by paying for our sins with his blood. (Ephesians 1:7). But why listen to the servant when we can listen to the Son? As with all such questions, God has a definitive answer.

He points to Jesus and says to us: “This is my beloved Son. Listen to him.” (Mark 9:7). For salvation’s sake, Christians need to listen to Jesus.

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Salvation by the Word Jesus says: “Go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy and not sacrifice.’ For I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance.” (Matthew 9:13). This means Jesus does not save by blood sacrifice. He saves by his word, which calls sinners to repentance. The Psalmist does not say God shed his blood and healed men. He says: “He sent his word and healed them.” (Psalm 107:20). God is spirit; he has no blood.

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esus does not ask the Father to sanc tify us by his blood.

He says: “Sanctify them by your truth. Your word is truth.” (John 17:17).

Jesus “cleansed” his disciples with his word. He declared them “already clean” because of the word he spoke to them.

(John 15:3). He then says we are justified by our own words. (Matthew 12:36-37). This is because our words indicate whether the abundance of our heart is the word of God. (Matthew 12:34).

Salvation comes by heeding the word of Jesus and not by drinking his blood. The blood of Jesus does not heal the heart of a sinner, but the word of Jesus does. Jesus says: “If anyone keeps my word he shall never see death.” (John 8:51). He does not say; “If anyone is washed in my blood, he shall never see death.” Jesus demonstrated it is easier to forgive sins than to heal

Jesus does not save by blood sacrifice. He saves by his word sickness when he healed a paralytic with his word.

(Luke 5:23-24). Therefore, if he did not have to shed his blood and die in order to heal the sick, then he does not have to shed his blood and die in order to heal sinners.

Word-shepherd To believe in Jesus is to believe in his word. Jesus’ word is a lamp to our feet and a light to our path.” (Psalm 119:105).

His word frees us from the bondage of sin. He says if we abide in his word, we are his disciples indeed. And we shall know the truth, and the truth shall make us free. (John 8:31-32). Jesus’ word shepherds us from death to life. According to him, those who hear his word and believe in God who sent him have everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but have passed from death into life. (John 5:24).

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esus’ word provides us with the blue print for becoming sons of God. It tells us to love our enemies, bless those who curse us, do good to those who hate us, and pray for those who spitefully use us and persecute us, that we may be sons of our Father in heaven; for he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.”

(Matthew 5:44-45).

Jesus saves by showing us the way back to the Father. He is “the way, the truth, and the life.”

No one comes to the Father except through Jesus. (John 14:6). Jesus is the Good Shepherd who shows us the way of righteousness. He reveals the path of life by demonstrating “he who loves his life will lose it; and he who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life.” (John

12:25).

Jesus is “the word of God.” He is not “the blood of God.” The Good Shepherd leads with his voice and not with his blood. Jesus maintains: “He who is of God hears God’s words.” (John 8:47). Jesus’ sheep are those who hear his voice and follow him.” (John 10:27). They are those who will by no means follow a stranger, but will flee from him, for they do not know the voice of strangers. (John 10:5).

Men cannot deceive us by asking us to follow Jesus. But they can deceive by insisting we should follow anybody else.

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esus’ word is the yardstick by which we must determine the veracity of everything spiritual. His word is our Bible by which we judge the bible. We must use the word of Jesus to separate the wheat from the weeds in the scriptures. Because Jesus is the bread of life (John 6:35), we must only hold on to those things in the bible that agree with his word. Jesus says: “Moses did not give you the bread from heaven, but My Father gives you the true bread from heaven. For the bread of God is He who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.” (John 6:3233).

money for the temple tax was found in the mouth of a fish.

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esus stilled the storm with his word. He cursed a fig-tree and it dried up to the roots. He cast out demons "with a word."

(Matthew 8:16). He raised the dead with his word. (John 11:43). He awarded eternal life with his word. (Luke 23:43).

He did all this that we might recognise he alone has the words that lead to eternal life. (John 6:68).

After speaking his word to his disciples, and before his crucifixion, Jesus said to God: “I have finished the work which you have given me to do.” (John 17:4). What is the work of salvation?

Jesus told God: “I have given to them the words which you have given me; and they have received them.” (John 17:8).

To those who still insist Jesus saves by washing us from our sins in his blood on the cross of Calvary, I have this question. Did Jesus forgive sins before going to the cross? Yes, indeed!

He forgave sins with his word; without the blood of his cross. Before he died, Jesus forgave the sins of a paralytic, telling him: “Son, your sins are forgiven you.” (Mark 2:5). He also forgave the sins of a woman of illrepute who kissed his feet in the house of Simon the Pharisee. He said to Simon: “Her sins, which are many, are forgiven, for she loved much. But to whom little is forgiven, the same loves little.” (Luke 7:47).

Power in the Word The mighty power consistently displayed throughout the gospels is not in the blood but in the word of Jesus. Luke observes many were astonished at Jesus' doctrine because "his word was with power." (Luke 4:32). Jesus cleansed lepers with his word. At Jesus' word, Peter caught more fish than he could handle. At his word, water was turned into wine. At his word,

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ince their sins were forgiven be fore Calvary, then a major plank of Pauline Christian doctrine comes crashing down. It shows Jesus’ blood is not a prerequisite for the forgiveness of sins. All that is required is repentance and the readiness to forgive others. (Matthew 5:7). Jesus says: “Unless you repent you will all likewise perish.” (Luke 13:3).

AFTER reading a few of your spiritually distasteful articles I just thought this one is a joke taken too far and deserves a response.

Femi, just like any other human, you are flesh and blood and therefore subject to error. I therefore get uncomfortable when you talk on spiritual issues as if your table is the final bus stop on such. In spiritual matters, no human is an authority. I advise that you tread softly. The dangerous thing about the writeup in reference is that it is very capable of destroying people’s faith in the most important item in man’s relationship with God---the Holy Bible; and what else is the hope of man if the authority and infallibility of the inspired Word of God is questioned?

The write-up was not only too daring and too ambitious, but also reveals a disappointing level of ignorance on such a basic issue. More critically, your disbelief in the Bible as the inspired Word of God rubbishes your teachings, rendering them without spiritual authority and foundation. Serious Christians now see your articles as any other human philosophical postulation because they don’t make any sense. How on earth will somebody be writing on spiritual/Christian issues and deny the authority of the Bible.

Right from time, God has always communicated with man through His Word. This word is in three dimensions namely: The Word made flesh, Jesus Christ; The spoken Word of God---Rhema and The written Word of God---Logos.

1. The Word made flesh, Jesus Christ. John 1:1, 1 John 1:1, and 5:7: The ‘Word of God’ is one of the countless titles of Jesus Christ. Some others are: the Son of God, the Son of man, the Prince of Peace, the King of kings, the Messiah, the Lamb of God, etc.

He existed in heaven with the Father ‘in the beginnig’. He appeared on earth as the expression of the Father’s love for man, in human flesh, for only 33 years through the womb of Virgin Mary; and that is to prepare the framework for the redemption of man through His death and resurrection. Hebrews 2: 9,14. Thereafter, He returned to His original base, Heaven.

2. The Spoken Word of God, Rhema. Jeremiah 1:1&5, Micah 1:1, Zechariah 1:1, Matthew 3:7; John 12:28-29, Acts 10:13, 11 Peter 1:20-21: From Moses to the last Prophet of the Old Testament, God had always had audible; one-on-one communication with His servants. It could be the 'still small voice' heard only by the addressee, or the thunderous voice also heard by others. God severally sent His Prophets to warn or admonish nations and their kings especially the nation of Isreal. Every Bible reader is familiar with the 'thus says the Lord' common to the writings of the Prophets. It is the compilation of such verbal communications between God and the Prophets of old who were His mouth pieces to the nations, that form the Old Testament Scriptures.

After Jesus had laid the foundation for the spiritual structure called the Church, He returned to heaven with a promise to send the Holy Spirit to continue where He stopped in partnership with the desciples He had groomed for the work. The New Testament therefore reflects the activities of these men as they laboured to fulfil the Master’s instruction to carry His message, the gospel, anywhere man existed.

Jesus left them physically but spiritually He continued to guide them through the direction and voice of the Holy Spirit.

3. The inspired written Word of God, Logos.

Romans 15:4, 1 Corinth. 10:11, 11 Timothy 3:16: This is the product of the Holy Spirit who ministered the mind of God to the Prophets of old, and they wrote as they were inspired by Him. Moses was a mere mortal, but how come he documented God’s creation of the universe with such an awesome eyewitness details? The Holy Spirit revealed to them the divine secrets. It is a wonder, especially when you remember that some of these men lived in different generations and locations, yet they wrote so harmoniously as if they went to the same school where they were taught from the same course content. After the writings, the Supervising Author, the Holy Spirit directed the compilation of the works which originally existed as scrolls and parchments into what we now have as the Holy Bible.

"The Holy Spirit is the Author of the Word of God in whatever form it exists; as the Word made flesh, Jesus was conceived by the Holy Spirit; as the spoken Word, the same Spirit voiced it, and as the Written Word He inspired it."

----Nathaniel Ngerem , ngeremnath@yahoo.com

PAGE 46—SUNDAY VANGUARD, JULY 8, 2012

Insecurity: Northern elite culpable

BY BEN NANAGHAN

VIEWPOINT IN BRIEF President Goodluck Jonathan should be allowed to rule peacefully.

I

F there is anything Nige rians are best at, it is the ability to pretend. Nigerians have globally claimed the first position in the art of pretence. After all there is no sphere where Nigeria or Nigerians can come first, and so why not pretence in the field of behavioural sciences. In sports scientific inventions, space exploration, military warfare, communications, military arsenal etc, Nigeria will be assured of coming last on the table. This is because Nigerians will always see a white material and call it black, vice versa.

It is now well enshrined in our culture and tradition to shun the truth and go for falsehood.

If not why can’t we call a spade by its name and tell the North to its face that they are responsible for the national insecurity that has engulfed the nation.

Perpetrators of this calamity have openly accused the northern elite of sponsoring this dastardly national insecu-

rity. One of the perpetrators even openly alleged that seven governors and two former heads of state are their sponsors.

The northern governors, especially those of the Northeast and Northwest, have been silent on the insecurity now plaguing the country. Even though Niger State is not in any of the two geo-political zones, it allegedly harbours one of the sponsors of these callous killers who have sworn to make Nigeria ungovernable for President Goodluck Jonathan. The strategy of the governors is part of a grand northern design to frustrate the president’s efforts at transforming Nigeria.

No northern governor has forcefully come out to condemn the killing going on in the country. They cannot because how can one condemn one’s pet project? They cannot condemn the spillage of blood because the victims are mainly Christians from southern Nigeria. The northern governors are cocooned in their executive safety while innocent Christians, including National Youth Service Corps members, are being slaughtered.

These governors conveniently blame the insecurity on Jonathan when they have not been able to contribute any solution to the problem. If truly they are the chief security officers of their states, they should be seen to have lived

up to their billing before looking up to the president and commander-in-chief of the armed forces.

The truth of the matter is that what is going on was planned ahead of the success of Jonathan at the presidential election of April 16, 2011. For instance, another governors forum formed in 2010 during the campaign prior to the 2011 election was made up of a few northern governors.

The governors, who called themselves “self-enlightened neutralists”, made efforts to break the impasse that confronted the Peoples Democratic Party prior to the primaries to elect a candidate for that year ’s presidential election. Spokesman for the group left no one in doubt as to what the North had up their sleeves if Jonathan won the election. He said: “The PDP, no matter what, must unite, must reconcile because the consequences could be very dire if we are divided. If we do things wrongly, we could win and plunge the government into crisis”. He added: “Does Jonathan hope to defeat IBB, Atiku, General Gusau and Bukola Saraki in the PDP primaries and then go on to defeat General Buhari (making two former heads of state, one former vicepresident and a two-time former national security adviser) and hope to exercise power peacefully?”

The governor ’s statement, made in November 2010, is

very pregnant with meanings.

He questioned the wisdom of Jonathan’s ability to govern peacefully after winning two former heads of state, and a two-time NSA. On Oct 2, 2010, a former governor of the old Kaduna State threatened that the North would make Nigeria ungovernable if Jonathan becamePresident in 2011.

Unfortunately many Nigerians have forgotten all these treasonable statements. Yet discerning Nigerians know

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The northern governors are cocooned in their executive safety while innocent Christians, including National Youth Service Corps members, are being slaughtered

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that these northern elite are the big brains behind these dastardly bombings and atrocious murders.

Our northern governors should show patriotism and love for fatherland by stamp-

ing out this odious malaise in our midst.

I vehemently disagree with those northern leaders who are trying to mislead Nigerians by adducing other reasons for Nigeria’s insecurity challenges.

The northern leaders know the truth, they know that the insecurity challenges are as a result of the failure of the North to rule Nigeria perpetually because of dubious census figures which make evidently sparsely populated northern rural areas count even more than heavily populated southern cities.

It is the fundamental human right of every Nigerian child to aspire to leadership in Nigeria. The Nigerian presidency is not the birth right of northern politicians alone.

Northern Nigeria has ruled for 39 of Nigeria’s 52 years. Other geopolitical zones of the country should be given a chance to rule too.

Let us all join Professor Bolaji Akinyemi, the erudite scholar and foreign affairs specialist, who pleaded with Nigerians to allow Jonathan to rule this country peacefully.

There is great hope for this country. Let us love Nigeria and not destroy it. * Nanaghan lives in Lagos e m a i l : bennanaghan@yahoo.com

The Delta anti-poverty therapy

BY CHIOMA UGBECHIE

VIEWPOINT IN BRIEF Fighting poverty through micro, small and medium scale enterprises.

O

N this year’s Democ racy Day, I visited what was thought to be a mini-exhibition showcasing Delta products. The venue was the Convention Centre, Asaba. It was an exhibition to complement a seminar on micro, small and medium scale enterprises (MSMEs) held in the state to mark the Democracy Day. Like a typical Nigerian seminar, there was so much talk at the podium. The theme of the event was how to leverage on the micro, small and medium scale enterprises (MSMEs) to drive the new policy thrust of the Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan administration which is ‘Delta Beyond Oil’.

The concept of Delta Beyond Oil is the new thinking in the state which has a rich history as well as a rich repository of crude oil. But oil is a non-renewable resource and, like all such resources, there is heightened anxiety that,

someday, the oil wells may dry up.

Worst of it all, global experience has shown that in nations where there is undue dependence on crude oil (or any extractive product), there is a likelihood of what is now called the ‘resource curse’ or the ‘Dutch Disease’, a term coined i n 1 9 7 7 b y The Economist to describe the decline of the manufacturing sector in the Netherlands following the discovery of vast natural gas fields in 1959. The sweet taste of petro-dollar deceived the Dutch and the country abandoned its thriving manufacturing industry and was not smart enough to reinvest the petro-dollar to other productive ventures. The dependence and heavy concentration on crude oil exploitation thus asphyxiated the primary sector and over time resulted in a weakened economy. It has happened to Yemen, Venezuela, Democratic Republic of Congo, Nigeria among others.

In Nigeria, with our legendary lust for easy money and showy lifestyle, the matter is worse. Nobody wants to till the earth, weave a hat, stay at the loom to make fabrics, grow rubber to produce latex, cultivate palms for palm produce or engage in any meaningful

manufacturing venture. It is a hard path to tread, a difficult road to travel. But it was never so. In those days, the nation’s economy ran on the engine of a strong primary sector. The Naira was strong.

Manufacturers and farmers got commensurate rewards for their efforts. Financial institutions were too willing to finance manufacturing even at the micro-levels. Cooperatives were strong and effective.

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ral folk. Such empowerment does not only end with providing the right environment, it also involves giving them access to funds to start their businesses and grow existing ones. The state micro-credit scheme which fuels the MSMEs is under the purview of the Ministry of Poverty Alleviation. The scheme has revived the dying agro-business, the indigenous fabric industry, jewellery production

Uduaghan is fighting poverty not through charity but by empowering ordinary people to enable them unleash their innate capacities and talents to achieve impactful results

These days, everything has gone awry.

It is total paralysis of a once pristine value system. But one man is saying ‘enough is enough’. Uduaghan is reversing the trend at least in his state. Somebody called it ‘Uduaghanomics’. It is an economic concept that gives impetus to micro, small and medium scale enterprises. It is bottom-up economics which empowers the skilled artisans, the poor, the peasants and ru-

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among others. Much more, it has proved the most potent tool for poverty alleviation. It has even become an effective counterfoil to capital flight. If in doubt, ask Madam Ireyeesorieseone Woods Okumagba, the Itsekiri spice-maker who leveraged on the state microcredit scheme to turn around her spice-making skills into a money-spinning mill. She now exports her spices to earn foreign exchange. Not only her, others have courtesy of inter-

est-free loans from the state become employers of labour in various fields. Cassava flour, honey, fresh palm wine, human-size catfish, hybrid fingerlings and seedlings, locally-made fruit processors, delicately woven hats and colourful fabrics from local looms, an assortment of colourful beads and footwears formed the proudly Delta products on display at the exhibition ground which added substance and significance to the seminar. The scheme has created over 90,000 jobs. It has created wealth and birthed peace by actively engaging the youths who yesterday were up in arms against the society especially the exploitative oil companies in the state.

Uduaghan is fighting poverty not through charity but by empowering ordinary people to enable them unleash their innate capacities and talents to achieve impactful results.

Uduaghan may not have won the Nobel Peace Prize for his revolutionary anti-poverty programme but as three-time winner of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) award for excellence in micro-credit management for SMEs growth, he stands on the dais of history as the man who dared to end poverty among his people. · Ugbechie lives in Asaba

Contribution of not more than 1,200 words should be sent to sundayvanguard@yahoo.com

SUNDAY VANGUARD, JULY 8, 2012, PAGE 47

they are not very educated that the intellectual conscience may haunt them; secondly, they are not afraid of mud-slinging or tarnishing of image that they may be deterred from contesting. They become governors, legislators and council chairmen and even president and influence the activities of both the technical employees and the administrators who had better grades. Thus, the first and second class begin dancing to the tune of the third class. The whole arrangement becomes upside down. The topmost becomes the lowest and vice versa.

The last on the list are those who failed to pass.

They could not secure any academic certificate because their performance was below the requirement for issuance of certificate.

To earn a living, they join the underworld to exhibit under hand tactics to double cross men. Now the underworld comprises of a variety of men.

There are those who use talisman as office tool; they are the palmists; the conjurers, the fortune tellers, the soothsayers, the seers and the priests to shrines and oracles. They all have one thing in common and that is the fact that they claim to be able to tell what

will happen in the future.

Hardly exists a political icon that does not identify with the soothsayers. The occult consults the priests and the oracles too. In fact, the source of magical power of an occult member is the priests, the seer, the fortune teller, the palmist and the soothsayer. They prescribe sacrifices for them to execute; giving them amulets and magical concoctions to wear and drink or bath with. It is believed that by so doing they are protected against any evil forces: the forces of darkness and the forces of the spirit world.

Men of the political class rever the soothsayers so much so that they do nothing without consulting them. They decide for them when to travel and when not to travel, the house in which to sleep, the colour of the vehicle to use for a journey and so on.

Who decides for a president, governor or legislator save the soothsayer?

Not even the godfathers have a similitude of their influence. It is not every word of a godfather that is a command but every word of a soothsayer is so. Either first, second or third class, they all patronize the soothsayers. This is the reason the soothsayers wallow in luxury: They own mansions and luxurious cars; the reward of their services to the political class.

What is very amazing is the fact that in spite of their exposure and composure, men still believe in the purported protection power of soothsayers. *Okpanchi is a student of Mass Communication, Federal Poly, Bida.

and execution.

This becomes more important when the issue to be discussed centered on the youth. We recall that sometime in March, the commissioner representing Delta State in the NDDC, Chief Solomon Ogba, held a meeting with all the presidents-general of clans and unions from Ndokwa in Kwale. At that meeting, it was resolved that the NNU leadership and the NDDC commissioner will partner to ensure that the Ndokwa people benefit from the intervention of the commission. Sadly, however, up till this moment, despite several attempts made on our part, no meeting has been held by both parties and we are presently in the dark about the activities of the NDDC in Ndokwaland.

Our people have continued to inquire from the NNU leadership concerning the outcome of the family meeting we had with the NDDC in Kwale.

They have also legitimately cried out about their apparent exclusion from the one-day summit on youths. The Ndokwa nation is an integral and indispensable part of the Niger Delta and indeed Nigeria. Our people are naturally peace loving.

However, it is becoming sadly obvious that the only language that successive governments in Nigeria understand is violence and this is the tragedy facing our countr y today.

Ndokwa youths have continued to show restraint understanding and maturity even in the face of utter neglect and injustice.

The minimum the NDDC should do is to carry everybody along in their programmes so that together we can join hands with our dear brother and son, President Jonathon, in the arduous task of securing the lives and property of Nigerians and transform the country. * Enebeli, FPSN, is the president, Ndokwa National Union

Are the soothsayers truly in charge of this Republic?

BY FAITH OKPANCHI

VIEWPOINT IN BRIEF The reins of power in the hands of the people least expected

T

HERE is this joke making the rounds in the cyberspace about the people of the Nigerian state who had the privilege to attend school. The joke illustrates how the academically poor, while in school, maneuver affairs to control their bright counterparts later in life.

It is important to share the joke with you before plunging into the analytical appraisal to affirm or negate the title of this piece. The joke goes like this: Most first class students get technical jobs, becoming doctors and engineers, etc. The second class pass from school and become administrators and control the first class. The third class students barely pass, enter politics and become ministers and legislators and control both. Lastly, those who fail became soothsayers

and control all the above.

Practically, jokes are intended to make people laugh but this particular one seems to express certain facts that are cruel to the elite who are made to dance to the tune of the almost-noteducated fellows.

In our republic, most of those who become engineers, medical doctors, journalists and architects are those who were topmost in academics while

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istrative jobs and are put in charge of their contemporaries who graduated with first class. Every government agency is controlled by a ministry at both federal and state levels.

Next in sequence are the political icons who occupy elective positions at all levels. They are mostly those in the third class category and those who graduated with an ordinary pass grade.

Men of the political class rever the soothsayers so much so that they do nothing without consulting them

in school. This is so because, to practice a profession that requires being skilled, practically and in theory, one must be very good. It is these good ones in school that end in the field exhibiting the skills they acquired.

Their second class counterparts are rather not too good as the first class graduates. In order to find their feet in life, they take up admin-

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They are lower in rank academically to their first and second class counterparts. Arising from their poor ability, their grade could not secure them a professional or administrative job because they lack the mental and skillful wherewithal to handle the jobs. They plunge into politics and contest elective offices on party platforms.

Inasmuch as the doc-

trine of Nigerian political system requires only little from aspirants, the entire system has become so loose that even those that could scarcely address the public have their eye on elective offices. The pre-requisites are easily provided. The doctrine does not include having to graduate with a degree or Higher National Diploma, it does not require that one must attain certain academic grade, say first class, it does not specify whether an aspirant be subjected to mental test.

Because of this loose doctrine of our political system, everybody wants to become president, governor, senator, Member of House of Assembly and council chairman.

Again, our political scenery is full of traducing and belittling scenes that the intellectuals and the elite are ever distancing themselves from for fear of mudslinging. Their intellectual conscience is always haunting them and deters them from getting involved in any thing that tarnishes image; and Nigerian polities is one of these things.

So the floor becomes open for the not-verycooked members of the academic class to contest elective positions. After all,

Ndokwa’s neglect by the NDDC

BY PAUL ENEBELI VIEWPOINT IN BRIEF An interventionist agency’s abandonment of responsibility AS the president of Ndokwa National Union (UNN), the apex socialcultural organisation of the Ndokwa people, comprising Ndokwa East, Ndokwa west and Ukwuani LGAs, my attention has been drawn to a publication by the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) at page 44 of Vanguard of 19 June, 2012, inviting participants, stakeholders and the general public to a one-day summit on investment and business development for youths in the region on Thursday June 21, 2012 in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

The publication specially indicated that participants strictly by invi-

tation. Since the publication of the said summit, the leadership of the NNU has been inaundated with calls, enquiries and messages demanding explanation on the lack of involvement of our youths and leaders in the summit. We contacted our representatives in government, youth organisations and respected leaders of Ndokwaland to find out whether they were invited to the summit.

My investigation revealed that only one Ndokwa indigene may have been invited to the all-important summit.

For the record, the present day Ndokwa, until recently, was the old Aboh Division of the Midwest Region. The people of Ndokwa, comprising Ndosumili and Ukwani, together with Ijaws, Urhobos, Isokos and Itsekiris, made up the old Warri Province which was in 1952, rechristened Delta Province.

The three LGAs that make up Ndokwa, i.e.

Ndokwa East, Ndokwa West and Ukwnani, are oil producing with several oil companies engaged in oil production with its attendant negative consequence on the lives and livelihood of our people.

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generates 480 mega watts of electricity into the national grid with a vast majority of the host community remaining in perpetual darkness.

The NDDC is a corporate body established by an Act of parliament with

Our people are naturally peace loving. However, it is becoming sadly obvious that the only language that successive governments in Nigeria understand is violence and this is the tragedy facing our country today

Further, except for the independent power plant in Okpai, there is no Federal Government presence in Ndokwa despite its enormous contribution to the economic well-being of the country. The Agip-Okpai independent power plant, commissioned by former President Olusegun Obasanjo in 2005,

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a mandate to cater for the developmental need of all the Niger Deltans, the Ndokwa citizens inclusive.

It is therefore provocative and insulting for the NDDC to organize a summit of this magnitude and importance without carrying a major stakeholder like Ndokwa along in its planning

Contribution of not more than 1,200 words should be sent to sundayvanguard@yahoo.com

PAGE 48 — SUNDAY Vanguard, JULY 8, 2012

How we tried to save Yar’Adua’s job before ‘DOCTRINE OF NECESSITY’, by Tanko Yakasai In style, I adapted to life in Prison My relationship with Sani Abacha Ekwueme learnt Hausa language in Kirikiri to beat

stress

STORY IN BRIEF This is a review of sorts of Alhaji Tanko Yakasai’s autobiography, a second part, due for launch on Tuesday. It is interesting, engaging and revealing.

By Jide Ajani

A

lhaji Salihu Abubakar Tanko Yakasai!

The name is unmistakably politi cal in nature; the man, immensely experienced; his actions, some times controversial; but together, he typifies everything a Nigerian politician is.

In the second part of his autobiography, that is due for public presentation this week, the man simply known as Tanko Yakasai is a bundle of information. The stories he provides in this book come across as deep are rare.The book is in seven parts, spanning 501 pages. Each part has a number of chapters.

Generally acceptable criteria of a book review would subject it to “tests of linguistic clarity, contribution to knowledge, intellectual credibility and falsifiability”, that is: Is it written in clear language? cate in Comparative FederalHas it contributed in some ism and another one in Probways to knowledge? Intellec- lem of Independence and Detually, is the work credible – velopment in 1956 and 1959 observing the rules of aca- respectively. Un-relentless in demic work in terms of refer- his pursuit of Western educaencing and proper attribution? tion, Tanko Yakasai was subAre there basis for debate sequently offered a scholarbased on information provided ship by the German-African by the book? These are stan- Society to study at Wilhem dards that a good autobiogra- Pieck Youths Higher Institute, phy should meet. The book Bogansee, East-Germany, where he obtained a Diploma fares well.

Alhaji Salihu Abubakar Certificate in Political Tanko Yakasai was born on the Economy in 1963”.

The book begins in Chapter 5th of December, 1926 in Yakasai, Kano, Kano State. One of Part One with the mili“Tanko Yakasai”, as he is tary coup that toppled the Secpopularly called, received his ond Republic. In the followearly education in the Quranic ing parts and chapters, Tanko Schools between 1933-1942 Yakasai drags the readers after which he was enrolled through most of the political into Shahuchi Elementary developments in the country; School in Kano between 1941- not necessarily in a chrono1946. He went further in pur- logical manner but in some insuit of Western education at stances on the relationships the British Council English between events.

And whereas Tanko Yakasai Tutorial classes in Kano bepresents a first-person reporttween 1952-1955.

“He later proceeded to the age of events – as expected of University College, Ibadan, an autobiography – some of Extra-Mural Department the events as portrayed by where he obtained a Certifi- Yakasai present basis for argu-

Tanko Yakasai

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Our stand was therefore, informed by the realization that those who were campaigning against the President were doing so with the intention of removing him from office so that even if he were to die as a result of his illness, they wanted him to die out of office in disgrace

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ments and argumentation as well as intense debates.

For instance, whereas he reproduces an online report of the events leading to the killing of Ken Saro Wiwa, along with the earlier murder of the Ogoni Nine, the elder statesman’s contextualization of the events presents a confusing mix of endorsement and repudiation of each instance of killing. For the reader, it would not be easy to immediately place where Tanko Yakasai’s interest is regarding this presentation.

I

n the book, Tanko Yakasai makes bold to celebrate his relationship with late dictator, General Sani Abacha. He reveals the importance of the relationship between the former military leader and himself and does not feel ashamed to have had a relationship with him which even in death, was not denied. Only few would go that far for a relationship – Yakasai is not a fair weather friend.

A progressive – with ante-

cedents firmly rooted in the Northern Elements Progressive Union, NEPU – Yakasai’s political savvy knows no bounds but he could be miscalculating.

Savvy: During the Ibrahim Babangida years, the “Committee of Patriots, COP, was registered in the office of the President, Babangida’s title as Commander-in-Chief ”.

Yakasai says he, along with Alao Aka-Bashorun, Baba Omojola and Tunji Otegbeye in the south became part of the organisation with aview to pursuing another agenda – that is use the COP, to begin a rebuilding process for progressives in the country.

They were able to bring to the fold a veteran NCNC stalwart, Chief R. B. K. Okafor, who agreed to take charge of the activities in the eastern part of the country, with a view to doing their undercover politicking. Alhaji Lateef Kayode Jakande, was also described as “a worthy fried” of his. Because of the proximity with the seat of the federal government, seated in Lagos then, “ we decided not to use the Committee of Patriots for our activities in the south. Instead, we decided that Tunji should work through former UPN members”.

Miscalculation: His close relationship with Abacha and the plans for the establishment of a political party, preparatory to Abacha’s transmutation into

a civilian leader did not factor in death. Abacha’s death killed all the plans, just 48hours after he had met with the maximum dictator in Aso Rock Presidential Viila, agreeing on fresh terms of engagement.

You will discover in the book that anything Alhaji Yakasai feels strongly about must be carried through strongly.

From his involvement with Abacha on a few assignments, to Obasanjo’s campaign for a second term and his objection to the way President Goodluck Jonathan began dismantling his predecessor ’s structures even as a mere acting President, Tanko Yakasai does not in any way shy away from expressing his views strongly. In fact, in the case of Jonathan at that time, he actually wrote to Senate President David Mark and Speaker Dimeji Bankole, expressing his reservations on the way Jonathan was carrying on.

O

n the 1994/1995 report of the Constitutional Conference which produced a draft constitution, Yakasai also makes his position known, especially against the doctored version that is today the 1999 constitution. He gave a snippet of the last days of Abacha.

He said he spent six months trying to get an appointment with Sani Abacha but could not – inspite of their relationship Continues on page 49

SUNDAY Vanguard, JULY 8, 2012, PAGE 49

which was considered robust.

Abacha became withdrawn.

Contrary to reports that Abacha refused to see people, Yakassai reveals how Abacha himself was to express surprise that he, Yakassai, had withdrawn himself from him.

He said it was a chance meeting by his wife in Aso Rock that created the opportunity for Abacha to give a telephone number through which he reestablished direct contact with the head of state just two days before his death.

Yakasai can be humble and purely honest: “It was from Kola that I happened to see a cell phone for the first time (in 1993 at the Kaduna office of Shehu Musa Yar’Adua). I noticed him talking through the phone apparently to his father, giving him every assurance that everything was under control. More so, it was through that conversation I had an impression that my mission was likely going to hit the rock” (He had planned to counsel Yar’Adua on the need for a rethink on his planned support for MKO Abiola at the SDP convention in Jos).

If one name rang through almost every chapter of the book, it is the name of Alhaji Muhammadu Adamu Dankabo (Chairman of Kabo Holdings), his childhood friend.

This may not be your typical book review, but a few of the issues revealed in the book are presented here:

THE FAILED KIDNAP SAGA OF UMARU DIKKO

U

maru Dikko was kid napped and caged in a box in London on the 5th, of July 1984 but the British Police Security Network at London Airport saved him as he was about to be flown out of Britain and brought back to Nigeria by his kidnapers.

Major Muhammed Yusuf (rtd.) along with three Israelis (Alexander Barak, 27; LeviAric Shapiro, 43; and Phillip Abiball, 31) who were involved in the kidnap attempt were subsequently arrested and sentenced on the 11th of July, 1984. Following this development, the British parliament on the 6th of July, 1984 resolved to break diplomatic ties with Nigeria over what they termed “illegal kidnapping”.

As a result, two Nigerian diplomats were ordered out of Britain on the 12th of July, 1984 with seven day ultimatum. The Nigerian military government also took a reciprocal action against Britain in

‘I adapted to life in Kirikiri Prison’

Tanko Yakasai

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Continued from page 48

By this time, the Senate had quickly managed to pass a resolution, under what it called “Doctrine of Necessity”, using the interview Yar’Adua granted to BBC as communication to the National Assembly as ground to invoke that section of the constitution

similar manner. That incident therefore resulted in major diplomatic row between Nigeria and its former colonial ruler since Nigeria’s independence in 1960.

In spite of that, Dankabo and I resolved to return home separately as soon as the borders were opened, each for a different reason.

After finishing our business in the Iceland, we immediately returned to London and stayed in Dankabo’s house awaiting further development. We spent a few days in London, but as soon as the airports were opened, Dankabo suggested that he would proceed home first and I should remain in London to await communication from him, promising to feed me with any available information. But, he never did. After a few days, waiting without receiving any feedback from him, I decided to return back to Nigeria. I took the next available flight to Kano. On my arrival, I was welcomed by a group of security agents at the Kano airport.

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They took my passport, collected my luggage and ushered me to their office in the airport.

Thereafter, I was taken to the detention centre in the Kano State Government House where other political detainees were being held. Those already being detained there included three former Kano State governors; Alhaji Muhammadu Abubakar Rimi, Alhaji Abdu Dawakin Tofa and Alhaji Sabo Bakin Zuwo. Others were two former deputygovernors; Dr. Tijjani Abdullahi and Alhaji Wada Abubakar. In addition, there were some former state commissioners such as Shehu Muhammad Shanono and Alhaji Muhammadu Maude as well as a businessman, Alhaji Garba A. D. Inuwa.

Maude was the Presidential Liaison Officer for Kano State during the first tenure of President Shehu Shagari.

THE MOVE TO KIRIKIRI

O

ne day, after taking our

lunch, we were informed that a directive was sent from the headquarters of the National Security Organisation (NSO) that we should be transferred to Lagos. Without wasting any time, we were conveyed to the airport in Kano enroute to Lagos. On our arrival at Lagos airport, we were met by a number of officers from the NSO, waiting for our arrival.

We were immediately driven to their headquarters at Awolowo Road, Ikoyi, Lagos, where we met a number of other arrested former political office holders who were also brought there.

Among the detainees we met at the NSO headquarters were Ibrahim Gusau, who had already returned from Lome, Sale Jambo, Olusola Saraki and a number of others. Some of them had been there for almost two weeks. They were kept in a degrading situation with many of them wearing the same set of clothes for almost fourteen days without being given the opportunity to change. After a few hours of our arrival, we were taken direct to Kirikiri, where we arrived around 7p.m. Luckily for us, we had taken our lunch before leaving Kano; those who were not so lucky were not able to eat anything for the whole of that day. By the time we were ushered into the cell, it was past 11p.m.

Initially, four persons were allocated to one cell. Garba A. D. Inuwa, Abdu Dawakin Tofa, Sabo Bakin Zuwo and I were grouped together. The arrangement was later altered in which only three people were accommodated in one cell. Abdu Dawakin Tofa and Sabo were separated from us and Dabo Mohammed Lere was later brought in to join Garba A. D. Inuwa and myself in the same cell.

ADAPTING TO PRISON LIFE IN STYLE

U

nknown to me, when we surrendered our belongings to the prison authorities, Garba A. D. did not surrender all the money he had.

When he later informed me of the situation, I spoke to one of the prisoners posted to be cleaning our cell. I asked him whether it would be possible for him to get some items like mats, bed-sheets, pail and white-wash for us and he indicated his willingness to assist. So, we gave him some money to buy the items we

needed. He took the money and the following day, he brought the items for us. The block where we were accommodated consisted of a number of cells, which were originally used for keeping armed robbers and condemned criminals. The occupants were therefore evacuated to make room for us. The block was dirty with blood stains all over the walls; the floor was also filthy and smelling.

After bringing the items he bought for us, we made arrangement with him to get more prisoners to clean and paint the cell.

The following day, he came with four other prisoners and within a relatively short period of time they completed the job. We made that arrangement in secret for fear that the warders may stop it if they happened to know about it before hand. We did not even tell our colleagues of the development; but they suddenly discovered a spectacular change in the outlook of our cell and were taken by surprise. In addition to improving the facility in our cell, we also spread mats in the room, wall to wall. A few days later, we bought more new bed sheets, pillows and blankets.

Some of our colleagues approached us to make similar arrangement for their cells and the prisoners gladly carried out the assignments, as it became a lucrative business to them. Soon, those prisoners cleaned up most of the cells.

N

evertheless, we made special arrangement that made the warders ‘smiled’ as it is said in the prison language. Therefore they became our veritable contact with the outside world. Through them, we were able to secretly make arrangement for the supply of things we needed, like food and other necessities which are normally not allowed by the authorities.

One thing with prison life is that as long as you can afford it, you can live comfortably, provided you are willing to spend your money and willing to comply with orders by the prison authorities. There are always willing collaborators not only among the inmates but also among the warders whose condition of life is only slightly better than that of the prisoners.

Suddenly, on the 8th of February 1984, some senior inmates organized a peaceful protest against what they called “executive treatment of politicians.” When in fact, we were paying for the so-called comfort we were enjoying.

There is also the free flow of news and information in and outside the prison. Prisoners are mostly more up-to-date on current affairs; they know more than what an ordinary man outside would know.

By and large, the prison condition in Nigeria is inhuman.

Unlike the situation elseContinues on page 50

PAGE 50 — SUNDAY Vanguard, JULY 8, 2012 Continued from page 49 where, where prison is used for the purpose of reforming the inmates, here it is often used for punitive purposes.

FOR ALEX EKWUEME, PRISON IS HELL

Yakassai: Ekwueme learnt Hausa language in Kirikiri to beat stress

Tanko Yakasai

Dr. Ekwueme kept to himself in his cell, coming out only to go to lavatory or to take his bath; he was not mingling with other detainees. The matter therefore became a big source of embarrassment to those of us who were members of his party, NPN

,

Former political office holders who arrived in that prison before us were people like Alhaji Lawan Kaita, Chief Solomon Lar, Chief Wilberforce Juta, Chief Sam Mbakwe, Alhaji Abubakar Barde, Isaac Shaahu, Alhaji Muhammadu Goni, Malam Balarabe Musa, Alhaji Abba Musa Rimi, Chief Bola Ige and Alhaji Lateef Jakande.

Others were Chief Michael Ajasin, Bisi Onabanjo, Jim Nwobodo, Melford Okilo, Dr. Garba Nadama, Victor Masi, Alhaji Ibrahim Tahir, Alhaji Adamu Ciroma, Alhaji Ali Baba, Sunday Afolabi, Ahmed Musa, Abdullahi Adamu, Collins Obi, S. G. Ikoku, Aper Aku, among others, most of whom were either former governors or ministers.

Dr. Alex Ekwueme, former vice-president came a day before us. Of all the detainees in Kirikiri prison during our stay, Dr. Ekwueme was more worried than the rest of us.

For some days, he kept to himself in his cell, coming out only to go to lavatory or to take bath; he was not mingling with other detainees like the rest of us. The matter therefore became a big source of embarrassment to those of us who were members of his party, NPN. We consulted among ourselves and decided to talk to him to feel free like the rest of us.

I was among those detailed to see him. At the beginning, it was not so easy. But as time went on, we were able to make some headway. As a way of doing away with the distress, he expressed the wish to learn Hausa language and Lawal Kaita and myself volunteered to teach him the language.

Gradually, Ekwueme started to interact with fellow detainees and was engaging in a number of physical exercise activities.

During our stay at Kirikiri, the main pre-occupation of most of the detainees was fervent meditation and offering of ardent prayers by both Christians and Muslims alike asking God to end our suffering and punish those responsible for our predicament.

Those of us who are Muslims would read the complete text of the Holy Qur ’an as many times as possible everyday, quite apart from a number of verses from the Holy Book being repeatedly recited in thousands daily after the early morning and last evening prayers everyday. Our fellow Christian inmates too were similarly engaged in their own way.

The main target of our prayer was the Head of State, General Muhammadu Buhari and his deputy, Brigadier-General, Tunde Idiagbon. We fervently

prayed to God to make them experience the same type of ordeal and hardships we were innocently subjected to under their regime.

M

ay be it was our ardent prayers which led to the eventual overthrow of that regime. Our stay in Kirikiri therefore engendered the spirit of reconciliation among all the inmates despite our different political affiliations.

When the military took over power, they treated members of all the five parties alike, throwing their leaders into jail without due process of the law. For that reason, we were all united against the regime.

‘THE ABACHA I KNEW’ General Abacha was a man of courage, and very calculated. Once he is committed to a project, he would devote as much attention to it as was necessary for its realisation.

He was meticulous to the mi-

,

nutest detail. Although he was portrayed as a dictator, General Abacha was very liberal when it comes to discussing and analysing issues. He was a very good listener and would debate an issue until he was either convinced or he was able to convince the other party. In a meeting, he always allowed free discussion and he was ever-ready to abide by majority decision. He always remembered previous agreement reached and would insist on keeping faith to such decisions as long as they were not reviewed by consensus.

General Abacha talked less and didn’t like repetition. He always insisted that issues should be addressed directly and was less argumentative.

He would listen to people talking to him patiently, interjecting with some questions for clarification whenever that becomes necessary.

The “Doctrine of Necessity” As the debate about the

health of the president was raging, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo initiated a move to get former Nigeria’s heads of state to meet and add pressure on Yar ’Adua to write a letter of resignation to the National Assembly. He contacted former President Shehu Shagari, being the oldest, urging him to summon the meeting. Shagari refused on protocol ground that as long as General Gowon is alive, it is not for him, to summon such a meeting. Obasanjo then contacted General Gowon who agreed to summon the meeting on certain conditions. The meeting eventually took place and passed a resolution in support of the stand taken by the Senate.

With that development, I made contact with some people on the need for us to have a meeting that would counter the move of the Senate and that being supported by some former heads of state.

Barrister Bashir Dalhatu, Alhaji Sani Zangon Daura joined me to convene that meeting.

B

ut, at that time, Sani Zangon Daura was in Saudi-Arabia and he was relating to us by phone. Bashir Dalhatu and I conducted our campaign more effectively, through the media. We later convened a meeting of some prominent northerners, which was attended by over one hundred people. Alhaji Inuwa Wada, First Republic Minister of Defence, and one time Acting Prime-Minister of the country, who was senior to both Gowon and Shagari in age and rank, chaired our meeting. By the time Alhaji Inuwa Wada was Minister of Defence, Gowon was a Lieutenant-Colonel and Alhaji Shehu Shagari was a junior minister in the government of Tafawa Balewa. Our meeting passed a number of resolutions in support of the court ruling, which vindicated the position taken by people who supported President Yar ’Adua.

All of us were aware that the president was not well and like anybody else, the fate of a sick person is in the hand of God. Our stand was therefore, informed by the realization that those who were campaigning against the President were doing so with the intention of removing him from office so that even if he were to die as a result of his illness,

they wanted him to die out of office in disgrace. The issue divided the nation. Even the cabinet appointed by Yar’Adua became factionalised as some members wanted President Yar ’Adua removed at all cost while others remained firmly loyal to him.

When the Senate delegation that went to Saudi-Arabia returned without seeing the president, members of the cabinet who wanted him removed initiated another delegation to Saudi-Arabia, this time around, with the intention of ascertaining his state of health. Unknown to them, as they were on their way, the president was preparing to return to Nigeria. That was a few days after he granted interview to the BBC Hausa service in which he confirmed that he was receiving treatment and was hoping to return home to resume his work if his doctors felt he would be in a position to do so. Even with BBC broadcast of the interview which the president granted, his opponents were busy denying that the voice heard from the interview was not that of Yar’Adua and they were trying to invoke the provision of section 145 of the Constitution to begin the process of removing him from office.

That section speaks on the president writing to inform the National Assembly of his absence from the country on health or any other ground.

The section was widely misinterpreted by the opponents of the president in the media.

By this time, the Senate had quickly managed to pass a resolution, which the senatepresident said was passed under what he called “Doctrine of Necessity”, using the interview Yar’Adua granted to BBC as communication to the National Assembly that he was abroad receiving medical treatment as ground to invoke that section of the constitution.

Section 145 of the Constitution did not make it obligatory on the president to write to the National Assembly as the court ruled.

A

ccording to the opinion of the judge who handed down that ruling, the operative word in the provision under section 145 is “ whenever ” which means, it is only discretionary on the part of the president to write to the National Assembly if he so wishes.

SUNDAY VANGUARD, JULY 8, 2012, PAGE 51

PAGE 52—SUNDAY VANGUARD, JULY 8, 2012

, Life Is A Tragedy For Those Who Feel, And A Comedy For Those Who Think —JEAN DE LA BRUYERE

“You can start any mean job as a stepping stone to where you want to be. The best skill you need is simply the ability to manage money properly and rely on God for grace

,

out to do every day. She decided to pick up a job to support the family while Cosmas gradually built up another business capital through the scale.

“I’ve made mistakes in my life, but the grace of God has been sufficient. Unfortunately, when a lot of people look at me today, they think I was born Coscharis. I believe life is not so much about what happens to you, but about the opportunities and obstacles God puts in your way to get the best out of you”, he says.

Cosmas Cosmas

T

he Chairman/CEO of Coscharis Group of Companies and sole distributor for BMW in Nigeria, Dr. Cosmas Maduka, has a success story filled with intrigues. Imagine a seven-year old boy going to serve as an automobile apprentice because of poverty! Who could ever have imagined the outcome of such for this Nnewi-born business tycoon?

Tough beginning At age four, Cosmas Maduka lost his father, and therefore started hawking bean cake (akara) and climbing palm trees before the age of five, to assist his mother. Three years later when life became more miserable, his mother had to send him to her parents to lessen the task of providing for him and the other three children.

By the time he was seven, little Cosmas was withdrawn from Elementary Three to serve as an automobile apprentice to a maternal uncle in Lagos.

“My maternal uncle lived at Ebutte-Metta in Lagos and had a store at 88 Griffy Street, near Oyingbo Bus-stop. He took me to work as an apprentice for him, and people laughed at me and questioned what I could learn at my age”, he recalls.

His uncle had no home of his own but stayed with a friend, and Cosmas spent the nights in the store while he went home with the key.

Finding Christ As common with many young people, Cosmas had along the line drifted from the Catholic faith shown him early in life by his mother and had taken to trivialities like smoking and drinking. He, however, found Christ again through a friend who led him to the Redeemed Christian Church of God at Ebutte-Metta while still in Lagos, and, this time, he was dead set on serving the Lord.

Having mastered his craft effectively by the age of nine, Cosmas would single-handedly travel to Nnewi to purchase items for his boss and, by the age of 14, he was smart enough to be sent to work in one of their branches at Sokoto and, later,

I became an automobile apprentice at age 7 to escape poverty —Cosmas Maduka, Chairman, Coscharis Group

BY GIFT GABRIEL at Nnewi! Little Cosmas was actually working without any contractual agreement with his uncle.

Something eventful happened at Nnewi in 1975, and that marked a new beginning for young Cosmas.

“While at Nnewi at age 14, we had a church camp which I went for and when my boss came on the fourth day to the shop and didn’t meet me, he sent for me and my elder brother that evening and then gave me N200, saying I should go and concentrate on my new found faith. It was done to punish me, but having known a little about God, I looked at him in the eyes and said, `God hardened the heart of Pharaoh to show His might in the land of Egypt. I served you well, and I don’t deserve this. But if this

is what you have to offer me, five years from today, you will be amazed at what you’re going to see out of this””, he painfully recalls.

Staying positive He continues: “I’ve always been very positive from my childhood and this often made people laugh at me to scorn. I still recollect those days at Oyingbo Bus-stop when school children would mock me, and I would tell them I was going to be better than them in six years. I do not know why I was so confident, but the truth is that my mother inspired and encouraged me always.”

He thereafter teamed up with his elder brother who had concluded apprenticeship to set up a company, Maduka Brothers, selling spare parts. They had to part later due to ideological differences. His capital then

was N300.

The big break With that, he started his my own enterprise by coming to Lagos to buy goods.

“I had my first breakthrough when I went to Boulous Enterprises to purchase motorcycle spare parts. I stumbled on a new innovation, motorcycle crash ban, and I bought several and then removed the address of Boulous from the carton so that others would not know where I bought them from. I sold everything the next day and joined the night bus again to Lagos to buy more. I did that four times in one week and my capital rose from N300 to over N3,000. I settled down in marriage at age 19, and I ventured into importation with the little capital I had. Lo and behold, I received the wrong consignment and therefore, had a serious setback which left me indebted even to my landlord for months. My shop was also locked.”

Dignity in labour Having grown up to believe in the dignity of labour, Cosmas was not ashamed to start all over. He searched out a scale which he got as a wedding gift, took it to the market, and from everyone who climbed it, he got 10kobo.

His wife cried when she knew what her husband was going

Young Cosmas in business

Coscharis evolves Later on when he had gathered enough capital, Cosmas teamed up with a friend, David, to set up a company called CosDave.

“I formed Coscharis when Dave and I also parted ways due to some ideological differences. Coscharis is a combination of three letter words from my name and that of my wife, Charity. The real breakthrough came in that same year in 1982 when the Nigerian government decided to grant import licenses to ten motor companies and Coscharis Motors was selected! We’ve continued to expand since then, and we now have several subsidiaries”, he explains.

Success, a journey From his experience, Cosmas advises: “You can start any mean job as a stepping stone to where you want to be. The best skill you need is simply the ability to manage money properly and rely on God for grace.

Blackberry is somebody ’s brain child; same with Nokia.

Unfortunately, many of us do not want to have brain children.

Truly, many young people need to be completely reoriented because they have wrong conceptions of what it takes to be wealthy.

They hit the wall because they search for success in wrong places like Yahoo Yahoo.

Why not be practical about life if white collar jobs are not coming to you as a graduate? Learn to set goals for yourself!

There are millions of jobs you could train yourself to do! If it takes serving as an apprentice, do it. Many of us die of frustration because we do not want to pay the price. I have five children and I ensure they go to school in Nigeria despite that some of them are American citizens, because I believe they need to learn street smartness! My oldest son graduated from the University of Lagos, and till age 25, he didn’t have a car because I didn’t give him any! He has done his MBA abroad, and now works with one of the banks in Nigeria. He now earns his own money and can buy himself whatever car he desires!”

Formal education will make you a living; self-education will make you a fortune. -Jim Rohn

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Love is many heart beats, but its rhythm the same, for love is the light through dark streets, it has no image or name. Love is bright, love is light, Love is just, love is life.

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54 — SUNDAY Vanguard, JULY 8, 2012

MTN golf: Shagba wins northern regional qualifiers

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ILFRED Shagba last week emerged winner of the northern regional qualifiers held at the IBB International Golf Course and Country

Club, Abuja after returning with 88 gross score, handicap 21 and 67 net score in category 5 (handicap 21 – 25); ahead of the national

Odumosu confident of good outing in London

By KATE OBODO

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FRICAN 400m Hurdles champion, Ajoke Odumosu has assured of a better outing at the 2012 London Olympics after conquering Africa at the recently concluded African Athletics Championship in Port novo, Benin Republic.

Speaking with Sunday Vanguard Sports at the hand-over ceremony of Team Nigeria to the Nigeria Olympic Committee, NOC by the National Sports Commission, NSC last Thursday, Odumosu said, ” We’re going to do better but as an individual, my target is to get to the final of my event.

“The basis for our camping the track and field team in Atlanta and other trials have done us good in the last competition. I want to say that with the talents we have for the competition, Nigeria will fare better than the last Games in Beijing, China.” she assured.

•Odumosu

Nations Cup Draw: Chukwu happy but cautions Eagles

By KATE OBODO

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E C H N I C A L Consultant of Heartland Football Club of Owerri Christian Chukwu has said that Nigeria drawing Liberia in the final of the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers was a good one

Imoke splashes N25m on festival athletes

BY JOHNBOSCO AGBAKWURU, Calabar

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OVERNOR Liyel Imoke of Cross River State has compensated athletes from the state who won medals at the 17 th edition of the National Sports Festival in Port Harcourt in 2011 as well as the 4 th National School Sports Festival with N25 million.

The state contingent at the 4 th edition of National School Sports Festival hosted by Cross River had finished tops with 117 Gold, 125 Silver and 110 Bronze medals and each gold attracted N300, 000, silver medal N200, 000 while bronze medal attracted N150, 000.

Speaking while presenting the cash reward to the medalists, Governor Imoke said that it was part of his

finals of the MTN World Golfers Championship billled to hold in Akwa Ibom in September.

Ashagba produced the best score in the championship.

The golfer automatically won himself a Blackberry Bold handset courtesy of MTN Nigeria Limited for his feat. T. Eben-Spiff emerged runner-up with 95 gross score, handicap 23, 72 net score while S. Okwuokwei came third in the category with 96 gross score, handicap 22, 74 net score.

In category 4, handicap 16-20; J Malouf polled 85 gross score, handicap 16, 69 net score to win that category while I. Okaisabor emerged runner-up with 87 gross score, handicap 18, 69 net and W. Reng emerged second runner up with 89 gross score, handicap 20, 69 net score.

The category 3 was won

by F. Brimmo, handicap 11-15, polling 82 gross,

administration to celebrate state champions who he described as champions of tomorrow.

for the Super Eagles but was quick to add that it won’t be an easy ride for the team.

The 2013 Africa Cup of Nations final qualifying round draw took place in Johannesburg, South Africa last Thursday night, with the 30 countries remaining in the qualifiers discovering who their opponents would be.

The former Super Eagles manager said that the pairing with Liberia is the best Nigeria could get if the opportunity can be utilised by the team, adding that as

good and easy as the Draw seems, it may appear difficulty if they don’t prepare very well.

He however, advised that coach Stephen Keshi should get the best legs, whether homebased or foreign-based, that would help him execute his plan of qualifying the country for the Nations Cup. “I’m happy with the Draw but I urge that we utilise our chances as they come and at the same time get the best legs that would do the trick,”Chukwu said in a phone interview.

Continuing he said, “ Liberia may seem easy to play but we should not also forget that there are no minnows in football anymore. What we really need to do is to start planning ahead the match and take the match seriously knowing that it is a Nations Cup qualifier and not a friendly match where players are being tried.

Now, that we have known our opponent, we need players that are physically, mentally and psychologically sound to execute the task ahead,” he said.

I’m confident I’ll do well at the Olympics —Chukwuemeka

By KATE OBODO

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IGERIA shot putter and twotime Olympian, Vivian Chukwuemeka in this brief interview revealed to Sunday Vanguard Sports that her major priority in the forth coming Olympics in London is to get to the final but was quick to add that she will not be under any pressure and will be focused to do well in the competition.

Expcerpts: Experience in Port Novo It was a splendid one having left for two years.

I think it all boils down to hard work and focus. In London, I want to do same even better than what it was in Port Novo.

Target for London Olympics My target is to get to the final in the Olympics.

I will also step up to the challenges but I’m not going to be under pressure, rather I will take my time and do my best.

Setting new record in London I’m not going to promise anything, the only thing I would promise is that I’ll do my best and achieve something tangible for myself and country. I’m

confident that I would do well in the competition, that is what I have to say and for me to achieve that I have to be focused and work hard towards attaining that height in the competition.

Memorable Games attended Actually people started knowing me in 1999, but 2002 was the most memorable for me having won a gold medal in the shot put at the Commonwealth Games in Manchester. Then, I was young and lived in Germany, training under a German coach. I was not as serious as I am today.

Chukwuemeka, ready for the Olympics Then it was difficult, I never thought I could go to that extent in the competition but to God be the glory, I emerged champion.

handicap 12, 70 net score while A. Shaiyen placed second with 89 gross score, handicap 15, 74 net score.

In category 2, handicap 6-10, Sam Galadima emerged winner with 79 gross score, handicap 8, 71 net while Mohammed Suleiman emerged runner up, polling 80 gross score, handicap 8, 72 net score. E. Okatta won the trophy in category 1, handicap 05, returning with 76 gross score, handicap 4, 72 net while S. Baloni came second with 80 gross score, handicap 4, 76 net. An elated winner of the category 2 (handicap 6-10); Sam Galadima showered encomiums on MTN for sponsoring the event.

“MTN is doing a fantastic job and I would say it has been good so far. If not because of MTN, golf would have died by now in Nigeria.”

Novelty: Okocha leads Ex Eagles against Edo Best for Oshiomhole

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WO -TIME BB C African footballer of the year and former Super Eagles captain Austin Jay Jay Okocha will be leading forty retired internationals to the first ever Adams Oshiomhole Football classic in Benin city,Edo state.

The novelty match pitching ex Eagles Edo Best which is billed for the Samuel Ogbemudia stadium in Benin City today is organized by the Association of Professional Footballers of Nigeria-APFON. Confirming his participation, the onetime playmaker of Paris Saint Germain-PSG, Eintracht Frankfurt, Fenerbahce and Bolton Wanderers expressed his delight to grace the friendly match.

His words: “I am delighted to play again for the Eagles after my 73 caps along my colleagues and seniors like Henry Nwosu for Governor Adams Oshiomhole and wish him the very best.”

The players who have agreed to lace their boots as ex Eagles include Henry Nwosu, Mutiu Adepoju, Dimeji Lawal, Tajudeen Disu, Edema Fuludu and Garba Lawal.

SUNDAY Vanguard, JULY 8, 2012 — 55

Nigeria should learn to prepare early for Olympics – Ali

By KATE OBODO

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ORMER African Long Jump champion. Yusuf Ali

has stressed the need for Nigeria to always embark on early preparations for major events like the Olympic

Games, saying it is very important as it would help the athletes perform well.

Ali, who spoke against the backdrop of the government always releasing funds few months to an event, said that late release of funds and preparation lead to poor results in competitions.

“To get the best results in any competition, early preparation is the key.

Anything short of that can cost you or your country achieving good results. We have been doing well because of the talented athletes we have.,” he said.

On Team Nigeria’s medal chances at the London Olympics, Ali said, “I may not give you a specific number of medals that I think would be won in London but I know we shall get some medals that will cheer our country up . This is due to late preparation as a result of late release of funds.

Olympics: Igali positive of medals from wrestling

By IME BASSEY

N

•Okagbare

Supporters Club to storm London for Team Nigeria — Oladipo

By EDDIE AKALONU

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HE Nigeria Football and Other Sports Supporters Club is planning to send about 70 of its members to London to drum up support for Nigerian athletes competing in different sports during the Olympic Games scheduled for July 27August 12.

President General of the Club, Dr. Rafiu Oladipo who disclosed this in Lagos said based on the cost estimate from an agency handling the Games travel, about N60m is needed to send that number of supporters to London.

“We are appealing to corporate organisations, governments (at different levels) and philanthropists to join us in this quest to back our athletes so they can produce very good performances that would translate into medals,” he said.

“For the London Olympics, we have turned in applications for a size-able number to be there and support our athletes competing in different sports and venues . The club has in the last 57 years been doing

this selfless and patriotic duty to our country even at the threat of hostilities by supporters of other countries,”he said.

As a booster, Oladipo revealed that a firm, Sifax Group of companies has been signed on as one of its sponsors with N10m, saying the group willingly gave out the money without being asked.

IGERIA’S wrestling coach and Olympic gold medalist, Daniel Igali has said that Nigerian wrestlers going to the Olympic Games have a chance to win medals.

In a chat with Sunday Vanguard Sports, the Commonwealth gold medalist disclosed that it took him six years to win gold at the Olympics in Sydney in 2000 and Nigeria should continue seriously on her track of painstaking preparations because it will yield results in the nearest future.

“I believe that on a good day and with adequate preparations lasting the months used already, we have a chance of winning medals in wrestling at the Olympics in London. “It took me six years, from 1994 to 2000 to win gold at the Olympics, with proper planning, it will take about ten years or ten thousand hours of coordinated training to achieve elite performance at major tournaments.

Curtain falls on Greensprings/ Kanu Football Camp

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HE week-long Greensprings/Kanu Football Camp came to an end yesterday at the Lekki Campus of Greensprings School.

The camp which opened Monday, July 2 with three hundred children from across the country in attendance, saw local and international coaches who took the children on various aspects of football.

For its foresight at initiating an effort to revive football, former Super Eagles captain, Nwankwo Kanu and Liverpool coach, Gary Lewis as well as the Lagos State Foot-

ball Association lauded the management of Greensprings School for organising the camp.

With Diamond Bank as official sponsor of the camp, the Lagos FA through its chairman, Seyi Akinwunmi, believes what the school has done would surely compliment their efforts at encouraging grassroots football development.

Director of the school, Lai Koiki said organising the camp was in tandem with the vision of the school, which is moulding of total child.

Liberia, another banana peel?

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HE European Championship, a semblance of the Africa Nations Cup was rounded off in Kiev, Ukraine last Sunday with Spain doing what no other team have ever done, defending the title and doing so in a grand style, beating their opponent, the Azzuri of Italy emphatically 4-0, the first in the competition’s history.

Both sides had played out a 1-1 draw during the opening group game and when Italy, through the dexterity of their Ghanaian-born efante terribe, Mario Balotelli, demolished the German machine 2-0 in the semi final, pundits were tipping Italy to carry the day. All the bets failed.

While the Europeans were busy at their quadrennial competition, Africans who were switching from the even to odd number years in their competition were busy with the qualifiers. Nigeria’s Super Eagles scaled the Rwanda hurdle with a 2-0 victory in Calabar June 16 after a barren draw in Kigali earlier in the year.

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even times champions Egypt were shocked 3-2 at home in Alexandria by little known Central African Republic and their fans thought they could upturn the table after the return leg in Bangui but a 1-1 draw ensured the mighty Pharoahs would miss a second consecutive Nations Cup which holds in South Africa in January.

With the Super Eagles seeded along other countries like Cameroon, Ghana and Cote d’Ivoire in Pot One, Nigerians prayed the team which Stephen Keshi is rebuilding with an avalanche of local league players should not been drawn against Senegal or Morocco who were leaders in the second pot.

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heir fears were allayed Thursday night when the CAF Draws saw the Eagles pitched against the Lone Star of Liberia, a team who made impact in Africa only when the legendary George Opong Weah was their inspirational captain, as they chorused that the Eagles would be home and dry by the time the two-legged final qualifier is completed in October.

One Nigerian who was quick to alert Nigerians that the Liberians could be another banana peel like Guinea, is former Eagles defender, Garba Lawal who said on Brila FM radio that no team in Africa is a push over anymore as every team now knows how to play the game.

Lawal’s warning should be heeded moreso when the Eagles kind of struggled against Namibia in a World Cup qualifier in Calabar before getting the all-important goal from Ikechukwu Uche who had earlier wasted a dozen chances.

O

ne good thing about the Liberia match-up is that Keshi, who started his rebuilding process with mostly homebased players, had played the same team with his so-called rookies and beaten the homers right on their ground in Monrovia in a friendly. So the confidence would be there when they pay another visit in the first week of September with a stronger squad sprinkled with some experienced and reliable foreign-based players.

Like Lawal has warned, Liberia should not be underrated.

They could be another banana peel in the waiting. Egypt may have underrated the Central Africans and have paid for it with a second consecutive ouster from the African party which they have so much dominated. That is a very useful lesson for Keshi and his wards as they prepare for Liberia.

At Last, Goal-line technology is here

A

fter much foot-dragging, FIFA during the week got the go-ahead from the International Football Association Board, IFAB, to introduce the much talked about goal-line technology to reduce referees errors on goal-line balls. This is expected to take effect with the Club World in December Cup and Confederations Cup next year. The World Cup in Brazil in 2014 will also take its turn when it comes.

Other Confedrations could decide when they will start implementing the new rule with the various football leagues across the globe are expected to follow too. May be if the rule were in force during the Ghana-Nigeria 2000 Nations Cup, Victr Ikpeba’s penalty could have counted and the Sunday Oliseh-led Eagles could have triumphed over a Patrick Mbomainspired Indomitable Lions of Cameroon on home soil in Lagos.

SUNDAY Vanguard, July 8, 2012

Nigeria should learn from Spain —Onigbinde

By KATE OBODO ORMER Super Eagles coach, Chief Adeboye Onigbinde has challenged African countries, especially Nigeria to learn from the tactical and technical display put up by the European champions, Spain in the interest of rapid football development.

Chief Onigbinde who was thrilled with the Spanish team setting new standards and recording great achievements with positive football, said there is the need for improvement if football must improve at the national levels.

“In summary, I would say that they (Spain) have a solid team, not a group of players.

Amazingly, 11 players playing like one man. There are also several areas in the game which they changed,” he said in a phone interview.

Continuing he said, “they were tactically and technically inclined, which have to do with

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the combination of the team.

Physically and mentally, they were also okay. One aspect that is neglected by coaches in the world is ability to have an intellectual fitness (football wise), ability to know the right time to do some changes where necessary which the Spanish coach exhibited.

Coming to Africa, especially Nigeria, learning from Spain will not start in a day. I started

EW hours to their CAF Champions League first group match against Espreance of Tunisia at the Dipo Dina Stadium in Ijebu Ode, Sunshine Football Club coach, Gbenga Ogunbote says he lacks knowledge of his opponents.

Coach Ogunbote told Sunday Vanguard Sports that he and coaching crew were yet to see he tape of their opponents but quickly added they are prepared for the north Africans with a mind set of the antics of north Africa teams.

“The unfortunate thing is that we have not been able to lay our hands on their tape but only

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giving Spain respect when they won the 2010 World Cup in South Africa. What people do not understand is that modern football has gone beyond using formation system but also goes with a solid and combined team which Spain possessed in that competition.

“In a nutshell, Spain’s solid

team did not start in a day, that is why I have been talking about grass-roots development in our football. A well developed country should be able to have her football well taken care of, especially at the grass-roots level. To achieve this, we have to start catching them young, if we really we need

improvement in our football.

At the Senior national team, we still have a long way to go but then, Stephen Keshi is doing well, trying to build a team with our local boys, but he still needs to do better to be able to have a team that can take on Africa and the world,”” he stressed.

WIMBLEDON FINAL Serena reigns again, Federer battles Murray ERENA Williams claimed her fifth Wimbledon title with a hard-fought 6-1 5-7 6-2 victory over Poland’s Agnieszka Radwanska on Centre Court.

The sixth-seeded American’s success means she has now drawn level with sister Venus and British pair Lottie Dod and

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We’re in the dark over Esperance — Ogunbote

By IME BASSEY

CHAMPION... The 34th NB Plc Open Chess Championship was concluded yesterday at the National Stadium Gymnasium in Lagos with Kolade Onabogun emerging the new overall champion in the FIDE Master’s category.. Edem Vindah, Media/Public Relations Manager, NB Plc (middle) with Femi Solaja (l), Board member of the Nigeria Chess Federation, presenting the overall trophy to Onagbogun. Photo by Sylva Eleanya

working on the normal antics of a north African side. We both know our normal style of play, notwithstanding, after 10 minutes of play, we would have sized them up to know how best to penetrate,” Coach Ogunbote said.

On the game itself, the exinternational stressed that he respects his opponents but not afraid of them and will not let Nigerians down.

“We are already in Ijebu-Ode for the tie. We have put all we known about winning on the pitch into this game, so we hope and pray that God will crown our effort with success. We are aware of the might of the Tunisians but not afraid of them. We will not let 160 million Nigerians down.

Charlotte Cooper Sterry, who also has five victories at the All England Club.

Williams looked set to ease past Radwanska, who was making her first grand slam final appearance, when she breezed through the opening set.

Yet Radwanska offered sterner resistance in the second, finally breaking her opponent’s serve to level at 4-4 before another in the 12th levelled matters.

The result also means Victoria Azarenka, who lost in the

semi-finals at SW19 to the eventual champion, now reclaims the world number one spot.

Meanwhile Andy Murray and Roger Federer are set to go head-to-head in the Wimbledon men’s singles final later today knowing that whatever happens, history will be made.

The World No. 4 can become the first British man to win a Grand Slam title since Fred Perry was victorious at Wimbledon and the US Championships in 1936.

Victory over Murray will take Federer level with Pete Sampras ACROSS 1. African Country (74) 5. Ooni’s domain town (3) 7. Human being (3) 8. Nigerian currency (5) 9. Matter (5) 10. Dwelling (5) 13. Charity (4) 16. Night bird (3) 17. Donkey (3) 19. Female title of respect (5) 22. Speech defect (4) 23. Nigerian state (4) 24. Architectural moulding (5) 26. Tree (3) 27. Paid notices (4) 29. Smallest particle (4) 31. Strength-giving drink (5) 34. Consumed (5)

and William Renshaw’s record of seven Wimbledon wins. It would also allow him to reclaim the world number one spot, meaning he would match Sampras’ record of 286 weeks at the top and clinch a 17th career Grand Slam crown and his 75th career title in the process. Not since Bunny Austin in 1938 had someone representing Britain won a men’s semi-final at SW19 until, that is, Murray hit a forehand return winner that clipped a sideline to eliminate Frenchman Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in a thrill-a-minute semi-final.

35.

36.

37.

38.

Fish (5) Fish (3) Friend (3) Amused (11)

DOWN 1. Long backless seat (5) 2. Angry (5) 3. Friend (3) 4. Forebode (4) 5. Introduction (for short) (5) 6. Enlists (6) 11. Eye-socket (5) 12. Taste (6) 14. African river (5) 15. Yoruba thunder god (5) 18. Nigerian State (6) 20. Play (5) 21. Nigerian soup (5) 25. Horse’s gate (6) 28. Metal (5) 30. Underaged (5) 31. Giant (5) 32. Doctrine (5) 33. Greatest footballer (4)

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