Gunmen kill nine female polio workers in Kano

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Cynthia: “Defendants escaped under pretext of withdrawing from ATM”— Witness

BY ABDULWAHAB & ONOZURE DANIA

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RIAL of the four men who allegedly murdered Cynthia Osokogu, a Nasarawa born lady they met through the social network, facebook commenced yesterday after they were arraigned before an Ikeja High Court for murder.

Okwumo Nwabufo, Ezike Olisaeloka, Orji Osita and Ezike Nonso are facing a six-count charge of conspiracy, murder, stealing and negligence before Justice Olabisi Akinlade.

At the resumed trial, the prosecution team led by the state Attorney-General, Mr Ade Ipaye presented their first witness, Mrs Ifenyinwa Njegbu, a receptionist at the hotel where Cynthia was allegedly killed who told the court how the first two defendants, who brought the lady to the hotel bolted after killing her, under the pretence that they want to withdraw money from ATM. Before the commencement of the trial, the six-count charge were read to them and they all pleaded not guilty.

The state alleged that two of the defendants Okwumo and Ezike on or about 22 July, 2012 at Cosmilla Hotel, AmuwoOdofin, Festac Town, conspired to murder Cynthia Osokogu.

The state also alleged that the defendants murdered Cynthia by administering Rohypnol Flunitrazepan tablet into her drink, chained her hands and legs and strangled her to death.

The duo were also alleged to have stolen three blackberry phones valued at N150,000, Jewelries, an international passport and a drivers licence belonging to Cynthia after they strangled her to death.

Orji Osita, the third suspect was charged for negligently selling the Rohypnol Flunitrazepan tablets to Ezike, the second defendant without a doctors prescription and without showing due care.

Ezike Nonso, the man who allegedly bought Cynthia’s stolen blackberry Bold 5 was charged for being in possession of a stolen phone.

In her evidence, Mrs Njegbu told the court that while on duty on Saturday

21, July 2012, she checked in two guests, a man and a woman who claimed to be couples into room C1 of the hotel at about 12am.

She disclosed that at about 8am while she was preparing to hand over to one of her colleagues, Vivian Amule, the couple informed her through phone that they were checking out. ”After I had handed over to my colleague, I asked her to check out the couple since they had told me that they were leaving that morning.”

Njegbu noted that when she resumed duty the next day,she was briefed that the couple had left and that a brother of the man had taken over the room because the room was not going to expire until 12pm of July 22, 2012. So she noted that the brother of the man who had booked the room, was still occupying the room.

She said while sitting at the reception, a man in brown long sleeve shirt went straight into the bar with a brown bag and he was drinking, when asked to describe the person she saw, she described the second defendant as dark in complexion, tall, young and also identified him as the second person in the dock on a pink Polo T shirt.

According to her, she asked the first defendant if he lodged in the hotel and he said yes and that she had earlier called his room and but said he was staying but will only went out to made a withdrawal at the ATM machine to pay for the next day, adding that his his girl friend was still up stairs with the key.

She said she responded by informing him to come back before 12noon, when their rent will expire.

She told the court that after sometime she saw a man who is fair in complexion that wore a dark sun glasses coming down from the upstairs towards her, where the second defendant (Ezike Eloka) in the bar met with the first defendant (Nwabufor Okwumo) at the reception and they went out together before she stopped him, because it is the normal thing to do, especially when the person did not officially lodged in the hotel.

The witness, said they didn’t show up until around 3pm, when someone called the intercom phone of the hotel and identified himself as

Rivers State Governor Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaech(R) showing the Peoples Democratic Party(PDP) national chairman Alhaji Bamanga Tukur the Rivers section of the 42 kilometre Port Harcourt-Owerri road, a federal road constructed by Amaechi administration for over N36billion when the chairman visited Rivers, yesterday the occupant of room C1, revealing that he is not going to return to the hotel, saying “ you people should remove the Idiot from the room.”

Nejgbu said she replied that sir “but you promised to come back and pay for the room”, the only thing he did was to drop the

phone. ”Immediately I called the manager and explained what had happened. So he told me that if he doesn’t come back the girl will pay for the C1 room, so he told me to call the room through the company’s intercom phone and I called but

there was no response, “ ”The manager, Mr Victor went up stairs and said he knocked at the door and there was no response, so he told me to take the master key since am a lady like her that I should go and open the door, so I went up stairs to the room and knocked severally and

there was no response. So I used the master key to open the door and I met the deceased Cynthia naked on the bed, with one of her legs touching the ground in room C1 and I was shocked and shouted Jesus.”

She added that she

Jubilation as Chime returns to Enugu, keeps mum

BY TONY EDIKE, ENUGU

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OVERNOR Sullivan Chime of Enugu State, yesterday, returned to a tumultuous reception in Enugu after his extended vacation abroad.

Chime, who wore dark glasses and acknowledged cheers from the crowd that gathered at Akanu Ibiam airport, Enugu, did not speak with newsmen who were anxious to have his message to the people he left behind for about five months.

Hundreds of Enugu people including state government and local government officials converged at the airport and after receiving him at the airport, they escorted him in a long convoy to the Government House.

The Governor who had arrived Abuja, Wednesday from London, touched down at the Akanu Ibiam International Airport Enugu around 3.pm yesterday amid cheers from the crowd of enthusiastic citizens who had thronged the airport since morning to welcome him.

He was welcomed on arrival by the Acting Gover-

nor, Mr. Sunday Onyebuchi accompanied by his wife, Nneka, national and state House of Assembly members and other top government officials.

Spotting a cream white jacket, blue stripped shirt and a pair of black trousers, Chime acknowledged cheers from the ecstatic crowd that included many

federal and state legislators, traditional rulers and top government officials before being driven to the Governor’s Lodge.

Another huge crowd of singing and dancing people was at hand at the Lodge, where Governor Chime and his wife, Clara took time to receive many

guests. It was also celebration galore on the streets of Enugu as soon as news filtered in that the governor had arrived the Coal City, with the people chanting victory songs. His return finally marked the end of his absence as the excited residents heaved sighs of relief.

Prof Olawoyin for Arch Bishop Vinning church annual lecture

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HE Torch bearers soci ety of the Arch Bishop Vinning Memorial church has concluded plans to resurrect its annual lecture where men and women of intellect share their spiritual experiences to members.

Already, Professor Gabriel Adesiyan Olawoyin (SAN) is billed to speak on the topic “God in my life” toady at the Church premises in Ikeja, Lagos.

Prof Olawoyin, has spent his entire life in the law profession practicing and teaching law practice and teaching.

The 73 year old law professor will be talking to the elite group of the church with a view to awakening them spiritually.

Olawoyin, the first Nige-

rian professor of business law is a 1966 law graduate of the University of Ibadanand and has, at various

time of his life taught at both the Nigerian Law School and the Lagos State University.

Four killed in accident along Benin-Warri highway

BY GABRIEL ENOGHOLASE, Benin

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O fewer than four persons were on Thursday night killed in a car crash that occurred along the Benin-Warri dual carriage way.

Three others were said to have suffered severe injuries in the accident.

S a t u r d a y Vanguard learnt that the car had somersaulted several

times while attempting to avoid a head-on collision with an on coming vehicle.

They were said to be travelling to the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) depot in Benin from Warri. An official of the Federal Road Safety Corps who pleaded anonymity said the victims were rescued by some policemen on transit before they got there.

6 — SATURDAY Vanguard, FEBRUARY 9, 2013

Court sacks Umeh, APGA NWC, voids 2011 National Convention •Umezulike’s judgment not surprising, we’ll appeal — Umeh of 10th February 2011

BY TONY EDIKE, Enugu

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HE entire National Working Committee, NWC of the All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA led by the party’s National Chairman, Chief Victor Umeh, was yesterday sacked by an Enugu State High Court presided over by the state Chief Judge, Justice Innocent Umezulike.

The court declared the February 10, 2011 election and the party’s national convention that produced the current members of the National Executive Committee as “unconstitutional, null and void” just as at it restrained Chief Umeh from parading himself as the National Chairman of the party henceforth.

To fill the vacuum created by the judgment, Justice Umezulike directed the NEC of the party, which has been dissolved by the order, to meet and fix a date for the election of new NEC members to pilot the affairs of the party.

Justice Umezulike, who made these orders while delivering judgment in the suit filed by an expelled member of the party in Enugu State, Mr. Jude Okuli, held that the tenure of Umeh and his executive came to a legitimate end on December 2, 2010, adding that since the party failed to conduct a valid election that could have produced another executive, the party is deemed not to have a valid executive in place since the expiration of the tenure of that executive.

He resolved all the seven issues set out for determination by the plaintiff (Okuli) in his favour saying the party leadership under Umeh did not comply with Section 18 of its constitution in the conduct of the February 10, 2011 election while agreeing with the plaintiff that he was not rightly expelled from the party.

He said that the party’s constitution was violated when at that convention voice vote was used to reelect the Umeh-led executive instead of the

prescribed secret ballot, adding that even though the matter was an internal affairs of the party, the court had powers to look into the issues affecting the political parties if their constitution was violated in the conduct of its affairs.

But in his reaction to the judgment, Chief Umeh said that the verdict by Justice Umezulike did not come to him as a surprise, as he had reached the same conclusion even before trial as earlier published by the national dailies.

He said: “It is very clear that Justice Umezulike is very confused in his conclusion. He avoided the National Convention held by APGA February 10, 2011 and sacked the entire members of the National Working Committee elected with me. He declared the election a nullity and turned around to make an order that the NEC of APGA should elect another executive of the party, which is not in the constitution of APGA. First of all, if you remove the entire committee of APGA you have practically left the party without any leadership. So, who is going to convene that meeting to elect a new executive?

“Justice Umezulike was asked to make an order by the plaintiff that congresses of the party shall commence from the Wards, States down to the National Convention to elect officers of the party. He did not make any pronouncement on that prayer made by the plaintiff knowing that there is no way he can validly make the order.

“True, NEC members which he sacked were 29 in number. The plaintiff sued only me (Chief Umeh). If he was challenging my election through that election, he was bound to join all the people elected at that convention and this is one of the reasons why we have said that the suit before him was incompetent.

Necessary parties were not joined in the suit.

“By sacking the National Working Committee of APGA that was elected at the National Convention

which the court declared null and void, Justice Umezulike has completely decapitated APGA and left it without a leadership.

This is like removing the head of a trailer and the body of the trailer can no longer move. By this his judgment, there is no organ of the party left to execute the orders he made, therefore the orders are in vain. Nobody including Governor Peter Obi, the sponsor of this suit can derive any benefit from the judgment until the matter is determined at the two levels of appeal available (Court of Appeal and Supreme Court).

*The body of a foremost artist in Ogun State and South West, late Chief, Akintola Ogungbe was buried at his Iberekodo house after a funeral service held at St. Jude Anglican Church, Ikija, Iberekodo, Abeokuta, yesterday.

N65m alleged theft: EFCC arraigns Speaker’s PA

BY BARTHOLOMEW MADUKWE

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HE Economic and Financial Crimes

Commission, EFCC, yesterday arraigned the Personal Assistant to the Lagos State Speaker, Hon Adeyemi Ikuforiji, Mr Oyebode Atoyebi over alleged

stealing of N65 million belonging to Resourcery BDC Ltd. Atoyebi, was charged along with a former regional manager of Interconti-

Two Commissioners resign in Ogun State

By DAUD OLATUNJI, Abeokuta

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HERE were uncer tainties in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital yesterday, following the alleged resignation of the state Commissioner for Justice and Attorney-General, Mr. Wemimo Ogunde, SAN, and his counterpart in the Ministry of Health,Dr. Olaokun Soyinka. Saturday Vanguard gathered that Ogunde, one of the sons of the late Hubert Ogunde and Soyinka, son of Nobel Laureate, Dr. Wole Soyinka allegedly tendered their letters of resignation last Thursday.

It was reliably learnt that, the development amid hints of imminent cabinet reshuffle by the state governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun.

The Attorney-General was said to have tendered his resignation letter to the Secretary to the State Government, SSG, Taiwo Adeoluwa shortly before he left the shores of the country.

Saturday Vanguard learnt that Ogunde had hinted his friends that he was leaving to enable him return to private practice.

The Chief of Staff to the Governor, Ambassador Emmanuel Ogunnaike, had earlier resigned from the government.

State Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Alhaji Yusuf Olaniyonu denied any knowledge of

such resignations saying, ‘’there is nothing like that.

I am not aware of such a thing.”

Trader jailed for kidnapping doctor

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27-year-old trader, Obiora Igboanugo was yesterday sentenced to 27 years imprisonment by an Asaba high court for kidnapping an Asaba-based medical doctor, Dr. Walter Onubogu sometime in June 2010 as well as demanding for N50 million as ransom for his release, having been found guilty on a five-count charge preferred against him.

However, one Ikechukwu Udekwe who was arraigned

along with him was discharged and acquitted for want of evidence.

Prosecution had in the 5count charge stated that “Obiora Igboanugo and Ikechukwu Udekwe on or about the 10th day of June, 2010 at Akwuebulu layout, Asaba, within the Asaba judicial division kidnapped one Dr. Walter Onubogu and imprisoned him against his will and demanded for the sum of N50 million from one Mrs. Ifeoma Onubogu with menaces”.

Chief Igwebueze Ugwuoke passes on

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prominent opinion leader in Nsukka, Enugu State, Chief Igwebueze Ugwuoke (KSP) has died at the age of 85.

Burial programme will kick off from February 14, 2013 with a christian wake keep at Community Primary School field, IheObukpa while burial service will take place at St. Michael’s and All Angels Anglican Church, IheObukpa. Funeral ceremony will follow immediately after internment while thanksgiving service will on February 17th, 2013 .

He is survived by wife, children, grandchildren and great grandchildren including a Lagos-based popular socialite and business man, Chuma Igwebueze.

•Late Ugwuoke (KSP)

nental Bank Plc (now Access Bank Plc), Olayinka Sanni, on a two count charge of stealing the money.

Sanni and Atoyebi were said to have on June 29, 2011 conspired among themselves to commit felony to wit: stealing N32.5 million property of Resourcery BDC Ltd. The duo, who are also facing a N672 million fraud charge before Justice Deborah Oluwayemi, however, pleaded not guilty.

Counsel to Atoyebi, Mr. Abiodun Onidare, asked the court to grant his client bail, noting that Section 249 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Law (ACJL) of Lagos State 2011 gives only Lagos State the power to prosecute such matters in the state High Court and not EFCC. However, Counsel to Sanni, Chief Sobo Sowemimo SAN, in his application, urged the court to grant his client bail since he will not jump bail, saying that the EFCC had earlier granted him administrative bail which he did not jump.

“The applicant (Sanni) has no criminal record and he is in poor health which further detention will compound matter. I graciously urge your Lordship to grant the defendant bail,” Sowemimo added.

He argued that Sanni was granted bail by Justice Lateefat Okunnu on similar proceeding and urged the court to be bound by the same terms under which his client was admitted to bail, adding that if his client had committed the alleged offence, it should be the Lagos State Government that would prosecute in such circumstances.

SATURDAY Vanguard, FEBRUARY 9, 2013 — 7

$3m bribery scam: Farouk, Emenalo secure N40m bail •As Court seizes their international passports •Hearing on substantive case begins April 10

BY IKECHUKWU NNOCHIRI, Abuja

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ORMER Chairman and Secretary of the House of Representatives Ad-hoc Committee on Fuel Subsidy Probe, Farouk Lawan and Mr Boniface Emenalo respectively, regained their freedom yesterday from Kuje Prisons where they were remanded for the past seven days.

Justice Mudashiru Oniyangi allowed the embattled lawmakers to go home on bail after they deposited N10million each, as well as, produced two sureties each in like sum.

Besides, Justice Oniyangi ordered the accused persons to surrender their international passports and other travelling documents to the court registrar, warning that they should not travel outside the shores of the country without the consent of the court.

Both Farouk and Emenalo, had on February 1, pleaded not guilty to a seven-count criminal charge preferred against them by the Independent Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Commission, ICPC.

Collecting bribe They were accused of demanding and collecting bribe from the Chairman of Zenon Petroleum and Gas Ltd, Femi Otedola, to remove the name of his company from the report of the House of Representatives Ad-hoc Committee on Monitoring of Fuel Subsidy regime.

According to the ICPC, the lawmakers collected an aggregate sum of $3million, with a view to ensuring that Zenon Petroleum and Gas Ltd escaped prosecution even though the probe committee had earlier found it culpable in the fuel subsidy fraud.

The ICPC maintained that the offence the accused persons allegedly committed was contrary to Sections 17 (1); 8(1) (a) (b) (ii), and 23 (i) of the Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Act, 2000 and punishable under Sections 8 (1) 17 (1) and 23(3) of the same Act. Also, the ICPC alleged that Emenalo, while being a public officer, an Assistant Director and Clerk of the Committee on Education of the House of Representatives, sometime in April 2012, while acting

as the Secretary of the Ad-Hoc Committee, was offered gratification by Otedola but failed to report the offer to the ICPC or any police officer.

But, the accused persons had in an application they filed pursuant to Sections 35, 36 (5) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), and Sections 340 and 341(2) of the Criminal Procedure Code, asked the court to grant bail pending the hearing and determination of the case.

Granting bail Moving the application, Counsel to the accused persons, Chief Ricky Tarfa, SAN, and Chief Mike Ozokhome, SAN, had urged the court to either grant them bail on self recognition or on the most liberal terms.

While informing the court that Farouk had in the course of investigation into the matter, reported to the police on 37 different occasions, Tarfa argued that they deserved to be granted bail considering that they never violated the administrative bail earlier granted them by the police.

According to him, “The first accused has had cause to travel out more than four times since the commencement of the investigation, the second accused has had cause to travel to the USA more than two times since then. My Lord, the first accused has been a full time member of the House of Representatives since 1999; he is also a member of the ECOWAS Parliament in the last 12 years.

“He is one of the founding members of the said ECOWAS Parliament and he is presently chairing the committee on Administration of Finance.”

Case law Tarfa had also relied on the decided case-law in Owudalu Vs State, 2008, AFWLR, and Ebute& Ors Vs State, 1994, 8-NWLR, and argued that not only did the accused persons fail to abscond when they had the opportunities, but had voluntarily submitted themselves to the police for investigation.

“The accused persons

are willing and ready to face their trial. My Lord should also take cognizance of their status and position in the society and grant them bail in self recognition.

The constitution says they should be considered innocent until proved guilty,” he insisted.

Earlier, counsel to the ICPC, Chief Adegboyega Awomolo, SAN, had implored the court to remand the lawmakers in prison custody pending their trial.

Opposing their bail application, Awomolo also relied on Section 8, 10, 17 and 23 of the ICPC Act 2000 and the decided case-law in Asari Dokubo Vs FRN, 2007, 12-NWLR. He said: “We are opposing the application for bail and urge your lordship to refuse it. The accused persons are charged with an offence punishable by 2 to 7 years imprisonment and therefore not ordinarily bailable.

Discretion An application for bail is an application in equity which requires my Lord to exercise your discretion judicially and judiciously.

The principles that guide

Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State and Most Rev Nicholas Okoh, Primate Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) at the Standing Committee meeting of the Anglican Communion in Benin City, Edo State the court in granting bail have been well enunciated in the case of Bamaiyi Vs State, 2001, the nature and gravity of the offence and the likelihood of the accused committing another offence while on bail...

“Your Lordship needs to be assured that what prompted them to demand $3million will not also prompt them to demand $10million.The accused persons were part of the making of the ICPC Act, they knew the intention of the lawmakers and deliberately violated the

law, on that ground alone, I urge my lord to deny them bail,” he added.

Ruling on the motion yesterday, Justice Onayingi who overruled the ICPC, said he found merit in the bail application.

The judge, who noted that granting of bail is within the discretion of the court, maintained that the ICPC failed to contravene the depositions in the affidavit that was tendered before the court by the accused persons, stressing that,

“facts deposed to and not controverted must be taken as true by the court.”

He noted that the ICPC never showed any proof that the accused persons will either jump bail or interfere with their trial, adding that the commission failed to show that the duo violated the administrative bail granted them earlier by the police. Consequently, he released the accused persons on bail and adjourned hearing on the substantive case till April 10 and 17.

Irate youths burn father of kidnap suspect

BY CHIDI NKWOPARA,

Owerri

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HE father of Udoka Ibe, who openly confessed his involvement in the gruesome murder of Imo State Deputy Governor’s Director of Protocol, Mr. Laz Anyanwu, was yesterday burnt alive by irate Amaimo youths.

Saturday Vanguard investigations revealed that scores of angry youths from Amaimo in Ikeduru Local Government Area of the state went on rampage, burning and destroying properties belonging to the Ibe family.

The suspect’s father, whose name could not immediately be ascertained, was bundled into a bus allegedly belonging to a member of the family and set ablaze.

It was also gathered that youths from Umuololo, Obodo Amaimo initiated the protest march soon after they heard the news from the local radio stations and were later joined by their colleagues from Amaobu, Obodo Amaimo, the native home of the suspect, Udoka Ibe.

The protesting villagers cursed and sang war songs denigrating members of Ibe family, even as they maintained that anybody that brazenly takes another person’s life should not be allowed to walk the streets.

The bus was still smouldering when Saturday Vanguard left the scene at about 2.30pm yesterday.

When contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, DSP Vitalis Onugu, confirmed the

story but pleaded that he should be given more time to get details.

He however said that some policemen have been drafted to the area to keep the peace and appealed to the youths to sheath their swords.

Tension in Akoko Edo as youths, elders reject Commissioner nominee

BY SIMON EBEGBULEM, Benin City

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HERE is tension in Ososo community of Akoko Edo Local Government Council of Edo state as community members beat drums of war over the nomination of the former Commissioner for Arts and Culture in the state, Ms Aanena Jemitola as Commissioner nominee from the council.

Akoko Edo ACN leaders and youths accused the former Commissioner of alleged refusal to meet with the traditional ruler of the area, adding that she also refused to attend ACN ward meetings through out her period as

Commissioner from the Council.

They cried that it would be unfair to re-nominate her as a Commissioner when she has not contributed any thing to the growth of the party in the council.

In two separate petitions, from Concerned leaders from the council and another from Concerned Ososo ACN Youths signed by members of the ward executive committee of the party in Ward 10 addressed to the governor, they said the appointment of Ms Jemitola as commissioner in the first tenure of Oshiomhole created discord in the peaceful community.

But when contacted, Jemotal denied the allegations that “there is only one position to be filled, everybody can vie for it but only one person will get it. If they are not given a position, they should wait for their turn. The leaders will decide” The petition alleged that she failed to improve on the Ososo Tourist Centre built in 1935, “her continued refusal to meet with the traditional ruler and his council in the community, her refusal to attend ward meetings just as they said the former commissioner failed to attend several ward meetings called by the political party in the ward”.

8 — SATURDAY Vanguard, FEBRUARY 9, 2013

Two members of Boko Haram sect arraigned in Makurdi

BY PETER DURU Makurdi

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WO suspected mem bers of Boko Haram sect, Habu Umaru and Mohammed Isah were yesterday arraigned before a Makurdi Chief Magistrate Court for criminal conspiracy.

Police Prosecutor, told the court that the first accused, Habu Umaru was nabbed last Thursday by operatives of the Department of Security Services, DSS, Benue State Command on a tip off while he was carrying out surveillance of Holy Ghost Catholic Church in Makurdi, with the intent to bomb the church.

According to him, during the interrogation, the accused allegedly admitted being a member of the Boko Haram sect and also disclosed that he hailed from Kalu local government area of Nasarawa State.

He was alleged to have also disclosed that he

was paid N30,000 as transportation allowance by leaders of the sect to enable him carry out surveillances in three states including Benue, Taraba and Adamawa after which the sum of N200,000 would be paid to him for the assignment.

He however ran out of

luck when he was arrested by security man at the church premises who suspected his intention and alerted the police.

The second accused, Mohammed Isah, according to the prosecutor, was arrested in Makurdi for theft but upon interrogation he confessed to be-

ing a member of the sect.

Both accused persons pleaded guilty to the charge; but in his ruling the Chief Magistrate Dan Ogoh acknowledged the plead of the accused but noted that his court lacked the jurisdiction to entertain the matter and ordered that they be remanded in prison custo-

L-R: Former Head of State, General Yakubu Gowon; Ogun State Governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun; and Senator Olabiyi Durojaiye; during the 80th birthday Thanksgiving Service for Senator Olabiyi Durojaiye at the Archbishop Vining Memorial Church Cathedral in Lagos,yesterday.

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IRSTRAND Merchant Bank, a leading investment banking group in South Africa, is to invest not less than N15.8 billion (an equivalent of $100million) in Nigeria to support its operation and contribute to the development of the Nigerian economy.

This was disclosed by Sizwe Nxasana, the Group Chief Executive Officer of the bank at the bell ringing ceremony on the Nigerian Stock Exchange, NSE, to mark the commencement of its operation in Nigeria, and to as well solicit the support of stockbrokers in the capital market related

activities.

First Rand Merchant Bank officially commenced operation in Nigeria yesterday after securing investment banking licence from the Central Bank of Nigeria few weeks ago.

Nxasana disclosed

that the initial capital injection of $100 million was in line with the bank’s strategy of building its presence in high growth African markets with attractive long term prospects, adding “This move is completely consistent with our objectives as we

often enter a new market through the appropriate operating franchise, in this case, Rand Merchant Bank. Nigeria currently offers strong growth prospect, particularly with regards to corporate and investment banking.”

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OVERNOR Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State yesterday declared that the new mega party, All Progressives Congress (APC) will succeed when leaders of the party sacrifice their personal aspirations in the interest of the

nation.

Disclosing this when the former Presidential candidate of the All Nigeria Peoples Party and former Governor of Kano State, Mallam Ibrahim Shekarau who led a high-powered delegation of the ANPP on a visit to him in Government House, Benin City, the governor said: “all of us

as leaders and followers should recognise for a merger to be fruitful a level of sacrifices will be required and everyone will be required to moderate his aspiration and people must be ready to submit their personal interest to bigger national interest.

“I have no doubt that all those involved in the process recognize that these

Wife of CAN president gives out 22 tricycles

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IFE of the President of Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, Mrs. Helen Oritsejafor, has given out 22 tricycle under a micro-credit scheme tagged, “E go better” to boost transportation in Warri city, Delta state.

Mrs. Helen Oritsejafor charged the beneficiaries to make good use of the opportunity given to them by

BY ABDULWAHAB ABDULAH AGOS State AttorneyGeneral and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Ade Ipaye has cautioned parents to be wary of rampant of attacks by rapists on minors across the state.

The Attorney-General, AG, who expressed deep worry over the act, disclosed that the act has reached an alarming rate where over 427 cases had been officially reported last year alone.

The AG disclosed that for such figure to be officially reported calls for worry in spite of the fact that majority of the victims or their parents hid such incidence from the public to avoid embarrassment.

He said, though the Office of the Public Defender, OPD, had secured conviction of culprits in six cases recently. He however

Eagle Flight Micro- Finance Bank to improve their lives and that of their families.

By making re-payment promptly to enable the bank extend the products to all parts of Delta State and touch more lives. She prayed for the beneficiaries to excel in their “Keke” business saying “E go better” in Jesus

Name.

Earlier the Managing Director Eagle Flight Micro-Finance Bank Ltd Mr Clement Osazee Imafidon disclosed that the 22 TriCycles is the 1st phase in the series of intervention planned by the bank in line with its vision to partner with Delta State Government to alleviate poverty and provide employ-

ment for rural populace and youths in Delta state.

Government cannot do it alone hence our involvement to compliment Government effort with a scheme that is designed with flexible mode of payment and Comprehensive Insurance cover against accident, theft and other hazards spread over 10 months pay-back time.

dislosed that his ministry had problems of assembling evidences to prosecute rape cases because most of the cases were reported late.

The state chief law officer expressed the determination of the state government to reduce crimes to a barest minimum in the state, which prompt the government to organise monthly security meetings as well as briefing Lagosians on how to be guided.

Answering question on the position of the case of the DPO, Pen Cinema Police station, Mr. Segun Fabunmi, accused of shooting one Ademola Aderinde during the protest against increase in the pump price of fuel in 2012, Ipaye disclosed that apart from the delay the matter suffered from the police internal mechanism, the state had instituted a civil matter against the police to get compensation for the deceased family.

Overseas studies: Expert warns on lurking fake agents

BY EGUFE YAFUGBORHI, PH

N

IGERIANS desper ate for overseas education pursuit have

How we can achieve success with APC — Oshiomhole

BY SIMON EBEGBULEM B/City

adjourned both cases to the 4th and 28th of next month respectively.

Lagos Govt cautions parents to be wary of rapists in the state

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FirstRand Merchant Bank to invest N15.8bn in Nigeria

BY NKIRUKA NNOROM

dy pending their arraignment in a court of competence jurisdiction. Ogoh

are the irreducible minimum and we are all determined to make those sacrifices. At the end of the day, it is all about Nigeria, not about individuals or party its about giving our people an alternative base to choose from.

That the electorate has the power to reward or sanction and those who wish to be in power have to listen to the yearnings of the electorate.

The Governor who praised the emergence of the All Progressives Congress (APC) said “it is healthy, having recognized that we all accept there is no better alternative than democracy and the best evidence that democracy works is when people are able to choose from one political party or the other so that they can compare and contrast”.

been warned on growing entrants of fake agents swindling applicants in the name of providing professional guidance.

A Consultant in the business, David Abiola Oni, offered the warning yesterday while opening a Port Harcourt outlet of his firm, Dave Abion Consulting (DAC) to bring its services closer to Rivers people and neighbouring areas.

He said: “The public should be aware of those they deal with when it comes to overseas education. On many occasions victims have rushed to our office with tears begging to see how we could assist in tracking an agent who duped them of huge sums in the name of providing overseas admissions.

“The fake agents are there and genuine ones are not difficult to separate, but Nigerians are always in a hurry without proper investigation on the integrity of those they deal with.

“The fraudsters hardly have traceable working locations, always acting online,” he stated.

SATURDAY Vanguard, FEBRUARY 9, 2013 — 9

Nine female health workers shot dead in Kano

BY ABDULSALAM MUHAMMAD & BEN AGANDE

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INE female health workers were yesterday morning shot dead at community health centres during seperate attacks in Kano State.

Eyewitness told Saturday Vanguard that that the first offensive on the polio workers which started at Filin Kashu, Ungwa-Uku General area left two dead and four others critically injured.

The sources said that the gunmen who moved about on tricycles arrived at the community health centre by 9.00am and opened fire on the defenseless paramedics before escaping in the ensuing pandemonium.

Reacting to the killings,

President Goodluck Jonathan ordered security agencies to provide maximum security to health workers who are engaged in administering polio vaccines to children in high risk areas.

Jonathancondemned “the dastardly terrorist attacks in Kano State which claimed the lives of health workers who were dutifully engaged in vaccinations to protect and save the lives of Nigerian children.”

Seven other female health workers were also killed at the Community Health Centre, Hotoro Haye.

It was gathered that the assailants also went to the health centre on a tricycle and sprayed the female workers with bullets while on duty.

Commenting on the development, the Kano Commissioner of Health, Dr Abubakar Yusuf explained that “six were shot at Ungwa-Uku but two died while 4 survived”.

The state Police Public Relation Officer, PPRO, Kano Police Command, ASP, Magaji Majia confirmed that “nine female health workers were shot dead in separate attacks.”

Majia further stated that the “the dead bodies of the nine female health workers have been deposited at the Murtala Muhammad Hospital mortuary in the city,” adding however that “no arrests have been made in connection with the killings, but investigations have commenced.

$620, 000 Bribery Scandal: Former Chairman Ad-hoc Committee on Fuel Subsidy Rep. Farouk Lawanl granted N10 million bail heading home from prison over the bribery trial at Abuja High Court. Photo by Gbemiga Olamikan.

Ekeh dedicates church building to God T

HE sleepy community of Ubomiri in Mbaitoli Local Government Area of Imo State played host to an unusual crowd last weekend. The event was the formal dedication of Jesus, Mary & Joseph Catholic Church, a sprawling cathedral sitting on several plots of land.

The church was built by a son of the community, Leo Stan Ekeh and his family as a mark of God’s faithfulness in his life. The officiating priest, the revered Archbishop of Owerri, Most Reverend Anthony Obinna, spared no words in drawing a correlation between what Ekeh did and what Nehemiah did in the Bible.

Taking his first reading from Nehemiah 8:2-10, he illustrated the return of Nehemiah to Israel for the sole purpose of rebuilding the broken down walls of Jerusalem with support from and consent of priests and Levites including Ezra, the scribe, to the coming of Ekeh from Lagos to his community to build a befitting house for the Lord, having seen that the old church where he was a mass server and a chorister in his younger days and where his father served God fervently up till his death, has degraded massively and no longer worthy of the Lord.

Reverend Obinna said it was a privilege to build for God. “It is something inspired by the spirit of

God. Not everybody who has the means builds for God. Some would never think of it; some may have the heart to build for God but their gesture may be rebuffed by God. Remember David in the Bible has a heart for God and desired to build a befitting temple to the

glory of God but God rejected his offer because his hand was bloody – remember the death of Uriah at the battle front at the instance of David?” he told the audience made up of Governors Peter Obi of Anambra State and Rochas Okorocha of Imo State,

senators, members of the House of Representatives, Ambassadors, members of the State Assembly, commissioners, captains of industry and members of the information communications technology (ICT) fraternity.

APC will crash in 6 months — Ejike, APGA Dep. Chairman

BY EMMANUEL OVUAKPORIE, Abuja

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EPUTY Chairman of All Progressive Alliance, APGA, Chief Uche Ejike yesterday said the newly formed All Progressive Alliance will crash in less than 6

2013 budget: Your threats are empty — PDP carpets opposition lawmakers •They don’t have the muscle to set agenda for the PDP-controlled National Assembly •Says Jonathan is taking his time to study the budget provisions were in line •Nass, Presidency on the same page with his commitment

BY HENRY UMORU, Abuja

T

HE national leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP yesterday took a swipe at the members of opposition in the House of Representatives to override President Goodluck Jonathan over the signing of the 2013 budget, describing the threat as empty boast.

The PDP in a statement yesterday by its National Publicity Secretary, Chief Olisa Metuh however waved off the pronouncement by the l a w m a k e r s , stressing that President Jonathan was taking his time in studying the budget to

ensure that the provisions were in the general interest of all Nigerians.

It will be recalled that 160 members of the opposition in the House of Representatives on Thursday threatened that the House will override President Jonathan’s veto if he fails to sign the 2013 b u d g e t .

The PDP has described these federal lawmakers as merely playing to the gallery and do not have the muscle to set agenda for the PDP-controlled National Assembly.

The statement read, “a handful out of the 160 opposition members in the House of Representatives on Thursday rose from a close door meeting threatening to override the President over the

budget. The National Assembly is made up of 469 members.

“Our attention has been drawn to reports in the media that a handful of opposition members from the House of Representatives had threatened to override the President on the budget.

That is an empty boast.

The PDP has the majority in the two chambers of the National Assembly. So it is clear that the opposition members cannot set the agenda for the National Assembly. They are merely playing to the gallery instead of addressing issues. ”It was clear that the President, in his usual meticulousness and based on the powers conferred on him, is studying the budget to ensure that its

towards the welfare of N i g e r i a n s . ”The National Assembly was on the same page with the President adding that it was unpatriotic for the opposition lawmakers to seek to overheat and stampede the system.

“The National Assembly is made up of very brilliant and patriotic Nigerians and in passing the budget, they put the interest of the nation first.

In the same vein, the President, by his mandate and the powers conferred in him under our laws is looking at the budget to ensure that the welfare of the people is guaranteed. ” So the National Assembly is on the same page with the President and at the end of the day, the welfare of the people is what is paramount.”

months.

Ejike who disclosed this in a chat with journalists said: ”Let me clear one issue here, you see that mega party, I wish those behind it luck. But I tell you that the mega party is made up of strange bed fellows.” ”Yes, there are strong personalities there but I give the party six months . It will fall apart soon, it can only be together between now and the next six months.

On t’he position of APGA on APC, Ejika said; ”I have to say unequivocally as the deputy national chairman of the party that APGA is not part of the so called merger. ” I need to let all Nigerians know , I need to let our followers, all the people who are interested in our party to know that APGA is not part of the group called mega party. “ ”There was no point in time when the National W o r k i n g Committee(NWC) deliberated on it as to drag APGA into it. ” There is no meeting whatsoever of that . And I know that the only competent body, virtue of the constitution of APGA , that can decide where the party will go if not the NWC.”

10— SATURDAY Vanguard, FEBRUARY 9, 2013

By Tony Edike

A

FTER spending about five months outside the coun try, Enugu State Governor, Mr. Sullivan Chime returned to Nigeria in the early hours of Thursday.

Although no official statement was issued by the state government on the return of the governor, Saturday Vanguard learnt that he arrived the Nnamdi Azikiwe International airport, Abuja from United Kingdom at about 5.30am.

Officials of the government including the media aides to the governor declined to comment confirming earlier speculations that the ailing governor would sneak into the country without any ceremony.

“Oga returned from United Kingdom at 5.30 am this morning and was driven into Abuja where he is convalescing. He will likely come into Enugu today (Friday) or Saturday,” one of his personal aides who pleaded not to be named told Vanguard yesterday.

The local government chairmen in the state had planned to hold a resounding reception for the governor at the Akanu Ibiam airport, Enugu yesterday when they heard that he would make a triumphant entry into the Coal City after a long absence from the state, but the reception was called off.

The news of Chime’s return to the country was, however, received by Enugu residents as

a welcome relief and with thanksgiving to God for sparing his life. Many residents were seen discussing the development yesterday even though some doubted the news describing it as one of the past speculations and rumours regarding the governor ’s prolonged absence.

In its official reaction to the development, the Save Enugu Group, which had mounted pressures on the state government to make full disclosure of the governor’s health status, said it received with joy the “informal news of the return of Governor Sullivan Chime into Nigeria, in the wee hours of this morning.”

that H.E. Governor Chime did not deserve being hustled out of ‘gainful stay’ in good health institutions if the right things were done first and before questions arose. In that respect, we, as other good people of Enugu State stand to hold those responsible for primitive lies and needless cover ups responsible,” the SEG stated.

The statement signed by Messrs Maxi Okwu (Convener), Chief Willy Ezeugwu and Ozo Igbonekwu Ogazimora, however, wished Governor Chime well and full recovery.

On its part, the En ugu State Chapter of Conference of Nigeria Political Parties (CNPP), Thursday expressed delight and

Governor was away.

How Chime left Nigeria on ‘vacation’

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hime left the country on September 19 last year on what his aides described as accumulated leave but the vacation later became a subject of controversy when his traducers began to allege that the government was lying about his true mission overseas. He had travelled out of the country after attending a function in Abuja without any formal announcement from the government. The nature of his trip gave rise to speculations that all might not be well with the governor. The government

The nature of his trip gave rise to speculations that all might not be well with the governor. The government swiftly issued a statement saying that the governor had embarked on an accumulated leave but did not specify when he would return to the office “We are reliably informed that Governor Chime arrived Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport Abuja, on a British Airways flight from London Heathrow and moved to the Enugu Lodge in Abuja. “ We note that this event is taking place exactly one month after we first sounded the alarm of prolonged and unexplained absence. We acclaim this as falling within desired responsive action of leaders in a democracy. If the further information on the frail condition of the Governor is reliable, we wish to state

solidarity with the people of Enugu State over the safe return of Governor, Sullivan Iheanacho Chime to Nigeria.

Rising from her monthly general meeting, the group in a statement signed by its Chairman, Hon Afam Nnaji and Secretary Pastor FrankGold Ekwueme, also expressed gratitude to the Acting Governor, Mr. Sunday Onyebuchi and the Executive Council as well as the Legislature and Local Government Chairmen, for their support and contributions in keeping Enugu working while the

swiftly issued a statement saying that the governor had embarked on an accumulated leave but did not specify when he would return to the office.

The Save Enugu Group, which emerged three months after the governor’s absence, claimed that it had evidence that Chime was incapacitated by ill-health accusing the government of being economical with the truth. It therefore put the government to task to disclose the actual health status of the governor just as it challenged the State House of As-

sembly to make public the letter purportedly written by the governor notifying it of his intention to embark on vacation with a view to determining whether he had overstayed or not.

The speaker of the Assembly, Eugene Odoh, who was in possession of the letter, remained adamant as he refused to release the letter but when tension heightened following the prolonged absence of the governor, he later explained that the governor was enjoying his vacation. According to him, the governor had the right to stay outside his office for as long as he wished because he was duly protected by the constitution.

The SEG not satisfied by the speaker’s position, demanded that a delegation of eminent personalities in the state be constituted to visit the governor wherever he was overseas to ascertain his state of health and determine why he could not resume duty after his vacation.

The demand was strongly condemned by officials of the state government, who accused the group of trying to play politics with the ailment of the governor even though his media aides continued to maintain that Chime “was hale and hearty.”

Chime found at Wellington Humane Hospital Swiss Cottage, London – SEG claimed

After spending four months

Continued on page 11

SATURDAY Vanguard, FEBRUARY 9, 2013—11

Chime returns after five months absence Continued from page 10 absence of the governor and his whereabouts was shrouded in secrecy, the SEG said it traced him (Chime) to a London hospital.

The group which had taken up the challenge of fishing out the governor with a view to ascertaining whether he was still capable of continuing with his constitutional duties, said the independent investigators it commissioned to locate his whereabouts had turned in the report of their finding.

The group said following the failure of the state government and its officials to disclose the whereabouts of the governor, it commissioned its own investigators who tracked the governor down to the London Hospital where he is being treated for an undisclosed ailment contrary to the government’s claim that Chime was on vacation, hale and hearty.

The SEG disclosed this in the second letter forwarded to the State Acting Governor, Mr. Sunday Onyebuchi last week in which it reiterated its earlier demands that some eminent persons in the state should be constituted into a delegation to seek Governor Chime out and report back to the good people of the state.

Neither the Acting Governor nor the Governor’s information managers reacted to the group’s demand as they did when their first letter was dispatched to the Government House. The government had merely dismissed the group as “attention seekers” and those wishing the governor dead.

Onyebuchi had maintained a sealed lip over the controversy trailing the governor’s absence since he began to act mid-September last year and had resisted the pressures being mounted in all quarters to effect some changes that would enable him take full control of the duties of the absentee governor.

His reason, according to dependable sources, was that the constitutional provision on how long the governor could stay outside his office before the seat could be declared vacant was not clearly defined and could therefore be cumbersome to grab the seat more so when the cabal that had effectively taken control of the governor’s office in his absence, has not given him (Onyebuchi) any breathing space.

Another reason, as was disclosed by his close associates was that the acting governor was not sure of the true state of

es, which are normal to every human being. But there is no reason people should hide it.

Rather, we should be told the details of the whole thing so that we can intensify our prayers for him.”

Bishop Chukwuma was of the view that the constitution should be applied where necessary and that the state assembly should make necessary effort to find out the governor’s health status to enable the law to take its course. “It is time that the Speaker and his House of Assembly members should begin to really find out, just like the Senate did during the time of (the late president) Yar’Adua.

They have to urgently find out the true situation of things and allow the law to take its course where necessary,” he said. the governor’s health haven been in the dark for a long time and was not allowed to pay a visit to the governor overseas since he left the country. He was said to have expressed his desire to visit the governor in December but it was turned down by members of the cabal because they feared that allowing him to have full knowledge of the governor’s incapacity, could embolden him to take full charge of the office.

I

n the midst of the confu sion, the Speaker of the House of Assembly, Mr. Eugene Odo, had consistently announced that the lawmakers had no plan of impeaching the governor or transferring full constitutional powers to the acting

governor, hence the stiff opposition to Onyebuchi’s possible succession of Chime.

On his part, Chime had given a strong assurance that he would work for the emergence of his successor from Nsukka area and this might be scuttled if he was not available to direct affairs till 2015.

Enugu Anglican, Catholic Bishops disagree over Chime

As tension continued to heighten in the state over the endless wait for Governor Chime’s return, elders of the state and some religious leaders, who had adopted a siddonlook posture over the governor’s absence, decided to speak out on the disturbing scenario that

declared:

“The whole scenario is very unfortunate. There is quite a lot of deceit right in the entire issue. I must say that I, Bishop Chukwuma, am one of those behind the installation of Sullivan Chime as the Governor of Enugu State. I gave him support and I was the only bishop, who blessed him. No other bishop blessed him when he was coming into government. Even his Catholic bishops rejected him because of how he was brought in by the former Governor, Dr Chimaroke Nnamani.

I was the only bishop and I’m still praying for him.

“But the family of the governor has to be blamed for all that is happening now because they are not sincere and open on the

Onyebuchi had maintained a sealed lip over the controversy trailing the governor’s absence since he began to act mid-September last year governor to function as the State Executive Governor.

Some had argued that the Speaker, who is from Enugu North (Nsukka) senatorial zone was not ready to support Onyebuchi’s empowerment as he and his Nsukka brothers were determined to ensure that power did not return to Nkanu land (Enugu East) from where Onyebuchi hails after former Governor Chimaroke Nnamani’s eight-year tenure.

It was further feared that that if Onyebuchi was empowered to take over as governor to serve out the remaining part of Chime’s tenure, he might decide to contest the 2015 election using incumbent factor, which would deny Enugu North the opportunity to produce the next

was playing out in the state then. The Bishop of the Enugu Anglican Communion and Chairman of Enugu State Christian Pilgrim Board, Rt. Rev. Emmanuel Chukwuma, who voiced out his anger over what he described then as the “deceptions going on in Enugu since the last four months”, said he was not happy with the way the family of the governor handled issues relating to the state of the governor’s health. He said that the governor’s immediate family should be blamed for the present call for the application of the Doctrine of Necessity in the state.

The visibly angry Bishop Chukwuma

matter. When the late Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu was sick, his family was open to let us know he was sick. And I personally visited Ojukwu at the hospital in London. One of my visits was at the London Clinic while the other was at the Wellington Hospital. And I was able to see him and pray for him. But up till now, nobody has told me where my governor (Chime) is, which hospital he is in; they are hiding it. But we are praying. All I know is that he is not dead. I even received Christmas greeting card and gifts from the Government House sent by him. Okay! But what is the state of his health, nobody is telling us.

“I’m quite sure that he probably has some health challeng-

Enugu Catholic Bishop replied Chukwuma

However, in what looked like an official response on behalf of the government and the governor’s family, a press release came from the Government House Press Unit quoting the Enugu Catholic Bishop, Rt. Rev. Callistus Onaga as faulting those making uncomplimentary remarks over the absence of the governor.

In the press release captioned “Chime: Bishop Onaga blasts critics”, the Catholic Bishop said it was morally and totally wrong for some people to wish another human being dead.

While appealing for patience from the people, Onaga also congratulated the Acting Governor, Sunday Onyebuchi and his team for having effectively and efficiently piloted the affairs of the state in the absence of the governor, who is a Catholic.

Onaga, like the governor ’s media managers, was, however, silent on whether the governor is sick or not as he maintained that Chime was entitled his holidays during which he can do other things which he wishes to.

Enugu PDP also joined the fray

The State Chairman of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Engr. Vita Abba, had in the midst of the crisis, called for patience and understanding of the people over Chime’s absence saying the governor, who had been away for months would soon return to his duty post, but the Save Enugu Group immediately dismissed his statement as part of the government’s efforts to mislead the people.

Continued on page 12

12—SATURDAY Vanguard, FEBRUARY 9, 2013

Continued from page 11 “We reliably gathered that there are people within the government who have initiated a disinformation campaign to twist the demands of SEG out of contest and give it a colouration that is at variance with what it is asking for. Our demands are straightforward, we want a categorical statement from the state government on the whereabouts of Governor Chime and we want a select group of eminent citizens of Enugu state to pay him a visit there. We expect the state assembly to play its role on this matter in accordance with the Constitution. We also expect royal fathers in the state to prevail on the affected people to provide details about the whereabouts of our governor.” SEG reacted in one of its statements.

The group, however, reassured the people of the state that all legal and constitutional means would be explored “to ensure that the state does not continue to be adrift with unexplained absence of the governor.”

Acting Governor broke silence on Chime

In his first official comment on the controversial absence of Chime, Acting Governor Sunday Onyebuchi, dismissed as untrue claims by some groups in the state that the governor gave him an approval limit of N500,000 before embarking on vacation as well as the rumour that he was unable to handle the office left for him.

Onyebuchi, who has successfully piloted the affairs of the state since the absence of his principal in September last year, insisted that Chime duly transferred power to him before he travelled via a letter he transmitted to the House of Assembly.

The Acting Governor made the clarification during an interactive session at the end of a tour of projects in the state by the national good governance team. He denied reports that his expenditure limit had been fixed at N500.000 in the absence of Governor Chime, explaining that he would not have been able to pay the salaries of workers and contractors if it were true that his spending limited was pegged at half a million by the governor.

Onyebuchi affirmed that Governor Chime duly transferred power to him before he travelled via a letter to that effect he transmitted to the House of Assembly, adding that he had since been running the state without hitches and with the full cooperation of government officials and ministries. He did not speak further on the issue.

Gov Chime(2nd r) with other governors in London

Chime returns after five months absence SEG gives Speaker 7-day ultimatum, threatens court action

The Save Enugu Group, SEG, in a reminder letter sent to the Speaker, threatened to drag him to court for his refusal to tell the people of the state the whereabouts of Governor Chime. In the letter signed by

saying it fits into the growing pattern of shrouding the health problems of elected officials in secrecy, and again calls attention to the need to do things properly to advance the nation’s democracy rather than personal interests.

In a statement issued in Lagos by its National Publicity

serve the interest of our democracy. ”In the case of Gov. Chime, how can a man who is purportedly on vacation disappear for over 135 days and the people who voted him into office are not expected to ask questions?

“Does the constitution provide for such a long ‘vacation’ without consequences? Is Gov.

The return of Chime will no doubt douse the tension that has gripped the entire Enugu State since the past five months its leader, Barrister Maxi Okwu, the SEG threatened to drag the Speaker to court if he failed to make public, a Certified True Copy (C-T-C) of the purported letter written by Governor Chime concerning his purported annual leave, which the Speaker claimed was discussed by the State House of Assembly before they transmuted power to Deputy Governor, Sunday Onyebuchi.

“We are therefore constrained to write to you again, and make a much more formal demand.

We hereby formally demand that you make available to us a Certified True Copy (CTC) of the said letter which you claim was addressed to you by H.E. Governor Chime before he proceeded on leave/vacation.

ACN seeks full disclosure, slams Governors’ Forum

The Action Congress of Nigeria had in its submission on the absentee governors joined in condemning what it described as the poor handling of the reported illness of Gov. Chime,

Secretary, Ahaji Lai Mohammed, the party also criticized the choreographed visit to Gov. Chime in London by a delegation of the Nigerian Governors Forum (NGF), which was apparently designed to reinforce the lies being peddled by Gov. Chime’s supporters rather than keep the people of the state better informed of the true situation of things.

It said there is no doubt that the reason behind all the shenanigans is the desperation by public office holders to hold on to power at all costs, even when it is clear that their health has failed to such a level that they are better off stepping down so they can attend to their health problems. “We do not have details of what is wrong with Gov. Chime and honestly that is not the reason behind our intervention.

“Our concern is that the conspiracy of silence being perpetrated by the state governors who are reported to have taken ill and abandoned their duty posts, as well as their supporters especially the NGF, does not

Chime’s deputy, whom he reportedly handed over to, given enough latitude to adequately preside over the affairs of the state. If not, how has this affected governance in the state? And to what extent have the people of the state been denied the dividends of democracy by this unnecessary controversy?”

Chime away on health ground – PDP

A

pparently responding to the ACN’s statement, the national leadership of the Peo-

Ahaji Lai Mohammed

ples Democratic Party in a statement signed by the National Publicity Secretary, Chief Olisa Metuh, disclosed that the governor travelled abroad on medical ground. The party disclosed that the much soughtafter Chime travelled on medical ground, just like his counterpart, Governor Dambaba Suntai of Taraba State, promising that soon, they would be back to their seats. This, however, contradicted the position of Enugu State government that holidaying Chime was hale and hearty.

PDP commended the leadership of the party in Enugu and Taraba states including the Acting Governors, party chairmen, Speakers of the Houses of Assembly, state caucus members, members of the National Assembly from the states as well as government appointees in the states for holding forth and ensuring smooth running of government affairs in the absence of their governors.

Metuh in the statement, said the fact that government activities have been going on smoothly in these states showed that that “PDP governments have direction and focus in line with the manifesto of the party to ensure the welfare of the people at all times.

Expressing the party’s sadness that the governors have been away on health reasons, Metuh equally thanked the people of the two states for their steadfastness in praying for them, adding that “ with prayers, they will soon return to work.” “It is sad for somebody to be ill, but we are all human. So the party commends the people of Enugu and Taraba states for their understanding and steadfastness in praying for their governors.

The return of Chime will no doubt douse the tension that has gripped the entire Enugu State since the past five months and those who had been nursing the ambition of setting a new political agenda in the state on account of the governor ’s travail may have to re-strategize and those clamouring for a change in the administration of the state could best be described as a day-dreamers.

Chief Olisa Metuh

SATURDAY Vanguard, FEBRUARY 9, 2013—13

EDO LG POLLS:

Oshiomhole battles ACN leaders, awaits PDP’s onslaught P

olitical tension in Edo state is heating up dai ly as political gladiators rally behind their supporters ahead the April 14, 2013 Local Government Council election in the state.

Being an Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) controlled state, the leadership of the party has been busy preparing themselves for the election.

Though as it seems, it may be a one way thing for the party because the party had actually uprooted the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) from the entire 18 Local Government Council. The result of the April 14, 2012 governorship election where Governor Adams Oshiomhole won in the 18 Local Government Councils and the 192 wards in the state, buttresses the point that the PDP in the state had been swallowed by the ACN ruthless political machinery led by Oshiomhole.

There was an initial confusion in the state PDP as to whether the party was going to participate in the election or not, when the then PDP Director of Publicity of the party, Okharedia Ihimekpen, came up to say that the party would not be participating in the Local Government election against the decision of the state Executive of the party led by Chief Dan Osi Orbih.

Following his comment, the state Publicity Secretary, Pharm.Matthew Urhoghide, distanced the party from Ihimekpen’s comment, insisting that the party will be participating in the election. According to him, “the only problem we had initially was that the State Independent National Electoral Commission (EDSIEC) held a meeting with political parties but we were not invited. We made our grievances known to them but that does not mean we are abstaining from the election.

The SEC met and we decided that we are going in for the election because we believe

that it is the best thing for us as a party due to what happened in the last governorship election. We have to rebuild the party starting with the LGA elections. The PDP is the biggest party in the country even in Edo state, so we cannot say we are not participating in the election. If you look at it critically, the PDP is the only party in the state because even in the ACN today, all the members were all PDP. So Ihimekpen is on his own, what he said was his personal opinion and not that of the party because he has no right to speak for the party and he has been warned in the past from doing so”.

Few days after Ihimekpen’s comment which the party described as “unguided”, he was removed as the party’s Director of Publicity and was directed to return all property belonging to the party.

However, expressing the party’s preparedness for the forthcoming election,

,

SIMON EBEGBULEM, Benin City

ple at the grass root, they deserve good leaders that will develop the rural areas”. Also declaring the readiness of the party to clinch some chairmanship seats, two time former chairman of Owan West Local Government Council and chieftain of the PDP, Dan Asekhame, said the party will strive to win some councils in the forthcoming polls “at least as a mark of respect for our national leader, Chief Tony Anenih”.

According to him, “I want to encourage our chairmanship candidates and members of our party to put in every thing possible in this coming local government election.

The problem the PDP had in the state before now is what we can describe as political wreckage because there are too many people on board.

PDP stands a chance of winning many councils because of the crisis in the ACN today.

Our candidates should disregard the fears that the ACN

The problem the PDP had in the state before now is what we can describe as political wreckage because there are too many people on board. PDP stands a chance of winning many councils because of the crisis in the ACN today

,

Urhoghide told Saturday Vanguard last Monday that “ what we are doing now is that our aspirants are collecting the forms at the ward levels and after that, we intend to screen them and fix a date for the primaries. We are not scared because this is a local election, any party can win if you present a candidate that is popular among the people.

My only appeal is that the ACN should play according to the rules. In a local election, you allow the people make their choice and not impose candidates on them. As peo-

may manipulate the process because this is a local election. Only popular candidates will be accepted by the people”.

On its part, the ACN leadership urged the party leaders to agree on consensus candidates in their respective councils in order to make the primaries tension free. It was learnt that Governor Adams Oshiomhole made it clear to the leaders that popular candidates must be allowed to emerge and warned against extortion from aspirants. But the resolve by the leaders to

zGovernor Adams Oshiomhole come up with consensus candidates almost back-fired when most leaders disagreed in their respective Local Government Councils on the choice of candidate. In his Etsako West LGA, Oshiomhole had it hot with Usman Shagadi, the leader of the ACN in the area, when the Governor backed one Hassan Kadiri while Shagadi pitched tenth with Barr.Elamah. In Akoko Edo, Senator Domingo Obende and House of Representative member, Peter Akpatason also disagreed on the choice of candidates. In Uhumwonde, it was the Political Adviser to the Governor, Charles Idahosa VS Sam Iredia. In Ikpoba Okhai, the former Chief of Staff to the Governor, Osarodion Ogie was accused of imposing Mrs Itohan Osahon Ogbeide. But Ogie dismissed the allegation, saying that her candidature was generally accepted by the leaders of the party in the council.However, the tension was more in Orhiomnwon where the state Deputy Governor, Dr Pius Odubu and the South South Vice-Chairman of the party, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu comes from. The duo are reportedly eyeing Oshiomhole’s seat in 2016.

Therefore the battle for the soul of the Council is well understood.Though the two leaders agreed that the chairmanship slot be zoned to Orhiomwon East, they disagreed on the choice of can-

didate. While Odubu is backing one Nosa Okunbor, IzeIyamu is backing Saturday Idehen. But the Orhiomnwon Vanguard for Good Governance in a statement signed

by Philip Edobor, described the situation as unfortunate, warning that if the disagreement continues, it may cost the council the opportunity to produce the governor of the state in 2016.

The group further faulted the ceding of the chairmanship ticket to Orhiomwon East, complaining that “since the inception of this democracy in 1999, Orhiomwon South is yet to produce the chairmanship of the council.

The South has always been marginalized which is not good for us”.

However, the issue of consensus candidates in the ACN created the impression that the leaders were imposing their stooges on the people.

It was not surprising therefore that after the Governor traveled outside the state after the meeting with the leaders, he came back to the state to meet more challenging problems within the party. There was crisis in almost all the Local Governments.

The only council that there was no crisis was Oredo, where Osaro Obaze was unanimously endorsed by all the leaders.

This Local Government elec-

Continues on page 45

14 — SA TURD AY Vanguard , FEBRU ARY 9, 2013 SATURD TURDA FEBRUARY

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he recent gathering of ten State Governors in Lagos reminds me personally of a spectacle I used to cherish in my boyhood days around the late thirties and early forties. It was in the heyday of traditional rulers in the Western Provinces, consisting mostly of Yoruba “obas.” They held an annual conference organized by the colonial government, for which they would foregather at a designated venue annually in rotation. The citizens of the appointed town would come out in great numbers to watch and cheer each royal train procession as it went past with towering pomp and lavish pageantry towards the town hall. Every oba had a large, colorful ceremonial umbrella held high above his beaded crown which he flaunted in * open rivalry with the other traditional rulers. They also showed off the magnificence of their hand-woven apparels and the comeliness of their most Ogun, Oyo, Ekiti qnd Oshun presentable wives. It was states. The sixth governor carnival time and everybody of the “broom” banner was invited. from Edo was prominently However, it was not entirely a absent at that gathering, time of jamboree. The though earlier indications traditional fathers were each might have led to the the head of the Native assumption that he was Administration, now similar to heart and soul with the the Local Government Council, movement to collaborate of his area. They had important with any movement that matters of general interest to was intent on having the discuss. Their relationship was PDP removed from the seat also suffused with historical and of power. The State traditional jealousies which Governor of Ondo from the added some tension in the Yoruba group was not normal interaction among peers prominent in the drive for at that level. So there were the change envisaged by positive as well as negative the group, and so his motivations within the absence from that meeting structure of the intercourse at was not unexpected. It did the conference. not, however, succeed in The ten governors who are stamping it with a purely coincidentally from Yorubaland did not exude the same colourful flamboyance in their appearance; they did not bring their wives along with them; none of them had a ceremonial umbrella above him. In fact, they were neatly attired and appeared suitably sober. *Their intention was to find ways or means of effecting the fusion of their political base, in order to act as one. The purpose is to thereby gather threpresentede clout to confront more forcefully and thereby confound the ruling party at the national level, the Peoples Democratic Party. And yet, there seemed to be an underlying tone of a jamboree to the meeting.

*at last, another party? *the Ghanaian days

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•President Jonathan ACN character because there were the State Governors of Imo (All Progressive Grand Alliance), Nassarawa (Congress for Progressive Change), and Zamfara (All Nigeria’s Peoples’ Party). The State Governors of Borno and Yobe, both ANPP, were adequately represented.

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any cynics, in which number I have to count myself, were still wondering whether the new party could possibly come out of the meeting when, some twenty-four hours later, the All Progressive Party was born ... or, at least, formed though not yet formally inaugurated. We are inclined to congratulate these lionhearted gentlemen for it is

the administration or the other. But now his peers have stepped out at last to forcefully challenge the fountainhead of his actions—his political base.

They must know that they have their work cut out for them, the PDP is no babe in the woods.

They may appear to be in total disarray at the moment as an organization, with everyone attacking everyone else, and the “President Emeritus ” glowing in his element as he reconciles from yet another combat with a former devotee.

But wait until real trouble is at the gate, and you will be amazed at the speed at which solid re-organization is

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e are all too aware that this was not their first meeting of that nature. Other political parties had met with such a gripping passion to dislodge the ruling party in the government on some occasions in the past without any success. *The factors of distrust, egomania, vaunting ambition and insincerity conspired to ensure inevitable breakdown of their objective. Those functions seem to be more rampant in the present circumstances than ever before. The number of the groups intending merge as one is quite high, which would naturally increase the difficulty in obtaining a consensus, and widen that gap of the extent of temperament. But perhaps the most vital aspect is the arriving at a spearhead of a leadership that would enjoy the full loyalty of the predominant section of the alliance. That is comprised of the Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, which has five of the governors from Lagos,

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hat is the time we joyfully unleash darts and arrows to lambaste the sloppy policy, or the inept implementation, or the moronic concept in connection with as aspect of

How I wish the final of the African Cup of Nations, which comes up between Nigeria and Burkina Faso tomorrow, were between us and Ghana. It would have

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no small feat to open oneself to public ridicule by associating with a venture that seems fool-hardy from the start. So many people find it easy to glibly criticize the Jonathan administration, and then move on. Of course, there is so much to say about the Federal Government course as it drifts seemingly aimlessly like a rudderless craft. And when it lists dangerously to one side, the array of hired minders mindlessly dip in their oars at the deep end.

established.

There are still many rivers for the All Progressive Congress to cross then.

There has to be one head, supreme. A joint leadership never works for a political party. Two mouths never speak as one. When (and it is my increasing faith in this movement that bids me not to say, if ) when that vital step is taken, we can all sit up and start praying.

Ghanaians had been doing that here all the time. The Cudgoe brothers, who played for Railways here in Lagos, even went across to Ghana to play against their national teams. Pius Anthony, a Ghanaian by birth, even became the Chairman of the Nigerian Football Association. In the case of his younger brother, Alex, he played cricket for Nigeria and also for Ghana at different periods, of course.

The national lines had become so blurred that you might say only the white jerseys of Ghana and the red shirts of Nigeria served to distinguish both teams on the field of play.

And so it went on until Ghana became independent,

There is so much to say about the Federal Government course as it drifts seemingly aimlessly like a rudderless craft

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recalled the long history of football encounters between the two West African “sister” countries. Indeed, there is a copious log of sports association between us in various aspects of sports for decades, right from the time we were both under the colonial suzerainty of Britain. Because we were not yet nations in our right in those days, the matches were called “inter-colonial” games. We engaged each other in Cricket, Tennis, Table Tennis, Track and Field and what—have you, but the main encounter over the years had been football— which our Ghanaian brothers called “secca”

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he games were conducted in the best of the spirit of sports. We shared heroes on the field across nationalities.

Ghanaian players like Baba Yara, Gyamfi, Dogo Moro had fans in Nigeria, and Teslim “Thunder” Balogun had a large following in Ghana. He even eventually went to play in their league over there. But then,

The PDP is no babe in the woods

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and then wham! Our “brethers” became almost insufferable. That really was when the country’s named was changed to Ghana. It had been Gold Coast all along through tha halcyon days of brotherliness. Bloated with pride, they now considered it a come-down in life for them to fraternize with lowly Nigerians. The contests continued for a while but the sporting spirit which sustained them was in tatters.

Going to play against Ghana was like going to war. There was a series of skirmishes both in Lagos and Accra in one of which I was almost hospitalized from a kick in the groin - of all places -and that from a policeman! It was total war!

The Nigerian government and its Ghanaian counterpart made efforts to re-establish the old friendly encounters; a sports festival was created exclusively between both countries. But nothing came out of it. We both went our separate ways.

About the match tomorrow? Well, let the sportswriters handle hat. I shall be rooting for the Super Eagles, of course. I have had my generator specially serviced, and thank God, I have a decoder that brings in both the GFA and Joy Sports from ... Ghana.

Timeout ,

SATURDAY

Vanguard Vanguard,, FEBRUARY 9, 2013—15

Wh owing old is suc Whyy is gr growing suchh a pain? Something good is happening (II)

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ow that I am passed the age my boss was then, I find I can not call myself old. The term ‘middle age’, now seems appropriate, if flattering.

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My eyes also seem to linger a bit longer at the passing young females.

It might not be with lust or anything,but you have to admit that there is something about curvy girls in high heels, short skirts and plunging blouses that reminds you of your youth.

And, disconcertingly, there is something about the way they walk pass you as if you are not there that reminds you of your advanced years.

And those that bother to acknowledge your presence curtsy

was at a mid-day mass recently – you know the mass that most Catholic Churches have dedicated to working professionals and those who have chosen to spend their lunch time with God – when a pretty lady in her late 30s sat next to me. The whiff of her strong perfume announced her presence and dared me to ignore her.

I had to remind myself that I was in the house of God. When the time came to obey the priestly injunction to offer each other the sign of peace, I had to turn to her. With a small smile playing on her lips, she extended her hand for a handshake. As our hands made contact, she muttered ‘peace of the Lord be with you’ and curtsied!!! You know, the way you do to an uncle or dad.

I have also noticed that people I deal with from time to time have gradually C M Y K

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he game we play, we ‘middle aged’ people when we have not seen each other for a while, is to say ‘you have not changed at all’. Not changed in 20years?

Common!! Its good to hear, but the mirror you see everyday tells you that you have changed.

And speaking of mirrors is one reason I don’t like gyms. Most gyms I know have bright lights with mirrors and mirrors on the walls.

They also seem to be peopled by younger men and women. So its your grey hair against their black hair; your flabby, inelastic skin against their firm, shining skin.

And the bright lights – with the mirrors – emphasise the contrasts between you and them to the extent that you some times wonder what you are doing there.

Worse, the young ones, your gym mates, might also wonder what you are looking for and if you are trying to seek the elixir of youth.

In spite of all these, I don’t feel the need to be 30 or 40 again. I admire the fact that they can still dream and have the energy and vigour to pursue them. I have had my dreams and been lucky to pursue most of them.

Besides, one can still dream in old age; only the nature of the dream changes. When I see a young man in his 30s, I see the insecurities, the uncertainties about the future. I see the determination— and the fear — not to disappoint parents, spouses, and children that must depend on them. I see cross roads and turnings that they will have to manouver.

Even the parties, revelries and night clubs don’t hold any special attraction for me anymore. Been there, done it as they say. Funny, I seem to like the new me in my old, wizened skin.

And does the fact that I now consider any outing outside 10pm to be a late outing mean, finally, that I am old? Or am I still middle-aged?

The funny thing about age is that most of us have been in denial most of our lives

respectfully in greeting. And you wonder; are you wearing your age so clearly on your face and on your clothes? You remember those years when you entered a party or a hall and you were ‘checked out’ by the ladies almost as much as you ‘checked’ them out. How did young blur into middle age and old so quickly?

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changed from addressing me as uncle to calling me daddy. These changes have been so subtle that you can’t put a finger on when it all started. You still feel the same. You still wear the same clothes (maybe that is the problem). Maybe you now feel some pains occasionally, other wise you are fine. So why is society treating you as old?

The funny thing about age is that most of us have been in denial most of our lives. When we were young, we liked to be seen as old and matured.

And now that we are older and more matured, we like to be seen as someone younger. We long to hear the words ‘you look good for your age’. Or ‘you don’t look your age at all’. Or ‘is that your brother or your son?’.

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hout out loud “Something Good is Happening to Me Right Now”. You see, if you can do this regularly, consistently and persistently, you shall surely see its manifestations. The reason I said you should shout it out loud is because the Bible says in Roms. 10:’17 ”Faith cometh by hearing and hearing by the word of God”. As you declare it boldly, it starts to affect your reasoning and renews your mind for victory.

In Exo. 1:6-End, the bible talks about a new king that ruled over Egypt but did not know Joseph. He set his heart to do evil against the children of God. He set taskmasters over them and afflicted them greatly.

But glory to God, the more he afflicted them the more the children of Israel multiplied and grew. The new king was so vexed to the extent that he passed a decree that any male child born by the Hebrew women should be put to death.

But then in the midst of this decree, a man and a woman decided to get married and have children despite the risk of bearing a male child who will be killed.

This family did give birth to a male child by name Moses (read Exodus 2). But instead of been killed, the child found his way into the palace of the same king that wanted him killed.

Surely this must be the supernatural hand of K

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God and nothing else.

Whilst this young man was growing up in Pharaoh’s palace, the children of God were suffering.

The question now is, was God ignorant of their pains, sorrows and suffering? Not all. He was quite aware and that is why Moses was not destroyed at birth.

While the children of Israel thought they had been forgotten and forsaken. God was doing something on their behalf. He was raising up a man that He would eventually use to deliver them from bondage. Take note.

God neither sleeps nor slumbers. He is well aware of all that is happening. You see God saw where the new king was going to but the king did not know that God had already seen his handwriting. Nothing Satan does to you that can surprise God. He had already worked out your solution in Christ Jesus.

The bible says that in the midst of their afflictions, they cried out to God and almighty God, heard their cry and came to their rescue. But you see, before they cried out, God had already started to do something on their behalf. You that are going through afflictions, persecutions and trials, know that you are not alone.

The greater one is with you. He has guaranteed your victory and testimony. He wants you to wipe away your tears, for weeping may endure for a moment but joy cometh in the morning. You see, no matter how long the night wants to stay, morn-

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y boss had a roving eye. One day, many years ago, we were driving to some place, just the two of us, and he indulged in his favourite past time. He glanced at every passing lady – I was the one driving – and if the frontal view satisfied him, he used the side mirror to check the posterior. Once or twice, I found him cranking his head to have a better look – obviously not satisfied with the side mirror. This was when, as if to explain his actions, he said ‘middle age is bad. It makes you yen after young females’. He was then in his mid 50s, and I distinctly remember thinking to myself ‘you are not middle aged. You are old’. To me then, young was 20s and 30s, middle age started after that and ended at 50.Anything else was old.

Faith cometh by hearing and hearing by the word of God”. As you declare it boldly, it starts to affect your reasoning and renews your mind for victory

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ing must still appear.

This means that what you are passing through right now that is not healthy is about to give way to the glory of God, Hallelujah.

Back to our text, when they were being afflicted, little did they know that God was doing something? When they cried to God, did they know that the one God would use was right there with them? You see, how God would bring you out no man can tell. But know that God is a just and faithful God. He cannot lie in any situation, for He is always true.

Finally, God delivered His children and catered for them, through ways and means that no man can explain. He does His works supernaturally. I want you to know that no matter what you are going through, the almighty God whom I serve is doing something good for you right now.

He will cause you to triumph in Jesus Name.

Do you want to experience fulfillment of promises of God in your life? The starting point is you receiving Jesus Christ in your life as Lord and Saviour, if you have not already done so.

Pray this simple prayer.

Father, you said that whosoever shall call on the name of Jesus, shall be saved. I call on the name Jesus. Thank you for saving me and giving me the gift of eternal life.

I praise you and give you all the glory.

Your prayer request and praise reports will be welcomed. Our contact details are below.

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

Our account details are Pastor Johnson Omomadia, Guaranty Trust Bank, A/C Nos. 0005171407.

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

ARY 9, 2013 FEBRUARY 16 — SATURDAY VANGUARD, FEBRU

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Vanguard, SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 2012—17

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18—SATURDAY VANGUARD, FEBRUARY 9, 2013

My dad’s cheating on my mum Dear Julie, found out a few years ago that my dad has been having little affairs with other women. He has been meeting them on the internet, and there are at least two that I know of that he has actually met and been with in person.

I have read some of the online conversations, and my dad says that he does not love my mum anymore, but I know that my mum still loves him.

I can’t understand how he could do this, or how the other women can go along with this knowing that he is married, has kids, a grandchild, and another grandchild on the way.

I love my dad, and we have always gotten along great. I want to confront him about this, but I cannot get up enough nerve to do it. I am the only one that knows about this; I have no one to talk to about this and I don’t know what I should do. I want my dad to

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know that I know what has been going on, but I don’t want to confront him in person, and an e-mail seems too cowardish.

Do you have any advice on what I should do? I would greatly appreciate it.

Tony, Abuja Dear Tony, It’s pretty clear you’re upset to know your dad has been “having little affairs” outside of his marriage with your mum.

You also seem committed to letting your dad know that you’re on to him. Before you jump in, it’s always good to go into a

confrontation after thinking hard about three things: the goals you hope to achieve by confronting; how you will confront, face-to-face, phone, email and how the person might react.

First, what are your goals?

In other words, what do you hope this confrontation will lead to? For starters, you’re especially concerned with how your dad’s affairs don’t fit his role as a dad, husband, or grandfather. So, one of your goals might be to show him how his actions don’t fit with the roles you value.

Once you’ve decided on your goals, you can choose how you will confront your dad.

It’ll also be helpful for you to imagine how your dad might react to this very personal and, potentially, embarrassing confrontation. Do you know your dad’s typical reactions to being surprised or embarrassed? If so, you could try to figure out how he would react to your first confrontation. If he seems too nervous, angry, or down-right speechless at first, consider ending the talk to let him have some private time. It’s important for you to break the conversation into several different episodes if you get the feeling that your dad’s or your own reaction to the confrontation gets in the way of moving toward your goals.

Importantly, you might be worried about how this confrontation might affect your relationship with your dad. Because you want to keep your good relationship, consider focusing your conversation on how his behaviours are caus-

ing you discomfort, while letting him know you still love him. It’s the behaviours that you’ll want to zoom in on, not your dad as a person. What would it be like for you to tell him how hurt and confused you are about his secretive behaviours? How can you let him know that you still cherish your relationship with him, despite your feelings about what he’s doing?

The hard reality of this situation is that no amount of preparedness and strategy will take away all of the stress you’re feeling.

This is emotionally challenging, and you find yourself hard-pressed to understand how your dad could act in such ways. To boot, you don’t seem too fond of the idea of sharing these feelings and thoughts with others. While that’s understandable, it’s really tough to do something this awkward on your own. It’s a good thing that you sought some outside advice and it might help to enlist the support of some non-family members as you get through this tough time.

I’m physically attracted to someone who assaulted me Dear Julie, I have a huge crush on one of my co-workers. I am single but he is not, so I have never made any passes or encouraged myself to flirt with him.

Five months ago, as I was the last one to leave from work , I ran into him. I was surprised that he was still there. To make a long story short, he tried to assault me. I got away. I’m experiencing terrible confusion. I am still attracted to him! I can’t stop thinking about him and whenever he ignores me , I feel like I’m going to go crazy!

I can’t tell anyone; no one will believe me. They would say that I provoked him and that I wanted it to happen. I can’t give up the job. I need the income to get through the University! Why do I feel this way? What happened to me?

Why would he do something like this if he has a girlfriend?

Mercy, Benin Dear Mercy , That sounds like a terrifying experience. How difficult it must be to continue seeing

him and to feel like you wouldn’t be believed if you told anyone. Whatever you did in response to the assault was exactly right on: you got away, it sounds like, with minimal or no physical injuries.

Nonetheless, this experience must have been traumatic.

There are two primary parts to your question: why would I feel this way towards someone who tried to hurt me and why would he do this, especially if he has a girlfriend?

Let’s address the latter question first. Myths about rape abound. One such myth is that people who rape are sexually frustrated or never have access to sex. Studies actually show that this is not the case. Whether or not someone is in a relationship is not a predictor of whether or not they will rape.

This is probably because rape is not an act for fulfilling sexual gratification. It’s an act of violence and at the core of the motive is a desire for power and control. Incidentally, in case you were worried that your sexual attraction “provoked” the rape in any way, this is anoth-

You have lost something

A wife called her husband as she was driving to an appointment. She arrived, and the husband could tell from her voice that she was getting frustrated. Finally she said, “I know I had my cell phone with me. And now I can’t find it!” The husband replied, “Aren’t you talking on it!?”

There was a solid period of stunned silence as th reality of the situation sank in , followed by, “you are NOT going to tell anybody about this!”

He tried to assault me. I got away. I’m experiencing terrible confusion. I am still attracted to him! I can’t stop thinking about him and whenever he ignores me and he does...constantly, I feel like I’m going to go crazy! er myth: the myth that women really want to be raped.

This is a statement often used by people who rape in order to justify or excuse their violence. Notice how people rarely make this claim about other types of crime: robbery or muggings, for example. Rape is no different. Of course you didn’t want it.

Your fear of not being believed makes sense given the presence of these myths. Is there anyone whom you can trust that would believe you?

Your attraction to him, while it may be distressing for you, is actually not all that uncommon. Most people who rape choose to rape someone they know. It is likely, then, that a large number of women share

your experience of having feelings for someone who attacked them. Even if someone severs a relationship after being assaulted, feelings of love and attraction may remain for a time. Feelings don’t necessarily dissolve after one negative experience even after a very difficult and/or traumatic experience such as yours and crushes, which can be very intense, are no different. It sounds that despite that attraction, you know he is bad news and you are avoiding him because of this, even though it still hurts that he ignores you. You are trying to keep yourself safe and that’s very important. All of these feelings are likely very unpleasant to be experiencing, but you are not crazy for feeling them. What’s important is

C O C K - T A L E S Girl of his dreams

A young man in college called his mother and announced excitedly that he had just met the girl of his dreams.

Now what should he do? His mother had an idea: “Why don’t you send her flowers, and on the card invite her to your apartment for a home-cooked meal?”

He thought this was a great strategy, and a week later, the girl came to dinner. His mother called the next day to see how things had gone.

that you feel supported in making whatever decisions feel right for you in this situation.

If staying at your job feels absolutely necessary, have a safety plan in place. What will you do if you are working late again? Is there a way to ensure you will never be alone in the building with him? Do you think there is a chance he would try to assault you again if you were? When the assault happened, it sounds as though you were able to maintain your physical safety.

What do you need to cope with all the feelings that come up when you see him at work?

Are there ways to minimize your contact with him? Does seeing a counselor sound like an option for you? Lastly, it may be good to keep in mind that you are possibly not the only person in his life who he has tried to assault. There is a culture of silence and taboo around rape.

At some point, you may find it useful to confide in a trusted co-worker who also knows him and may have had a similar experience. In any case, trust your gut to know how to navigate this situation. Your survival strength is admirable.

”I was totally humiliated,” he moaned. “She insisted on washing the dishes.” ”What’s wrong with that?” asked his mother. ”We hadn’t started eating yet.”

Ending an argument

Frank was telling his friend that he and his wife had a serious argument the night before. “But it ended,” Frank said, “ when she came crawling to me on her hands and knees.” ”What did she say?” asked the friend. Frank replied, “She said, ‘Come out from under that bed, you coward!”

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Vanguard FEBRUARY 9, 2013—19

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T stands to reason that with the spate of divorce the society now witnesses and the number of unwanted pregnancies, single parenthood has come to stay. The sad picture is that, unlike in the old days when single parents were mostly widows who couldn’t be considered young, a lot of single parents today, male and female, are young, intelligent and eager for new relationship. As a bachelor aptly put it: “There are plenty of single women without children can date, but let’s deal with the facts: An equally large number of single mothers are no longer with the fathers of their children, and in many cases have never been. Does this mean they are supposed to stay home, stop dating and never meet someone worthy of them or their children? Of course not! So let’s all wake up and smell the realities of the twenties!

He continues: “I admit that not long ago, I would date an attractive, intelligent and humorous young lady, and the moment I found out she had a child, my attitude would change. I would find ways to end the relationship.

The reason? Well, there were plenty, and not all of them sincere. My main argument was that I felt the father of a woman’s baby always had a chance to get back with the mother of the child. I figured there was a bond and I didn’t want to take a chance on getting close only to end up being dismissed later on in the relationship.

“I once dated a young lady whose little boy clearly knew that I wanted only one thing.

At that point, I was not interest in her child and had no desire to play the fatherfigure role. Her son acknowledged my selfishness and bluntly said: ‘Mummy, I don’t like

How to get dating right as a single parent

him.’She had no qualms about showing me the door but I didn’t care— plenty of fish in the sea!” Which reminds me of a friend who met a man she considered caring enough to bring home to her two daughters. The man showed real interest in her kids— bringing them presents, helping them with their homework and occasionally taking them to the club. My friend couldn’t believe her good fortune until she picked up the phone one evening to help her lover dial a number.

“So where is your mum now?” The line was obviously busy and her

older daughter was talking to one of her friends on the phone. “She is with her bobo in her room,” her daughter replied. She would have put down the phone but for the resentment in her daughter’s voice. The same bobo she’s been seeing?” the friend asked. “Yes,o!

Me sha, I don’t like him. As soon as he comes in, he pretends he likes us. He buys us magazines and sweets to keep us quiet then sneaks into mummy’s room. At times, he doesn’t leave until two in the morning or even later.

Only God knows what she sees in him. He is yukky “ Doesn’t he have a wife at home?” asked my daughter ’s friend. “I don’t know. He’s been here twice with his horrible little son. He might be a single dad who’s not married himself. That son of his is a drip. Yetch!”

M

y friend couldn’t believe what she was hearing. “I have ended some relationships because of these ungrateful chicken,” she fumed! “I have always tried to be careful with the type of men I encourage. The last thing I wanted was for

my children to see me bringing men in and out of the house. Can you then imagine the cheek of that one badmouthing a man who’s bent over backwards to please everybody’?”

Single fathers too don’t have rosy tales to tell when they attempt dating again but they have discovered that relationships work better if they date single mothers instead of girls who are inexperienced in raising kids.

“Oh they pretend to like your kids at first,” recalled Mark, an auto-mechanic. “But wait until the kids start throwing tantrums or messing up their designer wears and their inexperienced side comes to the fore. I have seen a few friends who hurriedly got married again only to find themselves living in a nightmare. The single girl who pretends to like your kids becomes very selfish as soon as that wedding band is on her finger, and she’s started raising kids of her own. One of such women even pleaded with her husband to send the step-son she met in the home away because he was a petty thief .The husband refused of course, warning her of the consequences if she didn’t get on with his son.

As the bachelor chap succinctly wraps it up: “The more I converse with my friends on the issue of dating single mothers, the more it appears we have all grown to accept the challenge. We have watched how our own mothers have handled raising children and dating.

We are watching our sisters in their relationships while single-parenting. We see the effects on their children, and are now more willing to become that new aspect in the dating game — a father figure. For those men who have babies and are not with the mother of their children, this is the reality. Another man may be loving not only your lady but also your child!”

Wh omen dif Whyy men and w women difffer in an argument

C M Y K

escape to the club or to drink too much if the going gets tough. And they often attribute what they see as ‘unreasonableness’ in their partners to pre-mensural tension— though it may be the cause, men can overdo the accusation.

Generally, men argue about: The amount of time they want to spend

,

I

t’s been confirmed that there are some general differences in the way men and women behave in arguments.These differences don’t generally apply to all men and women, but it is worth recognizing the tendencies. Women generally want to pursue arguments longer than men do, following their partner from room to room, trying to get a resolution when it would be wiser to let things calm down. They almost always cry more easily than men too, and are more likely to phone their mothers, sisters and friends as a way of escape or to gain sympathy.

Men tend to opt for the quiet life at first, avoiding arguments and hoping they will go away. Or they withdraw from them by finding something ‘urgent’ to do: getting engrossed in a paper or watching TV. They are also more likely to

spendthrift? Surely, the shopping cannot cost quite so much?

The mismatch of sexual desire: Has she really got a headache?

Why is she asleep when he comes to bed and ‘too busy’ in the morning?

Women on the other hand argue about: His untidiness. Why does he

,

Women generally want to pursue arguments longer than men do, following their partner from room to room

playing or watching sports, or pursuing their hobby, which tends to be more than their partners want.

The boss expects long hours, while getting home on time is for ‘whimps.’

Money: Why is he married to a

always leave his towel on the bathroom floor, or fails to put the seat up? Why can’t he spend more time on her and the children?

Why are the household chores rarely shared? Why does he see

them as her responsibility’?

And why, when he does them, does he expect her to thank him? Why is he heavyhanded when disciplining the children? Why is he so tight about money? Doesn’t he realize that food and children’s clothes are expensive?

T

hankfully, some marriage councillors agree there are negotiating rules. Avoiding the pitfalls of a negative approach and understanding how we tend to behave when arguing, lead to more positive negotiation.

Keep to the point. Don’t set out to win at all costs. Really listen to each other. Avoid giving long monologues or withdrawing into silence.

20—SATURDAY Vanguard, FEBRUARY 9, 2013

Will money destroy your marriage?

S

ecret bank accounts, hidden documents, foreclosure notices ; women across the country are uncovering shocking signs of financial infidelity.

An award-winning writer, Mary Jones (not real names) had two kids, a spacious Lagos apartment at GRA Ikeja, and a successful production company built around her creative collaboration with her husband. Their glamorous, fast-paced life was the envy of her friends until the night Mary Jones took the dog out and grabbed her husband’s jacket instead of her own.

The coat felt strangely heavy and stiff, and when Mary looked inside, she discovered the lining had been cut open and stuffed with a mail. “Out of this jacket comes somebody else’s financial nightmare, except that my name was all over it: years of tax notices, eviction notices, repossession notices, tuition overdue notices, health insurance cancellation , we hadn’t had health insurance in eight months, and we were about to be evicted from our

T

apartment,” she says. “We were three weeks away from living out in the apartment. It was horrifying.”

When she confronted her husband, he offered no explanation. “He shut down completely,” she says.

Throughout their 13-year relationship, Mary had managed their corporate business while her husband handled their personal finances. But while she signed their tax returns every year, he

apparently never filed them.

“I had no idea I wasn’t paying taxes,” she says.

Mary eventually learned that their debts exceeded N5m.

She wondered what was wrong but a few months later, her husband abruptly left her, and she found he had been having an affair. Mary is now getting a divorce and struggling to make sense of what happened.

“My life as I perceived it wasn’t my life,” she says. “All

I thought we had and were wasn’t true at all.”

Mary still can’t get over the fact that her husband never shared their financial troubles or let her help deal with them, a choice that left her feeling deeply betrayed.

That reaction is a telling sign of the times; in previous eras, wives often had very different expectations. Back when everyone assumed that men made the money and the decisions, women didn’t necessarily believe they were entitled to share information, let alone power. But today, marriage is typically viewed as a partnership based on mutual trust, and when one partner violates that trust by keeping financial secrets, lying, or making unilateral decisions that threaten a family ’s welfare, the other partner can feel profoundly betrayed by a transgression that may be even more destabilizing than an affair.

Women are victimized more often than men. According to a study, 80 percent of women said their partners had lied to them about finances or debt.

Among those who were deceived, more than 40 percent said it damaged the trust in their relationship, and for others it resulted in divorce.

Money is this massive pink elephant in bedrooms all across Nigeria, and the problem has been heightened in the economic downturn, which is a painful backdrop for dealing with an issue that nobody wants to talk about.

The reasons for financial infidelity can vary. Some men conceal financial assets because they ’re secretly preparing to leave their wives, while others lie to their partners even as they remain

committed to the relationship and expect it to survive.

Abigail, a nurse stopped working after she had her third baby. Her husband had suggested that she stopped her work rather than bringing in a maid to take care of the kids.

Then one day her husband, a successful corporate executive, came home and delivered some unbelievable news. “I thought we had a few millions but he said, ‘We have nothing left,’” Abigail said.

Her husband had gambled away everything they owned on bad investments and unsuccessful day-trading. “Not only had he lost everything, but we were N2.8m in debt, including loans I didn’t know he had taken .I went to see a lawyer, and she said, ‘face it , you are a destitute.’”

They separated, although they did not divorce. Today, Abigail lives alone in a room she rented from a friend, and she works for an eventplanning company. “I have nothing , no pension, no equity, no nothing . I don’t even have a place I can call my own. We have learned to be poor, but there isn’t a day that I wake up and I'm not afraid. I lost my whole life.”

But she knows she isn’t the only one. “Her friend was home during one day when she heard a rattling at the front door and found that a person was putting a notice on her house. Another friend’s husband lost even more than my husband did. It’s ego and arrogance. These men think, I can make this money back. I’ll fix it, and she’ll never know.

There’s huge denial. My husband still thinks we’ll get back together. But I trust virtually no one now. You can’t trust anybody."

How do I get him to take me seriously?

here’s this coursemate of mine in the University. He’s always flirting with me, but when his friends are around, he acts like a total douche, treating me like I’m easy. But when we’re alone, he treats me so nice and gentle. He’s really good looking, a smooth talker, a flirt and he’s not shy at all.

But I found out that he gave me his number the day after he broke up with his girlfriend. So does that make me the rebound? How do I get him to take me seriously? I really want a relationship with him, since his true personality is really sweet, but how do I get that “player ”

type to fall for me? I’m sort of a “good girl” when it comes to school but he smokes weed and flaunts it in front of his friends like he’s trying to impress me.

Please help, I’m so confused!

Lola, Port-Harcourt Ans: It sounds like he is behaving as if he likes you and also not at all. If you are bold enough, you could try asking him in private why he is doing what he is doing. The best person to give you the answers you want is the person himself. Anyone else will simply be guessing, because we don’t understand his individual mind.

I want you to understand also that there are some guys who like nothing more than to play “cat and mouse”. These guys often get a kick out of reeling you in, wining, dining, and maybe even sixty-nining (having sex with) you, only to then stop calling, be obnoxious, or ignore you. He may just be testing you. You might represent a challenge to him because you are a “good girl”, the type of girl he probably wouldn’t usually associate with. He might find the thrill of chasing you enjoyable.

Or he could simply not be ready for another relationship.

from any part of the country aged 18-45

on 08121444610 *John, 47, male, from Edo State, Christian, based •Ikenna, 26, tall and fair, lives in Enugu in Lagos, needs a God-fearing lady of 23-35 for a and a graduate needs a mature lady from serious relationship on 0706122055 *Don Bee, 55,divorced, self-employed, wants to to hook up with a wealthy lady of 28-37 for a se- any part of Nigeria 08068817116 •Emmanuael,36, from Akwa-Ibom, meet a financially comfortable lady of 40-60 for a rious relationshipon 08074450030 based in Lagos an employed lady who is •Fada, 33, from Calabar, wants a good woman love and business relationship that would benefit well-behaved as his the wto of us on 07056719966 wife on Do you have reactions to our stories or have you any experience you want 08109870454 • Emmy 25 years, from Lagos needs an independent and sexually active lady in •Tasha, 23, fat, beautiful, busty, from Lagos on 07014332822 Do you want to be linked?

•Obinna, male, from Enugu, wants a Neither Chioma Gabriel nor Saturday Vanguard has any relationship with anybody wanting Delta State, needs a to be linked. We have no agents anywhere and charge no fees. We have no personal informa- relationship that can lady of 20-28 for a marital relationship tion of people who have been linked or want to be linked and therefore, are not answerable for lead to marriage on on 08103602490 07058641454 •KC, 32, single,tall and handsome, wants C M Y K

SATURDAY VANGUARD, FEBRUARY 9, 2013 — 21

FESTIVAL OF LOVE

What Valentine Day means to celebrities It is a season to show and celebrate love like never before. A season where people, families, friends and wellwishers spend time together and hang out in some exciting places. Celebrities have different impression about this celebration. While some see it as a very special day, very many others have a different opinion.

Here are some of their responses as sampled By ANOZIE EGOLE

It means love to me — Chiege Alisigwe To me, valentine day is a time to show love in a special way.That’s why I have decided to spend that day with my lovely husband. I will be having my valentine with my husband. Though I will be opening all my bathroom and bedroom accessories shop very soon, and I am hoping it does not clash with the celebration. I will celebrate the valentine here in Nigeria.

It’s confusing to me — Amaka Anioji

Well, Valentine Day is confusing to me. But then, we always talk about love during this period. So, I go with the flow, love all the way. Talking about hangout on that day, for me, no. because, I will be working on that day. I have a project I am working on and unfortunately, I am working on the 14th of February which is the valentine’s day. So, there will be no hangout for me on that day.

I’ll be working in the studio — Iyanya For me, I will be celebrating my own valentine day inside the studio, rehearsing for the concert and my album lunch. The album, Iyanya vs Desire, will be lunched on the 11th of February in Abuja and on the 2nd of March in Lagos. We all know Valentine day means sharing of love and cares to our loved ones. I am busy now and certainly do not have the time to celebrate the day.

I don’t believe in lovers’ day

— Halima Abubakar

What I am going to say may sound strange to you, but that’s who I am. I really don’t believe in Valentine day. I am not just excited about the season. To me, a day should not be what you will make special for somebody you are in love with. Love is not something you can celebrate in a day.

To me, every day of my life I live it for love.

That’s my own side of the story. I don’t have a special day for love. Everyday is Valentine day to me. Every day all I need is for somebody to tell me, I love you, not only on the 14th of February. That’s doesn’t mean I am against the celebration. I wish those who like to celebrate it a happy celebration. There is no special hang-out for me on that day. If there is any charity event coming up on that day, I will attend it. Beside this, I am not interested.

It’s a normal day to me — Kehinde Bankole To me, there is nothing special about Valentine Day. It is just a normal day like every other day. If I will be at work on that day, I am at work.

And if I am at home, I will remain at home. Whatever I set out to do on that day, I will definitely continue with it. I can’t stop my normal daily activities because of Valentine Day celebration. I don’t have any special plan or hang out on that day. There is no special preparation for me. Whatever I find myself doing that day, I will continue with that nothing more.

I celebrate my woman everyday —Lawrence Onuzulike

Valentine Day doesn’t make much meaning to me because I celebrate my woman everyday. I don’t wait for a particular day to celebrate her. Yes, I believe in love. I still believe that love is the most beautiful thing on earth. I think to some celebrities, Valentine Day is the day to show love while to some, it’s the day to rake in big buck from various performances and appearances at events.

On that day, I’ll be on stage with Segun Arinze, Okey Bakassi, Benita Nzeribe hosting Chico Ejiro’s Love Fiesta at the Oriental hotel, Lekki.

Val day is worth celebrating — May D It is a very special day and it’s worth celebrating. To me, there is nothing special to celebrate on that day, but I am going to celebrate on stage in PortHarcout on that day. Though, I am still working on my album which will be released later in the year. For now, I only have a concert in PH for fun seekers.

22— SATURDAY Vanguard, FEBRUARY 9, 2013

King of Reggae, Bob Marley lives on...

By UDUMA KALU

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he reggae world last W e d n e s d a y , celebrated the 68th birthday of King of Reggae, Bob Marley whose real names were Nesta Robert Marley.

Born February 6, 1945, in a small village in St Ann called Nine Mile, in Jamaica.

Across the globe, Marley’s birthday resonate with his music being played in radio and television stations playing his music or reggae and reggae-related music.

The global media was not left out. Many of the leading papers and websites had stories on the late Marley who continued to influence the world in many ways.

His Wealth Thirty six years after his death, Forbes ranks the reggae icon number five on its list of top earning dead celebrities. He raked in US$17 million over the past 12 months from record sales, a new line of eco-friendly audio and lifestyle products, and the recently added Marley Mellow Mood “Relaxation Drink.”

Since his death from cancer

on May 11, 1981 at 36, Marley has become more than Jamaica’s most famous musical export. The trailblazing reggae songwriter’s message of unity and respect for human rights remains a beacon of hope for some in his Caribbean nation chronically struggling with a sputtering economy and high rates of violence.

Last Wednesday in Kingston, Jamaica, hundreds of tourists joined dreadlocked Rastafarian priests, leading reggae musicians and some of Bob Marley’s relatives at Marley’s old house to mark the 68th anniversary of his birth Wednesday. Some of Marley’s foreign fans journeyed to the Kingston museum to take part in Wednesday’s festivities. A dreadlocked Japanese man who goes by the name of Bongho Jatusy smoked a long wooden pipe stuffed with marijuana and nodded his head to the music.

“Bob Marley, he’s universal,” Jatusy said, watching his dreadlocked children playing nearby.

Roots reggae became very popular in Europe in the 1970s, especially among leftwing white youths in Western Europe. There are reggae

festivals in Asia. In Kampala Uganda, the Rastafarian fraternity organized a jam session at the Laftaz Lounge, Centenary park to celebrate their fallen brother’s birthday.

The jam session paid tribute to Marley’s life, music and his impact on the Rastafarian fraternity. In Mexico, the Jamaican soccer team marked Bob Marley’s birthday, and held Mexico to historic draw in Europe, Asia, USA and the Americas. In Africa, the man described as the spirit of reggae was celebrated with tributes, music, tourism and others. The social media was ablaze with tweets, Facebook comments, you tube videos etc, on the icon.

In the early morning light, some of Marley ’s relations and old friends danced and chanted to the pounding of Rastafarian drums in the yard of his Kingston home, which is now a family-run museum displaying his guitar, clothing and other memorabilia. Later in the day, Marley ’s songs were blasted from big speakers as people danced and chatted amid clouds of marijuana smoke.

Donisha Prendergast, a documentary filmmaker and

artist who is Marley’s eldest granddaughter, said her grandfather’s message of “one love” and social revolution remains alive and well. But she said more Jamaicans need to heed it.

“I don’t think most people here are really hearing it, you know? They know that his music is around and they are proud of it, but they don’t live it. Because if they did, then we would be a stronger people, we would be stronger characters,” Prendergast said.

Marley is widely credited for bringing reggae music and the Rastafarian movement to a worldwide audience. His “Legend” album, released in 1984, is reggae’s biggest selling album to date, with more than 10 million copies sold in the United States and an estimated 25 million worldwide.

Three months before his death on May 11, 1981, Bob Marley received the Jamaican Order of Merit, the nation’s third highest honour. But after that, he received several accolades including BBC’s song of the millenium (One Love), induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Time Magazine Album of the Century (Exodus).

The late reggae King is sitting comfortably at the top of the iTune charts with his 1984 compilation album Legend which has the number one spot in 17 of 22 international markets.

Marley topped the digital chart in the United States, France, Germany, Australia, Austria, United Kingdom, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Greece, Japan, New Zealand, Switzerland and Spain 2011.

‘ELDee makes me feel protected, loved’

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BY OPEOLUWANI OGUNJIMI

rybe Records artiste, Aramide whose debut ed two singles “I Don’t Mind” and “It’s Over ”are still enjoying airplay has described her contact with ElDee as the handiwork of God. Aramide described her working with ELDee as wonderful, adding “I feel protected and loved as the only female artiste on the record label. I’m learning a lot from him” The songstress disclosed that her debut singles, “I don’t Mind” and “It’s Over” were inspired by the true life experiences as it affects relationships. “Everyone has had good, bad or ugly relationships. So my single “I Don’t Mind” talks about all the odds people face in

relationships. They are love songs that talk about the both sides of love. ‘I Don’t Mind’ is about all the odds people talk about in relationships. For instance, when a guy isn’t rich, doesn’t have a car, or the girl is too dark, too tall and all sorts of various attributes. So the song is basically about kicking or going against those things that are seen as wrong or contrast”, she explained.

Aramide hinted that her full album will soon drop. Already, she perfected plans to feature more artistes as well as do more collaborat i o n s .

On why she chose to play the guitar, Aramide who was on ‘Star Quest’ one of Nigeria’s most prestigious and competitive music talent hunt shows.

SATURDAY Vanguard, FEBRUARY 9, 2013 — 23

Chris Mba, Oritz Wiliki, others move to save the soul of PMAN

By BENJAMIN NJOKU The crisis rocking the Performing Musicians Association of Nigeria, PMAN, may soon become a thing of the past as some committed members of the body under the aegis of PMAN Peace Initiative Committee, have initiated moves to restore peace in the troubled musicians’ house.

The committee led by veteran musician, Chris Mba and ace-reggae artiste,Oritz Obemighor Wiliki met with other stakeholders at a hangout in Ikeja, Lagos, during the week to chart the way forward for the association.

According to Oritz Wiliki who spoke on behalf of other members of the committee, PMAN over the years have been bedevilled with leadership crisis.

“We are not getting the necessary benefits as mem-

Oritz Wiliki Chris Mba bers of a trade union. We have found many things wrong in the industry, especially PMAN. We will share the blame for how PMAN got to where it is today. If all of us

had played our roles by not neglecting PMAN, the association wouldn’t have been in disarray today,” he lamented.

Wiliki disclosed that the

committee has taken steps to meet with the various warring fractions and stakeholders of the association who have pledged to support the peace initiative. As part of the peace mission, he said, the committee administered not less than

Ice Prince debunks tales over Glo endorsement

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Ice Prince

ce Prince’s label Chocolate City has dismissed reports suggesting that the star rapper turned down an endorsement deal from Nigerian telecoms company Globacom.

Reacting through his management company, Chocolate City, the award-winning rapper denied the reports, saying there is no iota of truth in the matter.’

Online reports however suggested last weekend that the rapper, whose real names are Panshak Zamani, had snubbed a multimillion naira deal with the telecommunications giant.

“We were just as surprised as anybody when

we read the news of Ice Prince ‘purportedly’ turning down ‘the offer’ , especially since it isn’t true,” Tobi Sanni-Daniel, Ice Prince’s business manager said in a statement.

‘Globacom is a multi-national company with an excellent track record of delivering quality. Any individual would be proud and honoured to be associated with them.

‘However to say that we have turned down an endorsement deal is false and completely baseless.’

Ice Prince has recently been busy in the studio as he gears towards a highly anticipated album later in the year. He has released a remix to the hugely successful ‘Aboki’ as well as released a video for ‘Truth’ which has already gone viral.

Late Ayinde Barrister’s distributor dragged to court over copyright

By AYO ONIKOYI

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ate Fuji icon, Alhaji Siki ru Ayinde Barrister may have been dead but his evergreen music lives on as his record distributor, Alhaji Lati Alagbada and his old friend, Alhaji Buhari Oloto has been dragged to court by a London based record company, known as Otolowo Records over issues of copyright infringement.

The Otolowo Records, who produced the last album of

late Sikiru Ayinde Barrister titled “Last Message”is suing both Alhaji Alabada and Alhaji Oloto for distributing the record, which, according to the recording company have no copyrightbacking for so doing. The London based Record Label claimed that they have the exclusive right to sell not all the records of the late Fuji icon but his last album which was produced by them as

well. As part of the copyright infringement, they are asking for N50 million as compensation.

The case was opened for h e a r i n g l a s t T h u r s d a y, before Justice Oyebanji of the Lagos High Court, Igbosere. While Otolowo and its representatives are the plaintiff, Alhaji Lati Alagbada and Alhaji Buhari Oloto, the Olori Omo Oba of Onitire Royal family are the defendants.

Late Barrister Ayinde

300 questionnaires via personal contracts and online, all in a bid to ascertain whether the association will set up an interim government which will organise a fresh election or simply, to conduct a direct election that will usher in a new executive that will pilot the affairs of the association.

He regretted a situation where one of the warring fractions,Murphy McAnthony, after agreeing to give peace a chance, went behind the committee last December to conduct a general election in PortHarcourt, which was stopped by the police.

It would however be recalled that PMAN’s crisis started over seven years ago when the then president of the association, Charles Chukwuemeka Oputa, a.k.a. Charly Boy ignored the provisions of the PMAN constitution to conduct an election after the delegates, the major decision making organ of the association, had conducted an election that produced Juju musician, Admiral Dele Abiodun, as the president.

For about eight years, the major players dragged themselves from one court to other, and while this was on-going , the problem over the control of the secretariat erupted.

When Dele Abiodun assumed the leadership of the association, he couldn’tperformasexpectedasmost of his time was spent on resolving internal crisis or the other. Worse still, after conducting an election that returned him to office, the crisis escalated as he was forced to resign.After his resignation, the First Vice President,MurphyMcAnthony,tookover inactingcapacity.

24 — SATURDAY Vanguard, FEBRUARY 9, 2013

I woo my husband with special delicacy —Monique

BY IYABO AINA

TIT BITS

ime ttoo Stress: Time make a U-turn

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IFE can be stressful; sometimes you'll have to deal with ongoing stress positively.

Stress can have a variety of causes such as family problems, job problems, financial difficulties, poor health, or even the death of someone close to you.

But, you overcome it by talking to a friend or a professional who can help you.

However, you can under study the following ways of overcoming stress: Work your body out: Targeted exercise goes a long way toward freeing your body of stress hormones. Carve out time during your busy day to exercise, because it keeps you healthy and is a natural outlet for your stress.

Get enough sleep: Give your body the sleep it wants, and your stress levels will take a nosedive. Sleep is a mechanism by which your body recuperates and restores its energy reserves.

Eat properly: Your body needs to be healthy, happy and properly fueled to help you tackle stress.

Learn to relax: Relaxing your body, by whatever natural means, is a great way to reduce stress.

For Mrs Bisi Bright, Chief Executive Officer of LiveWell Initiative, most of the management of organisations tend to ignore the fact that there is need to promote their health. They are not transparent enough to see beyond where they are. They see healthcare providers as a mirage.

“Although, they claim to have their health insurance intact but their health literacy level is very low. This is the reason why most people collapse unexpectedly.

Speaking on LWI executive health scheme, she said, her organisation has designed top get the attention of companies. We also have our grand health bazzier which is our major yearly event. It is carefully designed to bring top corporate management together under the canopy of health. We also have a free health fair where we run full and comprehensive screening for people.

Energy given food. But a balanced meal if it is well served with other nutrient including protein, vitamins and mineral salt. A glass of water is also very important.

Was there pranks you played as a child to get your favourite meal?

There was no need to play pranks. I get my food whenever I wanted to.

As a lovely wife, how do you woo your husband at home?

I prepare his special delicacy which is amala with gbegiri and ewedu.

What would attribute to your healthy living?

I eat healthy foods, take lots of water as well. It is nice to have good sleep as part of one’s leisure time.Your fruits?

I take oranges and water melon often.

F

emale gospel singer, Temitope Monique Fabiyi is our guest on this edition of Celebrity Tummy Talk. In this short piece, she explains how she entices her husband at home with delicious food.

How would you describe food?

It means health, entertainment. For me, it can be described in different ways.

What is your eating habit like?

I eat when it is needful. ...and your favourite meal?

Rice with fried plantain and stew. I also like eba prepared with good soup. I like to have assorted meat in my pot of soup.

Is there nutritional value derive from these foods?

Food and Health

Bitter leaf

A

side using vegetable to prepare delicious soup, very few people are aware of its highly medicinal therapy. Bitter leaf cures diseases as well as help to keep our body in good health condition.

The important thing this leaf does is to clean the blood,

hence prevent sickness.

This is made by squeezing the fresh leaves to get the juice. Drink about a glass of the juice 3 times a day.

Bitter leaf also cleans the

Today's MENU

•Temitope Monique Fabiyi

lymphatic system as well.

For smokers or those that are been exposed to secondary smoke, bitter leaf is useful by protecting the body against pollutants that come from cigarette smoke and some dangerous gas.

Bitter leaf is also medicinal for malaria treatment because of the presence of natural quinine. Regular intake of this bitter leaf juice will prevent malaria sickness. Again it also yield the healing power of Sexually Transmitted

Bitter leaf soup

Recipes Vegetable, Cocoyam, Red palm oil, Assorted beef, Assorted fish: dry and stock fish, pepper, salt and Grind crayfish (to taste) and Seasoning.

Preparations If you are using fresh Cocoyam, wash and cook it until, it is softened. Remove the peels and use a mortar and pestle to pound it to a smooth paste. Boil the shaki (cow tripe), stock fish and dry fish in one litre of water until they are cooked.

Wash the beef and add it to the pot on fire. When the meat is done, add seasonings to and let it cook for five minutes. Add pepper, grind crayfish, bitter leaves and cook for 10 minutes. Then add the Cocoyam paste and the palm oil. Ready to serve.

Choose Your Best Local Food of the Week

Send BLF recipe to 08094888834 or email: ebabalola@yahoo.com and get your best of food menu, recipe and preparation ready. Start sending now, Terms and conditions apply

Diseases (STD) which is genital herpes.

Moreover, some skin disease such as ringworm,eczema and others have been successfully treated with bitter leaf.

Healthy Tips

How to handle hypertension, diabetes, others— LWI For an hypertensive patient without health insurance according to LiveWell, it is necessary for them to be placed on easy health plan.

A regular visitation on an hypertensive patient is also important. A referral to a good hospital for intensive care should be considered.

A home care as well as aloeVera health insurance are designed to give further health to those who don’t have access to health care. It is necessary to opt for this aloe-Vera health insurance for basic and full standard package.

Diabetic patients need drugs including multivitamin supplement specifically for diabetes. And they must be placed on regular check ups.

C M Y K

SATURDAY Vanguard, FEBRUARY 9, 2013 — 25

By IYABO AINA

A

Whitney Houston’s

lmost a year after Whitney Houston’s sudden death on February 11, 2012, Madame Tussauds honors the diva by creating wax figures of hers.

The museum will unveil the singing legend’s “twins” this Thursday, February 7 in New York City, but has revealed how they will look by releasing the picture.

“We were extremely honored when Madame Tussauds approached us about doing four figures of Whitney from different points in her 30-year career,” Houston’s manager and sister-in-law Pat Houston said in a statement on behalf of the Houston family. “This is something we are excited to do for the fans.”

Madame Tussauds revealed not only one figure of the singer and actress who died at 48, but four separated figures. The four figures were created at the Tussauds studio in London, but will be residing in four different cities.

Washington D.C. will get the figure of Houston wearing headband and white sportswear performing the national anthem at the 1991 Super Bowl, Las Vegas will display the Houston statue from her 1988 music video “I Wanna Dance with Somebody (Who Loves Me)”, Los Angeles will get Houston’s figure from her 1992 movie “The Bodyguard”, and New York will honor the star with a wax figure modeled off a 2009 photo shoot.

“She was a true and rare talent, and we are exceedingly proud to be adding her wax likeness to our attractions in the United States,” said Rosemary Preta, director of marketing, Midway USA, Merlin Entertainment Group.

wax figures unveiled

Alicia Keys to headline NBA all star game show T he ‘Girl on Fire’ singer is expected to set the court ablaze with her impeccable live performance.

Grammy Award-winning singer Alicia Keys has been tapped to headline the forthcoming NBA All-Star Game that will take place in Houston, Texas on February 17. Unlike Beyonce Knowles’’ Super Bowl halftime show where she was backed up by her Destiny’s child group mates, Keys will be handling the halftime show for the starstudded game all by herself.

Keys is expected to perform a selection of her biggest hits, which may include her latest charttopper and her new album’s lead

single

“Girl on Fire”. She is set to take the stage after R’n’B crooners John Legend and NeYo first execute their assigned tasks, with the latter welcoming the players with a string of his hits as they enter the court, and the former handling the national anthem singing chores.

The all-star game is just a part of the exciting three-day NBA All-Star weekend that will merge sports and pop music for the enjoyment of millions of basketball fans. Other performances lined-up for the big weekend of events are singersongwriter Ellie Goulding, “American Idol” winner Phillip Phillips and pop punk band Fall Out Boy, who will dish out their first live television performance in three years during the starstudded event. The scheduled performance by Keys may well be a testament that she is indeed a “girl on fire,” performing in some of the biggest events such as the recently-concluded Super Bowl, and just before that, doing several shows during President Obama’s inauguration ball. She is set to perform at the 55th Grammy Awards on Sunday and will embark on world tour beginning in March.

Rihanna suppor ts supports Chris Br own in cour Bro courtt

N

o matter what trouble Chris Brown finds himself in, Rihanna always seems to have his back.

Brown, who was also accompanied by his mother and lawyer Mark Geragos, faced the L.A. district attorney over claims that he did not complete his 180 days of community labor in connection with his 2009 plea deal. A filing from the district attorney stated that there were “significant discrepancies indicating at best sloppy documentation and at worst fraudulent reporting,” an accusation Geragos adamantly denied.

The judge explained that more time was needed to review evidence brought to him by the district attorney and instructed Brown to meet with his Los

Angeles probation officer within 48 hours regarding the allegations.

Chris and Rihanna were photographed early Wednesday morning leaving a recording studio, the same night Brown seemingly took to his now-private Instagram to vent about his latest personal woes, though a rep for the singer said Brown didn’t pen the post. “I’m not gonna sit here and play the victim, I’m just tired of this I pray every day and night for a new outcome,” the post read in part.

Rihanna recently opened up to Rolling Stone about the current state of her relationship with Brown. “That’s just not an option. I can’t say that nothing else will ever go wrong. But I’m pretty solid in the knowing that he’s disgusted by that. And I wouldn’t have gone this far if I ever thought that was a possibility.” she said .

26—SATURDAY Vanguard, FEBRUARY 9, 2013

Actresses who dare to go

baldin Movies

It is said that the hair is the crowning glory of a woman, but when movie producers and directors come knocking at the door of star actresses with an offer to portray a mourning traditional African widow, the role requires that they shave off their hair. Well, here’s a list of actresses who aren’t afraid of committing themselves to their role and showing fans that they’re willing to go all the way in the name of their craft.

Mercy Johnson in Heart of a Widow

Nuella Njubigbo A

ctress Nuella Njubigbo last year released pictures of her new look online. In the pictures, Nuella was relieved of her lush hair, a requirement for the lead role she played in a movie.

It was gathered then that she was paid handsomely for the role. Her bravery in shaving off her hair for a movie role pitched her with notable Nollywood actresses who have done that at one time or the other. Still in her early days in the industry, Nuella is one of the fastest rising actresses in Nollywood. Her fans are of the opinion that Nuella ought to have gotten an enviable attention given the new flick, but unfortunately, the movie is yet to hit the big screen.

Nonetheless, Nuella continues to impress her fans all over the world with her unconstrained style of acting and versatility that has endeared her to the hearts of many movie lovers.

N

ollywood star actress, Mercy Johnson is a delight to watch any day on screen. For her craft, and expression of professionalism, she went bald two years ago, while featuring in a movie, “ Heart of a Widow”shot in Enugu.

According to reports, Mercy was paid handsomely to shave her hair. Mercy however did not disappoint the producers of the movie, Magic Movies Limited who did everything possible to get her on the set. While the movie was yet to hit the screens then, Mercy’s fans were already visiting the shelves and cinema centres to see the movie. Not only has she re-defined what it means to be a widow through the movie, she proved to be one of those A-list actresses who aren't afraid to display professionalism in any movie role given to them. Naturally, while she was on set, she looked pale, dejected and abused. Yet, it was a make-believe world.

Uche Jombo

in Holding Hope U

che Jombo lost so much weight when she went bald in Holding Hope, a movie she produced with Emem Isong last year. She played the role of a cancer ill mother. And for her to be able to fit into this role, the actress went on a diet, lost so much weight that tongues started wagging on whether she aborted a six month old pregnancy. Then, Uche was a shadow of her old self, as she was made to shave off all her hair to look the role, looking miserable and dejected. It however, took her some months to regain her weight as well as silence her critics.

Oge Okoye O

rdinarily, sexy actress, Oge Okoye wouldn’t agree to subject herself to torture or shave off her hair for any price. But as a thespian, she is, she did it two years ago, when she dared to go bald in movie role which required the bald effect to portray the character of a widow. It was however rumoured then that the offer was too good for the actress to refuse. And like Mercy Johnson and Stella Damasus, she displayed her craft, and shocked her fans when she shaved off her hair to star in the movie. Unfortunately, not many people have seen the movie but those who were privileged to see it said it made a big splash when it was released in 2011.

C M Y K

Adaora Ukoh

in 'Thy Kingdom Come' Top actress Adaora Ukoh is still living with the reality of having to shave off her hair in a movie titled “Thy Kingdom Come”.

Adaora who starred alongside Sam Dede, Mike Ezuruonye, Kenneth Okokwo, and other actors was bald in almost half of the movie. She played the role of a woman who became a widow and was made to shave her hair as demanded by tradition.

Squealers said, Adaora was paid N2 million to play the role.

Interesting, the actress who still carries low cut till date exudes beauty. Some of her fans confess how much they love her bald look.

SATURDAY Vanguard, FEBRUARY 9, 2013— 27

OBJ pledges support for Nollywood @ 20 N

ollywood Guild Heads and stakeholders departed Lagos recently for a sympathy visit to former Nigerian President, and Grand Patron of the Association of Movie-Producers (AMP), Chief Olusegun Obasanjo at his hilltop residence in Abeokuta, Ogun state.

Upon arrival, Zik Zulu Okafor, leader of the delegation and AMP president expressed the industry’s shock at the fire incident that earlier engulfed a section of Chief Obasanjo’s mansion but was quick to give supplications to God that there was no fatality or injuries recorded as a result of the inferno.

Baba, (Obasanjo) as he is fondly called equally expressed joy at the visit and also noted that he was grateful to God that no one was hurt in the incident.

He observed that what could have led a possible casualty was the huge smoke that the fire generated which spread quickly into rooms not even affected by the fire including his own bedroom and thanked God that nobody was in any of the rooms at the time. He then took the Nollywood team on a guided tour of the affected parts of the building where it was seen that restoration work was in progress confirming his widely reported light-hearted assertion that though his house got burnt, it would soon become more beautiful. Chief Obasanjo also appreciated the efforts of

•Bikiya

•Eku Sapphire

•Damilola

'Flower Girl' goes to cinemas B

eing a romantic comedy that is bound to raise the bar in Nollywood, Flower Girl is due to premiere on Wednesday, February 13,at Silverbird Cinemas, Victoria Island, Lagos.

The film features Bikiya Graham-Douglas as the fashion freak Stella, a friend to shy Kemi(Damilola Adegbite), a florist who sold her 'heart to love' and consequently got disappointed and rejected by her boy friend, Umar(Chris Attoh).

Produced by African Movie Academy Awards, AMAA, winner, Michello Bello, 'Flower Girl' tells the story of 'love lost' and won in the city of Lagos. Kemi dreams of becoming one of the happy married couples she sees every day. Her long time lawyer boyfriend, Umar has promised to marry her when he gets a promotion, but she is increasingly getting impatient. Still living with her embarrassing parents, she C M Y K

spends her nights in her room, planning the wedding she hopes to have some day.

Then comes the day she has been waiting for. Umar has got the promotion. Ironically, when she arrives expecting a big proposal, he breaks up with her instead. Devastated, Kemi goes on a delivery and unable to see where she is going through her tears of grief, she is hit by a car.

Shot on location in Lagos,

the movie billed to premiere on Wednesday, February 13, address the travails of young women who are in a hurry to get married, thinking only about about their perfect wedding day, and not the lomg term commitment required by both individuals to make it last. The producer says, the movie will hit the big screens on Valentine’s Day. There are also plans to premiere the movie in Accra and in the UK.

Onyeka Onwenu to star in “Half of a Yellow Sun”

By ANOZIE EGOLE

F

OR some time now, fans of Onyeka Onwenu, would be asking her whereabouts as the Nollywood screen goddess has been off the screen for quite a long time now.

The veteran has decide to bounce back with this award winning flick, “half of a yellow sun”. The Imo State born actress cum singer would be acting the role of a Mama in this Chimamanda Adichie’s award winning novel turned drama.

the Civil Defence Corps, Fire Service and the security forces who acted promptly and gallantly to put out the fire.

He later pledged his support for the forthcoming celebration of Nollywood at 20.

Zik Zulu with OBJ

Chico Ejiro debuts Valentine Fiesta

BY OPEOLUWANI OGUNJIMI

W

ITH high expectations in the air as the Valentine Day approaches, ace Nollywood producer, Chico Ejiro’s The Love Fiesta promises to thrill lovers to a fun-filled day. Chico Ejiro, owner of Grand Touch productions announced the debut of the fiesta at a press parley held during the week.

According to him, The Love Fiesta(A dream Valentine) is his 'new baby' geared towards giving lovers the necessary fun on the forthcoming Valentine Day. “The key thing this Valentine is to preach love, peace and untiy among couples,”he said during the conference.

Segments already billed for the day include music, dance, comedy and game show. On that day, couples are expected to sing love songs to each other, dance with each other and make love confessions to each other.

Again, select lovers during the raffle draw,will engage in a game show where they will be asked questions about each other, after which prizes will be given out to winners.

•Ejiro and wife

28 —Vanguard, SARTURDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 2013

Dede Mabiaku is a versatile musician, who has come a long way in the Afrobeat, Highlife and Jazz music genres. He has over the years proven himself a force to reckon with in the Nigerian music scene, within and outside the shores of the country. His display of stagecraft, showmanship and knack for audience participation are in present day Nigeria, unequalled. A protégé of the Afrobeat legend, Fela Anikulapo-Kuti, Dede indeed learnt at the feet of the master himself. For more than 10 years, he was an integral part of Fela’s daily life and his band Egypt 80. Dede opened all Felas local and international shows, performing on vocals and playing the saxophone. Today, he remains unchallenged as the best Afrobeat artiste ever. Dede, who recently featured in a movie, Render to Caesar, produced by Desmond Ovbiagele believes that the Afrobeat king lives on. He relives fond memories of his 10 years sojourn with him, his romance with actress Bimbo Akintola and the women in his life.

By BENJAMIN NJOKU

L

et’s talk about ‘Ren der To

Caeser’, a movie you featured in that will soon be released. How come you gambled into acting?

I didn’t gamble into acting.

I’m a Thespian by training. I went to the University of Jos and University of Benin to study Theater Arts. I was admitted into the university in 1968, so, I’m not a kid. And I happened to be the first actor to ever win an award in this country in 1987.

At Nigerian Festival of Films and Nigerian Television Productions, I won the Best Actor in this country. First of all, I am a Theater Artiste and it encompasses every unit of the arts, including music. That’s why I’ve been into music.

But you are more popular in the music arena

than in acting?

Music is theatre. What Fela did and which we all saw is referred to as Total Theater. So, I happen to be studying that realm. Fela also acted in the movie, “Black President”. It was after his starring in that movie that the then, military regime went and set ablaze his Kalakuta residence . Fela studied music in the university. And I studied Theater Arts. So, my delving into acting is based on credibility.

You were like Fela’s forerunner while he lived.

Do you think his prophetic songs have found meaning in our present day Nigeria?

All the things Fela said back then are happening today.

So you call him a prophet?

I don’t need to call Fela a prophet. I was simply an Orisa(god). That is what it is for someone to stand there and fight for the people, open their minds, wake them up to realities and their rights, and not for anything other than the peo-

ples’ value. Fela was not an ordinary person. He was an orisa to us. Fela went through torture and degradation because he was fighting for us. Ask anybody to tell you about the beatings, how his head was broken, legs were broken, how they used sharp objects to cut his penis, how he was whipped and stripped naked and thrown into the gutter...all because he was speaking the truth but yet the people were not told all that story. Long time ago, Fela started singing about “African emancipation.” He started telling us to make use of our senses and stick to our ways of life but we didn’t listen to him because we wanted to follow the western lifestyle. How would this help us and make us a better people ?

Do you think Fela’s disciples are still sustaining his legacies?

First of all, when you say disciples, I don’t believe a man should be marked by his biological offsprings but rather, by the value of the impact he makes on the lives of other

people. When you say his disciples, you are also one of Fela’s disciples because you accepted the fact that what he said then, are playing out today in this country. We are all Fela’s disciples and you should know it’s time we start to standup for our rights and embrace his crusade for social justice.

I’ve been a fan of Baba since I was in secondary school. Then, when I became an undergraduate, I joined a band, and after graduation, I worked with the now rested record label in Owerri called Labamba Records.

All through these period, anytime I sing Fela’s songs, people usually get inspired. Throughout the shows I staged in the eastern part of the country in 1984, while I was undergoing my National Youth Service, I relived memories of the Fela factor. So, coming to meet him in Lagos after my service was meant to be. And when we met, the spiritual link started and there’s no way it will stop because when I ‘m no more, others will take up the baton. If

pastor Tunde Bakare could climb his pulpit and said, “a prophet had just left our midst”, that was after Fela’s demise, then, we should have a rethink. Then, ask yourself a question, have you ever heard of Ogun and Sango worshipers fighting? Have you ever heard of Igbe worshipers and Aronzi and Ohafia worshipers fighting? But you will always see Muslims and Christians fighting and killing themselves.

There are churches in every nook and cranny of this country and the pastors buy jeep, airplanes and jets yet, corruption is at its peak in Nigeria. Fela was a personification of the African way of life.

What would you say is the binding force between you and Fela?

For me, I would say there are three things that held us firmly together-truth, true African spiritual understanding and true African way of life. These three things are the most important things you can ever seek in life and ultimately, you shall have peace of mind.

What’s your relationship with Fela’s family after his demise?

Great! I’m a part of the family and you can’t take that away from me.

Since he demised in 1997, what would you say you missed about Fela?

Truth. You’ll hardly find people who are truthful to themselves. Look around you, the politicians we have today

Vanguard, SARTURDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 2013 — 29

My parents disowned me because of Fela are legis-looters and executhieves. They are ripping off the common man in this country.

Aren’t we ashamed of ourselves? The Arabs developed their country with the money they made from their oil. Don’t we have oil too? But our leaders spend our oil windfall on prostitutes and partying abroad, building useless mansions that the masses can’t rent. I was in the east of America and they showed me some massive houses belonging to our senators and governors. Truth is missing in the system. People say I don’t talk like Fela. Fela was Fela. He didn’t wear shoes but canoes. For me, I do my bit until we start to respect the rule of law, accountability and credibility in our system.

I missed Fela’s sincerity, his jokes because he was the greatest man in Nigeria. He was the first black man ever to be represented on the Broadway, that’s the heights of theater in the world. He was bigger than anything this country has brought down.

Look around my houseeverywhere, my room, my mind, my spirit- I’m in tune with Fela.

Fela lives on.

Would you now say you are living out your dreams?

I laugh at people who say they are living out their dreams.

Do you know what a dream is?

I’m living out my reality. I am in this world on a journey. And I happen to be a proud person who is happy to say that I’ll rather develop human beings than I would build houses here and there. I don’t turn my back on my people and God has used me to educate my people.

I’ll rather invest my money on people than on houses, cars, gold. I don’t wear wrist watches, I don’t wear gold. There are many people who have passed through me and are better people today. Those were part of the things I learnt from the master, Fela.

It has been long you released your last album?

Fela told me he wanted me to spend 10 years on stage before releasing an album. He said I should first and foremost culture my sound, build my stand before releasing an album. Now, many years after his demise, I find it imperative to understand what he said then. To me, the album doesn’t make a man. When it is time, every person will receive it. I can’t hide it. Right now, I’m making sure the younger ones sing content-oriented sounds and become more instrumentally and live music conscious.

What do you think prepared you for what you are doing today?

My first attempt to go on stage was when I was 9 years. It was Fred Amata’s grand father that took me from my father’s home

Dede with his family and had me act with the cast he assembled in his native plays during the Christmas celebration. I remember that when I was in primary school, I was highly interested in cultural activities because my father was part of the Benin royalties and he also loved the things of culture. So, I respect the culture of the people. But getting into the university, I met Professor Femi Osanfiso who opened up my mind a lot more to the essence of African creativity. I left him and networked at the end of the day with Baba(Fela) who then made it concrete.

Were your parents disappointed that you followed Fela?

My father protested to the greatest heights and even disowned me. Even the mother of the girl I wanted to marry then rejected me on the basis that I was Fela’s boy. But unfortunately for her, the lady had a daughter for me who is now a graduate. Today, I’m not a disgrace.

I’ve not let my country down, instead I’ve brought a good name to it. My name doesn’t bring sadness but joy and I’m grateful to Fela for it. I’m over fifty and I can sit here, look at you in the face and say you came to my house, sat and was at peace. The things you heard me say are for growth and development. That’s the essence of Fela.

I’m sure that lady and her mother are still alive to see what you’ve turned out to become?

My daughter Sola is alive and she’s a graduate. I don’t have any rancour with them. I love my daughter and she loves me too. I have other children and they love me too. They call me

by my name, Dede . People don’t know them because I shielded them from the world.

I put them behind, and present myself for people to attack.

But they don’t live with you That’s why you can’t find them around me.

So, how do you connect with them?

We know our moments. God’s time is the best.

How many children do you have?

Are you ready for this? I have seven biological children. My first child is going to be thirtyone year old soon.

At what age did you have your first child?

I was in my twenties then, during my university days.

Don’t go that side(laughs). I attempted marriage just once

and it was one of the funniest experiences in my life. I’ll state this today, that I did it with all my heart.

I wanted to try something new, something I thought I never would do. I did it but it didn’t work out. I had my last two kids from the marriage.

Are they all in Nigeria?

No. My last kids are in Ghana with their mother. All my children are with their mothers and it gives me the freedom to be the artiste I want to be.

But I still have so many children who have gone through school and there are still more in school.

They come at different times. God used me to bless some of them. Some are in Nigeria while others are in Sierra-Leone and Ghana.

Did you meet them while sojourning with Fela?

No. I don’t even know the parents of many of them. I give God the glory. All I know is that they deserved to go to school but the society didn’t encourage them. They’ll be better people tomorrow. Nigerians need to change. We must start to focus on the things that will change in the country. That’s why I gave my all in the yet to be released movie, “ Render to Caesar” produced by Desmond Ovbiagele. I read the script, I’m a theater person and I know what that script can deliver. I played the role of an Inspector of Police. Playing that role gave me joy because I realized there

are things we should start sharing with ourselves. I’m so proud that I starred in the movie and working with the likes of Omoni Oboli.

How did you get the role?

Desmond approached me. He wanted me to play a role in one script he brought to me before now. But I turned down the script because I didn’t like the story as I advised him to come up with a better script. He came with this one and I liked it instantly, even though I thought I would play the lead role, but he made me play another lead which is the commissioner of police. The role wasn’t bad and I enjoyed it.

Most people thought you were going to marry actress Bimbo Akinola.

What happened?

Let me tell you this, I’ll say it for the last time. Bimbo and I were friends for two years before we started dating. I never knew her as a woman with any kongo. I knew her as my friend who was in the university of Ibadan whom I supported morally and otherwise. I like her because she has a wonderful mind and spirit. She’s a wonderful woman and you can’t take her talent away from her. At that time, I was dating her, I had so many women but she was the main woman. She stood by me and we weathered the storm together.

Then, one day, we sat down and reviewed our relationship after which we agreed that we were better as friends than lovers. And since that day, about twelve years ago, we have remained friends- no sex, romance or kissing. We’ve kept the respect, value and true love for each other since then. When it comes to marriage, I wasn’t ready at that time. If I was ready then, maybe, I would have married her. Marriage is not a factor to me. It will come when it will come if it has to. But for now, my saxophone is my sweetheart. And one thing is sure, I don’t disregard women.

I value them and treasure them.

But people believe you dumped Bimbo?

No, if I dumped Bimbo, will I be talking like this? Let me tell you, if I call Bimbo now, the first thing she’d say is “hello darling”. We are that close. She’s called me twice today. Can’t people be true friends? I have true friends but she stands out and that’s why you guys are raising eyebrows and keep harassing me about her.

Aside her, what about other women in your life?

The other women in my life?

They are my children. The other women around me are particularly not in my life. You’ve been here for some time now, how many women have you seen walk in? Well, gone are those days when women were all around me. The point is, I’ve used that time to understudy women and I have to carry on with those lessons I’ve learnt from friends, Fela, my mother and others.

30 — Vanguard, SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 2013

5

Potential breakthrough stars of World Cup 2014 The World cup is the biggest stage in football. Some prosper under the spotlight, some falter under heavy expectations.

Each year, we see players use this opportunity to excel in the eyes of the world, prompting wild speculation and crazy transfer fees.

Let’s take an early look at five players who could take the world by storm at Brazil 2014.

Bruno Martins Indi

A

T

he Netherlands are looking good under Louis van Gaal, occupying first place in Group D of the World Cup European qualifying phase.

The one thing holding the Oranje army back is central defence.The partnership of Johnny Heitinga and Joris Mathijsen was the sole weak spot in a wonderful 2010 World Cup run.

• Bruno Martins Indi

Bernard

B

razil have a plethora of options in attack.

Ronaldinho, Wellington Nem, Bernard, Neymar and Oscar—the list goes on and highlights just how many quality players there are for Luiz Felipe Scolari to wade through.

Bernard has an outside shot of starring at this moment in time, but his rapid progression in the Brasileiro Serie A—despite his diminutive stature—has simply proved he’s not one to be dismissed.

C M Y K

Angelo Ogbonna

Angelo Henriquez

ngelo Henriquez was a surprise signing for Manchester United in the summer of 2012.

After recruiting Robin van Persie and adding him to the current crop, Sir Alex Ferguson had five top-tier strikers to play with if you include this teenage Chilean star.

A loan to Wigan Athletic who have a history of developing young players expertly is just what the doctor ordered, and it wouldn’t be a surprise to see him return to the DW Stadium for the 2013-14 season.

I

•Henriquez

Mateo Kovacic

M

ateo Kovacic has long been touted as the next Croatian star, but playing with Dinamo Zagreb hardly awarded him the opportunity to impress a widespread audience.

He performed well in the UEFA Champions League this season on a poor side, but coming up against Paris Saint-Germain and FC Porto wasn’t blockbuster enough for people to switch over and watch him. He’s earned a big move to Internazionale, though. The Italian outfit signed him for 11 million in the wake of Wesley Sneijder and Philippe Coutinho’s departures

t’s difficult to predict what tactics Cesare Prandelli will use in 2014, but that won’t matter to Angelo Ogbonna, who’s shown himself to be versatile and willing to adapt.

He is Torino’s most precious asset and rapid progression has allowed him international exposure. He’s been linked in the past to Liverpool among other top Premier League clubs.

By 2014, there’s every chance Ogbonna will usurp the aging Andrea Barzagli

Vanguard, SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 2013 — 31

TENNIS

GOLF NEWS Pebble Beach National Pro-AM 2013:

Big storylines to watch for A Tour is moving onto Pebble Beach for the 2013 Na-

FTER a thrilling weekend of golf at the Phoenix Open where Phil Mickelson played at his best, the PGA

tional Pro-Am. There are plenty of big storylines heading into Pebble Beach Golf Links, as a $6.5 million purse is up for grabs and golf’s best talents look to win at one of the historic golf courses in the world.

We won’t be seeing Tiger Woods this weekend, but virtually all of the other elite golfers will be in attendance to try and claim the $1.2 million prize for the winner.

On top of that, some big names from other sports and in pop culture will be playing alongside the professionals.

Rafael Nadal’s solid performance in singles action at VTR open is positive sign M

any fans were happy to see Rafael Nadal back on the tennis court on Tuesday. His presence was missed at the Australian Open, and any sight of one of the world’s most popular players is a plus.

In a doubles affair with friend Juan Monaco, the pair defeated Frantisek Cermak and Lukas Dlouhy 6-3, 6-2 at the VTR Open in Chile. That was a good start, but his 6-3,

6-2 win in singles action over Federico Delbonis on Wednesday was an even better sign of things to come. Returning to the court and winning was nice on Tuesday, but the true test for Nadal’s problematic knee came in Wednesday’s singles match. Covering the full court alone puts the knee through the rigours needed to make Nadal confident or doubtful about his ability to compete on a high level.

•Pebble Beach for the 2013 National Pro-Am.

English Premier League Power Poll: Weeks 24-25 (top 5) mathematically alive in the title race.

But goalkeeper Joe Hart is probably right to say that City must win all .

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ith a nine-point lead atop the table, the title is Manchester United’s to lose. Not coincidentally, Sir Alex Ferguson’s Red Devils reign atop this week’s edition of this week's English Premier League Power Poll.

But now for the suspense. Twenty-five rounds into the season, our power poll has achieved a milestone. For the first time, we have a three-way tie in the rankings.

Which teams tied? Where did your team end up? Keep reading to find out.

Arsenal

Points: 136 Previous: 9 Let’s get this straight. Stoke finished the match with players bloodied, and Arsenal scored on a deflected set piece.

Are we sure these teams didn’t switch bodies?

He’s 6’2", he’ll do you, he’s OllyOlly-Olly-Olly-Olly Giroud.

Nachos is greater than Andre Santos.

Manchester United

Points: 177 Previous: 2 We should probably all bow to the inevitable. Apparently not even a power outage can stop Manchester United from regaining the title.

Why are United so far ahead?

Should one blame the rest of the league for not having a Robin van Persie.

They continue to chalk up hardfought wins, despite a very suspect defense and a less-than-creative midfield. Nani is skilled and Tom Cleverley is solid enough, but they’ve COMBINED for two EPL C M Y K

Liverpool

assists so far this season.

Tottenham Hotspur

Points: 160 Previous: 4 Has anyone else noticed that Spurs have lost just once in their last 13 league matches?

Where’s there’s a [Gareth] Bale, there’s a way. Andre Villas-Boas

still looks like a stationery salesman though.

Manchester City

Points: 156 Previous: 1 After falling nine points behind leaders Manchester United with 13 matches left, defending champions Manchester City are still

Points: 136 Previous: 5 So Steven Gerrard’s goal might have just helped Liverpool hand the title to old rivals Manchester United.

And it’s only February.

Stevie Geeeeeee still got it but he's still a bit confused on the defensive end, but you can’t argue with the boost Daniel Sturridge has provided to the Reds’ attack. And what a goal from the legend Stevie G!

32—VANGUARD, SATURDAY, FEBRUAR 9, 2013

Tuface stressed up or sick? ...plans honeymoon in Dubai

BY OPEOLUWANI OGUNJIMI Now that we are in the month of love, eyes are already rolling in high expectations of the muchtalked about Tuface and Annie Macauley’s society wedding.

The wedding earlier scheduled to hold on Valentine’s day, February14, was shifted to an undisclosed date due to Tuface’s numerous Valentine shows already lined up.

But our source revealed that as a superstar, Tuface is planning nothing short of a hush-hush wedding with just a few of her friends, inlaws and colleagues to be in attendance. Guess where they plan to spend their honeymoon? Dubai!

Meanwhile, Tu Baba appears sickly as he was spotted recently at a social function. He looked pale and emaciated too. His ‘shadow’ was seen at his club, Rumors located in GRA, Ikeja.

An attempt to probe why he didn’t look bright as he used to be was startling. Before tongues start wagging, Tuface is stressed up right now. “Tuface is really stressed because he’s been up and about too many things recently, coupled with his upcoming wedding and lined up shows,” our source revealed.

Between Banky W and Toolz?

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ot less than five years when the talented singer relocated to Nigeria from United States, he shot himself to limelight with his much played music, “ Ebutte metta”. Since then, the talented singer has been featuring in most shows and events. Recently at the grand finale of MTV VJ Search where the singer and record label owner was one of the judges among other stars like, Funke Akindele, Toolz, the singer played a gentleman as he was seen fanning his cojudge, Toolz with his hat. When he felt the nice curved radio presenter, Toolz was sweating much, he went further to clean the sweat with his handkerchief. As the saying has it that was goes around, comes around, the sexy presenter, Toolz, reciprocated by cleaning Banky W’s bald head with her own handkerchief. The question is, could this be ordinary or are there more to this?

esire” d s v a y n a y I “ m u se alb th is a le e r o t p a ck a g e fo r ter t st e e s b e a th y e n af b ight Iya h is co u ld o came to limel others ting singer wh hile

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scintilla ct fame. W 10 MTN proje ne day winning the 20 ing to celebrate the valenti busy is ar p er re g p n ng si are busy ones, the you onderful album d ve lo r ei th with his w s together for since the talented r putting thing ve E t. ou been on be which will so to music industry, he has kere in ku e e h m T . ca artiste packages ns with nice release thrilling his fa , who spoke on the new ya to help t crooner, Iyan tracked album is mean m has 19 bu e al th . The th of said that er side of him h ot e 11 th e e th se s on ed his fan as le led to be rend March in Lagos. of been schedu buja and 2 A February in

“Sistaz” reality show, set to debut in DSTV

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or lovers of reality shows and fun seekers, you need to check out this new wrapup from Ebonyilife TV which will soon hit the big screens.

In line with fulfilling its standard as African first global entertainment

Burna boy stirs fans with ‘like to party’

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he 21-year old Damini Ogulu, a.k.a, “Burna boy” who officially broke into the music industry in Port Harcourt in December 2010, when he moved back to Nigeria from London is currently making serious waves in the Nigeria music terrain with his singles such as Like To party, Tonight, Trumpet, Touch Your Toes, Abeg Abeg Abeg, Party With Me and Firewood. The talented singer propelled himself more into the music scene with the release of his hit tract “Like to Party” in 2012. At the just concluded MTV VJ search in Victoria Island Lagos, the scintillating singer took the stage amidst co-artistes like Iyanya, Ice-Prince with his song, “Like to Party” which stirred the audience. The judges, Banky W, Funke Akindele and Toolz can’t help it but joined the audience to dance and applaud the singer .

network and in line with giving fun seekers a full dose of excitement, Ebonyilife TV has unveiled one of its flagship programmes. This time, it is a reality show titled, “Sistaz” which will soon debut on a television station in Pan African, globally on Sky TV and dish in United States.

Directed by Heidi Uys, “Sistaz” is a compelling reality TV series about two sisters of Greek-Nigerian descent, the Starvo sisters, who decide to check into the famous Eko Hotel in Victoria Island, Lagos for a long overdue holiday reunion. While there, they meet Stephinie, a British-born Nigerian friend who has also checked in to relax from a busy schedule. Together, they set out a 30 day rollercoaster to rediscover afresh the passion of sisterhood, friendship and the lively city

of Lagos. However, their holiday soon turns into a mission when they host a party at the hotel. When their diverse worlds connect, their attitudes explode with a bang.

The reality series which is meant to run for a long time has first released the first 13 episodes. The series which has only three casts was shot within Eko Hotel and Suites.

Speaking recently at the unveiling event of the series, the director, reality programming, Ebonyilife TV, Pamela Ofoegbu had this to say, “it has been an awesome, exciting and dramatic roller coaster ride as we watched events unfold daily. This is truly reality at its peak”. The multi-million naira reality series has the cast of, Stephanie Coker, Jojo Starvo, and Eleni Starvo.

SATURDAY Vanguard FEBRUARY 9, 2013 — 33 work.

MRS. EUGENIA ABU, Broadcaster rs. Eugenia Abu is one of Nigeria’s foremost broadcasters. She is multitalented, she anchored the 9:00 pm News for seventeen years and attracted millions of viewers to the NTA Network News. She writes poetry, gives back to society through mentorship and she is also a writer with her first published book winning her the ANA/ NDDC Flora Nwapa Prize for best female writing in 2008.

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Vlisco Women’s Month Celebrations: A tribute and award to Nigeria’s inspirational and successful women gave 15 years of praiseworthy service at the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) where she anchored the weekly NTA Newsline programme.

She delighted millions of Nigerians with her warmth and successfully used television as a platform for drawing attention to the plight of those experiencing the pain of poverty and injustice. She is a prominent legislator

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he 8th of March 2013 is International Women’s Day. Worldwide women are honoured and shown respect for their immense achievements. Vlisco feels women should remain in the spotlight for longer than just one day and in 2013 will celebrate inspiring women, throughout West and Central Africa, for one whole month.

This year the theme is BE YOUR DREAM, to celebrate successful women who have made their dreams come true.

Vlisco has selected several inspiring women as nominees to win the unique Vlisco Women’s Month BE YOUR DREAM award. The public will vote for the woman who inspires them the most and stand a chance to be winners themselves, with prizes such as VIP tickets to the BE YOUR DREAM award night and tailor-made Vlisco dresses. The celebrations do not end there. Vlisco aims to support ambitious designers and tailors who have bigger dreams of success but need some support. By sending in a business plan of their dream, they have an opportunity to win funding to make their dream come true.

The Vlisco Women’s Month BE YOUR DREAM award for Nigeria’s most inspirational woman One woman’s achievement often inspires another woma n’s dream. Many women find great inspiration by witnessing others overcome their challenges and live their dreams. Therefore Nigeria’s most inspirational woman will be awarded the Vlisco Women’s Month BE YOUR DREAM award. The winner will be elected by the Nigerian public, and will be revealed during a festive award night & fashion show

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and chairs the House Committee of the National Assembly on the Diaspora. She also uses her office to champion the cause of freedom of information.

CHIMAMANDA NGOZI ADICHIE, Writer himamanda Ngozi Adichie, born in Enugu State, has established herself as an exceptional writer. Her book “Purple Hibiscus” won the Common wealth Writers’ Prize and the Hurston/Wright Legacy Award. It was also short-listed for the Orange Prize and the John Llewellyn Rhys Prize and long-listed for the Booker Prize. Her short fiction has appeared in Granta, Prospect, and the Iowa Review among other literary journals, and she received an O. Henry Prize in 2003. She was a 2005-2006 Hodder Fellow at Princeton, where she taught Introductory Fiction. She has proven that success can be achieved at an early age with a dint of hard

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on the 30th March. The whole month of March, everybody is invited to vote for the candidate that inspired them most at any Vlisco shop, or online at beyourdream.vlisco.com .Voting starts on February 18th. Voters can win tickets to the award night & fashion show and a tailor made dress of their choice, made in the latest Super-wax fabric.

FASHION DREAM FUND contest & award for talented female fashion designers and tailors Apart form encouraging women to dream, we also want to empower them to unleash their potential. Imaginative female creative fashion professionals (tailors, designers, stylists) can send in their business plan for the VLISCO FASHION DREAM FUND, and win the funding to realize it. Candidates can get more information on beyourdream.vlisco.com. The winners will be selected by a Vlisco jury. Three winners throughout West and Central Africa will respectively win 10,000, 7,000 or 5,000 US Dollars and Vlisco will support them with business advice to help them out.

The selected nominees of Nigeria for the BE YOUR DREAM award HON (MRS) ABIKE DABIRI-EREWA egislator and chairs the House Committee of the National Assembly on the Diaspora Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa

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MRS JOKE SILVA JACOBS , Actress rs. Joke Silva Jacobs, born in Lagos State, graduated from University of Lagos State and the Webber Douglas Academy of Dramatic Arts London is an accomplished actress. She has starred in selected A rated movies within and outside Nigeria. Joke Silva has won several nominations and Awards in and outside Nigeria for her movies and soap operas.

She is a united Nations Goodwill Ambassador and has given herself to women development and mentorship delivering seminars in tertiary and post tertiary institutions championing women courses.

She is a role model for many young and aspiring actresses.

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MRS. AMINA AZ- ZUBAIR, Humanitarian rs. Amina Az- Zubair has over thirty years excellent track record as a development practitioner in the public, private and civil society. She was appointed the senior special assistant to the Nigerian president on millennium development goals; where she sought to reduce the level of poverty in the country. She was recently appointed by the united nations secretary general as his special adviser on post 2015 development planning.

She is also the founder and CEO of the centre for development policy solutions.

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Detangling Dry Hair

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etangling Dry Hair is never considered when the hair becomes very tangled, knotted or matted.

The first solution that most people consider is to wet the hair immediately and use hair conditioner . In some cases that has and is a great solution, however when the hair is severely matted or tangled-it’s the worse solution!

Wearing braids, hair extensions, temporary dreadlocks, twists or sew-in hair weaves for long periods of time (over 4weeks) can definitely cause the roots of the hair to begin to get matted or tangled from oil build up

and dust. After removing these hairstyles, most women assume they should just shampoo their hair. When they do proceed to shampoo their hair, the hair just sticks together in to one big matted mass or knots and clumps.

Sometimes the hair can also get very matted due to depression, hospitalization or the use of hair products that do not mix with certain hair textures. No matter what the cause for severely knotted hair is, the best course of action to take is to first detangle the hair dry before shampooing.

Dry hair detanglers like the Take Down Remover Cream work fast at softening the hair so if your hair is very dry it

will be moisturized before you start to untangle the knots.

Patience is also needed when detangling dry hair-because if you rush, the hair can break easily.

34—VANGUARD, SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 9 , 2013

I’m writing a book about my life

that some of us have been able to sustain our brands.

What about the Abuja Festival Of Love?

Yes, it’s something I started two years ago in Abuja. Over the year, I’ve always spent Valentine and my birthdays with the less privilege because I see it as my own corporate social responsibility. So last two years, 2011, I decided that I wanted to start something about showing love to people who lack love.

That was why I started it but it was when the bombing issue was the order of the day in Abuja. So we did the first edition in Abuja, the second was held in Lagos because of the unrest in Abuja. We actually got threats not to hold the event there and then, the Abuja people were too scared to gather. So this year, I don’t want to hold it in Lagos because there are so many events already holding here, that’s why we are taking it back to Abuja. So for all our events, Aero Contractors has been very supportive, they are our official carrier, even on this event. So it’s a classic event for lovers. There will be couple’s games, karaoke games and part of the proceeds will be given back to charity.

— Julius Agwu

BY OPEOLUWANI OGUNJIMI

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ith arms confidently placed on his desk, right inside his Surul ere office, popular Comedian, Julius Agwu, who is one of the most successful comic acts in the country, recounts his life, forty years down the line.

He also spoke about his plan to celebrate his fortieth birthday, his book, new single, new TV show and family.

Excerpts: This is a new year, what have you been up to?

This is a new year, 2013. For me, it’s two thousand and re-starting because this year, I’m going to be forty and it’s a new start for me. I was talking with the Deputy Governor of Cross River State and he said; forty is the old age of youth and it’s also the youth of old age. We got talking about my fortieth and he was advising me and told me it’s worth celebrating. I was also speaking with Alex Oti, the Group Director of Diamond Bank and he said; all the foolish things I do should end in March before my fortieth in April, because a fool at forty is a fool forever.

This year also, I’m writing a book about my journey so far.

What’s the title of the book?

I don’t want to reveal the title for now for fear of Nollywood so they won’t name a movie after it. But we are working on it and it’s being edited

by Tony Kan. The whole idea of it is that this is a fresh beginning for me and I call it 20-restarting, a year I want to re- strategize and re-position. As a matter of fact, I’m doing a song now and it’s titled Rejuvenate. So I want to rejuvenate the brand and myself.

So what are those things you used to do that you are going to stop doing @ 40?

Although I know them, I don’t want to reveal them because they are personal things.

Are you planning to celebrate your fortieth?

Of course I plan celebrating it. I want to use that medium to appreciate those who have helped me this farmy friends, brothers and sisters and everybody, especially God. It’s not that I’m rich but I’m wealthy. I have a wealth of experience.

So what are those things lined up for that day?

I already mentioned that my book will be launched, which is the major thing. And there will be other performances by friends and colleagues.

I’m sure you plan celebrating it big.

So are there any persons or corporate groups supporting you?

Nobody is supporting me yet with anything and it’s strictly by invitation.

pipeline?

For five years now. And that’s because TV production isn’t easy, so we have to put in our best. Aside from that, it’s something we want to concentrate on so we don’t get distracted by other things.

So why did you decide to write a book?

Like I said, it’s about my journey so far, where I’m coming from, challenges and obstacles and the wheel of progress; where I am today. Like it or not, we are not Lagosians. There are people who come to Lagos with nylon bags and go back with briefcases, and others come with briefcases and go back with nylon bags. But God has been very very nice to me. My career is such that they say entertainers’ life span is never long but the grace of God has brought me this far and I feel there’s a cause for celebration. I also want to celebrate my fans. Co incidentally, my fortieth falls on a Sunday. So part of it is that we’ll go to church in the morning, and then in the evening, we celebrate.

Aside that, I’ll also be launching my new TV show titled Jokes Apart.

For how long has it been in the

What are the side attraction that Jokes Apart will bring to viewers?

Let them just look out for the show when it starts and later, they can now judge our performances. We know we may make our mistakes but we hope to get it right from the start. For it to have been in the pipeline for five years, reason is the fear of failure and this is my greatest fear. So I believe God to give me wisdom to make it a success.

So have you finished shooting?

We haven’t but we’ve already set up a studio. So, we’re waiting for the technical crew before we start shooting.

It will unveil in April.

Are you going to have a live audience like Teju Babyface?

No, there won’t be a live audience.

It’s studio based.

Do you have sponsors yet?

That’s one of the major challenges we have. At the moment, there’s no sponsor yet. But then we thank God

Why is it that your shows don’t always have sponsors?

Okay, for this particular one, Festival of Love, it’s powered by OsmoServe Global, owned by a friend of mine called Scot Tommy, he just promised to do so but he hasn’t given anything yet but I’m hoping he’ll sponsor it. I’m also saying thank you to my colleagues who have decided to be part of it. I can’t pay them what they are worth but then, I pay them. As a matter of fact, I started paying a token of appreciation to my colleagues right from when we started Crack Ya Ribs as far back of 2001.

For music, we have Wizkid, Bunner Boy and Chidnma. For comedy, we have Bovi, Apororo, Daniel, based in Port-Harcourt, Chugo, and others.

There’s going to be a red carpet by 5pm and then cocktail.

Being into entertainment isn’t all about money but passion, and that’s why I don’t mind funding my shows alone. My joy is that what I do give me satisfaction.

Aside organizing your own shows, do you still accept invites to perform on other colleagues’ shows?

Yes I do. I also encourage other upcomers to participate.

Like who and who are the upcomers you are supporting at the moment?

There are quite many. We have Daniel ‘D’ Humorous based in PortHarcourt, Senator based in Jos, Fony Bone, Osama, all these people I’ve taken to London and America; they’ve been around the world courtesy of the platform I provide.

So how does it feel to be 40 because you don’t look it?

Like I said, I was dancing Azonto and my wife said I shouldn’t be dancing to such at my age. So I told her that even at 80, I’ll still be dancing to songs in vogue. Age is a function of the mind.

Image of Africa as place for charity and pity is false

SATURDAY Vanguard, FEBRUARY 9, 2013—35

…Dr Amy Jadesimi, Tutu Fellow

BY MCPHILIPS NWACHUKWU

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r Amy Jadesimi, Managing Director of Ladol oil and gas company is the second Nigerian that participated in the 21 mem ber 2012 Bishop Desmond Tutu Fellowship for young African leaders. A polyvalent scholar with intimidating professional experience in medicine and investment banking, the University of Oxford trained medical doctor in this interview not only shared her wealth of experience from the upscale fellowship, but also draws the reader into her world of deep intellect, which is manifest in the record strides of her company , Ladol: Nigeria’s first indigenous oil service logistics company.

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Tell us about yourself and the build up to your nomination for the 2012 Bishop Tutu Fellowship?

“I’ve followed an unconventional career path. Currently and during the Tutu Fellowship course for young African Leaders, I am the Managing Director of LADOL. However, I started my working life as a doctor, after graduating from Oxford University Medical School, I then went into Investment Banking in London, before completing an MBA at Stanford Graduate School of Business, after which I moved back to Nigeria and started working at LADOL with my father” Can you share with us some of the things you took away from that programme?

The number one take away was optimism for the future of Africa. I saw that young leaders from Africa, a diverse set of African countries, with different histories and challenges were all passionately committed to those countries and building a better future. More importantly as we discussed, it became clear that we were all part of larger communities in our home countries filled with people, young and old, who were working hard every day to change the negative conditions their societies grappled with daily.

This is a very important point to emphasis – Africa is not a continent of the helpless or the needy, the international image of Africa as a place for charity and pity is not only false and insulting, it is very damaging and is directly fighting against the efforts being made by all our leaders to grow our economies and create jobs and infrastructure.

Africa is a continent filled not just with the potential for greatness, but with actual greatness today . It is our hard work and resources that have built up the West , now it is time to use that hard work and those same resources to build up our own people and countries. It was clear from the people I met during the Fellowship that this

“Africa is not a Country” – meaning that we must not accept the bigoted short hand used by non-African’s countries when they address us as if we were one nation and not a Continent of 54 countries

was a sentiment that was echoed throughout the continent.

Finally and critically, this sentiment is being backed by practical applications through all levels of society. The young leaders I met worked in a range of areas, from public to private sector to non-profit sector. Each one was working in their community as well. None of us is letting the history of our countries nor the current political and physical challenges be an excuse for not making a difference.

As a group, I think we simply represent the true African spirit of today – which is to face reality as it is and move forward by finding innovative, locally generated and tailored solutions to everyday problems.

That way, each day, we take a step towards our goals of creating jobs, security, stability, infrastructure, etc... in our countries.

Given the composition of the participants for the fellowship, would you say that the meeting helped in a particular way to understand and contextualise African challenges?

One phrase which I and many other participants kept repeating throughout the Fellowship was that: “Africa is not a Country” – meaning that we must not accept the bigoted short hand used by non-African’s countries when

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they address us as if we were one nation and not a continent of 54 countries. We must also recognize that for our countries to thrive, we need to look inward and next door, meaning we have to focus on building local content within our countries to address the specific challenges each country faces. As a Nigerian, I am focused on infrastructure development and job creation through indigenous private investment. I believe that if we can get sufficient private indigenous investment into critical infrastructure and expand the enabling environment being created for such investment by our current government, we will definitely create the hundreds of thousands of jobs and the GDP growth needed for Nigeria to be the next Brazil and enter the G20.

As MD of LADOL, I know the personal and financial sacrifice that such indigenous investment and development takes but through the few successes we have had at LADOL , I know that such investment can rapidly grow the local market and lead to sustainable job creation and career development of thousands of Nigerians.

In addition, we must look more tour neighbours in Africa as allies and trading partners. For too long, we have

relied on Western trade and Western trade terms, which often leave us swimming upstream against a huge tide. If we consider alliances such as “West African Local Content Initiative” that will allow West African countries to negotiate with one voice, leverage each other’s infrastructure and jointly develop infrastructure that supports intra-African trade and collaboration, the research shows all African countries will benefit.

As a continent, we have a strong economic incentive to work together. As separate countries, we have economic and moral obligations to investment and develop ourselves and our countries through indigenous investment of time and money.

In Nigeria, for instance, the most teething challenge is insecurity and of course, followed by corruption.

But in some other places, it is hunger, poverty or drought. How then was the course programme designed to help participants to engage these differing challenges?

According to the 2011 World Economic Forum Africa Competitiveness Report, the top four factors holding back competitiveness of Nigerian businesses are:1) Access to financing 2)Corruption 3)Inadequate supply of infrastructure and 4)Inefficient government bureaucracy.

These four challenges are not unique to Nigeria but the way in which Nigeria is addressing them is unique to its situation. By addressing these four factors, we will grow our GDP, create jobs and gain economic stability which will all help to improve the security situation. The recent history of Nigeria has also shown us that things change very quickly, so if we continue to aggressively address these four factors, as the indigenous private sector and some sections of the public sector are doing, we could see rapid improvements in Nigeria.

We know that Nigeria needs to improve and diversify its exports. Economic research has proven the importance and power of regional integration in fostering local growth and empowerment. Collective bargaining by African Regions with international companies on local content and pricing issues alone would save West African countries billions of dollars each year and create hundreds of thousands of jobs throughout the region.

So again, our country has to address its own problems using specific local solutions but we should also look to our neighbours as allies and trading partners.

Most of the participants in the programme are private sector players.

And the programme is designed to raise new set of leaders with re-defining visions for governance. Given the background of participants, how can the training benefit public governance in their respective countries?

Several of the participants were from the public and NGO sectors. This is one of the program’s great strengths, which is bringing together Africans from different countries, sectors and backgrounds to share our experiences and specific challenges. We really have created a network of strong leaders throughout Africa that will share best practice, provide moral guidance and have long-lasting friendships.

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36—SATURDAY Vanguard, FEBRUARY 9, 2013 very couple, when entering into an in timate, committed relationship and hopefully before marriage, should have the infidelity conversation. The understanding of infidelity is quite blurred as some may not consider “emotional infidelity” as a breach of trust but it actually is. Both physical and emotional intimacy with somebody other than your partner is infidelity.

Physical intimacy or sexual relations outside an intimate relationship is distrust and betrayal, while emotional intimacy can be emotional dependence where quality time, attention and romantic love is spent with a person with whom you are not in a relationship with. In both the cases, the other partner in the relationship is cheated and betrayed accounting to infidelity.

Most people in relationship would agree that commitment means never going astray on sex, and at times even being emotionally intimate to someone else. In a recent survey , it was found that many people admit to being unfaithful at some point of time in their life.

It is bemusing that the married lot cheated more than the single.

The reasons for this vary from person to person, but the single factor that is relevant to both the genders is the aversion to commitment.

With the romance coming to an end after marriage, many people cannot reconcile themselves to the mundane life.

They want the same attraction back which is not possible in the partner with whom they have spent their last year together.

A nagging wife or over passionate husband can make the spouses look for another person to get sanity back into life.

That is one of the prime reasons why men and women fall into the arms of a person other than their partner.

In case of some persons, it is the group tendency that drives them to commit adultery. In case a buddy does it and shows it off as something fun, there are many men who cannot resist it. The same goes for women as some friends make their mates cheat just for kicks.

In case of men, it is the star-

Infidelity:

Why people cheat on their partners

hurt your partner and everybody else around you. If children are involved, think how it is going to influence their life and their mental development. Infidelity does not involve you and your partner, it impinges on your family’s mentality and tears them apart. The best solution is to locate the problems in your relationship that brought you to think of cheating with your partner.

Such thoughts can be forced by innumerable reasons such as staying away from your partner for too long or giving a lot of importance to the person you are attracted to. *Spend some time for selfanalysis and ask yourself if cheating is worth the risk of hurting everyone you hold dear. Question yourself as to what is important for you: being intimate with another man or woman or your marital life and family. Be honest to yourself and give a thought to what you are putting at stake by being disloyal to your partner. *To deal with the ideas of infidelity, the best option is to communication your feelings to your partner. Do not state to him or her that you are having thoughts of infidelity, but explain that

vation of sex that leads them to have it outside of wedlock.

If the woman is not willing to have sex as much as the man wants or needs it, he is going to look for it elsewhere. In the same way, an unsatisfied woman would look for someone who can satisfy her.

The craving for new thrill is one of the most important reasons behind cheating. A man has gratified himself with you, and is not likely to feel the same again. That brings out the urge to experiment, in other words, flirting with other women. If a person is in a state of despair and under great stress, having an affair can fix many problems. It can not only

ERT P X E S E H ASK T Ques: I am 23 and my husband is 27. He is never interested in foreplay or sex. He gets conscious during intercourse and I always have to take the initiative. He complains of weakness and stress in office. We end up having sex just once in three weeks. What could be the reason? What should I do?

Ans: You must persuade him to get a detailed health check-up. He should learn or take help from a friend to lessen his stress which is a

give release from the tension but also work to boost the ego of a person as he or she now feels more desirable. This is usually due to lack of spark or mutual appreciation in a relationship.

How to deal with thoughts of infidelity

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efore you decide to cheat your partner, learn to deal with the thoughts of infidelity by figuring out what is lacking in your relationship and bringing thoughts that could cost you love of your current partner and family. *The foremost step to deal

with thoughts of infidelity is to figure out the incidences of such thoughts. Daydreaming about your favourite movie star/s or getting attracted to someone on the street is perfectly normal, but getting intimate with another person is an indication that your current relationship is lacking something essential.

Instead of focusing your attention on the one whom you admire, revaluate your relationship with your partner to know the differences. *While having thoughts of cheating on your partner, just give a thought to its dire consequences. Think how it will

known cause of erectile dysfunctions.

Ques: I am 47 years old and I have two daughters.

My husband is amazing but the problem is that he wants to have sex twice or thrice a week. I don’t like having it as often. Also, I have noticed that my private part has grown wider due to many years of sex . Is that the reason why I don’t enjoy sex ? What can I do to tighten it to make sex pleasurable?

Ans: Visit a gynaecologist to confirm your doubts.

You may be suggested a vagina-tightening operation. Meanwhile, learn kegel exercises by looking

you are finding some difficulties in your relationship. Tell him or her what is missing in the relationship and try to voice your present feelings.

Do it in a way that it does not hurt your partner’s emotions and try to clear your doubts as much as possible so that the two of you can decide an appropriate future action i.e. whether to make things work or take individual ways. Putting an end to a relationship is always better than being unfaithful and disloyal. *Instead of feeling guilty for being unfaithful later, confide in a close friend about your thoughts of indulging in infidelity. Perhaps, your friend can give some fresh ideas to steer your current relation-

ship to a positive direction.

Next week: Major effects of extra-marital affairs

them up on the internet, as they will exercise the muscles around your vagina.

Ques: I am a 25-year-old single man. My manhood is seven to eight centimetres. With such a size, can I satisfy women? Also, the foreskin doesn’t slip back. Do I require a circumcision?

Ans: It is best to consult a surgeon who will tell you whether you need a circumcision or not. A size of more than six to seven centimetres can satisfy a woman, provided the act is preceded by good foreplay.

SATURDAY, Vanguard, FEBRUARY 9, 2013—37

The Nkwochas mark 50 years of marital bliss

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t was a moment of joy and celebration at the home of Nze R.S.E. Nkwocha on December 30, 2012 at Umudulu Emii, Owerri, Imo State when he celebrated 50 years of his marriage to his betterhalf, Lolo R.O. Nkwocha.

The couple; Nze R.S.E. and Lolo R.O. Nkwocha with their seven children (LR):Dr. Alex Nwkocha, Mrs Kate Akaluso, Mr. Victor Nkwocha, Mrs Christiana Ugo, Mr. Nick Nkwocha, Mrs Oduenyi Opara and Mr. Emeka Nkwocha

The celebration, which was a close family affair had all the seven children of the couple in attendance. And adding to the euphoria of the day was the presence of the grandchildren as well. It was a huge happy family reunion as champaign were popped and song sang to make the day all the more memorable for ecstatic celebrants.

Consecration of R evd. A Re Ayyoola Olubusuyi

The couple; Nze R.S.E. and Lolo R.O. Nkwocha, cutting their anniversary Cake

The couple; Nze R.S.E. and Lolo R.O. Nkwocha with some of their grandchildren

IT was another joyous occasion in Christendom last weekend in Ibadan, Oyo state when Revd. Matthew Ayoola Olubusuyi was consecrated as a Charismatic Bishop of Kingdom life Christians Centre under the auspices of International Communion of Charismatic and Apostolic Ministries (ICCAM). The occasion attracted the presence of notable members of ICCAM who all left their domains to felicitate with the new Bishop. Photos by Dare Fasube

The couple; Nze R.S.E. and Lolo R.O. Nkwocha with sons (L-R):Dr. Alex Nwkocha, Mr. Victor Nkwocha, Mr. Nick Nkwocha and Mr. Emeka Nkwocha

Past or Elihai mar ks 50 astor marks

Rev. (Mrs.) Elizabeth Idunu Olubusuyi (wife) and the newly consecrated Bishop Mattew Ayoola Olubusuyi.

Apostolic Presbyter ICCAM, Lagos, Bishop Olanrewaju Obembe and his wife.

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L-R: Rev. (Mrs) Elizabeth Idunu Olubusuyi (wife) The new Bishop Mattew Ayoola Olubusuyi receiving certificate from Bishop Dr. Taiwo Akinnola, Ministerial President ,ICCAM.

Cross section of other Bishops that Presided over the consecration of Bishop Mattew Ayoola Olubusuyi.

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astor Suoton Elihai entertained members of Redeemed Christian Church, Jesus House,Yaba, Lagos last Saturday when she celebrated her 50th birthday. The day was filled with singing and praising of the Lord for sparing her life thus far.

Pastor Suoton Elihai ( middle) and Friends rejoicing during her 50th Birthday

38 — SATURDAY Vanguard, FEBRUARY 9, 2013 •1Red diamente oneshoulder dress

Valentines Day look….be inspired.

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OOKING for that sexy dress to get dolled up in for your honey this Valentine’s Day? Look no further! Whether you plan to dance all night or seduce him over a fancy dinner, our choice dress for this oh-so special day will fit your mood. If you are not one for the off shoulder look, then go for a more covered but sultry lace dress as worn by Toke Makinwa.

•Mikey jewellery

•Black lace clutch

•Creed, Aventus

•Opal Bloom Bracelet •Elegant Diamonds & Emeralds studded Gold watch

•Toke Makinwa

•Christian Louboutin Platforms

Turn Up the Love This Valentine I

T’S time to celebrate that special one in your life with Valentines Day around the corner. Whether you are shopping for Him, Her or getting something special for the both of you, Montaigne Place the luxury, skincare, cosmetic, fragrance and wellbeing company has got you covered! Montaigne Place is offering a Valentine Promo in all of its stores with a 10% discount on all fragrances and gift sets as well as on all black|Up products from now until the end of February.

Also enjoy complimentary gift-wrapping on all purchases.

Give the gift of amazing skin this Valentine as Montaigne Place offers luxurious skincare products from Clarins, Dr Murad as well as a full range of luxurious and pampering spa treatments including aromatherapy massages, body wraps plus luxury manicure, pedicure and many more.

Not sure what to get for your lovely lady or guy? Opt for the Montaigne Spa ‘Gift Certificate’ so he or she can pick treatments they have always dreamed of having.

•Black Up Pastel Glam Look Ladies, put your best face forward with the new range of Pastel Temptations from black|Up makep cosmetics. Seize this opportunity as black|Up makeup is offering a 10% discount on all products from now until the end of February.

Set the tone come night- time with a

selection of luxury scented candles from Lalique collection of scented candles. Choose from the classic line or the newly launched home fragrance range.

Buy that special one divine fragrances and gift sets; choose from Creed, Chanel, Paco Rabanne, Hugo Boss, Calvin Klein, Carolina Herrera, Lalique,

Guerlain, Lalique, Dior, Gucci, Ralph Lauren, YSL, Victor & Rolf and many more.

Share a little excitement with YESforLOV –a sophisticated brand with products that include unscented wipes, sensuous massage oil and many more that promises to bring back passion into your relationship.

VANGUARD, SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 2013—39

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eautiful, young and confident, Lara Coal sits atop Amarelis, a readyto-wear and red carpet fashion outlet.

And with a sense of fulfillment, she recounts how it all began, her days as a model, sojourn abroad, family, hair among other sundry issues.

I like your hair. Tell me more about it My natural hair is long and full. It’s colour 2.

Actually, I took it after my mother. But my hair is stubborn so it doesn’t relax easily.

What kind of hair extension do you like?

I love human hair a lot, especially the Brazilian hair. It makes me look natural. It also soothes my kind of person.

Aside extensions, can you confidently wear your natural hair?

Although I love extensions so much, I also love my natural hair. It is my no.1. Yes I can confidently wear it, no matter my financial or societal status.

I’m proud of it.

You were a model. How did it all start?

I got into modeling way back in school. I met my agent through my friend and he started inviting me for castings, and I went for my photo shoots. Along the line, I got some jobs. It was fun and stressful because I combined it with schooling.

I remember there were times when I would get calls for casting while in school, and I would hop out even when I didn’t have enough money. But it was fun.

Was it on the job that you met your husband?

I’ve always known my husband. I met him through my friend. And since I started, he’s been part of my journey. He supported me all through, until I decided to quit and move on to what I love better which is fashion.

Did your husband ask you to stop modeling because you just disappeared from the scene Not really because I traveled to the United States to study fashion. But if I get a call to continue what I used to do, I would gladly go for it if I’m interested.

So for how long did you stay in the US? I stayed there for two years.

Are you back finally or are you planning to go back again?

I’m here for sure, to set up my fashion line.

What was your experience in the US like?

I went to a business school of fashion there. They taught us the basics on how to start a fashion line, how to sketch, trend forecasting, and everything that has to do with the fashion business. And while there, I met so many people who were also into fashion. And I learnt different types of culture, it exposed me to other culture and made my knowledge broader.

So when did you get back into the country?

s i r i a h l a r u t a n My l a o C a r a L — 1 . .1 o my n

*Lara Coal

I got back barely a month ago.

So what have you been up to?

I’ve been trying to set up Amarelis. Also, I’ve been getting my studio together and some tailors. I’ve also started getting jobs so I’m quite busy now. I’m also speaking with manufacturers outside the country because I plan dealing in wholesale.

Why did you choose fashion?

Because it’s been my passion. Back then, we used to play with dolls and we would sew pieces of clothes together as dresses.

What is Amarelis about?

It’s a ready to wear line like I said and for now, it’s concentrating on women. We have different body types so I’ll like to conquer fashion for women first, before moving unto men. My prices are affordable, modest compared to others.

It’s also very classy and sophisticated.

Where do you source for materials for your wears?

I have people outside the country who would help me with that. While I was there, I had a mentor, he helped me get familiar on how to source for materials. I also patronize our local market. We have lace, ankara and jakard here which are also good.

So what are the challenges?

Basically, it’s how to state here. You know what happens when someone is new in a business, people tend to underprice your goods, even when so much effort has been put into it. Like I have to pay my tailors, and I want a good

*Lara Coal

standard.

Getting tailors in Nigeria has been stressful. I’ve been practically going up and down in search of good tailors.

Eventually, I had to travel outside the country to get my tailors.

I heard you are going to be showcasing your wears at the New York Fashion Week. How did you make it there?

My mentor helped me with the connections. His name is Darius Wobil. So, he’s a seasoned designer and he’s been there for years. He’s using that opportunity to introduce me into the market there.

Being on the New York Fashion Week is huge. How does it feel?

I’m very lucky to have such an opportunity. I’m also thankful to God and my mentor and I hope it opens more doors or me. So, I’m looking forward to showcasing my wears at the New York Fashion Week.

Do you think you have what it takes to withstand the stiff competition here?

Yes, I have what it takes because as a designer, I have my uniqueness and style. Amarelis is something fresh, trendy, youthful yet sophisticated. It appeals to women between the ages of eighteen to forty five. And I know with my experience abroad, I will be able to bring something fresh to the table. I always research and follow my designers abroad and put it together to make my style.

40—SATURDAY VANGUARD , FEBRUARY 9, 2013

,

With four smart models and three powerful engines, the Ford Edge has got what it takes to satisfy the most demanding auto enthusiast

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Ford Edge sets new standard for Crossovers T

HIS is one of the a m a z i n g Crossover vehicles in the world today. The Ford Edge, since its arrival on the auto scene has changed the rules in the segment with its comfort level, off-road prowess, power and safety features.

With four smart models and three powerful engines, the Ford Edge has got what it takes to satisfy the most demanding auto enthusiast.

Available with the allnew 2.0 litre EcoBoost engine which delivers 30mpg hwy2 efficiency, the Edge has 3.5 litre TiVCT V6 engine which produces 285 horsepower and 27mpg hwy3-V6 mileage which no one else in its class can beat.

The Edge comes in either front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive with six-speed select-shift automatic transmission mated to a sport-tuned suspension which helps it to deliver the engaging steering and spirited handling you crave in the corners.

The Edge is available in four model trims, including the SE, SEL, Limited and Sport. Each of these models comes loaded with premium features that are usually seen in luxury sedans.

They are uniquely finished using quality materials and different aluminum wheels ranging from 17 inch to 22 rims.

The technology used in the Edge is ahead of its time. Apart from the multi-function steering wheel, you can tell the car to do amazing things with your voice.

In order word in the Edge, hands control the wheel, voice controls the rest. Simply connect to your world with voiceactivated Ford SYNC. Once paired, SYNC recognises your phone and automatically transfers your contacts to support voice calling. It also plays music from your phone, MP3, USB or iPod. And thank to the Bluetooth steaming audio, smartphone users can listen to Pandora internet radio too. Just touch a button C M Y K

TNL scouts for creative children for global contest

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on the steering wheel and pass instruction to the car and it would connect you with the person you wish to talk to or play the music you want to hear. This means you enjoy a lot of fun using your Edge.

T

hat is not all, on the Limited edition standard leathertrimmed, heated front seat feature 10-way power to help you and the front passenger find your optimum positions.

Graceful lines effortlessly guide your eyes along the dash and

down the flow-through centre console, merging into a singularly inviting interface.

A 390 watt Sony audio system give you a well filtered sound. This system includes HD Radio technology to deliver your favourite AM and FM Channels, plus local FM Channels in crystal-clear digital sound.

The Edge is one of the safest cars in its category apart from the multiple air bags, seat belts ABS, EBD and what have you Ford added features like adaptive cruise control

and collision warning with brake support which uses radar sensors to help maintain your choice of four preset gaps from the vehicle in front of you.

It also uses those front sensors to alert you to a potential collision. If one is detected it flashes a warning across your windscreen and sounds an alarm, providing extra time for you to apply the brakes. The system also pre-charges the brake and increases brake assist sensitivity to provide full responsiveness when you brake.

N annual basis, Toyota Motor Corporation (TMC) Japan in conjunction with its distributors across the world organizes an art contest tagged The Toyota Dream Car Art Contest (TDCAC) amongst primary and secondary school students. The essence of the contest includes cultivating creative prowess of children and stimulating the interest of the future generation in the brand.

Toyota (Nigeria) Limited for the third year running is participating in this rewarding creative exercise. The aim is to avail Nigerian children the opportunity to give expression to their budding creative talents with a view to showcasing them to the world.

To produce winners whose entries will compete with other winning entries from other parts of the globe, TNL organizes a National contest from which nine winning entries across three centres, Lagos Abuja and Port Harcourt emerge. The winning entries will be carefully picked by a jury of Nigerian arts professionals using environmental friendliness, futuristic and originality as criteria.

These will be forwarded

to Toyota Motor Corporation; Japan to jostle at the global level for the ultimate prize with others from across the globe.

Should any of the nine entries win, the child accompanied by a parent or guardian will have the opportunity to travel to Japan to attend the award ceremony which will feature presentation of Special Jury’s Award as well as world’s Finalist Award by the President of Toyota Motor Corporation.

Eligible to participate in this national contest are primary and secondary school students cutting across three different age categories viz: Category one: children under 10 years, Category 2: ages 10 to 12 and Category 3: ages 13 to 15.

Live drawing by participants will hold in Abuja and Port Harcourt centres respectively albeit simultaneously on the 9th of February while children resident in Lagos and its environs will take their turn to draw their own dream cars on the 16 th of February, 2013.

Presentation of awards to National winners will hold on 23rd February, 2013 in the Head office of Toyota (Nigeria) Limited, Lekki, Lagos.

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SATURDAY Vanguard, FEBRUARY 9, 2013 — 41

Dana crash: AIB discourages me from completing autopsy victims — Pathologist

BY ABDULWAHAB & ONOZURE DANIA

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HE Lagos State c h i e f Pathologist and Chief Examiner of Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, Prof. John Obafunwa, yesterday told the coroner court investigating the June 3, 2012 Dana plane crash in IjuIshaga area of Lagos State that he was prevented by the Acci-

dent Investigation Bureau (AIB) from carrying out autopsy on all the victims of the crash.

He told the coroner court sitting in Ikeja under cross-examination

by AIB’s counsel, Mr. Babatunde Irukera, that had it been the autopsy was not carried out on the victims, it would have been difficult to identify the victims, which would have led to mass burial.

He said, “If we did not

do the autopsy on all the victims, we would not have been able to identify them and we would have adopted the old method of mass burial which is the old method we insisted we were not going back to.”

He further disclosed that the two engineers of AIB he met at the wake of the incident had said the post mortem tests should only be restricted to the pilot and the co-pilot.

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IGERIA’s latest oil and gas outages have further dented its reputation as a reliable energy supplier, at a time when demand for imports is falling in the United States and Asia has an increasing choice of suppliers.

Exxon warned customers of supply disruptions from Nigeria’s biggest oil stream Qua Iboe on Thursday and Shell said gas supplies to one of the world’s largest Liquefied Natural Gas terminals would be delayed, both due to pipeline damage.

Exxon, Shell declare force majeures this week Nigeria’s oil has been highly sought after for decades by the United States because it is easy to refine into gasoline, but the world’s biggest economy is increasingly serving its fuel needs domestically.

Asian buyers have a far greater choice of oil producers in Africa than a few years ago, especially West African neighbour Angola, which often provides China with

more oil than Nigeria.

“The timing of the force majeure on Exxon Mobil’s Qua Iboe oil grades could not be more stark,” said Rolake Akinkugbe, head of oil and gas research at Ecobank, a leading West African bank.

“Nigeria’s first quarter in oil cargo market has already suffered a slump in demand mostly from North American and Asia.”

ARY 9, 2013 FEBRUARY 42 — SATURDAY VANGUARD, FEBRU

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SATURDAY Vanguard, FEBRUARY 9, 2013—43

BY EBUN SESSOU

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LTHOUGH the remains of late Bishop Joseph Adetiloye, former Archbishop, Primate and Metropolitan Church of Nigeria, Anglican Church has been buried, the beautiful memories of the ever loving and courageous man of God will forever be respected and remembered by all and sundry.

A visit to Odo Owa in Ekiti State recently for the funeral rites of this great man brought back memories of his life as told by different people.

As much as he had his odd times, he was not swayed by those ugly experiences as he fought corruption and cultism throughout his life .

However, late Adetiloye suffered marital challenges.

His first wife had post-natal syndrome. This problem remained untamed all through her life until she died last year.

Another revelation was the fact that a new wife was married to him in an uncelebrated manner sixteen years ago and that union produced a fifteen-year old son (Adedoyin) .

It was revealed that he shunned the request of the Queen of England for a special holy communion service for Prince Charles when they came to Nigeria.

An encounter with some of his very close associates revealed that late Bishop was

• Bishop Adebiyi

• Bishop Oke

Adetiloye: The untold story ing with him. We slept on the same bed and I was with him till his last moments.

“We used to discuss about life and I remember how he used to advise me to be close to God. “At the last minute, he told me that I should align all my families with God and serve God with all my heart, that is the only way to please God. “Although he had many challenges, those things did not bother him because his

used by the church. He would be remembered for many things”, he added.

,

Another revelation was the fact that a new wife was married to him in an uncelebrated manner some sixteen years ago, that union produced a fifteen years old son (Adedoyin) from his new wife.

,

not only a man of God but he was down to earth about his faith.

What he told me at the last minutes— Brother The only surviving brother of late Adetiloye’s mother, Chief Odofin Adetiloye,said, out of the six children that the deceased’s mother had, he is the only surviving one.

He explained that late Joseph Adetiloye was only four years old when his father died and since then, he has been close to him.

“I spent three quarter of my life with him. He took me as his own son. And when he retired as Bishop and relocated back to Ekiti, I have been liv-

interest was in the work of God”.

My last conversation with him — Oyinola, widow Mrs Titilaoyo Oyinola Adetiloye, second wife of late Adetiloye who was married to him several years ago, revealed that her last conversation with her husband was pleasant and no premonition of his death ever occurred to her.

“My last moment with him was on December 13, last year.

I was in Akure to collect the cake for our carol service that was to take place in the morning of the day he died.

“The woman who was billed

• Adetiloye

to make the cake disappointed and so, I had to stay back at Akure for the cake to be prepared.

“When I called to inform him of the lastest development, he said, “Darling I hope, you are on your way”. Then, I replied and said, “Stop teasing me”.

And, I told him that I will be coming very early the next day. That was our last discussion.

“I got the information about his death around 12.45 am on my blackberry phone.

“Papa Adetiloye was a lovely man of God. He loved to see everybody around him happy.

He is generous. He spent all his life trying to please God,” she said.

I am the first priest to be ordained by him— Bishop

Adebiyi The Bishop of the Diocese of Lagos West, Archibishop Anglican Church of Nigeria, Peter Adelewa Adebiyi who was the first priest ordained by late Adetiloye said: “I was with him for 22 years until I became a Bishop. The memories we share together were about our journeys, his war against corruption, the challenges of politics and politicians, the challenges of priests and the bishops. All these culmunated into a huge history of his life.

He was a man who was always on the road.

“There was no transportation by air then, so we were always traveling from Lagos to Maiduguri by road. No wonder, he couldn’t live beyond 82 years of old because he was over-

He waged war against cultism — Bishop Oke “He waged war against cultism in the church of God. I remember the day when an open confrontation was staged by members of the “secret society” against the church of God concerning a woman who died, whom we didn’t know belonged to a cult.

“She was to be buried at Ikoyi Cemetery. But, the members of her occult refused that we should bury her body. They almost lynched us before we were pulled out of the place.

“Then, we informed late Adetiloye that the woman belonged to a secret society and that her group wouldn’t allow us to bury her. That was the beginning of his fight against cultism. Then, a declaration was made, “Declaration of Ido” at Ekiti and until today, that declaration exists in all Anglican churches in Nigeria. The declaration of Ido was established in 1984 and since then, it has been a tradition for every servant of God in Anglican Church every year to make this declaration, renouncing their membership to serve God alone.

In a related experience, Archbishop of the Province of Lagos, Reverend Adebayo Akinde said, “at a time when some church workers professed Christa in names and appealed to other powers of darkness, Baba Adetiloye as Bishop of Ekiti in 1971 led the battle against them, providing

Continues on page 46

44—SA TURD AY Vanguard , FEBRU ARY 9, 2013 44—SATURD TURDA FEBRUARY

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Leopard hanged

eopard hanged by villagers after it attacked three people and savaged man's face. The animal had savaged three people in their home in Assam, India. Villagers hunted and attacked it, roping it to a tree. The three family members were 'seriously injured'

Cranes in Love

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wo heads are better than one...when it comes to love: Cranes captured in courtship dance. Cranes on Japanese island captured performing courtship dance. Pair flap their wings before leaning their heads in to a touching embrace. Birds also made their signature trumpet-like cry as they danced

Acid Victoria I

'm not angry with my attacker. I just want to know why they did it': Victoria's Secret girl, 20, says acid attack that left her partially blind and scarred for life has made her stronger

Teenage Olympic T

Woman defies doctors W

eenage Olympic swimming hopeful collapses and dies hours after winning awards at sports ceremony. Chloe Waddell, 16, had gone to a party after presentation evening.

But the talented swimmer was taken ill at home the following morning. She was rushed to hospital but died minutes later. Police examining claims Chloe tripped at party and hit her head. She represented Great Britain and was tipped to swim in Olympics

o m a n defies doctors to become first heart transplant patient to give birth after IVF treatment. Juliana Finondo, 39, is the first transplant patient to have a baby using IVF. Doctors warned pregnancy puts strain on the heart, but she ignored advice

Ciccio is a 12-year old German Shepherd s a sign of gratitude Ciccio A goes to church every

morning, sitting beneath the altar, near the priest.

His hope to see his beloved Maria, the person who accompanied everywhere, even in church, moves the faithful. The parish priest does not dare to chase Ciccio away and all the residents of the small town decided to “adopt” him.

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Bank Clerk

etired bank clerk becomes world champion pole vaulter and heptathlete at the age of SEVENTY SEVEN (after taking up athletics in her 50s). Dorothy McLennan took up athletics after watching a man in his 80s complete a marathon. The pensioner spends nine hours a week training and is coached by her son StephenDorothy says the heptathlon was 'unkind' on her hips . She is now preparing to take part in the 100m sprint at the British Masters Championships.

SATURDAY Vanguard, FEBRUARY 9, 2013—45

Oshiomhole battles ACN leaders, awaits PDP’s onslaught Continued from pages 13

tion is the first Oshiomhole will be conducting since his inception as Governor of the state in 2008. He has made tremendous efforts in cleaning up the state EDSIEC so as to conduct a free and fair election. He has equally expressed passion on the need to have Council chairmen that will stay in their domain and ensure the dividends of democ-

racy to the people at the grass root. Having made all these efforts and his visions for a truly democratic Local Government Council, Oshiomhole did not want to destroy his efforts with the crisis in the councils.

Consequently, he made swift effort to solve the brewing problem. Since last week Sunday, the governor has been holding marathon meetings

with party leaders from the 18 Local Government Councils and settling crisis. Some times, the meeting lasted till 3am the next day. He brought his wealth of wisdom, power of persuasion and his oratorial prowess to bear in settling these cases.

The people accepted his judgments after each decision is reached.

Though in trying to

resolve the disagreements arising as a result of the coming chairmanship primaries of his party scheduled for today (Saturday 9th February 2013), some are seeing the governor as an emerging god father in the politics of the state. People are particularly concerned recalling the fight against god fatherism which he embarked upon shortly af-

ter he was sworn in as governor. And in the state today, Oshiomhole can beat his chest to say he has retired many political god fathers who were calling the shots in the politics of the state while he was at the NLC. But his handling of the disagreements in his party so far seems to have been very successful as protests by aggrieved party members

seems to have stopped though there are still few cries of marginalization particularly in the Ijaw speaking areas. A former militant leader in the state, Gen Ezekiel Akpasibewei, advised the leadership of the (ACN) in Ovia South West Local Government Council of the state, to share elective positions between the Binis and the Ijaws in the area in order to avoid crisis. He regretted that though the Ijaws in the area have candidates for the chairmanship position, they decided to ask their aspirants to step down due to what he described as the ethnic politics that is being played in the area.

He urged the leadership of the ACN to take a cue from style of leadership of Governor Adams Oshiomhole who waged a war against ethnic politics during his governorship campaign, stressing that the Ijaws in the Council deserved to be given some positions because ‘during the governorship election, all of us worked for the Comrade Governor and not only the Binis”.

Akpasibewei who was the former leader of the deadly Under-dogs before he was granted amnesty, recalled that “we want the positions to be shared because we all worked equally during the governorship election and so all positions must be shared in order to avoid break down of law and order.

“For justice and equity, the governor is from Edo North while the deputy is from the South. So same is applicable to the politics of Ovia South West. The Ijaws of Ovia South West cannot only be remembered when there is work alone to do but must be part of the sharing process. We must discontinue the issue of tribal politics.”

What we want is transformation and that is what the Comrade Governor is doing in the state. We are from the Ijaw axis and we also have aspirants but based on issues of tribal politics, we asked them to hold on while we see what will happen”.

46— SATURDAY Vanguard, FEBRUARY 9, 2013

Adetiloye: The untold story Continued from page 43 them with the option to either renounce their membership of such cults or their commission in the church.

When he eventually became

the Primate of All Nigeria in 1988, he made church workers to publicly swear to an oath of allegiance to the supremacy of Christ and renunciation of dark powers or place themselves under the wrath of God.

“I am happy to say that the practice is the norm today.

The result is a retracing of steps by the old from the spiritually corrupt practices to the new order of true Christianity.

..A devoted man indeed— Adedoyin, son The second son of late Adetiloye, Adedoyin, 15, said the only legacy of his father, he would love to emulate was by becoming a priest and following his footsteps.

“My aspiration is to become a man of God like my father who lived all his life doing the work of God. He was a great man, very devoted to the church, lovely and disciplined”.

No Bishop can wear the shoe of my father—Adeola with him was a week before he died.

It was casual. There was no sign or premonition that he was going to die.

His first son, Adeola Adetiloye, 45, in this interview with Saturday Vanguard explains how he suffered neglect in the hands of his late father for the sake of the gospel. Excerpts

What about your mum?

My mother had what was called post-natal syndrome.

And it was a serious matter in the sense that she was in that situation for the rest of her life until she died. She couldn’t play the role of a wife and mother. I also had a father who was committed to the church.

Since you grew up from the streets, how were you able to overcome the youthful vibes?

The temptations were there.

The circumstanaces were there but I made up my mind that I wouldn’t soil the name of my father. I knew my father had a name as a church man and I never wanted to soil his name. While I was on the streets, I always remember to keep the name intact.

Did you ever reported him to the church?

I will never do that. I re-

How would you describe late Adetiloye?

He was a great man. He transcended any other Bishop I had known in Nigeria. All the Bishops you see now do not have a feel of that glory. With their purple apparels, you don’t feel that glory in them. There is no sign of reverence in them. There is no honour in them and I don’t know why it is so. They

•Second wife of late Adetiloye and his first son, Adeola Adetiloye

,

How did it feel losing a noble man as your dad?

There is nothing beautiful about it. I lost my father to the church. The church took the whole affection of my dad and it was deliberate. It was deliberate in the sense that,my mother had a problem when she married my father. And for him not be carried away by family matters, he transferred his interest, affection, time and energy to the church. He did not want to remember problems at home, rather, he would want to be in the presence of Christ all the time.

I was molested as a child but I give all the glory to God. If my father sacrificed me for the sake of the church, then, it was worth it.

You said he neglected you, how ?

I grew up learning from friends, in the papers and on television. I didn’t have anyone to tell me what to do and what not to do. I didn’t have any shoulder to cry upon. I tied my shoes and started sorting things out myself.

Was there any arrangement to mark his birthday?

There was no arrangement. It was his 83rd birthday, so, there was no plan.

don’t have that glory anymore and it is shameful. Now, they force people to respect them which of course should be something that would come naturally. My father had the honour and glory to its fulness. He was a man of

I saw the naked deprivation of a son in myself and I knew that being a Pastor also meant depriving myself of life. So, I felt, I couldn’t take the two challenges.

for jokes. It is a world of deprivation, neglect, bitterness. It is good to have a father who is successful but being the son of Bishop Adetiolye or a sucessful man of God was not a big deal.

• Adetiloye's brother

ported him twice to his friends

but that was all. He was the church and I wouldn’t have reported the church to the church.

Technology, Akure, I read Mining Engineering and now i’m a lecturer at the Federal Polytechnic, Ado Ekiti.

Why didn’t you take the path of your father?

I saw the naked deprivation of a son in myself and I knew that being a Pastor also meant depriving myself of life. So, I felt I couldn’t take the two challenges. I have just been deprived of a father and depriving my life again in the hands of Christ will not be the best. I rather stay without being a priest.

How was your university days like?

Education then was good. I went to Federal University of

Being the only child of your father, what does that confer on you?

There is no advantage in it. It is not worth celebrating. You don’t celebrate the fact that you are the only child of your father. It was all rubbish, deprivation, loneliness. There is nothing there to enjoy. I had never enjoyed it and I don’t pray for anybody to be the only child of his or her parents.

But as a son of a known priest, no doubt, I enjoy the accolades but I knew deep down inside of me that they were just mentioned

At what point did you hear the news of his death and how did you receive it?

With shock, I switched off my phone that night because I wanted to charge it. At 2 a.m, I got a message from one of my cousins’ that my father is late.

Later, she called me that my father is late. Then, I called my Uncle who was staying with my father in the village and he confirmed it.

When you saw his corpse, what did you do?

I saw the vanity of this world.

I never felt my father could die.

So, the vanity of the world struck me and I felt bad.

When was the last time you communicated and what were those things you discussed?

We don’t fix time to talk. I think, the last time I spoke

,

integrity. He wouldn’t lie for any reason. He didn’t depend on anybody to eat. My father would not indulge in corruption.

How much of wealth did he leave behind?

I wouldn’t know. Until his Will is read.

Would you want your son to be a priest?

I will not stop him if he wants to be a priest. But I will not lure him into it.

How would you want the church to remember your father?

Let them know that he did everything for the Anglican Church to have a leverage among other churches in Nigeria. He sacrificed his family for the church. He put the Church of Nigeria, Anglican Communion in the fore-front. I wouldn’t

want the church to forget that legacy. I would want them to build on the legacies he left behind and improve on it. He was a man who saw fifty years ahead.

SA TURD AY SATURD TURDA

Vanguard ,FEBRU ARY 9, 2013—47 anguard,FEBRU ,FEBRUARY

JKF at 48: The music has just begun

By OLAYINKA OYEBODE

I

n a recent encounter with journalists during an inspection of projects in some parts of Ado-Ekiti, the state capital, Governor Kayode Fayemi was asked how he managed to raise funds for the numerous projects his administration is undertaking in the state. The reporter had asked the question upon realizing that the Operation Renovate All Secondary Schools in Ekiti (ORASE), which led to the renovation of 183 public secondary schools in the state, and the purchase of 40,000 units of furniture for teachers and students cost the state N2.5billion. For a state that is 35th on the federal allocation ladder and gets a little above N2billion monthly from the federation purse, the reporter’s concern seems apt, given the fact that the comprehensive renovation of public schools and the computer-per-child initiative of the administration are running side by side with other projects.

When the journalist was told that the state would soon commence the comprehensive renovation of all hospitals and primary health care centres beginning from January, he retorted:“Your Excellency must be a magician!”

Fayemi had told the reporter that the passion to see poverty banished from the State,and the determination to make Ekiti the number one choice for business and leisure remained the vital tonic that drives the developmental agenda in Ekiti and provides the creativity that unlocks the required funds. What perhaps is unknown to the journalist is that JKF, as Dr Fayemi is popularly called, remains one of the few leaders in the country who view their call to serve as a privilege and therefore put in everything to ensure that they leave a legacy.

Caroline Mcloughlin, Executive Director of the Washington based Centre for Visionary Leadership, vividly captures the essence of visionary leadership in one of her works. According to her, “Visionary leaders are the builders of a new dawn, working with imagination, insight, and boldness. They present a

By NGOZI IHEJIAKO and OLUWABUSAYO AKINTOLA

A

visit to some rural riverine communities in Nigeria would pop a question,“are these people really part of a state not to talk of the country.” Such visitations have given rise to so many Non Governmental Organizations which assist the government to provide healthcare and social amenities to these communities to the benefit of the populace. The NGOs’ objectives include bringing positive changes to these communities, enlightening the people on issues affecting the general society and to ameliorate the terrible health conditions of these people.

One of such NGOs is Women and Youth Empowerment Foundation in Coastal Region Communities (EWEF/ CROWEF). This organization has in the past completed functioning borehole

•Governor Fayemi challenge that calls from the best in people and brings them together around a shared sense of purpose.

Their eyes are on the horizon, not just on the near at hand. They are social innovators and change agents, seeing the big picture and thinking strategically.”

Mcloughlin’s definition, no doubt encapsulates those key attributes that have marked JKF as an innovative leader with a great ability to inspire others and an insatiable appetite for setting and attaining developmental goals. Through a combination of imagination, prudent spending, compassion for the led and placing much premium on the concept of doing development with the people, JKF has, in the last two and a half years, been able to launch the state on an irreversible path of development.

His immediate concern include how transformational leadership can replace transactional politics. How institutions of state can be strengthened to ensure effective service delivery. How leaders and the led can work together to achieve common goals. What systems and processes should be put in place for genuine empowerment of the citizens towards the attainment of good life for all. He believes that by providing the right leadership, excellence can become the habit of all.

In theory, JKF has espoused this concept of good governance and the concomitant empowerment of the citizens as well as the strengthening of the institutional framework at the

various lectures and discussion groups he has participated locally and at the global stage. In practical terms, he demonstrates this in the running of Ekiti State by laying emphasis on key elements of good governance including accountability, transparency, efficiency and effectiveness, responsiveness, the rule of law and forward vision.

JKF stated this much in his recent publication—“Reclaiming The Trust”. He admits that what he has brought into governance in the last two years is the kind of trust that is based on and compels competence, openness, concern and reliability.

“Trust is a public good;we cannot do great things collectively without trust.But trust has to be earned”, he stresses.

Within two and half years, Fayemi has been able to place Ekiti on the centre stage, by re-awakening the Omoluabi concept in government and laying a solid foundation on which a more prosperous Ekiti would be built. The Social Security Benefit scheme which pays monthly stipends to indigent elderly citizens of the state and the computer-perchild initiative are first of its kind in the country.The massive investments in industrial, infrastructure and tourism development in the state as well as diverse youth and women empowerment programmes in an atmosphere devoid of the brigandage and violence of yesteryears have greatly enhanced the profile of the state.

Perhaps this explains why the rain of endorsements of his person and leadership style continues to pour in torrents since the September 18, 2012 endorsement by a former Nigerian Permanent Representative at the United Nations, Alhaji Maitama Sule, at the Leadership Awards in Abuja and that of the 26 Pan-Yoruba groups under the auspices of the Oodua Nationalist Coalition (ONAC) in Ibadan recently.

As JKF turns 48 today,the question is no longer about what he is capable of doing as a leader which he has demonstrated rather, the question

will be about what he would not do as a leader. Regarded in some circles as ‘an activist in government’,many believe that his past has adequately prepared him for the present and the future.

John Kayode Fayemi was born on February 9, 1965 into the family of the late Chief and Mrs. Francis Falade Fayemi. A native of Isan-Ekiti in Oye Local government.He had his primary education in Ibadan before attending Christ’s School, Ado- Ekiti for his secondary education between 1975 and 1980.

He had his first degree in History and Politics from University of Lagos in 1985, a Master’s degree in International Relations from the University of Ife,Ile-Ife (now Obafemi Awolowo University),in 1987, and a doctorate in War Studies from the King’s College, University of London, England in 1993.

Dr Fayemi was the pioneer director of the Centre for Democracy and Development;and was a Georgetown University Leadership Fellow in 2000 and a Senior Visiting Fellow in African Studies, Northwestern University, Evanston, USA in 2004. He is also an Associate Fellow of the Centre for Peace and Conflict Studies, University of Ibadan etc.

He was a member of the Governing Board of the Open Society Justice Institute, New York and African Security Sector Network. He was Technical Adviser to Nigeria’s Human Rights Violations Investigation Commission (known as the Oputa Panel) and also served on three Presidential Advisory Committees on Conflict Management and Security Sector Reform; NEPAD and the Millennium Development Goals under the Olusegun Obasanjo administration.

An advocate of true federalism, Fayemi has written and lectured extensively on governance and democratization. He is also a recipient of several awards. He was named Governor of the Year, 2011, by the Leadership Newspaper.

With 48 fruitful years, the music has just started for Fayemi — the one Ekiti people love to call“Ilufemiloye ”.

•Oyebode is Chief Press Secretary to Ekiti State Governor.

CROWEF ‘s mission to riverine communities projects in Madangho and CostainUgborodo communities in Delta State. According to the president, their objective is to contribute in the better living standards of the creek communities by assisting to provide portable drinking water and micronutrient foods fortifications.

Also to develop sustainable entrepreneurial business as an empowerment tool for the women and youth by providing training and micro-credit facilities. To institute a pet project— such project that will give spiritual and psychosocial support to orphans and vulnerable children and youths in the creek communities.

On January 12, 2013, CROWEF team made their third visitation to Takwa Bay and Ogogoro communities of Etiosa Local Government Area of

Lagos State. This was a mission to distribute donated items to the women and youth of these creek communities. The CROWEF team include the President, Mrs. Praise Gbubene-Abraham,New York based Vincent Wilkie,Volunteer Medical Team to examine and dispense drugs, press and other volunteers.

Other organizations who shared in this successful humanitarian mission include CIPLA Evans PLC, Isolo (Pharmaceutical drugs), Dangote Group of Companies (Macaroni and Spaghetti) and Kenvee Nigeria LTD, Ilupeju (Household and Kitchen Utensils).

The people of Ogogoro Community which comprises Ijaw and Egun tribe were blisful and grateful to CROWEF team. The women leader, Mrs. Mary Alidu complained that

they had no school, hospital, light and good drinking water. She further said: “there is even no money to trade or boat to move around. We are really suffering... .” Mr. India Boudonkumor also pleaded for help from the State Government to remedy the situation.

In a chat with the assistant Baale of the Ogogoro community, Mr. Isaac Abraham, he described the suffering of his people and affirmed that they need social amenities. Quoting him,” if una fit help us, give us school, water, light and hospital, we go happy. There are no hospitals for our pregnant women to attend. So please help us.” The donated items were shared to the people . Mrs. Praise Gbubene-Abraham urged the women to maintain peace and unity in their community. She also thanked the organizations that donated the items for giving value to people’s lives and prayed that God bless them.

48 — Vanguard, SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 2013

POLICE/MILITARY CLASHES

Defaulters will be punished —AIG Tsafe

A

ssistant Inspector-Gen eral of Police, Zone 2, comprising Lagos and Ogun states, Mamman Tsafe, is by no means, a police officer per excellence, judging by the dexterity with which he fights crime. Tsafe, who rose from the Nigeria Police ladder, has served the Force in different capacities as Divisional Police Officer, Area Commander and Commissioner of Police.

He was the Commissioner of Police Delta State, before he was promoted to the rank of AIG and subsequently deployed to Zone 2, to over see Lagos and Ogun police commands, known for peculiarity in criminal activities, judging by the situation of the airport, sea ports and borders.

In this interview, Tsafe, spoke on the recent face-off between the Police and Navy, proffering possible solutions that would nip future occurrences in the bud. The unassuming officer, also spoke on the transformational agenda of the Inspector-General of Police, part of which is to ensure that bail, in practical term, is free.

Excerpts: Recently, the newspapers were awash with the clash between Naval Ratings and policemen in Apapa area of Lagos, a situation that can be described as disappointing, especially from law enforcement agents. As the AIG who oversees Lagos and Ogun state commands, what measures are on ground to avoid future occurrence ?

You see, to be sincere, most of the times, you notice this kind of fracas, you notice it emanates mostly from the lower cadre of officers from the various services. But it has never happened in the higher cadre of any of the services because of the understanding among the officers. There is a kind of comradeship and cordial relationship existing within senior officers. Few days back, the new Flag Officer Commanding the Western Naval Command of the Nigerian Navy paid me a courtesy visit.

It is an indication and a kind of attestation that there is honestly a harmonious relationship among the very senior officers. But when we go down to the lower cadre, I think all they need is more sensitization, and enlightenment.

And that is a task we senior officers have to face seriously.

There should be joint trainings and interactive avenue where these junior officers can work together. As far as the higher cadre is concerned, there is that mutual and professional understanding. This is the only way one’s profession will be enhanced because

•Mamman Tsafe... Investigation is on- going no single security agency can boast and say it can do it alone.

This is what we want every segment of all security agencies; particularly the junior levels to understand that no single security has the monopoly of the operational execution of security. Therefore, there must be cooperation.

But you see, where this type of hick-up comes in, is when a security agent tries to enforce a law and another security agent from a different outfit tries to disobey it, or is flagrant.

It is the responsibility of senior officers to be on their men and ensure they are absolutely civil and obedient to all the civil laws in a democratic setting.

The period of impunity and flagrant disobedience has gone.

In a democratic setting, one has to succumb to civil authority and accept it as part and parcel of one. Section 4 of Police act is the product of the consensus of the democracy that involves the police regulations and subsequently, all other act on any other organization emanated from the civil authority without which you will have no instrument under which you can work. So, the work is still on us the senior officers. The Apapa incident was an unfortunate incident but you have to give credit to the officers who rushed to the scene to save the situation and that is why we did not record any casualty. And, I am very sure decisive action will be taken against all the defaulters from any of the security outfits. When that kind of decisive action is taken, you will definitely be assured that it will deter others from committing same offences.

What decisive action are you taking to serve as a deterrent to others?

You are not within our force.

If you are, you will see the procedures going on. You see departmental action, that is where it will be taken to and where you are found guilty, there are procedures to be adopted and defaulters punished accordingly. There are laid down rules and we are not the ones that created them. We met them and they are the instrument we must work with. So, anybody who is found guilty, will be dealt with within the confines of the provisions of our enabling laws. Investigation is on-going.

How would you assess the conduct of your men both in Lagos and Ogun police commands?

I have had a reasonable interaction with police officers on ground, I went round the commands and to the best of my assessment, I will say they have done reasonably well. But then, that is not the end, they still must do better.

They must come out and I insist, they must come out so that the people will see them and say that these men are justifying whatever we are putting in them.

We gathered that some policemen mount check points in a bid to hijack the state government’s restriction on motorbikes by extorting them. Investigation showed that some of the commercial motorcyclists remit N2000 a week so as to be allowed to ply some routes.

It is very good you are giving me this information. I want to assure you that that case may be an isolated one because I have a team that goes round Lagos to check excesses of policemen. The

team headed by an Assistant Commissioner of Police moves round and ensures that any policeman arrested will be punished accordingly as the law provides. I have already given my numbers out for members of the public to contact me wherever they observe this and I assure them I will be there in a very good time to arrest the situation. The number is 08036551517. Anytime you call me , I know who I will call to be there if I can’t be there myself.

There is also cases where policemen ask for funds to investigate cases brought to them. For instance, they also, request for money to obtain police report. Is it part of the rules?

Both are unconstitutional.

The totality of it is illegality. So, avoid illegality yourself. I have been telling people, don’t give because if you do not give, the receiver will not have something to take. It is said that the giver is equally guilty of one or two offenses in the case of bribery.

But , there had been instances where such case will just be there if one does not give money to Investigating Police Officer.

Please take to my advice.

Don’t give. And if your matter is not treated with the seriousness it deserves, complain to either the Area Commander, the CP or even to me, or even to the IG. We have that responsibility to do the work, we are detailed to do it. We are not a revenue generating organization. We do not have anything to do with money in any way.

So please, don’t encourage anybody to give. If your matter is ignored because you did not pay, bring up the matter to the next senior man, if he compromises also, go to his Area Commander. From the Area Commander, go to the CP and from the CP, come to me.

When I say you, I mean everyone that is listening and reading this interview. I mean every Nigerian.

We are particularly concerned about the issue of bail which the IG has been hammering on. But in all honesty,the slogan bail is free, in practical term, seem not to be obtainable. What measures have you in place to ensure that bail is indeed free?

We have inscribed it in all police stations and we have said it repeatedly. And we have also , beckoned on senior officers to make sure it is obeyed. So it is the person who ask you that you are not going to give anything for bail. If your offence is bailable, you must insist to be granted bail.

Let the policeman know you know your right, having met all bail conditions. There

should be resistance from the people themselves because this kind of conspiracy most times, comes from members of the public.

Fighting crime, no doubt, is an onerous task.

What are the challenges faced by your zone in meeting up with its constitutional responsibility particularly, in Lagos and Ogun States?

The main challenge presently is the need for more cooperation from members of the public. We are soliciting members of the public to become adequately committed to fighting crime. This is because the business of security is no more the monopoly of a single security outfit. Every Nigerian has a stake in ensuring the security and safety of Nigeria.

So, the challenge there is mobilization of members of the public to be involved in security. The issue of logistics you know, is a very wide issue. We cannot sit down and say until we get everything we want, we won’t use what is available. Rather, we should concentrate on utilizing what we have to assist the public.

Government is trying to give us what is available. And we cannot say until everything is completely available we will not work,no! It is not done that way, not even in the United States of America.

Recently, Arepo community in Ogun state has been in the news over the activities of recalcitrant vandals. Even security agents were accused of conniving with the vandals. What is your reaction to this?

Recently, the IG inaugurated a squad under the leadership of an ACP to check activities of pipeline vandals.

The IG screened members of the team personally and handed over to an officer whose integrity I do not doubt.There has therefore, been effective coverage and the result of his action are there in several publications to show. There have been several arrests of the vandals including those living near the pipeline. Like I said, most of these things are committed by those living close to the pipeline who are supposed to be protecting it. They forget the infrastructure is for Nigeria and should therefore, allow it to work effectively in order for government to be able to distribute the good dividend of what it has planned for Nigerians. But then, instead of them to allow that, they connive and do damage to it. But I assure you that the team is going to deliver and very soon, you will see its outcome because they are directly under the IG and you can imagine what that means.

SATURDAY Vanguard, FEBRUARY 9, 2013 — 49

SIMON EBEGBULEM, Benin City

R

esidents of Ogida quarters in Benin City were shocked last Saturday when they woke to see a house wife (names withheld) shouting and pleading for help. They rushed to the house only to discover that the woman was raped by three young men who stormed the house at about 3am. They further discovered the victim’s husband who was tied by the robbers and pushed under the bed. Saturday Vanguard learnt that the suspects Peter Anigboro (25 years old), Lucky Williams (22) and Olise Friday, forced the door of the residence of the victim open with an impoverished gun and a dagger. The suspects immediately went for the husband, whom they tied his legs and hands after which he was pushed under the bed. After taking care of the husband, they went for the wife whom Saturday Vanguard learnt was their original target. It was gathered that the robbers have been monitoring her movement for some days before they struck last Saturday. It was learnt that they requested her to declare the money she sold that day from her recharge card which she quickly obliged. The robbers further requested for recharge cards, hand sets and other valuables. While they were threatening, the victim plead-

Robbers rape 35- year- old recharge card seller in presence of husband ed that they should not kill her.

But to her greatest shock, they pounced on her and started undressing her warning that she will be killed if she tried to resist them. The leader of the gang, Peter Anikoro was the first to rape her and while he was doing that, his mask pulled off and that was when

and though she was not raped, they fiddled with her private part and carted away hand sets and cash from the house.

Luck ran out with the rampaging robbers when Peter took other members of the gang to his uncle’s house at Siluko road to rob. Unfortunately for them, they could not gain ac-

wara Ejiroro, who paraded the suspects last Monday, said they confessed to have been involved in several robbery operations and have raped several other women in the past. According to him, “they operate with impoverish guns and daggers and their victims will think they have a real gun while they also threaten with the daggers. As if what they did that same night was not enough, Peter who is the leader of the gang took them to his uncle’s house to rob and that was where they were apprehended. They will be charged to court for rape and armed robbery”.

Leader of the gang Peter, confessed to Saturday Vanguard: “I don’t have a job so what I did that day was to call two of my friends and told them that we are going to operate that night. We met around 9pm in a palmwine joint close to the house. We moved to the place around

While they were threatening, the victim pleaded that they should not kill her, but to her greatest shock, they pounced on her and started undressing her, warning that she will be killed if she tried to resist them the victim saw the face of her attacker. Peter is a neighour who resides in the opposite building. However, after taking his turn, others followed suit.

As if the suspects were destined to meet their waterloo that same day, they attacked another house around that same Ogida quarters where they met a 60 year-old woman and attempted to rape her too. The woman pleaded with them,

cess to the house due to the protector. But through the window, they were able to cart away a hand set. But some body spotted them and raised an alarm which attracted the attention of members of the vigilante group in the area.

They gave the robbers a hot chase and with the arrival of policemen on patrol, they were apprehended. The Assistant Public Relations Officer of the state Command, ASP Ah-

3am when everybody had gone to bed. We were monitoring her movement from the wine bar”.

Asked why they decided to rape the victim, Peter said “it was devil’s work. We did not know when we did it”. When asked why they could not rape the 60- year woman, their second victim, he explained that “she was crying and begging us. So we felt sorry for her. We only fingered her and left the house”.

In another development, the police in Benin also arrested a 73 year old grand father for using a kitchen knife to stab to death a 27 year old man, Gabriel Amayahu Aigbosuria. The suspect, Williams Omobude Uwadia was arrested at the scene of crime shortly after the alleged murder. Saturday Vanguard learnt that the suspect had earlier in the day had a disagreement with the deceased following which he went to the nearest police Division in Benin City to effect his arrest, a situation which made the police to follow him for the arrest, but unknown to them that he had a kitchen knife on him. As the policemen were trying to mediate on the matter, the suspect was alleged to have suddenly brought a knife and stabbed the 27 year old man.

The complainant then turned accused as he was arrested by the police and transferred to the state CID, Benin for further investigation. Ejiroro who expressed shock over the incident confirmed the arrest and said the state police homicide section was already investigating the murder case, just as he assured that the police will get to the root of the matter.

Meanwhile, the state House of Assembly has called on the Inspector General of Police to appoint a substantive Commissioner of Police in the state with a view to help curb crime in the state. The Majority Leader of the House, Philip Shuaibu, who reiterated this call to Saturday Vanguard, shortly after the abduction

of the lawmaker representing Esan Central constituen-

cy, Mr Victor Edora, lamented that the state needs a substantive CP to be able to fight crime head on. Acording to him, “we are not happy that each day people are kidnapped or robbed in different parts of the country. There have been incessant robbery operations along the by-pass and it seems the police is helpless about it.

We are appealing to the IG of Police to assist us because we need an effective policing of the entire state to be able to check crime effectively”.

50—SATURDAY VANGUARD,

FEBRUARY 9, 2013

Getting the best of snail farming for health and wealth(II) Potential In Nigeria “Congo Meat” (popular name for snail meat)is widely appreciated. It does not have high cholesterol, in most cases doctors recommend it to people who have heart condition, and the demand for snail meat is high in the local and international markets.

Snails are very good food providing animal protein. They can be fried, roasted and or prepared as the popular pepper soup and served in big hotels, restaurants, eateries as well as some joints patronized by middle to high level people.

Challenges “People find it difficult to From Right; Director General, NTA Star TV Network Limited, Mr Maxwell Loco; Public Relation Manager, Startimes -NTA Star tv Network Limited, Mr Anetor Irete and Assitant Group Head CMC Connect, Mr Sola Solotan, during a press briefing of Startimes UEFA Champions League Broadcasting, held yesterday, Lagos. Photo: Kehinde Gbadamosi.

LAPO plans to empower 5m clients in five years ...Disbursed N43.3bn loan

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ift Above Poverty Organisation LAPO Microfinance Bank has announced that it will in the next year empower five million clients and provide roadmap to become Africa’s largest grassroots microfinance bank.

Presently, the bank has a total of 763,914 clients and 303 branches in 27 States of the federation.

The bank has at November 30, 2012 disbursed a total loan of N43.3 billion. This represents 37.6 per cent increase compared to N31.5 billion disbursed in 2011.

Speaking at a media chat in Lagos, Godwin Ehigiamusoe, managing director of the bank outlined five Pillars of strategy to include, technology, clients, products and services, human resources and performance management.

He said the bank has

invested hugely in Information Technology (IT) infrastructure and intends to do more in a sustainable microfinance.

“The current IT infrastructure available has been upgraded and we acquired a Dedicated Server for the webmail, with better security”. All the bank’s branches which include, Mega branches, Area branches, Regional branches, Lagos Annex and head office will now be on a Wide Area Network (WAN), as infrastructures are currently being acquired to be implemented at the different locations, with all members of staff having an official email address to better aid communication”.

“We also acquired a fully web based Core Banking Application, ORBIT R, which will give us the opportunity to activate key operations especially in the area of group lending and rural bank-

ing. It promises a bankwide network connectivity implementation to support our proposed growth strategy plan from 2012 to 2017, giving us a competitive edge of new generation technology”, he said.

Ehigiamusoe spoke on AFO-LAPO partnership for capacity development. According to him, in partnership with the AFOS-Foundation of Germany, the bank embarked on a multifaceted capacity development project with the support of the German Federal Ministry of International Develoment and Cooperation (BMZ).

The aim of the project is to improve the productivity and efficiency of the bank with particular emphasis on the provision of a pool of well trained middle management staff that will effectively and efficiently manage the growth and expansion of the bank.

get the fast growing specie of African Giant Snails (Archachatina Marginata) suitable for domestic rearing, but I am happy to tell you that in my Jovana Farms, we have high quality snail breeders you can start your snail farming business with.

“Archachatina Marginata snail specie has very high market value of local consumption or for export.

“The first challenge I face involves technicalities, what this means is that people need to go for proper training before venturing into the snail farming business.

Some people who started the business without the right specie of snail or without good training have al-

Red Star Express trains 15 in consultative selling skills

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n order to remain com petitive in modern courier services where skilled and quality workforce guarantee satisfactory service delivery and organisational set goals, Red Star Express, one of the leading courier service delivery has continued to invest on the development of its staff in order to achieve desired results on its customers as it recently concluded the training of 15 members of staff on Consultative Selling Skills.

In its bid to continue delivery of excellent service to its esteemed customers, the management of Red Star Express Plc. has trained more managers on selling skills. The training which took place in Lagos recently, was called Consultative Selling Skills and is aimed at helping the Red Star Express sales professionals become more knowledgeable and horn their skills so as to sell the company’s products and services.

Speaking on the training session, Managing Director, Red Star Express Plc., Mr Sule Bichi said, “we operate in a very competitive industry and we recognise the fact that to stay ahead of competition, we must possess su-

perior skills in every key area of business. The culture of training and retraining staff is a continual exercise to keep our workforce abreast of emerging trends in the global business practice.”

Mr. Bichi attributed Red Star’s business growth to the skills and confidence the sales team have acquired and applied in dealing with customers.

He stated that “the training has gone a long way

eneral Overseer, the Gospel Faith Mission International (GOFAMINT), Pastor Elijah Abina, has cautioned Jerusalem pilgrims in the country to avoid engaging in commercial activities either by exporting or importing during pilgrimage to the holy land.

He said this while addressing journalists at the church headquarters, Ibafo, Ogun state, after concluding a 30 day fasting and prayer organized by the church tagged: “Season of transformation”, saying

that the church has zero tolerance for pilgrims who hide under pilgrimage to perform fraudulent activities.

The cleric who was represented by the GOFAMINT Jerusalem Pilgrimage coordinator, Pastor Bola Taiwo, stressed that they have been helping other spiritual organization to go to Jerusalem and ‘there has not been reasons for fraudulent activities’, he said.

Giving reasons why Nigerians should go on pilgrimage, he said: “the whole of psalm 122 is a

biblical injunction reiterating why Christians must go to Israel for pilgrimage activities; either by commandant or recommendation, but supposing any one says he’s not willing to go to Jerusalem, he has not offended God, but people should not go to Jerusalem to seek salvation.

“The benefit of why people should go to Jerusalem for pilgrimage is because Israel is the cradle of Christianity, the whole Bible was written in Israel. We are not acting dependently, we

(GOFAMINT) are affiliated with Nigerian Christian Pilgrims Commission and incorporated by Israeli government. We do not encourage people who are not yet born again to go to Israel, going to Israel ought to be a spiritual tour, not entertainment, or commercial tour, and the next Jerusalem pilgrims must be cautioned on this because our agent and security officers in Israel will not tolerate any indiscipline in the forthcoming pilgrimage”.

in helping them identify their customer’s specific needs. Learning, apart from being essential to the development of all human endeavours, is a personal experience gained by individuals and cannot be replaced or taken away from them.”

Training Manager, Tonye Preghafi, said, “the four-day intensive training was a great experience for the participants.”

Diageo celebrates 10 year Africa Business Repor ting A wards 20 13 eporting Aw 201

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iageo, the world’s leading premium drinks busi ness, has launched its annual Africa Business Reporting Awards for 2013. This year marks the tenth-year anniversary of the Awards initiated by Diageo to recognise journalists and editors who provide high quality coverage of the business environment in Africa. Diageo launched the Awards in order to raise awareness of the need for reliable, objective and comprehensive business reporting in Africa. Such reporting plays essential roles in increasing investment flows in the continent by improving investors’ perceptions and challenging negative stereotypes.

President, Diageo Africa, Nick Blazquez, said, “As we celebrate the ten-year anniversary of the Diageo Africa Business Reporting Awards, I am proud to look back over a decade of strong, original and insightful journalism on business in Africa. I am pleased to say that both the quantity and quality of the entries we receive has increased significantly every year, and I am also encouraged by the greater standards of media coverage within Africa which is reflective of the improving business environment in many African countries. This has undoubtedly played a crucial part in raising awareness of the many opportunities the continent offers to businesses and inThe cleric explained vestors. We hope that this that the church was able year’s Awards will once to cope with negative again prove that there are criticisms and allegations many more stories to be told that associated with pil- about Africa.”

Entries are welcome in grimage in Nigeria because of the integrity in ten categories and are open terms of zero tolerance for to reporters and editors fraudulent activities and working on all media platAll entries are aslong experience of the forms. sessed and judged by an spiritual institution. independent panel. The Responding to a ques- awards ceremony will be tion, the general over- held on Thursday, 11 July seer in his remark ad- 2013 in central London. vised government to do The closing date for entry more to support Nigeri- is Friday, March 15, 2013. an pilgrims who are in- Entries can be submitted tending to go but are fi- online at: ww.diageoafrica nancially handicapped. businessreportingawards.com.

Clergy warns Nigerian pilgrims against commercial activities

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ready shut down. They did it as a hobby, and at the end of the day, abandon the business because of one mistake or the other.

“As unemployment increases with more jobs being threatened, people keep seeking for things to do; besides their jobs, that will help support the family income, yet would not take much of their time.

And, since 70 per cent of Nigerians live below one dollar/ a day, it only makes sense to put time, resources and energy into other productive areas. And snail farming, because of its almost zero production cost has proven to be one of such areas.”

SATURDAY Vanguard, FEBRUARY 9, 2013—51

We’re focused and ambitious — Keshi A

few days before the kick off of the Africa Nations Cup in South Africa, Super Eagles Coach Stephen Okechukwu Keshi in an interview said his boys feared no team in the competition.

The 51-year old, who played at five Africa Cup of Nations finals, winning gold, silver and bronze, leads Nigeria’s charge for a third title in the 56-year old continental football festival as they battle Burkina Faso tomorrow.

Q: Coach, congratulations on your team’s qualification for the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations. How tough was it winning the ticket, and was there anytime, particularly after the draw in Liberia, that you thought the Eagles might not make it?

Keshi: No way. There was no time I exercised any fear of our not qualifying. Yeah, I always knew that we had to work harder, after the match against Liberia in Monrovia. But there was no time I thought we would not make it to South Africa. I have confidence in my team.

Q: Nigeria last won the Africa Cup of Nations 19 years ago, in Tunisia. What are your real expectations for the 2013 finals?

Keshi: Oh, of course we have real expectation of winning.

From the moment we qualified, we knew we were capable, able to win it. So, our expectations for South Africa 2013 is to win the trophy and make Nigerians happy.

Q: How do you see your team at the moment? Are you still rebuilding?

Keshi: Well, the truth is that even if you have been in charge of a team for five years, you still continue to build. Building is a continuous process because you always want your team to be better, you are always looking out for even better players. For sure, I have the frame of the team I want and I believe that the squad we have selected for the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations is good enough. What we need is chemistry. Once we have that, we’ll be okay going forward and all the way.

Q: How easy was it for you to draw up your provisional list of 32 players?

Keshi: It was not easy at all.

You see, Nigeria is blessed with good players who are scattered around the world. There are some that we have not even dis-

covered yet. After we earned the ticket to the final tournament, we started working: myself and my colleagues in the technical crew.

You know, we played so many friendly matches last year and that enabled us to see so many players. By the time we played Rwanda in the second leg of our Cup of Nations qualifying fixture, we already had the frame of the team we wanted. It was not easy, and you know, positioning was important. You could have four, five good players that you wanted to take but if they are all playing in the same position, it makes it difficult for you.

Q: What about the final 23?

Keshi: It was not easy either.

That one was tough. But we knew what we wanted and there were no sentiments. Current form and positioning played key roles.

Q: At the Federal Executive Council meeting in Abuja few days to the opening ceremony, President Goodluck Jonathan called on the team to do Nigeria proud. Does that put any pressure on your team?

Keshi: Any team going into a

CRUNCHY.. Super Eagles defender, Elderson Echiejile gets knocked from behind by a malian player during the semi final clash on Wednesday. Photo: AFP us to make them proud. It is a normal charge and we are comfortable with it.

Q: You played at five Africa Cup of Nations (1982, 1984, 1988, 1992 and 1994). What memories do you have of these tournaments?

Keshi: Lovely memories, wonderful memories, great memories, my brother. For me, it was always an honour and speScore Runner-u cial privilege to wear the p 4-0 Ethiopia green-white-green. And 2-1 Sudan the Africa Cup of Nations 4-2 Egypt is so special. I went into 3-0 Sudan the field each time want3-2 Tunisia ing very much to do my 1-0 Ghana country proud.

1-0 Ghana Every match at the finals 3-2 Mali was great. But the great2-0 Zambia est was 1994 in Tunisia Guinea (Morocco) when we won it. I told 2-0 Uganda myself that, yes, I have 3-0 Algeria reached the summit now 1-1 Libya (7-6 pen) and can be happy forever.

3-1 Nigeria Q: How did you feel 0-0 Cameroon(5-4 pen) missing the 1986 finals?

1-0 Nigeria Keshi: It was extremely 1-0 Nigeria painful. I kept asking 0-0 Ghana (11-10 pen) myself what went wrong.

2-1 Zambia The Africa Cup of Na2-0 Tunisia tions is the biggest tour2-0 South Africa nament in Africa and 2-2 Nigeria (4-3 pen) considering the quality 0-0 Senegal (3-2 pen) and enormity of re2-1 Morocco sources that we have, 0-0 Cote d’Ivoire (4-2 Nigeria should always pe n) 1-0 Cameroon be there. Missing the 1-0 Ghana 1986 finals in Egypt was 0-0 Cote d’Ivoire (8-7 a sad moment. pen) ?

Burkina Faso Q: Which was your most memorable Africa Cup of Nations match? tournament must have an ambition to win. We are focused and ambitious. President Jonathan is right to say that, and it makes us all to tighten our belts and know that Nigerians back home expect

ROLL OF HONOUR Year 1957 1959 1962 1963 1965 1968 1970 1972 1974 1976 1978 1980 1982 1984 1986 1988 1990 1992 1994 1996 1998 2000 2002 2004 2006 2008 2010 2012 2013

Winner Egypt Egypt Ethiopia Ghana Ghana DR Congo Sudan Congo Zaire Morocco Ghana Nigeria Ghana Cameroon Egypt Cameroon Algeria Cote d’Ivoire Nigeria South Africa Egypt Cameroon Cameroon Tunisia Egypt Egypt Egypt Zambia Nigeria

Keshi: Ah, every match I played at the Cup finals was great. In 1984, we had a young team and we came up against a very experienced Cameroonian team in the final.

The most memorable would be the 1984 semi final, when we defeated Egypt on penalties in Abidjan. They led us 2-0 after 35 minutes and then we told ourselves that this would not happen. We got a penalty and I scored and we went into recess 2-1 behind. We attacked with purpose and they defended stoutly.

But eventually, I lifted the ball into the box and Bala Ali headed into the net for the equalizer. We went ahead to win 8-7 on penalties.

Tough game.

Q: In your first Cup of Nations playing for Nigeria, Zambia and Ethiopia were also in our group, back in 1982. What memories do you have of the finals in Libya?

Keshi: That’s more than 30 years ago! We defeated Ethiopia but lost to Zambia. Our team had problems and we were not properly coordinated. We had old and young players, like Sylvanus Okpala, Rashidi Yekini, Ademola Adeshina and myself. The old included Muda Lawal and Tunde Bamidele.

In South Africa, we also have a blend of few old and mostly young players. We have to keep telling them about patriotism and dedication and the honour and privilege of wearing the green-white-green. We are here to soar very high.

52— SATURDAY Vanguard, FEBRUARY 9, 2013

Nations Cup:

Keshi equals Onigbinde, pursues El Gohar y

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HAME to bad people is the usual local slang for anyone who has performed a feat which his detractors never

wished for him.That is exactly the meaning of this posture, Stephen Okechukwu Keshi made after his side, the Super

Eagles scored the second goal in their 4-1 semi final routing of the Eagles of Mali on Wednesday.

Like him or hate him, Keshi is on the path of history despite the fact that his employers, the Nigeria Football Federation, NFF are angling for his replacement with a foreign coach.

Though the football body denied the rumour, Keshi insists he doesn’t know his fate with the team after the final tomorrow against Burkina Faso, win or lose.

After every performance, especially during the group matches where the Eagles struugled to qualify for the quarter finals as second best, he always told the battery of journalists who thronged the post match conference that he would decide his future after the Nations Cup because he doesn’t know whether he would remain coach of the Eagles.

Before the first whistle was blown, nobody reckoned with the Eagles to even qualify from the group that paraded the defending champions, Zambia, Burkina Faso and Ethiopia but Keshi kept saying that the team were work in progress and should be given time to mature.

The music however, changed when the Eagles shocked title favourites and star-studded

Elephants of Cote dïvoire and with the superlative performance against Mali has raised their profile with fingers pointing to their vctory tomorrow.

Nigerian coaches who have handled the senior natinal team before now include, Adegboye Onigbinde, Shaibu Amodu, Paul Hamilton, Samson Siasia, Christian Chukwu, Monday Sinclair, Alabi Aisien and Patrick Ekeji. Of these lot however, only Chief Onigbinde had taken the team to the final of the Nations Cup, that was in 1984 and lost to Cameroon to settle for the silver. Incidentally, Keshi was among the youngest players in that squad That feat, Keshi equalled last Wednesday with an emphatic 4-1 win over Mali. He has a chance to surpass the feat and become Nigeria’s greatest local coach, and third best after Otto Gloria in 1980 and Clemens Westerhof in 1994.

If the Eagles win, Keshi will become the second African to win the Cup both as a player and coach, a feat Mahmoud El Gohary of Egypt of blessed memory performed when he led the Pharoahs to the Nations Cup victory in 1998 after winning it as a player in 1959 on home soil.

Nations Cup: Ngerem explains TV blackout of Nigeria *Insists BON owing LC2

BY PATRICK OMORODION

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ONTRARY to reports mak ing the rounds that the 2013 Africa Nations Cup in South Africa could not be beamed on Nigerian television stations because of the high cost demanded by the Broadcast rights owners, LC2, the company’s Nigerian partner, Dan Ngerem has debunked the claim, stressing that the blackout was occasioned by a breach of trust on the part of the Broadcasting Organisation of Nigeria, BON. Ngerem disclosed to Saturday Vanguard sports that the problem actually started in 2004 when he paid about “N150 million to the NTA for exclusivity in airtime for the 2004 AFCON broadcast on NTA apart from the money used to purchase the TV Broadcast rights.”

According to Ngerem, “We did sell the Platinum package to MTN Nigeria as Title Sponsors and we also sponsored NTA crew headed then by Hameed Adio and people like Paul Ogazi ( which by the way was not part of our original budget but we were blackmailed into sponsoring their crew after paying them their full money upfront.”

He said that apart from dilut-

Bolaji Abdullahi ing the agreement both parties reached on the deal, the NTA allegedly went ahead to collect money from a rival telecommunication firm and allowed its presenters to wear caps with the logo of the rival firm.

The former president of the Athletics Federatiion of Nigeria, AFN said that apart from the breach of contract agreement, the television stations under the umbrella of BON refused to render account of the Nations Cup and he had no alternative but had to head to the courts for justice.

He said he won the case at both the High Court and Appeal Court and is awaiting for them to go to the Supreme Court where he is confident the rul-

Labaran Maku ing will not be different from the earlier two.

“We are asking for ten million naira and another five hundred thousand Naira as costs from them for breach of Hensen/LC2 broadcast rights. It is not really the money but the principal of it so that media owners will start to do the right thing in Nigeria,”he stressed.

He added that “Even if this is a small contribution to the course of justice in Nigeria, I would be a happy person.”

It was gathered that the difference in the cost for beaming the Nations Cup matches to Nigeria could be as a result of the unpaid money to LC2, which the company insisted must be paid before the matches could

be beamed by BON affilates.

Even after government officials agreed to make part payment of $3.5 million to LC2 so that Nigerian TV stations could beam the matches via an sms message to Ngerem, the firm refused to bulge, advising BON instead to summon CAF President, Issa Hayatou to give Nigeria a special status like South Africa and the Maghreb nations are enjoying.

“I called to inform to you that I have processed the recommended $3.5m be released as part payment to LC2 by the Ministry of Information for the TV coverage of AFCON for Nigeria. Please give positive ear to BON. Be assured of prompt settlement as long as I am in charge,” the message to Ngerem read. Not wanting to suffer what they suffered in the past as BON and the television stations reneged on their agreement, Ngerem replied thus: “Nigeria should use that money and summon Issa Hayatou and CAF so that Nigeria can be given special status like South Africa and the Maghreb region.

Most Nigerians in sports are ignorant and fraudulent. Nigeria is an unserious country, except for John Momoh and Channels, most others are fraudulent, no integrity,” Ngerem wrote.

“In summary, while some of the media stations are carrying

the major campaign of calumny and bad publicity against LC2 and its partners, we must all realsie as Nigerians that we have some bad eggs amongst us that want to reap where they did not sow and, do not follow international best practices.

“Bottomline is that, the AFCON blackout of Nigeria in 2013 has its genesis from the lack of credibility and accountability of some of the major broadcast stations dating back to 2004 and ochestrated by a few people that have formed themselves into a cabal for private greed and gain and, with active connivance/participation of BON. If BON is really a serious organisation, why did they not start and anchore their energies in making sure that the Nigerian Football League TV broadcast rights is fully optimised and commercialised,” he queried?

Surprisingly, two key ministers, Labaran Maku of Information and Bolaji Abdullahi of Sports expressed different reasons for the shameful blackout of Nigeria from the Nations Cup. While Maku supported BON’s claim that the right owners LC2 were fleecing Nigeria, Abdullahi told Sports Writers in Lagos that BON was owing the right owners for works earlier done.

ARY 9, 2013 — 53 FEBRUARY SATURDAY VANGUARD, FEBRU

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54— SATURDAY VANGUARD, FEBRUARY 9, 2013

NNPC/Shell Cup actions hot up in 9 cities F

OR six days beginning from Tuesday, Februay 12 to Sunday February 19, football actions will shift from South Africa to nine Nigerian cities when the 2013 All Nigeria Secondary Schools Football Championships for the NNPC/Shell Cup kicks off.

Super Eagles qualification for the Africa Nations Cup final and the fact that the home-based players in the team made a great impact in it will definitely cause football crazy Nigerians to throng the venues to catch a glimpse of the future stars who would take over from the present set of players.

From Oshogbo which hosts Zone A to Ado-Ekiti (one B), Benin (Zone C), Enugu (Zone D), Yenagoa (Zone E), Lokoja (Zone

*Ejike Uzoenyi, a graduate of the NNPC/Shell Cup with Global Secondary School Onitsha in 2002 and a member of the Super Eagles at the on-going Africa Nations Cup in South Africa

F), Jalingo (Zone G), Keffi (Zone H), Katsina (Zone I), four teams will battle for the lone quarter final ticket available for each group except the Katsina group which will

produce two tickets from five teams.

National Co-ordinator of the competition, Shola Akinwale disclosed that the Oshogbo centre will host Ogun, Ondo, Oyo and

Lagos, Ado-Ekiti will have teams from Kwara, Osun, Kogi and Edo while the Benin centre will be home to Ekiti, Delta, Rivers and Bayelsa.

The Enugu centre is venue for Anambra, Imo, Benue and Cross River teams, Abia, Ebonyi, Enugu and Akwa Ibom head to Yenagoa while Lokoja is home to Nasarawa, Bauchi, Taraba and Plateau teams.

Jalingo is hosting teams from Yobe, Gombe, Adamawa and Borno, Keffi is venue for Niger, Katsina, Kaduna and the FCT while Katsina plays host to Jigawa, Kano, Kebbi, Sokoto and Zamfara States.

The defending champions, Kwara Football Academy Secondary School, Ilorin are making a come back as they defeated Offa Grammar School, Offa in the Kwara State final.

Like last year, the winning school will go home with the sum of N2.5 million plus N50,000 to each of the 20 players registered, N1.4 million for the second placed team with N45,000 to each player, N500,000 to the third school and N35,000 for each player while the fourth placed team will earn N400,000 plus N35,000 for each player.

Officials pinch Fashola’s largesse for Lagos athletes

•Volleyball action at EKO 2012

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AGOS athletes and their technical officials who won medals at the last National Sports Festival tagged EKO 2012 are grumbling and may soon protest to the State governor, Babatunde Fashola over denial of their full reward for winning medals for the state.

The governor had recently announced a cash reward of N250,000, N150,000 and N100,000 for gold, silver and bronze medal winners at the festival but after the money was released, the sports council allegedly delayed payment to the athletes and officials to yield some interest for it.

It was gathered that

when they started paying the money after the delay, athletes and officials who competed in team sports were paid half of what the govern o r approved while only athletes who

competed in idividual sports got the full amount.

According to one of the aggrieved athletes, “instead of N250,000 for each of us, they gave us N125,000 claiming that the money was not enough to pay the approved amount. All the individual sports got their full money, so why is our different, “ he said. The team events affected include volleyball, handball and hockey. The athletes and their officials have asked Governor Fashola to look into the plight so that they get their full reward in order not to be discouraged from representing the state in future competitions.

SATURDAY VANGUARD, FEBRUARY 9, 2013 — 55

Ngerem challenges NSC, NPL on league sponsorship *Says Nigerian league worth N5bn

BY PHILIP ADEFIOYE

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ORMER President of the Athletics Federation of Nigeria, AFN

Mr. Dan Ngerem has challenged the National Sports Commission, NSC and the Nigeria Premier League,

We’re destined for the cup N

IGERIA goalkeeper Vin cent Enyeama believes his side are destined to win the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations.

The Super Eagles turned on the style when thrashing Mali 4-1 on Wednesday to reach the final in Johannesburg, where they will face Burkina Faso on Sunday.

Enyeama, 30, believes the two-time champions can go all the way for the first time since triumphing in 1994.

“We feel we are going to be the winners of this championship,” Nigeria’s long-time number one told BBC Sport.

“Against Mali we wanted to put on a good show,” Enyeama explained.

“At the back of our minds, we knew we were maybe 90 minutes away from the final. We knew we would have chances and we just had to convert them, while also keeping a solid backline. And that’s what we did.

“This championship has eluded us for a long time but now we feel that this is our moment, that this is the right time.”

Midfielder John Obi Mikel was less forthcoming about his team’s chances, opting to play them down, with the Chelsea star even trying to paint his side as unfancied.

“We will go into the game the same as we have the last two games. We will be patient and keep playing the way we are playing and we go into the final still like an underdog team,” he told BBC Sport.

“For us coming into this tournament, no-one gave us a chance. We want to go into the final the same way - as underdogs.

—Enyeama

“We have to keep doing what we are doing and not get carried away. We have missed the cup, we want to bring it back home for all the Nigerians. It would be massive, but it’s not going to be easy.”

Nigeria, who last reached the final in 2000, won the competition for the first time in 1980, before then beating Zambia in the final in 1994.

Supporters club at war

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HE Nigerian Football Supporters Club are at war in South Africa as they prepare to drum support for the Super Eagles in their quest of wresting the Nations Cup trophy from Burkina Faso tomorrow.

The bone of contention is the struggle over which sponsor to support, Globacom or Guinness, a transfer of the power tussle in their botched election of national officers recently.

At the centre of the struggle is the Dr. Rafiu Ladipo faction and Vincent Okumagba-led group who are angling to take over the leadership of the club from Dr. Ladipo It was gathered that the Okumagba group are insisting on wearing the apparel of Guinness as that is the firm that sponsored them to South Africa while Dr. Ladipo wants them to put on their Globacom regalia.Globacom did not support them this time.

With this situation, it is certain the support for the Eagles today will not be one of unity.

*Super Eagles forward Ahmed Musa (up) celebrates after scoring a goal during the semi-final match against Mali in Durban. The Eagles won 4-1. Photo: AFP

Moses, Emenike in fitness race for final

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UPER Eagles strikers, Victor Moses and Emmanuel Emenike will find out today if they will be fit enough to play against Burkina Faso in Sunday ’s Africa Cup of Nations Final.

The players underwent scans on Friday, but team doctors will not disclose the extent of injury. However, Moses said that he is hopeful that he will be fit for the final game. He did not train with the Eagles yesterday as he

President Jonathan to miss final *Sends Mark, Gov Obi as reps

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RESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan will not be available in South Africa when the Super Eagles take on Burkina Faso in the final of the Africa Cup of Nations on Sunday but will, instead send a delegation to represent him.

The president had promised the players and officials of the Super Eagles that he would be in South Africa if

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they qualified for the finals of the AFCON, but that is not to be anymore.

This was confirmed by the presidential spokesman, Dr. Reuben Abati, who tweeted that the president will be in London and Paris for other official engagements, but has sent representatives to cheer the team.

Abati also revealed that members of the ‘transformed Super Eagles‘, will be hosted to a din-

ner reception on February 12 in Abuja.

He wrote: “President Jonathan sends high-powered delegation to South Africa to support the Super Eagles ahead of AFCON 2013 final on Sunday.

“Delegation led by Senator David Mark, includes Gov. Peter Obi, Gov. Isa Yuguda, Prof. V. Onwuliri, Navy Capt.

Olubolade and Ambassador Bashir Yuguda.”

spent most of the time with the physiotherapist.

“We’ll see tomorrow (Saturday) what it looks like. We will wait and see,” said coach Stephen Keshi Keshi said before the practice session that the plan was for Moses to jog a little bit.

Moses again didn’t want to talk to reporters about the injury that forced him to be replaced in the 53rd minute in Durban.

“It’s getting better,” Moses said briefly.

Emenike is doubtful for the match as he has not recovered from the muscle strain he suffered in the semi-final against Mali.

“They did an MRI on Friday, the doctors will give us the information, I’ll be informed,” Keshi said. “I’m waiting for the doctor to give me a feedback.”

Keshi didn’t want to talk about possible replacements for the regular starting strikers who have been key for the team in the tournament so far.

NPL Board to throw open the bid process for the sponsorship of the Premier League.

Speaking to Saturday Vanguard Sports, Ngerem said if the bid process is transparent, many more individuals or corporate organisations will show interest and bid to sponsor the league which value he puts at over N5 billion.

According to Ngerem, the initial process which led to litigations, first by Globacom and again by Total Promotions, which bid on behalf of MTN, was not transparent and would not augur well for the country’s football.

He said if the NSC or sports ministry truly wants the country’s football to return to its glory days when fans filled the stadia even before kick-off, then the bid process must be transparently carried out.

He advised that for the bid process to be genuine and acceptable, a reputable organisation like KPMG should be contracted as the umpire while individuals like Rev. Moses Iloh, Adokiye Amiesimaka, Chief Molade Okoya Thomas, Akintola Williams, J.K Randle, Chief Segun Odegbami and Harrison Jalla should serve as observers.

He added that the bid process should be beamed live to Nigerians so that a true winner will be seen as have truly emerged.

The one time vice chairman of the Marketing Committee of the Africa Athletics Association disclosed that as someone who owns the highest bid right for the Africa Cup of Nations in partnership with Africa News Exchange (AFNEX), he was ready to join in the bid process as an individual or a company.

“I own the biggest property right of the Africa Cup of Nations in partnership with Africa News Exchange, AFNEX, since 2004. I must tell you this, the Nigeria Premier League is worth more than N5 billion compared to the N2.5 billion offered by MTN (through Total Promotions). Why can’t the NPL throw the offer open?

“Let the offer be open this time around and I will also contest for it either as an individual or as a company but they should stop toying with the national treasure. We are in an internet world where the bidding can be announced.

They should stop toying with our collective intelligence,” Ngerem said, stressing that those who must come to equity must come with clean hands.

*Ngerem

SATURDAY Vanguard, FEBRUARY 9, 2013

THIRD PLACE MATCH TODAY Mali v Ghana 7pm FINAL TOMORROW

Nigeria v Burkina Faso 7pm

CAF clears Pitroipa for Nigeria clash T

HE Confederation of African Football has cleared Burkina Faso’s striker, Jonathan Pitroipa to play against Nigeria in the final of the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations on Sunday.

The continent’s football governing body on Friday overturned the decision of center referee Slim Jdidi who sent off the Burkinabe talisman with a second booking in Wednesday’s semi-final victory over Ghana that ended in a penalty shootout.

CAF’s disciplinary committee rose from a meeting on Friday to announce Pitroipa’s clearance following the referee’s admission of a wrong decision.

The Rennes midfielder will therefore be available for selection on Sunday and the latest development will come as a big boost for the team and the Burkina Faso football fans back home.

It could be recalled that CAF on Thursday suspended the Tunisian referee for his below-par performance in the Burkina Faso-Ghana semifinal of the African Cup of Nations on Wednesday.

EXERCISING.... Super Eagles striker excercising his foot before a match. Will he be fit enough to battle Burkina Faso tomorrow?

NATIONS CUP:

Eagles are potential winners — Nwosu, Adepoju

By SOLOMON NWOKE

A

FTER their superlative performance in the ongoing Africa Cup of Nations quarter and semi final matches, former internationals, H e n r y N w o s u (MON)andMutiu Adepoju are firm in their beliefs that the Super Eagles are potential winners of the trophy.

The duo in separate chats with Saturday Vanguard sports congratulated the players and their coaching crew led by Stephen Keshi for their superb performance in the last two matches played.

Nwosu, a former Eagles’ captain and a member of the 1980 winning squad, expressed his optimism that Nigeria would cross the final hurdle when

they face their Group C rivals, Burkina Faso.

He said, “ It was a good game against Mali. The Super Eagles have done well so far, but they played more of individualist game than team work against Mali in the semi final. This is not good enough for us.

They have to play as a team and not as individuals. We played our best game against Cote d’Ivoire and I will expect them to replicate it in the final against Burkina Faso. They should be more determined, focused and start from the blast of the whistle to attack the Burkinabes and should not relent. If they do so, I see the them lifting the Cup. “I have always believed that Nigeria will go far in this tournament and they are now proving it. Burkina Faso, I do also know, will come out smoking but with good officiating, the cup is ours by God’s

grace”.

Also speaking, a member of the famous 1994 squad, Mutiu Adepoju was full of praises for the Eagles on their outstanding feat.

According to him, “beating Mali by the goal margin of 41 shows that they’re great and

improving with every match because Mali is a very good side. The victory shows that the Eagles are strong and are potential winners of the African Cup. For the final match, we have all it takes to win it.

•Jonathan Pitroipa

CROSS WORD PUZZLE Across 1 Rwandan Capital City (6) 4 Director-General, National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), Maharazu - (5) 7 Hausa Word for “Water” (4) 8 Macedonia Capital City (6) 9 Former Super Eagles Striker, John - (5) 10 Fruit (4) 11 LGA in Imo State (6) 14 LGA in Katsina State (8) 18 Former Nigerian President, Chief Olusegun – (8) 21 Ondo State Governor, Olusegun – (6) 24 Vegetable (4) 25 Former Taraba State Governor, Reverend Jolly – (5) 26 LGA in Lagos State (6) 27 Midday (4) 28 Delta State Capital (5) 29 State in Nigeria known as “Salt of The Nation”? (6)

Down 1 Super Eagles Coach, Stephen – (5) 2 Bird (5) 3 L.G.A. In Osun State (8) 4 Zodiac Sign (6) 5 Oyo State Capital (6) 6 Minister of Trade & Investment, Mr. Olusegun – (6) 12 Unable to speak (4) 13 Orbit (4) 15 Musical Instrument (8) 16 Muslim Religious Leader (4) 17 Senate President, David – (4) 18 Enugu State Football Association Chairman, Chidiofor – (6) 19 LGA in Rivers State (6) 20 Greek Goddess (6) 22 Former Minister of Science and Technology Prof.

Turner – (5)

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SOLUTION on page 15

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