Boko Haram: You`re not sincere

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2— SATURDAY VANGUARD, MARCH 9, 2013

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4 — SATURDAY Vanguard, MARCH 9, 2013

PDP governors forum holds first meeting on Monday •Governors urged to reposition party •NEC meeting top agenda

BY HENRY UMORU Abuja

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HE maiden meeting of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Governors’ Forum will hold on Monday in Abuja to address pressing issues including reconciliation of aggrieved members.

Saturday Vanguard also gathered that the Chairman of the forum and Governor of Akwa

Ibom State, Godswill Akpabio will use the opportunity of the meeting to appeal to its colleagues to allow peace prevail in the interest of the party and the nation at large.

Other matters which sources said the governors are likely to address include a rancour-free National Executive Committee ,NEC, meeting of the party scheduled to hold soon since the members of the Board of Trustees, BoT,

and that of National Caucus had already held their own.

Ahead of the Monday meeting, the National Coordinator of the PDP Technocrats Forum, Earl Osaro Onaiwu has called on the PDP Governors to use the newly established governors forum to contribute positively to the repositioning of the party.

Onaiwu said it was an opportunity for the PDP governors to prove the

doubting Thomases wrong and finally put to rest the speculation as to the real motive behind the creation

of the forum.

He also called on Governor Akpabio to

ensure that deliberations at the meeting focused on the manifesto of the party and how to implement same.

Oshiomhole’s mother commends govt over empowerment of 5000 youths

BY SIMON EBEGBULEM ,B/City

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OTHER of the Edo state Governor, Hajia Aishatu Oshiomhole, yesterday, commended the state government for the empow-

erment of over five thousand youths in the area for revenue collection in the state.

Hajia Oshiomhole who stated this when the leadership of the Akugbe Ventures, the Edo state government recognized agent for revenue

collection in motor parks, led by Comrade Tony Adun (aka Kabaka), paid her a visit at her residence in Iyanomo, Etsako West Local Government Council said the empowerment of youths will help keep them busy and also improve government revenue.

SATURDAY Vanguard, MARCH 9, 2013 — 5

Immunity for lawmakers is legalising corruption —CNPP

BY KINGSLEY OMONOBI Abuja

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Iyalode of Yorubaland, Chief (Mrs.) Alaba Lawson, wife of the Governor of Ogun State, Mrs. Olufunso Amosun and Commissioner for Women Affairs & Social Development, Mrs. Elizabeth Sonubi during the 2013 International Women’s Day celebration at Valley-view Auditorium, Isale-Igbein in Abeokuta yesterday.

HE Conference of Ni gerian Political Parties (CNPP) has raised alarm over moves by the House of Representatives to grant immunity to lawmakers saying that the bill for that purpose which scaled second reading on Thursday is a final move to legalize corruption and destroy the country.

CNPP said in a statement by its Secretary General, Chief Willy Ezugwu in Abuja yester-

Obama’s brother loses governorship bid in Kenya M

ALIK Obama, the 54-year-old halfbrother of U.S. President Barack Obama, flopped miserably in his effort to get elected as a governor in western Kenya, with results yesterday showing he received just one per cent of the votes cast in his constituency.

The Kenyan accountant, who ran as an independent,

garnered just 694 votes in a race with over 55,000 ballots cast in Siaya County.

The winner was William Odhiambo Oduol, with 56 per cent of the vote. The two Obamas share the same father. Malik was once a goat-herder in Kenya, who became an academic but have a different mother.

Malik ran on a campaign of “change,” echoing his younger brother ’s slogans of hope and change in the 2008 U.S. presidential election.

Malik said that he and Barack last spoke after the U.S. elections, when the latter promised to visit Kenya if the elections were fair and transparent.

Many Kenyans were disappointed that Barack Obama did not visit during his first term.

BY OLAYINKA LATONA

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UTGOING Prelate of Methodist Church Nigeria, Most Rev. Sunday Ola Makinde has declared the month of August as a period for prayer and fasting for God’s direction towards electing his successor who will pilot the affairs of the church to a new height.

Makinde, who is due for retirement after seven years as the prelate of the church, in his prelate’s address to the church for the year, said he had done his beat and will quit the stage for a successor in due course, urging members to pray fervently and deassociate themselves from politicizing the position of prelate, adding that members should not allow people to sell any candidate to them.

“I have done the little

challenges facing the country.

Speaking during the second Synod of the diocese with a theme: “What if the Lord had not been on our side”, the diocesan bishop, Rt. Rev. Olu Akinola said it has been the grace and mercy of God that has sustained the country through thick and thin,

BY CHIDI NKWOPARA

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HE Deputy Goveror of Imo State, Sir Jude Agbaso, has denied

noting that Nigerians should not lose faith in the country.

Akinola stressed that Nigeria would make progress no matter the challenges; urging Nigerians to rekindle hope in the country and pray for divine help for those who are charged with the responsibility of providing good governance.

allegations of fraud levelled against him by the State House of Assembly, saying that he ‘’will be ready to prove his innocence when called upon to do so.’’

Agbaso was reacting to the impeachment notice served on him by the House of Assembly.

This was contained in a statement signed by his Senior Special Assistant, SSA, Chief Onyema Opara, in Owerri yesterday.

The statement entitled ‘’RE:RESIGNATION AND IMPEACHMENT OF DEPUTY GOVERNOR IMO

Vandalisation of oil-pipeline: Court fixes April 17 for trial of 11 fishermen are yet to perfect their

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Federal High Court in Lagos has fixed April 17 for the trial of 11 fishermen charged with vandalisation of an oil pipeline belonging to the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC..

Justice Musa Kurya fixed the date yesterday, after the Nigerian Prisons Service failed to produce the accused in court.

A prison warder told

the court that he only realised that the case was due for trial when he arrived the court.

The accused are Sidi Egbayelo, 29; Sunday Shadrach, 39; Edem Okon ,30; Godwin Kofa, 28; Rosemon Neito, 30; Ejona Kpamkpam, 23 and Moses Victor 28.

Others are Chris Sunday, 29; Peter Gay, 21; Remo Uchugwu, 23 and Mike Sabato, 29.

They are in court on a four-count charge of con-

The conference noted that “Instead making legislation to grant immunity to lawmakers, who already have parliamentary immunity anyway; members of the House of Representatives should have intensified efforts to use the ongoing amendment of the Constitution to do way with immunity clause for the president and governors to at least open them up for criminal prosecution for corruption.

“Nigerians are already wary of the official fraud that surrounds how much each lawmaker legitimately earns. What happens to the constituency allowances voted for lawmakers and other money they allegedly corner from performing their oversight functions?

Imo Deputy Gov debunks resignation, impeachment rumours

Outgoing Makinde urges prayer for a worthy successor I can within the last alive despite various seven years; hence let us leave judgment to God and posterity,” Makinde said, thanking all the members of the church for their co-operation and support during his tenure.

Meanwhile, Lagos North diocese of the church yesterday called Nigerians to remain steadfast and keep hope

day, that pushing ahead with the bill marks the height of insensitivity and sheer disrespect for constituents at a time when the preponderance of opinion among Nigerians is for the immunity clause to be removed for the executive arm because of the corruption bazaar in the land.

“It is worrisome that the legislative arm which the people recently see as the last bastion in governance is now seeking to get the same criminal protection that the executive gets under the constitutional immunity clause” it said adding, “It is shameful for one to begin to have the inkling that because scandals around some law-makers are yet to go public could be the impetus for this criminal legislation.”

spiracy, stealing, vandalism and unlawful possession of petroleum products.

The News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, recalls that the accused were arraigned on Feb. 7 and had all pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Each of them was granted bail in the sum of N2 million, with two sureties in like sum.

NAN also reports that the accused are still remanded because they

bail conditions.

The prosecutor, Mr Justin Enang had told the court that the accused were apprehended by a police team on Dec. 21, 2012.

He said they were apprehended at about 1p.m., at Atlas Cove, Lagos.

According to the prosecutor, the police recovered about 220 drums of petrol, valued at N5.3 million from the accused.

STATE,’’ read, ‘’the attention of the Office of the Deputy Government of Imo State has been drawn to rumours making the rounds that His Excellency Sir Jude Agbaso, has resigned from office. It is also being said in some quarters and reported in some media houses that Sir Agbaso has also been impeached by the Imo State House of Assembly on allegation of corruption. ‘’I wish to state in clear terms that Sir Agbaso has not resigned as the Imo State Deputy Governor and that there is no cause for him to do so. The Deputy Governor still functions as a validly elected Deputy Governor of Imo State and has been doing all his state assignments diligently. ‘’On the allegation of fraud, Sir Agbaso is innocent of any allegation (either real or imagined) against him and as a law abiding citizen, will be ready to prove his innocence when called upon to do so. The Deputy Governor is still committed to the Rescue Mission of His Excellency the Governor of Imo State and still pledges his loyalty to the Governor and the Government of Imo State.

6 — SATURDAY Vanguard, MARCH 9, 2013

Cardinals fix March 12 for Conclave N

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ROSPECTS of electing a new Pope for the Catholic Church to replace the retired Pontif Benedict XVI brightened yesterday as Catholic Cardinals announce that the conclave will commence on March 12, 2013 as a new Pope is expected to emerge Friday March 15.

No fewer than 115 cardinals will take part in the elaborate ritual, which continues until one man receives a two-thirds majority. A statement from

the Vatican yesterday said the Cardinals will go into the Sistine Chapel on Tuesday afternoon.

The chair of St Peter became vacant on February 28 when the former Pope Benedict voluntarily left office after eight years as the head of the Catholic Church. The Vatican seems to be aiming for an election by mid-March so the new pope can be installed in office before Palm Sunday on March 24 and lead the Holy Week services that

culminate in Easter on the following Sunday.

In the meantime, the cardinals will hold daily consultations at the Vatican at which they discuss issues facing the Church, get to know each other better and size up potential leaders for the 2,000-year-old Church.

There are no official candidates, no open campaigning and no clear front runner for the job.

Cardinals tipped as favorites by Vaticanwatchers include Turkson, Tagle, Brazil’s Odilo Scherer, Canadian Marc Ouellet, Italy’s Angelo Scola and Timothy Dolan of the United States.

From left, President Goodluck Jonathan, Gov. Kashim Shettima of Borno State, Elder statesman, Shettima Ali Monguno, former Governor of Borno State, Sen. Ali Modu Sherif, Minister of State for Agriculture, Alhaji Bukkar Tijani and the Minister of State for Finance, Alhaji Yerima Ngama at a Town Hall meeting during the visit of President Jonathan in Maiduguri yesterday.

N384b PHCN workers’ pay: No cause for alarm — FG •Says implementation committee still working on the matter

BY SONI DANIEL, Regional Editor, North

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HE Federal Government, yesterday, assured workers of the Power Holding Company of Nigeria that there was no cause for alarm over the

payment of their severance benefits, as the implementation committee raised by the administration was still working on the matter.

The workers had become agitated that the government announced a unilateral sum of N384 billion for payment of their

LOSS OF DOCUMENT This is to inform the general public of the loss of a deed of assignment made between Anna Iloyanomon Ohiku and Mr. J.A.B. Omojola in respect of Flat 6, Block 2, B close, 21 Road, Festac Town property of Anna Iloyanomon Ohiku.

benefits without engaging them in the process.

However, the Minister of Labour and Productivity, Chief Emeka Wogu, told Satuday Vanguard in an exclusive interview that the workers had no reason to worry as the government was conscious of the need to pay them appropriate benefits as stipulated in the agreement reached between them and the government.

Wogu explained that all portions of the agreement reached with the workers would be implemented to the letter and that the workers, as a mark of g o v e r n m e n t ’ s commitment to transparency and accountability in the privatization process.

The Minister said, “First, there was an agreement between the government and labour and the items of agreement were noted down and signed.

“At the end of the day, those agreed portions will definitely be monetized.

Secondly, there are agencies of government involved in the calculation.

The central body that plays a central role in the whole process is the Bureau of Public Procurement, BPE. There is an implementation Committee that is working on the matter.

“The reason for putting an implementation committee is that where there are issues of complaint, it can look at the issues. Already, we are planning to meet with Labour to discuss it.

“The committee is still doing its work and any matter that arises will be handled appropriately by the committee,” he assured.

On what the government has been

doing to check rising unemployment in the country, Wogu announced that the establishment of the National Policy on Employment Creation, NAPEC, had led to the creation of over 200,000

jobs.

According to him NAPEC identifies about 15 sectors of the economy where jobs could be created and makes provisions on how to achieve it.

Eket stands still for 2face/ Annie’s marriage

BY BENJAMIN NJOKU

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HE ancient town of Eket, in Akwa-Ibom State lost its serenity yesterday when it played host to a mammoth crowd of Nigerian celebrities who

stormed the town to be part of the historic traditional marriage of superstar, Tuface Idibia and his wife, Annie Macaulay.

The traditional marriage which held at the Apostolic High School, Esit Urua Community, Eket –

Group calls for revocation of oil blocs

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HE Niger Delta Study Group on Extractive Sector (NIDESGES) has called for the immediate revocation of oil blocs allocated to Northerners and reallocate them to the people of the Niger Delta region who are the owners of the oil block.

Reacting to the Northern opposition to the PIB legislation, Barrister Innocent Adjenughwure, said the people of the region are the ones bearing the brunt and devastating effect caused by exploration and exploitation of oil and gas in the region He lamented that with

all the contribution the oil rich region is making towards the development of Nigeria, some northern elite masquerading as leaders and law makers do not want to see any iota of development in the area. He noted that when the northern elements are monopolizing the oil blocs allocation, the indigenes of the Niger Delta did not raise opposition but the moment any mention of an increase in the allocation of resources source from the Niger Delta is made, these northerners would oppose such an increase.

Ibeno Road, in Uyo, the bride’s hometown, climaxed the month-long speculation that preceded the wedding.

Among the celebrities that graced the ceremony were Nollywood actress, Kate Henshaw, Sound Sultan, HipHopWorld Magazine boss, Ayo Animashaun, Now Muzik Chief, Efe Omorogbe, Iyanya and many others.

Most guests who arrived Uyo, the prevous night were lodged at the Villa Marina hotel. The prewedding bash also held Thursday night, and it was gathered that AkwaIbom State governor, Godswill Akpabio sponsored the event.

2face and Annie have been engaged since last year after the former popped the proposal with a sparkling diamond ring on Valentine’s day in the presence of very close friends to a shocked Annie at former Club 10 (now Club PoP) in Victoria Island, Lagos.

Following the proposal, many thought a starstudded wedding was in the offing, but the lovebirds settled for a private civil marriage in Lagos, shortly after.

SATURDAY Vanguard, MARCH 9 , 2013 — 7

BOKO HARAM:

You ‘re not sincere, Jonathan tells Borno elders

BY NDAHI MARAMA, Maiduguri

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RESIDENT G o o d l u c k Jonathan yesterday in Maiduguri, accused Borno State Elders of playing to the gallary over the activities of Boko Haram Islamic sect insurgency in the state, describing the situation as u n f o r t u n a t e .

Jonathan spoke during an interactive session with Borno State stakeholders at the Multi-Purpose Hall, Government House Maiduguri, in continuation of his twoday working visit to Borno and Yobe States, the epicentres of Boko Haram.

He was responding to requests by the Elders for the Federal Government to grant amnesty to the sect members as well as withdraw the military Joint Task Force, JTF from Maiduguri and other areas in the state during the second day of his working visit to Borno S t a t e . .

President Jonathan lamented that none of the elders in the state had publicly condemned the killings and bombings being carried out by the sect members and advised them to put their ‘’house

in order,’’ by talking to their children who had been causing havoc in the country to drop their arms against the country.

On the removal of JTF, Jonathan said, “If anyone of you (referring to Borno Elders) wants the Federal Government to withdraw JTF troops from the state, he should come and sign an agreement that if anybody is killed after signing the document, I will hold you responsible according to the law of the land; I assure you that before I go back to Abuja all the JTF troops will leave the state.

“The Boko Haram insurgency is reducing gradually in states like Bauchi, Yobe, Adamawa, Gombe and Niger among others, but in Borno State the situation is increasing.

It is unfortunate, and this is because you the elders refused to come out and condemn the activities of the sect who are your children. This is not a time to be playing to the gallery,” the President s t a t e d .

He equally told the Elders that, unless they put their house in order and talk to the sect members who are their children to lay down their arms and embrace peace, the Federal

Governor Akpabio presenting a plaque to the Chairman Senate Committee on Education, Senator Uche Chukwumerije during a courtesy call at Govt.

House, Uyo Government will not grant them amnesty, not to talk of withdrawing the men of the JTF. None of the elders responded to the President’s challenge, but various speakers had tasked the Federal Government to remove all the bunkers/checkpoints and the JTF troops on the streets of Maiduguri, as well as grant amnesty to Boko Haram who have been terrorizing the state.

But Jonathan continued, “the types of weapons the Boko Haram are using are so sophisticated that the Police cannot contain the situation and that is why we had to bring JTF troops to face the challenge. No responsible government would spend its tax payers money on JTF, but when the situation warrants like in this case of Boko Haram, then we as government will not hesitate in spending our last kobo in order to bring p e a c e . ” He further said that “even when I was contesting for governor of Bayelsa State which I won, I was always telling my supporters that I do not want any blood shed. In fact, on my bill boards, it was stated ‘Don’t Kill’, and as president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, if one soldier or security agent is killed by Boko Haram, it really pains me, and I will not condone such act. I will not celebrate the death of any JTF member or security agent anywhere in this country.

So, please talk to your children who are members of the sect to lay down their

arms for peace to reign.”

Commenting on job creation through agriculture, the President assured the people of the state that his administration would support the initiatives of Governor Kashim Shettima by partnering with him over the Chad Basin Development Authority and the Lake Chad Research Institute for the betterment of the state

through enhancement in food security and income g e n e r a t i o n . ”My vision for this country is how to impact positively on the lives of every Nigerian; how to change this country by alleviating poverty and unemployment; make food available to the people, provide qualitative education, improve our power supply and make our waterways to be

navigable. And all these will not be possible if we do not have peace,” he added.

Jonathan then reassured the people of the state that the Federal Government would assist Governor Shettima’s programmes, particularly his Youth Empowerment plans, adding that through such partnerships, all the schools, places of worship, markets and stalls destroyed by Boko Haram insurgency across the state would be rebuilt.

The forum had in attendance top politicians, traditional/ religious leaders, academicians and diplomats from Borno, including an Elder stateman and fisrt Minister for Petroleum Resources, Dr. Ali Monguno, former Governors Mohammed Goni, Ashiekh Jarma, Ali Modu Sheriff, Professor Nur Alkali, Borno PDP Chairman, Alhaji Baba Basharu, Senator Mohammed Ali Ndume, House of Representative members, Borno State Executive Council members and members of the business community.

Glo/CNN’s African Voices feature music super star, Akon with Glo’s objective to

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HIS week’s edition of Globacomsponsored African Voices on CNN International will feature Senegalese born

hip-hop super star Akon.

A statement by Globacom explained that the choice of the music star by CNN as the guest on this week’s show is in line

Lawmaker promises empowerment for Ndokwa people family building

BY SIMON ADEWALE

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E M B E R representing Ndokwa East Constituency, in the Delta State House Assembly, Hon. Friday Ossai Osanebi, has promised more empowerment, dividend of democracy and better life for Ndokwa East indigenes in this present administration.

In his speech, Hon. Osanebi said though there was a bit set back due to the flood that took over most parts of Delta State and across the country last year, which also affected his house and damaged his

in Beneku,of Delta State, but quickly promised that he will start to roll out his e m p o w e r m e n t programmes for this year to compliment that of last year.

Hon. Osanebi, added that he was overwhelm over the rapid infrastructural development of the state in this present administration led by Governor. Emmanuel Uduaghan, that the state governor has virtually touched all aspects of human needs.

He advised the Ndokwa people to be peaceful and law abiding adding that, the present administration would continue to touch their lives.

showcase prominent Africans who have excelled on the global stage in different areas of endeavour.

American-based Akon is a mega star in the music industry, a multi-platinum selling artiste, producer and entrepreneur. He is known for his collaboration with countless pop and hip-hop icons such as Michael Jackson, Lady Gaga, Snoop Dog and Eminem.

But it has not always been rosy all the way.

Born Aliaune Thiam on April 30, 1973, in the United States, Akon grew up in Senegal before he and his father, jazz percussionist Momar Thiam , and the rest of the family returned to USA and settled in the state of New Jersey. There he discovered hip-hop and R&B music as well as crime. While in Jersey City, he discovered hiphop for the first time by the time he started hanging around with local thugs.

8 — SATURDAY Vanguard, MARCH 9, 2013

Establish proof on 83% oil blocs, ACF tells FG

BY EMEKA MAMAH

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PPARENTLY miffed by alleged half truths and outright falsehood following revelations on the floor of the Senate that northerners own 83 percent of oil blocs in the country, the Arewa Consultative Forum, ACF, yesterday urged the Federal Government to institute a commission of enquiry to establish the veracity or otherwise of such allegations.

This was contained in a statement signed by the National Publicity Secretary of the forum, Mr Anthony Sani.

The Senate heard on Wednesday that contrary to the principles of Federal Character, the majority of the oil blocs in the country, even as President Godluck Jonathan was asked to revoke the licences and reaward all the blocs already allocated to Nigerians in an equitable manner.However, sources said that majority of northerners were infuriated over the allegations in the Senate, as according to

them, there were more Southerners whose names were not mentioned as among owners of oil blocs.

The information emerged as Senators debated the new Petroleum Industry Bill, PIB, which had since scaled the second reading and referred to the relevant committees for

further action.

Northern Senators had earlier insisted during the first reading of the bill Tuesday that allocations from the oil revenue were being mismanaged by the Niger Delta region and opposed the provision of the host community development fund in the PIB bill.

But when the Senate reconvened Wednesday, the Chairman, Senate Committee on Rules and Business, Senator Solomon Ita Enang, PDP, Akwa Ibom North/East who contributed to the debate said that 83 percent of the oil blocks were allocated to northerners in the country which was not in

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AGISTRATE Osodi Makanju of an Ikeja magistrate court sitting yesterday condemned the unnecessary adjournments sought by lawyers in bid to delay pending criminal matters.

The magistrate who was reacting to an adjournment sought by a defence counsel in a matter instituted by a retired admiral, Samuel kolawole against Mr clement Ogbonna and his brother, Mr clement both of whom are currently facing trial for alleged conspiracy, stealing and unlawfully invasion of the compound of the admiral.

According to Magistrate Makanju, “it is you lawyers that are respon-

BY ABDULWAHAB ABDULAH

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Gov. Obi (3rd left), handing over cheques totaling 50 million naira to Archbishop Valerian Okeke (3rd right), for the continued rehabilitation of schools returned to the church by the State.

sible for delays in trials while you now blame judges after all, this matter is not denovo. It

is a part-heard matter.

The matter was later adjourned till March

17th for cross examination and for admission of all evidence at the scene.

Over 60,000 Nigerian women die annually of complications in pregnancy — NPHDA

BY PETER DURU MAKURDI

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O fewer than 60,000 Nigerian women die annually as a result of complications in pregnancy and dearth of qualified healthcare givers to cater for pregnant women in the country.

This was disclosed recently in Makurdi by the Director General of National Primary Health Care Development Agency, Dr. Ado Mohammed, while

flagging off the scholarship scheme instituted by CapacityPlus Nigeria for 874 student Nurses, Midwifery and Community Health Extension Workers drawn from health institutions across the country.

Mohammed said, “with close to 60,000 pregnant women dying annually as a result of lack of well trained personnel and complications in pregnancy, it is indeed a welcome relief to see this initiative by CapacityPlus become a reality in Nigeria.”

Represented by a

Director in the Agency, Dr. Eric Nwanze, the Director General added that initiative would go a long way in addressing the dearth of professionals in the health sector especially in the training of nurses and midwives.”

Presenting the cheques to benefiting students, Country Representative of CapacityPlus, a USAID funded Organisation, Samuel Ngobua said the “idea was targeted at addressing the worldwide shortage of workers in the health sector which has been put at 4.5 million by the World Health Organization findings.

Reps member faults amnesty call for Boko Haram

BY TAYE OBATERU Jos

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E M B E R representing Jos South/Jos East Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Mr. Bitrus Kaze has joined in condemnation of calls for the granting of amnesty

Lukman; former Minister of Defence and Chief of Army Staff, General Theophilus Danjuma, rtd, Alhaji Aminu Dantata, Col. Sani Bello, rtd; Alhaji Mai Deribe from Borno State; Mallam Sanusi Lamido, Alhaji Saleh Gambo, Emeka Offor, Mike Adenuga and Yinka Folawiyo among others.

NNPC manager arraigned over N285.2 million fraud

Magistrate chides lawyers for delaying cases

BY MICHAEL OLADEPO

consonance with Federal Character principle.

Names of those said to have been allocated oil blocs in the country included late President Umaru Yar’Adua; former Vice President, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar; the Emir of Kano, Ado Bayero; former Minister of Petroleum, Dr. Rilwanu

to members of the Boko Haram Sect describing it an a confirmation of beliefs that they have backers in high places.

He said in a statement made available to journalists in Jos yesterday that the call by the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Mohammad Sa’ad Abubakar III and Northern Governors

Forum for members of the sect to be granted amnesty was contrary to the country’s constitution and other laws of the land.

“Coming at a time when security reports from terrorists’ training camps in Mali have established links between Boko Haram and Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb, the advocacy for amnesty in

favour of Boko Haram offends the Nigerian Terrorism (Prevention) Act, 2011 which provides for effective implementation of the several international Conventions on the Prevention, Financing and Combating of Terrorism to which Nigeria is a signatory.

former depot supervisor of Total Nigeria Plc, Emmanuel Abulude, was yesterday arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, before an Ikeja high court for allegedly stealing petroleum products worth N285.2 million.

The former oil company official was charged on a one-count charge of stealing by fraudulent conversion before Justice Lateefa Okunnu with his company, Emmanbyink Ventures Limited.

Abulude was alleged to have obtained the sum of N285.2 million representing the proceeds of 92 trucks of petroleum products between September 2011 and January 2012 .

As a depot supervisor at the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, Mosimi, Lagos, the defendant was accused

of failure to remit the sum to his employers.

According to him, Abulude’s alleged offence contravene Section 285 (9)(b) of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State 2011.

He however pleaded not guilty to the charge.

Ruling on his bail application, Justice Okunnu granted him bail in the sum of N20 million with two sureties in like sum, while making it mandatory for the sureties to be gainfully employed and resident in Lagos State.

She said one of the surety must own a property of substantial value in Lagos State while the other surety must be a blood relative of the defendant. She further ruled that the sureties are to produce evidence of three years tax clearance payable to the Lagos State Government, as she ordered the defendant to report once in a month at the EFCC office in Lagos throughout the duration of the case. The matter was adjourned to June 5 for trial.

You do not know what you’re doing, Cleric tells Gov Obi

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HAT promised to be a mild drama was abruptly aborted when, at Ogidi Boys High School, yesterday, in the course of Governor Peter Obi’s routine visit to schools, the Catholic Archbishop of Onitsha, Most Reverend Valerian Okeke looked Obi in the face and said to him: ‘You do not know what you’re doing.’ When everybody was ready to receive the bombshell the Archbishop explained: ‘Mr Governor, I said you do not know what you’re doing because all the sacrifices you are making today, the efforts to revitalize institutions of state, to build roads, hospitals, schools, industries and so on, you do not know the impact they will have on the society in ten years time. You are really God’s wonderful gift to Anam-

bra State.’

The Archbishop lamented what he called four wasted decades in Anambra State consequent upon the forceful takeover of mission schools which the State turned into a den for training armed robbers and all manners of vile characters that made the State rather than continue in the tradition of excellence, to embarrassingly become an exporter of criminals to other parts of the country.

The Archbishop said he was happy that Obi’s seven years as Governor had been devoted to reversing this trend. He insisted that today, even those in the opposition had continued to concede that he has done better than any other Governor since Anambra State was created.

SATURDAY Vanguard, MARCH 9, 2013 — 9

Amnesty slots: Ex-militants set ablaze gas pipeline in Delta •Give FG 7-day ultimatum

BY EMMA AMAIZE, Regional Editor, South South & FESTUS AHON

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USPECTED exmilitants set ablaze, in the early hours of yesterday, a gas pipeline in OML 30, formerly belonging to Shell Petroleum Development Company, SPDC, in Ughelli North Local Government Area of Delta State.

Saturday Vanguard was reliably informed that exagitators who carried out the action were protesting the non- documentation of 315 ex-militant camps in Delta state by the Presidential Inter-Agency Task Force handling induction for the third phase amnesty programme.

The affected gas pipeline is located between Gana in Agbarha –Otor , Afiesere and Ekrajebu communities. An official of SPDC, however, said the company had divested its concerns in OML 30 the Nigeria Petroleum Development Company, NPDC and was , therefore, not in a position to make comments.

A source, who confirmed the incident at about 10.30 am , yesterday, said, “As I speak to you, the gas pipeline is still aflame.”

The ex-combatants in a statement by the group’s action chairman, Chuku Ceey Gbegbedemu, said, “At about 1.55 am today (Friday), in Ughelli North, location between Gana in Agbarha Otor, Afiesere and Ekrajebu communities in Ughelli North, a gas pipeline belonging to Shell Petroleum Development Company was and set on fire”.

“We will continue to destroy oil installations and oil companies in Delta state are advised to pack until we get our amnesty slots. This is just a warning.

Federal Government must document the remaining 315 ex-militant camps in Delta state like was done in phase one and two.

“If not, there will be no peace in Niger-Delta, the federal government has just seven days to answer us or all the gas plants in the region will be exploded,” he said.

Officials of the Delta Waterways Security Committee, DWSC, intervened in the matter, yesterday, to ensure that the ex-militants stopped the violence and pass their grievances to appropriate authorities.

Last week, civil society groups, activists and stakeholders met in Warri with a call on the Federal Government to cancel the ongoing third phase

amnesty induction, as external forces had hijacked it.

In a statement issued at the end of the meeting, the coalition demanded that the committee in charge of the documentation of the third phase amnesty programme be called to order, saying,” Its actions are arbitrary and inimical for the well being of the Niger-Delta region.”

HISTORY ON INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY: Chief Judge of Ogun State, Hon. Justice Olatokunbo Olopade; newly sworn in first female Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Mrs. Abimbola Ibironke Akeredolu; the state Governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun; and newly sworn in Solicitor General and Permanent Secretary, Mrs. Patricia Funmilola Oduniyi; during the inauguration of the two female officials in Abeokuta...yesterday

Amosun swears in first female Attorney General O

GUN State Governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, yesterday swore in the first female Attorney

General (AG) since the creation of the state in 1976.

She is Barrister Mrs Abimbola Ibironke

Akeredolu.

The Governor also swore in Barrister Mrs Patricia Funmilola Oduniyi as Solicitor General

and Permanent Secretary.

Speaking at the inauguration ceremony attended by the Chief

Matron abducted in Delta •abductors demand N25 million ransom •Nurses embark on work-to-rule

BY FESTUS AHON, Ughelli

M

ATRON of Government Hospital Isiokolo, headquarter of Ethiope East Local Government Area, Delta State, Mrs. Blessing Affe has been abducted by yet unknown gunmen.

The gunmen who stormed the hospital premises in a Toyota Camry car at about 8:15am intercepted Mrs Blessing Affe at the gate, brought her out of her car and forced her into their car amidst sporadic gun shots.

According to a reliable source, the suspected kidnappers trailed Mrs Blessing Affe from her home. As at the time of filing this report, the suspected kidnappers were demanding N25 million ransom for the release of Mrs Blessing Affe.

Meanwhile, nurses attached to the hospital have embarked on workto-rule-in protest against the kidnap of their colleague, thereby paralyzing activities at the hospital, which was opened in 2010.

The decision to embark on the work-to-rule, the Saturday Vanguard

gathered was sequel to the directive of the State chairman of National Association of Nigerian Nurses and Midwives, Mr. Egiro Egbedi.

The hospital source,

who spoke to newsmen on condition of anonymity, said the nurses would not resume work until their colleague was released.

When contacted, the

Police Public Relation Officer, Mr. Famous Ajieh said he was yet to be briefed on the matter.

However, a senior police officer attached to the Isiokolo Police Division confirmed the incident and said the police was on top the issue.

Slain politician’s brother alerts Urhobo on pseudo group

A

non-governmental organisations (NGOs), Ogbe Political Change (OPC) and Urhobo Newface Association (UNA) have alerted the Urhobo people to be weary of a group, Urhobo Youth Council, purportedly fighting for them.

At a recent joint press conference held in Lagos, the group’s chairman, Diemo Dinolarge Onokpite alleged that the UYC’s President, Baro and his group have being collecting not less than N20 million from DESOOPADEC without distributing the largesse to the Urhobo people they claimed to represent and their campaign slogan is “marginalisation of the Urhobo people” when in real sense they are the

ones marginalising the Urhobo people. What a game of betrayal?

Diemo who described the UYC executives as charlatans recalled with nostalgia how his slain brother, Chief Ogbe Onokpite single handedly fought for the over 6,000 pipeline surveillance job for the Urhobo people and their inclusion in President Jonathan’s government.

While calling on the good people of Urhobo to discard the UYC members, said that most of the executive members of his group are currently being threatened.

He said that only recently, his Secretary, Wilson Oghenekpobo Akpos was threatened by suspected members of UYC in Warri.

“So, you are aligning

and signing document with those people in Lagos. Remember that we are all in Warri with you that was what they told my secretary ”.

Diemo said.

The OPC Chairman however stated that should anything happened to his Secretary, Mr. Akpos, the UYC chairman Mr. Baro and his group should be held responsible.

He, however implored the well meaning people of the Urhobo extraction not to be deceived by those he referred to as charlatans whose stock in trade was to short change the people.

Diemo also enjoined the Urhobo people to be conscious and weary of the type of leaders they selected to represent them.

Judge of Ogun State, Justice Mrs Olatokunbo Olopade and immediate past Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr Wemimo Ogunde (SAN), at the Governor ’s Office in Abeokuta, Amosun recalled that this was the first time the entire top echelons of the justice system in the state would be manned by women.

He told the two women to see their inauguration on “the day the world is celebrating International Women’s Day” as a call to service. ”We must ensure that the confidence reposed in us by the electorate is not misplaced,” he said.

The state helmsman praised the immediate past AG, noting that “he worked diligently well.”

The Oath of Allegiance, Oath of Office and Oath of Secrecy were administered on the new officials by 9.15am.The new Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Mrs Abimbola Akeredolu, was born in 1964 and secured degrees and certificates at the University of Lagos as well as institutions in France and Italy.

Her appointment brings the number of women in the Cabinet of Ogun State to 12, thus making the state the most gender-friendly in the country.

Mrs Patricia Funmilola Oduniyi graduated from the University of Ife (now Obafemi Awolowo University) in 1983 and was until now the Director of Public Prosecutions in the Ministry of Justice.

10 — SATURDAY Vanguard, MARCH 9, 2013

ALLEGATIONS OF SEXUAL ABUSE BY PRIESTS:

Should Cardinals revisit celibacy?

By CHIOMA GABRIEL

F

ollowing Pope Benedict XVI’s abrupt resignation allegedly prompted by a secret report revealing sex and graft scandals inside the Vatican, much has been said about continued celibacy of priests in the Catholic Church. Indeed, the pre-conclave meeting of Cardinals on election of a new Pope serves as an opportunity to revisit the oath of celibacy taken by priests at ordination.

Miffed by the secret report he got last December involving priests in the Church, the Pope emeritus had allegedly decided to bow out. This was the same man who wrung his hands above his head in triumph when he emerged as Pope in St Peter’s eight years ago.

He had longed to be Pope. He had loved being Pope. He expected to die as Pope. But then, he realised it was easier said than done.

Arguably, the law of celibacy is a latecomer in the Catholic Church and was imposed on priests and bishops. Modern scholars trace the beginnings of this tradition to the apostolic church itself.

The Council of Carthage in 390 AD said that it was fitting that those who were at the service of divine sacraments be perfectly continent so that what the apostles taught and its antiquity be maintained. The Catholic Church saw the doctrine as the imitation of the celibate Christ who remained unmarried for the sake of the kingdom.

However, it is known from Biblical records that Christ called people like Peter from married life to be part of the twelve apostles. Several verses in the Bible talk about Peter’s mother-in-law.

Apostle John was an unmarried man.

Apostle Paul, not originally of the twelve, presented celibacy and virginity as the way to please God without divided interests.

Paul said to the Corinthian Church, “It is good for a man not to marry. But since there is so much immorality, each man should have his own wife and each woman her own husband.

“If they cannot control themselves, they should marry, for it is better to marry than to burn with passion.” (1 Corinthians 7:12,9).

Nowhere in the Old or New Testament does Scripture suggest that people should marry the Temple or the Church. The vow of celibacy therefore seems to have no concrete basis within the scripture.

It must also be pointed out that there is no obligation on anyone to become a priest, even after successfully completing all the required studies. It is the calling from God through his Church and communicated to the candidate by his Bishop. But once, one has chosen to become a priest of the Catholic church, he is to abide by the laws, rules and regulations of the church as is done in social clubs or organisations.

Celibacy is one of the most distinct features of the Catholic tradition but over the years, this discipline is being flaunted by priests and severally, scandals have broken out in the church

about the inability of priests to keep to this tradition. Instead of the doctrine of priests being wed to the church and loving the church with an exclusive love which cannot be shared, priests are now either reverting to homosexualism and secret or open affairs with the opposite sex.

In a sex-drenched society of today, the idea of a full-blooded man taking a life-long oath of celibacy appears preposterous. It is believed that abstinence is impossible and pledging abstinence is ridiculous.

Whenever crisis erupts over any form of sexual abuse in the Catholic Church, it is perceived as the betrayal of the faithful. Catholic priests are assumed by many to be miserable in their celibacy. But that might not be true. Priests

row reportedly told parishioners that he was taking a stand against the constitutional amendment seeking to overturn a State Supreme Court ruling in 2008 that allowed same-sex marriage.

He also told Channel 30 that he is gay.

In 2009, a Miami Priest at St. Francis de Sales known as Father Alberto Cutie left the Catholic Church amid an uproar over tabloid photos of him kissing his girlfriend, Ms Carnellis on the beach. Cutie, a handsome charismatic TV talk show host, radio personality, newspaper columnist and author, said he had been struggling with celibacy for years. Soon after that, he made that relationship official and married the woman he was involved with for about two years.

Reverend Father Alberto Cutie did

emony. This marriage was arranged by Reverend Sun Myung Moon of the Unification Church (a sect that critics refer to as the ‘Moonies’).

Pope John Paul II was able to convince Archbishop Malingo to leave Maria Sung, and he was reconciled to the Church, but Malingo later went back to Maria Sung.

Malingo’s arguement was that St. Peter was a married man, so also many of the apostles.

It is estimated that over 50,000 priests have abandoned priesthood to get married.

A new association called Married Priests Now are calling for the Catholic Church to reconcile with priests who are now married.But the Church would not condone it. In 2006, Archbishop Malingo and the four married priests he ordained were excommunicated by the Catholic Church which nullified their consecration.

In March 2009, the outgoing Archbishop of New York said in a radio interview that the celibacy requirement has to be looked into, given the dwindling number of priests. “I think that it’s going to be discussed”, Cardinal Edward M. Egan said.

To buttress the above, research showed that the United States had 57,000 priests for 52 million Catholics in 1985 and by 2008, there were fewer than 41,000 for 64 million Catholics.

In Nigeria, the story is not different. During the Third Republic, one of the factors used against a Catholic priest who later

Paul said to the Corinthian Church, “It is good for a man not to marry. But since there is so much immorality, each man should have his own wife and each woman her own husband” are known to love their vocation and given a second chance, majority of priests would still want to become priests.

Over the years, the press has been agog with sexual malpractices by priests of the Catholic Church. It is always big news when a Catholic priest is caught in a compromising situation with the other sex! This is common overseas but suppressed in Nigeria even though some priests in Nigeria are breaking the celibacy vow too!

In September 2008, a Catholic priest in Fresno, California, Reverend Father Farrow, told a local TV station that he is gay. He told his parishioners at Mass that he was opposing a Catholic-church-supported referendum that would overturn same sex marriage in that state.

He packed up his office and home and left. On that Sunday, Father Far-

not give up his priestly role before he had an illicit adulterous relationship with a woman. From the Catholic perspective, he has transgressed his vow of celibacy.

The situation was even worsened that the relationship was with a divorced woman, Ms Carnellis . The Catholic Church has a hard stance against divorce. It was adultery because she is divorced (Matthew 5:3132). He broke the celibacy vow made before God. He later left the faith and joined the Episcopal Church. Cutie said in an interview later that Catholic priests should be given the choice to marry.

In Kenya, Catholics have been urged to shun rebel priests who have left the priesthood to marry or join new churches.

In New York in May of 2001, Archbishop Malingo from Zambia at the age of 71, married Maria Sung, a 43-year-old Korean acupuncturist in a group marriage cer-

became a governor of one of the 36 states was the allegation that he had children outside priesthood. During his political

days as governor and even afterwards, he was known to be decked in traditional attires and not priesthood robe but that did not suggest he was suspended or excommunicated. A few years ago, a Nigerian priest in the US was allegedly excommunicated because of his sexual escapades. As Cardinals begin pre-conclave meeting ahead of electing the next Pope, it will not be out of place to suggest that celibacy of priests be revisited.

SATURDAY Vanguard, MARCH 9, 2013—11

By Olayinka Ajayi

Hubby wants to divorce wife for nagging, cheating

S

unday Ogbes has dragged his wife Ngozy Og

Cardinals conclude pre-Conclave meetings ahead of new Pope’s election

By EMMANUEL EDUKUGHO

C

ARDINALS started last Monday (4/3/2013) what was termed as General Congregations — which are preliminary discussions to get to know each other and most importantly to decide when to start the conclave that would elect the new pontiff.

The successor to Benedict XVI would be elected next week and installed some days after just in time to enable him preside over the Holy Week ceremonies climaxing the Lenten season and culminating with Palm Sunday on March 24, ending the following Sunday which is Easter.

Among the agenda for the General Congregations are discussing the challenges likely to be faced by the new Pope especially in the wake of the devastating sexual abuse scandals involving priests, corruption, money laundering financial mismanagement and rivalries in Vatican administrative hierarchy.The pre-Conclave meetings have been concluded.

On the balance of assessment, for now, there are no clear front runners for the papacy race, although speculations are everywhere on who are likely to be elected.

Scandals that have gripped church administration make the process of the Conclave more complex than ever before.

Vatican watchers believed that the next Pope may not be favoured to have too long a tenure, moreso when last occupant of the post stayed barely for eight years before resigning.

A parishioner at St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church, Okokomaiko who spoke with Saturday Vanguard said he preferred a Pope that has a global vision, with determination to clean up the bureaucracy which had been enmeshed in corruption and some other scandals.

How the Conclave will be?

There are 115 voting cardinals while two may not attend. According to reliable source, four votes are cast daily — two in the morning and two in the afternoon. After three days, voting would be suspended for a full day to allow a break or pause for prayer and informed discussion among the voters (Cardinal – electors), and brief spiritual exaltation.

Then seven more ballots and another break up to a full day, followed by another seven more ballots and another break for up to a full day. Then seven ballots again, then a break to consider how to proceed.

In the afternoon of another day, the Cardinal electors move into Domus Sanctae Marthae. In the evening, they will have dinner together.

At 10 a.m. on another day, there will be Mass for election of the Supreme pontiff (St. Peter’s Basillica). At 4.30 p.m., there will be a procession of Cardinal electors from the Hall of Blessings to Sistine Chapel. In the evening of same day, there will be one or two votes cast.

At another day, regular schedule for a day in the Conclave.

At 7.30 a.m., Mass at Domus Sanctae Marthae, while 9.00 a.m. Lauds in the Sistine Chapel followed by two rounds of voting. At 12 noon, ballots from the morning votes are burned.

At 4.00 p.m, there will be two rounds of voting followed by Vespers, while at 7.00 pm.

Ballots from the afternoon votes burned.

Note that only one “Smoke Signal” each morning and afternoon. If the first round of voting in a given morning and afternoon is successful, it meas that a Pope is elected. Then the white smoke will appear earlier. If a white smoke is seen, a Pope has been chosen. The main bells at St. Peter’s Basillica will also be rang. But if black smoke appears, then no Pope has been chosen.

Once white smoke appears, it will be another hour or so until the new Pope is introduced by the Senior Cardinal — Deacon at St. Peter ’s Square.

Vatican watchers believed that the next Pope may not be favoured to have too long a tenure, moreso when last occupant of the post stayed barely for eight years before resigning

bes, a trader before the Ajegunle Ifelodun Cus tomary court Grade “A” to dissolve their 20-year old marriage. In his submission, he said his wife’s fighting and adulterous attitude necessitated the divorce. “She has fought virtually everybody in the compound and she was caught having illicit affair with a pastor and when I confronted her, she embarrassed me publicly, a situation that almost cost me my job.”

He however added that all efforts to make her turn a new live were to no avail. “Family and friends had tried in their own ways to make her amend her ways but she fights them in return.”

It was however revealed in the court that Sunday Ogbes had left his matrimonial home for six years as a result of consisent embarrasment he got from his wife.

Reacting to the allegations leveled against her by her husband. Ngozi Ogbes emotionally replied that everything her husband said about her was not true adding that they were good friends when she was the breadwinner but things turned sour when he got a job. She told the court: “I used to be the bread winner of the family when he was jobless, now he calls me all sorts of names and he finds faults in everything I do because he has a job that pays him well.”

She further stated ,“what he called an embarrassment was the day he refused to give us money to eat and we had a little argument outside.”

However, the husband prayed the court to give him the custody of his three children . He further prayed the court to ask her to leave his home and promised to rent her a one bed room apartment for two years after which she would be responsible for the rent. He also accused his wife of not allowing his children to go to school after their school fees had been paid.

The president of the court, after admonishing the couple not to molest each other adjourned judgement till 4th of April, 2013.

14 years after marriage, wife sues for divorce No reason for dissolution- court

T

he customary court of Ajeromi-Ifelodun, has recently ordered a couple Mr Musibawu Eg beyemi and Mrs. Moriamo Egbeyemi to come up with tangible evidences before court if the couple truly want to dissolve their holy matrimony. The President Mr. C.O. Magekodumi however handed down this judgement to the couple after hearing both the petitioner and the defendant (couple) on dissolution of marriage file by the petitioner, Moriamoh Egbeyemi against her husband.

The couple, who were married for 14-years, are blessed with three children, a young boy and two girls. As if 14 good years were not enough to understand each other in order to live peacefully as husband and wife, the wife while addressing the court accused her hubby of not taking proper care of his family “I am fed up with the marriage. What is the essence of getting married to a man that cannot afford to provide the basic things a family needs?” she asked.

The defendant, Musibawu emotionally reacted to her accusation, agreeing to go ahead with the divorce. When asked by the court the reason behind agreement, he told the court that if the wife could file a divorce suit because he is going through challenges that are normal to humans, then she has made up her mind .“If my going through a little challenge that is normal to man can spur my wife to leave our matrimonial home with my two children for another man, then she can do the unexpected. I am ready for the divorce as long as my children are under my custody” The court however admonished the couple to come up with facts that will justify their dissolution by the court. The case has been adjourned till 28th of March 2013.

12—SATURDAY Vanguard, MARCH 9, 2013

Cardinal

Norberto Rivera Carrera, Mexico

Cardinal Oscar Rodriguez Maradiaga

Cardinal Angelo Scola, Italy

Cardinal Timothy Dolan

Conclave 2013 Sex abuse victims’ network names dozen would-be Popes

By Sam Eyoboka with Agency reports

A

S Catholic cardi nals begin the pro cess to elect a new Pope who will succeed Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI, a sex abuse victims’ network has named a “Dirty Dozen” of cardinals who are contenders for the role of next pope. The list, compiled by Survivors’ Network of those Abused by Priests (SNAP) and based on each individual’s actions and statements re-child abuse and a Church cover-up in the church, includes some frontrunners for the position.

The cardinals on the list have not responded to it. Vatican spokesman Federico Lombardi said: “It is not up to SNAP to decide who comes to conclave and who is chosen.”

SNAP’s executive director, David Clohessy, said the group had focused on candidates who had the best chances of being nominated pope.

The following 12 papal candidates are the ones that we are most worried about becoming the next pope. These 12 were chosen based exclusively on their actions and/or public comments about child sex abuse and cover up in the church. Sources include mainstream media accounts, legal

filings and victims’ experiences. The names are in no particular order.

1) Cardinal Norberto Rivera Carrera, Mexico

H

e blamed the media for “attacks on the church,” alleging “over-reporting” of church sex cases. He claimed that there are no “documented” cases of abuse against minors in Mexico. He also repeatedly minimized and concealed multiple child sex abuse allegations against Fr.

media was anti-Catholic and that the major networks and newspapers “made themselves protagonists of what I do not hesitate to define as a persecution of the church.” He also opposes bishops turning allegations of clerical sexual abuse over to civil authorities for investigation and possible prosecution. “I would be willing to go to jail before harming one of my priests. I am not a policeman,” he said.

3) Cardinal Timothy

These 12 were chosen based exclusively on their actions and/or public comments about child sex abuse and cover up in the church Nicholas Aguilar Rivera who traveled between his native Mexico and the Los Angeles archdiocese, molesting kids in both places. Aguilar Rivera’s current whereabouts are unknown.

2) Cardinal Oscar Rodriguez Maradiaga, Honduras

He said much of the U.S.

Dolan, New York

In August of 2011, Dolan took minimal steps against Fr. Jamie Duenas, who repeatedly abused a teenage girl who worked for him and was arrested. Instead of helping the police or the victim, Dolan attacked the victim on his official website for going back to work after the first assault. That same year, Dolan kept silent for

nine months about the case of Brother Lawrence Gordon, an assistant principal who had child porn on his computer.

Such delays and secrecy give predators ample time to potentially destroy evidence, intimidate victims, discredit witnesses, threaten whistleblowers, and fabricate alibis. Internal church documents released by a judge last summer show that Dolan devised a secret plan to pay pedophile priests $20,000 each to quietly leave the ministry. Some of the clerics went elsewhere, but Dolan warned no one. At least 12 priests are known to have gotten payouts. In 2007, Dolan publicly and vehemently denied paying off offender priests after it was discovered that one notorious priest child sex offender, Fr Franklyn Becker, was given money.

4) Cardinal Angelo Scola, Italy

I

n 2010, when Pope Bene dict’s role in the sex abuse and cover up crisis was questioned in news accounts, Scola publicly called the coverage an “iniquitous humiliation.” In a 2010 homily delivered at St. Peter’s Basilica, Scola referred to the clergy sex abuse crisis, offered no apology to victims and shifted blame and minimized church wrongdoing

Cardinal

Dominik Duka, Czech Rep

by stressing that pedophilia “concerns different environments and different categories of persons” outside the church.

5) Cardinal George Pell, Australia

H

e claims that church has been a victim of “smears” in the media about child abuse, there are no cover ups, and that it is untrue that the church officials are “inefficient” in handling child abuse cases. He worked to secure a court file in which it allegedly states that Pell was present when a boy spoke up about being raped by a priest.

Pell called the victim’s statements “irresponsible and untrue.” Pell does not believe that the royal commission investigating clergy sex crimes and cover ups needs to take place.

6) Cardinal Dominik Duka, Czech Republic

He claimed that reporting

SATURDAY Vanguard, MARCH 9, 2013—13

Cardinal Leonardo Sandri, Argentina

CardinalGeorgePell

Cardinal Tarsicio Bertone, Italy

about the abuse of kids in Irish schools was an attempt to “push the church from its position in the upbringing and education” of children. (It’s not clear why he feels he has expertise in clergy sex abuse and cover up cases that took place in Ireland.) He also claimed that only 10% of accusations against priests are proven.

7) Cardinal Tarsicio Bertone, Italy

H

e does not believe that a bishop should be required to report a priest who has been accused of sex abuse, saying “if a priest cannot confide in his bishop for fear of being denounced it would mean there is no more liberty of conscience.” He blames the child sex abuse epidemic on the “homosexual infiltration” of the clergy.

8) Cardinal Donald Wuerl, Washington D.C.

Cardinal Donald Wuerl, Washington D.C.

In 2010, he refused to take action about Fr. Walter Salisbury – a priest who had been convicted twice of abusing children – who was quietly sent to Maine and continued working there, without any warning whatsoever to parishioners and the public. In 2004, he refused to help warn West Virginia families about an abusive Pittsburgh priest (Fr. Jack Hoehl) who was practicing in that state as a counselor. He refused, in two dioceses, to take the simple public safety step of posting the names of proven, admitted and credibly accused priests on his diocesan websites. (Some 30 US bishops have done this.)

9) Cardinal Marc Ouellet, Quebec, Canada

H

e gave a homily dedi cated to clerical sex abuse, talking about the need to open pathways for victims

Cardinal Marc Ouellet, Quebec, Canada

to come forward, but reportedly refused to meet with victims.

He claims that church’s abuse response should be a model for others. He was involved in the recent Cardinal O’Brien resignation, allegedly brokering the deal, which perpetuated the unhealthy practice of essentially letting wrongdoers determine their own punishment (instead of church supervisors clearly and publicly sanctioning those who commit or conceal misdeeds).

10) Cardinal Sean O’Malley, Boston

I

 Cardinal

n 2008, a national church panel found that, for the second year in a row, O’Malley was violating the US bishops’ child sex abuse prevention policy.

According to other church officials, O’Malley was refusing to train all kids in his archdiocese how to avoid or stop being victimized. O’Malley

Peter Turkson, Ghana

Cardinal Sean O’Malley, Boston

also failed to discipline a single individual on his staff for this violation. In 2006, in a case with disturbing parallels to many earlier Boston pedophile priest cases, O’Malley moved very slowly in the case of a prominent Catholic hospital official who faces multiple allegations of sexually harassing employees. Under O’Malley’s watch, the archdiocesan abuse policy was revised, eliminating a provision that required the immediate removal of accused priests, and severely limited survivors’ access to archdiocesan files about their cases.

Also, under O’Malley’s leadership, the archdiocese “cleared” a very high percentage of accused priests (45%, whereas most diocese have a 10% clearance rate), and has also failed to rule on at least 15 cases. O’Malley was one of the last US bishops to post the names of proven, admitted and

credibly accused child molesting clerics on his website, and when he did, he disingenuously left off roughly one third of the priests – those who worked for religious orders.

11) Cardinal Leonardo Sandri, Argentina

S

andri is closely tied to the controversial Cardinal Angelo Sodano, who was a staunch and disingenuous supporter of Fr. Marcial Maciel. In 2004, at a basilica in Rome, Sandri also read a letter publicly supporting Maciel and spoke of his allegedly good works. Sandri remains a consummate Vatican insider.

He’s spent roughly 40 years there.

12) Cardinal Peter Turkson, Ghana

H

e recently claimed that there were few child molesting clerics in Africa because they didn’t tolerate gay people there.

14—SA TURD AY 14—SATURD TURDA

Vanguard, MARCH 9,, 2013

Challenges in office are making me stronger —Ngozi Braide

D

eputy Superinten dent of Police,Ngozi Conchita Braide as sumed office nine months ago as the Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer. She was the first female officer to occupy such position, having been in the Police Force for over 12 years.

She joined the Nigeria Police in 1996 as a Cadet Inspector and attended several professional courses within and outside Nigeria.She attended the Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms Academy, Atlanta, United States where she obtained a certificate in International Post-blast Investigation in 2000.

She also attended a course in Psychotraumaology, debriefing and diffusing course in Switzerland in 2001.

She was also part of a prosecution course at the Nigeria Police Detective College, Enugu in 1999 and successfully participated in two United Nations Peace Keeping Operations and was also in UNMIK Kosovo in 2000 .

In the United Nations Peace Keeping Operation in Liberia in 2006, she was appointed the head of Finance Unit of the United Nations Police and also served with International Criminal Police Organisation, INTERPOL, between 1999 – 2003.

At INTERPOL, she was attached to Organized Crime Division, OCD and from 2003 to 2007, worked at Force Intelligence Bureau (FIB) and Special Fraud Unit (SFU from 2007 – 2012.

In her current assignment as Police PRO in Lagos, she has recorded achievements and challenges.In this interview SATURDAY with VANGURAD, she shares her

experiences and her challenges and how she has been able to cope.

How has it been since you commenced this assignment?

To me, I would say it has been very interesting. I have no regrets being here. In about three months to come, I would be celebrating one year in the office. And just like I told you when I started the job, I would not fail because I love what I am doing. I would be up and doing, I have learnt a lot just like I told you nine months ago.I still welcome advice from anybody:journalists, the public and also from my colleagues. Their advice have really helped me a lot. So, it has been very interesting. I have been enjoying every bit of my stay here.

What have been your major challenges in the

,

By CHIOMA GABRIEL

Braide..We are very free with members of the public would like you.Some people would just hate you. That is one of the challenges but, I do not see it as a challenge. At times, people are being impatient. For instance, when they are trying to confirm a story. If a story just broke up and you are trying to get concrete information about the story, the people would be mounting pressure on you because, they are under pressure from their bosses.

Maybe you are trying to tell them to give you sometime to do a proper investigation that the D.P.O in charge of the case cannot handle it alone and they fail to understand, that is really another challenge; people not believing in you especially members of the public even when you are trying to tell them the truth.

The IGP and Lagos CP are very focused. The problem in the country is corruption and these two people I am working with will turn around things for good

office?

Yes, in any establishment you work, there must be challenges and what you need is God’s grace, faith and no condemnation. If people start saying that you are a very nice person, that you don’t have problems, you should know that you are not doing anything.

My belief is, in any establishment you find yourself and everybody is praising you, you should know that you are not doing anything. If you are doing the right thing, not everybody

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That is a very big challenge.

Because they have this poor notion about the police, when you are trying to explain to them, they will believe that you are lying to them.

Has the relationship between police and the general public improved?

Yes, you should be able to say that. The IGP and Lagos CP are very focused. They are real about the issues affecting the people.

The problem in the country is corruption and these two people I am working with are here to turn around things for

good. The IGP has very wonderful ideas. Discipline is the major thing in this profession, and the rate of discipline in this job is very high now. We have assessed the areas where we feel are behind,and I think we have improved in those areas. We are very free with members of the public. It is left for the public to judge us in this respect, but if you ask me, I would say that we have really improved in all areas.

What areas are you talking about now?

In terms of ensuring security in the state, relating with members of the public, fighting corruption and the extortion we were always accused of.

You would see that it is difficult to associate all those things with us these days.

Generally, in terms of fighting corruption, crimes and so on, we have improved.

I don’t know whether you were able to see our crime statistics last year, you would find out that the crime rate reduced very well here in Lagos State.The crime rate was very low in 2012 compared to how it was in 2011.

This means our men are more serious and we also want to sustain the legacy of the state governor. The governor has been quite wonderful in terms of giving equipment to the police command.

There is this issue of the police working in conjuction with the Lagos State Government to okada dispossess poor riders, of their means of livelihood.

It was not just the governor that made that law. He also consulted with other people

like the Local Government Chairmen and other people in authority. When they met, they discovered that there are several disadvantages in these motorcycles(Okada business),than the advantages. Okada riders were involved in different kinds of crime. We found out that 90% of robbery cases last year was committed with okada. You discover that in the day, they will rob with the okada. Because of the type of traffic we have here in Lagos State, it would become impossible to pursue them with vehicles.

They use okada to go to banks to rob, they kidnap and cause high rate of accidents.

They do all sorts of things.

They do not obey traffic laws.

There is a law that was meant for okada riders but they do not obey anything. They don’t understand what traffic law is all about. In fact, they constituted nuisance. To me, the ban of okada on certain routes is one of the best decisions the government has taken.

They did not ban it on all the roads. It is only on some routes but you will still see them plying the banned routes. The next thing, they will try to lie against the police that they have been arrested on the roads that they have not been banned from.

There are lots of things that the law said. It is not just don’t ply this route or that. If you are plying the appropriate route and you are still violating some of the rules stated on the road, you would be arrested. You see them carrying a pregnant woman which is against the law, or

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Vanguard, MARCH 9,, 2013—15

Continued from page 14 carrying a child below 12 years, some of them don’t wear their crash helmets and as soon as an accident happens, they would die instantly because, they would hit their heads on the ground immediately.

someone come here and say that I came here because, I have something in common with a commissioner of police and she was bold enough to mention the commissioner’s name? That was what she went to the internet to put. The voting that brought me to Lagos was strictly a state voting. It was not a Federal Government voting. It is so unfortunate that somebody can put that online.

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•Braide..The crime rate was very low in 2012 compared to how it was in 2011.

‘90% of robbery cases last year was with ‘Okada’ must not be an exclusive, that people must have heard of it, that I was not around the day she said the incident happened. So, I told her to go ahead and publish the story that I don’t have money. She said that it was a very bad story. I quickly called her editor. I told her editor that this is what I am passing through.

The editor sympathized with me and told me that he was going to take care of it. You know, when she said that, I was provoked and my voice went up high, I was like, which story was that? I was shocked, the Crime Writers Association of Nigeria president came in with two other journalists. You can verify that. Whatever I am

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hey also carry overload, more than one person on the bike. We also found out that most of the motorcycles are not registered. You know, the general public do not take note of all these things. Most of them don’t have rider’s permit, you see them carrying load in front of the motorcycles making it impossible for them to ride well. In this case, both the okada rider and the passenger are offenders. So, we are assisting the government to make sure that the laws are obeyed.

What would you say you have done differently since you assumed office?

Well, when I assumed office, I established a radio programme for the command, “Lagos Crime Broadcast” where we interact with the general public every Wednesday by 10:30 am11:00 am on 103.5 FM here in Ikeja. So, I am always on air every Wednesday to talk with the general public and enlighten them on some issues. They also call me and ask questions, lay their complaints and we also discuss.It is an interactive session. I can say that this was created to bridge this gap in the police. I have equally gone to some schools to speak to students about this career. I still have other things I intend to achieve. It will be my desire to look behind and be happy with what I have done. I am still working on a whole lot of things.

There have been several reports against you in the internet.

Would you react to some of these allegations about you fighting in public and other negative things?

I am going to answer you. It is so unfortunate how people would wake up and want to run somebody down. There is this scenario that happened to me two weeks ago. One lady came to me and said she has a scandalous story against me and that I should give her N200, 000 so she wouldn’t publish the story, that the story is very bad. She alleged that the case is in court and that she even has pictures of where I was fighting in the public during the period of President Jonathan’s visit to the Police College at Ikeja. I told her that I was not in town during that period. She said that my breast was open in the pictures she had. The funniest thing was that the reporter said the thing happened in January and she called just two weeks ago. How come she was the only person who has the story? I told her that any story that can lead to stripping naked and soiling of clothes

behaving the way other PPRO behaved, that I have done two press briefings without inviting her. I told her that if I want anything , I would talk to her editor and not her. After trying to defraud me, she still expects me to invite her for press briefings. So, I told her that if I want to call anybody for any parading, I would call her editor to send somebody who would not want to frame me up. She said that the office is a public office and she hit her hands on my table. If you go to some of these online media, they reported all these things I am telling you. She even put the name of the newspaper she is freelancing for. Three other journalists who were there when the whole thing was

As a responsible mother, I try as much as possible to give my daughter the attention she needs

telling you now, you can verify that.

I knew this lady personally. She is a freelancer for one newspaper. She came to me a week after that incident because, my office according to her, is a public office. So she just walked in and started asking me why I don’t invite her for parades again.

You needed to see the manner this girl just barged into my office. I was discussing with three people and she just walked in. I can even mention the names of the people that were with me when she walked in. She said that I am not

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happening pleaded with her that she should leave the office for me. She came to provoke me so that she can use the story with which she wanted to extort money from me. So, she fleft the office and after she left, her editor called me and apologized on her behalf.

The next day, I started receiving calls that I was fighting in the office. I didn’t fight. Go to the command, carry out the investigation yourself. Start with my commissioner and every other person in the Lagos

command. Nothing like that ever happened. As you leave my office now, go and find out yourself. I was shocked when I heard that. I said, is this what this world is turning into? The internet has gone so bad that anybody posts whatever he/ she wants on the internet.

Let me tell you, from the way things are going, in the next 10 years, you would see every citizen of this country having a blog on the internet.

Other blogs just collected the story and kept escalating it without verifications. Nothing like that happened. For me to fight to the extent of tearing my clothes and going naked?

People must have seen that and nobody saw it. It is a very big lie. She even said that I brought out a dagger to stab her. Let me tell you something, I am not angry with her. She has succeeded in making me stronger. They should know that I was not elected or appointed to this office. I pass through interviews where I met many officers from the command. If you look at my profile, you will see that I have achieved a lot in this career. I have passed through many commissioners.

They were like my direct supervisors. And they will tell you about me. I know what to do and when to do it. I went for

promotion course in Jos in 2009. We were over 2000 and I came second and I was called

out and appreciated.Nobody wrote the exams for me. I was there for two months studying and I did very well in the exams. Then how can

ut what gave her the confidence to walk in here without fear of being arrested?

You know, when I asked her to leave my office, she went to the internet and said that I ordered her out of my office, that this is a public office. She believes that the office is for the general public. She walked in and was shouting at me. I said please, leave my office, you can’t be shouting at me in my office and she said she would not leave. Then, the following day, she went online.

Was there any reaction from your superiors regarding what happened?

No, because they were all surprised. It is just that I am not angry with her and I do not bear any grudges against her.

My CP was very surprised. I was even the person who told him what I was passing through in his office on Monday. He was so surprised.

Already, she had gone to say that they gave me query.

Meanwhile, there was no such thing.

Are you demoralized by what happened?

Like I told you before, it didn’t demoralise me. It rather made me stronger. People were calling me and I kept telling them that nothing like that happened. I also told myself, don’t be discouraged, it is the handiwork of Satan. I want to reassure people that I am here to serve the public and I would serve them better.

What happened has given me the courage to do more work and the courage to be a man instead of the woman I am. It is not going to pull me down.

As a career woman, family issues would usually try to pull you down, do you have such problem?

Yes, it happens but I won’t really call it a problem. As a responsible mother, I try as

much as possible to give my daughter the attention she needs. She is just eight years old. I try to draw the difference between the home and the work because they are the two important things in my life.

Especially, I cook the food.

Nobody cooks for me. I drop my daughter off to school every morning. I also make out time to go through her school work at the close of work. Where ever I am going during the weekend, I always go with my daughter. I owe her that.

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Vanguard anguard,, MARCH 9, 2013

He who is without sin ...

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, who used to be addressed as ’Your Honour’ now wish to be ad dressed as ‘Your Dishonour’. All documents including acquired properties and wealth remain valid’.

That seems to be the message sent out to the public a couple of weeks ago by the suspension of the two judges who were found to have betrayed the people’s trust.

If the public applause concerning the action of the judicial council has not been louder than this; if the courage of the first female Chief Justice in confronting the excesses of the two Judges has not received wider acclamation, it is because the rot goes far too deep for this kind of tokenism.

Tokenism in the number of those indicted; tokenism in the punishment meted out.

Does the suspension mean, for example, that they will be allowed to draw pension — something another ‘honourable judge’ had denied some other pensioners. Does it mean that they will be able to keep the proceeds of their professional and ethical failure?

Yes, they have been dishonoured. But have they been deprived?

Especially in a country that celebrates wealth more than honour? The judiciary is simply too important to be allowed to wallow in professional and moral inadequacies.

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n incident happened about three years ago. A friend of mine won an election to the ‘House of Rep.’ His opponent felt aggrieved and went to court (familiar?). Both employed the services of expensive SANs. But both knew that points of law alone would not take them to Abuja. So they reached out to the presiding judges.

Dollars were mentioned as if they were Naira. Dollars were paid. But as the judgement day approached, the ante was upped. The judge who acted as the ‘contact’ to my friend’s lawyer wanted more dollars. My friend hesitated thinking he had spent too much— both to win the election and to consolidate the victory. It was then the contact judge ‘delivered’ his verdict. He warned that they could decide the case either way and have enough points of law to support their decision. It was, in other words, a cash and carry justice.

Stories like these abound and are very disturbing given the importance of the rule of law to democracy and the well being of a nation. Also disturbing are the activities of the court clerks, bailiffs and registrars. Many of them are lazy, insolent and corrupt. Many are untouchable because of what they know and the role they play in facilitating sleaze.

It was a judge who sentenced Fela Anikulapo Kuti and went behind to beg him

e remember only too well, that it was a judge who delivered a midnight judgement that almost plunged the country into a civil war. It was a judge who granted a permanent injunction so that a high profile governor would not be held to his (mis)deeds in government.

It was a judge who freed James Ibori of all charges; an action which embarrassed the nation when he later admitted to the same charges in a UK court. It was a judge who sentenced Fela Anikulapo Kuti and went behind to beg him. It was a judge who allowed Cecilia Ibru and Lucky Igbinedion to keep their loot and continue to live in a lifestyle to which they had become accustomed. It was a judge who allowed a John Yusuf who admitted to stealing 23billion naira to drive home in a chauffer driven Mercedes Benz in the full glare of an incredulous nation. It was a judge who……we could go on and on.

Last year, I sat next to a well known SAN at a function; the same one who became the youngest SAN at 39 some 25years ago. When our conversation which had been lively, got to the judiciary, he hesitated, like some one trying to weigh his words, before saying ‘advocacy, which used to be the hallmark of a good litigation lawyer, is becoming less and less relevant in our courts. You also used to know you had

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a bad case if the evidence was stacked against your client. These days, you know you have a bad case when your client’s file is taken to some judges.’

It is said by his colleagues, of a famous SAN who handles a lot of high profile political cases, that he seems so successful because he ‘knows’ a lot of judges well and they trust him.

I once confessed my admiration of the oratorical prowess of a recently retired popular judge to a small group of friends adding that I also found him warm and charming. A senior lawyer smiled and said, ‘he might be all of the above. But he is also ‘bent.’

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hat is perhaps most disturbing is that many practising lawyers know the bad eggs among the judges. The judges themselves— retired and practising— know. The Judicial Council knows. The Presidency knows. Yet we are all unwilling — or unable — to control this perversion of justice in the country. Must we wait, as in Sodom and Gomorrah, until there are only five righteous judges left? Or are we afraid to point an accusing finger because the other four fingers will be pointing at us? Is it that we can not go beyond tokenism to deal decisively with corruption in the judiciary because, as the good book says, only he who is without sin can cast the first stone?

Favour changes status D

ivine favour is so powerful it can change you over night By the favour of God, your status will change.

You will move from poverty to riches, from single to married and to parents in Jesus Name.

No matter how low your position may be now, you can still get to the top.

In GEN 39:20-23, Joseph, a slave boy in Potiphar ’s House through favour became the overseer over His master ’s House. God made all that he did to prosper. This same God can and will favour you.

You will Rise in the presence of your enemies.

In that your business or office, the favour of God will change your status.

Again, in prison through favour Joseph a prisoner became the comptroller of prison.

You will be favoured with promotion. An unusual lifting is coming to you, the works of your hands and family this year. By the favour of God, all your frustrations and hardship will be terminated.

Another person that was changed through favour was Esther (Est.2:13-17).

Esther a slave girl had no father or mother and had no chance physically to qualify to become queen in a strange land.

But then the favour of God upon her made the difference. The Bible says she was preferred above others. I Prophesy, you will be preferred round about by the favour of God. In that Job interview, you will be preferred. God’s favour will qualify you.

By favour I decree your glorious destiny to open better than Esther’s experience Favour can bring an ordinary man before kings. At one moment David was sent to the

bush to look after animals and the next moment he became the King’s armour bearer through favour (1 Sam 16:21-22).

As soon as the King saw Him, The King fell in love with Him. Singles get ready, the favour of God will make you to meet your Godly partner. I Prophesy, this year by favour, you would stand with Kings.

When God was going to deliver the Israelites

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By the favour of God, your status will change. You will move from poverty to riches, from single to married and to parents in Jesus Name

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from Egypt, God gave them favour in the sight of their masters (Exo. 3:21; 11:3; & 12:36). The Egyptians, their enemies gave the Israelites whatever they asked of them even though they knew that the Isrealites where not coming back. The favour of God upon them I

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could not make the Egyptians to say no to them. This same measure of favour is resting upon you now. You have served, labored and struggled enough. It’s time for you to be at the top. Walk now in the favour of God. The aroma of hatred, rejection and dishonor is destroyed in your life and all that concerns you by favour.

I prophesy to your life and family, business, etc., that those who have refused to help you before now will begin to help you marvelously.

Your enemies will do you mighty favour beyond their willingness 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, please 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. Fill me with the power of your Holy Spirit, to enable me live for you.

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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.

SATURDAY VANGUARD, MARCH 9, 2013 — 17

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18 — SATURDAY VANGUARD, MARCH 9, 2013 Dear Aunty Julie, My husband and I own and work together in our pharmacy. I have all the financial, clerical, purchasing, sales problems to deal with and he works with the patients . He is also better with managing employees. He has 20 yrs experience in the field and I came on when we bought the store and the last of our kids was in school.

I had no training and no past work experience to help me.

We are past the four year mark but our health and marriage are on shaky ground. We have four kids and one is in her first year in the university. I have all the stress related symptoms, migraines, high blood pressure, and weight gain that I haven’t been able to lose. I eat right and exercise and haven’t killed my husband yet but any suggestions on how to help us would be appreciated.

Uremma, Onitsha Dear Uremma, I’ll assume you don’t want me to provide a referral for putting out a contract on your husband. Sometimes we need to learn that we’ve accomplished

Our intimacy life is horrible

We are under stress our mission and it’s time to move on to another adventure, not necessarily a new marriage. Sounds like you took a risk, threw yourself into a new business without prior business experience or training and helped your baby , that is, the store, survive it’s most challenging phase , the startup! But perhaps it’s time to either: find a professional who does family business counseling or seriously consider letting go of your involvement with the store for the sake of your health, if not for your marriage. This doesn’t mean your contribution wasn’t invaluable. Just that now, perhaps, a non-family employee would be better for ongoing maintenance. It’s not

easy dealing with authority and autonomy, power and control issues in a marriage. And when working together, these gremlins are lurking, if not being played out, day and night.

I’m also aware your nest is emptying out. I hope this dynamic will not have you clinging to the “security” of the store.

How about pursuing a job or your own business or get training, schooling, in a field that you would really enjoy.

Maybe something you’ve fantasized about but dismissed because the time was never right; you were launching others. You helped your husband grow his dream. Now, it’s your turn.

My guy has mood swings Aunty Julie, I’ve been dating a guy for a year and a half. He says he loves me and has even thought of marriage. Then he tells me he doesn’t want to see me and doesn’t want a commitment and doesn’t have romantic feelings. Then we go back and he introduces me to family and breaks up again. I haven’t returned his calls this time. Is he crazy or what? I’m hurt and confused.

Ebun, Abeokuta Dear Ebun, If not crazy, he may be commitment-phobic and will, if you let him, drive you bonkers. The other side of this emotional equation is, are you co-dependent? Let’s start with your guy. Sounds like he doesn’t have a solid enough or good enough sense of himself. For example, does he feel good about work or his career prospects? Of course, he could also be the type that doesn’t want to grow up but he seems a bit too neurotic for just that.

This lack of being centered can encourage these volatile shifts , from declarations of

This lack of being centered can encourage these volatile shifts , from declarations of love to fearful withdrawal. Also, the presence of such instability invariably sets off a mood-disorder radar system. Might he have some underlying depression

love to fearful withdrawal.

Also, the presence of such instability invariably sets off a mood-disorder radar system.

One week of silence

Joe was looking quite depressed. “What’s the matter?” his friend asked.”My wife and I got into a fight,” explained Joe, “and she said she isn’t talking to me for a whole week.” ”But, isn’t it kind of a good thing that she isn’t talking to you?” asked his friend. ”Yeah, except today is the last night.”

Funeral baking

An old man was on his death bed. He had only hours to live when he suddenly smelled the scent of fresh buns wafting into his room.

Aaahhhh... he loved fresh buns more than anything else in the world.

With his last bit of energy, he pulled himself

Might he have some underlying depression? Any family history of the same? Speaking of family, is he trying to please them by marrying you?

Anyway, if he is depressed , he will continue this up and down, back and forth cycle.

You are wise not to return his calls. However, if you do feel unfinished psychologically, perhaps write him a letter.

Express your hurt and anger at being dragged along this emotional roller coaster ride. And strongly suggest he gets some advice; not for you but for him. If he has gotten help then, after a few months, and if you are so inclined, you might write or email again.

The question for you: why did it take so long to get fed up with this emotionally exhausting and hurtful behaviour pattern? How do you perceive yourself? Sometimes when we don’t feel very worthy or when we carry around feelings of shame , or our own underlying depression or anxiety disorder, we wind up staying in a dysfunctional relationship.

Dear Julie, I am a woman of 42.Three years ago, I married a wonderful man who will be 48 on his next birthday. I love him very much. The only problem is that our sex life is horrible. I can say our sex life is nonexistent. I can safely say we have had sex maybe 20 times in our six year relationship. I’ve tried numerous times to talk to him but he gets defensive and says, ‘there’s nothing wrong with me.’ He also says, if I want to have sex, I should just say so. But when I make advances, he pushes me away thinking I am playing with him. Then he leaves the room. Of course I get frustrated, out of the mood, and give up.

I love my husband so much and I don’t make a big deal of it, although I know this is not normal or healthy. I can’t get him to discuss this. I am at my sexual peak, and I am tired of dreaming of sex with other men. I want our relationship to work, but I just don’t know how much longer I can go on like this.

Vivian, Ikorodu Lagos Dear Vivian, You can work on planting a garden, you can work on your weight loss, you can work on your reading speed.

But you cannot work on someone else’s problem, unless they are willing, and failure is guaranteed when they tell you they do not have a problem. It takes two to speak the truth, one to speak and another to hear. Your husband will not hear or discuss reality, the reality of the situation as you see it. You married him knowing he had this problem. Marriage does not cure a problem, it makes you a party to it.

This the hard lesson you had to learn. That you cannot marry a man with a serious problem and expect to fix it.

But find a way to talk about it with him so he knows how you feel about the situation.

Should I have this relationship?

Aunty Julie, I am in my late 30s and female. I have never done anything wrong in my life and now I want to have an affair with a married man . I am divorced, and I am financially secure. I am not looking for remarriage for sure! The man is willing and able.

The problem is that I saw a picture of his wife on his desk. I looked at this picture of a woman with the saddest eyes. It was as if her soul entered mine. No, we have not been intimate as yet except for some brief kisses. Since I am so busy with my own work, just seeing him a little is all I need but my conscience is bothering me terribly. Am I nuts or what?

Tessy, Lagos Dear Tessy, No, I don’t think you’re nuts. Actually, I admire your capacity to experience conflict, especially your ability to empathize with his wife. I wonder how many of us women entertain such thoughts. Does this situation also conjure up memories of your divorce? I suspect if you continue with this affair, your conscience and values eventually will win out. So do you put the brakes on sooner or later?

You sound like you’ve evolved as a mature, independent individual. However, something is gnawing at you besides the aloneness in your busy, fairly self-sufficient life. Perhaps some anger or regret from playing the Miss Perfect role too long is surfacing. This can be especially painful when we became the compulsively and fearfully , a good girl at an early age.

Perhaps you’re ready to be a little outlandish: as an alternative. A strong attractive 39-year old woman who lets her interest and libido be known will be able to attract a playmate, if not a partner. As for just seeing your married paramour a little , I suspect that’s like being “a little pregnant.” It’s often hard having casually intimate or intimately casual sex. And are you sure he’ll be content with “a little”? You may have to play out the existing soap opera before you’re ready to script another. Just remember, especially in this arena.

C O C K - T A L E S out of bed... down the stairs and into the kitchen he went.

There was his beloved wife, kneading the dough for a new batch. As he reached for one of the fresh steaming buns, he got smacked across the back of his hand by the wooden spoon his wife was holding. ”Leave them alone!” she said. “They’re for the funeral!”

Coffee date

A customer wanted to ask his waitress for a date, but couldn’t get her attention. When he was able to catch her eye, she quickly looked away. Finally he followed her into the kitchen and blurted out his in-

vitation. To his amazement, she readily consented.

He said, “Why have you been avoiding me all this time? You wouldn’t even make eye contact.” ”Oh,” said the waitress, “I thought you wanted more coffee”.

Toasted present

One of the new couple’s wedding presents was a toaster oven. Soon after the honeymoon, the eager husband and wife decided to try it out. Almost immediately, smoke billowed out of the toaster. “Get the owner’s manual!” the man shouted. ”I can’t find it anywhere!” the woman cried, searching through the box. ”Oops!” came a voice from the kitchen. “Well, the toast is fine, but the owner’s manual is burnt to a crisp.”

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Vanguard MARCH 9, 2013 — 19

HE birth of a new baby, especially after years of the couple trying, should bring joy and happiness. To the couple,yes. But not to Ebele, the mistress of the father of the new born child. “Martin had told me from the start of our relationship that he would love it if I had a child for him,’ she explained. “He had been married for about three years when we met. His wife already had an ectopian pregnancy which resulted in one of her fallopian tubes being snipped off; narrowing her chances of conception by half. I met Martin at one of the tenant’s association meetings of our street. A meeting I seldom attended, I finally succumbed to pressure this fateful morning and Martin, the secretary of the association made a play for me. Of course, I knew him and his wife, Betty, but only to nod at. Suddenly, I realized how handsome and sophisticated he was, and when he came round to collect past levies, he stopped for a chat and a quick drink. That was how it all started.

“Whenever his wife had to stay out late or go to her fertility clinic, he was always at my place, complaining that some of his wife’s treatment sometimes prevented them from having sex. I didn’t wrestle that much with my conscience before inviting him into my bed. And he was no disappointment. He was eager to talk too, telling me how desperately he wants to be a father and his fears that Betty might not get pregnant in the end.

The wife often has an edge over mistress ship with him, giving me most of his attention and a semblance of emotional security now pulling the rug from under my feet without batting an eyelid! It was then I understood how committing crimes of passion happened so easily. If I’ d had a gun within reach, I would have happily aimed it at his treacherous heart and bumped him off! He must have seen the hatred in my eyes as he hurried off abruptly. My face burnt with humiliation as I cried bitter tears.

“I was broken-hearted. In my foolishness, I not only believed all the lies he told, I actually fell in love with him. If I’d got pregnant as he’d begged me to, would he have abandoned me now that his wife’s made him a father? I’m currently running out of excuses for not at-

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t’s sad when you see a parent take their child’s discipline to an extreme. Gbuyi had always suspected his wife of not having that maternal feeling that makes a mother appreciate her child. “Our first and only daughter together was three when I noticed she didn’t always like being around her mother”, he said sadly. “She was either playing happily with the maid or coming over to me with her chatter.

Her mother always looked disapprovingly at her and was always barking orders. The last straw was when I came home early to find my poor daughter howling hysterically.

She’d been naughty, the mother said, and to punish her, she’d been made to stand in a comer with her hands raised above her head!

“I was livid to say the least. ‘For goodness’ sake, the poor girl is only three’ I shouted at her, scooping my daughter into my arms and pacifying her. How could a mother be so cruel? I also discovered she had this little cane she beat her on the legs with whenever she thought she was misbehaving. She C M Y K

“The next time I saw Martin, he’d brought Betty home. I’d gone with a few members of the association to rejoice with the happy couple. The proud owner of the son he’ d always wanted, he draped his arm protectively round Betty, the picture of male pride at his newborn son. It was then I realized Betty had won. Even in her drab clothes and no make-up, Martin carried on as if she was Cinderella. To add insult to injury, the next time Martin called, he shuffled awkwardly on my door-step, casting nervous looks over at his own front

He must have seen the hatred in my eyes as he hurried off abruptly. My face burnt with humiliation as I cried bitter tears

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door. “Listen Ebele, I can’t do this any more,” he mumbled nervously ... “someone on the street has told Betty about us and I felt terrible. I had to deny there was anything going on between us.”

I was gobsmacked. This was a man begging me to have a relation-

tending the tenants meeting as I learnt Martin attends with his wife.

I can’t stand seeing how happy they both are,and the pitying looks of my neighbours.

In time the scandal will blow out, but I regret making such a fool of myself.”

Parenting: are you a disciplinarian or a sadist? needs to know what’s right before it is too late;my darling wife used to say.

The older she got, the more she avoided her mother’s company. So when my wife wanted another child, I refused. I told her I was no longer interested in the marriage— I wanted a home with happy children. So I sent her packing and kept my daughter with me. She’s a happier girl now. “ There’s no doubt that kids can be little devils, but do you know how far to go when you want to discipline them?

Some form of punishment is necessary

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ried. The street is a quiet one, and if anyone suspected anything, I didn’t hear about it.

With Betty finally confined to bed rest after she was discharged, it was easy for us to continue our secret meetings.

He was in my flat the evening he got a call from his wife at the hospital. Could he bring over some of the things she had packed for when the baby was due? he hospital was ready to perform a caesarean operation. Martin leapt out of bed like a rocket and hurried to his flat. Minutes later, he drove furiously to the hospital. I was mad with jealousy.

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onths later, he begged me to have his baby.

He was a man of moderate means, but I can safely look after a child if it comes to the crunch, so I agreed. Only getting pregnant is not what you get on order and instead of me getting pregnant, it was Betty who eventually did. Martin was over the moon, but said our understanding was still on. I guess he was hedging his bet—if this one turned into another ectopic one, I would come in handy! As expected, Betty’s pregnancy wasn’t an easy ride. Her blood pressure soared and she had to be kept in the hospital for a while for monitoring. Martin shuttled between the hospital and my flat.It was as if we were mar-

naughty. If children decide to do something wrong, they must be prepared to take the blame and accept the penalty. It reinforces the lines we draw between right and wrong — between acceptable and unacceptable behaviour. It shows them that parents mean business.

So when you do need to punish your children, what is the best way?

Thank goodness smacking your child is not illegal as it is in most Western countries. However, they shouldn’t be smacked so hard by parents that

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Smacking may stop a child immediately, but it is almost never the best way to stop a child

now and again for one of three key reasons most children psychologists agree on: It teaches kids about cause and effect. They learn that their actions can have negative consequences for themselves and other people. It makes kids take responsibility for being

they leave a mark. Smacking may stop a child immediately, but it is almost never the best way to stop a child from doing something wrong again .”Punishing children in this way is unhelpful, says a parenting expert. “It teaches them how to avoid

getting caught. It also completely fails to teach them how to change their behaviour, to understand why it might be in their interest to change it, or to give them any good reason for wanting to change it.

Instead of smacking children, consider sending them to their room or a ‘cooling of place’ to think about these actions.

“You could take away some of your child’s privileges by grounding them, for example, or not allowing them to stay up late at weekends. You could ban a favourite activity for a short time — such as watching TV, playing on the computer or riding a bike, or removing a toy for a little while. Another sanction might be to stop the pocket money for a suitable period. Whatever you choose, stick to what Hartley Brewer, the parenting expert calls the ‘punishment contract’. This means adhering to the following: Be Clear: Give a warning of what the punishment is likely to be.

20—SATURDAY Vanguard, MARCH 9, 2013 ast Christmas, Maria was in the midst of a huge crisis in her marriage. And her friend Lydia was ticked off at her husband about it as Maria’s divorce almost ruined Lydia’s marriage. Here, Lydia narrates her expereince: Maria and I met when I moved to Port-Harcourt eight years ago. Our meeting was set up by a mutual friend who thought we might have a thing or two in common. Did we ever? We are both lawyers, wear the same hairstyle and use glasses. We attended the same secondary school but didn’t know each other then. We’d both dated men from the same town . I married mine and had spent a lot of time traveling there.

We also shared similar fertility issues and we both got pregnant within five weeks of each other.

I had always viewed her marriage in terms of my own.

Maria is like me, therefore her relationship must be like mine. I assumed that the feeling I got when my husband slumped onto the couch next to me and I rested my head on his shoulder and there was nowhere on earth I’d rather be was just another thing Maria and I had in common.

Then last year, after Maria had just given birth to her second child, another girl, while I was pregnant with my percent of the housework? He second, also a girl, she and doesn’t listen to you, he has Felix began to argue more issues with anger, and you frequently. Even relatively haven’t slept in the same bed minor matters, like whose in three months? Uh well, so family to visit over Christmas, maybe Maria’s partnership triggered major blowouts. I was closer to the brink than chalked it up to growing pains mine was, but I encouraged her , the same twitches and twinges and Felix to go to the local my own relationship suffered Priest and told her all the from. You’re exhausted, and things I told myself : that the you feel like you do 96 percent transition from couple to of the child care and 97 family can be emotionally

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daughter ; that, during one of their fights, he’d thrown a glass pitcher against the wall . This felt more intense than the standard domestic squabbles.

She began to speak of Felix, her husband as if she truly didn’t like him, as if they might not make it.

I found myself coming home from nights out with Maria and peering at my own husband through her eyes: he would relax on the couch when

there was a sinkful of dishes waiting for me. He snapped at our five-year-old daughter when she wouldn’t go to bed?

Once I criticized him bitterly in front of my parents for telling our daughter a story about zombies before bed. My husband was confused by my bouts of fury. Weren’t we the same couple who’d been doing just fine a few weeks ago? Well, were we?

Then came Maria’s undeniable feeling that life without her husband was starting to look better than life with him. If she left Felix, she knew she’d be in for hard, sad times.

But, she confessed, she was beginning to feel the first inkling of life after Felix: of hope and of freedom.

One night at dusk, Maria called me. My husband and I had been sitting on our porch watching our daughter play in the compound. I took the phone inside. Her voice was low and thick. Maria told me that her husband had moved out, that she had asked him for a divorce. As I gripped the phone, I found myself not at all surprised by her news. But I was surprised by the panic that lodged in my stomach. Maria and Felix weren’t taking a break. They were getting a divorce. After we hung up, I sat alone in the living room, listening to my husband and my daughter laughing outside.

Maria was so like me that people sometimes couldn’t tell us apart and she was ending her marriage! I love my husband; we love each other.

But Maria and Felix had loved each other, too. Maybe they still did. There was nothing separating us. Marriage is just two people making the choice, over and over again, to stay together, unless , until one day, one of them makes a different choice.

with you. You described her as his soon-to-be ex, but ‘soon-to-be ex’ is a term more likely to describe your future, not hers.You threaten to leave, and you never do.

Bluffing in a poker game may be a good strategy, but bluffing in life is weak. Once your bluff is called, you’ve lost all power and all credibility.

And counseling? Think about how funny that is. You went

for relationship counseling with a man in a marriage to another woman. Why do you keep plodding forward?

Because you want to be married? There is nothing wrong with that. But you cannot marry someone who is already married. There is a simple solution. Don’t give up wanting to be married, just give up married men. Not all of them can afford second wives.

My best friend’s divorce nearly ruined my marriage

complicated and physically exhausting, that they loved each other and they’d get through it.

But as the year wore on, her complaints began to intensify.

There was an anger in her eyes, and the things she told me scared me. She told me that Felix had stormed out of the house and didn’t return until morning; that he had been unkind and insulting to their

Should I call her bluff?

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’ve been with my boyfriend for four years, and he is going through the longest divorce known to man. His soon-to-be ex knows of me and told him she is insanely jealous. She makes my life complete hell by e-mailing him sexual innuendoes, asking him for expensive gifts, and calling him an average of 12 times a

day.

I told him to cut the cord. If he wants to be with me, he has to protect me, be true to me, and make me feel secure in this relationship. We even saw a pastor a few years back, and then he cheated on me with her. Many times, I told him to get on with this divorce or I would be gone, but it doesn’t seem to scare him anymore.

How do I get my point across to this man, and do I have any grounds to tell this woman to leave him alone and just tend to her children?

Bunmi, Ibadan

The one thing which may set you free is to look on this situation from a different point of view. He didn’t cheat on you with her. She’s his wife. He’s cheating on her

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s a young lady, I watched movies like Nneka, The Pretty Serpent and Living in Bondage to mention a few with no idea that I would be part of an industry that would become a force to be reckoned with.

My journey started in 1993, when I had a chance meeting with a young man whom I starred with in a musical video, titled JOKES APART for a guy named Tom Freckles. We struck up a friendship and back then when there were no mobile phones, we somehow kept in touch and one day, he invited me to attend an audition for a movie production around Mile 2 bus stop. I had no idea what an audition meant; I was a final year Microbiology student at LUTH, Idi-Araba. I attended the audition out of inquisitiveness and was

Vanguard, MARCH 9, 2013 —21

info@katehenshaw.com

My Nollywood shortlisted after many callbacks and finally that landed me the lead role in the movie: WHEN THE SUN SETS. The name of the young man was J.T.Tom West. He has since passed on and I will forever be grateful and indebted to him for the chance encounter.

“When the global economy experienced a dip which resulted in global financial crises in 2008, figures from the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) showed that world export of creative goods grew at an annual average of 14% between 2002-2008, reaching a peak, of $592billion in 2008. So while the economy of most countries burned, people were watching movies”— Nseobong Okon-Ekong.

People found an avenue of release, a place of solace, a world to disappear into while the turmoil raged in the financial sector. The stone which the builders rejected became the chief cornerstone. Those who otherwise did not think the movie industry did not stand

a chance, were hooked.

Nigeria carried the torch for film-making in Africa with film releases in English and the 3 major languages of the nation. Its actors became icons across the continent and if you claimed to be Nigerian and had travelled to another country, you were asked if you knew “Aki and Paw Paw” for example and if your response was

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otwithstanding the origin of the name which sounds like a hand-me-down from the western world but it has grown in the consciousness of Nigerians here, in the Diaspora and the world as a whole. It is a name that has stuck and it is here to stay whether we like it or not.

Many are wont to criticise and sling mud at this vibrant industry but it has proven its resilience despite naysayers.

It has stood the test of time.

It is a rolling stone that gathers no moss. 2013 marks the 20th year since I have been a part of Nollywood.

be a part and parcel of this industry. Internationally recognised awards like the African Movie Academy Awards (AMAA) have rewarded practitioners across the African Continent and beyond for great work thereby spurring them to breathe life into their individual nation’s film industry.

Recently at a presidential dinner held at State

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The stone which the builders rejected became the chief cornerstone

negative; your nationality was brought into question.

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ollywood has been and continues to be a huge employer of labour (maybe even the 2nd largest in the country) for the youth who otherwise do not have the opportunity for sound education. Young men and women have become versed in both the technical and practical aspects of the industry with spin-offs of reality shows springing from the need to

House, Marina, Lagos, to celebrate the industry at 20, the President unveiled a N3billion package to help turnaround Nollywood.

The package to be launched as “Project Nollywood” will include grants for the best film scripts, a capacity development fund and funds for supporting the industry’s infrastructure.

Much as I would like to hang out the buntings and celebrate, I still bear in

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here are two types of reality TV, competitive shows and shows following people’s lives. In competitive shows people get eliminated until there are a few people left and one is declared winner. For example Nigerian Idol, Why do we watch it? I think what draws most people is the hope that aspiring talents can achieve something extraordinary which is so inspiring. And of course, talented people and not so talented people auditioning for Femi Kuti, Yinka Davies, and Jeffrey Daniel also draw a huge audience.

Although the biggest shows in the country are adaptations of preexisting western versions, some of the biggest names that we have grown to love in the entertainment industry are a product of reality TV. Darey Art Alade: Son of the renowned entertainer Art Alade. Darey is arguably the most talented R&B singer in the country. Darey finally C M Y K

Reality TTV V Sho ws: A springboard Shows: to stardom stepped out of his fathers shadow in 2004, and became a star in his own right on Project Fame. He emerged second runner up on the South African version of the show. Darey most notably headlined the country’s 50th independence anniversary with his “soul band” to a room filled with several African Presidents and past world

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magine Femi Kuti judging a singing competition, or Omotola Jalade-Ekehinde living her everyday life for the entire continent to see? These are just a few instances which may have seemed next to impossible a few years back. Welcome to the era of reality television, a place where fiction meets reality.

Reality TV is a television programming genre that presents unscripted situations, documents actual events and usually features unknowns. The genre has recently exploded as a phenomenon with the success of such television series as Big Brother Africa, Project Fame, and Nigerian Idol.

Me (x3)” in 2011 going on to achieve a huge success with her album. Tiwa has won many awards and accolades in recognition of her success, and she is the current Pepsi ambassador alongside Wizkid.

Iyanya: Years before spawning hits like ‘Kukere’ and ‘Your Waist’, or his infectious ‘etighi’ dance craze. Iyanya was fighting to be the last man standing on Project Fame West Africa which he won on the shows premiere season. He

The big success of reality TV is also seeing even the A-list celebrities ready to reveal it all to the cameras

leaders. Darey’s recent critically acclaimed concert was hosted by reality star Kim Kardashian.

Tiwa Savage: YES! Before stepping onto the scene in Nigeria, Tiwa got her first taste of the limelight on the XFACTOR; A British singing competition where she made it to the top 24. She won the hearts of Nigerians with her debut single “Love

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recently released his sophomore album ‘Iyanya VS Desire’ to rave reviews.

Tonto Dikeh: The controversial actress was first runner up on ‘The Next Movie Star’ in 2005. She is one of the most recognizable faces in Nollywood with a filmography of over 30 movies.

mind a previous loan of $200million announced by the President in 2010 which has been plagued by complaints of inaccessibility by stakeholders in the same industry it was created for.

It is a laudable announcement but the implementation gives me cause for concern.

How about the passing of a bill that will sanitise the film industry, make accessible locations that are needed for a film shoot or the provision of tax relief for film makers who majorly are funding from their pockets? How about zero tolerance for piracy? How about a proper and fully equipped film village? Apart from TINAPA which is fully equipped and functional, there are very limited places for a proper film production hence the use of people’s homes who are kind hearted enough to let us in.

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have read many articles that say that Nollywood should inspire more, should focus on the political, economical and social sector , that inspiring story lines should be drawn from our daily living. I agree and that is being done — a good example is a movie titled: THE MEETING, even though not every film maker will tow that line. Some will go the commercial route depicting sex and scantily clad ladies in their movies which by the way still flies off the shelves once they are released as hypocritical as we are and the truth is that every Nigerian and not just Nollywood should be inspired... from the leadership to the citizenry. I say thank you to Mr President while at the same time encouraging frugal use of the funds promised and that its effect be felt indeed.

Singer Omawunmi, Chidinma Ekile, Uti Nwachukwu, Karen Igho, and the late singer Goldie Harvey are some stars that also gained tremendous popularity through reality TV. Reality stars are picked from obscurity, and may end back there but they get a shot at fame through prolonged exposure on television even if they don’t win. The Idol grand prize is worth $100,000, and the lucky winner will get N7.5 million in cash, a recording contract also worth N7.5 million, and a brand new SUV. Runner-ups will receive prizes worth a combined total of N10 million.

The big success of reality TV is also seeing even the A-list celebrities ready to reveal it all to the cameras.

Nowadays we have more access than ever to our favorite celebrities, thanks to social media. But no medium gives us a more in-depth look at their lives than reality television.

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motola Jalade-Ekehinde ’s reality series: “The Real Me” broke records with its debut episode receiving the highest viewership on M-NET’s Africa Magic last year.

Following in her footsteps is Yoruba actress Laide Bakare who is set to star in her own reality show ‘My Xperience.

As more stars are discovered, and dreams being fulfilled the emergence of reality television is proving to be great for the development of the entertainment industry as a whole.

22— SATURDAY Vanguard, MARCH 9, 2013

Puzzle over Fed. Govt N3bn grant to Nollywood

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UBILATION has continued to greet the decision of the federal government to create a N3bn grant for the entertainment industry sub-sector, despite expression of fear by some stakeholders over the accessbility of the grant.

Last Saturday, President Goodluck Jonathan announced a N3 bn grant to support the nation’s motion picture industry. He also launched a programme known as “Project Nollywood,” which he said will help to support the key components of the industry’s value chain through a dedicated grant.

The President made the announcement at a dinner he held with top Nollywood practitioners in Lagos, to celebrate Nollywood’s 2 0 t h anniversary and to compensate for the problems that practitioners encounter while attempting to access the loanstyled $200m facility the Federal G o v e r n m e n t announced for the industry in 2011.

Ever since then, the industry has been thrown into wide jubilation, but not without caution from some quarters.

Commenting on the grant, the president of Actors Guild of Nigeria, AGN, Miss Ibinabo Fiberesima described it as “a new beginning for the industry.” According to her, the grant remains a plus to Nollywood. “ We cannot but say thank you, Mr. President. This is one President that has given ear to our yearnings. He has identify with Nollywood, for me it’s a plus. This will help to take us to the next level,” Ibinabo said.

However, Ibianbo said, the practitioners are yet to be acquainted in respect of how to access the fund. For Charles Novia, the gesture is welcome development. “ President Goodluck Jonathan has shown consistency in supporting the movie industry

d Rita ve an e i v e en abo, G • Ibin over the years and that should be commended. The grant will help the industry redirect creative and entrepreneurial energies to the next level. I only hope that it would not be mis-directed to other personal interests but expediently utilised for the purpose which

Mr. President set it up.”

Novia however, advocated the need for the grant to be given to industry players based on merit and additional criteria of integrity and body of impressive work done as well as potentials of the project.

Speaking in the same vein,

president of Association of Nollywood Core Producers, ANCOP, Mr. Alex Eyengho posited that funding is not the major problem of the industry, but lack of proper umbrella structure for the industry. He said unless and until the Motion Picture Practitioners Council is put in place, a hundred billion dollars pumped into the industry will go down the drain. “ President Jonathan should sponsor the MOPPCON bill as an Executive bill at the national Assembly and ensure its passage into law.” That is what we need in Nollywood and not dinner,” Eyengho stated.

Meanwhile, Mr. President while in his address, reiterated his administration resolve to continue to give Nollywood every support and assistance to take the

Dakore Egbuson-Akande resurfaces!

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AKORE Egbuson-Akande who has been missing at the social gatherings since she got married two years ago has returned with a bang.

The delectable last Saturday took her fans by surprise when she showcased the other side of her talent.

Dakore was one of the artistes who performed at the presidential dinner,held to celebrate Nollywood at 20. Surprisingly, many of her fans didn’t even know she was such a great dancer until the end of the dinner when she showed how groovy she could be.

She did two songs, a Nina Simone number and another song to the delight of the audience . She reeled out some old tunes in a manner that re-launched her into the mainstream entertainment world. The gorgeous mother of one, definitely has gotten her groove back.

Looking delectably slim, one won’t even suspect she’s dropped a baby. Indeed, for many who didn’t know, Dakore was first a musician, before she caught the acting bug.

With her comeback, it’s another plus for the industry and a good welcome back to Nollywood

Nigerian movie industry to greater heights of success.

“Encouraged by the feedback we have received from you on our administration’s support for Nollywood, we have further designed a programme known as Project Nollywood to support the key components of the industry’s value chain through a dedicated grant totaling N3bn. It will include capacity development fund and funds to support the industry ’s infrastructure. The scheme, which will be launched in the first week of April, will be managed by the Ministry of Finance in collaboration with the Ministry of Culture and Tourism.”

Yet, it was a twin-booty for the industry as Akwa Ibom State Governor, Godswill Akpabio, also tickled the gathering by endowing the ‘Goodluck Jonathan Prize for Best Producer, Actor and Actresses’, worth N50m.

SATURDAY Vanguard, MARCH 9, 2013 — 23

Femi Kuti headline AMVCA

Pete Edochie celebrates birthday in grand style

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mid tears and gloomy atmosphere that pervade the Nigerian movie industry in recent times, the industry rose to a celebration during the week when one of its surviving veteran actors, Pete Edochie marked his birthday anniversary. The legendary actor, who was kidnapped in the past, remains a strong force to reckon with in teh industry.

AGN president Ibinabo Fiberesima joined the actor’s

family to celebrate the man and his achievements. She expressed the need for the practitioners to celebrate their own whenever they need arises. “Ït is not only about death all the time, we must also learn to celebrate ourselves whenever the need arises,”she said.

Even as his other colleagues including Enebeli

Elebuwa, Pete Eneh, and just recently, Justus Esiri have passed away, Pete remains strong and hearty.

Only recently, it was rumoured that the veteran actor has kicked the bucket. Maybe, it’s a blessing is disguise for him as well that as some people wish bad things for him, God continues to keep him strong.

When Uche Jombo stepped out with her beau

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CTRESS Uche Jombo’s husband, Kenny Rodriguez who flew into Nigeria for the first time after their marriage last year, from his New York base to support his wife at the premiere of her movie; ‘My Life,My Damage’ will surely have every reason to return to the country again. He was virtually seen everywhere in Lagos, last weekend.

One of the places, he was spotted last week after the premiere of his wife’s trilogy movie, at Ozone Cinemas, Yaba, was the dinner, President Goodluck Jonathan held with some Nollywood stakeholders. The handsome dapper looking guy was stuck to his wife’s side all through the event.

An indication that he does not want to risk being snatched from her by other bird-eyed wolves.

Bayelsa reclaims AMAA B

AYELSA State government will host the 9th edition of the African Movie Academy Awards, Africa’s most prestigious motion picture award designed to celebrate and honour film makers and other professionals in the industry across Africa and in the Diaspora.

The state which has hosted the seven previous editions of the awards will come alive again next month when celebrities, local and international media executives and captains of industry will converge on Yenagoa, the state capital for the awards.

In a joint statement signed by the Director General, Bayelsa State Tourism Development Agency, Mrs Ebizi Ndiomu-Brown and the Chief Executive Officer of Africa Film Academy, organisers of the awards, Ms Peace Anyiam- Osigwe the state government is determined to partner with the awards promoters to deliver a

new and exciting experience to Nigerian and international visitors that will attend the awards. ‘’We are happy in Bayelsa to have AMAA return to its home. The story of AMAA and Bayelsa has been a story of partnership for socio-economic development of our state and people. We want to continue in this way. The Governor of Bayyelsa, His Excellency Seriake Dickson is poised to ensure that all visitors to Bayelsa for AMAA will see a new Bayelsa where he is leading a team of committed public servants to revamp the economy of the state through massive investment in infrastructure and other social amenities. ‘’Visitors to Bayelsa will see the progress the state is making under the leadership of •Rita Dominic Governor Dickson and the role we are playing at the level of Bayelsa State Tourism Development Agency in making sure the state becomes a destination of choice in terms of leisure and doing business. For film makers they will also see suitable locations in Bayelsa for their films,” she said

egendary Nigerian Afro-beat King, Femi Kuti, joined by his full band, will take to the stage today, when the first-ever AfricaMagic Viewers’ Choice Awards is screened live to over 50 countries on the African continent, on DStv and GOtv! Destined to be a glam night when the stars of Africa come out to shine, •Femi Kuti the festivities begin at 6:00 pm with an exciting, live, one-hour red carpet pre-show to be hosted by massively entertaining television personality Denrele Edun, alongside AfricaMagic hosts Helen Paul and Uti Nwachukwu (Jara), Dolapo Oni and Eku Edewor (53 Extra), Lawrence Maleka (StarGist) plus Nic Wang’ondu and Sarah Hassan (Mashariki Mix).

The awards, hosted by Big Brother’s IK Osakioduwa and StarGist leading lady Vimbai Muntinhiri kicks off at 7:00 pm, in Lagos.

The glittering two-hour and 30-minute gala is being held in association with MultiChoice and is headline sponsored

by Amstel Malta. And if the entertainment for the night is anything to go by, it’s destined to be a must-watch extravaganza because joining Femi Kuti on the music lineup is gorgeous vocalist Tiwa Savage along with awardwinning Kenyan Afro-pop outfit Sauti Sol. Few can deny the energy and charisma of Femi Kuti in full force and with hits such as Bang Bang Bang, Dem Bobo, Africa for Africa, I Wanna Be Free, Day by Day and Truth Don Die, his credentials and reputation as one of the most iconic African performers of all time has been secured, following in the legacy of his famous father , Fela.

Meanwhile Tiwa Savage has risen to fame fast with her popular singles Kele Kele and Love Me quickly establishing her as an African sensation. Rounding off the trio is the four-member Sauti Sol whose massive debut single Lazizi ignited their journey to the top of the charts where they have stayed thanks to hits such as Money Lover, Coming Home, Range Rover and Blue Uniform.

24 — SATURDAY Vanguard, MARCH 9, 2013

Peter Jackson’s ‘Hobbit’ movie reaches $1 billion mark worldwide

By IYABO AINA

A

NOTHER Peter Jackson movie passes $1 billion mark, after “The Lord of the Rings and The Return of the King” placed sixth on the all time list for raking in $1.119 billion in 2003, now “The Hobbit An Unexpected Journey ” garnered more than $1 billion worldwide.

The first installment in Peter Jackson’s trilogy adaption of the J.R.R. Tolkien novel has collected $301.1 million domestically and $700 million

internationally since it was released on December 14, 2012. The epic fantasy adventure movie becomes the 15th movie to ever cross the mark. The movie according to report is expected to collect more dollars as it’s due to get digital release on March 12.

Furthermore, the Blu-ray and DVD of the movie is scheduled to be made available for purchase starting March 19.

Its follow-up “The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug” is scheduled to start viewing in theaters across the country on December 13 this year.

Queen Elizabeth hospitalized over stomach illness

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Photo :Peter Jackson, 4-3-2013

Whitney’s extortion letters released W

•Whitney

HITNEY Houston’s fame in the early ’90s apparently led her to face most threatening moments in the form of fans letters.

On Monday, March 4, FBI released 128 pages of documents, spanning the years 1988-1992. The documents detailed investigations that were conducted on behalf of the “I Will Always Love You” singer who died at the age of 48 on February 11, 2012.

The first case FBI investigated was about an unemployed Vermont resident and U.S. Army veteran who wrote 79 letters to the Grammy winner and 16 letters to her family.

He once wrote that he fell in love with the singer, whom he referred to as “Miss Whitney”, and praised her as “the prettyist the loveliest and

Is this Arnold Schwarzenegger’s new girlfriend A

FTER Arnold Schwarzenegger was recently spotted dining with a mystery blonde in Santa Monica, rumors started swirling that he has a new woman in his life. The 65-yearold’s date is Heather Milligan, a 38-year-old physical therapist for NFL players in Southern California.

According to report , the two have been dating since the fall but have managed to keep things private.

However, what the former governor has not kept private is his feelings for his estranged wife Maria

Shriver. Back in January, the “Terminator” star told a German newspaper that he is still in love with his ex and hopes for a reconciliation one day.

•Arnold and Heather Milligan

the most beautiful lady that there is” in March 1986.

The devoted love of this crazed fan got him in more pain as he wrote that he had “gotten that desperate and mad and would come up with ideas that that, it scares me that I might come up with” in response to the news of Whitney’s marriage. Hearing no response from “The Bodyguard” main actress, he continued to threaten her, saying that he would make his love for her public in either the National Enquirer or on “The Phil Donahue Show”. In the end, the case was closed as the FBI met the fan in June 1988 and he said he would not take any action for he realized “it might hurt her reputation.”

PICTURE OF THE WEEK

Nelly C

ornell Haynes, Jr. (November 2, 1974), better known by his stage name Nelly, is a rapper, singer, actor and entrepreneur. He has performed with the rap group St. Lunatics since 1993 and signed to Universal Records in 1999.

Under Universal, Nelly made his solo debut in 2000 with Country Grammar, the title track of which was a top ten hit. With his following albums, Nellyville (2002) and the same-day dual release Sweat and Suit (2004) and compilation Sweatsuit (2006), Nelly continued to generate many chart-topping hits. He won Grammy Awards in 2003 and 2004 and starred in the 2005 remake film The Longest Yard with Adam Sandler and Chris Rock. He has two clothing lines, Vokal and Apple Bottoms.

ritain’s Queen Elizabeth II was recently hospitalized on Sunday over an apparent stomach infection that has ailed her for days, a rare instance of ill health sidelining the long-reigning monarch. Elizabeth will have to cancel a visit to Rome and other engagements as she recovers.

Buckingham Palace said the 86-year-old queen had experienced symptoms of gastroenteritis and was being examined at London’s King Edward VII Hospital the first time in a decade that Elizabeth has been hospitalized.

As a precaution, all official engagements for this week will regrettably be either postponed or cancelled. The illness which was first announced on Friday, made the Queen to cancel a visit Swansea, Wales, on Saturday to present leeks a national symbol to soldiers of the Royal Welsh Regiment in honor of Wales’ national day, St. David’s Day.

•Queen Elizabeth

Vanguard, SATURDAY, MARCH 9, 2013—25

WAJE, Br ymo honoured!

Brymo

I

n recognition of excellence, and hard work, foremost West African Music Institute, Tenstrings Music Institute, recently awarded Ahiru Olawale, a.k.a, “Brymo” and Aituaje Iruobe, a.k.a, “Waje” the prestigious mentor worthy award. The honour was in recognition of their artistic ingenuity and creativity in teh music industry. Tenstrings music institute was registered in Nigeria as a foundation with the mandate to promote music education and creativity amongst young people across the country.

The institute which has been in operation for over six years in

Lagos , has expanded its tentacles to othyer part of thye country.

Speaking recently at its annual event tagged, “Star mingle” in Ikeja, the CEO, Emmanuel Akapo, encouraged both artistes to remain focused as the road to iconic status in the industry is full of distractions. The event is a platform that affords the students of the institution the opportunity to hob nob in an atmosphere of camaraderie with some of the industry’s biggest names.

The atmosphere also provided the awardees the rare opportunity to acquaint the students with the story of their journey into stardom.

Behold little Purity, Mercy Johnson’s bundle of joy !

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op Nollywood actress,Mercy Johnson-Okojie who has been away in the United States where she gave birth to her little bundle of joy few months ago is back in the country. The actress anounced her return via, online when she showed to the world how precious her less-than-three-month old baby is to her.

The talented actress posted online another picture of her baby christened Purity Okojie. The picture shows how well-fed Purity has become.

It is glaring that she is getting all the attention from her actress mother and wife. In December 2012, Mercy Johnson gave birth to her first child in far awar United States after her 2011 wedding in Lagos.

Taiwo Oladoye drops album

H

er name may not sound familiar among Nigerian muisc lovers, but Taiwo Oladoye is a talent to watch.

Her new video ‘No Be Me Na God’ is here to launch her into the mainstream entertainment world. The video, which was released recently and enjoying massive airplay across the country captures the vocal strength of the passionate singer.

The video is sequel to the 6tracked album, titled, “Shake

C M Y K

Up The Heaven”, produced by Tosin Paul of ROTE Entertainment. The talented gospel singer and song writer, said, she is happy that her video has been released into the market. “I am delighted about my new work and I give God all the glory. I am determined to deliver quality, inspiring and God centered music to this generation and beyond”. The delectable singer is one of the ministers of God at Faith Tabernacle popularly called, “Winners Chapel”.

Stevrock thrills music fans in Lagos

By IYABO AINA

S

teven Edoka a.k.a, “Steverock” might not be a known face in the

Nigerian music industry, but he is set to prove a point. The scintillating singer, is set to relocate to Lagos to give fun seekers and music lovers a thrill with his new songs. The Benue born graduate of English Language from University of Maiduguri, said, “ I started recording seven years ago and I do a lot of writing . I write over 40 choruses a day and I have worked with people like Tuface, Ferocious, Banky W, Ice Prince. I am a music lover right from school days but started my singing career eight years ago as a rap artist. I later went fully into RnB, hip hop,r ecording and writing”. The talented singer/ writer said he derives inspirations from music legends like, late Micheal Jackson, RKelly and 2face Idibia. The dude said, he was based in Abuja but wants to relocate to Lagos where the fan base lies more to give them a full dose of entertainment and is set to release new album.

26—SATURDAY Vanguard, MARCH 9, 2013

SATURDAY Vanguard, MARCH 9, 2013—27

How to vote

•Amaka Obi •Biola Ige

•Collette Orji

•Chita Agwu

•Beverly Naya

Simply text the name of your choice: Sexiest Man and Woman to 08052201215 or 08052201257.You may vote as many times as you want. Voting shall be published every Saturday in Saturday Vanguard.

Biola Ige

•Uche Iwuanyanwu

New Sexy Faces of Nollywood (1)

By Ayo Onikoyi

T

•Michael Okon

here’s a new wave of the very sexiest women and men in Nollywood and they are not just lurking around any more- they are taking over. Faces of the Omotolas, Genevieves, Mercy Johnsons, Jim Iykes, Desmond Elliots, Emeka Ikes and their ilk don’t cut it any more. A new sexy storm is rising in Nollywood and fast!

as an act that will remain for a long time. The actor is very much in demand, and he has already been part of many productions, including ‘Kingdom of Beauty’, ‘Mad Sex’ and many others

Alex Ekubo

Alex Ekubo came to the public eye after competing in the Mr. Nigeria pageant. He is now an actor and a fashion model.

‘In the Cupboard’ remains one of his major blockbusters.

Uti Nwachukwu

Uti Nwachukwu won the Big Brother Africa reality show and has translated his success into a career in entertainment as an actor, host and presenter. His first movie was ‘True Citizen’ in 2010 and since then, his phone has never stopped ringing for roles.

Gbenro Ajibade

Gbenro Ajibade Emmanuel is a young man of many talents. He is a TV presenter, a model of international standard and an actor. He features in the soap opera, ‘Tinsel’ which is showing in over 72 countries in Africa and in Europe today.

tall and handsome dude has become more famous with his latest movie titled, “Mr. and Mrs” where he acted the stubborn and uncaring husband to renowned actress Nse Etim-Ekpe.

Joseph Benjamin is not a greenhorn in the entertainment industry. Apart from being the host of the popular MTN Project Fame, he is also into acting. The

Former Mr Nigeria Kenneth Okolie who was kidnapped recently with actress, Sylvanus Nkiru is gradually buying his

Benjamin Joseph

Kenneth Okolie

way into the heart of movie lovers in Nollywood.

These fresh faces are not only young but also very hot, pretty, sexy and talented.

They are winning top roles and driving them home with a little more than offthe-counter talents, beauty and curves.

They have got all it takes to hold their own in the industry.

OC Ukeje

O.C. Ukeje was born in Lagos state. He has featured in hit movies like Gone Too Far, Half of a Yellow Sun, Till Death Do Us Part and many others.

Michael Okon

Michael Okon is one of the new faces in Nollywood. His first feature appearance was in the movie ‘Fragile Pain’ where he was a spoiled brat of a rich politician. Ever since then, he has appeared in a few flicks most recently ‘African Queen’, ‘Men Do Cry’ and many others.

G i d e o n Okeke

Junior Pope Odonwodo •Gbenro Ajibade

Since making his entry in 2008, Junior Pope Odonwodo has established himself

•Queeneth Hilbert

•Benjamin Joseph

•Tope Osoba

Gideon Okeke is a TV presenter, a model and an actor. He wrote his way into stardom through the

popular TV soap ‘Tinsel’ and he starred in ‘Relentless’ which was released in 2010.

Benson Okonkwo

Benson Okonkwo is an actor from Enugu Ukwu in Njikoka local government of Anambra state. His most notable flick was ‘Desperate Hawkers’ which sparked rumours about his sexuality,

Angela Okorie

Nollywood & African Film Critics Awards (NAFCA) nominee Angela Okorie was born in Cotonou to Nigerian parents. She is an up and coming Nigerian Actress who has starred in films such as, NAFCA nominated Holy Serpent, Forbidden Confession and Heart of a Widow among others.

Beverly Naya

She is 2010 ‘Most Promising Talent’ at the Best of Nollywood Awards, and 2011 City People’s ‘Fast Rising Actress’. She has featured in “Up Creek Without A Paddle”, “Stripped”, “Weekend Getaway” and many others.

She’s probably the only Hindu in the industry but this doesn’t bother Biola.

Her talent and her beauty remains the hook that drags home the big juicy roles for her. In four years, she reportedly featured in over 20 films.

•Gideon Okeke

Collette Orji

Collette Orji has several claims to stardom and they include “Strength of a Woman”, “Blue Blood”, “Raindrop”, “Two Can Play That Game”, “Amaka Mustapha” and a host of others.

Tope Osoba

Temitope Osoba is one of the new glamour girls making waves in Yoruba films. She has many flicks under her belt even when she is still new in the industry. Her most popular flicks include ‘Ogun Mi’, ‘Gucci Girls’, ‘Igboro Ti Daru’, ’21 Million’ and many others.

Chita Agwu

Chita Agwu has acted in over 20 movies and she is

•OC Ukeje still counting. She is also a TV presenter of an Igbo programme known as ‘Akanchanwa’ which will soon be showing on Africa Magic. One of her most notable films is ‘Fatal Betrayer ’.

Amaka Obi

Amaka Obi came into the industry a few years ago and she has already built for herself a name producers have come to admire and trust. Her most notable flicks include ‘Circles of Secrets’, ‘Harlots and Hollies’, ‘Brazilian Hair ’, Poca Messiah’ and many others.

Anita Joseph

Anita Joseph is a screen diva and artiste. After the release of her double hits ‘No Time,’ she featured in one of her hottest flicks yet ‘Sweeter Than Sex’

Queeneth Hilbert

Queeneth Hilbert is a big time model who has modeled for Delta Soap (Orange Drugs Company) and has so far featured in over 20 movies

U c h Iwuanyanwu

•Anita Joseph C M Y K

•Uti Nwachukwu

•Kenneth Okolie

•Alex Ekubo

•Pope Odonwodo

•Angela Okorie

•Benson Okonkwo

e

Uche Joan Iwuanyanwu is an actress from Mbano Local Government area of Imo state. Her first movie ‘Queen’s Island ‘ was shot in 2009 and since then she has not looked back.

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28 —Vanguard, SARTURDAY, MARCH 9, 2013

How did you actually blend in when you realised you have a thing of acting in you?

It wasn’t easy. It’s one thing to get the lines, get them in and cast them out right and another thing to connect with the viewers at home at the same time.

When I first got my lines I said to myself this isn’t so hard all I need is just to cram the lines

I can say last year was the year my career really kicked off. I had to travel back to back. Most times I was shuttling from Lagos to Abuja and Warri.

,

,

and get them out right but immediately I got on set, with the lights and when it was time for action I completely forgot my lines. I mean everything just went blank. I said OK, so, it wasn’t so easy after all . After some time I just picked myself up and everything began to fall into place.

the award I said to myself this is a good award, that, whoever wins must truly deserve it. I never knew God had another plan for me. I never knew my name was ever going to come up in any of the categories because, hey, I just started, so many people have been there before me.

Along the line, my best friend, AY, kept telling me, that it does not matter how long, it is how well. But it still amazes me; look at my contenders (laughing), when I look at them I feel I must be doing well. I am humbled.

So what was your dream before you found yourself in acting?

I have always wanted to be a fashion designer before acting came calling. When I was small, at a point my mum stopped buying me clothes because I always cut them up and try to make them the way I thought they should be and she would be like ‘what was wrong with this girl?

S

A

t what point did you actually realise you have arrived as an actress?

Ugh, at what point? (laughing) when I started walking down the street and people recognise who I am, sometimes, even stopping me and wanting to take pictures with me and asking for autographs. That was like from two years ago.

Why is it that it is only soap operas you have ever done?

I really don’t have a particular reason for sticking strictly to soaps. Like I said earlier, acting wasn’t really something I wanted to do, so I just want to take one step at a time. When I really have my breakthrough doing soaps, with my feet firmly on the ground then I can start thinking of getting into movies.

Trust me, there’s really a tough competition out there. You really want to get your game going on before you take the big steps.

It’s gradually. But I shot some films last year. They will hit the market soon. Just keep your fingers crossed.

*Lillian Esoro

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Sex is very good. It calms your nerves.

If you feel the time is right for you, go ahead, just make sure it is with the right person.

Can you share some of them with us?

I did “Strive”, in which I played along Bimbo Manuel, Godwin Opara, Yemi Blaq and others. It’s a very nice movie to look out for. Then there is “The

incerely, do you think you deserve it?

Oh yeah, I think I deserve it.

Trust me, it is not easy playing that particular role of “Nurse Abigail”. I remember what the producer of the soap told me when I wanted to take up that role. He said:’ Lillian, are you sure you can take this role?

Since I have known you I have never seen you upset or angry and talk like a fast talker as “Nurse Abigail”’. I told him it’s an act I have to put up and I gave it a shot. “Nurse Abigail” is not a character anyone can just do, so, I really give myself kudos for pulling it through and being recognise for it? I think I deserve it.

*Lillian Esoro

Potter” and “The Next Door Neighbour ”. One of them “Strive” should be premiered on the 7th of March. Most of them should be out this year I can say last year was the year my career really kicked off.

I had to travel back to back. Most times I was shuttling from Lagos to Abuja and Warri. (laughing) gradually, we are getting there.

Being a soap person, what would you say are the day to day challenges of acting in a soap opera?

Soap opera is about you trying to merge with the character you are taking one, day to day. You know it’s quite different from movies. It is a continuous character you have to build, maintain and nurture since you are not the writer you don’t know where the story is heading to. You have to watch the character carefully because you don’t want to suddenly outgrow the character. You have to watch what you eat so you don’t lose shape compared to the character. This gets tougher when you have other jobs you are doing because it’s like merging two different characters into your own personality.

Now, since you have had a taste of how it works in movies.

Which would you say is more challenging: movie or soap?

Wow, that’s a tricky one. None of them is easy, trust me. But I will say maybe doing movies is more challenging because you have to go from one location to another. You are always on the move. It is different in a soap opera because it usually involves one family in a particular set. You are not moving around. Everything just revolves around the same people, the same location and maybe the same costume but in a movie you move around and you do different costumes.

O

n financial reward, which one is more rewarding?

I will say soap operas because it is a continuous thing. In a movie it’s just a one-off thing.

You are paid just once. In soap operas, you are paid per episode, so, when you consider how many episodes in a year to about 3 to 4 movies you are likely to do in a year, soap operas tend to be more rewarding.

On “Clinic Matters”, you, Ejiro Okuramen and Naomi

,

How did you get into acting?

I never wanted to be an actress. It never occurred to me but let me say I was forced into it. My friend, Bovi, the comedian, persuaded me into it way back in 2005 when he wanted to do his television sitcom titled “Extended Family”. He invited me to be part of it but I told him acting was not my thing but he insisted that I should give it a shot, that he knows I have it in me. With much persuasion, I decided to give it a shot and I realised I wasn’t bad at it.

,

I

F the name Lillian Esoro doesn’t ring bell the soap character “Nurse Abigail” in the family comedy soap series “Clinic Matters” is sure to have found her way into your household through her mischiefs and daring exploits in the programme.

But unlike “Nurse Abigail” beautiful, Imo State-born Lillian Esoro is no mischief maker even though she is a pragmatic and down-to-earth person with the look of a ‘damsel in distress’.

In this interview with Showtime, she talks about her career, relationships and her nomination as Best Actress, Comedy Category, in the Africa Magic Viewers Choice Awards, AMVCA, holding today in South Africa. Enjoy:

,

By AYO ONIKOYI

Vanguard, SARTURDAY, MARCH 9, 2013 —29

In a movie it’s just a one-off thing. You are paid just once.

In soap operas, you are paid per episode

,

Ihemelu seem to have a good connection, which of the cast members would you say you have a unique relationship with?

When it comes to a programme of that nature, whether you like it or not, you have to maintain a good working relations with everyone on set, so, it doesn’t affect the job. I’m very comfortable working with Ejiro, Naomi and others as colleagues. They are wonderful people. I won’t say I’m choosing one over the other.

Everybody is a family including

“Biliki”, we are good off and on the set.

What’s the relationship between you and AY, the comedian?

AY is a very good friend of mine. We came from way back. He was the one who introduced me to Bovi, we have been friends like for ages. He started his show thing back in Abraka University and when he moved to Lagos he invited me over to be his presenter. I accepted even though I never presented before but it turned out right and since then we have been together.

But there’s a report that you two have parted ways, that you left him?

I didn’t leave him and we didn’t leave each other either, we are still there for each other.

We understand each other that Lillian is an extremely busy person now, she’s not always available like she used to be and

she’s there to help whenever she’s available. Come March of this year if am in the country I will be there for him.

But you have your own outfit now?

Yeah, but it’s different from what AY does. Mine is an event management company, his, is a show organising company. I package weddings and parties while AY does strictly shows.

How did you feel when you learned you are one of the nominees for the Africa Magic Viewers Choice Awards (AMVCA)?

It still amazes me, trust me.

When I first saw the advert of

Doesn’t it scare you a little bit, considering the caliber of the contenders ( Funke Akindele, Mercy Johnson etc) you have to slug it out with for the award?

Of course, they are big names and they are good at what they do. But the fact that I am there means I deserve it. It doesn’t matter who eventually wins the award, that I got a nomination is good enough for me.

What has been the biggest regret of your career as an actress?

I can’t say I have any regret so far but sometimes I wished I had started acting earlier than now. But really, I can’t take it as a regret because what will be yours will be yours. They say better late than never. I have enjoyed every moment of my career.

*Lillian Esoro

And your biggest triumph?

I think seeing my name on the list of nominees for the Africa Magic Viewers Choice Award has been the biggest triumph of my career so far.

Which role would you say has been the most challenging role of your career so far?

It is still “Clinic Matters”, taking on the character of “Nurse Abigail” because I am totally the opposite of that.

Have you ever fallen in love before?

Yes I have.

And still in love? (laughing) let’s just say I have fallen in love before. Eh, everyone has fallen in love before. Love is a beautiful thing. When I was in love it was like Heaven and I wished the feeling never went away. It was good while it lasted. It’s an experience everyone should have.

So, your heart was broken?

Oh, broken, scattered, shattered, ironed and everything. It was actually my broken heart that led me to success. After I fell out of love I was so heartbroken that I could not get my mind off it. So, to get my mind off it, I decided to do something else and that led me into forming my own company to start event management business but I don’t want to talk about it.

What’s your idea of sex generally and of premarital sex?

Well, it doesn’t matter what my views are on the subject, those who want to do it would still do it. As for me, if you feel it is the right time to do it go ahead. It’s a free world. You don’t want to live your life thinking of what the next person thinks of you.

Sex is very good. It calms your nerves. If you feel the time is right for you, go ahead, just make sure it is with the right person.

W

ould you marry a married man like some of your colleagues are doing right now?

Like I said, love is a beautiful thing. It leads you into unexpected places so I am not going to judge people on their choices. Who knows, I might end up falling in love with a married man tomorrow, so, I don’t want to judge anybody.

So, would you do a sex scene in a movie?

See, maybe this is one of the reason I love soap operas because this will hardly arise but then, you can’t dictate to the producer. But personally I don’t think I would want to do a sex scene. Why? Because my parents watch my movies.

Have you dated within the industry before?

No Why not, there are so many good looking guys there?

No. I just wouldn’t date any of my colleagues. I hate mixing business with pleasure. It’s just me , I am a very principled person.

C M Y K

30 — Vanguard, SATURDAY, MARCH 9, 2013

Compiled by Oseji Ephraim *Obinna Alaeto

INTERVIEW

Obinna Alaeto

Why I abandoned football for Rugby

'We can take the game to the next level'

By Ephraim Oseji

O

binna Alaeto is no longer a new name as far as Rugby is con cerned in Nigeria. The cute looking Imo State born Rugby player, in his late 20s, shares his experiences and challenges in the game,as well as why government and sports loving Nigerians should come to the aid of Rugby.

Tell us about yourself My names are Obinna Festus Alaeto, from Imo State. I play Rugby in Nigeria for Cowries Rugby team.

How did you start playing Rugby?

I started playing the game some years ago. I was encouraged by Gbenga Ahmed.

One day, I went to the Nigerian Navy Barracks, Ajegunle to watch a football game and also watch a Rugby team play. When we got home that day, Gbenga asked me how I saw the game and if I would like to play, I replied that it was a good game but that I would think about it whether or not I wanted to play.

After that, Gbenga kept telling me to come and play Rugby. One day, I went with him for training and, from there, I picked interest. The first three months were very difficult because I had not mastered the rules of the game.So, after each training, I would spend extra hours with him to train more. Later, I started playing for Eco 11 Rugby Team which was my first club.

Gbenga Ahmed made me what I am in Rugby today, because when he knew my challenges, he encouraged me to play the game. I always told him,’ bros I no fit play this game’, but he would insist I go with him. He had a lot of positive influence on me.

Challenges There is no money or any sort of payment in the game. I told myself I couldn’t be playing this sort of game without mon-

Spurs to offer Bale £8m a year deal Tottenham are drawing up a 'double your money' £8million-a-year deal in a bid to keep Gareth Bale from the clutches of Europe's elite.

The 23-year-old forward has been outstanding during the club's charge towards Champions League qualification, scoring 20 goals in all competitions, and Spurs will make their offer of a five-year deal worth around £40m once they have secured a place in the top four of the League.

Bale signed a fouryear contract worth a basic £75,000 a week last season which ties him to the club until 2016.

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ey. But playing the game has its own passion, when you are on the pitch, you just want to play and be happy with yourself, you don’t think about money or anything.

In Nigeria, there is no money in Rugby, you play for fun, and there are no sponsors. You can imagine, some years back, we transported ourselves from Lagos to Kaduna to play the game. But at the end of the day, you just find happiness. I was playing Rugby and selling wrist watches and clothes. I sell in the morning and when I closed, I'd go for training and, on match days, I spend less time selling.

Growing up I grew up in Ajegunle where a lot of things happen. You wake up in the morning and you have to look up to God for survival. Crime rate is high and all sorts of crazy things happen. It wasn’t easy because things were so difficult, but I managed to keep my head up and support from my friends, my mother and others kept me going. It was because my mother inculcated in me the fear of God, and to always do the right thing at all times, that really helped my growing up.

Why Rugby instead of football?

Football is a popular and common sport. I played football for Sao Paulo FC, but I didn’t do well. I played because my friends were playing, so I joined them. I trained with them but when there was a crucial match, I was always on the bench. The fact of the matter is that Rugby is my life now and I love the game.

What about Cowries and its management Cowries team is the foundation of Rugby in Nigeria. It is the best team for anybody who wants to play Rugby because they will teach you the basics of the game and have all it takes to make one the best player in the world.They have so many good players and breaking into the team was not easy after I left my former club ,Eco 11. I took the decision of moving to

Cowries because it is the best Rugby team in Nigeria and I want to make history with the club.

Sponsors When I got into the team, I only met the board members. These are the people pushing up the team, Mr Kelechi Mbagu and Dele Coker. They are among the owners and sponsors of the team. Both of them sponsor the team on daily basis and to various parts of the world. The team just came back from South Africa where we played in the Cape Town 10's competition. We lost in the semi finals by 15-5.

Last year, we were in Dubai twice to play the Dubai Emirates 7’s. We also went to Ghana for the 15’s tournament which was a friendly match and also Togo. We were also supposed to travel to UK for a competition but I don’t know what happened.

What are your plans ?

I am praying God to help me secure a foreign club so I can really show the world the stuff I am made of. I want to play good

rugby aside the one I am playing for Cowries. Cowries is the best team in West Africa, but I want to play against the best sides in the world. I want to play for a standard league, because in Nigeria there is no standard league. We have conquered West Africa, so we need to play teams from France, Fiji ,among others.

How do you see Rugby in Nigeria in the next five years?

I cannot say for now because in the past three years in Nigeria, Rugby has not been stable. It is only a few people doing every thing in Nigeria. They sponsor the game with their personal finance. If the game must grow in this country, we need more philanthropists and also government to join in the development of the game. I don’t think there is a future for Rugby in Nigeria except a miracle takes place, and also the Rugby board should be united, they have issues among themselves. So they have to thrash things out in the interest of the game. Recently, a Rugby instructor was in Nigeria and he complimented the talents in Nigerian youths. He said he had gone to so many African countries and that there are so many potentials in Nigeria. He said that if Nigeria wants to become great in the game in the next 15 years, they have to play the game from the grassroots, schools and streets. And there should be sponsors and most importantly, the people running the game should be up and doing.

Messi’s left foot valued at United ready to sell Suarez to earn £120,000-a-week £3.5m…but it is solid gold! Rooney for £35m Liverpool have handed Luis Suarez a bumper pay boost.

According to the club he is the first player to benefit from the club’s new incentive-based contracts. The Uruguayan’s incredible season has seen his wages rocket from £80,000 a week to around £120,000 under the club’s new pay structure.

Suarez, 26, only signed a new deal last summer which doubled his basic wages from £40,000 to £80,000 a week.

His performances this season have triggered incentive clauses in the Uruguayan’s contract.

A pure gold replica of Lionel Messi's left foot has been unveiled in Tokyo.

Valued at £3.5m, it was created by jeweller Ginza Tanaka to celebrate the man voted the best player in the world four times in a row. The Barcelona player's foot was cast at the end of 2012 and the finished article will go on sale this week. Part of the proceeds will go to Messi's foundation, and be used to support children in areas hit by the Japanese natural disasters of 2011. The Argentina international said: "I'm honoured to have my foot recreated in pure gold.

Manchester United are prepared to sell Wayne Rooney for £35million this summer in an attempt to lure Cristiano Ronaldo back to the club. A Red Devils source said the deal to sell Rooney depends on a “complicated chain of events” which could lead to the return of the world’s most expensive player from Real Madrid.

Ronaldo was instrumental in Los Blancos’ 2-1 win over United , scoring the winner to knock his old club out of the Champions League. After the game, he suggested his future was unclear, but did not unequivocally commit his future to the Spanish champions.

Rooney was left on the bench for the game by Sir Alex Ferguson despite a tremendous performance against Norwich City in the Premier League.

Vanguard, SATURDAY, MARCH 9, 2013 — 31

Complied by Oseji Ephraim

Turkish referee Cuneyt Cakir has

history of sending off England based players in big matches

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efore the sending off of Manchester United winger Nani, Turkish referee Cuneyt Cakir had sent off a number of Premier League players in high-profile European games.

Cakir is not an official who thinks twice about sending off English football’s biggest names.

Steven Gerrard, John Terry and Mario Balotelli have all been shown red cards in recent seasons by the insurance salesman from Istanbul, who is not a professional referee. He has now refereed United three times without them winning.

Gerrard was especially unhappy with his treatment by Cakir, who showed the England captain two yellow cards during a World Cup qualifier against Ukraine at Wembley last September. “I don’t think there was a bad tackle in the game, and the referee has given me seven yellow cards.

It’s disappointing because it’s my first red card in 98 caps,” Gerrard said.

Terry could hardly argue with his dismissal by Cakir, even though it meant the Chelsea captain missed the Champions League final last summer.

Terry’s knee to the back of Barcelona’s Alexis

Sánchez was clear violent conduct, as was Balotelli’s sending-off for a high tackle during Manchester City’s Europa League match against Dynamo Kiev in 2011.

Cakir, who at 37 is younger than Ryan Giggs, broke new ground for Turkish officials by taking charge of the Euro 2012 semi-final between Spain and Portugal. He appears to have a Twitter account on which he ‘follows’ Real Madrid , meaning he subscribes to news updates from the club but it was claimed recently the account was not genuine.

Five previous occasions Cakir has taken centre stage ...

Mario Balotelli: Manchester City v Dynamo Kiev, 2011 Italy striker Balotelli was branded as “stupid” by manager Roberto Mancini for a studs-up kick into the chest of Goran Popov, leaving Cakir with little choice but to send him off.

John Terry: Chelsea v Barcelona, 2012 One of the most famous nights in Chelsea’s history , their Champions League semi-final victory over Barcelona in the Nou Camp ended without their captain. Terry was sent off two minutes after Barça levelled at 1-1 on aggregate, guilty of kicking out at Alexis Sánchez. He was raging at the time, but later apologised to his club’s fans.

Keith Andrews: Republic of Ireland v Italy, 2012 Ireland midfielder Andrews was shown a second yellow card by Cakir for dissent, another low point in his country’s miserable Euro 2012 campaign.

Steven Gerrard: England v Ukraine, 2012 England captain Gerrard received the first red card of his national team career when Cakir showed him two yellow cards in a World Cup qualifier at Wembley.

Gary Cahill: Chelsea v Corinthians, 2012 Defender Cahill got tangled with Emerson in the last minute and, after appearing to be struck himself, lashed out at the Brazil international. “It probably is a red card but the reaction of the guy is totally out of order for what I did,” he said.

“Someone’s smashed me in the face but I didn’t roll around on the floor for five minutes holding my head.”

Ronaldo blast Fergie : Modric now known and Dont call me FAT! addressed as 'Lucky' After being labelled derisively as the ‘old and fat one’ by the Manchester United manager, the Brazil legend has classed the comments as an unprofessional blunder by Ferguson. Real Madrid legend Ronaldo has hit back at Sir Alex Ferguson after the Manchester United manager poked fun at his past battles with weight issues.

The Scot described Ronaldo as the “old and fat one” when asked to compare the 36-year-old to his namesake Cristano ahead of the Spanish giants’ visit to Old Trafford which they lost by 2-1 courtesy of Cristano Ronaldo and Luka Modric strike.

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The Croatian midfielder came off the bench and changed the game against Manchester United with a great goal and showed he can be extremely useful in tight matches.

They called him ‘Lucky ’. Luka Modric signed for Real Madrid just before the Spanish Supercopa against Barcelona in August and made a 10-minute cameo in the second leg as Jose Mourinho’s men claimed the trophy, beating the Catalans at the Santiago Bernabeu for the first time in the Portuguese’s reign.

Modric earned a new nickname from his team-mates and, following a difficult six months in Spain since then, ‘Lucky ’ Luka was back in business on Tuesday.

Vialli urges Chelsea to go Italian Chelsea legend Gianluca Vialli hopes another Italian gets the Blues manager’s job.

Vialli said the club could do worse than consider another Italian boss, after his spell in charge and those of Claudio Ranieri, Carlo Ancelotti and Roberto Di Matteo.

“I hope it’s going to be an Italian,” Vialli said.

“We’ve had four Italian managers at Chelsea in the past 12 years and I think the majority of them have been pretty successful. “Hopefully it would be me.”

Blues to bid for Marco Reus Chelsea are reportedly set to bring Borussia Dortmund striker Marco Reus to Stamford Bridge.

The Blues have finally lost patience with misfiring striker Fernando Torres after the player has continued to under-perform under his former mentor Rafa Benitez. It is rumoured that Chelsea supremo Roman Abramovich is now ready to cut his losses on the Spanish striker and has sanctioned a big money bid for the player. Reus has impressed since returning to Dortmund from B o r u s s i a Monchengladbach.

32 — SATURDAY Vanguard, MARCH 9, 2012

Timaya lights up Iyanya’s album lunch

Singer, Zara Gretti, battles multiple sclerosis

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emember Zara Gretti? The fast-rising singer who took the nation’s music scene by storm two years ago with the release of her single, “Akobo Ku.” She has been off the radar for a while due to complications from multiple sclerosis (MS), an autoimmune disease that affects the brain and spinal cord.

MS is said to affect women more than men.The singer recently revealed her condition via a series of posts, including a recent picture of herself, on her Twitter page. The oncechubby singer who was born and raised in the United States is now a shadow of her old self. In her tweets, Zara disclosed that she is currently experiencing poor vision in both eyes and is suffering from memory loss and tremors. She added that she is receiving treatment in the US. The artiste whose real names are Margaret Mary Oluwatoyin Ejiro Joseph first got on the Nigerian music scene with her successful single “Aboko Ku” in early 2011. Later that same year, in October, she released the catchy “Teno”. Her sense of style

ANOZIE EGOLE

in her videos and public outings is similar to that of the late flamboyant singer, Goldie.

Zara was not signed on to any record label but was once managed by 9ice’s estranged wife, Toni Payne. She launched a web docureality series “The Zara Gretti Chronicles” back in 2011, just before she dropped off the radar.

According to the US National Library of Science, multiple sclerosis (MS) is an autoimmune disease that affects women more than men. It is most commonly diagnosed between ages 20 and 40, but can be seen at any age.

MS is caused by damage to the myelin sheath, the protective covering that surrounds nerve cells.

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or those people who hardly watch Timaya’s live performance, he is indeed, one of the wall breakers in Nigerian music industry.

You needed to see the standing ovation that greeted the appearance of the aweripapa when he mounted the stage to perform at Iyanya’s album launch last weekend. He hipnotised the fans as they went gaga with his hottest tracks like “Shake your Bombom” , “Sexy L ady ” among others”.

When his time expired, his fans never stopped yearning for more as he kept adjusting his oversized sagging trouser. They question is, could this be a dress error or another fashion statement from the superstar?

Sophie-Ann Diete-Spiff emerges Miss West Africa BY OPEOLUWANI OGUNJIMI

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n the 23rd of

February, 2013, 26 contestants gathered at Grand Hotel, Asaba, Delta State for the coveted crown o f

Miss West Africa Nigeria beauty pageant.

The event was put together by D.Sinatra ENT in collaboration with Miss West Africa international. Hosted by ex-BBA winner, Uti Nwachukwu and Ejiro of Kiss FM, Abuja, the glamorous event saw fast rising comedian, Frank D Don holding the crowd spellbound with his rib-cracking

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jokes.

Various performances by the likes of Slim Joe, Sele Bobo and Meshack kept the audience on their feet. The show reached its climax with a cameo appearance by Lynxxx (Mr Utunu) who performed songs like “Change your Parade” and “Fine fine Lady”.

At the end of the event, Sophie-Ann Diete-Spiff who hails from Baylesa State emerged the winner and was crowned Miss West Africa Nigeria. She went home with a brand new Kia Rio 2012 model, undisclosed cash prize and lots more goodies.

Ikekhuame Rachael and Isiofia Chioma Stephanie emerged 1st and 2nd runnerup respectively.

Queen Sophie-Ann DieteSpiff will be representing Nigeria at the Miss West Africa International event which comes up on the 23rd of March 2013 at Cape Verde.

HOT FLASH! Davido signs Ghanaian artiste to HKN

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KN music is really gearing up for business with the signing of its first ever act outside the shores of the country.

The new HKN music artiste, Deekay whose real names are Dennis Dela-Yola King is a Nigerian-born Ghanaian rapper. He has previously worked with the “Omo Baba Olowo”, “Davido on a track”, “High Fever” which dropped sometime last year.

Then signed to Impeccable Entertainment, it seems the young Ghanaian rapper and Davido have been buttressing great rapport ever since then and that has turned into a great business deal.

SATURDAY Vanguard, MARCH 9, 2012—33

s n a i r e g i N e v a g a y n How Iya nch of a lifetime album lau

By ANOZIE EGOLE

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onventional Center of Eko Hotel and Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos, last weekend reverberated to the sounds of both modern and traditional music when one of the country’s music darlings, Iyanya, launched his new album, “Iyanya vs Desire” at the hotel.

The album launch was full of surprises and incredible musical performances by talented artistes who were on parade. Iyanya who is not new to showing excellence on stage, was on a mission to cement his name in the annals of the nation’s music industry, and he did succeed.

For anything, his efforts at the event was complemented by top Nigerian acts including, Tuface Idibia, Timaya, Tiwa Savage, Wizkid, South Sultan, May D,AY, Sheyi shey who wow the large audience with their electrifying performances.

Host of the event, Richard Mofe Damijo who doubled as Delta State Commissioner for Culture and Tourism alongside popular On-Air-Presenter, Toolz who were the MCs for the night made their way on to the stage at about 9. 30 pm, a sign that the event was now ready to hit the road. Dignitaries like Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan of Delta State, Senator Ita Giwa and

many other politicians who graced the album launch got more than what they bargained for.

With the queue that stretched to the Ahmadu Bello Way on the Island, the album launch was one of the biggest shows to be witnessed ever in the nation’s music scene this year. Fun seekers from all walks of life defied the coldness of the night to catch a glimpse of the much talked about album launch.

For many, the night belonged to the Bayelsa born singer, Timaya as he wowed the fans with his latest hit tracks. As soon as Timaya mounted the stage, the atmosphere got charged, as all the ladies in the audience took to the floor, especially when he sang his “Sexy Ladies” hit track. After

Stella Mon es Monyye celebrat celebrates

golden jubilee ore than 30 years on stage, all roads will lead to a venue that is yet, a closely guarded secret as Samba Queen and CEO, Samba Wears, Stella Monye concludes plans to unveil an elaborate programme with enough dance, music and drama to celebrate her golden jubilee.

Tagged, ‘Stage Players Party’ the event is bound to capture her artistic essence.

As the name suggests, it promises to be a wonderfully choreographed presentation that will tap into her experience as a trained Thespian who studied Arts at the University of Lagos Centre for Cultural Studies before moving to University of Ife where she got her first degree in Theatre Arts.

She recently returned to school to study Law at the Lagos State University.

Stella Monye no doubt remains one of the biggest and oldest names in the Nigerian music scene.

She started her music career thirty years ago. Not many people know her as a trained actress with a log of distinctive stage credits. One of the landmark experiences was when she acted the part of Oya in the play Sango Olukoso with which the Centre for Cultural Studies, University of Lagos represented Nigeria at the Horizonte World Festival of Arts in Berlin, Germany. The play later toured many European countries including Switzerland and The Netherlands.

KP Unveiling K

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The Administrator of the National Theater, the then Col. Tunde Akogun gave Stella one of the rarest opportunities of her career, for which she is so grateful to the Nigerian authorities. The event was the 150th Anniversary of the Abolition of Slave Trade. It was a turning point for Stella, as she was given the privilege to put together all star band to back her. The young Stella was in the fore-front as the lead vocalist.

Timaya’s performance, May D took the floor as he gave a good account of himself on stage. But much of his creativity was not showcased properly due to the limited time he had to perform.

However, the highpoint of the night was when the Kukere crooner, himself mounted the stage to wow and woo the crowd with his impressive dance steps. The man of the night, Iynaya took the stage at 11. 30 pm. His emergence on stage drew wild cheers from over a thousand ecstatic crowd who have waited all night to see him. He brought his skills to bear on the night performing several songs including “Will you marry Me”which he featured Tiwa Savage, and decated the same to the late singer, Goldie.

e may not be popular among Nigerian music lovers, but youthful Kranson Kenneth Preye a.k.a KKP has demonstrated that he has what it takes to break new grounds in the industry.

An undergraduate at Lead City University, Ibadan, KKP since the release of his first video, “Bayelsa Girl” in 2011, has not looked back following his resolve to conquer the nation’s music scene. His latest, Ömalicha”, which is enjoying airplay at the moment speaks volume of the rising singer ’s desire to set himself for greatness in the nation’s music scene.

“My mission is to become one of the rising acts to reckon with, in Nigeria,”he stated.

Soft-spoken Preye has performed alongside superstars like Timaya, Terry G and Professor Lenke, the Jogodo master.

34—SATURDAY Vanguard, MARCH 9, 2013

08111813025

A plate of rice and fish, is fine — Nomoreloss G

ive Muyiwa Osinuga, a.k.a Nomoreloss a plate of rice accompanied with a fish sauce, then you will know that he is not a gentleman at all.

He is our guest in this edition of Celebrity Tummy Talk as he speaks on his favourite and delicious meal, rice and fish.

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hen it comes to food, who is Muyiwa Osinuga?

I associate with every good food. But, my area of specialisation is rice or spaghetti and fish. Eating good food is walking on the right path. Health is wealth and that is why it is important to eat healthy food. As a young man, my health is as important as my life so, I can’t toy with it.

Do you select food for a particular occasion?

I’m not the choosy type. But I am careful of the type of food that goes into my stomach. However, having a

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plate of rice and fish is not a bad idea.

Your fruits I love fruits and I have been able to inculcate that in my eating habit. We cherish healthy food in my home and that has been our yardstick for healthy living.

Drinks Water is the important of all.

Exercises Singing is an exercise on its own.

You have to exercise your brain to get the best of song that would inspire people.

Wonders of Ginger

inger has been found to be helpful in blocking the harmful effects of prostaglandin, a substance that can lead to inflammation of the blood vessels in the brain and even cause migraines. There are many wonders of ginger as it is related to every individual according to their needs.

Ginger alleviates feeling of nausea especially in pregnant women.

The anti-inflammatory properties of ginger make it effective in alleviation of the pain associated with rheumatoid arthritis.

Ginger helps to promote warmth in the upper respiratory tract and thus, is quite effective in treating cold and flu.

Those suffering from cramps, caused by stomach gas, bloating. It is believed to have antihave found ginger to be quite effeccancer properties. As per studies, tive. ginger powder leads to cell death Ginger makes the platelets less which is applied to ovarian cancer sticky and is thus, pretty helpful in cells. case of circulatory disorders.

Ginger has been associated with Ginger tea is said to be a great easing of menstrual cramps and stress buster and has been found to mitigation of headache.Ginger is have refreshing properties. quite effective in treating diarrhea.

Ginger is a natural and effective Ginger juice provides immediate mouth freshener and also aids digesrelief from minor burns and skin irtion. ritation. It is also used in spas and Ginger reduces inflammation and salons as it is believed to have a also helps lower cholesterol. It is refreshing effect and reduce arthritgood for those suffering from gas and ic pain.

Nomoreloss

Today's Menu Recipes Pepper Onion Garlic Olive oil Diced tomatoes Salt Pepper Parsley Fish Seasoning

Spaghetti and fish sauce Preparations

and pepper to taste.

Reduce heat to low and Heat the olive oil, garlic, green olives over medium heat cook for 30 minutes. for 3-5 minutes. Do not let the garlic brown. Add enough hot Add the fish fillets and continue cooking for 30 water to fill. Add some salt minutes more. The fish will slowly flake into the sauce. Right before finishing, stir in the fresh parsley and adjust salt and pepper if necessary.

Meanwhile, cook the pasta in boiling, salted water until it is fine.

Serve each plate of pasta with a ladle of fish sauce.

Garnish with grated cheese and a sprinkling of fresh parsley.

Tummy Talk Tips

Starting the day with healthy food

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aintaining an overall healthy diet not only offers your body the energy and nutrition that it needs to function, but offers several health benefits as well. Food including fruits, vegetables, whole grains are food that are of benefit to the body.

Fruits

Fruits and Vegetables: Eating a diet high in fruits and vegetables can help reduce risk for stroke and other cardiovascular diseases; reduce risk for type 2 diabetes; protect against certain cancers, such as mouth, stomach, and colon-rectum cancer; reduce the risk of coronary artery disease; help decrease bone loss and reduce the risk of develop-

ing kidney stones.

Whole Grains: Grains provide essential nutrients and helps reduce

the risk of developing chronic

diseases. Eating a diet high in grains, especially whole grains, can help with weight management, reduce constipation and the risk of coronary artery disease.

Vegetables

SATURDAY Vanguard, MARCH 9, 2013 — 35

BY ISHOLA BALOGUN

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ilian Ajayi is the founder/Executive Director, Global Connections for Women Foundation, GC4W, an organisation aimed at creating new opportunities for young girls in under-served communities and helping them ro reach their potentials. Late last year, the Foundation partnered with Clinton Global Initiative (CGI) and the Clinton Foundation to help the victims of Hurricane Sandy in the United States of America which was adjudged extremely rewarding. In this interview, she speaks about her accomplishment which she describes as ‘changing the lives of the less priviledged.’ Excerpts .

How did Global Connections for Women Foundation (GC4W) come about?

Both my childhood and professional experiences contributed and motivated me to create a way to give back to my community and beyond. But, what really got me engaged and took action was when I attended a discussion at the Harvard Club, called “Women, Power and Entrepreneurship” .

Women from various professional backgrounds attended, and the guest panelists challenged those of us in attendance by posing the following question, “how are you helping your community grow?” I left the discussion that evening feeling truly inspired and empowered to do someLilian Ajayi...The biggest challenge I witnessed facing young African leaders today are their ability to dream big thing. Several months later, after great research, I turned to both my family that would benefit from the GC4W pro- have had mentors for bosses who have their goals. and friends about forming a not-for- meet gram. I also kept my favourite Nelson helped guide our careers but that notprofit organisation called the “Global What was the biggest challenge you Mandela’s quote in mind - “It always withstanding, you should decide what you want to get out a job both before Connections for Women Foundation faced in trying to put GC4W to- seems impossible until it’s done.”

(GC4W)”, an organisation that believes gether?

What advice would you give and after you are hired into a position.

The biggest challenge I faced with someone who plans to open an orWhat would you recommend to in all women and their right to create someone who needs insight on how to new opportunities for themselves and starting to develop GC4W was similar ganisation? their communities, and with a mission to that of many entrepreneurs experiMy advice to someone who plans to be a better leader?

My recommendation is to read as to connect, educate and empower ence when they first embark into unfa- start an organisation or a business is do women and young girls in underserved miliar territory. You tend to reach out your research, talk to family and friends much as you can on what it takes to be a communities across the globe. Subse- to people you know with experience in about your idea, stay focused, and be leader, talk to real leaders or people with quently, I invited friends to join the your specific industry. I reached out patient. You also have to prepare to experience leading and get as many percause and participate as my GC4W to someone older, who I admired and work hard and tirelessly on this endeav- spectives as you can on leadership champions. All were very supportive who had tremendous amount of expe- our, go out and network, but the fore- qualities so that you can acquire first and many eventually became part of a rience running a not-for-profit organi- most important thing is to remain pas- hand true insights of what it takes to be select group that would comprise the sation but frankly to my dismay, she sionate about your organisation’s mis- a great leader. discouraged me from starting this jour- sion and vision. You can’t ask or exWhat is the biggest challenge you first class of GC4W champions.

It is said that even great things have ney. She called my mission “egotisti- pect others to be energetic and enthu- have witnessed that is facing young Aftiny beginnings and it is my hope that cal,” and added “you are just a grain in siastic about your plans if you aren’t rican leaders today?

The biggest challenge I witnessed facas GC4W grows, and the story of its in- the sand” and stated that “this-is-big- first. For this is the infectious drive that ception and success can be added to that ger-than-you,” all in the face of my would attract the right audience to keep ing young African leaders today are their hopes that she would mentor me you motivated and focused, thereby, ability to dream big. Though it may lineage.

At what point in your life did you dis- through this journey. While it was making you successful in your organi- sound cliché, many young African leaders underestimate what they are capacover your passion and how were you stinging and definitely hurtful, I learned sation or business endeavour. able to bring it to fruition? to become resilient and ultimately turn How were you able to get what ble of achieving once they decide to let go of their fears, set their sights high I discovered my passion at a young age this negative feedback into motivation you wanted from your career? as I watched my mum, Chief Temitope and drive to stay the course for I was I took the road less travelled, I wasn’t and pursue their dreams. Perhaps, it’s Ajayi (also known as Mama Diaspora) only thinking of all the women and girls afraid to go after what I wanted to do because we are more exposed to a numsimultaneously nurture her children and and that fit into my own ber of cultural, social and political ideas the community in which we lived. personal convictions, that often times can pose a challenge to I witnessed first hand, how happy and I didn’t shy away our sense of identity and make it diffiand fulfilled it made her feel to be from big challenges. I cult for us to bring new ideas in an old able to balance both the desire to also found great mentors ideological thinking. But they need to support her family as a single parand spent a lot of time break out of that mold and use their culent and the desire to support and learning from people I tural heritage to their advantage and encourage her community. “There’s respected and admired. thrive in a multinational world. I also goodness in helping people”... a freI was able to get what I think that too many young African leadquently used and favourite quote wanted from my career ers are waiting for something to hapfrom my mum. It was this very expebecause I set personal pen to them or for them. This attitude rience that made me realise that my goals for each of my reminds me of what a good friend once passion lies in my ability to help peoprofessional endeav- said to me, that there are two types of ple define their goals and strive to ours. I strongly believe people in this world, someone who wait meet them. This is precisely how I that you are the only for things to happen and some who have been able to handle personal reone who can determine make things happens. Young African lationships and professional endeavwhat you want out of a leaders have to decide where they ours , whether it is helping a family job. Some of us have stand. Are you waiting for things to hapmember, a friend, or a mentee realise been very fortunate pen for you or are you making things their dreams or helping a company (myself included), we happen for yourself?

36 — SATURDAY Vanguard MARCH 9, 2013

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Surgical treatments Surgical treatments may be used when a cause of the infertility is found that may be helped by an operation. These include: Fallopian tube problems — If the Fallopian tubes have been blocked or scarred from a previous disease, infection, or other problem, fertility can be restored by tubal surgery. Most surgery to the Fallopian tubes is done by keyhole surgery. Others are Endometriosis — surgery may help to improve fertility in women with endometriosis; Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) — an operation on the ovaries for some women with PCOS using keyhole surgery; Fibroids — surgery (to remove the fibroid) may be considered if there is no other explanation for the infertility; and Male in-

to include either stimulation of ovulation using clomifene, IUI or IVF. This study raises the question about how best to manage unexplained infertility.

Possible complications of infertility treatments

•Infertility...what are the options

Infertility — A summary of treatments fertility — when sperm are blocked by an abnormality in the epididymis in the testis, surgery may help. Varicoceles may be repaired surgically and surgery may be considered if an older man has an abnormal sperm count and his partner has no obvious problems.

Assisted conception Specialist advice is often required on the best options and chance of success.

Intrauterine insemination (IUI) This is the process by which sperm are placed in the woman’s womb.

Sperm are passed through a tube timed to coincide with ovulation (about half way through a monthly cycle) in women who are still ovulating. Fertility medicines may also be given but women who have this procedure need to have healthy Fallopian tubes.

The sperm used can be either from the male partner, or from a donor.

In vitro fertilisation (IVF) In vitro fertilisation means fertilisation outside of the body. IVF is mainly used in couples whose infertility is caused by blocked Fallopian tubes, or unexplained infertility. IVF

involves taking fertility medicines to stimulate the ovaries to make more eggs than usual. The eggs are harvested and each egg is mixed with sperm. This is obtained either by the male partner or from a donor. The egg/sperm mixture is left for a few days in a laboratory dish. The aim is for sperm to fertilise the eggs to form embryos.

One or two embryos which have formed are then placed in the woman’s womb. Chance of success with IVF may be

,

ne in four couples in Nigeria is affected by infertility and a may need the right treatment.

There are many available treatment options for infertility, ranging from medicines to surgery to assisted conception methods. Generally, basic information on causes of infertility and expert advice for couples trying to conceive is essential prior to making a choice.

Medicines that may improve fertility Medicines are sometimes used alone, but can also be used in addition to assisted conception. Medicines are mainly used to help with ovulation, if for various reasons, ovulation does not occur, or occurs less often than normal. Ovulation is partly controlled by the follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinising hormone (LH). Common drugs used are Clomifene which stimulate the ovaries. Others are medicines that contain gonadotrophins, which are used when clomifene does not work, or prior to IUI and IVF, to cause ovulation. Medicines that contain gonadotrophin-releasing hormone are also used to stimulate the pituitary to release gonadotrophins (which in turn stimulate the ovaries). Metformin is a good example of a drug given to women with infertility who do not respond to clomifene.

The mixture of eggs and sperm is then placed into one of the woman’s Fallopian tubes. Unlike IVF, the sperm fertilises the egg naturally inside the woman’s Fallopian tube or womb, and not outside the body in a laboratory dish. GIFT has been used in cases of unexplained fertility or male factor infertility problems.

Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection (ICSI) ICSI involves an individual sperm being injected directly into the

IVF involves taking fertility medicines to stimulate the ovaries to make more eggs than usual

higher if the female partner is at least 36- 39; has been pregnant before and has a body mass index (BMI) between 19 and 30.

Gamete Intrafallopian Transfer (GIFT) A gamete is an egg or sperm. Eggs and sperm are collected in the same way as for IVF. The eggs are mixed with sperm.

,

cytoplasm (outer part of the egg). This method bypasses any natural barriers that may have been preventing fertilisation. ICSI can also be used when a male partner has a low sperm count as only one sperm is needed. The egg containing the sperm is then placed in the womb in the same way as with

IVF. ICSI is used for couples who have failed to achieve fertilisation through IVF, or where the quality or number of sperm is too low for normal IVF to be likely to succeed.

Egg donation This involves stimulating the ovaries of a female donor with fertility medicines, and collecting the eggs which form.

The eggs are mixed with and fertilised by sperm of the recipient’s partner.

After 2-3 days, embryos are placed in the womb of the recipient via the cervix. This method is an option for: women who have ovarian failure and cannot produce eggs; women who have had their ovaries removed; and women who have conditions where the ovaries do not work (e.g. Turner Syndrome); where there is a high risk of transmitting a genetic disorder to the baby. It is also used in certain cases of IVF failure.

Embryo donation Couples who have had successful IVF treatment may decide to donate any spare embryos to help other infertile couples.

Unexplained infertility Treatment for unexplained infertility tends

Multiple pregnancy Twins and multiple pregnancy are more common in some forms of infertility treatment including medication treatment — for example, with clomifene (Clomid). This is because in some of the treatments using medication, the ovaries may be stimulated so that more than one egg is released and therefore more than one egg may be fertilised. Also, in some assisted conception treatments, more than one embryo is put back into the woman’s womb and therefore more than one pregnancy can develop. Having twins or triplets does carry an increased risk of problems during a woman’s pregnancy.

Pregnancy in the Fallopian tube An ectopic pregnancy (a pregnancy that develops in the Fallopian tube) is a little more likely in women who are undergoing treatment for infertility especially if the cause of infertility is due to a problem with the Fallopian tubes.

Stress Going through investigations and treatment for infertility can be a very stressful thing and can put a strain on many relationships.

Over-stimulation of the ovaries There is a small risk that some medicines such as the gonadotrophin medicines, can over-stimulate the ovaries and can lead to a condition known as ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome. Symptoms can include abdominal pain and distension, nausea and vomiting.

Birth defects Overall risks of an abnormality occurring following assisted conception are small. However, the risk is a bit higher compared to babies conceived without assisted conception.

SATURDAY Vanguard, MARCH 9, 2013—37 la langue (kissing with the tongue).

Studies show that kissing is erotically more important to women than to men. Women are more likely to insist on kissing before, during, and after sex. Not surprisingly, when one received complaints about kissing, they’ve almost always veen voiced by women about men.

Kissing often makes people feel self-conscious, especially about the freshness of their breath. This concern accounts for significant sales of lifesavers, breath mints, toothpaste, and dental floss.

One study asked 1,041 young adults how best to kiss.

The vast majority said that fresh breath, clean teeth, and good grooming were essential prerequisites. A large majority also valued soft, moist lips, deep breathing, mutual caressing, and assertiveness— leaning in and putting emotion into kissing rather than remaining passive. Finally, most said the best kissing begins with mouths closed, and proceeds to mouths opening only if things heat up.

The Mystery of Kissing A

married friend complained that her husband’s aversion to kissing was stressing their marriage. This is not the first time one is hearing people complain about their lover’s poor kissing or unwillingness to kiss. But kissing is a frequently overlooked element of sexuality. Also known as smooching, necking, snogging, making out, lip locking, bussing (archaic), and osculation, kissing is rarely mentioned in sexology resources, which is odd because for many lovers, kissing is one of the most important, most erotic elements of intimacy.

One reason why couples literature largely ignores kissing is that it often occurs in nonsexual contexts with non-erotic meanings, among them: kissing another’s cheek (or air kissing) to signal greeting or farewell, kissing children’s minor injuries to heal them, kissing the Pope’s ring or kings’ hands or garments to

signal reverence and fealty, kissing dice for good luck, and kissing that signals betrayal, condemnation, or contempt as in Judas’ kiss, the Mafia’s kiss of death, or the phrase “kiss my ass.”

Kissing is a mystery. Only two other species are known to kiss as humans do, chimpanzees and bonobos. They kiss to communicate attachment and to reduce group social tensions. But only humans and bonobos kiss deeply during sex.

Nor is it clear why kissing evolved. Some scientists speculate that it originated with mammalian infant suckling.

Human lips contain a wealth of touch-sensitive nerves, and lip stimulation activates a surprisingly large area of the brain. But all mammals suckle their young while only a tiny minority of mammals kiss. Other researchers suggest that kissing originated in mammalian pre-chewing of food before

PERT X E S E H T ASK I am 27 years old. I have a very small manhood. It is only four inches long when erect. I am worried I will not be able to satisfy my future wife. Also, I am bisexual. I have tried my best to stop having sex with men, but it is impossible for me to stop. What do I do?

The length of your male organ at erection is more than enough to satisfy your partner. You may be bisexual, but it is your decision which way you want to swing.

I got married a year ago. Due to lack of information, our sex life was initially boring. Although I’m good looking and sexy, my husband did not show interest in sex. Over a period of time, he opened up with his boss about our married life. His boss is 50 years old, charming and stylish. My husband and his boss have started performing oral sex on each other. My husband enjoys his company more than mine, and I feel neglected. I

feeding it to their young mouth to mouth. Again, many more mammalian species pre-chew food than kiss. Some scientists theorize that kissing evolved to bring noses close enough to sense others’ pheromones, chemicals that play a subtle but well-documented role in attraction and attachment. Again, many species respond to pheromones but only a few kiss.

Kissing boosts levels of the neurotransmitters dopamine, serotonin, and the endorphins.

Dopamine regulates sexual desire while serotonin and endorphins elevate mood.

Kissing also increases blood levels of the hormone oxytocin, which mediates interpersonal attachment, and decreases levels of the stress hormone cortisol. As a result, kissing reduces anxiety and blood pressure.

Many people use kissing as a test of compatibility. In one survey, 59 percent of men and 66 percent of women said

they’d ended budding relationships because the other person kissed “badly.”

Studies show that men are more likely than women to initiate kissing with tongue contact. The reason is unclear, but saliva contains trace amounts of testosterone, the hormone responsible for sexual desire in both men and women. Researchers speculate that unconsciously men may open their mouths to deliver this hormone and perhaps increase women’s sexual receptivity.

But on the other hand, plenty of lovers’ kissing doesn’t lead to sex.

Among English speakers, open-mouth kissing was not called French kissing until World War I, when large numbers of English and American soldiers fought in France, and discovered that it’s common among the French. However, the French do not call it French kissing. It’s baiser amoureux (the kiss of love) or baiser avec

am worried that they may have turned gay. What should I do?

You are in a sticky situation. You must have a frank talk with your husband. You have a choice to let him be, since proximity with the boss might land him a promotion at work. If not, tell him how you honestly feel about the state of affairs. To get your husband interested in you, use foreplay and indulge in activities such as, bathing and massaging together.

I am a 20-year-old woman. My nipples are sometimes flat, sometimes inverted and sometimes perked up when I’m cold. I have heard that inverted nipples are a sign of breast cancer. Is it true? When I have children, will it cause a breastfeeding problem?

Inverted nipples are common and are not signs of cancer. Why worry now for what may happen in the future? You will be able to nurse your baby.

I am 32, and my wife is 38. We had a good sex life

Marital Infidelity: How common is it?

Marital infidelity is difficult to research because most people are reluctant to admit it.

One survey made headlines showing that only a tiny percentage of spouses cheat. But the researchers interviewed respondents with their spouses present.

Even without spouses, results depend on how questions are asked. Researchers surveyed 4,800 married women using face-to-face interviews and an anonymous questionnaire. In the interviews, only 1 percent said they’d cheated during the past year. But the anonymous questionnaire showed 6 percent.

Meanwhile, controversy clouds the definition of “infidelity.” Most say it’s sex with anyone who isn’t your spouse. But what about spouses who are separated but not divorced?

What about open marriages?

And don’t-ask-don’t-tell marriages. ? Is infidelity any sex outside

until our child was born two years ago. Since then, she has lost interest in sex and that is really frustrating. I have tried to be understanding, surprised her with romantic dinners and given her gifts. Nothing has worked.

Perhaps, a marriage counsellor, a psychologist or her gynaecologist can help. Continue doing what you are doing. At times, women go through this phase, but get back to normal.

I am a 29-year-old married man. Just a week before my marriage, I experienced an itching near my foreskin and when I tried to pull it back, it hurt. Please suggest what I could do.

Visit your doctor. Apply Betnovate cream over the tip and slip back your foreskin back daily. Do this several times and repeat twice a day.

38— SATURDAY Vanguard, MARCH 9, 2013

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Vanguard, SATURDAY, MARCH 9, 2013 — 39

Explore the goodness of Natural Beauty remedies

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ick start this new month with new seasons floral dresses and prints from bold and art inspired dresses to floral tops, shoe and more. The collection of shoes and accessories by D&G is the embodiment of romance. All pieces in the range look very beautiful and feminine.

Shoes are all wedges, decorated with floral pattern of all colors and kinds.

Bags are also made with the use of this trendy motif and will serve as perfect additions to your wardrobe.

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W

hen it comes to skincare, most women tackle concerns that include Dehy drated Skin, Early Wrinkles, Firming and Luminosity, Oiliness, Puffiness and Dark Circles, Sensitivity, Cellulite, Dry Skin Stretch Marks and more. Clarins has a wide range of products to address all Face and Body concerns with ranges that include Daily Energiser, Extra-Firming, HydraQuench, Multi-Active, Sensitive Skin, Super Restorative, Truly Matte, UV Plus HP, Vital Light and Bright Plus HP. Men too have Face and Body concerns that is why the ClarinsMen range has products to address the most common problem men have, such as shaving and sensitivity. Products come in the following ranges; Wash, Shave, Hydrate, Age-Control, Body Care and SOS Express..

Here listed From Plant To Product items to choose from Face and Body Oils: these pure concentrates of plants combine aromatic essential oils and vegetal oil to restore essential skin balance.

Eye Contour Gel: Formulated in 1966, say goodbye to puffiness and dark circles thanks to the Eye Contour Gel unique blue gel texture with a cooling effect.

Extra-Firming: the Extra-Firming range is dedicated to women over 40 and is the favourite of skin-firming and anti-wrinkle products.

Beauty Flash Balm: Formulated in 1980, this gives instant beauty as it is mythical, magical and unique.

Double Serum: this is an unequalled concentration of age-control ingredients.

Eau Dynamisante: Formulated in 1987, it is the first body splash to combine the fragrant and treatment properties of plants to hydrate, tone and enhance the skin.

Multi Active Day: Formulated in 1988, this is an anti-aging line for young, active women that deliver to the skin everything it needs, when and where it needs it most.

Skin Beauty Repair Concentrate: This product is enriched with 90% plant extracts, it is an essential product for those who have sensitive skin.

Anti-Pollution Complex: Formulated in 1991, this is a pioneer against the harmful effects of the environment.

Multi-Cellular Protection: Formulated in 1993, this combines the best filters to protect the cells from UV ray aggressions.

Contouring Facial Life: Formulated in 1998, often imitated but never surpassed, this innovative refining treatment helps promote more youthful looking features.

The ClarinsMen: Formulated in 2002, this is a complete range of products formulated with plant extracts, which were selected for their energizing, firming and soothing abilities.

The Super Restorative: Formulated in 2003, this is dedicated to the beauty of women over age 50.

UV Plus SPF 40: Formulated in 2004, this protective day screen innovative sun and pollution protection is an invisible protection.

High Definition Body Life: Formulated in 2008, with this product stubborn cellulite does not stand a chance.

Younger Longer Balm: Formulated in 2008, it is responsible for giving you a youthful skin.

Vital Light: Formulated in 2010, the Vital Light range uses for the first time the exceptional revitalizing ability of three pioneer plants to restore lost skin radiance.

Bright Plus HP: Clarins introduces its newest generation of high performance brightening products for a brighter, more translucent, flawless and even-toned skin.

40— SATURDAY VANGUARD, MARCH 9, 2013

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SA TURD AY VANGU ARD , MARCH 9, 2013 — 41 SATURD TURDA VANGUARD

FRSC denies recruiting in 2012

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HE Federal Road Safety Corps, FRSC has denied carrying out any recruitment exercise in 2012, contrary to media reports which trailed the recent public hearing held by the Senate Joint Committee on Federal Character and Inter-Government Affairs and Labour and Employment.

This is coming on the heels of a declaration by the Chairman of the Federal Character Commission, Prof Shuaibu Oba that the FRSC recruitment exercise of 6,000 officers in 2012 was faulty and illegal.

According to a statement by the Corps Public Education Officer, Jonas Agwu, Corps Commander, “the FRSC had an approved establishment of 18,834 while its staff strength stood at 13,092. In view of this, an approval was sought and received from the Head of Civil Service of the Federation to recruit in 2010 which was carried out in 2010/2011.

He added that in 2011, the FRSC also received approved establishment of 20,012 staff, upon which it sought and got waiver from the Head of Civil Service of the Federation to recruit additional personnel.

This approval was utilized in 2011 and the successful candidates were sent for training in •Hyundai Sonata December, 2011 which lasted up to February, 2012 and were issued appointment letters, he added.

“The FRSC wishes to state categorically that no recruitment exercise took place in the corps in 2012”.

Explaining further, Agwu stated that it was this training of successful rectly based on a sequen- further performance and candidates that spilled tial gearbox from motor dynamics advantages to over to 2012 and not a racing, thereby providing the driver. fresh recruitment.

911 GT3 opens new chapter in high performance sports cars T

HE year 2013 marks the anniversary of Porsche’s most iconic car: the 911. For the last 50 years this rear-engined model has been equally at home on the racetrack as on the road. Its genetic DNA can be found in every other Porsche model. With over 820,000 units built, the 911 is the world’s most successful sports car ever.

In the 50th anniversary year, the company will celebrate the world premiere of the new 911 GT3 at the Geneva International Motor Show.

With the reveal of the fifth generation of the 911 GT3, Porsche is set to open a new chapter in high performance sports cars. The model will take the pole position among the manufacturer’s thoroughbred sports cars featuring naturally aspirated engines. Boxer engine and transmission as well as body and chassis are completely new and constitute a further development of the 911 GT3 concept with an impressive performance leap.

Power: 475 hp. Power to weight ratio: 3.0 kg/hp.

Acceleration from zero to 100 km/h: in 3.5 seconds.

Top speed: 315 km/h. Lap

time Nürburgring Nordschleife: under 7:30 minutes.

As a technical highlight, it features the first active rear wheel steering and optional full LED headlights in a production Porsche. The new 911 GT3 keeps all the successful properties of a sports car suitable for racing, with even more driving dynamics, more sophisticated practicality, and a highly emotional fun factor.

The powertrain of the new 911 GT3 is composed of the 3.8-liter boxer engine yielding 475 hp at 8,250 rpm, the Porsche dual-clutch transmission (Porsche Doppelkupplung, short: PDK) and a high-traction rear-wheel drive. The six-cylinder engine is based on the same engine as the 911 Carrera S, although they share only few common parts. All other components, particularly the crankshaft and valve gear, were specially adapted or designed for the GT3. For instance, Porsche designed titanium connecting rods and forged pistons. The basic modifications set the stage for an extremely high-speed engine that reaches up to

9,000 rpm. The PDK was also specially developed; the characteristics are di-

BMW i3 Concept Coupe premieres in Geneva

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HE BMW i3 Con cept Coupe celebrates its European premiere in Geneva, while the BMW i8 Concept Spyder also makes an appearance. These two concept models reflect the current status of the ongoing development process and illustrate the potential breadth of an extended BMW i portfolio.

At the same time they

show how high-performance, zero-emission mobility is also able to deliver when it comes to emotional excitement and sheer appeal. Both models are built around BMW eDrive technology, which will provide a unique driving experience in all future BMW electric and plug-in hybrid models.

These BMW eDrive powertrains, comprising the

electric motor, lithium-ion battery and intelligent powertrain management, form the core of all BMW i models.

The BMW Group will start supplying customers with driver-friendly, premium-quality electric mobility later this year with the BMW i3, whose technology is a response to the social, ecological and economic challeng-

es of our times.

Two principal challenges still faced by electric mobility are what are considered to be the short driving range of electric vehicles and an inadequate charging infrastructure. With the world’s biggest electric mobility field trial, the BMW Group has therefore been exploring these issues in depth since 2008.

42 —S ATURDAY Vanguard, MARCH 9, 2013

So yink a bags Obaf emi A wolo wo’s Soyink yinka Obafemi Aw olow Leadership prize

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From Left; Alhaji Namadi Sambo, Vice President, Prof Wole Soyinka, Dr Olatokunbo Awolowo-Dosunmu, Foundation member and excutive director, Obafemi Awolowo Foundation, Chief Emeka Anyaoku, Chairman , Selection Committee, Obafemi Awolowo Foundation

L-R:Odia Ofeimum, Professor Wole Soyinka, Gov. Olusegun Mimiko of Ondo State and Vice President Namadi Sambo

L-R: Prof. Wole Soyinka, Gov. Olusegun Mimiko of Ondo State and Vice President Namadi Sambo

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rof. Wole Soyinka on Wednesday became the first recipient of the maiden edition of the Obafemi Awolowo prize for Leadership. Prof. Wole Soyinka, received the award of a certificate and plaque for his choice at an elaborate ceremony at Harbour Point, Lagos State.

The award was presented by Dr. Olatokunbo Awolowo Dosunmu, Foundation member, Obafemi Awolowo Foundation, Chief Emeka Anyaoku, Chairman , Selection committee and the Vice President of Federal Republic of Nigeria, Alhaji Nemadi . Photos

By Kehinde Gbadamosi

L-R: Gov. Olusegun Mimiko of Ondo State, Professor Akin Mabogunje and Chief Felix Ibru

L-R: Gov. Olusegun Mimiko of Ondo, Gov. Babangida Aliyu of Niger, Professor Wole Soyinka and Vice President Namadi Sambo

Adenigba bags Chief taincy title Chieftaincy

ayode Adenigba, General Manager, Lagos Airport Hotel, was conferred with a chieftaincy title by the Elekole of Ikole-Ekiti, Oba Adewunmi Ajibade Fasiku. The installation took place at the monarch’s palace.

Chief and Mrs Kayode Adenigba with the Elekole of Ikole Ekiti C M Y K

Chief and Mrs Kayode Adenigba after their installation

Ik oyi Club Chairman’s Iko Week

THE Chairman’s Week organised by the Ikoyi Club 1938 in honour of its out-going Chairman, Mr. Richard Giwa-Osagie ended amidst pomp and pageantry in Lagos. The ceremony which marked the end of Richard’s 2-year tenure as the Chairman of the European-founded club attracted dignitaries of diverse pedigree.

L-R: Billy Joe Ekwunife, Tennis Club Chair; Anthony Owolabi, Table Tennis Chair; Tunji Okesola, Entertainment Chair; Richard Giwa Osagie, Chairman, Ikoyi Club 1938; Bimpe Esho, Catering Adviser and Niyi Sowemimo, Bar Adviser

R-L: Mr. Richard Giwa-Osagie, outgoing Chairman, Ikoyi Club 1938; Airtel CEO Representative, Mr.Wole Abu, Dr.Aderemi Desalu and Mr.Niyi Sowemimo

R-L: Mr.Wole Abu, Mr. Richard Giwa-Osagie, Mrs.Moji Giwa-Osagie and Dr.Aderemi Desalu

Inauguration of NIMASA Board IT was a parade of top dignitaries when the Board

of Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) Board was inaugurated in Delta State some fortnight ago. Photo Nath Onojake

R-L: His Majesty Keagborekuzi 1,Dien of Agbor Kingdom With Lt.Col. Agbu Kefas [Rtd], Chairman, NIMASA Board

SA TURD AY Vanguard SATURD TURDA anguard,, MARCH 9, 2013 — 43

Enugu – the killings continue

By EMMA NNADOZIE, Crime Editor

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utside the core Northern states where the Boko Haram insurgency is taking its heavy toll on human lives, Enugu,the former capital of Eastern Nigeria, is fast wearing the undeserved toga of ‘killer field’, with the rising figures of mysterious murders in the serene coal city and its environs.

While the Boko Haram killers are fighting for identified religious cause, those engaged in killing prominent people in Enugu State are yet to make known their reasons.

So far, they have succeeded in turning the once hospitable coal city into Thomas Hobbes’ state of Leviathan “ where life is solitary, nasty, brutish and short”.

The terrible state of insecurity in the state is more pronounced in the

university town of Nsukka, about 45 minutes drive from the capital city. So far, no fewer than five brutal killings of innocent citizens have taken place in the state in the past six months. While the killings continued, the state government remained unconcerned not until the latest gruesome murder of a serving Police Commissioner who happens to come from the state.

Mr. Chinwike Asadu, the Police Commissioner in Kwara State was brutally killed by yet-tobe identified gun men who waylaid him and his orderly as he was driving into his private residence in Enugu.

The amiable, unassuming and extraordinarily gentle police boss, who had barely a month to retire from the force after serving meritoriously for 35 years, was in Enugu to see members of his

family when he was mowed down by the assassins bullets.

Few weeks before this incident which sent shock waves all over the country and beyond, the university town of Nsukka had recorded harvests of gruesome killings of some of its prominent indigenes in very bizarre and despicable manners. It started with a Financial Economist Ogbo Edoga,56, based in United States of America, who was shot dead in his hometown, Aku, Igbo-Etiti Local Government area of the state, just few days to the official launching of a project he started with his colleagues overseas.

They came home to open a medical diagnostic centre for the impoverished masses when three gun men accosted him in front of the house of one of his in laws and shot him dead with an AK47 assault rifle. The daredevil gunmen escaped with his personal effects including N200,000.00, cash abandoning their

•Papa Nsukka

vehicle.

The Christmas tragedy which reverberated through the length and breath of the state and beyond shortly, has so far remained a mystery as the police have not come up with any clue on his killers. Family members of the deceased alleged that rather, the police in the area ended up making volatile and provocative conclusions which left every discerning mind with the impression that there were more to the killing

•Edoga of the young man.

Barely a month later, another mind-boggling t r a g e d y occurred. This time around, it took place right inside the university town. A prominent human rights activist and politician cum Journalist, Christopher Ejike Onah, 52, was brutally hacked to death by some youths numbering up to 20 in front of his residence in Agbani village. Luckily, the initial police inactivity

Late CP Asadu – Step mother cries out

‘Stop projecting my late son in bad light’ By: CHINENYEH OZOR, Nsukka

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he hardly could

control tears as people trooped to the large Onuiyi compound of Asadu family wailing while sympathizers were in groups lamenting over the news of the death of commissioner of police, Chiwike Asadu in Enugu, last Saturday. The septuagenarian step mother, Madam Veronica Asadu, could not be comforted as she was virtually rolling on the bare floor while a group of women battled to restrain her from inflicting wounds on herself. Few hours later when she was able to calm down and stare permanently towards one direction, Crime Guard was able to extract one or two words from her. Describing the late Police boss as “an accomplished quiet gentleman who could hardly hurt a fly right from birth, the woman who reportedly took care of him from infancy after his mother ’s early death stuttered; “I am in shock over what has befallen me, what has he done to deserve death? He lived a quiet life and did not support evil. Those who knew him cannot call him bad names or deride him for any cause. I pray God to fish out the perpetra-

Madam Asadu: My life has ended. (Inset; Slain CP Aadu) tors of the heinous crime.

My son died for the good of the society, his killers would never go unpunished, certainly one day the law would catch up with them as they killed him without explanation.”

As she manged to bare her sorrowful mind, some sympathizers who trooped in large numbers were wailing while others wore moody faces..as they commiserated with the family over this colossus’death which is a huge loss to Enugu North senatorial zone. Madam Asadu who was still in shock said also that her greatest worry now is the way some people are making diversionary insinuations over the cause of his death. “What they are doing is diversionary and I feel it is a deliberate at-

tempt by his killers to divert attention to issues

that have no bearing to his life. He had no interest in any kingship position anywhere. In fact, by nature, he has nothing to do with things like struggle for kingship or village politics. He was busy pursuing his professional career and was looking forward to retiring gracefully into his legal profession which he said will be after he must have rested with members of his family for a while. Those doing this are really painting him in a bad light and his spirit will not forgive

them. They are not contented with killing him, they now want to paint unimaginable picture of his person.

When Crime Guard visited his village in Amaukwa, Nsukka, both the old, young men and women were seen siting on bare floor, weeping and gnashing their teeth. One of Asadu’s relations, a retired teacher who opted to remain anonymous simply lamented,”Our world ended the day they killed him. We will display his corpse for his killers to eat raw. Our own is finished.”

Man docked for inflicting injuries on 13-yr-old girl

By DONALD ARJI THE human right department of the Ojo police division has arraigned a 40year-old man before the Ojo Magistrate’s Court on a two- count charge of using hot knife to inflict injuries on a 13-year- old girl after accusing her of stealing a sachet milk.

Inieke David who hails from Abak Local Government of Akwa Ibom State, was allegedly reported to the police by staff of L.A Nursery and Primary School in Ojo local Government area for using a hot iron to inflict injuries on his niece accusing her

of stealing milk.

The victim reportedly collected milk from her classmates after her uncle’s wife refused to give her food only for the woman to later inform her husband that she caught Blessing stealing milk from a retailer ’s shop.

David who didn’t ask questions after hearing from his wife, allegedly put a knife on a burning stove, tied up Blessing with a wrapper and inflicted injuries on her. The suspect was also said to have allegedly chased her out of the house. It was gathered that good Samaritans from Ojo community reported his action to

Ojo Local Government Secretariat and he was handed over to the police for proper investigation.

Neighbours said the victim who has been living with her uncle for the past three years was brought from the village to be trained in school and also assist her uncle’s wife in her household chores only to be maltreated and starved several times.

Magistrate Shomade going through the charges against David ordered that he should be remanded at the Kirikiri Prison while the case was transferred to the Family Court in Apapa for further hearing

and nonchalance in the area was punctuated when members of his family hastily protested to the Police Public Relations Officer in Enugu who swiftly took up the matter and contacted his commissioner. The case was quickly transferred to the police headquarters and the team of policemen assigned to it did not waste time in making startling discoveries and arrests.

However, in spite of this positive move by the police, many are disturbed that extra efforts are not being made to round up the perpetrators of this evil who were said to be up to 20. While residents of the state are still living in fear following these killings, police authorities seem not to have taken up the gauntlet and braced up to the realities on ground. Perhaps, that may have influenced the latest changes in the leadership of the force in the state from the Inspector-General of Police Mohammed Abubakar, whom sources said had since given them matching orders to fish our the killer-squad that has been ravaging the state and its environs.

The latest killing of a serving police commissioner will, no doubt, rekindle the resolve by police authorities in Abuja to make their men in Enugu swing into action with a view to bringing these devilish killers to book without delay.

Happily, it has also jolted the state government into action as Governor Chime who struggled to control tears while visiting the family of the slain police boss, not only pledged N10m reward for information that will lead to rounding up the vicious gang that is on the loose in the state, but promised to release more patrol vans to the police to ensure adequate security.

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44 — SATURDAY Vanguard, MARCH 9, 2013

Mother whose legs ballooned to 10 Stones

'I'm addicted to my hair!'

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hinese woman, 44, hasn't cut her 6ft 7in locks in 11 years—and standing just 5ft tall, her tresses are longer than she is. Cen Yingyuan hasn't cut her hair in 11 years and admits she is 'addicted' to it.

Standing at 5ft tall her hair is a foot and a half longer than she is. She collects every strand that falls out —around 50g hair a year. It takes over an hour to wash and a day and a half to dry. Cen has had offers of up to £2,000 for her locks.

If she ever found a grey hair, she says she would dye all her hair white.

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other whose legs ballooned to 10 stones each due to mosquito bite can now walk again after the fluid was drained off... and even gets a special ‘cankle’ cake to celebrate. Sophia Loots, 42, saw her weight balloon from 14st to almost 50st. Condition caused by mosquito bite parasitic infection. She was too embarrassed to go to the hospital because she thought it had been caused by her overeating. Finally she sought help in October 2011 and started treatment in June 2012.

The greatest Valentine's Day gift of all D

evoted girlfriend donates her kidney to her 30-year-old boyfriend after dating for just one year.Below: Travis SpireSweet underwent surgery at a Kansas City Hospital, Missouri, after Taesha Benson, 32, was found to be a perfect match as a donor. Today they ’re recovering at home together.

Hopping for a ride

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heetahs may be the fastest land animals in the world, but this pair look more content riding a car.

Wildlife photographer Paolo Torchio held his nerve as a fully-grown mother and her juvenile son hopped on to the roof of his vehicle just feet away.

C M Y K

Deodorant girl T

eenager 'must eat' half a stick of deodorant every day after bizarre addiction takes over her life . Nicole, 19, enjoyed taste when she tried some as a toddler. Doctors says she is risking her health if she continues.

SATURDAY Vanguard, MARCH 9, 2013—45

died, my mother was treated as an outcast. Her husband’s relation said, she knew something about her husband’s death, they called her a witch and for this reason they humiliated and tortured her for three months. “She was not allowed to have her bath nor wash her hands after eating.

She wasn’t allowed to change her clothes or underwear either. It was a terrible situation, in fact, my mother regretted that she was married to my father.

“One of her late husband’s brother told her to sit and sleep on the bare floor during her

Women in anguish

BY EBUN SESSOU & FLORENCE AMAGIYA

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nspite of the touch of civ ilization in the lives of many villagers, tradition and customs still remain intact. While some remain passionate about it, some show a lot of disregard to it just as others especially the human rights activists consider some aspects of it as infringement on the rights of individuals.

But what is the gain of any tradition or custom which is inimical to the life of individual?

For families who lost their loved ones, life could be miserable. They are exposed to a world of pain, anguish, frustration and untold hardship everyday of their lives.

The trauma they suffer as a

How widows, children, suffer hardship in the name of tradition S result of the death of any of their parents is such that linger forever in their lives.

They also suffer neglects, groan and mourn all the days of their lives while nobody dares to listen to their plights.

They are denied their fundamental human rights, hence leaving them in the face of

continuous frustration and misery all through their lives.

In one area of Edo State, Eunice, a 36-year lady who narrated a similar experience told Saturday Vanguard, her mother suffered torture in the hands of her late husband’s relations.

Her words: “When my father

Why Itsekiri burial custom is wonderful —Widow, Liberian Prof, based in USA

BY EMMANUEL EDUKUGHO

Mrs Corann Okorodudu...I like the Itsekiri custom

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ot many African tra ditional burial rites are unique, with pomp and grace as that of the Itsekiri people in Warri, Delta State of Nigeria. Burial rites in Itsekiri custom and tradi-

the dark rooms for days with little or nothing to eat. I was made to sleep in the same room with my dead husband and the water used in bathing the dead man was given to me to drink.

“Any attempt to contest was met with stiff resistance. I believe my story is just one case out of the numerous cases of what widows go through after they had lost their loved ones”, she said.

In some societies, tradition prescribes harsh injunctions for widows, they are denied the use of ornaments, perfumes, flowers, fine clothing, no making of hair, in most cases, widows are shaved as a mark of respect for their departed husbands and they are denied all other beautiful things women cherish.

In fact, the phenomenon can simply be described as that of loss, deprivation, helplessness and hopelessness. The death of a loved one brings trauma, grief and a total restructuring of one’s life.

tion take between one day (including all night), three days and even seven days (night and day time) depending on the status (if the deceased was a chief of Warri Kingdom) and how affluent and wealthy the family could be.

The ceremonies and arrangements are carefully worked out involving cultural displays, dancing, drumming and singing, day and night with food, wine, all kinds of drinks, kolanuts abundantly served including customised gifts in memory of the deceased often shared to guests, friends and well wishers by the family of the deceased.

Itsekiri custom accords burial ceremonies the highest esteem and any family that has not performed that last traditional rites for its dead whether male or female, especially aged ones could be ostracised or stigmatised by the community.

For the dead, there is usu-

ally a fixed period of mourning by wives, children, brothers, sisters and other relations which can vary but not less than three or six months. However in some families, those left behind can mourn particularly wearing black clothes and shaving the hair completely for as long as they want to grieve.

In many Itsekiri communities, the dead are not accorded befitting burial rites without clearance by the oracle to ascertain if the deceased was either a witch or wizard or an evil person.

If the oracle is consulted and the result points to evil or havoc, the dead person is rejected and thrown into the thick forest for animals to feast upon.

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n most cases, widows have nothing to fear if they are not implicated in the death of their husbands. Oracles are always consulted to find out if the widow “killed” her husband through witchcraft. Often they are absolved, paving Continues on page 47

period of confinement.

There was a particular story a friend of mine told me what a widow who was asked to go into the thick forest at night and recite some incantations for the purpose of “cleansing”, he continued.

“Some widows are also made to drink the water used to bathe the corpses of their deceased husbands; they are shaved and kept in seclusion for months while consultations are on as to the real cause of death of the man. “The widow is not expected to receive condolence visits from sympathisers during the period of mourning, she is to be re-married by a relative of the late husband, she is to sit on the floor or be naked during any period of the husband’s burial rite, weep and wail loudly at intervals, she must remain in confinement after the death of the husband for the given period dictated by tradition. In most cases, she must vacate the matrimonial home for the relatives of the man”, she added.

A friend of mine who also narrated her experience explained that, “The ugly situation of my life began when my husband died. He was an Igbo by tribe. His family members took away all his assets, without a slightest imagination of what I could be passing through with my four children.

“My children are still young and therefore they cannot fight for their late father’s properties. I was subjected to countless hardship. I was kept in

peaking on why wom an pass through this trouble, Human Right Activist, Josephine Okei-Odumakin, said. “Well, it is most unfortunate that at this stage and age women are still being humiliated by in-laws and relations of their late husbands based on the culture and religious beliefs and practices.

This is an ugly situation and the outcome of our traditional and native beliefs before the advent of Christianity but sadly these practices still exist in some quarters.

“When a woman loses her husband, a civilized society should rally round to support her and her children.

Causing her more pain than she’s already going through at the death of the breadwinner is just plain evil.”

In certain parts of Nigeria, the maltreatment of women who lost their husbands is common. In-laws , the deceased relations and the community subject them to physical and emotional abuses such as being made to sit on the floor; being confined from a month to one year; having their hair literally scraped off with razors or broken bottles; not being allowed to bathe; being made to routinely weep in public; being forced to drink the water used to wash their husband’s corpse; crowned by the loss of inheritance rights and eviction.

I feel strongly that this humiliation must stop, it is now time that drastic measures are taken to stop this barbaric act so as to ensure its eradication.

For, Professor Joy Ngozi Ezeilo, United Nations Special Rapporteur on trafficking in

Continues on page 46

46—SATURDAY Vanguard, MARCH 9, 2013

Continues frompage 45 persons, especially women and children. Her reaction: Ordinarily my organization handle hundreds of cases every year that we give free legal aid in this area, especially on denial of inheritance and property rights to widows and their girl-children by in -laws and extended family members.

WACOL mediates and represent victims in Court, including following up the matter with the Police.

On general violence against women by in-laws, including wife battering we provide various services such as shelter, counselling, medical support and pursuing legal action against the in laws as a last resort if we fail to get them to sign an undertaken not to repeat the abuse, cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment. The situation of interference by in laws is rampant where the woman is widowed, childless or has only female children and they want their son to take a second wife or sack the wife and/or also deny her right to the estate of the deceased husband. . I have handled personally as a lawyer a lot of those cases and usually our interventions are big relief for affected women and brings succor to them.

We need to create awareness that will promote respect for women’s rights, especially right to private and family life.

There is so much interference by extended family members causing marriages to breakdown irretrievably. Intermeddling in nuclear family affair is still highly prevalent because of our cultural and traditional values. Women’s Aid Collective (WACOL) has produced relevant legal literacy handbooks for example: Next of Kin Palaver; Rights and Wrongs of Widowhood; Will Making to enlighten the general public. I believe as the society develops the incidents will be reduced but for now there is so much hunger in the land and people want to grab and reap where they didn’t sow.

In Delta State

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n Idjerhe of Ethiope West local government area of Delta, a young lady, Ejiro who narrated the ordeal she passed through recently said the sudden death of her father exposed her to different kinds of sufferings in the name of tradition before and after the burial of her late father.

In my place; the death of a parent is not seen a natural phenominon; it is blamed on something he or she must have done in his or her earthly life.

It is said that the ancestors’ strike at any wrong done by a son or daughter of the soil,

Needy children

How widows, children, suffer hardship in the name of tradition hence the family would consult their oracle to know what had happened. In most cases, whatever he lived for in his life time would be overruled by his immediate family if he didn’t prepare a will before his demise.; his wish would be disregarded as though he never lived. They say tradition is tradition.

The children of the deceased are fined for errors committed by their parents; perhaps in the aspects of community development levies he or she didn’t pay and for not visiting the village as they should have done and much more. In fact, the children are beaten up as though they killed their parents in the first place.

When I lost my father; my elder brother was asked to travel home to inform his family about his demise, the first thing the family members did was to practically beat him up and fined him for coming alone; he ought to have visited with an elderly person he learnt later. He was advised to visit again with his siblings and their mother.

“So my siblings, my mum and I traveled to the village and the next question we heard from his family members was that

they wanted the deeds to my late father’s properties; they wanted his cheque book and any other vital thing he possessed. We traveled the next time without all they wanted and we were beaten up; we had to defend ourselves! After the fight; we were asked to pay another huge fine or walk away and perhaps risk waking up with snakes they threatened.”

“At last, we got the family everything they asked for; they claim they are doing this because my late dad has three gates- meaning he has three women who had children for him. The properties were disposed of. A land was bought in the village town and a house built for the final resting place of the departed. I found out eventually that virtually every Urhobo man or woman belongs to one social club or the other. The aims and objectives of such clubs are mainly to assist its members during burials, but my own dad didn’t join any club because he was a member of a church.” “The clubs have extended their tentacles to the churches, but dad didn’t see the reason of mixing worshiping God and social club, he had just his service to God

as his club he usually told us.

During burials, the groups from the churches are placed side by side with the groups from the church and it went in dad’s burial. We were asked the kind of burial we wanted to do; the first son was compulsory asked to get a casket for the deceased as the culture demands, the first daughter played her part by fanning the dead lying in state. The in laws paid for the grave digging.

After the burial, my late dad’s properties were divided by the family.”

Mary, 28 also narrated her ordeal in the hands of those who believe every bit of the custom and tradition must apply to every situation after burying her late mum in Edo state. “In Aginiboni, a married woman who dies would remain in her husband’s place. Her corpse cannot be returned to her father’s house especially if her bride price was paid, hence her remains would be buried in her husband’s place.

But if the husband wasn’t always going home; a land would be bought and built before the burial can commence.”

“Tradition mandates her to leave every personal property to her first son; no matter where he is and what contribution he had contributed to the success of the burial.”

In Igboland

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ohnson Okorie from a community in Owerri, of Imo state has this to say.

‘I lost my father when l was in my twenty’s and my late dad’s immediate family didn’t have to seize anything from my mother because we had guys in the house although l was the last child; the case would be different if my mum didn’t have any child or if we were very young. My mum didn’t step out of the house until my father was lowered into moth-

er Earth; which was three months later. Her hair was clean shaved by the women who visited and took turns in sleeping with her; the significance of the shaven hair shows the beginning of another episode in her life after the burial of the late husband.

Like they say different strokes for different people, burial rites are different from one community to another in the Eastern part of the country, they are often similar but with little variations.

When an Igbo man or woman with children dies, before any burial arrangement is made, his children or close relatives will have to visit several essential extended families to officially announce the death of their son or daughter, these visits to the maternal and paternal homes of the deceased requires a goat, a certain amount of money, and drinks.

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part from the normal funeral ceremony cel ebrations, it is expected that when a man loses any of his parents, maybe his mother or father, he is expected to perform a burial rite called “omere oha”, which means celebrating for all.

This burial rite involves buying live a male dog, a ram, he-goat, and cock, each of the animals is beheaded by a male child of the deceased or any close family relative who must be a male.

Unlike in a general funeral ceremony, this particular funeral rite allows for a few number of persons, which include immediate and extended family members of the deceased as well as kinsmen.

Preparation of traditional foods, Palm wine, dry gin, Kola nuts, and local music are made available by the host family.

Some parts of the beheaded dog, he-goat, ram and cock are properly cleaned up and prepared into local delicacies while the other parts are shared among each family represented. This ceremony is a must for every legitimate son and daughter who partook in the celebration of others. The only exemptions are those who have refused to partake in the celebration of others.

It is alleged that children who refuse to perform this rite for their late parents who partook in others, cannot eat at any funeral ceremony.

SATURDAY Vanguard, MARCH 9, 2013—47

Why Itsekiri burial custom is wonderful Continues from page 45 way for full participation while the dancers disin the burial rites. placed rhythmic dexterity. Ogono dancers came here are several on board to add flavour, canopies mounted wriggling their waist at the venue, dancers lines to the delight and and drummers getting admiration of people in ready to display in col- attendance. laboration with family Liberian Professor members, children and of Psychology well wishers of the dead. in An effigy which repre- based sents the dead person in the United States, Mrs a casket-like form Corann Okorodudu, wrapped in expensive married to a Nigerian wrappers, beautiful head intellectual, Dr. Abraham ties as if the body was Okorodudu, who died in inside, long traditional March 1996, came to Nibead hanging there and geria in January, 2013 to gold-plated swords arrange and perform the placed at the end corners final burial rites for her of the model. Curtained late husband in Ugbuoff from the audience in wangwe, a small Itsekiri the canopy and only community, located in opened when the cere- the outskirt of Warri, Delmony is underway. It- ta State.

She spoke with Satursekiri called it “Uli Oku” which the family and oth- day Vanguard during the ers danced towards to traditional final burial pay respect and homage, ceremony for Dr. Abraall through the night. A ham Okorodudu. massive picture of the What is your impresdead person is placed directly in front of the effi- sion about this ceremony? gy.

This is not the first time here is “Okparan” I’ve been to Itsekiri trachosen by the fami- ditional burial ceremony. ly sitting on a chair by It is not the first time of the corner well dressed experiencing Itsekiri in traditional attire and burial. Several years long bead (Okun) with ago, we arrived in Warri black hat to match and on holidays with my husalso the family head band and got informa(Olori Ebi) sitting at the tion that his brother has other end, both of them died. It was then I expebacking the “Uli Oku.” rienced Itsekiri burial The ceremony starts with ceremony. the firing of cannon gun shots whose thundering Why has it taken such sounds will shake the a long time to do your very foundation of the husband’s burial? entire neighbourhood.

My husband actually The guns are fired three died in USA in 1996. times intermittently.

Due to the ethnic clashAfter this comes the es at that time, it was not

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I like the Itsekiri custom, the gracefulness of Itsekiri dancers, men and women, dancing and performing side by side with each other.

It was wonderful. I am from Liberia, but met my husband in the United States, during the higher education “war-like” dance “Kpukpere” without beating of drums but singing solemn songs which to a fast pace thereafter with clinging of sticks as the dancers – men and women in row up and down the arena. This kind of dance takes about two hours.

Then came another round of dancing with the drums booming – “Agban”, “Iye-Ogume,”

possible to do the burial here. So we have to wait for some time and eventually fixed it for January 2013. My children are not here because of their jobs back in America. They cannot come down to Warri with me.

Because of the culture, it is not possible for me not to be around during his burial. I arrived Warri when I was given permission to attend the cer-

emony.

How did you see the ceremony? like the Itsekiri cus tom, the gracefulness of Itsekiri dancers, men and women, dancing and performing side by side with each other. It was wonderful. I am from Liberia, but met my husband in the United States, during the higher education. He was studying for PhD in Organic Chemistry, myself for PhD in Psychology.

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Is that where both of you met?

That’s correct. We later married, had four children – 3 boys and one girl. They all have Itsekiri names, except Abraham.

I was a Professor of Psychology for many years at Bowen University in New Jersey. I retired as full Professor of Psychology and African Studies.

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ow, I am into Psy chology as NGO in New York at the United Nations, chaired Psychology Coalition in the United Nations. My primary duties are in the UN system.

I will return to US and continue my work with the United Nations.

Can you recall how long your husband has died? t’s 16 years since he died. The funeral, embalming done.

We did clippings of the nails and hairs, brought these to Nigeria in sealed envelope. Now it has been opened today for purpose of this burial. It was difficult for the children to come down here. But our nephews are here from America – Oritseseundede, Alex in Benin, Noyo, Omatsone, Patricia, Abiro. Other nieces and nephews participated in the ceremony. I will take away the wonderful co-operation of our nieces and nephews who contributed towards the successful burial ceremony of my respected husband. It was a wonderful ceremony. Note: At the end of the ceremony after the slaughtering of about three goats for the traditional “epuru” meal eaten very early in the morning before 5 a.m, the “Uli-Oku” was dismantled, all the wrappers removed, while another three cannon gun shots were fired to conclude the ceremony.

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48—SATURDAY VANGUARD,

MARCH 9, 2013

Women will contribute a lot to the society if... — ALADESELU D

r Nosa I. Aladeselu is the Found ing President, African Women Empowerment Guild (AWEG), The Chair of Edo State Agency for Community Social Development Project ( World Bank Supported), and the Deputy National President of Christian Women Fellowship International( CWFI).

In this interview with Saturday Vanguard Business, she didn’t only enumerate the significance of women empowerment in any society or country but also structures she has put in place through the efforts of the groups she is representing in the country. Excerpts: It’s discovered that when you empower women, you are definitely building a nation, how real is this statement?

Investing in women development is globally acknowledged as one in the right direction, without which any attempt at nation building would flounder and run counter productive.

A woman is the life wire of her family.

She is the first nurse, the first teacher, the living food mall, the eye through which a baby sees the world on arrival, through whose hands and tender touch he/she feels the love of God!! She is one person aptly described as multipotential multi-talented and multitasking. She is the pivot on which the family revolves. The best any nation or government can do to improve health and social well being of the smallest unit in the society - the family, is to empower women and fulfill the axiom that when you educate a woman, you train a nation.

Tell us various ways women can be empowered at home and in the society?

We empower women when we in-

•Aladeselu: There is need to empower women crease their access to basic education, basic health care, loans and micro finance to assist them in their little businesses. When we give them voice in decisions that affect them, when we involve them in development activities in the community, when we allow them in the community. We empower women

when we give them sense of self worth, treat them as equal humans as men, not as property that can be inherited, disposed off at will, not as a slave.

What is your organisation doing to ensure that women are fairly empowered and given their rightful position both

in Edo and in Nigeria as a whole?

My organization, African Women Empowerment Guild, has done a lot to empower women locally and nationally.

AWEG raised ten literacy centres in Edo State where women were in a majority. Some graduates of our literacy centres went ahead to do primary 6 examinations to obtain First School Leaving Certificates with which they entered Junior Secondary Schools. With pride we celebrate those who went ahead to do degree programme in universities from the background of empowered illiterates. This year’s International Women Day Celebration is devoted to a collection of women achievers of such calibre.

AWEG has been assisted with funds by development agencies like UNODC and UNICRI to give young women some training and start up capital to do businesses. Over 70 women in Edo state had so far benefited from micro finance and vocational skills development and income generation.

AWEG has mobilized women to increase their tempo in political participation since 1998. With assistance from the British Council, United States Information Service, DFID, UNIFEM, UNDP, AWEG has trained women leaders, female politicians, career women to understand the gender issues that have held back from making even with their male counterparts in all spheres of life. Over 2000 women had so far benefited from seminars, workshops and community sensitizations.

Why do we not have enough women in place of leadership today in Nigeria?

The processes that currently produce leaders in Nigeria is male dominated. There has been no female President, Vice President nor Governor in Nigeria. The mindset of voters and party leaders has not favoured women, thus the nomination, election and appointment of party members into leadership and governance in particular, are master minded by patriarchal attitudes and misgivings.

Many women do not believe in their own empowerment, they submit all their rights at the feet of their oppressors, they are not assertive nor willing to be empowered.

They quickly settle for less when they are capable of achieving more. A good number of them are not fully educated and sufficiently skilled to earn income for financial freedom.

If women are not empowered, what are the resultant effect?

When women are not empowered they contribute less to national development. Imagine if the potential resident in half of the Nigeria population lie dormant and untapped, very little progress will be made developmentally.

Disempowerment of women has led to poverty of not only the women but the families that depend on them. An uneducated mother is highly limited in chances of supporting her child’s education, mentally and worst still lacking in appropriate health seeking behaviour.

Africa should in oung entrepreneur or economic gr owth, sa ys Y ALD A invvest in yyoung entrepreneurss ffor gro says YALD ALDA

YALDA: Let’s empower youths with skills

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n 2004 some Harvard University alumni from Africa established the Youth Alliance for Leadership and Development (YALDA), headquartered in Botswana conceived the idea of mentoring African youths with entrepreneurial skills. The organisation’s Regional Associate for Southern Africa and Diaspora, Sharleen Mabisa was in Nigeria for the body’s programme, spoke to Princewill Ekwujuru on its objectives. Read on.

What is YALDA about?

It is basically a non profit international organization that was started in Harvard University in 2004 by a group of young Africans who wanted to bring about more positive news, outlook, and groom leaders on good governance. Our course is for Africa. Over time, we have organized conferences across Africa where we trained and mentored and gave youths access where they can find sponsorship on projects. We allow them meet prominent people in Africa and hear their success stories. We believe that Africa can, and we believe that we are the lions of the world with the resources we have.

How many African youths have you assisted In terms of membership we are over 25,000 and there are about 2,000 youths who have gone through our conference alone. We also have chapters in universities.

What is ‘Adopt an Idea’ programme all

about?

When we had our conference last year in October we had Ideas lab where we took ideas from 250 youths. Some of them were just starting while others had their business running. What we did was to finetune their ideas and give them step by step processes of how to make themselves more professionals. They

presented their ideas to panelists who chose 10 best ideas and this 10 will be provided the platform to source for sponsorship from the corporate Nigeria. They will be given the opportunity to represent their ideas to the audience. One of the ideas came from a lady Odion Onavey (21) from Jos, Nigeria who developed idea on Agriculture

business which is not popular among youths against many other ideas that were IT or media related. The initiative for Adopt an Idea programme came from Nigeria. Nigerians who raised the initiative believed that after hearing ideas there should be a follow up and that is one of the reasons we held the even in Nigeria last

month. We want to do this annually. Right now Nigeria is the starting point for the Adopt an Idea programme which could be replicated in other countries. At the event we had different levels of tables that were sold. Hakeem Bello Osagie, the chairman of Etisalat who has supported the YALDA initiative spoke at the event.

Nigeria, Lithuania relationship has improved —Goddie Ibru

By Moses Nosike and Bashir Adefaka

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he relationship between the Republic of Lithuania and Nigeria is said to be improving greatly, the Honourary Consul of Lithuania in Nigeria, Mr. Goddie Ibru, has said.

Ibru, a reputable Nigerian business magnate, said this in his welcome address, which he delivered on the occasion of Lithuania’s national day, held at the Federal Palace Hotel, Lagos, recently.

He expressed delight that as a result of the improved relationship between the two countries, that the Nigeria-Lithuania Business Council had been registered.

“This council, we hope, will provide a platform for activities which will promote economic, social and cultural co-operation and integration between members consisting of nationals of both countries.

“On the political and economic scene, Algirdas Boutkevicius became

Prime Minister in December, 2012. He has promised to ease the austerity measures introduced by the previous coalition government led by Andrius Kubikius, and one of his first acts was to raise the minimum wage from 850 litas ($330) to 1,000 ($386).”

The envoy said the new government in his country planned to grow the economy by three percent in 2013 adding that by 2015, the country would be able to meet the economic targets required

to adopt the euro.

Ibru promised that the Honourary Consulate in Nigeria would continue to explore all avenues for social, political and economic collaboration between the two countries even as he noted that there were a lot of benefits that both countries could gain from each other to the mutual benefits of their respective peoples.

“I urge citizens of both countries to explore and take advantage of the relationship to develop greater social, economic and cultural ties,” he said.

SATURDAY Vanguard, MARCH 9, 2013—49

Power Game: Women who never say never an archaeologist, was imprisoned in a torture center with Michelle in 1975, and went into exile. .

BY HUGO ODIOGOR, FOREIGN AFFAIRS EDITOR with Agency Reports

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S women all over the world celebrated the InternationalWomen’s Day the of politcal empowerment of women remais on the front burner. This is to be expected against the background of the emergence of Mrs.Park Geun-hye as South Korea’s first female president. While women in Nigeria are clamouring for affirmative action to climb to the apogee of their political career, the story is different in Argentina, Brazil, Germany, Liberia, Malawi, Peru, South Korea, Thailand, where women have taken the battle to the men.

In a political culture where the military, traditional and religious rulers play key role in determining who occupies power in Nigeria, women seem to have a point in demand for an afirmative action which is a highly controversial proposition.

Majority of the women who have made to the top in other countries are focusing on social issues like education, health, protection of the environment and efficiency in governance.

How strong are Nigerian

LIBERIA: Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf

BRAZIL: Dilma Rousseff

ARGENTINA: Cristina Fernández de Kirchner

GERMANY: Angela Merkel

,

In Nigeria, women seem to have a point in demand for an afirmative action which is a highly controversial proposition

,

women in politics on some of these areas? What is the orientation of Nigerian women in politics? A survey of the global political landscape will reveal the impressive array of women who are holding their own in the global power game. .

Liberia:Ellen JohnsonSirleaf Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf was elected the first female president in Africa and Liberia in 2005 Sirleaf was born in 1938 in Monrovia and studied at American universities before returning to serve Liberia as Minister of Finance from 19721973.

After series of political upheavals in Liberia, she went into exile in Kenya and US She was twice imprisoned for treason for campaigning against Liberia’s former dictators. Since she became president, she has been working to improve health, education, peace, and human rights.

Sirleaf has fiercely campaigned against corruption in Lberia.

SOUTH KOREA: Park Chung-hee

Argentina: Argentina elected Cristina Fernández de Kirchner as the country’s first female president in October 2007, when she took over from her husband, Néstor Kirchner. They married in 1975 and have two children: Maximo, 30, and Florencia, 16.

As senator, Mrs Kirchner drove her husband’s legislative agenda through Congress and helped him lobby the courts to prosecute atrocities of the 197683 dictatorship.

Ms Fernandez, 58, who is a lawyer by training, chose her Amado Boudou, as her running mate. Ms Fernandez is Latin America’s first woman to be reelected as president, but the victory was personally bitter sweet - the first without her husband and predecessor, Nestor Kirchner, who died of a heart attack.

COSTA RICA: Laura Chinchilla Miranda

Brazil: Dilma Rousseff Dilma Rousseff became the first female president of Brazil on January 1, 2011. Her country has the largest economy, land area and population in South America. She was born in 1947, in Belo Horizonte to a Bulgarian immigrant and earned a degree in economics; she took over from Lula Da Silva. She worked as Brazil’s Minister of Mines and Energy and helped get electricity to the rural poor. When the military took power in 1964, Rousseff joined a resistance organization to fight against military dictatorship in her country; she was arrested, tortured and jailed for two years. After her release, she became active in politics. As a president, Rousseff has given priority to health, education, and infrastructure by making

the government more in control of oil revenues.

Peru: Michelle Bachelet Michelle Bachelet is the first woman to be elected On January 15, 2006. Earlier, she was minister of defense in Chile, the first woman in Chile or all of Latin America to serve as a minister of defense. Michelle Bachelet became Chile’s Minister of Health in 2000, serving under socialist President Ricarco Lagos. She then served as Minister of Defense under Lagos, the first woman in Chile or Latin America to hold such a post. She was born in Santiago, Chile, on September 29, 1951. Her father, Alberto Bachelet, was an air force brigadier general who died after being tortured for his opposition to Augusto Pinoche’s regime. Her mother,

Costa Rica: President of Costa Rica Laura Chinchilla Miranda who was elected in February 2010, is the fourth woman president in the Americas and the first president Coasta Rica.

Born on March 28, 1959 in San Jose, She majored in political science at the University of Costa Rica in 1977. She received a master’s degree in public policy from Georgetown University of the United States in 1986 and returned to Costa Rica in 1989.

From 1996 to 1998, she served as the nation’s first female minister of public security. Chinchilla was elected member of the Legislative Assembly in 2002 and in 2006 she became the country’s first vice president.

In November 2008, she started her campaign for presidency as a candidate of the ruling National Liberation Party.

Germany: Angela Merkel Angela Merkel became the first female chancellor of Germany in November 2005 and she is ranked as the most powerful woman in the world by Forbes Magazine. She leads a country that has the largest economy in Europe.

Merkel was born in Hamburg in 1954. She studied chemistry and physics in the 1970s.

She became a member of the Bundestag, the German Parliament in 1990 and later served as Germany’s Federal Minister for Women and Youth from 1991-1994. Merkel also was the Minister for the Environment, Nature Conservation, and Nuclear Safety. She chaired the Group of Eight, or G8. Her main goals are healthcare reform, further European integration, energy development, and reducing unemployment.

South Korea: Park Chunghee, was elected the first female president of South Korea in 2013. The Park, the 61-year-old is the daughter of the country’s s former military ruler and she was only nine years old when her father, Park Chung-Hee, came to power through a military coup in 1961.This set the stage for 18 years of authoritarian rule. She served as her father’s first lady during the 1970s after her mother’s assassination in 1974.She has a degree in engineering from Sogang University in Seoul She made history as the first female president in Northeast Asia, a feat made all the more remarkable considering South Korea is a country where women continue to face widespread sexism, huge income gaps and few opportunities to climb business or political ladders. She has never married and has no children, generating an image of selfless daughter of Korea.

50—SATURDAY Vanguard, MARCH 9, 2013

came with proofs of payment to Ajayinka. As at today, the number of those Ajayinka collected money from is 90 and no one knows whether it will increase as more people might come with a proof of payment.”

Another victim, Mr Ogunleye who spoke to Saturday Vanguard said he paid N350,000 to Ajayinka for a 2bedroom flat and discovered to his chagrin that another person had moved into the house he paid for. “I paid N200,000 a year rent and additional N150,000 for Agreement and Commission. I was not the only one involved, there are some people who said they paid as much as N3million, N2million and N1million too.” n the same vein, Em manuel Iduagba, a busi nessman also claimed he paid N3million to Ajayinka for three flats. Iduagba while speaking with Saturday Vanguard explained that he intended to use the three flats as a guest house and he was promised that the flats would be ready in January. He further stated that until that day when the scam was discovered, Ajayinka did not skip the scene. “He was always there and giving excuses that the house will be completed soon, not knowing that he had collected money from several others.”

The owner of the house could not be reached but according to a source in the area, the house is owned by an aged woman in her late 70s. Sources hinted the aged landlady might not be privy to Alhaji Ajayinka’s intent, adding that as a result of her age and health condition, she contracted the house to Alhaji Ajayinka.

One of the victims who went to the police Command Headquaters, Ikeja confirmed that he saw him but the police refused anybody to take photographs, adding that they were assured that investigation would reveal how many people he had actually collected money from which will give a lead on how the matter will be settled. Another victim however disclosed that the suspect had confirmed he took money from them and that he was ready to return the sum of N900,000 from the money collected.

Even as the police are trying to get to the root of the matter, some of the victims are already spoiling for a showdown with the current occupiers of the house laying claims to the house.

I

•House where 90 accomodation seekers hope to live

BY ISHOLA BALOGUN

T

here’s fraud every where even among those who are not holding public offices.

Whether you’re in Lagos or any urban area looking for an apartment to rent, you could be locked in the hands of rental scam tricksters. No fewer than 90 prospective tenants have become victims of rental fraud allegedly orchestrated by one Alhaji Lateef Ajayinka in Egbe area of Lagos. The victims were said to have paid different sums of money totalling about N18million to Alhaji Ajayinka at different times to rent units of flats which was then under construction.

The victims were shown around the yet-to-be-completed house with a promise to complete it in a few days but it turned out to be another mind-boggling scam three months after with 90 people loosing over N18million.

The 8-flat building is locat-

ed at No, 23 Opeloyeru street, off Liasu road, Ileiwe, Egbe, Lagos.

Ajayinka pulled a sneaky trick on his prey by suddenly completing the house overnight and called nine other accomodation seekers to move into the house immediately at odd hours.

Alas, the few tenants obliged and occupied the eight flats and one self-contain apartments overnight.

This unscrupulous act became opened as many of the victims who have been waiting for the completion of the house and collection of keys as promised by Ajayinka now got wind of the development and immediately stormed the house. It was then they realised that a multitude of prospective tenants have paid to occupy the same house as more people trooped in complaining they also paid for the house.

At that point, Ajayinka was nowhere to be found as victims lamented that all failed attempts to get him. Hourse

later, Saturday Vanguard learnt that the suspect has been arrested by the police and being detained at the Police Command, Headquaters, Ikeja. Sources further disclosed that one Supol Opara in handling the case.

Attempt to reach Supol Opara proved abortive as his number was switched off.

According to one of the victims, Amos Oyodeji of Vanguard newspapers who paid for a self-contained apartment: “We have been duped.

Unknown to all of us, he collected money from over 90 people promising to give them the same house. I paid N250,000 to Ajayinka since October 2012, for a self-contained apartment, waiting for the completion of the house.

I have been monitoring the progress of work on the building. I was there on Wednesday February 27 at about 5pm, the doors and burglarproofs were yet to be fixed and he again promised that I should come for my keys on Saturday March 2. I left with

,

Estate agent dupes 90 tenants of N18million

Ajayinka pulled a sneaky trick on his prey by suddenly completing the house overnight and called nine other accomodation seekers to move into the house immediately at odd hours

,

the hope that I will move in a few days. But strangely, the following morning February 28, while my wife was driving through that road to work, she discovered that people were gathered there and she decided to find out what was going on. We discovered that people have moved into the house while other victims gathered discussing the scam. Not only that the doors were now fixed but also have burglar-proofs and every other thing done. It is strange and very surprising that they worked to that extent overnight.” he said.

Mr Ayodeji stated that the number of the victims might even rise as more and more people later went to the police to complain. “When the issue got to the police, we never knew the number was up to 90 until some people

SATURDAY Vanguard, MARCH 9, 2013—51

Ladipo demolition:

Our losses, our woes —Traders lament

By Ebun Sessou

D

esmond Eyika was one of the traders in Ladipo Auto Spare Parts Market whose shops were demolished by the officials of Lagos State Government.

The demolition exercise according to him was carried out on Monday this week, a week after the market was closed down by the same government on the ground that the market was unclean. As at the time of this report, over six hundred shops have been destroyed and more than 5,000 people have been rendered jobless in the processes.

Eyika who wouldn’t leave any stone unturned alleged that such act was a move to undo the Igbos in Lagos. For him, it is hatred and perpetual evil done on the Igbos who have come to Lagos to transact their businesses. Lamenting his loss, he said, “You can see that majority of traders in this market are Igbos, just a few are from other tribes. First, it was an unscheduled visit by Governor Babatunde Fashola on Saturday during Sanitation exercise. He told us that the market would be closed due to violation of environmental law, and that the same will not be opened until it is properly cleaned. The market was shut down for one week and while we were praying and hoping that it would be reopened on Monday the following week, the next thing we saw was hundreds of Police Officers chasing people away and stopping their entrance to the market.

“After a while, our Chairman told us that we have been instructed to pack our properties and quit the shops because some shops would be pulled down. And while, we were trying to sort out ourselves, the next thing I saw was a bulldozer. We were not allowed to pack our goods”.

Asked if there was notice prior to the demolition exercise, he said, “There was no notice whatsoever. We were caught unaware. They said, Fashola said the canal was too dirty.

Some people said that, the Governor demanded us to move our shops 20 meters away from the canal. It is unfortunate the people have been exposed to untold hardship without anyone thinking of the alternative

•Ladipo market

way of helping them.

“I am already stranded, there is nowhere to go, nowhere is secured and I don’t if Gov. Fashola is taking the right step. As it is now, I am not sure if I will be able to secure all my goods.

They have taken away my only source of livelihood. This government cannot provide jobs for people but it can only destroy people’s businesses”.

Another trader who does not want his name mentioned said, “ There is a group of individuals who own some portions of land in Ladipo, a place called Bakassi. The group had connived with the State government to destroy all the shops in Ladipo.

“Last year, this partilacular group stormd the market and pulled down some portions without checking their action. After some months, they

•A bulldozer at work in Ladipo dragged some shop owners to court and their action was backed up by law. And that is why we feel there are more riddles in this whole exercise than what the people know. I believe the action has political undertones because all the shops in the market were built by Mushin local government except some few ones that individuals built”.

An apprentice who joined his brother some months ago in Ladipo market lamented that the exercise was only carried out by the State government to wreak them. “These people want me to go back to square one and I reject that”.

Lamenting the extent of damage the exercise has caused his family, another apprentice said, “My sister, you can see me. I have family at home. My two children are in school and I have not paid their school fees because there is no money for that”.

Another cut in, “Go and tell Fashola say, we dey vex, make e no bi say, we come Lagos, we go dey stranded because of one government wey no get human face. If dey wan send us back to we village, make dem tell us instead of all these rubbish.

Speaking to Saturday Vanguard, Mr Murry, said, “We can no longer feed our families. I have four children and there are others: my wife, mother, siblings and relatives. They have been affected with this event. I don’t have money for my rent because it has expired. Even the boys working with me have been rendered jobless.

“Getting money these days is like going to hell. I have about two shops, one has been demolished. My only hope is the second shop.

“The situation now is that we are not selling our goods and that is why we are running at loss. We are all hungry. We want our father, Governor

Fashola to help us. We want our business back. We are not against Gov Fashola, but the action is cruel”, he said.

Another trader who shed more light on the issue said, “The order came from Fashola that the market should be closed. He said some shops were very close to the canal and that we should create a space of about 20 meters away from the canal on both sides and that was what has happened.”

Asked if there was notice given to the people before the exercise took place, he said, “We were served notice and given instruction on how to go about it but due to human nature, there was no respionse until the officers of Lagos State government brought their bulldozer. The market was too congested but people were reluctant to adhere to the order until the government forced its way in. Right now, we are all bleeding because all of our goods worth several millions of naira have been destroyed. Some people sold their goods on auction so that they will not be totally stranded. As good as the exercise can be, the fact remains that we have been shattered.

It is just like a pregnant woman who wants to give birth in the labour room.

There is a contraction within but after the birth, she will rejoice. We believe that after this action, we will rejoice,” he added.

Asked if he is optimistc of having his shop back in Ladipo market, he said, “I don’t know for now. I need to go and have a rethink to know the next line of action. Now, the brain is still occupied, the heart is still bleeding. We are all hungry and starving and that is why you see people voilating laws. Those who rented the place to us have absconded leaving us to bear the brunt alone.

“They have exposed us to untold hardship because of their greed.This is a wake -up call for Lagosians to know that this present administration in Lagos State meant every bit of its promise. I can recall that during the first tenure of Gov Fashola’s administration, he had warned that the development in Lagos State (Megacity phenomenon) is initiated for the elites and that those who cannot afford such life can go back to their villages to farm, I think, this is the time”, he concluded.

52—SATURDAY Vanguard, MARCH 9, 2013

Ijora-Badia proposed 1008 housing project:

Govt can’t be trusted on the project •It’s meant for their cronies— Victims

By Ebun Sessou

why I can’t really depend on what the State Government has said.

“If Governor Fashola promised to build 1008 low-income housing projects in Ijora-Badia, and 1008 low-income families emerge as new landlords, what happens to the rest of the people?”.

Mr Joe, another respondent said that the only way to help the masses especially those people whose houses were destroyed is to include them in the housing project.

He said, “Governor Fashola has proved that he is a leader but he must also understand the plight of the people and find an alternative way of meeting their needs.

“The truth is that there are lots of evil being perpetrated in Ijora-Badia by hoodlums but these people can be rehabil were living in that place as I learnt indulge in some acts that are not lawful but I still believe that they can be given a new life,” he added.

Governor Babatunde Fashola, during the celebration of his 2100 days in office, said his government has given approval last year for preliminary work to start the 1008 housing units in Badia in Ijora, and 540 units in Ajara, Badagry, adding that the work would start this year.

He explained that the Ijora housing scheme is meant to upgrade the quality of life in the neighbourhood, assuring that the present occupiers will be accommodated in the new units when completed.

A visit to Ojora’s compound suggested that the family of Ojora may have given their consent for the housing project by the State government to commence.

The Baale of Ojora, popularly called Baba Muni who spoke to the reporter said, the “only thing the Ojora family want in Ijora-Badia is development”.

According to him, “the area accommodates all sorts of people inclduing

armed robbers, hoodlums, prostitutes among others and we don’t want such to continue in that area.“ Asked why the people were not informed before the demolition; he said, “All what the people had said were totally false. They were served notice severally by Lagos State government and even the Ojora family.”

The Ojora of Ijora land, Oba Fatai Oyeyinka Ojora while addressing pressmen on Monday declared the support of the Ojora

,

W

HEN the Lagos State govern ment recently decended on Ijora-Badia, demolishing shanties and stalls, over 40,000 people were displaced and as a result, nerves were strained, tounges wagging just as the issue becomes a public disourse. Many were of the views that Fashola’s government is only bent on implementing anti-poor programmes, while lots of other held that it was in sinc with the Mega-city plan of the government.

Be that as it may, the government has said it planned to build 1008 housing project of various categories in the area to alleviate the plight of those who lost their cherished shanties and properties.

But many of these people have expressed worry over the plan saying that as nice as it sounds, it will not eventually serve the interest of those victims. They opined that the government seemed not to be ready to give the poor a space in this Mega-city arrangement and that at the end of the day the house when completed will be shared amongst government officials, friends and political associates.

Will anyone blame the people for holding tenaciously to this belief since similar arrangements have not in any way been in their favour?

Speaking with a crosssection of Lagosians on the proposed project in IjoraBadia, Mr Dolapo Tomori explained that as good as the plan could be, those who will benefit from this new arrangment may not be the same people who were evicted from the place.

According to him, “It is very easy to write things on the pages of newspapers but when it comes to reality, the story will change. This is a devastating scenario and unfortunately, it is common here in Nigeria. Government will promise one thing and the next thing you see will be different. That is

They are removing houses that constitute obstruction to the physical planning of the state

,

Chieftaincy family for the plans of the State Government to develop a Home Ownership Mortgage Scheme on the wide expanse of land in Iganmu Alawo in Ijora.

Addressing a press conference at his palace in Ijora on the issue, the monarch said the present state of facilities in the area cannot continue, adding that it lacks the major infrastructural facilities.

He recalled that some eight to ten years ago, the former administration in the state demolished the shanties that were in the area but that the structures returned after some time.

Meantime, Ikwuagwu Emeka George, President, Holmes Viu Properties Limited, Lagos said: “My view is that alternative accommodation should be created. Though we were made to understand that the Lagos State government would create alternative accommodation some where in Epe, that is a longterm project. It is expect-

ed that when the estates are ready, it would accommodate people. I feel that what government is doing is not really demolition of houses. They are removing houses that constitute nuisance to the physical planning of the state. I don’t think there is a relationship between what they are doing and inflicting hardship on the people. They are only re-planning the state in line with

the original plan. When government demolishes in the real sense, they pay those who have certificate of occupancy, but you should not expect government to pay those who

built illegally on public spaces. So, if it is clearing of slums that are cited on water ways and other dangerous areas, the government is right on that,” he noted.

The people must be fully compensated—Hon Jimoh

M

ember of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Olumuyiwa Jimoh represent ing Apapa II con stituency in this interview says, “the only moral and true modality to be given to the people whose houses and properties have been destroyed is compensation.

What is your take on the demolition in Badia East community?

These people were originally moved from the National Theatre to settle at Badia East. And the culture they are exhibiting was given to them by the Colonials. It is good that we are urbanising, it is good that an housing estate would emerge in the place but I am concerned about the modality of compensation. There must be adequate compensation.

Some people who are not property owners would loose, but unfortunately, they don’t have documents but I am working with the Ministry of Finance, Physical Planning, Ministry of Environment and the Governor ’s office for these people to be fully compensated.

Apart from being an

Jimoh activist, I grew up in the central city of Badia where my father has his properties. I have classmates among those people and if they have been displaced, their properties destroyed and their houses demolished, it means, we must not relax on our oars. We should all keep vigil.

Is it true that the people were not informed as they claimed?

When I contacted the right authorities, I saw the notification that the government served but I learnt that the traditional leader in that community pocketed the letter and failed to deliver it to

them. The government notified adequately and that is what I learnt.

There are factions among them and that is why I have instructed them to collapse those caucuses into one so that the government can attend to them holistically.

The people claimed Federal Government relocated them there?

Federal government does not have any right to acquire State land. I am of the people, I represent their views but the Federal Government does not have right to acquire State land. That is the impression given to them by the Colonials.

SATURDAY VANGUARD, MARCH 9, 2013 — 53

CBN Junior Tennis: Finalists emerge in six events

S

IX finalists have emerged from semifinal matches concluded yesterday at the on going CBN Junior Tennis championships in Lagos which ends today at the Lagos Tennis Club Joseph Imeh, Lagos, the top seed in

Harambee Stars, Eagles plot strategies with home, foreign players

BY EDDIE AKALONU, with Agency reports

F

OR the March 23 World Cup qualifier against Kenya’s Harambee Stars in Calabar, Stephen Keshi released a list of 24 home based players expected to battle for shirts against an expected 15 foreign based players.

Keshi’s opposite, Adel Amrouche equally has 29 home based for the clash, according to reports.

Just like Keshi plans to trim the number down in the lead up to the cracker, the reports said Amrouche also plans to trim the home based down to 15 players,who would later an expected six foreign players prior to the clash.

Addressing his players while opening camp in Nairobi Thursday, Am-

rouche was quoted to have told the home based to harness the opportunity to wear the national colour, insisting that selection for the match against the Eagles would purely be on merit.

He emphasised that effort put in by players during training was the main factor to determine who dresses for the match. Experts are however not giving the Kenyans any chance against a star- studded Eagles team still to be dominated by foreign based players as Mikel Obi, Victor Moses and the rest Meanwhile, coach Tony Ukeachu has hailed the upward swing in number of home based players named by Stephen Keshi for the tie. He said the move

would yet expose more talents.

Ukeachu urged those who have the opportunity to draw inspiration from players like Sunday Mbah and Godfrey Oboabona.

“They should use the opportunity by giving the best

contributions to the success of the team.

Those who fly high will encourage others and the coaches,” Ukeachu said, adding that “no matter what the Kenyans think, I am still giving victory to the Eagles.”

the Futures event, eliminated Mohammed Mohammed from Abuja, 9-7, in a match described by many as heart warming. Imeh will meet his team mate Emmanuel Idoko who beat Sylvester Emmanuel, 16, from the Kaduna based Co Foundation.

Emmanuel had opted to play in the Futures instead of the age 16 category and played his way into the semifinals.

The boys 16 final will feature Seun Olatunji and Olumide Ayoola from Lagos. Olatunji beat Ahmed Adefilaka from Lagos 9-3 while Ayoola overpowered Afeez Adegboyega from Ibadan 92.

The boys 14 produced the most thrill as Saheed

•Emmanuel Idoko Oyekan from Abeokuta recovered from 5-8 down to level and clinch the tiebreak for a 9-8 victory.

Saheed will meet Christopher Itodo from the Co Foundation who over powered Stephen augustine 9-6.

Lagos Polo: Governor, Independence Cups at stake •as Lagos Caverton set up Low Cup clash with Kano RTC T

HE 2013 Lagos Polo International tournament reaches its penultimate day of action today with three titles at stake.

The first match of the day will see Ibadan Challenge confront Kano Susplan in the Low Cup with nothing but pride at stake as the places for tomorrow’s final have been occupied by Lagos Caverton and Kano

RTC. But there would be so much to play for in all the other matches of the day as winning teams will not only be reveling in the joy of victory but savour titles.

Lagos HST and Lagos Bell Oil & Gas will compete for the Lagos Governor ’s Cup in a match which falls under the Low Cup. Also, Linetrale Delaney will battle Lintex Anadariya for the Inde-

pendence Cup while Kano Titans Ashbert will tango with Fifth Chukker for the Italian Ambassador’s Cup. In an exciting match played on Friday, Caverton edged Goodfellows 5.5 -5 while RTC saved their best for the last by rallying to beat Ibadan Challenge 9-6 in one of Friday’s matches.

Goodfellows could not believe their luck as they

conceded a goal in the dying moments which dealt a big blow to their title dream. The team lost the final of the Dansa Cup to Tavia Trojan but got a sweet revenge when they beat the same team in the qualifier.

Ibadan Challenge were also undone by a fourth and final chukka rally by HST who began their campaign with a win over Ibadan Jericho.

Luiz confident Chelsea’ll KO Man Utd

D

AVID Luiz believes Chelsea can take advantage of Manchester United’s UEFA Champions League heartbreak by knocking them out of the FA Cup. United saw their treble and European dreams come to an end on Tuesday night after Real Madrid overcame them at Old Trafford.

It was United’s first defeat since December and Luiz feels this could be the perfect time to face their Manchester counterparts as Chelsea travel to Old Trafford for an FA Cup quarter-final tie.

“It’s difficult when you have been knocked out of an amazing competition like the Champions League because your confidence is not the same after,” said Luiz.

“The happiness in Manchester United’s hearts will not be there and Chelsea can use this to win our game on Sunday. United will be playing at home but some players and supporters will be thinking ‘it’s not the Champions League’ and it will be difficult for them to come in with the same form.”

Meanwhile, Luiz has backed team-mate Oscar to become one of the best players in the world.

Luiz says he is trying to help the Brazilian’s development and admits the

•David Luiz playmaker’s biggest problem is his shyness.

“I try to help him every day with this [his shyness].

I tell him he’s an amaz-

ing player with the talent to make the difference and change every game.

I tell him to be happy and trust in his football.

LMC to mange Nigeria league

T

HE Nigeria Profes sional Football League (NPFL) will now be managed by the League Management Company (LMC) Limited.

Chairman of the LMC Limited, Nduka Irabor, confirmed the latest development to supersport.com.

“The Nigeria Professional Football League will now be under the management of a compa-

ny. The company will be known as League Management Company Limited. The participating clubs and the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) are the board of directors.

“The company will appoint a Chief Executive Officer (CEO) some time later. But at the moment, a former secretary of the league board, Salihu Abubakar is the Chief Operating Officer (COO),” said Irabor, a former Nigerian lawmaker.

54— SATURDAY VANGUARD, MARCH 9, 2013

Sports Minister mum on Jordaan eyes CAF Executive athletes demand for reward Committee seat S D

ANNY Jordaan, South Africa’s 2010 World Cup chief, makes another bid this weekend for a major post.

Jordaan is a candidate for a place on the Confederation of African Football’s executive committee at Sunday’s congress in Marrakech, Morocco.

“I think I have a good chance but it is the congress who must decide,” he said.

It is his second attempt to get a place in African football’s inner cabinet after a trouncing two years ago at a previous election in Sudan.

He also failed to win one of the places reserved

for Africa on the Fifa executive committee, withdrawing his candidacy at the last minute in political horse trading that looked to backfire on him.

Last year, Jordaan gave up a bid for the presidency of the southern African regional body Cosafa in a further blow to his image.

But the 61-year-old has a stronger chance this time after a decision to award an extra place on the committee to a southern African representative.

The elections are the only major business on the congress agenda and will see Caf president Issa Hayatou returned

unopposed for another four-year term.

An attempt by his rival Jacques Anouma to overturn a decision to disqualify non-executive committee members from the election was rejected earlier this week by the Swissbased Court of Arbitration for Sport.

Former Fifa member Amadou Diakite of Mali, banned for two years in November 2010 by world football’s governing body over allegations of bribery in the vote-buying scandal surrounding the bids for the 2018 and 2022 World Cups, is also standing for a place on the Caf executive committee.

People want Barca to fail — Messi L

IONEL Messi has said that many people are hoping that Barcelona crash out of the Champions League next week so they can call an end to the Catalans’ amazing run of success in recent years.

Barça face a huge task to overturn a 2-0 first-leg deficit against AC Milan at the Camp Nou on Tuesday but Messi said he was hoping that the occasion would lift them out of their recent slump.

“There are a lot of people that are waiting for us to lose so that, like they did last season, they can say this is the end for this Barcelona,” he was quoted as saying by ESPN Deportes. “It is time to turn around this situation. It all began in Milan and the return could be the game where we lift ourselves.”

It is not just in Europe that Barcelona have struggled of late, though, as back-to-back defeats to Real Madrid have seen them eliminated from the Copa del Rey and their lead at the top of La Liga cut to 11 points. But Messi said both he and his teammates were accustomed to the pressures that come with playing and did not see the need for any sweeping changes in the playing squad.

“This club is like this.

When you lose two games it is a disaster, when you win two it is normal,” he added.

“The people in the dressing room have known this club since they were very young and to talk about buying replacements is crazy. The majority of the players are still young.”

Messi will also be heavily involved when Argentina get their Fifa World Cup qualification campaign back underway in two weeks’ time and the 25year-old is hoping to take another significant

step to securing La Albiceleste’s place in the finals.

Argentina currently sit atop South American qualifying and host Venezuela at home on 22 March before facing Bolivia at altitude in La Paz four days later.

“First of all we need to think about the game against Venezuela. It is always important to win the home games and then we will go to Bolivia to try and to do the same there,” he added. We’ll see how it goes but it would be a big step towards being in a more comfortable position if we could win these two games.”

PORTS minster, Bolaji Abdulahi has refused to make any commitments to athletes’ demand for reward in recognition of their achievements in international events.

Following the sumptuous reception accorded the Paralympics team at the last London 2012 Paralympics and then recently the Super Eagles for their win at the 2013 Africa Nations Cup in South Africa, top Nigerian athletes had called on President Goodluck Jonathan, to give them a similar treat.

But that is not likely going to happen as the sports minister was tongue tied when his comments were sort with regards to the

there was a lull. And for the fact that we won, it means there is an improvement and our athletes’ achievements should be recognised,” said the AFN boss in Lagos.

Meanwhile AFN officials have dismissed insinuations in certain quarters that Nigeria was stripped of two gold medals at the Africa Championships following the dope failure by Vivian Chukwuemeka and Lauretta Ozoh.

“This is not true. First of all, the athletes did not fail any dope test at the championships. And the CAA has not told us anything with regards to that,” said Omatseye Nesiama, technical director of the AFN.

•Blessing Okagbare contesting for honours ... she and other Nigerians athletes want Naira rain on them.

Africa Athletics Youth Championships: Nigeria won’t field overage athletes, says Ogba

A

•Messi

issue at hand. After Nigeria won the 2012 African Championships for the first time in ten years in Porto Novo, Benin Republic, Mallam Abdulahi had promised to host the athletes to a presidential reception, but it seems that promise is gone with the wind.

It was gathered that Athletics Federation of Nigeria, AFN, president, Solomon Ogba discussed the matter with Abdulahi during the week, but there was no cheering news for the athletes.

“We won the championships for the first time in years. Nigeria won it in 1998 during the time of Falilat Ogunkoya, Mary Onyali and others.

Between then and now

THLETICS Federation of Nigeria president, Solomon Ogba said that it was not in the best interest of Nigeria to present over-aged athletes at the maiden Africa Athletics Youth Championships billed for March 27-31 in Warri, Delta State.

Over the years, Nigerian officials desperate to win and justify themselves, had always had recourse to field overage athletes at international event. But Ogba said in Lagos that the AFN will only present athlete who fit into the

under-17 age limit for the African youth championships.

“Though it is our intention to host and win we will not field overage athletics. It is not in our overall best interest.

“We have had athletes participating in junior championships before.

Take for instance Mary Onyali she started at 17 and she was there competing for a very long time. It is our intention to have a crop of athletes we can train for the future from the championships in Warri,” Ogba stated.

He said that athletes

selected from the Pastor D.K Olukoya Championships, which ended yesterday will be camped at the high performance centre in Port Harcourt. He added that the athletes who did the country proud at the championships, will have the right to represent Nigeria at the world youth championships in Russia later in the year.

Delta State Sports Council boss Pinnick Amaju remarked that every Delta State athlete who won gold in the Warri meet, will get the State’s assistant in their pursuit of academic and athletics prosperity.

SATURDAY VANGUARD, MARCH 9, 2013 — 55

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SATURDAY Vanguard, MARCH 9, 2013

Today’s matches

FA Cup

Millwall v Blackburn Norwich v S’hampton 4pm QPR v Sunderland 4pm Man Utd v Chelsea Reading v Aston Villa 4pm West Brom v Swansea 4pm Tomorrow’s Matches Newcastle v Stoke 4pm Liverpool v Tottenham 5pm

3pm 5.30pm

•People want Barca to fail — Messi —Pg 54

Enyimba, Rangers back to the trenches … As NPFL resumes today R

CENTRE OF CONTROVERSY.... Super Eagles hero, Sunday Mba is at the centre of controversy between Rangers of Enugu and Warri Wolves. He may not play as the league officially resumes today. Surprisingly however, Warri Wolves did not include him in the list of their players for the new season.

President Jonathan draws curtain on Police Games

By KINGSLEY OMONOBI, Abuja

N

EW national and meet records have been set at the biennial Police Games going on in Port Harcourt with the 400 metres (women), 5000 metres (women) and the newly introduced Pole vault (women) witnessing new times.

The new record in 400m was set by Woman Police Corporal Comfort Ekanem of Zone 2 – Lagos, with a time of 53.56 seconds, shattering the old time record of 55.20 seconds set in 1990 Bauchi Police Games by Woman Sgt (now Superintendent of Police) Benedicta Itua.

In a similar vein, Mary Joseph of Zone 3 set a Games’ record of 20minutes, 43 seconds to erase the old 5000m record of 23minutes .33 seconds set

by Mercy Edward of Zone 5, at “Eko 2008” in Lagos.

Similarly, Mauren Williams of Zone 4 scaled a height of 2.80m, to set a new Games record in the

newly introduced women pool vault.

Meanwhile, the over-all medals table released shows that Force Headquarters is still leading other twelve Zones with 21 gold, 18 silver and 16 bronze medals. FHQ is closely followed by Zone 2 – Lagos, with 20 gold, 18 silver and 18 bronze medals; while Zone 7 is third with 13 gold,14 silver and 19 bronze medals.

All competitive events are expected to be concluded on Thursday in all venues of the Games but the ceremonies continued yesterday at the Police Officers Mess, Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium, Agbani Darego Sports Complex, the Port Harcourt Polo Club and the Civic Centre.

The closing ceremony of the 10th Biennial Police Games comes up today at the Liberation Stadium, Port Harcourt with very colourful performances expected from the Nigeria Police Band, the Police

Mobile Force, several musical groups including the popular Nigerian Pop star, “Faze” and “Oba Omega” who have been lined-up to entertain guests, officials and athletes.

The ceremony will be graced by President

Goodluck Jonathan who is expected to formally declare the Games closed. Top political and government officials, including State governors, service chiefs, captains of industries and royal majesties are also expected at the closing ceremony.

CROSS WORD PUZZLE

ACROSS 1.Super Eagles Midfielder, Nosa (7) 5.Niger State Capital (5) 8.State in Nigeria (3) 9.Traditional ruler of Auchi (5) 10.Former Anambra State Governor, Dr. Chris (5) 11.respond (5) 12.President, Trade Union Congress, Mr. Peter (5) 15.LGA in Kaduna State (5) 17.Igbo Word for Community (5) 19.Number (6) 20.LGA in Jigawa State (6) 22.Traditional Ruler of Benin (3) 24.Egyptian National President, Mohammad, (5) 27.State in Nigeria Known as “Coal City State”? (5) 30. Former Benue State Governor, John (5) 31.Colour (5) 33. Fulham FC Coach, Martin (3) 34.Delta State Capital (5) 35.Edo State Commissioner for Sports, Mr. Brown (7)

DOWN 1.Cross River State Governor, Liyel (5) 2.LGA in Ondo State (5) 3.LGA in Katsina State (5) 4.Saudi Arabia Capital City (6) 5.Italian Prime Minister, Mario (5) 6.Nigerian Currency (5) 7.Former Oyo State Governor, Lamidi (7) 13.Watersport (3) 14.England Division 2 Premiership Clubside (5) 16.Country in Africa (5) 17.State in Nigeria Known as “Pacesetter State”? (3) 18.LGA in Abia State (3) 19.Country in Africa (7) 21.Carpet (3) 23.Insect (3) 25.Liverpool FC Goalkeeper, Jose (5) 26.Lagos State Capital (5) 27.Bird (5) 28.Kano Pillars Striker, Mannir (5) 29.Former Super Eagles’ Defender, Ifeanyi (5)

with the signing of several top stars including AFCON stars Sunday Mba,Chigozie Agbim as well as Nzube Anaezemba, Razaq Adegbite (Enyimba), Solomon Jabason (Akwa United), Sanusi Sani (Gombe United) and Adamu Mohammed, Uche Oguchi (Dolphin).

Rangers coach, Okey Emordi, who incidentally guided Enyimba to win a second CAF Champions League in 2004, said he expects ‘The Flying Antelopes’ to get off to a winning start in the new season.

“There has never been an easy game whenever these two sides meet. It has always gone to the wire and this will not be different. I expect Enyimba to come out fighting for all points but we will win,” predicted the experienced Emordi.

“We have some new players to complement those that helped us last season and it won’t be long before Assistant captain of Enyimba, Markson Ojobo said they will be in Enugu to win.

“We are coming to Enugu to kick start the season with a win. We have been well motivated for this season and no team can stand on our way, not even Rangers at their backyard,” Ojobo declared.

IVALRIES are made to last for a life time.

This is what Rangers of Enugu and Enyimba of Aba will want to prove as the much awaited Nigeria Professional Football League finally kicks off today.

Enthusiasm to restart the league reached an all time high after the Super Eagles won the Africa Cup of Nations with Nigerian league players in the tick of the action.

Now that the new management board of the NPFL has jump started the league, it remains to be seen how far the clubs and players will go in the season.

Rangers and Enyimba are two clubs with a large following and it is always an exciting prospect when they play in what has been dubbed the ‘Oriental derby”.

In the corresponding fixture last season, it took a Chikeluba Ofoedu’s strike to settle the fixture in favour of Rangers before a full house and it is hoped that the soccerstarved fans of Enugu will jam the 20,000-capacity Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium to cheer the gladiators to victory.

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