I feel your pains

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Vanguard, APRIL 9, 2016

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2016 BUDGET: Buhari still withholds assent, sends budget details to Ministries for review •Appropriation Bill still work in progress – Lai Mohammed •Buhari absent at FEC emergency meeting

BY LEVINUS NWABUGHIOGU

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ROM the presidency to the National Assembly and back to the presidency, the 2016 Budget estimate is now domiciled in the respective federal ministries for critical review.

Thiswasafterthedocument had been debated, pruned from its original figure of N6.08 trillion to N6.06 trillion and passed into law by the National Assembly last week.

But while transmitting the approved copy to the presidency, the National Assembly failed to attach the details and only included the highlights.

The development infuriated president Mohammadu Buhari who, while away in the United States last week, said that he was withdrawing his assent until the details were made available to him.

President Buhari’s fury was hinged on the incidences of “padding” which characterized the budget.

Hesaid“Somebureaucrats removed what we put in the proposal and replaced it with what they wanted. I have to look at the bill that has been passed by the National Assembly, ministry by ministry, to be sure that what has been brought back for me to sign is in line with our original submission”.

The president had since vowed to mete out punitive measures to those found culpable on the matter.

But on Thursday, the National Assembly transmitted the details of the budget to the presidency.

However, instead of signing the document, the president on Friday made good use his words and ordered that the document be sent back to the 36 Ministries for review.

This was made known after an emergency meeting of the Federal Executive Council, FEC which the president summonedimmediatelyafter he received the budget details on Thursday.

Meanwhile, as the meeting started yesterday at the presidential villa, President Buhari was conspicuously absent, leaving Vice President Yemi Osinabjo to preside.

No official reason was given for his absence.

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apparently a surprise to the members of the FEC made up of the 36 ministers, the Vice President, the Secretary to the State Government, SGF. Time of the meeting was 11: am and the licensed members had arrived pretty early.

Vanguard saw them exchanging pleasantries amongst themselves.

But they were interrupted by a clap of hand, a sign to signal them of the president’s arrival to the meeting.

But there was no sign of

the president in the room.

The SGF, Mr. David Babachir verbally called the meeting to order while Vice President Osinabjo called for opening prayers.

At this point, Journalists were excused from the meeting. It was not known whether the president later joined the meeting.

Rising from the meeting, FEC said the 2016 budget was still a work in progress.

Briefing State House Correspondents mid way into the meeting, the Minister of Information, Mr.

Lai Mohammed said that the Ministers had been mandated to study the budget details as they affect their respective Ministries.

According to him, the meeting had broken up after sitting for two hours apparently to enable Muslims to observer the Friday prayers.

He stated that the meeting would continue later in the day, hinting that there would be a statement on its resolution at the end.

“As you all know, we received the details of the

2016 budget from the NationalAssemblyyesterday.

And extraordinary meeting of the Federal Executive Council, FEC was called this morning (Friday) for the available ministers to look at the details of the budget and how it affects his or her ministry.

“Let’s say that at this point, it is still work in progress. We have broken up to resume later in the afternoon. There is nothing definite to say. Yes, we have seen it. We are studying it and we will come out with a statement later”, Mohammed said.

There was no room for questions. But Journalists waited patiently for the

meeting to reconvene after prayers to no avail as neither Mohammed nor the Ministers made a return to the villa as at the time of filing this report last night.

Meanwhile, all the frantic efforts made by Vanguard to reach the presidential spokesmen, Mr. Femi Adesina and Mallam Shehu for official comments on why the president stayed away from the meeting were unfruitful as both men did not answer several phone calls put to them.

Meawhile, though there was no official statement yet, the president is believed to be leaving Abuja for China on Sunday for a state visit.

Theimplicationofthisisthat Nigerianswouldhavetotarry a little longer for the budget to be signed into law.

Sen. Laah faults El-Rufai on Southern Kaduna •Says ‘they are still killing, raping and kidnapping our people’

BY LUKA BINNIYAT

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ENATOR Danjuma Laah, (PDP, Kaduna South) yesterday described as untrue claims made on Wednesday by Governor Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna State, that the entire Southern Kaduna part of the state had witnessed no casualty from any attacks by gunmen in the past six months as a result of his security efforts at securing Kaduna State.

The Senator disputed the claims in a Press Statement he personally signed and made available to newsmen in Kaduna.

Part of the statement read: “I wish to bring to your notice a worrying situation going on in my constituency, in which Kaduna State government is using it to play politics, deceive the world and shun its responsibility to my people.

“The truth is that there is a steady and unrelenting onslaught on isolated communities in Southern Kaduna and environs, which has not been reported by the Press since last year. The murders, kidnappings, rapes and provocative destruction of crops, all by persons that the victims believe are Fulani, are just too numerous to be captured in just a press statement, since June 2015, till date.

“I had even called the attention of the state government to this evil, as recent as this January at

Barnawa Prison Staff College, Kaduna at the Bajju Annual Festival. I made it abundantly clear, that the killings in Southern Kaduna and related feeling of insecurity still persisted.

“The situation is worse in Sanga LGA, where the violent armed brigandage on the highways are too common.

“A day after Governor Nasir El Rufai made some communities to sign a curious “peace” agreement between some 29 native communities in 5 LGAs of Southern Kaduna, with most of them from Sanga, one Daniel Yakubu, from Antor village, Aboro District, in Numana Chiefdom in Sanga LGA, was killed allegedly by the same Fulani that were supposed to have signed the peace deal with our communities. This, I believe is in contempt of the “peace agreement”.

“The village head of Anfu (Doka Area) Kateri North in Kachia Local Government was shot dead on the 25th of February, 2016 in the presence of his family and the entire community for what the marauders described as his unrelenting collaboration with authorities in seeking to expose their activities. I made efforts to visit the victim’s family but I was stopped by security.

“There have been killings in villages in Numana, Wasa and Nizom Districts to the extent that the police seemed overwhelmed by

•Director-General, International Institute of Tropical Agriculture, Dr. Nteranya Sanginga; Oyo State Governor, Senator Abiola Ajimobi; Regional Director (SouthWest), Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Mrs. Comfort Awe; and Head, Development Finance Office, Central Bank of Nigeria, Ibadan, Mr. Bamiji Akinola, during the second consultative assembly on Oyo State Agriculture Initiative, held at IITA, Ibadan recently.

the situation. Rape of schools girls returning home from School is common in this area, with a particular case of a

young girl in Yaute village, Ninzom Chiefdom last month where a 15 year old girl

was ganged raped and is still receiving medical attention due to the severity of the rape.

Investor pledges $30m for Oyo Agric figure would potential of the state as initiative the progressively increase to alternative source of

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HE new agriculture initiative of the Governor of Oyo State, Senator Abiola Ajimobi, aimed at rejuvenating the economy of the state has received a major boost following the pledge of initial investment of $30m by an agriculture entrepreneur.

The Managing Director of Numerix Development Limited, Mr. Babs Aina, made the pledge at the second consultative assembly organised by the state at the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture, Ibadan, on Thursday.

Aina, who promised that

$100m in the next few years, said the investment would target maize and soya beans in the interim.

Other investors that pledged commitment to the initiative were the Managing Director of Winchester Farms Limited, Ibadan, who is also the Managing Director of Costain West Africa PLC, Mr. Ayodeji Karim; and the Chief Executive Officer of Psaltry International Limited, Mrs. Yetunde Iranloye Top officials of agriculture research institutes, finance institutions, agro-allied business investors, and other stakeholders had converged on IITA to brainstorm on the revival of the agriculture

revenue.

At the forum were the Director-General of IITA, Dr. Nteranya Sanginga; Director, Institute of Agricultural Research and Training, Prof. James Adediran, top officials of research institutes and the Head, Development Finance office of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Ibadan, Mr. Bamiji Akinola.

Also in attendance at the event tagged “AgricOyo” were top officials of the Cocoa Research Institute, National Horticultural Research Institute, Forestry Research Institute of Nigeria, federal ministry of agriculture, among others.

6 — SATURDAY Vanguard, APRIL 9, 2016

I feel your pains Buhari tells Nigerians at the Vanguard Awards *Says ‘I’ll not disappoint you’ ans that our CHANGE

By Emmanuel Aziken, Dapo Akinrefon, Charles Kumolu and Gbenga Oke

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RESIDENT Muham madu Buhari yesterday told Nigerians that he was feeling their pains saying that mutterings about the new administration being a scam was far fetched, saying that the one-chance scammers have been driven out of town.

The president spoke at the Vanguard Personality Award ceremony in Lagos where he was jointly honoured with his predecessor, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan as Personality of the Year Award, 2015.

Buhari’s call for increased confidence in his administration came as Jonathan praised all Nigerians for contributing to the successes of the elections that characterised his time in office.

Yesterday’s award ceremony which also witnessed awards of Governor of the Year to Governors Adams Oshiomhole of Edo, Kashim Shettima of Borno, Ibikunle Amosun, Ogun and Ibrahim Damkwambo, Gombe saw a melting of the political and cultural differences that shape the country.

Various cultural displays intermingled within and outside the Ekpo Hall of Eko Hotel and Suites that was the venue of the award ceremony.

Also honoured yesterday with life time achievement awards were former VicePresident Alex Ekwueme, Mrs. Nike Akande, chairman of the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry, LCCI, Otunba Sobunmi Balogun and Senator David Dafinone.

Also honoured yesterday was Mr. Jim Ovia, the chairman of Zenith Bank plc as businessman of the year while Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu was honoured with the Hero of Democracy award. Leading lights in politics and the professions were present at the ceremony yesterday among whom were Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta State.

Yesterday’s award ceremony elicited measured response from the audience when the governor of Ogun State, Senator Ibikunle embraced his predecessor, Aremo Segun Osoba twice. He first embraced him just before the commencement of the ceremony and after he picked up his award.

Yesterday’s award ceremony was flagged off at 7.30 p.m with opening remarks presented by the General Manager/Editor in Chief of Vanguard Media Limited, Mr. Gbenga Adefaye who referenced the award as the C M Y K

epitome of recognition to men and women of excellence in the professions.

Following him the chairman of the ceremony, Oba Otudeko described the award ceremony as one of the most auspicious events of the year. He praised the exemplary efforts of the awardees in their various endeavours.

In his speech, President Buhari who was represented by the minister of information, Alhaji Lai Mohammed said: “Distinguished ladies and gentlemen, let me use this opportunity to tell our compatriots that this Administration is keenly aware of the difficulties they are facing at this time, resulting mostly from the fuel scarcity, poor power supply, inflation etc.

“As a government that was propelled into office by the power of the people, we cannot but feel the pains of our compatriots, and we deeply empathise with them. We are working round the clock to ease the pains of Nigerians, and the efforts of the government have started yielding fruits as we seek to make the petroleum products available nationwide, restore gas supply to the power generating firms, reflate the economy and put Nigerians back to work. We understand that Nigerians have started questioning whether this indeed is the CHANGE they voted for, while some have even gone as far as saying that by voting for our party, Nigerians have entered one chance.

“Well, I can tell Nigeri-

AGENDA is real, and that indeed, they will get the change they voted for.

Nigerians have not entered One Chance, because the One Chance drivers and their conductors have been driven out of town.

“While we cannot but provide context for the challenges being faced by our countrymen and women today, in the sense that it has taken years of mismanagement, corruption and inefficiency to get to this sorry pass, we make no excuses. After all the people voted for us so we can correct the mistakes of the past and enthrone good governance.

We are doing just that.

But we want our compatriots to realize that 16 years of rot cannot be cleaned up overnight. It is much easier to destroy than to build. But we are determined to rebuild our country and to make life more abundant for our people.

“Change is a process, and that process has begun. We commend Nigerians for their perseverance. We urge them not to lose their confidence in the ability of this Administration to bring about the much-needed change.

The pains of today are temporary, and will soon give way to abundance joy as we put our country firmly on the path of sustainable growth and development.” The president also lauded what he described as the salutary role of the media in the development of the country’s democracy.

*From left: Mrs Bimpe Osiberu, Engr Adeboye Osiberu and Mrs Agbeke Osiberu. Photos: WUNMI AKINOLA

*From right: Chief and Chief Mrs Lafenwa Osiberu, Chief Sunny kuku, Chief and Mrs John Odeyemi.

FG fails on fuel supply promise *Scarcity, long queues persist nationwide

By Ediri Ejoh, Oghene Omonisa, Iloaze Odidi

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ESPITE assuranc es by the Federal Govern-ment to end the lingering fuel crisis yesterday, the scarcity of the commodity persisted across the country as petrol continues to sell at N150 and above per litre depending on the axis.

It will be recalled that Dr. Ibe Kachikwu, who doubles as the Group

I’ve not finished with my work for thus dedicating this Nigeria —Jonathan award to my country men

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R Jonathan, who was represented by a former Minister of State for Works, Prince Dayo Adeyeye apologised for Jonathan’s inability to be present for the award.

Adeyeye said “he is unable to come and personally receive this award because as many of you may know, today is the burial of Dr Alamiyeseigha, the former governor of Baylesa State, who was at one time, his boss.

Therefore, he sent his unreserved apology particularly to Uncle Sam and to the management of Vanguard newspapers.”

Speaking further, he said: “He has asked to me also congratulate his fellow recipients particularly President Muhammadu Buhari and other recipients. President Ebele Goodluck Jonathan is a man of history and I believe that whatever we are celebrating now, is not the final verdict, we will leave that to history because all these emotional

things that we display, when a man is in office or after leaving office, are better judged by history.

I believe Jonathan will be given a better verdict by history.

“He says I should tell everybody that he is not yet finished with his good works in Nigeria, he has left office but he is not tired and therefore, he said I should announce to this audience that very soon, he will be launching his foundation. That foundation will enable him render services, not only to the people of Nigeria but to humanity. His view concerning this award, to those who are his friends on Facebook, he has a message.”

Reading Jonathan’s Facebook message, he said “I thank the editorial board of Vanguard newspapers for honoring me as their Personality of the Year 2015. I believe that the people of Nigeria are more deserving of the honour than me. I am

and women, may God bless Nigeria.”

National leader of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Aiswaju Bola Tinubu, represented by Mr Dele Alake expressed gratitude for the award bestowed on him but expressed optimism that there is light at the end of the tunnel His words: “first of all, I must express my gratitude to Vanguard for choosing to recognise him for this award. He has asked me to express apologies and extend all courtesies to those who deserved them, for his inability to be physical present here for circumstances beyond his control because he is not in Nigeria at the moment.

He actually sent a message to me saying that he knew that he should be here as a member of the Vanguard family and as an associate of Uncle Sam himself, who is one of our icons in the journalism profession.”

Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, and Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, had a couple of days ago, promised Nigerians to end the harsh reality and agony of fuel scarcity on April 7. This is the second time Kachikwu has promised to end the scarcity that began late February. Initially, he said it would go away in 48 hours, after which he recanted and said he was not trained as a magician, and gave a May deadline.

Saturday Vanguard gathered that all over the country, the fuel agony is far from abating, as the price of the product continues to rise above the regulated price of N86.50

to N120 and N150 per litre.

Saturday Vanguard also learned that while customers decry increasing queues at filling stations across Lagos, the case was different at Badagry, on the outskirts of the state, as report indicated availability of the product which was dispensed at N200 per litre to customers. Speaking to Saturday Vanguard, a motorist at Agbara, Mr. Jide Aladejo said, “The fuel scarcity currently witnessed across the country is quite terrible. For us on this axis, we have conceded to fate as the regulators have totally given marketers the licence to regulate, otherwise these spates of irregularities would not be the case.”

Jonathan, a national hero general elections, Amu—Amuka ka commended Jonath-

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HAIRMAN of Vanguard Media Limited, Mr. Sam Amuka commended President Jonathan for conceding the 2015 presidential election describing him a national hero.

Amuka said “This is an interesting occasion.

This award is special in the sense that it represents one singular action which has changed a man’s state. Whatever one may say of Dr Goodluck Jonathan, that moment during the elections, when he decided to call President Buhari and congratulate him conceding defeat, made him a national hero.”

Recalling the tension that preceded the 2015

an for helping to avert crisis.

He said: “Many of us would have forgotten the tension that this country was in during the elections, we have also forgotten the bitterness of the election but before the election itself, this country was almost in turmoil. A slight fight could have ignited fire and blood-letting but for many of us, it was divine intervention that caused President Goodluck Jonathan to do what he did and that is what we are recognizing here tonight for a man who deserves to be acknowledged by Nigerians as a national hero. That has made him a statesman.”

SATURDAY Vanguard, APRIL 9, 2016 — 7

By Ikechukwu Nnochiri

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Yenagoa stands still as Jonathan others pay last respects to Alamieyeseigha

By Emem Idio, Yenagoa

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ENAGOA the Bayelsa State capital yesterday stood still as former President Goodluck Jonathan led prominent Nigerians to pay their respects to the first civilian governor of Bayelsa State and governor general of Ijaw Nation, late Chief Diepreye Alamieye-seigha at a special executive valedictory session held at the Government House Banquet Hall.

Alamieyeseigha died at the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital on October 15 last year over complication from kidney related ailment.

Shops and businesses premises were shut as Bayelsans and residents trooped out in their thousands to pay their respects to their fallen hero. Many fought back tears as the casket draped in the state colours was driven to the Banquet Hall in a motorcade.

Among dignitaries at valedictory sessions were former present Jonathan and wife Patience, widow of Alamieye-seigha, Dr Mrs. Magreat Alamieyeseigha, Governor Seriake Dickson and wife Dr Mrs. Rachael, deputy governor John Jonah, chairman of the State Traditional Rulers Council and former Military Administrator of Old Rivers State, His Royal Majesty King Alfred Diette-Spiff, the state Chief

Judge, Justice Kate Abiri and members of the state executive.

Others include all former members of the State Executive Council from 1999 and members of the State House of Assembly from 1999 to date, chieftains of the

People’s Democratic Party, PDP across the country, founding fathers of Bayelsa State, political associates and friends of the late former governor.

In his tributes, Jonathan described as sad the death of Alamieyeseigha who he referred to

as his boss and ally, regretting that it is unfortunate Alamieye-seigha did not live longer, eulogized the former governor for his significant contribution to the human resources and infrastructure development of Bayelsa and Ijaw nation.

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O fewer than six chil dren and a mother yesterday lost their lives to a fire disaster which occurred at No 33 Ntia street off Ekpri Nsukara in Uyo , the AkwaIbom State capital.

Mr. Ekemini Obot, who is the grandson to the landlady, Madam Monica Effiong, whose house was consumed by the inferno told the Saturday Vanguard that the fire started at about 2 am Friday

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•Says defendants must enter defence on Monday

By Ikechukwu Nnochiri

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USTICE Okon Abang of the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, yesterday, gave reasons why he would not hands-off the trial of the National Publicity Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Chief Olisa Metuh.

In a ruling yesterday, Justice Abang, maintained that Metuh failed to by way of credible evidence, establish his allegation that the trial court as presently constituted, had consistently exhibited biased tendencies towards him.

“I am of the view that there are no facts or evidence disclosed by the applicant in support of the allegation that this court as constituted is biased.

“The applicant initially wrote a petition to the Chief Judge.

The said petition was forwarded to this court for my response.

I responded and the CJ in a letter dated March 24, said he was satisfied with the explanation of the Court”, Justice Abang stated.

He noted that grounds Metuh relied upon in his petition to ask for his disqualification from the matter, were similar to what was raised in a fresh motion his counsel, Mr. Emeka Etiaba, SAN, argued before the court yesterday.

The Judge stressed that the petition, his reply and the response of the CJ, have all been incorporated into the record of proceeding of the court.

“Having held that the 1st defendant has not disclosed facts that shows that the court is biased, it is my view that this application lacks merit, it is an abuse of court process and it is accordingly dismissed”, Justice Abang held.

Alleged N3.9bn fraud: Court adjourns Badeh’s trial to April 12, 19 *Casket bearing the remains of the former governor of Bayelsa State, Diepriye Alamieyeseigha arriving at Banquet Hall, Government House for a valedictory session in Yenagoa yesterday. Photo: NAN.

*From left: Bayelsa State Governor, Hon. Seriake Dickson, Mrs. Margaret Alamiyeseigha, former President Goodluck Jonathan and his wife, Patience during the Service of Songs and Night of Tributes in honour of the first civilian Governor of the State, Chief Diepreye Alamieyeseigha, as part of activities marking his burial ceremony in Yenagoa. Photo by Lucky Francis.

Fire burns woman, 6 children to death

BY TOM MOSES

Alleged N400m fraud: Why I can’t keep my hands off Metuh’s trial —Justice Abang

morning when most of the people in the neighbourhood had gone to bed.

According to him, his wife, who, went outside to urinate around 2 am noticed the fire in the next compound and raised alarm which attracted neighbours to come out to salvage the situation.

But he lamented that before they came out, the fire had consumed the seven persons who were sleeping in the rooms except his grandmother who sustained

burns and rushed to the University of Uyo Teaching hospital for medical attention.

“IamEkeminiJamesObot, the grandson to the land lady, the owner of the burnt house.

“The incident occurred around 2 am when my wife went outside to urinate and saw the fire and raised an alarm so we came outside and met the house burning.

“We noticed that the compound had been spread with petrol which helped the fire to burn easily”, he informed and gave the names of those that lost their lives as Daniel Sampson, Helen Sampson Itohoinyene Sampson all grand children to the landlady, Madam Monica Effiong .

Others are Nsikak, Queen, Nsisong and their mother, Happy all tenants.

He alleged the cause of the fire incident to have been

masterminded by a man who had land dispute with his grandmother and had promised to deal with her.

Obot lamented that before the Fire Service team could arrive the scene that night to rescue the situation, the fire gutted the entire structure.

Confirming the incident, the Director of Fire Service in the state, Mr. Ndarake Ukpe, said he had just been informed of the incident and lamented that the residents of the area could not contact the Fire Service on time because they did not have the fire service phone numbers.

He said, “My Commander has just informed me but he has not given me details, we are investigating the cause of the incident.

“The residents of the area did not have our phone numbers, it was even the policemen on patrol that informed us”, he stressed.

By Ikechukwu Nnochiri

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HE Federal High Court in Abuja, yesterday, adjourned further hearing on the 10-count criminal charge the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, preferred against the former Chief of Defence Staff, Air Chief Marshal Alex Badeh , till April 12 and 19.

Trial Justice Okon Abang had originally slated yesterday for Badeh’s lawyer, Chief Akinolu Olujumi, SAN, to conclude his cross-examination of the star prosecution witness, Air Commodore Salisu Abdullahi Yushau, retd.

The witness was formerly the Director of Finance and Accounts at the Nigerian Air Force, NAF. However, the matter could not proceed as scheduled yesterday as trial of the National Publicity Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, consumed the judicial time of the court.

Metuh’s case which lasted over eight hours, led the court to ask both counsel to the EFCC and that of the defendant to agree on the new date.

Yushau had earlier revealed before the court how Badeh who was alleged to have siphoned over N3.9billion from account of the Nigerian Air Force within 2013, monthly diverted N558.2million from funds meant for the payment of salaries of NAF officials.

ThewitnesstoldthecourtthatallthepastAirChiefMarshals equally siphoned the same amount monthly when they were in office.

The ex-NAF Finance Director who started his EvidenceIn-Chief on March 16, told the court that no one dared to query all the former Air Chiefs on how they expended the diverted funds “The practice of setting aside the N558.2m was already there even before I was appointed as the Director of Finance in 2010”, he stated.

He told the court that the system was in place when he served under former Air Chief Marshal M.D. Umar from October 2010 to October 2012 .Umar is equally under the investigative lens of the EFCC.

Troops intercept suicide bombers

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ROOPS of 101 Battalion of 7 Division of the Nigerian army yesterday intercepted four suspected Boko Haram suicide bombers following a tip off about impending attack in Maiduguri city by the terrorists from Sambisa forest through Cashew Plantation.

According to a statement signed by Acting Director Army Public Relations, Colonel Sani Kukasheka Usman, “the ever vigilant troops responded decisively by intercepting and neutralizing the suspected terrorists at Madiyari and JiminiBolori villages.

“Unfortunately three of our soldiers sustained injuries in the process and they have been evacuated to the unit’s Regimental Aid Post (RAP), for treatment. “The two unexploded Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) on the suicide bombers were safely detonated by a combined team of Nigeria Police and our Explosive Ordinance Device (EOD) experts.

The troops, according to Colonel Usman also arrested three suspected Boko Haram terrorists at Nwagafete village comprising two women and a 16 year old boy who were connected to suspected terrorists’ food vendors earlier arrested.

8 — SATURDAY Vanguard, APRIL 9, 2016

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Nigeria targets sale of 40% of new NPC

By Sebastine Obasi, with agency report

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IGERIA plans to split state oil company, Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC into two to help ease a planned stake sale and wants to sell at least 40 percent of a newly created NationalPetroleumCompany (NPC) in coming years, according to a draft of a longawaited oil bill.

The bill envisages the sale of at least 10 percent of NPC over five years and is targeting 40 percent or more over 10 years, as Africa’s top oil exporter seeks to fix a cash shortage that is hampering investment at NNPC and end graft.

The National Assembly is to start debating within days the amended Petroleum Industry Bill, which has been in the works for a decade and designed to change everything from taxes to environmental rules and revenue sharing, as well as overhauling NNPC. Lawmakers have not previously been able to agree on the 200-page bill, but President Muhammadu Buhari has made its passing a priority as he seeks to overhaul the oil and gas sector, which accounts for 70 percent of state income.

NNPC’s output has been stagnant at around 2 million barrels a day for years as the company struggles with graft, bureaucracy and funding problems.

To accelerate the reform process, Nigeria is breaking up the bill, with the first part dealing with the reform of NNPC, a pet project of Buhari.

“Divestment of shares ... may include the sale or transfer of shares to institutional or strategic investors,” the draft said, without giving more details.

A sale of at least a 10 percent stake in NPC is to take place within five years, with the rest to happen within 10 years, the bill says. The previous draft had called for a 30 percent sale within six

UTHORITIES of the A University of Lagos, UNILAG, have ordered the

immediate closure of the institution, ordering all students to vacate halls of residence before 10am yesterday (Friday).

In a release by its Management, the Senate of UNILAG considered closure of the institution imperative due to students’agitation over poor electricity and water supplyinthecommunity,and thedifficultyfacedbythelarge number of students living off campus to attend classes as a result of the fuel crisis.

The Senate said that the problem of poor municipal services was a national issue that the Governments at both State and Federal level were addressing.

It said: “In order to forestall a further breakdown of law and order on campus, Senate resolved that all academic activities on campus are hereby suspended with immediate effect. “ The C M Y K

risk of corruption, because of the greater influence of outside investors and private firms.

“Bidding is open to international investors,” the source said.

BY GABRIEL ENOGHOLASE

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EXT of kin and relatives of over fifteen policemen who died in active service or sustained various degrees of injuries from the Bayelsa, Delta and Edo States that make up the Zone 5 of the Nigeria Police with its headquarters in Benin, were yesterday presented with the sum of N7.9million to cushion the effect of losing their loved ones.

Assistant Inspector General (AIG), Zone 5, Mr. Musa Daura who presented the cheques ranging from N500,000.00 to the families of policemen that lost their lives and N100,000.00 for those who sustained injuries, said the presentation was under the Nigeria Police Group Personal Accident Insurance Scheme which was set up to enhance the welfare of officers and men of the Force who died or suffered various degree of injuries in the cause of their service to their fatherland.

Olu of Warri urges Effurun-Otor to embrace new monarch

BY EGUFE YAFUGBORHI

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From left: General Manager, Retail Shop & Franchise, Tolulope TopeAwofeko; Ogun State Deputy Governor, Mrs. Yetunde Onanuga and Regional Operations Director, Lagos Region, Oladokun Oye during the commissioning of Airtel Express Shop at Park Place Mall, Admiralty Way, Lekki, Lagos

20% of Kaduna children die before 5th Birthday – PSN-PACFAH survey ByLuka Binniyat

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UT of the 337,000 births recorded yearly inKadunastate,66,000 (20%) die before their 5th Birthday, thePharmaceuticalSocietyof Nigeria – Partnership For AdvocacyinChildandFamily Health, PSN-PACHFAH announced yesterday in Kaduna.

PSN-PACFAH, which is an amalgam of 8 Civil Society Organisations, CSOs and allied Non Governmental Organisation,NGOs,said the current Kaduna state under5mortalityratewas185deaths for 1000 births, all from

UNILAG shutdown over fuel crisis

By Dayo Adesulu

years.

It gave no reason for the longer time frame but a source involved in the draft said selling a larger stake was intended to raise more funds and help minimize the

Police dole out N7.9m to next of kin of dead policemen

University is therefore closed with immediate effect. All students are to vacate the various halls of residence immediately. No student should remain in the halls of residence after 10.00a.m on Friday, 8th April, 2016. A decisiontore-openfornormal academic activities will be taken as soon as municipal services improve.”

It urged all members of the University community to go about their normal activities as adequate security measures have been put in place Meanwhile, Police from Sabo, Denton, Surulere, Bariga and Orile divisions, in 8 patrol vans, on Thursday morning had mounted surveillance at the Akoka end of the gate leading to the University of Lagos.

It will be recalled that aggrieved students of the university had since Wednesday engaged the management of the first generation institution over poor electricity and water supply situation on campus.

preventable and treatable ailments.

But, the state government said it was aware of the challenge and was poised towards tackling it.

The above revelation was made when the Nigerian Country Director of PSNPCFAH, Mr. Remi Adeseun and his team paid an advocacyvisittotheExecutive Secretary, Kaduna State PrimaryHealthCareAgency, KSPHCA, Dr. Hadiza Balarabe in her office.

He said: Figures from the most recent Nigerian Demographic Health Survey (NDHS 2013) show that Kadunastateannuallive-birth is 337,000 , of this figure, 66,000 die before their fifth birthday.

“The 2013 NDHS also shows that for every 1000 live

births, 185 die before their fith birthday. This means that Kaduna state current under5 mortality rate per 1000 livebirths is 185.

“Most of the aforementioned deaths are frompreventableandtreatable diseases such as Malaria, Pneumonia and Diarrhoea.

The Survey shows that Diarrhoea and Pneumonia account for 13% and 16% respectably of the under-5 mortalityrateinKadunastate.

“IntheNorthWest,Kaduna state has the second highest percentage of under-5 mortality rate from Pneumonia. Kaduna State has 16% Under-5 Diarrhoea mortality rate, a figure that is far higher than the National average of 9%.

Accordingtohim,therewas need to address the issue.

HE Olu of Warri, HRM, Ogiame Ikenwoli, has urged the people of Effurun-Otor, Ughelli South local government area, Delta State to embrace trust and unity in service of their new monarch, HRM, King Duku II, the Orovworere of Effurun-Otor who received staff of office from the Delta state government yesterday.

The Olu was represented on the occasion by a delegation including Chief Emmanuel Jones, the Olutimeyin of Warri and Chief Billy Besigiwa, Osolo of Warri who also presented the Warri monarch’s special present to the Effurun-Otor king to share the joy of the event with the new monarch.

Chief Jones, speaking on behalf of the Olu said, “The Olu of Warri is unwavering about building bridges of peace across all kingdoms in Delta state and the Nigerian nation. The crowning of a king is a divine renewal of peace and progress for any kingdom.’’

Rivers Assembly grants Wike approval to secure N10b loan

BY JIMITOTA ONOYUME

R

IVERS state House of Assembly yesterday granted a request from the state government to secure a N10billion loan from the Excess Crude Account.

Speaker, Rt Hon Dabotoru Dima said the loan was to enable the state government fund ongoing road and other development projects, adding that the governor sought approval of the House via a letter.

Governor Nyesom Wike in the letter dated April 5,2016 explained that the loan will be calculated on a single digit of nine percent, adding that payment will be made within twenty years.

“We have also advertised for tenders for the BoriSaakpenwa road, the Obiri Ikwerre-Airport bypass, while the contracts for the comprehensive rehabilitation of eleven secondary schools and some of the dilapidated general hospitals are also due for award.

IT experts tasks FG on human

Abuja-Kaduna Rail: How FG’s failure to capital devt compensate hospital delayed take-off

BY DANIEL ETEGHE

By Favour Nnabugwu

T

HERE are indications that the May 29 flag-off of the Abuja-Kaduna rail project is no longer feasible, following non-conclusion of negotiations between the Federal Government and the management of Catholic hospital,DaughtersofCharity ofStVincentHospital,Kubwa which is located on the rightof-way of the rail line The test running of the rail hadinitiallybeenslatedforlast month but was later moved to May/June because of the failure of the federal government to pay the compensation of N362, 642,212.91 which the government agreed to pay against the N510,949,991.00 thehospitalhadrequestedfor.

Thehospitalhadagreedthat

the federal government should pay the over N362million to the rail contractor, China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC) to build a hospital, Sisters’ Convent, a laundry and a guesthouseonthealternative of 1.5 hectare around the Kubwa axis.

At the last inspection of the rail project by the Minister of Transportation, Mr Rotimi Chibuike Amaechi, the Minister said that the May 29 flag-off would not be feasible.

Vanguard investigations however revealed that negotiations among the Daughters of Charity, the Federal Ministry of Transportation, the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA) and CCECCremaininconclusive.

The Managing Director of Peer Grid Solutions Limited, Mr. Osuagwu Ezeukwu has called on the Federal Government to dedicate more of its efforts in developing human capital resources in the country.

Speaking yesterday at the NESA Economic Discourse with the theme: “Unleashing the true potentials of Nigerian economy” organised by the Nigerian Economics Students’ Association, University of Lagos Chapter Mr. Ezeukwu stressed that if Nigeria would be amongst the top economic countries in the world it must invest greatly on human capital development as “it is the only way to the country’s economic growth.”

He said it was wrong for a country like Nigeria to concentrate so much on acquiring machinery, equipment without adequate manpower to man them.

He pointed out that inadequate skilled manpower has kept increasing the expatriate quota as more foreigners keep coming to Nigeria at the detriment of Nigerians and her economy. “Nigeria must lay emphasis on human capital development because this is the only way that our economy can grow rapidly. We have a lot of resources, equipment, machinery; they cannot operate except people are trained to operate them. Human capital development is the key to unleashing our economic potentials in this country,” he said.

SATURDAY Vanguard, APRIL 9, 2016 — 9

B-R-I-E-F-S

Fulani herdsmen invade Falae’s farm again •Kill OPC security guard

BY DAYO JOHNSON Akure

N

O fewer that ten Fulani herdsmen have again invaded the farm of the former Secretary to the Government of the Federation SGF, Chief Olu Falae, killing one of his Oodua Peoples Congress, OPC security guards.

Itwouldberecalledthatfive fulani herdsmen are currently standing trial at the state High Court over the kidnap o f Chief Falae in October last year.

The state government had to cough out N5m to pay as ransom to the kidnappers before the politician was released by his abductors.

The identity of the dead OPC member could not be ascertained last night.

Dependable source told Saturday Vanguard in Akure that the herdsmen stormed the farm located at Ilado in Akure North area of Ondo state and kidnapped the security guard.

His corpse was later discovered few days ago inside a pool of water which is few kilometers to the farm.

Saturday Vanguard gathered that the herdsmen invaded the farm last weekend and they were restricted by the security guards engaged by the politician following incessant invasion of the farm. The herdsmen, according to sources, retreated only to surface again and reportedly kidnapped one of the security guards on the farm.

We learnt that the matter

was reported at the state police command and a search party was organized following which his corpse was discovered days later.

The state police command which had sent out invitation for a Press briefing to newsmen in the state yesterday abruptly cancelled it.

Commissioner of police Hilda Harrison did not give any reason for the cancellation of the media briefing.

But sources at the state Police Command said that the assignment may have been halted because the Commissioner had no approval from the Inspector General of Police.

The Police Image Maker Femi Joseph declined

commentontherecentattack and killing of the security guard of the former Finance Minister.

Joseph said that all the questions should be directed to the Police Commissioner.

Also, the Personal.

Assistant PA to chief Falae, Moshood Adekunle Raji said that the matter was a criminal matter and would be handled by the state Police Command .

Raji said he could not comment on the development because the police were still investigating the matter.

The mobile telephone of Chief Falae was switched off permanently yesterday.

His Oba-ile residence when visited was deserted last night.

Fuel crisis is hurting Nigeria’s economy, NIM laments

BY MICHAEL EBOH

T

HE Nigerian Institute of Management, NIM, yesterday, lamented that the unending fuel crisis witnessed across the country is having a negative impact on the economy, while he disclosed that the crisis is mainly a management issue.

Speaking during the NIM/ National Defence College Executive Member Conversion Programme Induction Ceremony in Abuja, Mr. Munzali Jibril, President and Chairman of Council of the NIM, called on the Federal Government to urgently address the crisis before it escalates.

According to him, the crisis has had a tremendous negative impact on the economy; the man hours lost on the queues, the things that ought to have been done could not be done, because of lack of fuel.

He, however, expressed confidence on the ability of the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Mr. Ibe Kachikwu, adding that the crisis was temporary and would soon be addressed.

He said, “Hopefully, this is a temporary thing; it is not a problem that is beyond solution. All you need is good planning, discipline and so on. I believe the Minister has very good intentions and he is a competent professional, but he is facing challenges that he has never faced before.

Agriculture is only sure path to food APGA reaffirms support for security — Ooni of Ife food crops for industries and Obiano, Umeh, Ezenwankwo

BY GBENGA OLARINOYE, Osogbo

T

HE Ooni of Ife, Oba Enitan Adeyeye Ogunwusi, Ojaja 11, has charged government at all levels to ensure massive agricultural revolution in the

country to achieve food security for the citizenry.

According to him, the country should seize the opportunity of the current economic recession occasioned by the fall in oil revenue to go back to land and cultivate both cash and

consumption.

The royal father spoke at a one day forum of plantain innovation cluster/ stakeholders interactive session, a presentation of HumidTropicsandForumfor Agricultural Research in Africa, FARA, at Obafemi Awolowo University, OAU, Ile-Ife. Represented by Elejesi of Ejesi-Ife Oba Babatunde Awosunle, the monarch said part of his efforts to reduce youth restiveness and unemployment in his domain was acquiring hundreds of hectares of land forcultivationofbothcashand food crops for youths to be engaged.

Painful bereavement

T

HE families of O m a g b e m i Jackdonmi of Bateren and Bobi, Okonedo of Abeugborodo and Wilkey, all in Delta State have lost a wife, mother, grandmother, great-grand mother, sister, cousin, aunty and friend, Mrs. Grace Esimabogharan th Wilkey.

She died on 17 January, 2016 at the University of Benin teaching Hospital, and survived by several relatives, children, grand children and great-grand children. She was aged 83 years, and will forever remain in their minds.

•Mrs. Grace Esimabogharan Wilkey

BY NWABUEZE OKONKWO

T

HE concerned stakeholders of All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA in Orumba North Local Government Area of Anambra state yesterday reaffirmed their unflinching support for Governor Willie Obiano; its former national chairman and senatorial candidate for Anambra Central re-run, Chief Victor Umeh and the leader of the party in the area, Chief Okwudili Ezenwankwo for their leadership qualities so far.

The group also declared unalloyed support for the party’s incumbent national chairman, Chief Victor Oye for his strategic oversight of the party affairs across the country and commended the local government party chairman, Obinna Ikwueto for galvanizing the party at the grass roots level.

I’ll diligently implement new Rivers Vision Devt Blueprint — Governor Wike

R

IVERS State Governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike has declared that the state government will diligently implement the New Rivers Vision Development Blueprint to ensure that the people of the state feel the impact of good governance.

Addressing the closing session of the two-day retreat for top government officials at Onne MultiPurpose Centre on Friday, Governor Wike said that government functionaries have been equipped with the relevant strategies to contribute meaningfully to governance.

Kogi guber candidate, Rotimi Obadofin is dead

BY BOLUWAJI OBAHOPO

A

former governorship candidate in Kogi State and a front line Afenifere member, Prince Rotimi Obadofin is dead.

Obadofin, who hailed from Aiyegunle Gbede, in Ijumu Local Government area of Kogi State was one time governorship candidate of the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, before it merged into the All Progressives Congress, APC. Obadofin who was said to have died in Oshogbo, Osun State on Thursday night from ruptured appendix also contested the governorship ticket of APC in last year’s election but lost the ticket to late Prince Abubakar Audu.

The Governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello has expressed shock over the death of Obadofin, whom he (Bello) described as a ‘frontline progressive’ who displayed exemplary zeal for the actualization of civil rule in Nigeria.

10 — SATURDAY Vanguard, APRIL 9, 2016

Glamour as Vanguard celebrates

BY MIKE EBONUGWO

I

t is not very often you have such a galaxy of eminent Nigerians under one roof.

But courtesy of the Vanguard Personality Of The Year Awards, a roll call of some of Nigeria’s finest personalities, the crème de la crème of society and indeed Nigerians of all walks of life, were on hand to play their part in the history making process of celebrating in a special way a select breed of what Vanguard aptly called The Torchbearers, eleven men and a woman acknowledged as shining lights in the evolving Nigerian project.

Together they made the highly publicised event an unforgettable night of celebration and entertainment.

To say the occasion lived up to its envisaged billing will certainly be an understatement.

Reason being that it was a colourful extravaganza of personality celebration, cultural and musical entertainment that was at once all fulfilling and intoxicating, leaving all present feeling a bit heady at the end of it all.

From the opening sessions of introductions and acknowledgments to speeches, musical and other performance

interludes, captive audience had more than enough to cheer and engage its attention.

Indeed there was no dull moment as each session of the entire programme spoke volumes of the palpable excitement engendered.

It all began with the Sharp Band which set the stage for what to expect by reeling out soulful songs and evergreen hits that easily conjured nostalgic feelings. Many in the audience enthusiastically sang along while the performances lasted. The cultural performances also did not fail to elicit appreciative applauses from the audience. Of particular note was an all women cultural group that came at the instance of High Chief John Nwosu, the Eze Ndigbo of Mushin, Lagos, aka Obieziokwu 1 of Mushin.

They came to identify with and celebrate one of The Torchbearers, Dr Alex Ekwueme, Second Republic Vice President of Nigeria.

Clad in befitting traditional attires, the women led by Ndidi Acholonu drummed, sang and danced enthusiastically in honour of a man they loudly chorused deserved to be celebrated. Their singing and dancing intensified when Ekwueme was called out to

receive his award.

Another cultural troupe from the Northern part of the country also took its turn to thrill the gathering with its performance. This it did with great aplomb.

Several other musical

performances followed in intermittent sequence.

Mention must also be made of one of the comperes, Helen Paul aka Tatafo who was at her funny, comical best in entertaining the audience with her rib-cracking jokes.

•Alhaji Lai Muhammed, Minister of Information and Culture representing President Muhammed Buhari being accompanied by Mr Eze Anaba, Vanguard Deputy Editor on arrival

•From left: Mr Gbenga Adefaye, GM and Editor in Chief, Vanguard Newspapers; Mr Tunji Olugbodi, MD, Verdant Zeal; and Mr Sam Amuka, Publisher, Vanguard Newspaper

Celebrating our heroe

BY Dapo Akinrefon, Charles Kumolu & Gbenga Oke

Governor Adams Oshiomole of Edo State and his wife Lara

•From left: Gov Kashim Shettima, Governor of Borno State and Governor Ibrahim Dakwambo of Gombe State C M Y K

R

ADIATING influence, affluence and royalty they commenced arriving the Eko Hotel and Suites venue of the Vanguard Personality Award at 5: pm.

Their calculated and stylish steps on the red carpet leading to the Expo Hall where the event was scheduled to hold, elegantly reflected their exceptional personalities.

And that was interestingly made striking by their florid attires which provided exciting blend of African fashion and Western outfits.

The fashion statements by these esteemed guests, complemented the already colorful environment which had conspicuous presence of Vanguard’s official red and white colours.

Musical performances by Igbo cultural dance troupe, Ugonabo Umuoji serenaded the atmosphere with rendition of traditional tunes

to the delight of many.

It was amid this carnival-like atmosphere that former Vice President Chief Alex Ekwueme, Governor Adams Oshiomhole, Governor Ibrahim Dankwambo, Chief Nike Akande and other attendees took graceful steps to the venue.

Their remarks indicated how impressed they were with the award, as they called for the sustenance of the yearly event.

Oshiomhole is worthy of the award—Afegbua

Edo State Commissioner for Information, Mr. Kassim Afegbua said: ‘’I came here earlier on and I was quite fascinated by the walk way and I said this is only peculiar with Vanguard because I have attended events in this particular hall before and I have never seen it beautifully packaged like this. It is because Vanguard is a solid platform, anybody being given award should be applauded and this award is not the one you procure with money. It is an award that is actually merited. Because I have

SATURDAY Vanguard, APRIL 9, 2016 — 11

Nigeria’s 2015 Torchbearers

•Ede Dafinone, receiving Vanguard Lifetime Achievement Award on behalf of his father, Senator Dafinone from Aremo Olusegun Osoba

•From left: Chief Bayo Akande, Oba Otudeko and Chief (Mrs) Nike Akande

•Chief (Mrs) Nike Akande receiving Vanguard Lifetime Achievement Award 2015 from Arch Victor Attah, former Governor of Akwa Ibom State

•Mr Jim Ovia, Vanguard Businessman of the Year awardee and his wife on arrival

•Mr Ladi Balogun representing Otunba Subomi Balogun receiving Vanguard Lifetime Achievement Award from Chief (Mrs) Opral Benson

Aremo olusegun Osoba, former Governor of Ogun State and Chief Ajibola Ogunsola

es when they are alive is special — Guests seen the summary of why people were given award and it is quite fascinating and I want to commend Vanguard for this.

Governor Oshiomhole is more than worthy of this award. Comrade Oshiomhole has embarrassed book makers and doubting Thomas’s with the kind of development he has brought into Edo State. While he humbled those who expected so much, he also embarrassed the opponents.

It’s good to celebrate living legends —Sally Mbanefo, DG, NTDA

It is a very well organised event and it is worth giving honour to people who deserve it. We want to commend Vanguard for such an innovative choice of people. These are people who are living legends and it is important to recognise people who have contributed to the society while they are alive.

I’m grateful to God and Vanguard —Nike Akande

It is a great honour and I am extremely grateful to God, I am grateful to Vanguard

Oshiomhole deserves it —Osarodion Ogie, Commissioner for Works, Edo State

It is something we should encourage all the awardees, we have read their profiles through the papers and they are people well

known for their records. vanguard has done well.

I am not surprised that Governor Oshiomhole is being awarded because having been part of the administration from the beginning, we know the difference we have made. For him to be recognised by Vanguard, the award is to be taken seriously.

Philip Shuaib, Rep Member from Edo State

This award for me is celebrating those who have distinguished themselves in their various endeavours and also those that contributed to the growth of this country.

It is okay because for me, when you appreciate what somebody has done, it is a tonic for making him do better. I salute Vanguard for selecting these distinguished Nigerians and it will give them strength to do greater things and others seeing them , will use them as role models.

Oshiomhole deserves it because that is a man that came from ground zero and he has lifted Edot state to the level it is today both in terms of finance and otherwise.

Some states cannot pay salaries while others are bankrupt but Edo State is paying salaries and all the works are going on simultaneously. Beyond infrastructural development, he has opened up the

political space that the son of nobody can become somebody in Edo State. The award is coming at a time when he is finishing strong. For me, it is coming at the right time.

My father is my champion —Ede Dafinone

It is very clear that for a change, Vanguard took some time to select those who represent Nigerians worthy of the award. My father is my champion.

I’ m happy for Vanguard —Chief Akande

In his remarks, Chief Akande said: ‘’I am indeed very happy. I am very happy for Sam (Amuka) as well. I have known Sam for over 40 years and we have been very good friends since then and I am happy for him. I am very happy for the Vanguard chairman and management.’’

The event should be encouraged —Rep Akinlade

Similarly, a member of the House of Representatives, Mr. Adekunle Akinlade noted’’I think it is a wonderful concept and I think the beneficiaries are people who deserve the award. . I believe strongly that hard work is something that we will encourage’’

12 — SATURDAY Vanguard, APRIL 9, 2016

VANGUARD PERSONALITY AWARDS

From Left: Ibrahim Dankwambo,Governor of Gombe State,Vanguard Governor of the Year;Arch Victor Attah,former Governor of Akwa Ibom State;Dr Ifeanyi Okowa,Governor of Delta State and Mr Dele Alake representing Bola Ahmed Tinubu at the Vanguard Personality of the Year Awards 2015 in Lagos.

From left: Mr Sam Amuka, Publisher, Vanguard Newspapers and Chief Alex Ekwueme, Vanguard Lifetime Achivement Awardee during the Vanguard Personality of the Year Awards 2015 at Eko Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos yesterday.

Chief Bayo Akande and Chief (Mrs) Nike Akande

*From Left: Mr. Jim Ovia, Founder/ Chairman,Zenith Bank Plc/Vanguard Businessman of the Year,Dr Oba Otudeko, Chiarman of the Occasion; Prince Dayo Adeyeye, former Minister of state for Works representing former president Goodluck Jonathan and Mr Sam Amuka, Chairman Vanguard Newspaper.

From left: Chief Nike Akande and Mr Ladi Balogun representing Otunba Subomi Balogun, both Vanguard Lifetime Achievement awardees.

PHOTOS BY AKEEM SALAU

*Cross section of Local Government Chairmen from Gombe State

From left: Professor Egerton Uvieghara; Hauwa Musa and Godfrey Etikerentse .

C M Y K

*Chief Alex Ekwueme, former Vice President and Chief Ritalori Ogbebor

*From left: Alhaji Ibrahim Seriki, Alhaji Abdulahi Muhammed and Alhaji Babayo Manu, all from Gombe State .

SATURDAY Vanguard, APRIL 9, 2016 — 13

VANGUARD PERSONALITY AWARDS

•Dan Agbese,Director May Five Media(middle),Soji Akinrinade,left, and Feyi Smith,ED NPAN.PHOTO BY AKEEM SALAU • Ogun State Governor Ibikunle Amosun in a handshake with Chief Jim Ovia, Chairman, Zenith Bank PLC

From left:Chika Okorie,Mr Tony Awe, and Chief Olayinka Ogunmekan.

From left:David Bassey,Nnamdi Edekobi,Stanley Amuchie and Michael Osilama Otu.

From left:Chief (Dr) Michael Olawale-Cole;Mrs Mojisola Akande and Prof Bashiru Akande.

From left:Wofia Samuel,Darasen Richards,Chris Nwaokobia and Kunle Rufai.

From left: Rita Amuka and Yeye Rewane C M Y K

*From left:Chief Ben Ezeibe,Mr ken Ekwueme,Mrs Lami Ekwueme,Barr Chike Ekwueme,Jacquelyn Ekwueme,Chidi Onyemelukwe,Okey,Adaeze Ekwwueme and Nona Adimora.

14—SATURDAY Vanguard, APRIL 9, 2016

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eaders of the All Progressives Congress, APC in the Southwest converged in the Lagos home of Aremo Segun Osoba to forge a much-needed reconciliation with their host.

However, the result of their peace shooting exercise is apparently beyond simple political projections.

By Emmanuel Aziken, Political Editor and Charles Kumolu SPECULATIONS of an end to the simmering division in the camp of the progressive elements in the Southwest geopolitical zone had been running for some time. The progressives in the geopolitical zone were at the forefront in the emergence of the All Progressives Congress, APC as the leading party in the region. However, not long after the emergence of the APC, Aremo Segun Osoba, the veteran journalist and two-term governor of Ogun State who was one of the leading founders of the APC had upon alleged acts of discrimination of his supporters in Ogun State led his supporters out of the APC. The former governor eventually led his supporters into the Social Democratic Party, SDP just before the 2015 general elections.

But it was obvious that the exit apparently did not sit well with many political stakeholders. The absence of Aremo was not just an ideological scar for the party, but also a major dent on the general body of the progressives across the land. It was even an embarrassment for Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu who remarkably, is almost near neighbour to Osoba in the Bourdillion, Ikoyi area of Lagos.

Remarkably, many leaders from the geopolitical zone and especially, two leading traditional rulers from Ogun State, took it upon themselves to heal the wound. The Awujale of Ijebu Land, Oba Sikiru Adetona and the Alake of Egbaland, Dr. Adedotun Gbadebo were particularly troubled by the issue. The Awujale particularly had won respect among progressives for his support for their causes. The Awujale, it is remembered, was one traditional ruler who disregarded the threats of the Sanni Abacha dictatorship to host meetings of the National Democratic Coalition, NADECO in his palace. Awujale also was one of the few traditional rulers who disregarded the charms of the Goodluck Jonathan presidency, especially in the days leading to the presidential election when he told his subjects to vote according to their conscience when he was approached for support by the PDP. Besides, it is alleged by those close to him that he did not hide his personal friendship with General Muhammadu Buhari even with Buhari as an opposition leader.

So given what was believed to be the gap in the ranks of the progressives, the Awujale, and the Alake reportedly took it upon themselves to persuade Osoba to return to the field of the progressives in the APC. The two traditional rulers Saturday Vanguard learned jointly and separately met with Osoba to return to the camp of the progressives. Besides the traditional rulers, Tinubu Saturday

•Alake of Egbaland

•Aremo Segun Osoba

•Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu

The story behind the reconciliation of Southwest Progressives Vanguard learned also intervened before the Southwest governors in the APC also entered the quest for peace.

Their effort was understandable given how such little quarrels had in the past led to bigger crises in the Southwest. In their trouble shooting sessions, the trouble shooters recalled how the problem within the defunct Action Group in the sixties spread to a national crisis.

So while the traditional rulers helped in doing the background work, it was left to the politicians to formally cement the peace.

Given the nature of politicians, it was not surprising that even the APC delegations came visiting that word on the issue was already spreading wide and near. At the burial of the mother of Mr. Godwin Emefiele, governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, in Agbor, Delta State where Osoba made a visible presence, the word on the possible reconciliation was abuzz as some APC governors from outside the Southwest openly hugged Osoba to show their appreciation.

A number of reporters who got a leak on it even came as early as Saturday, 24 hours before the Sunday scheduled visit.

The rapprochement eventually took place that Sunday with all but two APC governors from the Southwest in attendance. The

governors were led by the political leaders of the region who included Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, Chief Bisi Akande, Otunba Niyi Adebayo among others.

The only governors absent were Senator Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun State and the host governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode. Governor Ambode was, however, represented by his deputy, Dr. Oluranti Adebule.

The absence of Amosun some said was an issue given the history of discord between Osoba and Amosun, but those involved in leading the peace it was gathered resolved not to make it an issue, preferring to allow things shape up naturally. Also present were the former governor of Osun State, Chief Bisi Akande, who also served as interim national chairman of the party at inception, former governor of Ekiti State, Chief Niyi Adebayo, Senator Gbenga Obadara among others. Speaking on behalf of the attendees shortly before the nearly four-hour parley ended, Governor Rauf Aregbesola of Osun State said, the differences that had existed among the South West leaders of the party had been resolved.

To that effect, he said the leaders were now more progressively united to achieve substantive developmental goals for the zone and the nation. ''The leadership of progressive

•Awujale of Ijebu Land, Oba Sikiru Adetona leadership in western Nigeria, leadership of progressive leadership in the western part of the country met today at the residence of Aremo Osoba and have resolved all the differences within the leadership completely,'' he noted.

Continuing, he said: “As such we are happy to tell the world that the leadership of progressive politics is united. And we are ready to jointly prosecute the agenda for growth, purposeful leadership, development, good governance for the western part of Nigeria and we are committed to doing that for the entire nation. ''We have resolved to support the effort at the national level to revive the economy and put the people of Nigeria in a better stead than we met it when our party came to power. The Aremo himself is back in the progressive leadership of Yoruba race. I have told you that the progressive leadership of Yoruba race is now ready and charged to reposition our land and integrate with others nationwide in its stead.''

The continuous usage of the phrase ''Progressive leadership,'' elicited questions on clarification.

Accordingly, the governor said: ''Progressive leadership is on the platform of All Progressives Congress, APC. All governors of the APC in the Western part of Nigeria are here. With the leadership united, whoever subscribes to the leadership of the leaders must be part of this.''

On his part, Tinubu while speaking on the sidelines of the meeting noted that party leaders of the South West extraction resolved to be more progressive in pushing forward with a common vision.

His words: ''What is very crucial is forging one front and for us to remain progressive in our party. I am an unapologetic progressive, and I will remain progressive.

And that is the only philosophy and principle I believe. Wherever the Progressives must unite with their vision, I am for it. No body is left out; it is all progressives, and no one is left out. The governor of Ogun State is with us.

Governor of Ogun State was elected on the platform of the APC, and he is for the APC.''

SATURDAY Vanguard, APRIL 9, 2016—15

problem,” said the official.

By Clifford Ndujihe & Sebastine Obasi

E

XPERTS and stakeholders in the nation’s power sector said the economy will continue to lose billions of Naira, if the lingering poor power supply situation in the country is not checked immediately.

Their assertions came as a result of the dwindling power supply which got to a halt last Thursday, when the nation experienced zero generation for about four hours.

Director General, Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Muda Yusuf, said that though it would be difficult to put a figure to the loss incurred by the private sector, the nation has continued lose billions of Naira to poor power supply.

“Nigeria has been losing billions of Naira due to poor power supply.

This is because energy is the lifewire of any economy. Once there is no energy, the economy will not grow as expected,” he said.

Also, Executive Director, Association of Nigerian Electricity Distributors, Sunday Oduntan, said that though the DISCOs lost millions of Naira as a result of the low power supply and system breakdown, it is difficult to give an exact estimate of the losses incurred.

Recurring pipeline vandalism According to him, “we have to look at the fundamentals. The DISCOs are at the lower rung of the value chain. They bear the brunt of every mishap in the value chain. We are not out to apportion blames.

However, we all know that vandalism of the pipelines should be tackled once and for all. If there is no gas, the turbines will be shut.

Vandalism should be curtailed because if there is no generation, there will be no transmission and distribution.”

Head Corporate Communications, Eko Electricity Distribution Company, Godwin Idemudia, told Saturday Vanguard that there is need to strengthen transmission lines nationwide to prevent further system collapse, as his DISCO lost millions of Naira due to the zero allocation occasioned by system collapse. Explaining the sliding power situation, the Transmission Company of Nigeria, TCN, said the System Operator (SO) had done so much between 2013 till now to drastically reduce the frequency of such occurrences.

Past systems collapses According to TCN, there were up to 22 system collapses in 2013 with some lasting for 24 hours. The incessant collapse then led the former Minister of Power, Prof.

Chinedu Nebo to set up a panel to investigate the causes of such collapses. The SO said it reduced the collapses to nine in 2014 and just six in 2015. However this year and in March alone, the national electricity grid may have seen two critical system collapses already.

The first, power experts, said was a partial collapse early March when the less than 2,000mw hydro power generating companies were overstretched leading the sudden shut down of Shiroro GENCO. It caused a critical loss of power from the grid.

The partial collapse then affected the

•Fashola

Need to implement NIPP Phase two Meanwhile, as operators in the electricity value chain – generation, transmission and distribution companies trade blames over the current power crisis with the Organised Labour firming up strategies to •Mr.-James-Olotutackle the Federal MD-NDPHC1 Government on the issue, some stakeholders have urged the government to execute the second phase of the National Integrated Power Projects, NIPP being implemented by the Niger Delta Power Holding Company, NDPHC. Phase two of the NIPP entails construction of 11 hydro dams in Northern Nigeria, which will boost and diversify the country's power generation, transmission and distribution capacities. The projects include: Large hydro power – Mambilla, Gurara, Itisi with total capacity to generate 3,450MW; small hydro power at 10 sites in the north to generate 83.25MW; 43 critical transmission projects to resolve transmission bottlenecks; 51 transmission projects to improve wheeling capacity to 12,000MW; and 31 other transmission projects as foundation for increase of capacity to 16,000MW plus communication and national control even the 2014 panel on Grid centre among others.

Stability recommended that Reportedly, the NDPHC has Spinning Reserves must be received proposals from the State increased at all cost to prevent Grid of China, AK-AY and other system collapse. interested foreign investors for partnership and financing of the Pipeline vandalism, weak NIPP Phase II projects. transmission network Aside foreign partnership, Pipeline vandalism has also been funding for the projects can also identified as a major hindrance to come from the three tiers of power supply. A Chief Executive government via divestment of their Officer of one of the electricity equity holdings. distribution companies (Discos) Since 2005 when the NIPP was told Saturday Vanguard that conceived, it has been during last Thursday’s system implemented jointly by the federal, disturbance, the 11 distribution state and local governments companies were only “on station through the NDPHC, a supply” where they could not government agency owned by the service their customers.

“When you are on station supply, three tiers of government but which operates on the private sector there is no power to give to your business model. The NDPHC customers. This is because some equity structure is as follows: power plants went down due to non-supply of gas. The only power Federal Government 47 per cent; 36 states, 35 per cent and 774 Local you get from the national grid governments, 18 per cent. when you are on station supply is what you will use to run your base Origins of NIPP radio. You can’t send it to The NIPP was initiated in customers,” the CEO, who opted response to the deplorable state of not to be quoted, said. power infrastructure and the He also blamed weak inappropriate framework for private transmission network for the sector investment in the Nigerian country’s current power woes, electricity industry pre-2005 . Its saying that only a super grid scope covers the entire value chain would solve the country’s in the power sector, namely transmission challenges. generation, transmission and “Transmission will continue to be distribution, including building a a problem until the country has national gas infrastructure to power super transmission grid. Super 10 gas-fired power plants across transmission grid is a model the country. transmission line that can take The NDPHC was incorporated in huge power. We need to construct 2005 as the Special Project Vehicle super grid to reduce system (SPV) for the NIPP. The Nigerian collapse,” he added.

Also speaking, a top official of the National Petroleum Corporation, Nigeria Electricity System Operator NNPC, the Nigeria Gas Company, NGC and the defunct Power told Vanguard that vandalism was Holding Company of Nigeria, responsible for the current drop in PHCN, among others are an power supply. integral part of the NIPP project “Gas pipelines have been development. vandalised and they are doing it Domiciled in the presidency, the continuously. Some plants went NDPHC has been funded via the down last week because of lack of Excess Crude Savings Accounts gas and it caused system collapse.

So, it is really not a transmission Continues on page 16

Epileptic power: Experts, stakeholders proffer solutions •Urge implementation of NIPP phase two allocations of the Discos. Kano Disco said it got only 50mw instead of the average of 350mw. Abuja Disco then received 132mw instead of 450mw daily allocation.

Last Thursday's system collapse Last Thursday’s collapse raised concern about the grid capability.

The transmission grid is said to be characteristically susceptible to system collapses when generation is below 3,500mw and the available spinning reserve capacity is low.

Equally, the poor power supply for the month was confirmed by a month-end summary for generation statistics obtained from the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission, NERC. It shows that peak generation stopped at 3,816mw while the average generation was 3,338mw. Over 3,022mw was not generated or lost to constraints.

From this, gas supply shortage occasioned by vandalism stalled the generation of 2,674mw; 21mw was lost to frequency fluctuation; and 327mw was lost to imbalance or limitation in the transmission line.

The decline in power supply in March was worse than that of February. The 83,628 megawatt hour (mwh) sent out for distribution last month was 10,920mwh less than that of February, 2016, the report shows.

Weak, obsolete grid Another concern over the grid was raised by Mr. Kunle Olubiyo, a former member of the National Technical Investigative Panel on Nigeria Power System Collapses.

According to him, the panel found that the grid was weak and obsolete.

It recommended the building of a parallel ‘National Grid Backbone’ and that the Baseline of Daily Load allocation to the Discos should not be more than 3,500mw until the infrastructure was strengthened.

Olubiyo also said the panel and

16—SATURDAY Vanguard, APRIL 9, 2016

Urge implementation of NIPP phase two Nigeria’s generation, transmission and distribution capacities and built a gas infrastructure to power 10 new gas-fired power plants. In the process, the NDPHC recouped $7.1 billion of the $8.46 billion investment by selling 80 per cent of government shares in generation only. The proceeds from this divestment in the generation assets - $7.1 billion – is to be reinvested in NIPP Phase II.

Continues from page 15 and its capital funding sum currently is put at $8.46 billion. Disbursement of fund to the NDPHC funds is ratified by the Federal Government and the Houses of Assembly of the 36 states of the Federation.

Power infrastructure before NIPP Before the birth of NIPP/NDPHC in 2005, Nigeria could barely generate 2,000MW of electricity. The country neither had any gas-fired power station nor even the gas infrastructure to generated electricity. Nigeria had transmission capacity of 4,495 Kilometre (km) on its 330Kv lines. The country’s transformer capacity on the 132/33Kv band was 5,700MVA and on the 330/132Kv Transformer Capacity, Nigeria had 5,300MVA. In terms of distribution projects, then the country had 33/11KV substations of 8,148MVA and 33KV and 11/0.41KV substation with 32,000MVA capacity.

What NIPP added With the coming of the NIPP and 10 years after, Nigeria’s transmission capacity on its 330Kv lines increased to 6,932 Km or 46 per cent.

In the same period, the NDPHC increased the country’s transformer capacity on the 132/33Kv band to 11,118MVA or by 42 per cent and today Nigeria’s transformer capacity on the 330/132Kv band is 11,590MVA, an increment of 93 per cent.

According to NDPHC Managing Director, Mr. James Abiodun Olotu, the NIPP/NDPHC also improved the country's distribution infrastructure, increasing 33/11KV sub-stations of 11,649MVA, up by 43 per cent and 33KV and 11/0.41KV substation with 84,170MVA capacity, a 163 per cent increment. The NDPHC within the period built 10 gas-fired power stations, with a combined installed capacity of 4,528.5MW. These are Alaoji, Benin, Calabar, Egbema, Gbarain, Geregu II, Ogorode, Olorunsogo II, Omoku II and Omotosho II power plants.

Eight of the 10 power plants are fully completed with installed capacity

•Power plant

of 3,696 MW and the last two – Egbema and Omoku, 563MW – are expected to completed before the end of the 2016.

Today, the NDPHC-built power plants contribute an average of 900MW to the national grid, with about 820MW idle for reasons of evacuation capacity. According to Olotu, other achievements of the NIPP/NDPHC within the period include: building gas pipelines, gas metering and regulating stations grouped into 7 lots for the delivery of natural gas to these power plants; expanding the country’s power transmission capacity through 25 lots as follows: 5,590MVA of 330/132Kv transformer capacity; 3,313MVA of 132/33Kv transformer capacity; 2,194km of 330Kv lines; 809km of 132kv lines; 10 new 330Kv substations; 7 new 132Kv substations; and expansion of 36 existing 330Kv and 132KV substations; execution of 296 distribution projects in 43 lots across the country, which has given the country 3,540MVA injection substation capacity; 2,600Km of 11Kv lines for HVDS; 25,900 CSP distribution transformers and 1,700km of 33Kv lines among others.

Worsening poor power supply However, in spite of these achievements, poor supply has

remained epileptic, necessitating the need to begin the second phase of the NIPP, which was preconceived via a divestment and reinvestment plan by initiators of the NIPP. Instead of pulling out completely and leaving the citizenry at the mercy of private sector operators, the three tiers of government have only divested 80 per cent of their equity in one leg of the tripod - the NIPP Generation Assets - to private investors. To also make room for private sector participation and efficiency in the power distribution sector, the three tiers of government sold their distribution assets to private distribution companies (DISCOs), which $1.5 billion cost is recoverable from the DISCOs over a period of 10 years.

The three tiers of government still have intact their transmission assets ($2 billion as at December 2015) and gas assets ($500 million as at December 2015), which equities they can divest to the private sector in the future to make more profits from their initial joint $8.46 billion investment in NIPP Phase I. In essence, the three tiers of government have invested $8.46 billion to expand

Fuel crisis: The other side of the coin

By Charles Adingupu, Oghene Omonisa & Aderonke Adeyeri with agency reports miling to the bank S What is good for the goose may not be good for the gander, unlike the

old saying. While most Nigerians continue to bemoan the persistent fuel scarcity, some, in their craftiness, have capitalized on the situation to make brisk business. No doubt, for this category of Nigerians, the fuel crisis has become a blessing in disguise.

The black marketer is not complaining.

Since the commencement of the fuel scarcity, virtually all street corners have been converted into a micro fuel depot by black market operators as all sizes of jerrycans now litter everywhere. One of the operators of this illicit business in Owode area of Lagos who gave his name as Bayo, said that has put some money into his pocket.

A housewife, Mrs. Pelume said since her husband earns some money selling black market fuel.

A teenager, Ishola who sells fuel in five, 10 and 25-litre jerrycans along

the Ikorodu Road at Palm Groove Bus stop, told the Saturday Vanguard that he has generated enough money to pay his school fees as well as meet up with other sundry expenses.

In other major Nigerian cities like Port Harcourt, Abuja, Kaduna, Enugu, Ilorin, Owerri among others, black market operators execute their business with impunity as even the security personnel who should put them to check patronize them.

Building family ties A trader, Mrs. Adaeze Nwankwo said that the fuel crisis has helped to build her home again as her husband who used to keep late night no longer does so. “The fuel scarcity has crippled my husband.

Apart from his job, he hardly goes anywhere because the tanks of his two cars are empty.

“Until now, my husband would come home every day by 11pm

Making NIPP Phase II a reality Selling off government’s 80 per cent equity in the NIPP generation assets recouped $7.1 billion – out of the country’s $8.46 billion investment in NIPP Phase I – into the joint coffers of the federal, state and local governments. Rather than squander the $7.1 billion on other government projects in other sectors, stakeholders want the three tiers of government to honour their agreement under the power sector reforms programme to reinvest these huge sum in expanding the country’s power infrastructure under NIPP Phase II. Will the governments do this? All hands are needed on deck to address the epileptic power problem.

To get the work done, the three tiers of government and other stakeholders must close ranks to combat a number of challenges such as inadequate gas for full commercial operations; payment over N77 billion for power consumed as at the end of November 2015; litigation in respect of bids for Alaoji, Gbarain and Omoku power plants; and NNPC/NGC plans to divert gas on the western axis and 240mmscf to Omotosho and Geregu.

There are also concerns about capacity for transmission and distribution, increasing acts of vandalism on NIPP/NDPHC facilities, especially bombing of gas pipelines and other power infrastructure in the Niger Delta.

This is where stakeholders in the power sector look up to the Ministry of Power led by Mr. Babatunde Fashola (SAN) for policy guidance and leadership in the sector. The National Assembly is also expected to play its crucial legislative roles to move the power sector forward.

and leave at 5.30am the next morning. On weekends, he hardly stayed home. It was either he’s watching football at a popular TV viewing centre in the neighbourhood or he’s gone out with some friends. But today, the story is completely different as I’m beginning to appreciate my husband all over again as though we got married just yesterday,” she said.

In the same vein, two school children, Anthony and Chidinma said that their parents no longer keep late nights mainly because of the fear that they might be stranded at the bus stop as only few commercial vehicles ply the road at late hours.

Similarly, Daniel Borisade who resides in Surulere, Lagos, said that since the fuel crisis, he and his family members have not, for sometime now experienced the noisy night as their neighbour who runs his generator all through the night could not buy fuel to power his generator.

Madness everywhere A panoramic view showed that from the dry land of the North to the arable land of the South-East down to the oil-rich Niger Delta Region through the commercial cities in the West, the fuel madness is everywhere.

SA TURD AY SATURD TURDA

Nigeria will never be the same for me without you

Ibori emotional about Alamieyeseigha who goes home

By Chief James Onanefe Ibori

D

SP, I write this with a mixture of a heavy heart and compelling sense of pride.

Even as I mourn, I find comfort in the love, admiration, reverence and even veneration that have gushed out for you from all parts of Bayelsa, the entire Ijaw nation, and beyond, despite the political persecution and orchestrated disinformation that culminated in the public hysteria against you.

You can imagine the mixture of emotions running through me as I write this. How can I possibly tell your story? Where should I start? It seemed like yesterday when we took over the reins of power from the military administrators in our respective states; Delta and Bayelsa.

How can I ever forget the role you played in resolving the chaos and disorder in both states in 1999? Youth militancy, occasioned by deep resentment of the Federal Government’s political manipulation and interference in the Niger Delta, troubled both states. Unemployment, neglect, degradation of our ecosystem, oil pollution and poverty pushed our youths to convene a conference which gave birth to the Kaiama Declaration. Delta State was overwhelmed by the Ijaw/Itsekiri crisis. How can I forget what you did to sensitize the Chiefs, Press and Agadagbas to intervene positively?

You secured the peace that was essential for us to settle into governance.

I can recall my first visit to Bayelsa State after the inception of democratic rule; it was a forgotten state with one road from the East-West Highway to Yenegoa and no more. We went everywhere by boat. Fast forward to two years later; you had transformed the state capital and the neighbouring towns and had by then started your fast-tracked development; establishing schools, notably the Niger-Delta University, sending Balyesans to universities and vocational schools abroad on scholarship, etc. You provided stable power supply as Bayelsa was not on the National Grid. You actually integrated Baleysa into the Nigerian State and made it part of the modern world. How can we ever forget that?

You rose like a phoenix from the ashes of political discontent and discord to bestride Bayelsa’s politics like a colossus. Your people’s love for you was displayed on your return from London in November 2005. The entire state was agog with joy not because every Bayelsan agreed with your politics but because most Bayelsans believed your travails were triggered by your commitment to their cause. Naturally, you had your ardent supporters as well as adversaries; yet, you rode into Yenegoa triumphantly. That was a memorable day in Bayelsa’s history.

C M Y K

•Chief James Onanefe Ibori Your enraged traducers sent a heavy deployment of troops to Government House, Yenegoa on a “kidnap or kill mission”. The rest is now history. How can we ever forget that part of our national history?

You languished in jail having been slammed with spurious charges which you vehemently denied till you drew your last breath. As your health deteriorated, concerns were expressed at the highest level of Nigeria’s political administration. Emissaries were sent to plead with you to see reason and end the ‘torture’ by pleading guilty; an overture you resisted until one of our illustrious sons was dispatched to you in Lagos to assure you of the government’s intention to pardon you after your guilty plea. DSP, you know I have the credentials to testify to this fact.

Oh, how can we forget your address in court on the fateful day you pleaded guilty?

I have recalled your travails to remind your family that you died in action, and to reassure the Ijaws that you more than earned your title; Ijaw nation’s Governor-General. You also earned your epaulets as “General”. You led the battle from the front like Kings of Medieval Europe. You died from injuries sustained in battle. You are our martyr!

Your spirit stoutly opposed injustice and tyranny. And in 2005 when Nigeria was under the grip of a budding tyrant, you felt that injustice must be confronted and that a society that cowers before tyrants is unworthy of freedom. How

can we forget how furious you were when Odi was demolished - with youth militancy as a justification? And when a state of emergency was imposed in Plateau State, you publicly condemned it as an unconstitutional act of rascality.

DSP, the events that led to your death climaxed well before your orchestrated arrest. The year was 2005 and the event was the National Constitutional Conference. The Federal Government convened a ruse in the name of a conference and appointed one of our illustrious sons, a former Justice of the Supreme Court, as its chairman. Unbeknown to the man, the confab’s outcome had already been predetermined in a document containing the final resolutions – though the confab was just starting. The document was handed over to the jurist; he rejected it and threatened to resign. When he emerged from Aso Rock, he immediately called on you for debriefing, after which he came over to see me.

As was usual of you, you immediately summoned a meeting of the Niger-Delta delegates at Oghara, after they staged a walk-out from that confab. You articulated the position of the Niger Delta; to insist on derivation principle of not less than 25% graduated to 50% in five years. You also advised them to coordinate the southern states in opposing any attempt to ride on the back of our demand for true fiscal federalism to impose a six-year single tenure as contained in that rogue report. The Niger Delta delegates led the assault against the single tenure proposal; the real agenda of the conference conveners.

DSP, you had promised to release your memoirs, but could not do so before you were killed. We shall work with your family to ensure its timely publication in order to do justice to your contributions to the Niger-Delta/ Nigerian debate. Unfortunately, many Nigerians who joined the public hysteria against you were victims of media manipulation. I’ll only remind them and their manipulators, of the French writer, Emile Zola’s words: “It is a crime to lie to the public, to twist public opinion to insane lengths in the service of the vilest death-dealing machinations.”

To the Ijaw people, I say thanks for the immense honour poured out for our leader, who fell in battle. Such apotheosis is given only to the truly great. DSP, the Ijaws and Niger Deltans salute you. We will honour you forever because we affirm you as our true leader who became a victim of a political “witch-hunt”. In 17th century medieval England, one Mr. Mathew Hopkins styled himself as “witch-finder General”. What an irony; the biblical Mathew was an ardent and devoted Christ-follower. Just like in 21st century Nigeria when political foes were victims of a witch-hunt,

Vanguard, APRIL 9, 2016—17

Mathew Hopkins hounded the innocent, the weak, the clergy and political opponents, exploiting the fear of naïve Englishmen and dispatched his victims to the gallows under the guise of cleansing England of witches. He earned notoriety in the process but earned money as well. Suspected witches (and several social, political and even religious opponents too) were so maliciously charged and tortured until they were either forced to confess or they died.

Either way a person had no way of proving his innocence. One unfailing method then was the floating test: a suspect was tied to a chair and set afloat on water. If the person floated, he or she would be burnt as a witch, if the suspect sank and drowned, too bad. In the Nigerian witch-hunt at the turn of the millennium, a politician would be held in custody until a guilty plea is secured or he died in custody. DSP, you were a double victim; they forced you to plead guilty, yet, the medical complications arising from the years of physical, psychological and mental torture killed you.

Even as I carry my own cross, I can never forget what you stood for. Those who knew the real you and the reason for your “death” will strive to wipe the dust of unsubstantiated blame off your gravestone and leave your name free from the undeserved dirt thrown by mudslingers, even as we wait in the unfailing hope that one day the truth about your travails would emerge. As Zola said in that newspaper article (J’Accuse) of Thursday, Jan. 13, 1898, “As for myself, I have not despaired in the least, of the triumph of right. I repeat with the most vehement conviction: truth is on the march, and nothing will stop it. Today … the positions have become clear: on one side, those who are guilty, who do not want the light to shine forth; on the other, those who seek justice and who will give their lives to attain it. I said it before and I repeat it now; when truth is buried underground, it grows and it builds up so much force that the day it explodes it blasts everything with it.”

DSP, time, the acid test of values, will affirm you a true leader who made invaluable sacrifices, including the supreme sacrifice, on behalf of your people. Time too will expose those who ganged up against you, framed and hounded you to death.

A few weeks before your death, we had our last earthly conversation.

Despite your travails and failing health, you were only concerned about the South-South. You said “Odidigboigbo, I eagerly await your return so that we can begin the great task of re-uniting our people so they could speak with one voice”. DSP, when I return, Nigeria will never be the same for me without you.

Enemies of our people, enemies of true democracy which accommodates strong, courageous, vibrant and viable voices have actually done their worst; they have “murdered” you.

My condolences go to your wife, Her Excellency Mrs. Margaret Alamieyeseigha, and your children; Ayibatonye Gideon, Enetombra, Ebipadei, Emebelakpo, Saleaka and Oyinkari “Bayo-o”, DSP, “Mala’muke on parade”. Bayo-o, fellow bearer of the Niger-Deltan cross, and victim of political witch-hunt. “Bayo-o”, great navigator in the stormy waters of Nigerian politics - you broke the waves, paid with your life but found devotion in the crew you left behind. Our people will surely find the shores for your life will be their guiding compass.

This is not the end, my friend. The prize we sought will still be won. Rest in Peace; great “General”.

Signed: Chief James Onanefe Ibori.

(Confirmed by Tony Eluemunor, Chief James O. Ibori’s Media Assistant.

08023125569)

18—SA TURD AY Vanguard , APRIL 9, 2016 18—SATURD TURDA My compliments to Solomon Dalung, the Honourable Minister of Sports.His is a truly “goodly heritage”, as the Holy Bible might have called it.

Football, especially at the seat where he is called upon to inhabit at the moment, has had several colourful and successful occupants and most of them did not have a notable connection with the game, sports generally before their arrival either. In fact, I have often wondered if he came in through his military background as his red or maroon beret, sported on his newspaper photographs, seem to suggest.

But he has demonstrated a forthright acumen and wisdom, like his biblical namesake, in his outright rejection of the suggestion of Amaju Pinnick, the Nigerian Football Federation chairman, to appoint a foreign coach for the Super Eagles. We have had many foreign coaches for our national team. Even from the time they were known as The Green Eagles; they became “Super ” when Augustus Aikhomo, who was the “Vice President” to Ibrahim Babangida as the “President, re-named them after Maroc ’88. But that only shows how important football was to us as a national pastime, more than just a game, was to us in the past.

One of them has just shown some interest in the vacancy we now seem to be nursing in the position of our national coach— a situation which should not have occurred if we knew our onions. After all, we sacked the former coach ourselves and should have prepared for the

contract arrangement with the club to which he was just going to join.

The man asked him not to play in the first match which was against Belgium. But the team, every member of them, refused. They simply went ahead, chose their team, and won. And that was how they went on to win the trophy, defeating both Argentina and Brazil, the favourite teams, to claim the palm.

The finals of the World Cup in Paris were hardly different. The coach, Bora Milutonovic had watched us defeat Spain in amazement.

Obviously, he had under-estimated his own team. Everybody was amazed. But the coach was to destroy the team. He dropped Mobi Oparaku from the right full back position and moved our most hard working midfielder Mutiu Adepoju to the full back position. In fact, Segun Odegbami, a former captain of the Eagles and an accepted guru travelled to the camp, which was some distance from Paris, to plead with him to retain the structure of the team. Imagine our dismay when we got to the stadium for the next match. He had destroyed the structure of the team. At least two of the players were new players. He made sure that we lost! His changes destroyed our team. We lost the fire we had against Spain in subsequent matches and he stuck to his error. That is a foreign coach for you.

One could go on and on about the perfidy of expatriate coaches. What we need to do is to train our own coaches, which was a policy of the NFF. There are a few of them still around, and they may not win the next World Cup for us. But we would have started, or continued, a foundation for the establishment of a sound tradition of our own coaches, for our own teams. That is a resilient strand of the fabric of our soccer development.

*a necessary strand of development vacancy. But we seem to have been our quartered hotel of female visitors. working towards that event—and He therefore ordered that our team should move to another hotel for which shame on us if that is actually true.

The expatriate coach who is openly he had paid. But the team refused to showing an interest in the job is leave in open defiance of the coach. Our Clement Westerhof, well known for next match, which was against Italy, was leading the Eagles to what is perhaps almost a give-away, as our team clearly the most glorious World Cup effort we lacked concentration and lost to a team have made up till now. If we were to they could have taken to the beaten if mislead ourselves into thinking that they had concentration. Westerhof left in we should ever employ a foreign coach, a huff! And his kinsman took over.

But he was not half the coach that I would have been rooting for him. He was, first of all, very sincere as a human Clement was. He demonstrated this in being, beyond just being a coach. He many ways. He clearly showed how was totally absorbed in his work. That devoted he was to his team when I asked him what he thought our must be why Aikhomo was chances were against his given to listening to him on own national team, which every occasion. So was I too. was in the same Olympic (I ought to add that I was, at Games with our team. As the this time, the chairman of the coach, his answer would Technical Committee of the NFA, a more onerous task We sacked the have been expected to express some confidence in than you would have former coach his own handiwork, But, you imagined.) ourselves and wouldn’t believe it, this man On the other hand, I could showed a measure of pique should have hardly stand his at the very idea! But that was replacement, Bonfrere Jo, prepared for the only Olympic Games another Dutch, Who Football medal we ever won. the vacancy shamelessly took over when Westherhof withdrew from But just in case you feel he should his post in protest against indiscipline take some credit for the success, I have in the team. It was an incident that cost to inform you that he was a passenger us a possible chance in the semi-final most of the game. Kanu Nwakwo, the of the World Cup in 1994 in USA. Our team captain was late to arrive in camp coach had discovered that there was because he was delayed by his an unhealthy increase in the wing of

Time out.

loopholes in the present PDP strategy were exposed. The man could not imagine an Oshiomhole proxy holding the fort in Edo State for another four years!

Political Editor

Weighty options in Edo iven the particular landmarks of G the outgoing governor of Edo State,

Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, it is not surprising that there is much trepidation among political stakeholders on the choice of his successor. Remarkably, the two major political parties through their leaders have produced Pastor Osaze IzeIyamu, PDP and Godwin Obaseki APC as the frontrunners. Not only because of their reach, but also because they are backed by the party leaders. The emergence of the two men and the about two dozen others still in the race has, however, not satisfied some key stakeholders leading to growing agitation for more options.

In the last week, two separate delegations were said to have met Gen. Samuel Ogbemudia challenging him to bring out the men he claimed to have been nurturing as a successor to Oshiomhole.

Ogbemudia it would be recalled had in the past claimed that his Edo Mass Movement, EMM would play a decisive role in the emergence of Oshiomhole’s successor. One of the delegations it was learnt asked him C M Y K

to bring out the candidate he had claimed to be incubating in the face of what they claim as their dissatisfaction with the options on ground.

However, the resort to Ogbemudia is puzzling in the eyes of many given the former governor’s earlier stance to support whosoever Oshiomhole endorses. Well, given the fact that Oshiomhole is yet to publicly endorse anyone, including the famed financial engineer, Obaseki, insinuations of a change of tact in the APC state leadership remains on the cards.

Even in the PDP, the story is not different. Though many party chieftains had until now considered pastor as the best bulwark against Oshiomhole’s succession agenda; especially given his network and history in delivering winners in the past four governorship elections in the state, pastor may still have some work to do.

The story is told of how one patron of his campaign who has been repeatedly bashed by the Oshiomhole government nearly collapsed this week when

The devil is in the detail President Muhammadu Buhari’s hesitance to give immediate assent to the 2016 budget as passed by the National Assembly was acknowledged to be on account of fears that the budget details that were said to be coming later could contain inputs that could bind him to implement what he does not like.

The debate that followed saw legislators assert that the president has no role in budget making after tabling his proposal. Purveyors of that claim, however, forget the fact that the constitution also gives the president the right to veto whatsoever is passed; and also, the right to expend up to half of the budget up to half of the year. Even more, the hesitance flowed from experiences in the past when bills passed by the National Assembly were tampered with by either legislators, presidency officials and sometimes, by both parties acting in collaboration.

One of the most famous cases was in 2001 when Section 80 of the Electoral Act as passed by the two chambers of the National Assembly was mutilated reportedly by some legislators and the then president.

The most recent example of such tampering was the

Constitution Alteration Act passed by the 7th National Assembly. President Goodluck Jonathan had claimed in his last days in office that he would veto it, an assertion that was immediately debunked by the National Assembly, which claimed that the president had already signed it.

The request by the Senator Ike Ekweremadu led Constitution Review Committee on Dr. Jonathan to return the original copy as prepared and presented by the National Assembly was not complied with even up till Dr. Jonathan’s exit from power.

Osoba’s option Not all has been revealed as to the reasons for Aremo Segun Osoba’s return to the All Progressives Congress, APC last Sunday. Whereas some may have wrongly claimed it was an effort by the former journalist and governor to seek relevance, other sources familiar with the development, however, paint a picture to the contrary. Aremo, such sources claim, is not hungry, a claim buttressed by the fact that the APC Southwest leadership came to him and not the other way.

Even more pivotal for the return of Osoba to the APC leadership it was learnt was the desire to give his followers in Ogun State a platform to pursue their political aspirations, especially given the fact that the Social Democratic Party, SDP to which they had gone has been seriously smeared by recent revelations of cash handouts from the PDP.

SATURDAY Vanguard Vanguard,, APRIL 9, 2016 —

I

missed my interview with President Sadat of Egypt by a whisker in 1978. About two days before the appointed time, his handlers got in touch to say the interview could no longer hold because a crew from the BBC had just turned up for the same purpose. My plea that mine should be rescheduled was explained away by their fear of over exposure. I was eventually compensated with the late Dr Boutrous Ghali, their Foreign Minister who later became the U.N. Secretary General. I was disappointed and indignant. I didn’t understand— and I still don’t—why an African Head of State would prefer a foreign journalist (European) to a local journalist (African) especially since I did not think, at the risk of sounding immodest, that they were better at conducting interviews than I was. It however made me to appreciate the few leaders who gave me interviews.

So you can imagine how I feel when my own dear President shows a preference for foreign press and goes to Europe to give interviews that can easily be given here; or make statements that should be for local consumption. I can maybe understand if he wants to address a global audience. But to hear on CNN that the much awaited budget has not been signed and will not be signed soon is a bit disrespectful of Nigerians. We all know how important the budget is in a country where government controls the purse strings. That it has inched into April is in itself a cause for concern because of the attendant hardship and uncertainties. The business community which includes even the pepper sellers greeted the news that it had been sent to the presidency for assent with relief. Only for the President to say he was in no hurry to sign. And he had to wait until he got to America to say it! If the reason adduced is tenable, the venue and the medium are certainly not. And in one short statement in a foreign land to a global audience, he cast aspersions on the National Assembly, the civil servants and almost anybody who had a hand in the preparation of the budget by raising the spectre of

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Please talk to us

budget padding. Somebody should please tell him that these bad portrayals of Nigerians as incompetent and fraudulent are bad public relations for a country that is actively looking for foreign investors. If we must wash our dirty linen, then let it be at home.

I hate to think Mr President is still contemptuous and distrustful of the Nigerian press after all these years. Because if he is not then it should not be too hard to find credible and

Generally, I find information management in this administration to be a bit sub-standard. In all my years in this business, I have never seen a corporate spokesman expose the underbelly of its organisation the way the APC’s deputy spokesman has done recently. It was unprofessional and disrespectful. One can only hope it is not a reflection of the administration itself. Right now, the perception of the government as insensitive, and illprepared for the hard tasks ahead is gaining ground and nobody is doing

experienced journalists he can do one-on-one interviews with from time to time, where he can bare his mind on sensitive and topical issues. If he thinks the foreign press is more patriotic and less partisan, then he needs to be educated. I also hate to think the President is one of those leaders who believe the colour of

much to change that perception.

The government needs a clear and co-ordinated effort to work We need on and explain what it is doing on the things that are somebody dear to us; things like who has the security—and I am talking more about kidnappings, compass to murders and the invasion of than about Boko lead us out of herdsmen Haram—-money supply, the quagmire fuel supply, employment and power to mention a few.

We need an economic road map and the skin confers wisdom, honesty time-table. We need somebody to tell and altruism because it does not. us consistently, what roles are expected It should be clear to all by now of us in our search for economic that Africa will have to solve its recovery. For example, the government problems by itself. It’s a bit hinges our recovery on solid minerals, hypocritical to ask us to look agriculture and power. Now, what inwards if you are going to be opportunities exist for me in solid talking to us from outside minerals if I want to be a bit—part because you do not trust your player? Or medium player? Or if I own local press.

t is another season of Mother ’s Day. Some have celebrated Mother ’s Day; others are celebrating I tomorrow and some others in the weeks to come. I

say Happy Mother ’s Day to all Mothers. Today, as always, we remember your love, your sacrifices, your toils and your pains. We cannot repay you for all you have done and gone through for us, but we honour you, we celebrate you and thank God for your gift.

Mothers are the foundation of most stable families and stable families are the foundation of a stable society. That is partly why women are called nation builders. Consequently, our mothers have enormous tasks at hand.

Currently Nigeria is grappling with a myriad of problems, 99.9 per cent selfinflicted. We have leadership challenges and I have always believed that it starts from the home. Many of our leaders had defective upbringing.

They never outgrew these defects and today, we are all bearing the brunt of their defective moral foundations.

Many armed robbers, after being arrested, regale us with stories of coming from broken homes, losing their mothers at an early age, running away from home as early as age 11 and being maltreated by stepmothers. So, social deviants also have defective upbringing.

Today, many Nigerians are wanting in either character or learning or both.

They are there in government, civil service and private offices; some are doctors, nurses, mechanics, drivers, traders, artisans, business moguls and trained professionals.

While environmental factors no doubt contributed, many of them have very poor moral backgrounds. This goes beyond having a good mother (or parents); the mother (parents) must impart good morals in the children, especially in the early stages.

But what makes our current situation scary is that our women have been C M Y K

Happy Mother’s Day sucked into the cesspit of societal degeneration. A friend’s wife was hospitalized at a federal medical facility. He was told to deposit some money, but he did not have cash and it was in the night. He asked for their POS to enable him pay with his debit card and got a rude shock: “We no dey use POS here. Our madam (medical director) dey retire soon and she dey find money.” Just in case you do not understand, the woman is retiring soon and wants to cart away as much of our commonwealth as possible and the cash floating within the system is easier to steal than the ones in the bank; internal records are easier to doctor or destroy.

Isn’t it repulsive that such a federal institution does not have POS at a time even petty traders have POS, just because somebody wants to steal money with ease? By the way what happened to the Treasury Single Account (TSA)? Are federal hospitals excluded?

When I hear such stories, I really get depressed. If the nation builders, in a nation in dire need of building, have joined the men in destroying the nation, as we have seen in stories flying around, then we are in deep

trouble. I grew up to meet policemen taking bribe, but I never saw policewomen do it, even though they were few policewomen then, but now some of these woman are even more brazen than men. When I see those of them with wedding rings, I mutter to myself, “So, this one too na somebody mama?” What kind of morals are they going to impart in their children?

As you celebrate Mother ’s Day, the other scourge of concern threatening today ’s families and marriages is divorce. Divorce happens for diverse reasons, but mothers, especially Christian mothers, need to think deeply because divorce is like sh*t put in a fan: when the fan blades start rotating, everybody around gets a piece of it. I have said it before; I cannot encourage any woman whose life is endangered to stay back in a marriage. Physical and mental abuses are also hard to swallow.

Also if your husband really wants out, there is very little you can do.

But many of the divorces result from impatience, intolerance, immaturity and other flimsy excuses. If your mothers had abandoned their marriages the way some of you are doing now, would you have had the privilege of growing up in a stable family setup? Why don’t you hang around, work things out with your spouse, so that your own children can have the privilege of growing up in a stable home. I accept it takes both

19

choose to be a big player either alone or with foreign investors? Which solid minerals need a low entry level and which ones don’t? We can say the same thing about agriculture. What sort of soil do I need to grow tomatoes or maize? What sort of climate? What do I do with what is termed as wastes, and are there really wastes? It is said of the palm tree for example, that every part is useful. The same thing with the coconut tree. How do I know of the many plants and fruits that are so endowed? Where can I get information that will help me determine my entry level? What are the challenges of marketing and how do I overcome them?

If we all must go back to the farm, then information is critical. And I am not talking of isolated, off the cuff comments and speeches. It is often said of mass communication that no matter how many times you say something, someone is going to hear of it for the first time. So a concerted and organised information dissemination is required. I really do think that weekly radio and television programmes on the opportunities and challenges of agriculture and solid minerals in addition to jingles and easily available help lines will go a long way in keeping people informed.

Please talk to us; not just that you are aware of our challenges— although that is important—but what you are doing to ameliorate our suffering. Please do not be vague.

Electioneering season is over. And don’t tell us of the 16 years of PDP misrule. We already know that. That was why we voted for you and your promises of change. Besides, we are getting tired of this PDP alibi for inaction. We also know there are no easy choices after we have been led astray on several fronts by previous administrations. But we need somebody who has the compass to lead us out of the quagmire.

Please let us know if you are whom we seek or if we need to look for another.

spouses to make a marriage work, but have you fulfilled your own part of the bargain? The strategic position wives occupy in the family can never be overemphasized. Women really need to think deeply before they take any decision that can jeopardize this foundation.

Families need regeneration and women champion it very well.

Presidents and leaders of women organizations, both religious and secular, should take the lead. You are like the biblical salt of the earth and light of the world; let your light shine and show your followers the way. Let your light be on the lamp stand to provide better illumination. Let your salt add taste to family life and make it more meaningful. Both light and salt are change agents. Bring positive changes to family life. Salt is also a preservative. Come and help preserve our illustrious and much cherished family, cultural and religious values.

Our mothers of old worked hard to support their husbands, but also maintained a firm grip of the home front, including proper upbringing of children. Today ’s women work to support their spouses, but many have ceded the home front to nannies and other caregivers. They need to strike a balance. Both responsibilities are important, but the future (of our children) cannot be sacrificed for the present (family upkeep).

Let us also get our priorities right; away with aimless feminism that has no bearing on our cultural and religious values. Gender equity or equality is not about destroying what is right with us; it is about straightening our crooked paths and smoothening the rough edges. I wish our dearly beloved mothers a fruitful Mother’s Day celebration.

20—SATURDAY

Vanguard, APRIL 9, 2016

•El- Rufai

El- Rufai and his ‘chains of freedom’ E

l- Rufai left many marks on the FCT. Good and ugly marks. He stamped professionalism and order on the city. And rescued it from the rot and madness that explosive urban drift has inflicted on many Nigerian cities. Or didn’t he?

Because tales of lack of empathy and implacable insensitivity follow every of his footstep. Those who see him as a callous hypocrite think that any action that deepens the misery of the poor in the name of quest for excellence is cruel. And many think that he suffers a detachment from the grim complexity of the harsh realities of the ordinary man. Double standards means that rules are rigid when dealing with the weak , the powerful get their waivers and concessions at night. So a sanctimonious ElRufai would allocate lands to friends and relatives while bulldozing livelihoods in the name of restoration of order . Yet the tragedy is that El-Rufai is one of our best politicians. Poor us.

Equity perhaps has no chance where pretentious, elitist, glory seeking , ruthlessness masquerades nurse penchant for rectitude. So El-Rufai must always be watched.

El- Rufai, the governor, has taken restoration of order to Kaduna. He is worried about radicalization, religious harmony and abuse of public space.

Kaduna has a significant minority Christian population that grumbles about perpetual marginalization. The Shiites, a minority Islamic sect, contribute to the tempestuous diversity. The state is considered particularly inflammable. Religious uprising in Nigeria is a northern phenomenon . A certain endemic hypersensitivity to

C M Y K

Muslim population in the north yearns for the puritanism of sharia rule, Islamic sects other than the predominant Sunni are barely tolerated

religious provocations makes the region easily combustible. The majority Muslim population in the north yearns for the puritanism of sharia rule. Islamic sects other than the predominant Sunni are barely tolerated. The northern Christians have been hardened by adversity and paranoia. For minorities, censorship portends doom.

If El- Rufai is desirous of pursuing religious harmony he must understand the scope and character of the mischief his proposed law seeks to cure. And his encroachment on existing freedoms must be the least intrusive needed to achieve a legitimate aim in public safety.

He wants to resurrect a dead 1984 law. He should find out why Lagos with more Muslims , Christians and chaos than Kaduna is not prone to the religious upheavals prevalent in northern Nigeria. He must find out why there are never religious disturbances in a religiously complex Ibadan. There is freedom in the south west. The northern elite have for so long exploited their people. They have held them bound with the chords of religion, poverty and illiteracy.

They have radicalized the poor for vote gathering reasons. They have emphasized otherness.

They have flirted with fundamentalism. Religion has been the fulcrum of perennial shortsighted self-serving political engineering. They sowed all the tension.

El- Rufai and other northern elites should re-orientate the people. When cartoons are published in Denmark no violence erupts in Lagos but northern cities will convulse. No one of note speaks against such self-destructive intolerance.

When Isioma Daniel was accused of blasphemy, the deputy governor of Zamfara took it upon himself to sentence her to death. That was his idea of piety. Self righteous political opportunist. When Gideon Akaluka was beheaded for alleged desecration of the Koran, he was seized from police custody. No one told that throng of fanatics that they committed murder. The elites feed the masses with fanaticism. And the tone is not set by Imams but by politicians like Yerima. Akaluka would have lived if he resided in Lagos or Ibadan. Not because the Muslims in Lagos are less pious but because they are more tolerant, more conscious of our secularity and the supremacy of the constitution. The politicians in the south west are no saints but they do not use religion to keep their people in servitude.

Irresponsible religious activities can constitute infernal nuisance, everywhere. I feel great pain when my church occasions atrocious traffic snarls on Lagos Ibadan express way. I detest the church near my house despite their soul stirring songs. An anthill church with loud speakers may cause discomfort to the city.

Many would find living next to that church hellish. Societal order and quality of life can be enhanced by enforcing rules against public nuisance. These rules already exist. El Rufai’s haste to introduce a bill that has potentially serious implications, without exhaustive consultations, invites concern. El Rufai wants to stifle freedom.

He wants churches and mosques registered. He wants new ones to seek prior approvals.

He wants visiting preachers to obtain permits. On the surface, laws, all laws, are objective and neutral. But laws are actually tools in the hands of the powerful to protect their interests. Licenses and permits could prove dangerous filters and obstacles.

New entrants , always initially deviants, will be stopped. CAN and JNI will be vested with tyrannical powers to decide authenticity. Is T. B Joshua part of CAN? JNI is controlled by Sunnis. The state government clandestinely appropriates the power to excommunicate an unwanted group. Pentecostalism is perceived as the main culprit of proliferation of worship centers. Pentecostalism is responsible for the most aggressive forms of evangelism which involves great mobility of preachers. The Shiites and others at the fringes will suffer too. A perfectionism that ultimately privileges sharia rule is afoot? If a religious message is perverse it should be countered with sound reason not clubs. If it constitutes a criminal infraction then violators should be prosecuted. The constitution protects freedom of conscience and religion. El Rufai has no powers to authenticate any religion, any sermon.

Hisbah, sharia police, have been allowed to regulate social conducts in many parts of that region. That is the mother of all nuisance. The north pants for sharia rule . Any attempt to bring church growth under the control of northern governments, under any guise, is dangerous for anxiety wracked Christianity in that region. El- Rufai claims other states are keen to follow his foot steps. One must then wonder what will happen in Zamfara

where fatwas can come from the government house. It is not the insufficiency of law that is responsible for that Kaduna state’s chronic helplessness at the menace of a certain sect. Boko haram did not sprout and proliferate because Yusuf and Shekau weren’t denied licenses.

Boko haram fed on the diet of extremism that Zamfara and others prepared. It was incubated by selfish power hungry politicians. It’s launch pad was the disregard for the constitution that those who sought to use sharia for political gains engineered. It harvested minds breastfed on religious fundamentalism and left jobless by very religious politicians.

T

he plan to ban use of loud speakers in open grounds after 8 pm may seem innocuous.

It’s good for restful sleep. But if a law is made to prohibit use of loud speakers before 6am in Kano you need no fortune teller to tell the effect it would have on Muslims and their prayer calls.

No governor, no law, can prohibit that in the north. And that is why though Muslims appear worried , Christians should be troubled.

This ban will only take out Christian night vigils even in remote locations. Christians must fear because no government in the north can hamper Islam without severe political consequences. Fears that the law will be selectively applied are therefore genuine.

The bill seeks to criminalize desecration of holy books and symbols. The faiths of others should be respected . However ,the import of that law is lost on no one. When Bibles are burnt no one fits. When public figures tweet abominations about Jesus and Mary Magdalene , no riots are sparked. When Ogun worshippers and gods are freely disparaged no one really bristles.

They are called heathens. The society will be better without these provocations. But we know why Akaluka was murdered. This law would have not saved him from the jungle justice of religious extremism. This law panders to the hypersensitivity of a certain group. The society must learn the sort of tolerance due 2016 .

Special laws to cater for the idiosyncrasies of a certain group undermines true cohesion and freedom in a potentially fractious state.

And the bill hands jurisdiction to sharia and customary courts.

Again it looks so even. But it assumes that a customary court is a Christian court or a court for all others except Muslims. Then you have to wonder what cases the sharia court will handle. A case of an Imam doing the will of Allah which perhaps contravenes this secular law?

And the sharia court is supposed to find him guilty for preaching Islam without worldly license?

But the sharia court considers the Koran as Grundnorm, supreme.

And how would sects other than Sunni fare in these courts. Since the customary court is not vulnerable to any religious bias then Christians and others are really in trouble. The customary court is not subservient to the Bible. If it were , it wouldn’t find any pastor guilty for preaching the Word without El-Rufai’s permission.

El-Rufai’s poorly drafted bill is at best a recipe for commotion.

SATURDAY

Vanguard , APRIL 9, 2016—21

Anxiety in Aba as kidnappers, armed robbers return •Ikpeazu donates vehicles to Police

act.

In another incident, gunmen also shot dead a police officer identified as Joseph Otiegbe in Aba. Otiegbe, a Deputy Superintendent of Police, DSP, was killed at a restaurant at about 8pm along Park road area of the city.

He was said to have got a call to meet with an unknown person at the area, unaware that death laid in wait for him as the gunmen shot him at close range. He died before he could receive medical attention.

•Suspected kidnappers arrested at a hotel on the outskirts of Aba

BY UGOCHUKWU ALARIBE ABA- For those who witnessed the kidnapping incidents which swept through Aba, Abia State between 2009 and 2010, it was an experience no one would like to relive. Then Aba, the commercial nerve centre of the state became a ghost town as a gang of hoodlums led by the dread Obioma Nwankwo a.k.a ‘Osisikankwu’, laid siege on the city.

Many people who were seized by the kidnappers lost their lives while others paid ransom before regaining freedom. Businesses were shut down as there was a great exodus from the city, people continued relocating to safer areas until the federal intervention which addressed the situation.

Recently, the city is gradually returning to the old days of kidnapping. In the last two months, not less than 20 persons have fallen victim to kidnapping gangs in Aba. The kidnappers appeared to have upped their game as they now throng the city centre in commando style in broad day light, seize victims and escape. Worst hit by the kidnapping menace are areas such as Obohia, Port Harcourt, Ohanku, Osusu, Uratta and Omuma roads where bad road have made it difficult for security agents to effectively patrol the areas. In a bid to tackle the menace, the state government had banned the operation of tricycles from 7pm to 6am, but the problem is yet to abate.

Since January 2016, the kidnappers had devised a means of escaping with their victims without confrontation with the security agents. Some of the victims include former Chairman of the Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, Aba Branch, Sir Chidozie Ogunji, proprietor of Nazareth Hospital, Dr. Chuks Kamalu; a popular dealer on electronics identified as ‘Asaa’, among C M Y K

•The Rifle recovered from suspects others. It was gathered that Ogunji shot while driving into the gate of his residence, is yet to recover even as the gunmen took away his Toyota Corolla vehicle and other valuables, leaving him in a pool of his own blood.

A week ago, the wife of the son of a leading monarch in Obingwa council area was abducted and later released by kidnappers. On 2nd April, 2016, a former chairman of a local government council in Abia State said he almost aborted his journey to Aba for an event organized by the National Association of Seadogs when he learnt that two persons had earlier in the day, been kidnapped by gunmen in the city.

A family relation of one of the victims who did not want his name on print told Crime Alert the kidnappers inflicted several injuries on his brother as he was only released when ransom was paid.

SAFE HAVEN On several occasions, the kidnappers appeared to have found a safe haven between Azikiwe road and Christ the King Catholic Church, CKC, Asa road as they usually throng the area to abduct victims before making their escape. They have also perfected the art of abducting their

victims without firing a single shot which could attract security agents. It was also gathered that the kidnappers had abducted more victims from the Azikiwe road/ CKC axis than any other area.

GUNMEN KILL MONARCH, POLICE OFFICERS The police in the state lost two of their men attached to the Ogbor Hill Division who were killed by gunmen while responding to a distress call from residents of the area. Other members of the police team sustained various injuries.

Recently, a traditional ruler, Eze James Nwabeke of Ikeala Ahiaba autonomous community in Obingwa council area of Abia State, was murdered in his residence.

The body of the late monarch was said to have been severally mutilated by the gunmen while his wife and daughter in law, were also inflicted with heavy machete injuries. While on a condolence visit to the slain monarch’s family, Commissioner of Police, Habila Joshak, described the incident as unfortunate and assured the family that they (police) would stop at nothing in unmasking those behind the dastardly

CIVIL SOCIETY GROUPS LAMENT Reacting to the resurgence of kidnapping and other violent crimes in Aba, civil society organizations; the Foundation for Environmental Rights and Advocacy, FENRAD, and the Civil Liberties Organization, CLO, Aba Unit, had in separate statements, called on the security agencies in Aba and environs to work together in order not to allow the city return to the days of kidnapping, armed robbery and other violent crimes which made people to flee the city.

“CLO, in a statement signed by its Aba Unit chairman, Prof. Charles Chinekezi said; “These criminals are here again, they have started attacking and abducting people. As a human right and civil society group, we have a duty to alert the authorities on the increasing crime rate in Aba and environs.”

“The criminals come between 9.30am and 5.30pm. They have abducted many businessmen, medical doctors, lawyers and politicians.

Security agencies should re-strategize to curtail the re-emergence of violent crimes like kidnapping and armed robbery.”

POLICE NAB KIDNAPPERS AT A LOCAL HOTEL, FOIL ATTEMPT TO ABDUCT BUSINESSMAN Operatives of the monitoring unit of the Abia State Police Command have arrested four suspected kidnappers and armed robbers.

Abia state Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Ezekiel Onyeke, told Crime Alert that the operatives recovered a light assault rifle , LAR, from the suspects following a tip off that some men strongly suspected to be armed robbers/and kidnappers were lodged at a hotel located at Umunkama Village, Ugwunagbor on the outskirts of Aba. The arrested suspects include; Sunday Onuoha, and Godswill Onwukwe, both of Bende council area of Abia State. Others are Onyekachi Samuel Olajuru and Chimezie Ezeigbo, who hail from Ebonyi State.

In another incident, the Police also foiled an attempt to kidnap a businessman along Azikiwe road.

Crime Alert gathered that the incident saw the gunmen firing sporadically while they went in search of their victim, identified as a dealer on industrial sewing machines.

They later fled the area as a team of policemen approached the area with their Armoured Personnel Carrier, APC.

22—SATURDAY

Vanguard , APRIL 9, 2016

Fatal crash:

How family of three, seven others were roasted to death in a road crash

BY ESTHER ONYEGBULA The family of Thomas Eze in Umudiale-Ohom, Orba in Udenu Local Government Area of Enugu state has been thrown into mourning following the

death of their son, Chinedu Eze, 40, a pharmacist, his wife, Chinwenma Eze, 37, and child Chidera Eze aged 3 and a maid who died in a motor accident after a truck rammed into

how the ugly incident took place. “A truck carrying logs of wood rammed into our bus after the driver moved from his lane to the other lane.

When he moved to another lane, it collided with the truck. Our bus was carrying a gallon filled with fuel. I warned the driver not to put the gallon of fuel inside the vehicle but he refused.”

Narrow escape It was learned that immediately the accident happened, •Eze’s family the bus caught fire.

The female passenger escaped from the bus. As their bus along Lagos-Benin the only survivor, she was lamenting express way at Ufosi, a boundary that she warned the driver not to put town between Ondo and Edo the gallon of fuel in the boot. It was states. the fuel that caused the explosion when the accident occurred.

Visit to American embassy Immediately the explosion occurred, It was learned that the the fuel in the boot aggravated the Pharmacist, his wife, and son died situation. The woman and the truck on their way back to their home driver who managed to escape from town after going to America the raging inferno were taken to the embassy in Lagos for visa hospital but the driver died later on interview. in the hospital.

Brother laments Lamenting, the elder brother of the deceased, Dr Divine Ogbonne told Crime Guard; “Naturally, to everything, especially humans, death is inevitable, but some deaths can actually be prevented, sometimes totally avoided; just like the death of Chinedu, his wife, son, maid and seven others who were killed in the ghastly motor accident.”

According to Dr Divine Ogbonne; “They actually came to Lagos to attend an interview at the United States of American Embassy as they wanted to go on vacation to the United States. It was on their way back to Enugu that they boarded a commercial bus in Lagos. Suddenly, a truck rammed into their bus along Lagos-Benin express way.

The 14-seater bus had only seven adult passengers and some children whose names were not written in the manifest. Four passengers were going to Onitsha including my brother and his wife. They wanted to stop at Onitsha while the other passengers were heading to Port Harcourt.”

Lone survivor’s account The only survivor in the fatal crash, a female passenger whose name could not be ascertained reportedly narrated

Aged parents devastated by their death Dr Divine Ogbonne revealed that when the news reached their aged parents, Chief Thomas, 71, and Mrs. Eze, 65, they were devastated.

“When the sad news hit our aged parents who are in the village, it was very devastating, but for God who took control, high blood pressure would have probably killed my parents. Their other children including me have been of great assistance to both of them, to help them deal with the loss of my younger brother, his wife, son, and maid.

Burial arrangement The remains of the trio will be committed to mother earth on the 16th of April 2016 in their home town in Enugu state in accordance with Christian rights.

SATURDAY

Vanguard , APRIL 9, 2016—23

Police arrest killer of Keke operators in Enugu

BY FRANCIS IGATA

E

NUGU—The Enugu State Police command has arrested the mastermind of the attack that led to the death of three tricycle operators,popularly known as Keke-Napeb, who were gruesomely murdered in uncompleted building site at Ugwuaji axis of Enugu metropolis last month. He is Nonso Chibuke The victims are Babangida Sale, Ashahabu Dauda both from Kano State and Ismahil Abdulahi from Bauchi State.

The killing had elicited public outcry as Civil Society groups charged security agencies in the state to unravel the owner of the property where the suspected ritual killing took place.

The suspect, an indigene of Otolo in Nnewi, Anambra State confessed that he relocated to Enugu from Abuja, alongside his accomplice, after they had killed five commercial motorcycle operators”.Speaking to journalists while parading him alongside other suspects at the Enugu State Police command’s headquarters, the Commissioner of Police, Nwodibo Ekechukwu, disclosed that Nonso and his

accomplice, now late, escaped after committing similar act at keffi in Nasarawa State and relocated to Enugu in early January, 2016.

The commissioner stated that the two suspects, initially engaged in crimes of killing commercial motorcycles riders in Abuja, added

that in 2014, they extended their operations to Nasarawa state and had stolen so many motorcycles mainly in Ado area of the state.

According to the CP, “Their modus operandi was to ask each tricycle operator conveying them to drop them at their purported building site, normally in a lonely place.

“They would then request the operator to carry blocks for them in the tricycle, to another location. They would hit the tricycle operator with a big iron hammer on the head repeatedly and kill him.

“This was the method used in killing their seven victims on two dates each in January and March, 2016 at various times of the day. In an instance, the head of one of the victims was shattered”, the commissioner further stated. It was equally disclosed that after killing the victim, the suspects would forge a dealer receipt to convince prospective buyers and then sell the Keke at prices ranging from N205,000 to N350,000 at Enugu and Nnewi.

Meanwhile, the Police Command also paraded car snatchers, armed robbery suspects, pipeline vandals, with assurance of its commitment to make criminals uncomfortable in the State.

ALLEGED MURDER OF IN-LAWS IN ANAMBRA:

How we were attacked by our in-laws — septugenarain

By Emma Nnadozie Following condemnations that trailed the alleged killing of two young men by their in-laws at Umueze-Anam in Anambra state during the burial ceremony of their sister, last January, an uncle to the husband of the deceased woman, Chief Young Ekwualor, has reacted alleging that their in-laws from Umuahia attacked members of their community during the burial.

In an emotion-laden voice, the octogenarian spokesman of the husband's family told Crime Guard that it was shocking that their in-laws from Umuahia in Abia state who perpetrated the atrocities during the sad event twisted the facts of the story when they were the real culprits.

Spokesman speaks Chief Ekwualor, the spokesman of the family who regretted the turn of events said: “It is outrageous, malicious and annoying for our in-laws in OhuhuUbaha village, Abia state, who killed their in-law's cousin in retaliation of the death of their daughter who died of ailment suspected to be kidney problem, to spread falsehood. Our in-law knew they were only whipping up sentiments in a case which the police has since commenced investigation. They were simply running away from being interrogated on how they killed Emmanuel Mbanefo Eziolise, the cousin of their son's in-law".

The genesis Giving a vivid account of what transpired during the burial ceremony, Chief Ekwualor stated: “Our community, Umueze-Anam, witnessed the most gruesome murder of our son, Emmanuel Mbanefo Eziolise, by the Ohuhu in-laws in Ubaha village in Umuahia, Abia state on January 23rd, 2016. In 2007, Fidelis Ofozor married Late Gloria Amaka Ofozor (nee Okorie) from Ohuhun-Ubaha village in Umuahia legitimately. In 2010, his wife took ill and the initial diagnosis showed

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kidney ailment which took them from one hospital to another for treatment.

When there was no improvement, his in-laws started suspecting spiritual attacks by witches and wizards from her husband's family as being responsible for their daughter's worsening health challenges. With this impression, they came to Port-Harcourt where the couple was living and took their daughter away to a spiritual church in the same city for cure. The husband could not resist them but advised his wife to ensure that she returned home in the evening of that day to continue her medication. While leaving their compound, his wife had only a minor swollen feet.

Ghost of her self “Unfortunately, she failed to come home that day and when the husband called her on phone, it was switched off. One week later, he received her call but her voice was too faint and he could hardly hear what she was saying. He could only hear her saying, “Honey, come and see me.” When the husband traced the spiritual church, he could not believe his eyes. It was a dilapidated church building and his wife had drastically changed colour. When he wanted to take her to the nearest hospital, his mother in-law bluntly refused saying they must see the end of the sickness there.

Tthe lady died “It was around 2am that the assistant pastor of the church called her husband to come immediately to the church to take his wife to the hospital because, for the past three days, she had not eaten anything. It was at this stage that the family of his wife allowed him to take her to the hospital but, it was too late as she gave up the ghost at the hospital gate on the 23rd of December, 2015 in the presence of both her father and mother. After her death, the husband was seriously warned by his in-laws not to tell anyone especially from their area in Umuahia that his late wife was taken to a healing home before her death.

New twist The story took a different dimension

when, suddenly, our in-laws started accusing the husband of their daughter of killing her threatening that by their tradition, they must retaliate. When there seemed to be a little respite, the burial was fixed for 23rd January at Umueze-Anam. On that day when the woman was to be laid to rest, many of our in-laws from Umuahia loaded in one bus arrived at the burial arena and started quarrelling over canopy, saying they would not share it with anybody.

When that was settled, they started complaining that the burial site was not befitting to their daughter. I tried to calm frayed nerves but it was all in vain. One of them identified as Christopher and the elder brother to the deceased was particularly uncontrollable. At a point he even tried to force open the coffin but he was overpowered by his family members. At a stage, the mother of the deceased started raining curses on all of us accusing us of being responsible for her daughter's death. Mourners including those that even came from PortHarcourt where the couple lives were not happy with the attitude of our inlaws from Umuahia.

Mayhem unleashed “As they were being cautioned, the same Christopher called the occupants of their bus filled with hefty young men numbering about 20 and fully armed with dangerous weapons such as cutlasses, axes, broken bottles etc, hidden inside the bus to disembark.

Hell was then let lose as they started destroying all the property they could see in the house of their in-law, threatening to kil him in retaliation. When one of their in-law's cousin, Emmanuel Mbanefo Eziolise, wanted to intervene, he was instantly clubbed to death by these hoodlums.

Escape from community “Immediately they noticed the gruesome murder of this young man, they entered the same bus and escaped leaving Emmanuel in a pool of blood,

while the whole place was deserted, even the grave was left half filled. Some of the young men who came with them also attacked our people. While this was going on, our people also reacted in self defence. Three of our in-laws who attacked unsuspecting villagers were later taken to the clinic in Umu-eze Anam. Two of them were identified as Seth David Okorie and Christopher David Okorie. They were taken to the clinic by members of our vigilante group before we invited the police. All the wounded persons from both sides were also taken to the main branch of the hospital in Otuocha after they have been given first aid by the combined efforts of Umueze-Anam community and members of the vigilante group. I would like to emphasis that none of our in-laws died in our community during the fracas that ensued. Those who were wounded by our people in self defence were rushed to the hospital and treated.

Incarceration “Later, our son, the husband of the deceased woman and his uncle were invited by the police at Awka, the state capital. But our in-laws from Umuahia resisted several invitations from the police in Awka. They, rather, wrote a fictitious petition to Zone 9, Umuahia where they believe they will have influence and this led to the arrest of our son, Fidelis and his uncle and up till now, they are still in detention at Abuja. Severally, our people were openly attacked at Zone 9, Umuahia by our in-laws who vowed that nobody would take them on bail from the Zone and go scot-free.

Double tragedy “Presently, our son, Fidelis has suffered double tragedy. Not did he lose his dear wife, his cousin was also murdered in cold blood by his in-laws. Now, he has been in detention for more than one month. It is therefore unjust to arrest the bereaved whose wife and cousin were murdered while the murderers are walking freely.”

24—SATURDAY Vanguard, APRIL 9, 2016

M-I-R-A-C-L-E

Obienu survives two brain surgeries, tells his chilling story performed and got everybody including Paul King on their feet.

Obienu told his story in the brochure for the day:

•Sir Barr. Nwabufo Obienugh

T

he thanksgiving service was well attended and so was the entertainment that followed at the Dome in Enugu last Saturday. Anglican Arch Bishop Emmanuel Chukwuma was there.

Reverend Davidson Udodi delivered the sermon. It was touching.

All Saints Church in Enugu was full. Professor Pat Utomi, Anambra deputy governor Nkem Okeke, Victor Umeh, the APGA chairman graced the occasion. Nigerian football legend, Emmanuel Okala and his wife attended.

Davidson Owunmi was there.

Friends Obienu said were closer than brothers were there. Vanguard’s Saturday Editor, Onochie Anibeze also attended. Nwabufo Richard Obienu was Vice Chairman of the Nigeria Football Association (NFA). He was thanking God for surviving two brain surgeries in what was certainly a miracle.

Interestingly, Dr. Paul King, the American doctor who performed the surgeries in Atlanta, Georgia was there too. With the preaching, the prayers and the choir, it was moving in the church and entertaining at the Dome where Frank Edward

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The beginning “In September 2014, I started having problems with my vision and the reading glasses offered as treatment had no effect. The problems eventually climaxed on a beautiful evening, when driving with my personal assistant, Robert Opara, and I knocked down one of four brothers walking down the road without seeing them.

When I realised what had happened, I stopped, prayed a popcorn prayer on how to handle the situation and the Holy Spirit advised me to be calm and admit my fault.

Fortunately, the young was not injured; I quickly and politely apologised for what had happened and accepted full responsibilities. I explained that I had a visual problem and the oldest one, who saw my plight, appealed to the other three to calm down as I appeared to be a gentleman. At this point I offered them money to go and take themselves out which they refused and instead advised me to take care of myself.”

Coincidence “I was really shaken but thankful to God that the potentially explosive situation was quietly handled. As the Lord had obviously planned my deliverance, on arriving at my office, my long-time friend, Dr Chijioke Onyekonwu, an ophthalmologist visited me, unaware of what had happened. On hearing the story, he advised that I come to his office the next day for a review.

“After thorough investigations, he held my folder and, close to tears, repeatedly said ‘I must tell him’. I was baffled and I asked ‘What must you tell me?’ He informed me that I had lost 60-65% of my vision and that the problem seemed to be a progressive one. He immediately booked an appointment for me in the first week of October 2014 for a consult at a well-known eye hospital in New York, strongly advising me to keep the appointment.”

Going to America; tumour

diagnosed “I therefore travelled in the first week of October to the USA. The Ebola virus disease outbreak in Nigeria with its ‘quarantine’ requirements prevented me from keeping that appointment as I was told that I needed to have been in the States for more than 21 days before I could be reviewed. A very close friend of mine, Barr. Oscar Onwudiwe (Dockington) was in America for eye surgery, and having completed twenty-one days at that time, took me to see his ophthalmologist, informing him that I had just come in from the UK and had some visual problems.

“Oscar passionately appealed to him to at least review me and following a quick examination, the doctor referred me to his colleague from Columbia University who had a practise in New York.

“Following series of tests that spanned October and most of November 2014, Dr Onyekonwu’s fears were confirmed – gradual loss of sight of unknown cause.

“I was subsequently referred to a big diagnostic centre for further investigations. At this time, I met with Dr Okonta, a Nigerian medical practitioner who was of immense help to me. A diagnosis of pituitary tumour was made after the Magnetic Resonance Imagery (MRI) test. Doctor Okonta referred me to Emory Clinic, Atlanta, USA. The estimated bill from Emory Clinic was staggering and after discussing with my wife, Olive, I realised that I needed to come back to Nigeria to source for funds.”

Back to Nigeria “I arrived Nigeria about a week to Christmas 2014. In confidence, and after giving my wife the details, I embarked on a session of prayers at 2am for 30 days. My prayer points were simple: God, my Creator, You can do one of two things according to Your plan: Heal me miraculously by speaking the word or make a way for me by providing for and taking care of the process, if I need surgery. I knew that I could not afford surgery!

“I dutifully kept the times of prayer and the prayer points. After the prayers, I noted peace in my heart, and assurance from God that He would take care of me, and in my church, All Saints Church GRA, Enugu, I responded to every altar vs. altar call between January and February 2015.

“I gathered as much money as I could which was a far cry from what had been asked for at the Emory Clinic in Atlanta. On the last Sunday of February 2014, Manifestation Sunday in our church, the guest preacher, Rev. Miracle Williams, spoke to us about the ability of God to provide and even reverse status which may seem impossible.

“A remarkable thing about the service that day was that I was not supposed to be at that service with my wife, as we were billed to travel to Abuja for the onward journey to the USA that day. After praying on the preceding Friday night, I informed my wife of the cancellation of our trip on Sunday. I would have missed that beautiful sermon that touched every member of the church present. When it came to the call for the offering which came in phases, I was battling with myself, saying that the altar call was not for me as God knew that I had need of money for my health.

“As the offering was closing, I told God I would offer to You the best of the four cars and He said ‘write the cheque’. I was the last to respond to the call. This is because the man of God continually referred to a man still battling with his God and I came up, practically the last man to do so, standing behind my wife and daughter. “After prayers, I felt a relief and a release of having obeyed God as I heard Him say clearly to me after the prayers that I had challenged Him and that I would see what He would do for me. “Everybody was asked to bring in their pledges the next day. I wrote out my cheque post-dated by two weeks, which was acceptable to the Lord. I presented myself for anointing. The man of God and my Vicar anointed me, my wife and our daughter Chinekwu and prayed for us individually and collectively. My wife and daughter dropped their pledges and, in a whisper, I explained my encounter to Rev. Dr Williams. He said ‘No problem; our God is real’. He prayed for me and then demanded that God heal me of this tumour or take care of me, which was incidentally the same line of my 30 days of prayer. He asked me to immediately walk over to my Vicar and relay my story to him. My Vicar said: ‘Who am I to question God’s arrangement?’ He anointed me, prayed in line with my 30-day prayer and committed me to God’s care. The car was sold for exactly the amount of money that I had pledged!”

Raising funds; back to America “God is a faithful God! Before our rescheduled trip I had received from three close friends forty five thousand dollars ($45,000) as their contribution to my medical trip.

Throughout my treatment, I received a total of ninety thousand

Continues on page 25

SATURDAY Vanguard, APRIL 9, 2016—25

Continues from page 24 dollars ($90,000) from friends who of their own free will called and sent money to me for my medical treatment.“My wife, son and I arrived by 8.45am at the Atlanta Medical Centre office of Dr Paul King, who was recommended by Dr Sam Erinne.

After introductions, the MRI reports from New York were handed over and he reviewed them. He came back and asked if the films presented belonged to me as I wasn’t exhibiting the typical symptoms that he expected based on the size of the tumour seen. He mentioned a number of symptoms and the only one I had was blurred vision; he said that I was really a miracle.

“He took a liking to me immediately and asked me if I believed that he could help me. I answered bluntly that when he called me the night before, and I asked my wife to google him and we discovered that he was a top flight neurosurgeon, that was when I knew that he was qualified for the Almighty Supreme Being, the Creator of heaven and earth, to be used to solve my problem.

“And in amazement, looking at me as if I was out of mind, he asked me: ‘Who is this Supreme Being?’ At that point, I told him the much I knew about the Almighty God and how I believed that the Almighty God would use his fingers as the best of the bests, to help me.

“I had the operation on April 1, 2015 which lasted for more than seven hours. Before the operation, different members of the operating team spoke with me and assured me of their competence and experience.”

Encounter with “God” “Just before I was wheeled into the operating theatre, a black woman with white hair and gap teeth walked past me several times, staring at me. I beckoned on her since I reasoned that she wanted my attention. She quietly approached me, saying she had a message for me. ‘From Who?’ I asked.

‘God’, she said. Then I said ‘Go ahead and give me the message; I’m a believer and a Christian, and I will not reject a message from my Creator.’ She told me that she could perceive fears through my eyes and that I needed to deal with it before the surgery, as I was going to encounter something that I would not be able to handle if I had fears in me. “In my usual nature, I told her I wasn’t afraid to go into the theatre as I had strong faith that God would handle my situation.

She told me that God sent her to me because of the prevailing situation of fear in me. I told her I was cold and shivering, and she said that was the sign of fear. She dashed out like lightening and came back with four warm blankets and covered me with them.“Immediately after she had delivered the message, I embraced her and said ‘Thank you and May God bless

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you.’ A strange episode followed because the woman I thanked turned around suddenly, placed her hand on my forehand and pushed me back to the trolley and said ‘Do you know who you are blessing? I came here to deliver a message to you and you seem to find it hard to accept’, and she immediately commenced a short prayer.”

Operation “I prayed silently and recited Bible verses as I was taken into a massive and well-lit theatre that had different cubicles that could handle several operations simultaneously. As I was reciting my Bible verses, anaesthesia was commenced, and I saw an ugly black figure that challenged me; and asked me to take a last look at my surroundings as this would be the last scene I would see on earth.

“I confronted him with the word of God, saying ‘the word of God says “My life is hidden with Christ God”, and as I am here I am covered by the Blood of Jesus and in the name of Jesus, I confront you and I declare that you have no power/control over my life and in this Name, I challenge you that my life is not under your control.’”

“After that I passed out and the operation commenced, which lasted for close to seven hours. Six days later, on April 6, 2015, I went through the mandatory MRI which was expected to confirm the complete success of the operation and maybe the possibility of discharge. “My surgeon discovered that I needed a second surgery. He employed the help of my wife to break the news to me. My wife allowed me to wake up and eat and then quietly broke the news to me. I told her that I was not going to undergo any operations after what I had gone through. In my confusion, I told her that she would undergo the operation on my behalf, promising to take good care of her.

She quietly laughed and said that this confirmed that I truly had brain surgery and that I was confused. At this point, she called our friend Sam Erinne and my children to intervene and try and convince me to go for the operation. “Sam called and I said let me think about it; Chinekwu, my second daughter called and cried all through that I wanted to render her fatherless; Olisaemeka, my second son called and instead of sounding depressed and crying, he engaged me in a very simple and funny argument.

“The second operation was slated

for April 10, 2015 and lasted for about seven hours. On recovery, my surgeon assured me that the entire massive tumour had been removed and assured me that I would have a good recovery.”

Second encounter with “God” “The strange lady with the white hair had come back as I was being wheeled into the operating room for the second operation, and held my hand, saying ‘It has been settled and God asked me to tell you that if they take you into the theatre five times, you will come out alive every time. I am sure that you saw and confirmed the earlier information I gave you that there was something that would confront you and needed to be dealt with fearlessly that would otherwise have overwhelmed you. I am happy you handled the situation well. Take care of yourself.’ “I called her back, requesting that she pray for me again and she told me that a second prayer was not necessary as God granted the first one, she and quietly walked out. I kept wondering: ‘How did she know that I was slated for a second surgery at that time and date?’ That was a mystery and continues to be one to me. God is awesome.”

of cortisol in my system. “I was revived after resuscitation which included the receipt of parenteral hydrocortisone. As I opened my eyes, I saw Ngozi Obijiofor whose uncle was on admission in the same facility and I was pleased that she was around to encourage and keep my wife company at the time. I was discharged from the ER about 11 pm.

“I was discharged from hospital on April 22, 2015. My vision was greatly impaired as I could barely see. Thanks to my wife who patiently assisted me, I was able to move around until I was certified fit to travel home in May 2015.

“I returned to Nigeria by the end of August 2015 and was back in Atlanta to keep my scheduled review on the January 28, 2016. My vision which was impaired was much improved by Christmas of 2015. “I was declared fit after a final review on February 9, 2016 following MRIs and blood work.

These results were favourable to the amazement of my medical team who asked what I did to have such a recovery; I said ‘It has been the Lord’s doing. We are thankful to Him.’ “Finally, I want to thank the Lord immensely for His mercy and grace in sparing my life and giving me a second chance because without Him it wouldn’t have been possible.”

Discharged “Shortly after arriving at the clinic on my next appointment, I collapsed and there was panic in the clinic because my blood pressure (BP) had dropped to 70/50mmHg. My wife had gone to the pharmacy to fill out my prescription; she was called back to forcefully administer oral hydrocortisone on me. I was rushed to the Emergency Room (ER) for resuscitation and observation.

Fortunately, my endocrinologist and neurosurgeon kept calling in, and advised the ER physician of the likely problem – lack

Obienu survives two brain surgeries, tells his chilling story

Sir Barr. Nwabufo Obienugh and his surgeon, Dr. Paul King

26—SATURDAY Vanguard,APRIL 9, 2016

B

eat Obesity, Beat Diabetes” is a slogan that is fast catching on. A few months ago, a colleague and friend got a diagnosis she wasn’t expecting— type 2 diabetes. She was shocked. The diagnosis was devastating because there were no symptoms. So how come, what happened?

After a lengthy heart-to-heart talk, she revealed that her grandmother had diabetes. A maternal aunt also died of complications from diabetes.

So it was in the family. With help from medical experts, she changed her diet and began exercising.

At the time of diagnosis, she was a rather large 92 kilos. Last week, just before this year’s World Health Day on April 7, with the theme “Beat Diabetes”, she was 15 kilos lighter and her blood sugar normal.

Get involved The main goal of the World Health Day 2016 campaign is to inform people about the increasing prevalence of diabetes. More Nigerians are diabetic than any other Africans. A diabetes diagnosis might feel overwhelming, but living well with the condition doesn’t have to be difficult. If you’re ready to take control of your blood sugar levels, lifestyle, weight and generally get on the path to better health, here’s how to start.

First step is to get involved. Get informed and empowered. Take an active role in your care. Ask questions.

Next step is to lose weight. Being overweight is a major driver of diabetes. Any good doctor will tell you that being overweight increases your risk of developing diabetes and that it’s crucial for diabetics to keep their weight in check.

Watch your diet A balanced and nutritious diet is essential for health. A healthy diet reduces risk factors for cardiovascular diseases. Although the causes of diabetes are often complex, lifestyle changes such as healthy plant-based eating and exercise can help prevent the disease. One of the most effective ways to prevent or treat diabetes is to consume more vegetables, beans, and whole grains while eating less animal flesh. Studies have found that plant-based eating improves diabetics’ health and reduces the risk of developing the disease in the first place.

Exercise Physical activity is one of the main pillars in the prevention of diabetes. Increased physical

Eating healthy plant-based foods leads to improved glycaemic control, reduces lipid levels, and reduces rates of renal disease

Diet Doctor

Fight diabetes with your diet

Eating healthy plantbased foods leads to improved glycaemic control, reduces lipid levels, and reduces rates of renal disease.

Diabetics are urged to substitute “soy or other vegetable proteins for animal protein” as vegetarianism will produce very significant metabolic advantages for the prevention and treatment of diabetes and its complications.

Go vegan Vegetarians are far less likely than meateaters to be overweight, which is probably a large part of the reason why vegetarians are less likely to develop diabetes. In fact, vegans are nine times less likely to be obese than meat-eaters are.

By slimming down with plant-based eating, you will look great while significantly improving your health.

•Beat Obesity, Beat Diabetes... activity is important in maintaining weight loss and is linked to reduced blood pressure, reduced resting heart rate, increased insulin sensitivity, improved body composition and

psychological wellbeing. To lose weight, try to exercise three times a week for 30-60 minutes a day. But moving your body is good for a lot more

than that. Exercise shouldn’t feel like a punishment. If you want to go swimming, go swimming. If you want to go dancing, go dancing. Your goal is to strike a healthy balance, not achieve perfection.

Watch your waist Achieve and maintain a healthy body weight.

Try to get rid of the extra kilos around your middle. People that are ‘apple shape’— usually men in their 40s and 50s—are at higher risk for cardiovascular disease. Obesity, particularly abdominal obesity, is linked to the development of type 2 diabetes. Weight loss improves insulin resistance and reduces hypertension.

Choose low fat Patients with type-2 diabetes who eat lowfat vegetarian foods lose significantly more weight than those who eat meat and dairy foods. Any weight loss is beneficial so don’t stop after you lose a few kilos. It is encouraging to know that even if you lose a little bit of weight, it is helping your body.

Fibre is important Nutrition research strongly indicates that eating large amounts of dietary fibre dramatically reduces the risk of developing diabetes. Fibre lowers blood glucose levels, which can improve diabetics’ health significantly. There is no dietary fibre in animal flesh, eggs, and dairy foods—fibre is found only in plantbased foods like beans, whole grains, fruits, and vegetables. Focus on getting plenty of fibre. Keep track of your carbohydrates and stay away from sugary drinks, and trans fats. Instead, stock up on protein— up to 25 percent of your plate at each meal should be protein from sources like fish, chicken, dairy, or vegetables. Load up on these and make a significant investment in your health.

Reduce dairy intake There is a strong link between the consumption of dairy foods in childhood and the development of type1 diabetes. There is very strong evidence that dairy foods can lead to a wide array of health problems, including diabetes and the depth and breadth of evidence implicating cow’s milk as a cause of Type 1 diabetes is overwhelming, even though the very complex mechanistic

SA TURD AY SATURD TURDA

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Vanguard, APRIL 9, 2016—27

28 — SATURDAY Vanguard, APRIL 9, 2016

Kunle Oy ewole golden Oye moments @ 50

Nigerian Breweries’ Adetunji celebrates 50

O

I

lukunle Oyewole, social/ welfare secretary of Jericho Businessmen Club treated friends and colleagues on Easter Sunday to a deluxe th reception at his Isolo residence to mark his 50 birthday. The party which was graced by many high-profile dignitaries was funfilled and

t was indeed a golden moment for Yinka Adetunji, Sales and Operations Planning Manager of Nigerian Breweries on Easter Sunday as his family, friends and colleagues th turned out in full splendour to celebrate his 50 birthday.

Aare & Mrs. Tunji Oni

L-R:Chief Yemi Olagunju, Adm. Toye Sode (Rtd), Olukunle Oyewole, Mrs Ogunyemi, Gori Ogunyemi and Dr. Kunle Wright.

Premier Palace Club dedicates hall to Fashola’s dad THE premier Palace Club, Epetedo, Lagos held a 3 in 1 celebration to usher in the new club house. special prayer by Islamic and Christian clerics, Induction of new members and Dedication of the new Club house were the major events of the day.

Members of Fashola family were fully on ground as a big hall within the club house was named after the patriarch of the family, Late Alhaji Ibrahim Ademola Fashola, father of the former Governor of Lagos State, Raji Fashola. Photos by Lamidi Bamidele

L-R: Alhaji Moroof Adisa Oshodi, President, Premier Palace Club, Epetedo, Lagos; Oba of Lagos' royal staff carrier; Suenu of Lagos, representing the Oba of Lagos, HRM, Oba Rilwan Akiolu; Mrs Omolara Fashola and Prince Shamusideen Ope, former President, Eko Club.

L-R: Otunba Femi Pedro, Alhaji Lateef Jakande and Chief Moroofdeen Oshodi, President, Premier Palace Club.

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Mr. and Mrs. Akindele with the celebrant and spouse

L-R: Femi Atteh, Olukunle Oyewole, Yemisi Oyewole and Ruth Atteh.

L-R: Dr. Seun Fagbuyi, Yemisi Oyewole and Chika Ekwealor

L-R: Mrs Ibironke, Tomi Seyilayo-Ojo, and Mrs Bolaji Olajuwon.

From left: Vice Chairman, Elders Forum, and member Oba's entourage, Justice Banji Okikiola rtd; Olofa of Offa, Kwara state,Oba Mufutau Muhammadu Gbadamosi Okikiola Oloyede Oyekanmi Ilufemiloye, Esuwoye 1; Chairman of the Elders Forum, Chief Yinusa Oyeyemi and Chairman, Offa Descendant Union (ODU) Lagos State Branch, Alhaji Bisiriyu Afolabi during the visit of the Oba to Lagos ODU.

L-R: Mr. Tayo Adelaja, Corporate Affairs Manager, Mrs. Titi Lawani, General Manager, Pension, Mr. & Mrs. Yinka Adetunji all of Nigerian Breweries. Right is Mr. Bala Yesufu, Director, Corporate & Government Affairs, Cadbury.

L-R: The celebrant, Mr. & Mrs. Yinka Adetunji, flanked by Mr. Femi Oke, National Distribution Manager, Nigerian Breweries (left) and wife, ( right).

The celebrant with Mr. Kazeem Kaka and other friends

SATURDAY Vanguard, APRIL 9, 2016—29

08 1 1 6759 759 081 6759759

There’s a penis festival taking place right now...

T

here s actually a festival dedicated entirely to penises and it s taking place right now.

If you fancy a bit of penis

loving though, you might struggle getting there because it s taking place on the streets of Kawasaki in Japan.

Hundreds of locals have been

'Let me get it once before I die

'Let me get it once before I die,' it continued.

Aranya posed in her underwear for the advert while lying on her front, showing off her cleavage.

The B-list actress, who is actually 45, rented the huge display after failing to find a partner through dating agencies and apps.

She told local media she was serious about the appeal

and had chosen to display her billboard in the Lat Phrao District of the Thai capital.

But police have fined the advertising agency responsible for the billboard 500 baht (£10) for public obscenity and ordered them to take down the poster.

A police spokesman said: 'We want to question the woman on the poster about her motives.

parading through the streets with three giant phalluses, some as big as a full-grown man, in a tribute to the humble penis.

Clearly size matters then.

No one missed out on the festivities either with young children and grandmothers sucking on penis lollipops and posing with phallusshaped sculptures.

Visitors also donned penis beaks, carried giant penis purses and even straddled a giant wooden phallus.

The penis festival, also known as the Festival of the Steel Phallus or Willy Festival, takes place every year and attracts tens of thousands of people.

Souvenirs from the festival include key chains, trinkets, pens, chocolates and even toy glasses with a plastic penis nose.

Schoolgirl Sayuri Kubo, 14, said: I think it s brilliant. The

mikoshi (portable? shrine) parade was awesome.

But one person said the festival was no laughing matter.

Local priest Hiroyuki Nakamura of the Kanayarma Shrine said: If young children are not used to seeing (male genitalia), they could get into a bit of a panic when the time comes.

People come to pray for good fortune and to ask the gods to protect them. The festival is steeped in the past but has still has a valuable part to play in modern society.

All the proceeds from sales of the penis memorabilia will be going to HIV research.

Entire town gets high from marijuana fumes...

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ntire town gets high from marijuana fumes after Indonesian police burn threeton pile of confiscated drugs An Indonesian town was high on more than just life when police set fire to more than three tons of confiscated cannabis.

Residents of Tangerang, 15.5 miles west of the capital Jakarta, reported suffering from headaches and dizziness after inhaling the tangy smoke given off by the bonfire.

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The 3.3 tons of marijuana were burned by Palmerah police at their subprecinct office in West Jakarta earlier this month.

The haul was valued at $1 million, according to Breitbart.com Tangerang police chief Senior Commander Riad told The Jakarta Post his officers seized the stash in south Tangerang on February 2.

Police wore masks to protect them from the fumes but watching civilians were left unprotected.

The smoke spread from the yard

to surrounding residents’ houses.

One resident named Deden said: ‘I got a headache because I wasn’t wearing a mask.’

A journalist reported having to ‘sit down and have a cup of tea’ to deal with the high.

Officers also destroyed 1.8 kilograms of crystal methamphetamine and 2,538 ecstasy pills by blending them.

The destruction of the illicit substances was witnessed by several officials from the West Jakarta municipality.

30—SATURDAY VANGUARD, APRIL 9, 2016 Dear Aunty Julie, My guy and I don’t draw lines about when or when not to have sex but things have changed lately. My partner is now apprehensive about having sex when I’m menstruating or having break through bleeding. His male friends told him that menstrual material could get lodged in his urethra and cause an infection.

That doesn’t make sense to me.

How could menstrual material be any more infectious than other body fluids that are exchanged during sex?

Lola, Ekiti Dear Lola, You’re right. Menstrual fluid is no more likely to infect a woman’s partner than sweat, saliva, or vaginal secretions caused by sexual arousal.

Unfortunately, your partner’s friends are not the only ones who have been misinformed.

History taught us a lot about this.

Menstruation has been misunderstood and feared in western civilization for thousands of years. The ancient Hebrews believed that menstruation was one of many ritual impurities that

Dear Julie, My husband and I enjoy lovemaking a lot and it’s one thing that keeps our relationship going despite having three children. My man respects me for that and has never cheated for as long as I could remember.

But lately, sex has been really painful and not as enjoyable as it used to. On many occasions, I turned down my husband and he doesn’t feel good about this. Does this mean that something is wrong?

Seigha, Port-Harcourt

juliecoker100@yahoo.com

He’s apprehensive about sex during my period required ritual cleansing. By the time of the early Christians, menstruation was seen as a physical pollution that caused all kinds of illness and disease, as well as spiritual pollution. For example, in the year 562, the Archbishop of Arles in France declared, “Whoever has relations with his wife during her period will have children that are either leprous or epileptic or possessed by the Devil.”

It is amazing how long it is taking to dispel such unhealthy

notions. The widespread western phobia about menstruation was one of the excuses used until well into the 20th century to bar women from many activities allowed men: standing near or touching the altar of a church, singing in a church choir, or getting an education.

In some parts of the world, however, menstruation was seen as a source of great physical and spiritual power. In certain cultures of the South Pacific, for

I feel pains during love-making Dear Seigha, Something is wrong. Painful intercourse has many causes. In men, it can be caused by an infection, an allergic reaction to spermicide or latex, or by an irritation from previous sexual or non-sexual activities.

In women, the causes are more varied and complex: There may be vaginal dryness, which could be caused in two ways. It could be that a woman is not aroused

enough to lubricate because there has not been enough foreplay before penetration. Or, she may not have enough of the hormone estrogen in her system to create lubrication. This type of vaginal dryness is often associated with perimenopause or menopause.

Other physical causes include endometriosis, infection, yeast overgrowth, or allergic reaction to latex or spermicide.

Emotional causes of painful intercourse for women include gender identity

example, men ritually cut themselves to bleed so that they could claim that they, too, had periods.

Today, we understand that menstruation is an important part of the fertility cycle of women. We know that human females have a greater menstrual flow than any other animals. That is because many blood vessels are needed to support the development of a human fetus if a pregnancy takes place. When pregnancy does not take place, the supporting tissue and blood is lost in a woman’s menses, and new supporting tissue develops to prepare for ovulation in support of another potential pregnancy if fertilization and implantation take place.

We also know that there is nothing dirty or unclean about menstruation.

We know that menstrual fluid itself is not infectious, and it does not cause disease or sickness. Many women today enjoy their periods as a proud reminder of their femininity.

Many others see it as an uncomfortable inconvenience that they could do well without. And many have found that they can enjoy their sexuality and express themselves sexually during menstruation.

conflict, a history of rape or incest, or intense childhood suppression of sex, all of which can lead to vaginal spasms that prevent penetration.

Other emotional causes include hostility, anger, or resentment toward her partner or previous partners.

Because painful intercourse has so many possible causes, it is best to consult a health care professional to determine the cause and get the best treatment. Men may want to consult a urologist. Women may want to consult a women’s health care provider.

My friends want me to sleep with an older woman Aunty Julie, All my friends are always telling me that I should try having sex with a lady who is ten years older than me or more. I am 27 years old and my sexual partners have always been my own age-mates or those younger than me.

Personally, I don’t fancy the thought of going to bed with an older woman, even though my friends tell me that I would learn a lot and would enjoy the experience. What do you think? I really can’t bring myself to have sex with an older person. Am I abnormal or do you think I am right? Have you ever come across this type of problem before and, if so, what have you advised the people to do?

Ken, Edo Dear Ken,

Perhaps, what your friends are trying to say is that many people believe that there are advantages to a younger man dating an older woman. There are a few historic tales of older women indoctrinating younger men into the world of sexuality. Some of the stories are as ancient as the gods, whereas others are modern love stories of lust and woe.

Many believe (and in some cases it may be true) that older women have more sexual experience, that they have a more varied sexual repertoire, and that they will appreciate a youthful admirer. Sexual experience aside, different people are turned on by different things. One way to find out what floats your boat is to try different things, but that’s not the only way. There are plenty of sexual activities (or partners) that you probably don’t need to try in order to

Stylish anniversary This eighty year old couple were celebrating their 60th anniversary and the wife says to her husband, “ Honey lets get stark naked and sit at the dinning table and eat our dinner!” As they sat at the dinning table the wife says, “Honey I am beginning to get very hot and very aroused!” The husband says, “ That is because you have your tits in the soup!”

Peaceful resolution C M Y K

anticipate whether or not you’d be into it. It sounds like you know what turns you on, and what you find arousing. If it goes against your grain to be turned on by an older woman, then it makes no sense to try the experience. What works for your friends may not work for you. After all, there are as many different sexual needs and desires as there are people. Most importantly, don’t participate in any sexual activity with which you are not comfortable. There are many other ways to be sexually fulfilled that will be more palatable to your personal tastes.

If it bothers you that you are not interested in sleeping with this woman (or older women in general), or if you are simply introspective and curious about yourself, it may be worth spending some time thinking about what it is about sleeping with people your age or younger that you

find most appealing. What is your upper limit in terms of age? Or your lower limit? People have different reasons for their age preferences. For example, some people prefer to only have sex with someone that they could see themselves connecting with outside the bedroom. Some feel that a large age difference means being in different life stages and thus not able to connect as deeply.

Other people find that they connect more with people older than them.

Your feelings about age may be about your sexual desires, or age may have some other, perhaps deeper meaning to you. Exploring this with a trusted confidant may be helpful or interesting to you, as well. But whatever your reasons, know there is nothing “abnormal” about having some limits about age, even if those limits are different from others around you.

C O C K - T A L E S A couple drove down a country road for several miles, not saying a word. An earlier discussion had led to an argument and neither of them wanted to concede their position. As they passed a barnyard of mules, goats and pigs, the husband asked sarcastically, “Relatives of yours?” “Yep,” the wife replied, “in-laws.”

Bruising A woman come to a doctor, with bumps and bruising all over her body. The woman complains that it was

her husband, who beat her. Doctor tells in surprise: - I thought your husband was out of town.

- So did I..

Compliment Woman standing in front of the mirror complains to her husband: - I look ugly. At least you tell me any compliment!

- Your vision is perfect!

SA TURD AY Vanguard, APRIL 9 SATURD TURDA 9,, 2016 — 31

bunmsof@yahoo.co.uk

One-night stands can’t heal a failed relationship A

ccording to Professor of Psychology Simon Baron Cohen, “Generally, men have, ‘systemising’ brains (they like classifying information and enjoy games and gadgets) whereas women have ‘emphasising’ brains (they connect with people and emotions).

This lower male drive to ‘ empathise’ means they’re more likely to be focused on their own feelings (satisfaction and short-term pleasure) and able to detach from the feelings of others.

Evolution may also be a reason men were hunters whose job was to kill— and, for that, a lack of empathy is a distinct advantage.” he professor’s view throws some light on the emotional fallout women experience as a result of casual sex. A few months back Beth, a 26-year-old staff nurse who confessed she’d lost count of the one-night stands she’d had; complained bitterly that: “I thought that having one-night stands was how to find a boyfriend—you meet someone at a party maybe, go home with them and have sex, and then afterwards you start seeing each other, but it never seemed to work out like that. They make you feel so incredibly special but it’s for one night only and it never, ever lasts. When I realised this was the case, I decided to stop having one-night stands.” ith girls like Beth, the puzzling questions are the same: “Why did he never call when he took my number and asked me out to dinner next week? How, when we got so intimate and establish such a connection, could he forget me so quickly”? A few men fee actually confessed that beneath the predatory front shown by many of them was extreme, unresolved pain from a previous relationship. Whereas we, as women, are able to work through our romantic agonies by talking to friends, men are more likely to suppress and deny the pain they feel. After making a pact with themselves that they’ll never be hurt again, they’ll immerse themselves in an orgy of causal sex, imagining its physical gratifying and, more importantly, emotionally safe— as long as they never call the next day! So as more and more early relationships end— instead of leading to marriage as they may have done 12 or 15 years ago—it means more and more emotionally scarred young men are out there ... on the prowl for casual sex! ccording to Richard, a renowned journalist: “There are plenty of men who do want a relationship, but for those who don’t, soul-less sex, otherwise known as one-nightstand - is understandable if they’re still-dealing with pain and rejection. Male emotional pain is very private and, even if you’re scared of relationships, you still crave the intimacy sex gives. Men will talk about notches on the bedpost but the truth is that sleeping with lots of women is a self-esteem

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like a sports car. Men take longer. Which is more appropriate with a stranger?

Also, some men might have lots of casual sex because they’re emotionally scarred, but I think most lotharios are simply genuine lovers of women”. ith today’s falling standards in morality, it’s quite interesting most single men believe that if a woman has sex on the first night, she’s ‘cheap’ and not girlfriend material. “Taking a girl home,” said Chuks, a property developer, “is testing them out.

If she sleeps with me, I won’t see her again because she’s a tramp and has no respect for herself. If she has, however, ‘passed the test’ by not having sex, and I still find her attractive, then will I date her. Sadly, I still yearn for a past relationship that ended years ago— the likes of which I might never find. She was my first girlfriend and my true love, but she left me because she thought I didn’t love her enough and she’s now married. I don’t know if I’ll ever love like that again. As things are, I don’t see the women I’ve had casual sex with as emotionally vulnerable. They’re looking for a good time as much as I am. And I make sure I’m always very loving in bed to my ‘pick-ups’. I’ll cuddle up to them, but it doesn’t mean anything. My cosy seduction technique means many of my

boost. It’s pathetic. The same goes for the double standard; men have such low opinions of themselves they believe any girl who chooses them isn’t discerning. It’s depressing: “I’ve had over 20-onenight stands in my odd 30years,” confessed Mide, a computer analyst, “but my attitude to them has changed as I’ve got older.

But even if you relatively emotionally matured, most men, if offered soul-less sex, would say yes.

Personally, I now make sure I’m completely honest with a woman if I’m not looking for a relationship. The reason women feel so upset after casual sex is not because they’re in love but because they’ve been lied to. But it cuts both ways— I’ve never heard from the

I’ve had over 20onenight stands in my odd 30years

woman. At the end-of the day; you’ll always have better sex in a relationship. anny, a postgraduate student says: “I don’t think men are strange because we find it easy to have one-night stands. Instead, I find it puzzling how easily women connect sex with emotion.

You’ve just met someone at a social gathering and you’ve slept together. Does that create an instant emotional bond? It shouldn’t. Emotion takes time. Sex doesn’t. Women speed from zero to intimacy

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partners want more.

“It’s my fault because I don’t want girls to dislike me after sex. So I’ll be loving and look into their eyes even though I have no feelings for them. I don’t feel guilty afterwards, but at least they’ve had a good time.

The affirmation I get when a woman wants to see me again is a transitory quick fix I use again and again to overcome the rejection I felt when my girlfriend left me”. ob would never forget the humiliation he felt on his last pick-up. “She agreed for us to go to her place”— he recalled. “I didn’t really like her and we had sex anyway. Immediately afterwards, she told me to go home as she didn’t sleep with men on the same bed. It was a long way back to the flat I shared with friends and I felt tired, humiliated and depressed. I didn’t really know her and I felt insecure about my appearance. I worried about what I looked like— that my stomach wasn’t toned. After that experience, I vowed that for me, the best sex is always going to be relationship sex...”

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How to tame a rebellious teenager hey slam doors and answer back. Their T rooms are tips and they play music so loudly you can’t hear yourself think. No

wonder, teenagers drive parents mad. But manners expert, Penny Palman says you can have well-behaved, well-mannered kids instead of arguments and aggression.

According to her, “Your child’s transition from a child to a teenager should be welcomed and not dreaded as if you were about to make a pact with the devil and nurture a werewolf.”

So, how can you turn your teenage tearaways into little angels? Here are some of her tips: Respect them and they’ll respect you: Lack of respect is often the main reason for problems between parents and children. As parents, you have every right to expect your kids to respect you, but you have to show some too. Parents of teens often say things like, “He’s going through a phase,” or “What does she know? She’s just a child.” But, think how you would feel if someone said about you, “Oh, she’s just a housewife.” It’s difficult not to criticise when you don’t like your teenager’s clothes or taste in music.

“It’s hard to sit back and let them make their own choices. But you must not try to quash or comment on every aspect of their lives.” Be polite and friendly when they have friends around. Don’t ask any embarrassing questions and don’t put them down in front of their friends. It will not only annoy and upset your teenager, it will embarrass their guests.

Remember: It’s to your advantage to get on well with your teenager’s friends and to

encourage them to visit. “When your children are at home with their friends, you know exactly where they are and who they’re with, which means two big worries are out of the way,” she says.

Don’t criticise unsuitable boyfriends or girlfriend: “You will have absolutely no say over who your teenagers choose to go out with. “ Palmano says, “In fact, more likely they are to continue the relationship.”

Rather than saying something negative about your teenager’s boyfriend or girlfriend, focus on something good about them, praise their nice eyes or warm smile.

Laying down the law and refusing to let the teenagers see their boyfriend or girlfriend will only make that person more attractive. Any unsuitable relationship is much more likely to fizzle out by itself if parents don’t interfere.

Eat together: Having your main meal together every evening gives you an “opportunity to talk to your teenagers. But, if you mention school or homework, they’re likely to shut down. Talk about their interest or an issue in the news that is relevant to them. Listen to their opinions and don’t tell them they don’t know what they’re talking about, just because you don’t agree. Keep personal issues or thorny subjects such as being allowed to go out on Saturday night, away from the table.

Conversation is likely to end with someone storming off. According to Palmano: “Try to have a laugh, as laughter relieves the stress and is very bonding for the entire family.”

32—SATURDAY

Vanguard , APRIL 9, 2016 YETUNDE AREBI Yetty5050@yahoo.co.uk tweeterhandle@yetundearebi 08054700825

Nigeria’s self-styled open marriages!

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man’s wife is his possession. She is part of his investment. He believes that by the virtue of anointing her as his wife, he has elevated her status amongst her peers and accorded her a respectable position in society. No matter how he treats her, it is around her that he builds his empire and nurtures his desires and hopes for the future. The fruits of his labour are expended on his wife and the fruits of their loins, with the belief that they will be the joys of his old age.

No matter the circumstances or situation of their relationship, whether good or bad, this oftentimes does not erode her value or undermine her position in his home and life. For as long as she remains the chosen one, she is expected to be out of reach for other men.

Being a Mrs is no mean tag. An exalted position such as wife, must also come with its demands and responsibilities and one of them, if not top on the list, is fidelity: the resolve to preserve one’s self and body to the service of another. Though this is supposed to be mutually binding on the two, man and wife, African culture, tradition and the assumed and accepted polygamous nature of the male specie, make this more binding on the woman, than the man. In fact, the Holy books seem to affirm this position. The Bible admonishes women to submit to their husbands while the Qur’an counsels that they guard their husbands’ secrets. Even moral and societal values, and health considerations compel it upon the woman, that she stays faithful to her husband. Women found wanting in this regard, no matter their social status and rating, usually fall from grace to grass. Men consider it a slight on their manhood and a short change on their investment. Most find it difficult to forgive such women and the consequences are sometimes grievous or even deadly.

However, this position now appears to have changed over time. It is now almost a daily occurrence to hear chilling confessions of various shades of infidelity from and about married women. Many of these stories leave one’s mouth gaping and mind confused. There is the tale of a woman with five children in Oke Ira, Ogba, Lagos State, Nigeria who ended up confessing that only two of them belong to her husband. One being for the husband’s younger brother and two for her lovers. The cat was let out of the bag when the lover insisted on taking custody of his two children. Refusing all pleas from the woman, he went straight to her husband and divulged the sordid details. A similar scenario played out in Meiran area of Alagbado, on the borders of Lagos and Ogun states. Olusho, spiritual leader of a white garment church, in one single blow lost his wife and two children to one of his rich patrons.

His wife on being caught in her web of lies, decided there was no point denying herself and two children of the luxury their biological father could provide for them any longer. So, rather than plead with Olusho to cover her misdeed and shame, she simply organised a haulage vehicle and with the support of her rich C M Y K

It is now almost a daily occurrence to hear chilling confessions of various shades of infidelity from and about married women lover, moved out same day despite the intervention of neighbours and elders around. Olusho’s spiritual ministry came to an abrupt end.

In another case, a young man narrowly escaped being convicted of child trafficking and perjury by the American immigration authorities. On the graduation of his first child from high school in the UK, he figured that he could work out a cheaper deal with his college expenses since he is an American citizen and the boy also holds an American Passport. So, he filed all the necessary papers.

Everything was perfect until a DNA test to prove paternity revealed he was not the biological father of the boy. To save his neck, he was forced to reveal that his marriage to the boy’s mother ended when he discovered she was carrying a pregnancy that was not his. Without a sense of remorse, she confessed that the pregnancy was for her boss at the office and moved out of her matrimonial home, relocating to London. A few years after, the first of the other three children was discovered not to belong to her husband as well. The teenage boy also turned out to be the biological child of the same man, her boss who fathered the last child.

However, more intriguing in this drama of infidelity are the men who are privy to the shenanigans of their wives and turn a blind eye to them. Every time, I come across such stories, I marvel at the level of depravation and immorality that must have gone into such an alliance. Several reasons have been postulated for such developments which to my understanding bothers majorly on finance and material gains and self centeredness. Few have to do with saving public image. For, what is left to be salvaged in the public image of a man whose wife’s sexual escapades with other men is no secret? Is he protecting his wife or his children, or simply pushing off the day of his eventual spiritual and physical death? Stories of men who connive with their wives

to conceive children by other men and claim ownership of such children also beat my imagination. For me, this is the height of self deceit and should the cookie crumble, the man still remains the ultimate loser. The children, no matter their level of disappointment, will still know their mother as such.

One of such stories that springs up in my mind is that of a man who after becoming a “born again” Christian decided to seek restitution. (Whatever that meant to him!) He allegedly woke up one day and summoned his wife of over 30 years of marriage and their three children to a meeting where he spilled the beans.

The three children, the last, an undergraduate and another, already married, were not his. They were arranged by his wife for him to cover his shame and inability to father a child, many years ago. Now that he had been set free of all burdens and shame by his heavenly father, he no longer felt a sense of compulsion to keep such a thing secret anymore and so, wanted to set the records straight with the truth.

His wife should tell him and the children who fathered them. Thereafter, he would seek forgiveness and permission from the man to continue to play his fatherly role on the children. Naturally, the children took sides with their mother and denounced their father’s actions, even the church was not on his side, for his queer manner of restitution. Such an arrangement to my understanding is a no brainer on the part of such a man, and a win-win situation for the woman who got an unlimited access to jump into bed with any man of her choice, conceive pregnancies outside of the matrimony and openly raise them with another man’s sweat.

Even then, emerging trends point to the fact that Nigeria is gradually catching up with the West in what is termed as open marriage. An open marriage is a union where the partners are permitted to have sexual relationships with other partners. The terms of what is permissible for the two is often spelt out and the partners adhere to these rules. The plus side of this arrangement is that the partners get to enjoy the benefits of two worlds. First is the respect and social status that marriage provides and the other is the freedom to explore their sexuality without actually rocking the boat. While this may not actually be a common or detailed trend in Nigeria, what is true and now gaining ground is a practice where the husbands pretend not to know about their wives extramarital affairs but bask in the benefit that such relationships offer.

A distraught married woman whose husband was deeply and openly involved with another married woman sought audience with the woman’s husband with the hope of resolving what had now become an embarrassing situation for her. The man patiently heard her out but his response almost knocked her off her feet. He trusts his wife completely and has no problems with her relationship with a man he considers a great mentor in their lives, he insisted. If she has problems with her husband, she should go and address it and not drag him into her war. All her evidences and plea to help save her marriage were discarded by the woman’s husband. Many men who have identified where their breads are being buttered, courtesy of their wives generosity have learnt to look the other way, if only to sustain the lifestyle they have or to remain in their imaginary social status. It is no longer an abomination to know that your wife is unfaithful. If the benefits or proceeds from the relationship are worthwhile enough, knowing the man can only be icing on the cake as the guy can also get something on the side for himself if he plays his cards well.

Another category of open marriage in the Nigeria of our time is one where the wife is not into the affair for material or monetary gains, but for personal emotional fulfilment. These couples are usually rich or powerful members of the society and have an image to protect.

Many reasons may be attributed to this, such as the sexual inadequacies of the man which tend to result in extra-marital affair(s) by the woman. In a situation where the wife is discreet enough about it, and the family name, business and connections are not affected in any way, some of these men willingly look the other way these days. More so when the men are no saints themselves. Once, in a conversation with a male colleague who is in his second marriage, he informed me that he could never divorce his wife on the basis of infidelity since he is guilty of same. According to him, should he walk in on her and her lover, he would excuse himself and walk away, focusing more on her good sides. He insists this was a mistake he made with his first marriage and has vowed not to allow such a little thing ruin his happy home ever again, now that he is wiser. (Hmmm! Aren’t some of us just lucky? ) Do have a wonderful weekend!

SATURDAY VANGUARD, APRIL 9, 2016—33

‘How SMEs can achieve sus susttainability in unhealth unhealthyy onment’ business envir environment’

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r. Ijeoma Nwagwu, graduate of Harvard Law School’s doctoral programme and Manager of Lagos Business School’s First Bank Sustainability Centre. In this interview with Moses Nosike, speaks on the present business environment: where the social and environmental impact of a business is as important as its ability to make profit. She also emphasizes the difference between Sustainability and Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and addresses the contributions of Lagos Business School in creating sustainable businesses in Africa. Excerpts: How do you describe corporate sustainability?

Sustainability is a mindset. It is the idea of business leaders and operators thinking long term about the society in which they operate. It is being considerate of the social, economic and environmental impact of a business’s activities across the entire value chain through which it creates goods or services, while being mindful of the profitability of the business.

What is sustainable development?

It is living, using, and managing resources of the earth in a way that plans and caters for both present and future generations. That is, businesses with a sustainable mind set think not just of today, but also of tomorrow in the use of human and material resources. In addition, they make efforts to have positive impact on the society, economy, and environment in which they operate.

The UN’s Sustainable Development Goals is a great reference for the kinds of issues we mean when we advocate for sustainable development – an end to poverty, hunger and a move toward quality education, healthcare and so on.

Considering the societal challenges in Nigeria, how do SMEs achieve sustainability?

We have particular challenges relating to sustainable development and doing business, which Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) suffer most. In terms of the business environment, SMEs in particular are faced with the challenge of infrastructure. As presented in the World Bank ranking on the Ease of Doing Business, we are at the bottom of the list, and a lot is linked to the problem of infrastructure.

Today we have issues of infrastructure, multiple taxation, lack of policy transparency, corruption, and governance and these have made SMEs complain a lot about the policy environment. It is a difficult environment to do business.

So sustainability is very relevant in this environment because it makes businesses think of themselves as part of the society, and are able to contribute to infrastructural development in the environment they are operating. Critically, this situation forces SMEs to innovate around the challenges facing them on a daily basis. For example, we have seen small furniture companies forced into backward integration to create unique brands when they could no longer easily import and sell foreign furniture.

Is there any relationship between sustainability and supply chain?

There is a strong link. As I said, sustainability is a mindset – the way you look at the world. For instance, if you say, I have a sustainability mindset, you are saying that you are thinking of today and tomorrow, using things, and managing resources, living in a way that shows you believe there is tomorrow.

There is a link between sustainability and supply chain.

That is, when you think of your supply chain as a business, where you source your material; or your

Dr. Ijeoma Nwagwu

value chain in terms of your logistic network, and how you provide your goods and services. With your sustainability mindset, you will consider how to make certain that small businesses or sole proprietors in your supply chain are in a good place so that tomorrow you will find the raw materials or resources you need from your supply chain to continue production. With the way the world population is going, that is, about 7 billion people and in a decade or more we will be talking about 9 billion or more, smart businesses will realise that there will not be enough to go round and the resources we are relying on to produce goods from our supply chain will be limited. Hence, businesses would consider how to invest in creating a more sustainable supply chain. A very good example is Nestle. Nestle realised that its supply chain for Cocoa in West Africa had some issues; farmers were not producing enough, the quality of their produce

ICA promoting economic growth through skill, credit professionalism

ealising the role of credit R management in economic growth world over, and to fill the

vacuum created in the Nigerian economic system, the Institute of Credit Management in its effort to promote skills, professionalism has called for more professional learning in credit management for a better economic development and global competitiveness. th Speaking at the 4 convocation and graduation ceremony of the Institute, held at Pan African University (Lagos Business School), President/CEO, Postgraduate School of Credit and Financial Management (PSCFM), Professor Chris Onalo, commended graduands for their passion, commitment, tenacity, open minds to learn and attain higher levels and to contribute to the society.

In addition, Prof. Onalo said, you have the greatest opportunity in generations to be the architect and builders of a new market economy; you will have purpose like no generation before you, to help transform the Nigerian economy

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from cash to credit and to ensure transparency of the system.

According Onalo, the use of credit has become an important part of any economy; it is the oil that lubricates economic machinery, the availability of credit is the economic lifeblood of any nation and it is hard to imagine an economy without the availability of credit.

In the same, International Programme Director, Africa London Postgraduate Credit Management College, Danette Gayle, enthused that credit is vital necessity to the survival of any economy and without the availability of credit an economy is destined for failure or will be in a stagnant state.

She further said that, LPCMC is keen to equip Nigerians and the world with professionals who will be able to steer their country into the right direction.

Gayle continued, PSCFM has made a significant mark in Nigeria’s credit industry, having turned out for the economy huge number of highly skilled and

qualified credit management professionals presently working in different sectors of the employers market since 1995.

Delivering a paper at the event, on the theme: “A nation without strong intellectual fabric”, Dr. Niran Thompson, from Federal University of Technology, Akuru, said, intellectual fabric is a crucial human resource that determines the value of an organisation and the competitiveness of an enterprise. He said further that, it is the summation of skill and knowledge that reside in the national work force that will lead to economic growth and development.

Adding further, Head of Learning Management and Facilitation, Aisha Idahosa, said, gaining a professional qualification preserves the integrity of knowledge acquired in academic work through applications in practice, complimenting these degrees and grounding you as a professional in the field.

was questionable and there was a mismanagement of the production line. The company decided to invest in the supply chain so the raw materials will meet up with longterm projections. In this case, part of the development was to work with those poor farmers to support them through high quality seeds and other inputs to achieve high yield, invest in educating them. Presently, it is a winwin: lifting people out of poverty and getting better produce to be able to sustainably supply the needs of the company and ensure the future of the company.

In terms of regulation, do you think the government has helped to sustain businesses?

The government is doing more than before.

However, they can still do more. One thing we must realise is that the government cannot do it alone. Gone are the days w h e n businesses a n d communities had issues a n d everybody called on the government.

All the same, government can do so much more, even in this environment. More funds can been allocated to ensure that SMEs are able to get the capital they need to pump into their businesses to produce more goods and services so that more jobs will be created in the economy. Also easy access to such funds must be ensured.

Government can create policy

transparency and let us know what their policies are or likely going to be over the next ten or fifteen years so that businesses can plan. Not that people would invest long term only to discover tomorrow there is a change in government policies that constrain business environment in various sectors. Engaging people in policy process of the government can go a long way in building and sustaining businesses. In addition, investment in capacity building, which is something we do here in Lagos Business School: ‘Knowledge they say is power’. As much as SMEs cry out for financial empowerment, sometimes, what leads to the crash of some businesses is not capital but lack of proper planning and information. In Lagos Business School, we do a lot of capacity building. In addition, within the Pan Atlantic University, we have the Enterprise Development Centre, a special centre to help SMEs plan and guide their business growth so that they are sustainable in the long term. Moreover, of course, we have infrastructure and power, which are areas government has embarked on. Nevertheless, government can do more to improve on the efforts they have made on power generation.

What is the focus of Lagos Business School’s First Bank Sustainability programme?

The focus is engaging a range of businesses, from small to large multinational businesses, around issues of sustainable development and ensuring that business owners realise that it is no more business as usual. Nigeria is a hard place to do business. However, at the same time, we are here to support businesses grow and more importantly, grow sustainably while carrying the society along. Therefore, we support, conduct research, build capacity, engage stakeholders, and engage businesses with the society so that it will be a balanced and inclusive development.

IWD: More women empowered with entrepreneurial skills

By Prisca Sam-Duru hairperson of Better Life for Rural Women (BLW) Hajiya Aisha Babangida and Chairperson, Access C Bank PLC, Mrs Mosun Bello-Olusoga were among the team

of eminent Nigerians that trained women at the Civic Centre, Lagos as part of activities held to celebrate the 2016 International Women’s Day. Organised by SME 100 Nigeria and Rubbies Vocational School, the special conference tagged ‘Pledge for Parity: st Empowering the 21 Century African Woman’, featured trainings in the areas of politics, agriculture and technology with the objective of empowering women to live out their full potentials.

In his opening remarks, Executive Director, SME 100 Mr Charles Odili said the time has come for Nigerian women to be competitive on a global level in the areas of politics, agriculture and technology. The country he noted, can only develop substantially if women make efforts at being professionals in these male-dominated sectors.

Launching the training plan for 1,000 Women Empowerment Training Programme, which is part of their annual commitment to move the women sector forward, Executive Director, Rubbies Vocational School, Mrs Orode Ryan-Okpu said there would be training in different vocations that best suit their locality. The training according to her, would be conducted by partnering with the House of Tara for the Make-up category, Otres Restaurant for catering category, Nuts About Cakes for baking category etc. She further stressed that, “Women in the rural areas in the country would not be left out of the training programmes plan for 2016.”

The speakers unanimously called on women to fight collectively against the scourge of poverty by becoming empowered with necessary skills that challenge the status quo.

In her presentation, Aisha Babangida emphasised on education of the girl child as key to empowerment of women in order to drive the much needed change in the country, adding that “ Individuals require tools and enabling environment to succeed.”

34 — SATURDAY Vanguard, APRIL 9, 2016

Award winners speak

By Emmanuel Aziken, Political Editor, Dapo Akinrefon, Charles Kumolu and Babajide Komolafe

I’m humbled by award —Alex Ekwueme

F

ormer Vice President of Nigeria, Chief Alex Ekwueme promised to continue to contribute to the development of Nigeria.

He said: “I thank Vanguard newspaper for the honour of this life achievement award for my modest contribution to Nigeria. I hope and trust that as time goes own, I shall continue to make our modest contribution in whatever way possible. I thank you all.”

From left: Mr Jim Ovia, Founder/Chairman, Zenith Bank Plc/Vanguard Businessman of the Year; Dr Oba Otudeko,Chai the occasion; Prince Dayo Adeyeye, Former Minister Of State For Works, representing Goodluck Jonathan and M Amuka,Chairman Vanguard Newspaper at The Vanguard Personality of the Year Awards 2015 in Lagos yesterday. P Akeem Salau

Otudeko. worthy of this I dedicate the award” award to I’m The award is a Borno people motivated to challenge to do

—Gov Shettima

I

What I have discovered tonight is that Jim Ovia has produced three governors in the North and South and even governor of money. I want to appreciate you.”

n his remarks, the governor of Borno Stare, Gov Kasim Shettima dedicated the award to the people of the Borno state.

He said “I wish to thank the management of Vanguard for deeming us fit to receive this award. Martin Luther King said “the true test of a man does not come during comfort and convenience but during times of crisis and challenges”.

I wish to dedicate this award to the indomitable will, to the courage and the spirit of resilience of the common man and woman in Borno, who in spite of the crisis, stood their ground and weathered the storm. We believe that what we are experiencing in Borno state is a temporary eclipse, the Borno sun will and start shining once again very soon. I wish to congratulate the other recipients, my governor colleagues , the former president and of course, my boss forever, the founder, the living legend, Mr Jim Ovia.

It was under his tutelage that I rose to the pinnacle of my career in Zenith bank.

This is a man who promoted me within the span of nine months. He called it reward for excellence, I call it a generosity of spirit, fairness and equity. Thank you so much and may God bless us all.

do more for the people —Gov Dankwambo

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eceiving the award, Governor Dankwambo said the award would propel him and his team to do more for the people of Gombe state.

He said: “I also want to dedicate this award to the people of Gombe state, who found me worthy the first time in 2011 to be elected as governor, the second time in 2015, to come back as the only PDP governor for the second time. I want to assure them that this award will continue to motivate and encourage me and my team to do more for the people of Gombe state.

“To my colleagues who have come from far and near, I want to say thank you and I want to assure you that the award is for you and for people of Gombe state. From today, this is a motivation for all of us to make sure we do our best for the people of Gombe state,” he said.

He also commended the management of Vanguard newspaper saying “Let me also join my other colleagues in thanking Vanguard newspaper for this honour that is bestowed on me today and to also thank them most sincerely for finding my father, my mentor, Oba

more—Gov Amosun

O

n his part, governor Ibikunle Amosun of

Ogun State, said the award is challenge for him to do more for the peo Ogun State.

Explaining the reason he accepted the award, he said “let me confess, for me aw like these are better received after the of Indeed, Uncle Sam and Vanguard did w nobody else has been able to achieve sin became governor and I have my reasons this. If you are elected to serve, people should wait until after the service when

The Nmwonwu Masquerade entertaining guests outside the venue during the V Eko Hotel, Victoria IslandLagos on Friday

SATURDAY Vanguard, APRIL 9, 2016 — 35

k

irman of Mr Sam Photo By

a ople of

e wards ffice. what nce I s for they

will see what we have done.

The governor of Edo state deserves the award too because he has a few months to go and everybody has seen what he has done in the last eight years. For me, I queried why I should come and take this award and they said “this is in recognition of what you did in the first term.”

Speaking shortly receiving the award, Amosun said “For me, this award is a challenge, Vanguard has put me on the spot and to the good people of Ogun state, you know what I have always said, it is in our interest when we have served our people. In the next three years, we will not be in a position to do anything. It is in our interest, when we are in the second term to do more than what we did in the first term.”

Assuring the people of Ogun state to put in his best, he said “let me assure the people of Ogun state, who truly are the owners of the award because there can be no leader without followers. Vanguard is challenging me and supporting the good people of Ogun state. For me, the reward of hard work is more work and we are going to do that work. I am happy today if you look at the hall, everybody from Ogun state, we have Chief Osoba as well, who has served Ogun state. That is what we are made of, that is the spirit.

We will not drop the ball because there are so many giants that have come before

Vanguard Personality of the Year 2015 held at

us, we are just struggling to leave our mark so that when we are long gone, people will say Amosun came and left Ogun state better than he met it. That is all I want.”

Commending Vanguard newspaper for bestowing the award on him, he said “thank you Vanguard for challenging me to work more for the people of Ogun state. For all of you, it is a clarion call that we need to work more, people are happy with what we have done but we need to work more, that is what this award us telling us. This award, like I said, is not for me, it is for the good people of Ogun state and all of you that we are running the show together.”

I dedicate this to Edo fighting spirit —Oshiomhole “I want to thank the Publisher and I will like to dedicate this award to the fighting spirit of the Edo man in Nigeria. The man I will like to celebrate if I was asked to vote, I will vote for Governor Shettima of Borno State. It is quite challenging to have his type even in a peaceful environment. Each time we hear of bomb explosions we express sympathy but Governor Shettima often expresses determination to defeat the forces of darkness.

As I said if I were to vote, I will vote for you. I am happy for you, I am happy for the people of Borno State and I congratulate you.

“And we in Edo State are hopeful that you will prevail. Around this time last year, you had courage to speak out that government was not doing enough and that insurgents were even more armed and well motivated.

Each time I see you I am impressed, so I congratulate you. To all my comrades including my wife I want to thank you for all you have done. What I have discovered tonight is that Jim Ovia has produced three governors in the North and South and even governor of money.

I want to appreciate you.”

I will continue to create more jobs —Jim Ovia

L

et me thank the board and management of Vanguard media. Definitely, there is only one thing in life that human beings appreciate more than money and that is recognition. Definitely, I really appreciate this award. Talking about the Shettima Nigerians don’t know, Shettima is a first class brain. You are going to hear more about Shettima, though I am not a politician whatever I have said is my personal opinion it does not reflect the opinion of any of my constituencies. Let me acknowledge my friends who are there in one or three tables. I am not campaigning for election, my shareholders can promote me if they want to promote me if I work hard and make more profit for them. I am a job creating machine and I will continue to create more jobs. And as I create more jobs, make more money for my constituency they will promote me. If I stop making profit for them, they will fire me the next day. In that regard, I want to thank my very good friend, Uncle, we call him uncle, don’t make the mistake of calling him his name we don’t do that in our culture. I want to thank him for doing a very good job in journalism and the media industry.

ROLL CALL •President Muhammadu Buhari represented by Minister of Information, Alhaji Lai Mohammed •Former Vice President, Dr Alex Ekwueme, •Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta state; •Governor Ibrahim Shettima of Borno State; •Governor Dakwanmbo of Gombe State; •Governor Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun State; •Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo state; •Lagos state deputy Governor, Dr. Oluranti Adegbule; •Former Governor of Ogun state, Aremo Olusegun Osoba; former •Commissioner of Information in Lagos state, Mr Dele Alake, who represented the National Leader of the APC, Asiwaju Ahmed Bola Tinubu; •former Managing Director of First Bank, Mr Bisi Onasanya; •Chief Mrs Oprah Benson; •Mr Patrick Obahiagbon, Chief of Staff to the Governor of Edo State; •Prince Ajibola Ogunsola of Punch Newspapers; •Mr Ladi Balogun Managing Director of FCMB; •Minister of Information, ALHAJI Lai Mohammed; •Chairman of Honeywell Group and Chairman of Vanguard Awards 2015, Chief Oba Otudeko; •Ms. Sally Mbanefo; former Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Chief Victor Attah; •former Information Commissioner in Edo state, Mr Louis Odion; •Commissioner for Information, EDO state, Prince Afegbua; •Nduka Obaigbena, Publisher of THISDAY Newspapers; •Senate Leader, Senator Ali Ndume; •Dr Muiz Banire, National Legal adviser of APC; •President of sickle cell foundation of Nigeria, Professor Olu and Mrs. Funke Akinyanju;

As I create more jobs, make more money for my constituency they will promote me. If I stop making profit for them, they will fire me the next day.

36—SATURDAY Vanguard, APRIL 9, 2016

Yoruba actresses date marketers to get movie roles — Yinka Smart

BY ROTIMI AGBANA

F

ast rising Yoruba movie actor, Yinka Smart, recently made a shocking revelation about the Yoruba movie industry.

He revealed that female Yoruba actresses usually have an upper hand over their male colleagues in securing movie roles because they go the extra mile with movie marketers.

According to him, movie marketers dictate the tune, the directors and producers plays the pipe, while actors/actresses dance to the tune. “Yoruba actresses usually have an upper hand over Yoruba actors because most of them date marketers.

Marketers dictate to the directors on who to feature in a movie, both for commercial and personal reasons. Females usually get movie roles more than males because they date these marketers. Though not all the marketers are involved in this act, the likes of KUSH, Corporate pictures, Toymax, Epsalum and a host of others, are innocent of this, because they are professionals at what they do.”

The embittered actor also lamented the age-long and ongoing disparity between Nollywood English and Yoruba film makers. In a chat with HVP, the actor who has featured in a number of popular Yoruba

Street to Programme:

Andy Chukwu turns social crusader P

•Yinka Smart

movies, taking leading or minor roles, lamented the superior air their English counterparts tend to have over Yoruba film makers.

“Nollywood English film makers believe that we, their Yoruba colleagues, are illiterates; that we cannot speak English. It’s outrageous and

extremely ridiculous for them to think so. They see us as inferior colleagues, whereas if you take a good look at the industry well, you would notice that the Yoruba movie industry is doing far better in terms of content, message, production quality, role interpretation, etc. So why would anyone think we are less good?”

IBINABO: Your life should be a testimony to God’s love —Regina Askia he air was filled with Ibinabo. visit the family of late Dr. T jubilation Thursday, She, however, appealed to Suraj. when embattled actress, the Lagos State government

Ibinabo

Ibinabo Fiberesima was let off the hook. But while it lasts, US-based Nigerian exbeauty queen, Regina Askia has urged the freed actress to ensure she uses her life as a testimony to God’s love and goodness to those that worship Him. The ex-beauty queen and actress who ruled the screens in the early 90s, gave this word of advice, while expressing gratitude to the court for granting Ibinabo bail.

“Ibinabo Fiberesima from now on, your life will be a testimony to God’s love and goodness towards all who worship Him,” Regina tells

and particularly, the family of late Dr. Giwa Suraj, to show mercy on the actress.

“Let us forgive ourselves, forgive those who have hurt us, and pray ceaselessly for those we have hurt,” said Regina.

Also, reacting to the development, the National Secretary of Actors Guild of Nigeria,AGN, Mohammed Yakubu said, “the entire industry is happy that Ibinabo has been granted bail. She has been sober all the while. We pray that God should continue to strengthen her.”

Yakubu disclosed that they are putting things in place to

Ibinabo was granted bail Thursday, with the sum of N2 million by Justice Jamilu Yammama Tukur of the Appeal Court, pending the determination of a suit she filed at the Supreme Court.

She was recently slammed a 5-year jail term by the Court of Appeal in Lagos, with Justice Jamilu Yammama Tukur dismissing her appeal on the ground that it was shallow and lacked merit.

She was convicted, following the death of a member of staff of Lagos State hospital, Giwa Suraj whom she killed in an accident along the Lekki-Epe Expressway in February, 2006.

Nollywood stars gather for ‘Hush’

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L-R: Richard Mofe Damijo; Wangi Mba-Uzoukwu, Regional Manager, M-net West Africa and Rotimi Adelegan during the HUSH Premier.

C M Y K

Skills

ast Friday, film and television stakeholders and enthusiasts gathered at the Four Points by Sheraton, Victoria Island, Lagos, to herald the launch of Africa Magic’s new telenovela, ‘Hush.’

The event which was hosted by ace compere and TV personality, Ebuka Obi-Uchendu, had in attendance some of Nollywood’s biggest names, including cast members of the new show like Richard Mofe-Damijo, Thelma Okoduwa, Meg Otanwa and Rotimi Adelegan amongst others.

Guests were treated to a screener of the telenovela, with individual cast and crew members discussing their experience with ‘Hush’ and what viewers should expect when the show premieres on Monday, the 4th of April.

T he Regional Director, M-Net West Africa, Wangi MbaUzoukwu said: “‘Hush’ is our exciting new telenovela which promises a lot of excitement, intrigue, suspense and romance. The show features a blend of Nollywood veterans and exciting new talents, and promises to be an exciting watch for our viewers across Africa. Many of our viewers remember our last telenovela, ‘Hotel Majestic’, and all the excitement that show brought to their screens.

OPULAR actor cum producer, Andy Chukwu, is more known as a film maker than a social crusader. But when he teamed up with the Ebony State government early this year to empower the youths from the state through its skill acquisition program tagged, “Street to Skills”, Andy earned the reputation of a social crusader.

Recently, the ace producer met with thousands of youths from Ebony State resident in Lagos, where he introduced the state government’s empowerment programme to them, vowing to get Ebonyians who are involved in street hawking off the road.

The secretary to state government, Professor Bernard Odoh, who was present at the event held at at O’Jez Restaurant, National Stadium, Surelere, also reiterated the state government’s resolve to empower the youths. “ At the end of the training exercise for the skill acquisition, the government has set aside adequate fund to empower the participants by way of either granting of soft loans, subvention and/or grant-in-aids to enable them establish and carry on with their new skills,” he said.

Speaking on the project, Andy said it’s designed to get Ebonyi youths off the streets and the highways. “By research, it has been proved that over 60 per cent of hawkers across the country are from Ebonyi State. If you ask 10 hawkers on the highway where they come from, you will be shocked to discover that seven of them would tell you they hail from Ebonyi. It has caused us a lot of embarrassment. It deals negatively with the image of Ebonyians. Aside the dangers involved in street hawking, these boys die on a daily basis. One of them fell inside the lagoon while trying to escape from KAI on third mainland bridge. The other one fell off from Maryland bridge and was crushed by a moving BRT bus,” Andy bemoaned.

•Andy Chukwu

SA TURD A Y Vanguard, APRIL 9 SATURD TURDA 9,, 2016—37

BY IYABO AINA

Amber Rose bares Rihanna it all in “Slut Walk” rocks the project

S

house!

Beyoncé opens up about her perfection, mental health, others

Jennifer Lopez gears up new single ‘Ain’t Your Mama’

exy screen diva, Amber Rose, is expanding her empire after acting in Sister Code and “Black ish, and writing her first book, How to Be a Bad Bitch.

The diva in a recent interview spoke about her misunderstood Beyoncé comments to Kehlani’s “unfortunate” controversy including her upcoming “Slut Walk 2016”.

About “Slut Walk”: Am just bringing awareness to rape culture, victimizing, double standards, slut-shaming. I feel like as women, we deal with that every single day, and a lot of people just don’t understand.

It’s an extreme form of bullying, especially slut-shaming.

I really felt like I brought a lot of awareness to it because now rappers are apologizing for calling girls hores. So, I think it’s just really cool.

Slut Walk 2016 will be in Brooklyn this year and L.A. It’s gonna be way bigger, way better, more controversial. You guys know, I don’t give a fuck. I speak my mind and it’s going to be really good this year. I’m looking forward to it.

Misunderstood comments about Beyoncé: Yeah, I’m huge fan of Beyoncé. The first two times I met her, I cried. But no, I was just basically saying that it was like classism because she is a superstar. It wasn’t even just Beyoncé. I’ve said the same thing about Pink and women that have “talent,” and I say “talent” in quotations. So there is no beef at all.

B

eyonce Knowles, popularly known by fans as Queen Bey, is finally opening up about herself after revealing a pair of stunning covers for ELLE magazine.

During the Q&A section, Bey gets candid about the “blessing” and “burden” behind her power. “It’s exciting,” she says. “But having the power to make every final decision and being accountable for them is definitely a burden and a blessing.

To me, power is making things happen without asking for permission. It’s affecting the way people perceive themselves and the world around them. It’s making people stand up with pride.”

Bey also responds to talk about her “perfection.” “It’s really about changing the conversation,” she explains. “It’s not about perfection. It’s about purpose. We have to care about our bodies and what we put in them. Women have to take time to focus on their mental health so that the world will see you.”

She also spoke about Ivy Park, the powerhouse’s new active-wear line, which was unveiled last week.

“It’s really the essence: to celebrate every woman and the body she’s in while always striving to be better,” she says. “I called it Ivy Park because a park is our commonality. We can all go there; we’re all welcomed. It’s anywhere we create for ourselves. For me, it’s the place that my drive comes from. I think we all have that place we go to when we need to fight through something, set our goals and accomplish them.”

C M Y K

A

fter premiering the revealing video for “Kiss It Better,” Rihanna was honored at BET’s “Black Girls Rock!” celebration on Friday Apr. 1, at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center in Newark.

While accepting the Rock Star Award at the annual event honoring black women, the 28-year-old singer gave a speech about being celebrated and wanting to inspire.

“Thank you so much for celebrating us in a world that doesn’t celebrate us enough,” she said. “The minute you learn to love yourself, you will not want to be anybody else.

Role model is not the title they like to give me, but I think I can inspire a lot of young women to be themselves and that is half the battle.

Hopefully one day I’ll be raising my own little black girl who rocks.”

A

s Jennifer Lopez gears up for this week’s “American Idol” finale, the superstar has announced a new single called “Ain’t Your Mama.”

While on backstage at “Idol,” she took to Facebook Live to reveal the title and preview the song.

“I ain’t gonna do your laundry, I ain’t your mama Boy, I ain’t your mama,” sings J.Lo over the boom-bap beat.

And according to reports, the song will be available for download immediately after she performing “Ain’t Your Mama” for the first time on the “Idol” series finale this Thursday, April 7.

Recall that She recently signed a new deal with L.A. Reid at Epic Records, where she plans to release her next album, the follow-up to 2014’s A.K.A. In addition to music and “Idol,” J.Lo can be seen on NBC’s “Shades of Blue,” which has been renewed for a second season, and in Las Vegas at her Planet Hollywood residency “All I Have,” which continues May 22.

38—SATURDAY VANGUARD, APRIL 9, 2016

Rotimi Agbana 08137741609

What we learnt from Wizkid, Linda Ikeji's social media war

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op blogger, Linda Ikeji and afropop star, Wizkid gave us a great show during the week by taking on each other on social media, spewing some almost unprintable things about each other. Wizkid fired the first salvo after Linda Ikeji had gone to town that the singer had been given quit notice by his landlord over unpaid rents of his Lekki residence.

However, from the rants of the two celebrities we learnt a few things that may be true or not, but worth watching out for.

In one of his rants, Wizkid blatantly told Linda “; “All those

shoes and bags still won’t help you keep a good man! You and your laptop will remain married for life…” It shows that Wizkid has a very low threshold for anger and seems a bit temperamental.

Everything Wizkid said about Linda seemed to have a little effect on the blogger except the claim by the singer that one of his directors has slept with her and left her in an hotel room.

Wizkid's quote can't be reproduced here because it is unprintable but Linda's reply was on point and showed the blogger was most worried by the assertion.

Adekunle Gold drops new single ‘Ready’

T

he much anticipated wait is over as YBNL nation sensation, Adekunle Gold, finally breaks the jinx by releasing his first single in 2016, titled ‘Ready’. By releasing this beautifully produced love song by Pheelz, Adekunle Gold joins the league of Nigerian artistes who have dropped something fresh for their fans and other music lovers. Hopefully, this single will help the budding artiste clinch a couple of awards this year.

Toyin Aimakhu vows not to remarry

E

motionally embattled Nollywood star actress, Toyin Aimakhu, has emphatically declared that she would rather remain a single woman or marry a white

man.

The controversial Yoruba actress who has been making news headlines in the past months over her tragic marriage and recently broken relationship with Seun Egbegbe, recently resorted to her social media page to state that she would never take her relationship issues online anymore because she has learn her lessons the hard way. In a recent interview, the actress revealed “married women are trying, may God give me the strength to marry again. I don’t think I can go through it anymore.

I will remain single or marry a white man.” Speaking on her relationship with her ex-husband, Adeniyi Johnson, she enthused “I got married to a Yoruba guy but I packed my load away because he loves girls too much.”

“Anyway, all that don’t matter, people have said worse to me…what I wanted to address is the part where he said I slept with his director and he left me in a hotel…that one I will definitely want to address, because some people actually believe it. That my dear friends, is a lie! Please continue…

First and foremost, I’ve never met Wizkid one on one. I’ve only seen him once in real life on stage at a show a few years ago. I’ve never met anybody who is his director. Guess he put that line in his comments to defame me.” she replied the singer “Trust me, if I knew someone was Wizkid’s director, I’d rather kill myself than sleep with him or any other

entertainer for that matter (except maybe he’s my husband..hehe) because I know how some of these entertainers are…they kiss and tell a lot” she added.

Another thing we learnt is that Linda is not happy with her marital status, at 35 going 36, every lady should be worried.

Is she getting laid as often as she should? Linda explained a bit of this in her own rant of not being quick to take a tumble in the sack.

“So, no, I have NEVER slept with Wizkid’s director. I live a celibate life..most of the time.

(Though, that has to end soon…I’m getting old and missing out on that part of life” she admitted.

Femi Adebayo declares he’s not a politician; bags new endorsement deal

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ollywood actor, Femi Adebayo, who was recently appointed Special Assistant to Kwara State Governor on Culture and Tourism, has declared that he is not a politician. In a recent interview, the star actor who recently clinched an endorsement deal with Kayode Obembe and Co Ltd, a real estate firm based in Lagos, set the records straight regarding rumors that he has quit acting for a political appointment. “I was called to serve and I would give it all I got. Serving as the special assistant to the governor of Kwara state is a

huge distraction but I do not mind because the society has given me so much and it is time for me to give back. I cannot remember the last time I went to a movie location. I am not a politician. It is an appointment and not an elective post.” We patiently wait to see if he won’t change the story after his appointment elapses.

Nigerian music industry is more lucrative than Ghana’s — Mr. Shaa

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hana based Nigerian artiste, Benjamin Lawrence Ogwehi, aka ‘Mr. Shaa’ is a new talent to look out for in the Nigerian music industry. The Delta state born singer who has been in Ghana doing what he knows how to do best, has planned his come back to the Nigerian music industry with the release of a hit single titled Oyajo. In a recent chat with Vanguard, the singer spoke on the Ghanaian and Nigerian music industry.

In his opinion, “The major difference between the Ghanaian and Nigerian music industry is in the area of distribution. No doubt Nigerian music industry is more lucrative than Ghanaian but the major difference is in piracy.

We have more cases of piracy in Nigeria than in Ghana. My passion for music and what I learnt from my mother who was the leader of a cultural music group has taught me to always endure challenges in my career, which is why I am still in the industry. I want Nigerians and the entire world to feel my music.” The singer revealed that he would have been an actor but because he didn’t want to work under anyone was why he chose to do music. The Afro pop singer blends native African music such as juju and high life with R n B and pop to convey the message in his music.

Uche Jombo, Ufuoma McDermott, Omoni Oboli dazzle at Wives on Strike premier

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HE long awaited Omoni Oboli movie, Wives on strike, premiered on Sunday night, 13 April, 2016 at the Genesis Deluxe Cinemas, Lagos, amidst pomp and pageantry. Uche Jumbo, Monalisa Chinda, OC Ukeje, Alex Ekubo, Ufuoma McDermott, Monalisa Chinda, Chioma Akpotha, Kehinde Bankole, Julius Agwu and Annie Idibia, were few of Nollywood celebrities captured on the red carpet, gorgeously and stunningly dressed.

The movie is a hilarious comedy that tells the story of a group of market women who decided to stand up for themselves against their husbands, in a conscious effort to stir them into standing up for a young girl whom they wanted to protect from the wishes of her own father.

As the women interpret their roles, a series of events are set in motion to give the movie many moments of laughter. Starring in the movie are; Uche Jombo, Chioma Akpotha, Ufuoma Mcdermott, Kehinde Bankole, Kalu Ikeagwu, Julius Agwu, Kenneth Okonkwo and others.

SATURDAY Vanguard Vanguard,, APRIL 9, 2016—39

t was Joseph Wood Krutch an essayist Iwhen and naturalist, writing on hunting says a man wantonly destroys one of the

works of man we call him a vandal but when he destroys one of the works of God we call him a sportsman. Merciful God for who we are but our concern today is the vandal,why he perpetrates his act and how to prevent him.

Vandalism is the malicious and deliberate destruction of private or public property.Historically, Vandals were members of the ancient Germanic tribe who came from Jutland in present day Denmark and settled along the Danube River. The Vandals conquered Gaul, present day France in 406 AD and invaded Spain in 409. Under their powerful king Gaiseric they defeated Rome, occupied northern Morocco and Algeria and conquered Carthage in 439.

The Vandals navy ruled the western Mediterranean Sea, looted and plundered Italy including Rome. Their power waned when King Gaiseric died in 477 and the Byzantine defeated them at Carthage in 534 AD. The modern usage of the word vandal reflects the dread and hostility the Vandals tribe precipitously looted and plundered Rome. Critical energy infrastructurevandalismhas assumed global dimension that protection cost governments billions of dollars.

CriticalEnergy infrastructure, a link between energy production and energy consumption is part of the larger Infrastructures that are for large scale public systems, services and facilities of a country necessary for economic activities.

Pipelines as energy infrastructure are important for refineries,petrochemical plants,gas plants, power generation, transportation and manufacturing.In Nigeria pipelines are those major links to refineries, petrochemical plants, storage facilities, terminalsand thermal electricity generating plants.

There are about 5000 km network of crude and multi-product pipelines linking four refineries, 10 gas plants, 10 export terminals including two offshore terminals in Bonny and Escravos, four jetties at Atlas Cove, Calabar, Warri and Okrika as well as 22 interlink storage depots belonging

Vandals and pipelines infrastructure protection to Pipelines and Products Marketing Company (PPMC) and 83 private depots for PMS, DPK and AGO. Pipelines are specialized form of transport mode that is very important to a nation’s developmental architecture. Nigeria’s pipelines crisscross the rivers, creeks, swamps and farmlands in the Niger Delta and to depots outside the region. Any disconnect puts consumption out of the reach of the intended user.

Nigerian pipelines have become vulnerable to attacks by vandals. Oil and gas pipelinesvandalismis the single most critical challenge in the industry today.

Pipeline vandalism makes government lose revenue from stolen crude oil and petroleum products.

Spilled oil from vandalism blights the environment and destroys aquaculture making some communities in the Niger

Critical energy infrastructurevandalismhas assumed global dimension that protection cost governments billions of dollars

Delta lose the essence of human existence.

Vandals exhibit their heinous and criminal acts to protest perceived injustice as in the Niger Delta before the Amnesty programme.They exhibit acts of terrorism and economic sabotage.

Nigeria lost about $10.9 billion to vandalism between 2008 and 2011 and it costs billions of Naira to repair damaged pipelines. The NNPC reported the January 21, 2016 militant attacks on the BonnyOkrika crude pipeline to the Port Harcourt refinery and the Escravos-Warri pipeline to Kaduna refinery caused the refineries to shut down. The gas pipeline sabotage on the Escravos-Lagos Pipeline system caused electricity generation capacity to drop nationwide. Is it the armed forces, police and security services, the NNPC, the oil companies or the communitiesthat protect the nation’s pipelines to determine their vulnerability? Age is a factor in monitoring pipelines to ascertainintegrity and safety nets. Studies have shown thatmajor explosions and leakages that occur along pipeline networks are operations based rather than deliberate attacks. State and non-state actorsand critical stakeholders exhibit blame culture when there are failings.Security agencies are accused of accessories’ after the fact;oil companies blame communities of being accomplices while communities feel pipelines do not conferimmediate economic benefits to them. So the blame game continues ad infinitum.

Communities are blamed for not assisting with relevant information for pipeline security even when we fail to

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rophetically I declare to you that before this year is over your enemies will help you tremendously. In your office the bosses that hate you the most shall recommend your promotion. This is your moment for the manifestation of physically. All those that are incensed and risen up against you are about to the pulled down for your sake.

Start to rejoice for this is your due season.

Most times our enemies rejoice thinking that they have us where they want us to be. They tend to forget that what they meant for evil God turns it around for our good. If you truly understand how God operates, you will be at peace even when everything around looks contrary to the glory of God upon your life. Don’t cry that the year is about to come to an end. God has been setting up your enemies and using them for your benefits without them knowing. The invisible hand of God upon your life is about to be seen.

Remember that our ways are not God’s ways, neither our thoughts His thoughts. This is not the time to murmur or complain. It is the time to look up to the hills from whence cometh your help. It comes from the God who created the heavens and the earth. The good news is, this God is on your side if you are born again.

Often in the bible, you find cases where the enemy thinks he has won only to find out that he is the loser at the end of the day. Your destiny is not in the hands of any man but in the hands of the almighty

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Your enemies will help you God who created you for a divine assignment. Your assignment shall be accomplished and God shall be glorified. Know that God neither sleeps nor slumbers. He is the God that keepeth Israel. Surely He will keep you until He has done all that He has decreed concerning you. Who is he that has spoken and shall come to pass when the Lord has not spoken? God has the final say and only His counsel shall stand in your life.

Now let’s look at some instances in the bible of people that were helped by their enemies. In Gen. 37, Joseph had a dream and told his brothers.

They plotted against him saying, “come now therefore, and let us slay him, and cast him into some pit, and

we will say, some evil beast hath devoured him: and we shall see what will become of his dreams. They however ended up selling him into slavery thinking that was his end.

What they failed to understand was that they did not know when or where the dream will manifest.

Meanwhile, God had used Joseph brothers to launch Joseph towards the manifestation of the dream. On getting to Egypt, in Gen. 39, he was bought by Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh. In the process of time, Potiphar ’s wife lied against Joseph and he was put in the prison, a place where the king’s prisoners were bound. Now if you have never read the end of this story, you will be wondering why an innocent person

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_cr m@yahoo.com.

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

Worship with us on Sundays, 1st Service: 7.45 am – 9:15am; 2nd service 9:15 – 11:30am. Wednesday World 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 – 7.15am.

educatethem on the dangers inherent in pipeline bursts or leaks.Pipelines in most communities have become sources of horror in Nigeria. The late 1990s Jesse pipeline burst was horrendous and caused horror claiming over 1000 lives who ignorantly attempted to eke out bare existence from scooping highly flammable Premium Motor Spirit. The law has not helped the communities either. Pipelines as dangerous facilities are located along or close to settlements.The Land Use Act of 1978 limits compensation to trees and structures excluding land acquired for pipelines. Communities acquiescently accept their fate in the midst of perceived injustice by oil infrastructure operators.

What solutions are there for pipeline infrastructure vandalism? Special Critical Infrastructure Protection emerged in most western countries during the cold war between the United States and the defunct Soviet Union. Special protection gained attention in the late 1990s and early 2000s after the 9/11high profile attacks, according to the Global Gas Transport Research published in 2013. Among the developed countries, large scale cyber-attacks on pipeline are taking place that had never been imagined. The first widely reported cyber-attack was in 1982 when the Soviet Union accused the United States of planting a Trojan in the Trans -Siberian Pipelines Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) which resulted in a massive explosion. A comprehensive nationwide plan is therefore needed to ramp up protection to pipeline infrastructure. Most countries in the Middle East now protect their energy infrastructureslike they do to military bases.

Security personnelon physical security guard duty should be encouraged with adequate welfare and insurance schemes for enhanced performance.

Even as we contemplate using information technology to protect our pipeline infrastructure, a national computer emergency team should be assembled to deal with Trojan horses that couldinjected intoour security systems architecture.

Above all an ethical reorientation to prick our emotions is urgently needed for all state actors, vandals and all stakeholders in the country. should be made to suffer unjustly.

But then, no matter what you think, God is God. Because He already knows our end He is not moved by things that moves us. Up till this point you would have thought that truly, Joseph brothers have destroyed his dreams. Again, in the process of time Joseph was brought before Pharaoh whom God used to elevate Joseph to the place where in line with Joseph’s dreams, his brothers bowed before him. The question therefore is, did his enemies help him to fulfill his purpose? The answer of course is yes.

What about the case of Mordecai vs.

Hamaan in the book of Esther.

Hamaan got the kink to sign a decree to kill all the Jews of which mordecai was one of them. It was so obvious to Hamaan that Mordecai’s death was only a matter of time. However, God had a plan of elevation for Mordecai.

In the process of time, Hamaan came to get approval to hang Mordecai but instead he ended up recommending Mordecai for great honour, while he was hanged in the same gallows that he had prepared to hang Mordecai.

God used Mordecai’s enemy to help him. Again, I prophesy that your enemies shall help you greatly before this year is over and the blessings of God shall be evident round about you. Also, our great nation Nigeria shall be greatly helped to fulfill her place in destiny.

Have you given your life to Jesus?

If not, please pray this prayer.

Father, I come to you as I am. I invite Jesus into my life to be my personal Lord and Saviour. Wash me cleanse with the blood of Jesus and empower me with the power of your Holy Spirit. Thank you Father for saving my soul and making me your child.

40—SATURDAY Vanguard, APRIL 9, 2016

Foreign airlines groan over Buhari's policies •Can't transfer their funds •Raise air fares by more than 100%

By LAWANI MIKAIRU

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any have always asked: why is it difficult or almost impossible for economic principles that work in other places to work or be applicable in Nigeria? Once prices of goods or services go up, they never come down. Market forces hardly apply or are not allowed to apply.

Despite fall in the price of crude oil which consequently led to the fall of the price of aviation fuel in the international market, foreign airlines who have always used the high cost of aviation fuel as excuse to charge high fares, continue to charge Nigerians going to Europe, or any destination, astronomical fares compared to what these same airlines charge travelers in other parts of the world.

What reasons do the foreign airlines have for these arbitrary charges? One of the reasons given by the representatives and spokespersons of these foreign airlines when interviewed by Vanguard is the current lingering foreign exchange scarcity, which they claimed has made it difficult for them to repatriate their ticket sales proceeds for several months. The airlines claimed that the operating environment in Nigeria is now very harsh and this is making them take some harsh decisions It will be recalled that two weeks ago, the National Union of Air Transport

Employees ,NUATE, revealed that foreign airlines planned to sack about 2,000 Nigerian workers due to what they claimed was their inability to transfer their earnings to their respective home countries to meet operational costs in accordance with international rules because of new Central Bank of Nigeria , CBN, policy on forex and fund transfer.

In a letter addressed to the Minister of State for Aviation, Senator Hadi Sirika and made available to newsmen, Acting General Secretary of NUATE, Comrade Olayinka Abioye said the plan has destabilized the affected workers, adding that the Federal Government should wade in and prevent the huge job loss.

According to Abioye , “ The reason being adduced for this danger is that their earnings in the past year are under lock with the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN , as they are unable to transfer these earnings to their respective home countries to meet operational costs in accordance with international rules.” “Following concerns raised recently by leaders of these workers and other stakeholders and in appreciation of the good intent of the government’s fiscal policy, we humbly make this clarion call for your (Minister's) intervention to grant foreign airlines concession to repatriate their proceeds to their home countries,” he said. The foreign airlines said there is now “ Foreign exchange risk” and this is now a major

component in determining airfares on Nigerian routes . Investigation by Vanguard revealed that the airlines operating on international routes in the country have increased airfares by as much as 100 per cent as a result of this development. They said government forex policies had become harsh and that they found it difficult to transfer their funds to their headquarters. A survey of all the major Nigerian routes flown by the foreign airlines in the country showed that the cost of return tickets had been increased by between 80 per cent and 120 per cent of the previous fares, depending on the carrier, time of booking and the passengers volume.

Subject to last minute changes Airfares on the Lagos-London and Abuja-London routes now cost an average of N380,000 for the economy class seat, as against the average of N200,000 a year ago on the British Airways and Virgin Atlantic Airways. This represents an increase of 111 per cent.”Also, on Air France, an economic ticket on the Lagos/AbujaLondon routes now goes for about

N360,000, while Lufthansa German Airlines charges N380,000. These represent an increase of 80 per cent and 90 per cent, respectively, when compared with an average fare of N200,000 on the routes a year ago. A Business Class ticket now goes for as high as N3m as against the N1.5m a year ago on the LagosLondon route. On the Lagos-Atlanta and Lagos-Houston routes, Delta Airlines and United Airlines, which used to fly Economy Class passengers for between N270,000 and N330,000 some 12 months ago, now charge an average fare of N600,000, depending on the time of booking. “South Africa Airways which used to fly the Lagos-Johannesburg routes for between N100,000 and N120,000 for the economy class, now flies the route for between N180,000 and N220,000, depending on the time of booking and the season. The Lagos-Paris route, which used to go for N180,000 on the average, now goes for around N400,000. This represents an increase of 120 per cent.

Most of the representatives and spokespersons of these foreign airlines refused to have their names in print as they claimed that airfares and operational polices are determined at their various headquarters abroad and they have to seek clearance from their head offices to make statements on policy matters.

Nigerian carriers like Arik Air and Medview Air who ply international routes have also been accused of increasing airfare. But Arik Air Communication Manager, Mr Adebanji Ola said “Allegations making the rounds that Arik Air has increased fares on the London Heathrow, New York JFK and Johannesburg routes are untrue. “ “We wish to make it clear that we have not increased fares on any of our routes (international, regional or domestic) in the recent past. Also, we charge our fares in Naira at the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) official rate. “

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44—SATURDAY Vanguard, APRIL 9, 2016 NPFL FIXTURES Today Rangers v Ifeanyi Ubah Tomorrow Heartland Abia Warriors Akwa Utd El Kanemi Ikorodu Utd Kano Pillars Plateau Warri Wolves

v v v v v v v v

4pm Rivers Utd Lobi Tornadoes Shooting Stars Sunshine Stars Nasarawa Giwa MFM

4pm 4pm 4pm 4pm 4pm 4pm 4pm 4pm

Pillar een ttoo rebound Pillarss kkeen agains aw againstt Nasar Nasaraw awaa

BY JOHN EGBOKHAN oach Mohammed Baba C Ganaru left Nasarawa United last year, to team up

Rangers battle Ifeanyi Ubah for top spot

BY JOHN EGBOKHAN

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s this the season that Rangers will end their 31-year wait to win the Nigerian Premier League title? Is this the year that the irrepressible fans of the Flying Antelopes will sip the champagne to celebrate their seventh league title, and equal Enyimba’s amazing seven titles under their belt?

A glimpse of what to come will be served today hen Rangers host Ifeanyi Ubah FC to a top of the table clash at the Nnamdi Azikwe Stadium.

Ifeanyi Ubah set the pace

in the 10 week-old league, topping the table with 19 points, one more that second-placed Rangers, who however will leapfrog their rivals from Nnewi, with a two-point cushion if they win today’s Oriental derby in Enugu.

To say there there is no love lost when these two Oriental sides clash is to beating a dead horse. Games between these eastern foes tend to generate high-octane fireworks and today’s game holds more significance because whoever win, will put some daylight between them and their closest rivals.

Curtain falls on NTF tennis clinic in Niger

with Kano Pillars, a move that brought mixed fortunes for both teams. While Pillars, who had won the Nigerian title on three consecutive occasions ran into a bad patch of form when Ganaru joined them, things picked up for Nasarawa, who eventually picked a ticket to play in CAF Confederation Cup, a big deal for a side, who had never achieved such a lofty feat before.

Nasarawa also recorded one of the most sensational results ever seen in the

•Rangers player

Rangers coach, Imama Amapakabo is under no illusion of the enormity of today’s game to Rangers fans, who are dreaming of winning the title, after their last hurrah in 1984. The other times they won the title were in 1974, 1975, 1977, 1981 and 1982, making them the second best club in the country, after Enyimba, in terms of trophy haul.

Speaking on the match, Amapakabo said “it is going to be a tough test of our character and we hope to give our best and get the best possible result from this important game”.

Countries scramble for Okpekpe Race

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he desire of the Nigeria Tennis Federation to take tennis to the grassroots has received a massive boost with the organisation of the Niger Holiday Tennis Clinic in Minna, Niger State.

According to the coordinator, Seidu Musa, no fewer than 40 kids from primary and secondary schools in Niger State are being introduced to the game in order to avoid the vacuum that will be created when the senior players vacate the scene in a few years time.

Musa, an ITF Bornze badge referee, who has officiated in grand slams such as Wimbledon Open, Australian Open and US Open as well as the Olympics, said the kids were being familiarized with the latest techniques in the sport under its catch them young theme at the Minna Tennis Club, He commended the Engr. Sani Ndanusa-led NTF board for its support for the week-long clinic ending today. He added that theNTF provided all the balls and racquets in addition to logistics for the programme.

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Nigerian top-flight when they ended Pillars 12-year unbeaten run at the Sani Abacha Stadium in Kano on August 24 in 2015.

The last time Pillars lost in front of their vociferous home fans was way back in 2003, slumping to 2-1 defeat to the now defunct Julius Berger.

That loss to Nasarawa opened Pillars up to all sort s of negative results, conceding the title to Enyimba and finishing out of place to play continental football.

And it is this mindset that Pillars will play Nasawara at the Sani Abacha Stadium tomorrow.

Fresh from a 2-0 defeat to Giwa in Jos, Pillars boss, Mohammed Baba Ganaru is keen to bounce back from the midweek setback and turn the table on his former club, who he admitted made him have sleepless night after ending Pillars 12- year unbeaten home run “It was a sleepless night for me after that home loss in Kano. I did not see it coming. In fact, I thought, with the inside knowledge I had of Nasarawa, I was expecting a routine win but they shocked us and made my night one of the longest night.

“That result showed that no matter how long a record stands it would be broken.

We have high hopes this season to reclaim our title from Enyimba and for us to do that, we have to start winning, beginning with this weekend’s game against Nasarawa”, added Baba Ganaru.

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•Ndanusa

head of the May 7 Okpekpe International road race in Edo State, countries have continued to show interest to participate in the 10km race.

In its fourth year, the Okpekpe Road race is one of the internationally certified road races in the world and this year’s edition promises to be bumper and exciting going by the activities being lined up by the organisers, who noted during the week

that no fewer than eight countries have confirmed their participation in next month’s race in Okpekpe, Auchi.

According to the spokesman, Dare Esan, “Kenya, Ethiopia, Eritrea, Israel, Uganda, Morocco, Bahrain and of course Nigeria.

Our international elite athletes manager,Walter Abmayr also confirmed the participation of athletes from seven countries abroad for the race.

‘This is in fulfilment of the IAAF conditions for a label race.

The rules state that all label races, from gold to bronze must have a certain number of international elite field spread across four or five countries depending on the class of the label,’ said Esan.

The Okpekpe international 10km road race is the only IAAF label road race in West Africa and one of only two in Africa this year. It is organised by Pamodzi Sports Marketing in conjunction with the Athletics

SATURDAY Vanguard, APRIL 9, 2016 — 45

CAF CHAMPIONS LEAGUE:

Enyimba ready ttoo rumble with Et oile Etoile It promises to be an explosive round of high-octane football tomorrow as Enyimba confront

Tunisian giants Etoile du Sahel in a CAF Champions League final round first leg match at the

Jos court sacks Amaju Pinnick, NFF appeals

By Marie-Therese Nanlong, Jos A Jos court has sacked the Executive Committee of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) led by Amaju Pinnick and ordered Chris Giwa to take over the leadership of Nigerian football, saying he was duly elected in 2014.

Justice Musa Haruna Kurya of the federal high court yesterday morning granted the prayers of Yahaya Adama and Obinna Ogba to not only relist the suit in the tussle of the leadership of the NFF, but also upheld all the previous orders of the court effectively making Giwa the head of the federation until the final determination of the suit.

But the NFF has appealed against the ruling.

Two years ago, Giwa claimed he had been elected president of the NFF, but world football governing body FIFA did not endorse the vote. His case was also thrown out by the Court of Arbitration for Sports (CAS).

It is recalled that in October 2014, the same Federal High Court sitting before Justice Ambrose Allagoa had ruled against the election that brought the Pinnick board into the football federation saying “I have set aside all the proceedings and decisions of the Warri Extra Ordinary meeting of the 20th September and the Elective Congress of 30th September which were direct contravention of the orders of this court as granted on the 19th September.”

•Giwa It would be recalled that the Ambassador Giwa led group had gone to court and withdrawn the case in October 2014, but then later went to the Court of Arbitration for Sports, which threw out their case.

In September 2014, then Delta FA chairman Pinnick was elected NFF boss to replace Aminu Maigari.“It is now expected that FIFA will step into this latest row particularly as they frown at football matters being addressed in a civil court.

Meanwhile, immediately it got the verdict of the court in Jos, the Nigeria Football Federation swiftly moved to file an appeal, a motion to vacate the order and a motion for a stay-of-execution

•Pinnick against the judgement of the Jos High Court, which on Friday decided to re-list a case brought by Ambassador Chris Giwa against the validly – elected NFF administration of Amaju Melvin Pinnick. In relisting the case for hearing on 30th May this year, the court shockingly also restored the order that the election and Congress of 30th September 2014 be nullified.

However, since an appeal, a motion to vacate the order and a stay-of-execution has been filed, on the same day as the judgement, the status quo remains.

“This is a sad one primarily

because we have enjoyed a period of peace and have been able to work without the courttoday-court-tomorrow situation of the last half of 2014.

“We have filed for stay-ofexecution and that means the status quo remains and anything done is done at the actors’ peril. I can assure football –loving Nigerians that there is no reason to panic as we are in full charge and there is no trouble whatsoever. There is no order for the Giwa group to take over the Glass House. In fact many of his so called board members have called to dissociate themselves from the matter,” NFF 1st Vice President Seyi Akinwunmi said on Friday.

Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium, Port Harcourt.

The Aba Elephants are the lone Nigerian club left playing continental football this season and carry the weiight of expectations of a nation, whose fans are yet to come to terms with the early exit of the national team vene before the qualifying race for Gabon 2017 is yet to end..

At a time when fans expectations are waning and thinning out, Enyimba striker, Abu Azeez has said his club were determined to overcome Etoile du Sahel to reach the lucrative group stage of this year’s competition.

Enyimba go into tomorrow’s game looking for a goal cushion heading into the second leg holding in the weekend of April 19 to 20 in Sousse Speaking on what to expect, striker Azeez said “We have to be in the group stage and therefore we are going to fight for it. This is the Champions League, if you want to go far you must overcome small and big teams.

“I would really love to play against Etoile du Sahel. These are the sort of games that as a player you look forward to.

“But if I don’t make the team, it won’t matter too much as we have the right players who can beat them anywhere. It is just for us as a team to work together and play with determination. If we are determined, Etoile can’t stop us.”

Tonight’s IBF heavyweight title fight:

Martin vows to confuse Joshua

Charles Martin is planning to use a blueprint perfected

by Floyd Mayweather when he makes the first defence of his IBF heavyweight title against the “stiff ” Anthony Joshua in London tonight.

Despite the fight being only his 16th as a

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professional and the fact he still looked raw in his last, when stopping Dillian Whyte in seven largely competitive rounds in December, Olympic gold medallist Joshua will be the favourite when he challenges the similarly-inexperienced

•Joshua

American. Martin, 29, is convinced that Joshua is as one-dimensional as he appeared against Whyte, however, even if the 26-yearold was fighting with emotion.

“I noticed Joshua said he was going to do something to get me out of my rhythm, because I am so calm,” the relaxed Martin explained. “(But) one thing about me is I can adjust. I noticed that in Floyd Mayweather, the master of adjustments: bring it this way, adjust to this. All these things are natural.

“For this particular kind of fight, I’m going to let it come to me. Whatever he has, keep my eyes on him, watch his openings, when he messes up, that’s when I’m going to counter.

“That ain’t nothing new, a guy that’s more muscular

than me, more buffer, taller.

It don’t matter, ‘cause I’m a smart fighter. He’s a big bloke. This leg is stiff like I don’t know what, I’d be surprised if I see him bend his knee when he steps out.

“If he bends his knee, I’d be like ‘Oh s***, I’m

impressed’. Right now, he’s stiff like I don’t know what.

The way he sets up, and commits, all that committing, you’ve got to be careful with committing ‘cause counter punchers knock you out. You gotta be careful when you come in. I don’t see him taking anything off of the shots. That’s what’s going to be bad for him.”

46—SATURDAY Vanguard, APRIL 9, 2016

2018 World

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BY JOHN EGBOKHAN igeria’s failure to qualify for the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations in Gabon last week in Alexandria has thrown up the issue of the need or otherwise of hiring a foreign coach to tinker the team to greater heights after the seeming failure of Stephen Keshi to qualify the team for Equatorial Guinea 2015, Sunday Oliseh’s poor outing in Tanzania that plunged Nigeria into a pit and Samson Siasia’s botched effort to lift Nigeria on the flight to Gabon 2017.

The President of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Amaju Pinnick stoked the fire last week when he told Sports Vanguard in Alexandria that his mind was made up on the employment of a foreign gaffer to manage the team before the start of the 2018 World Cup. “I feel saddened that we could not get a favourable result from here. We’re going to get a foreign manager for the team”, Pinnick said before boarding the chartered flight back to Abuja. It is on record that Nigeria have had 19 foreign coaches since association football started in the country in 1949. The long list comprises John Finch of England, Les Courtier from England, Israeli Moshe Jerry Beit haLevi, Hungarian George Vardar, Brazilian Jorge Penna, Hungarian Joseph Ember, German Karl-Heinz Marotzke, German Othman Calder, Jelisavic ‘Tiki’ Tihomir from Yugoslavia, Brazilian Otto Glória, German Gottlieb Göller, German Manfred Hoener, Dutch Clemens Westerhof, Johannes Bonfrere from Holland Frenchman Philippe Troussier, Serb Bora Milutinovic, Dutch Thijs Libregts, Berti Vogts and Lars Lagerback.

And of all these lot, only the late Otto Glória and Westerhof who won the Nations Cup for Nigeria. Westerhof went one step further, qualifying the team for their first World Cup in USA 1994 and getting to the round of 16, a feat which was equaled by Keshi at the 2010 World Cup in Brazil.

Bora Milutinovic also got the team to the round of 16 stage, the best height Eagles have reached in the five World Cup appearances. But it was in the Westerhof era that Nigerian football actually blossomed.

The Dutch worked for the general development of the game more than any Nigerian coach. He went for talent hunting and developed a programme of training that saw many local players turning stars and moving to Europe.

He was passionate about the job more than any other coach.

For a country with a notoriety for hiring and sacking coaches at will, NFF’s preference for a foreign coach sounds all too familiar and mechanical as it’s always fair and convenient for Nigerian coaches to get the chop anytime the team fails to achieve a set target or even get on the wrong side of administrators, like was the case with Shuaibu Amodu and Stephen Keshi in the run-up to the 2002 World Cup in Korea and Japan.

If any coach has suffered more vilification as it were in the course of serving the country, Amodu must surely be that person.

Instead facing the issues headlong and coming up with a sustainable programme, it seems administrators from our clime like the quick-fix solution, like the hiring of Lars Lagerback on February 27, 2010 to take Eagles to the World Cup in South Africa, the same year.

Nigerians cannot forget in a hurry how the Eagles finished last in a seemingly easy group comprising Argentina, Greece and South Korea, losing their opening two games 1-0, 21 respectively before drawing 22 with the Koreans.

That was our most recent romance with a foreign coach, which backfired on the faces of those who hired Lagerback, good coach with a big reputation but who sadly did not understand the temperament of Nigerian football and had to abandon the team in South Africa, returning to his Swedish home, after miming money which administrators would never pay local coaches.

•Alex Iwobi

Ode Tari fear con

•Pinnick With some months to the start of the 2018 World Cup qualification campaign, Pinnick’s search for a foreign coach looks ill-timed.

For a country still owing local coaches wages when they served the national team, the talk of hiring a foreign coach seems insensitive and provocative.

A former Eagles goalkeeper, Idah Paterside said it was

SATURDAY Vanguard, APRIL 9, 2016—47

d Cup and Foreign coach:

egbami, ibo express r,Pinnick nfident •Westerhof

•Taribo •Odegbami unconscionable to think of hiring an expatriate coach for the national team given NFF’s inability to pay local coaches salaries for work already done.

“How can they think of hiring a foreign coach when they can’t even pay salaries of Nigerian coaches as and when due?

Attempting to worm his way into the hearts of nay-sayers like Petersise, Pinnick said the money to pay the foreign coach was going to be provided by the private sector.

“There is nothing to worry about the payment of salary for the foreign manager. His wages will be taken care of by the private sector. We’ve concluded that and it will not cost Government anything”.

But this statement did not go

down well with former World Cup defender, Taribo West, who said Nigerian heroes have been abused by successive administrators, who have run NFF and the Sports Ministry.

“Those managing football have disrespected our coaches and players,” Taribo told BBC Sport.

“The problems we are facing now started a long time ago and the slide will continue with these sets of politicians and self-serving people in charge of our football.

“Where’s the structure for development in our football? The only thing we hear daily are those fighting for power and control of the game. “They lack the technical ability to reshape the country’s football and that is the sad truth.”

While Pinnick sees hope in the team that lost to Egypt in Alexandria, 1980 Nations Cup winner, Segun Odegbami insists there needs to be consistency in the coaching department, but warns that only competent

administrators can stop the game from going downhill.

“Until the foundation is strengthened and properly reinforced everything that you build on it will collapse the way it has this time around,” he said.

“Poor results have everything to do with the way the coaches have been shuffled like musical game of chairs.

“Now the NFF president has said he wants a foreign coach but who are the foreign coaches that will come here?

“These are all journeymen. The top coaches will not come to Nigeria - they will just come, milk the country, live in Europe, collect big money and will not do anything. “We are in a big mess created by the NFF board and I don’t know how we are going to come out of this with the 2018 World Cup coming soon. It’s a failure on the part of the administrators.

“Unfortunately, we are no longer one of Africa’s football powerhouses. If we do not qualify for the Nations Cup two times in a row, how do you call yourself a giant?”

Pinnick’s passion for a foreign coach is not shared by a former supremo of the NFF, Anthony Kojo Williams, a man who ironically has always been in the forefront of the hiring a foreign coach for the national team.

•Samson

•Lagerback

Having been part of the Westerhof ’s experiment, which Nigerians recognise as the best period for Nigerian football, Kojo’s romance with football predates more than 40 years.

“We need to declare a state of emergency on our football and get a consortium of coaches to handle the team as it were because these local coaches have simply done little to raise their game. The system is bad in Nigeria and we must return to the blueprint that made us to succeed more than 17 years ago.

“Besides, there is need for stakeholders to brainstorm and marshal out a football philosophy for the national teams, so that players from the Golden Eaglets fit easily into the Flying Eagles, then the Olympic team before joining the Super Eagles. The national teams must have the same philosophy, playing style, not the disjointed pattern we have now”, added Kojo.

A passionate Pinnick remains positive that Nigeria will qualify for Russia 2018, despite the fact that Eagles will come up against tougher oppositions in the qualification race, after crashing out two matches before the conclusion of the AFCON 2017 qualification series.

“I feel saddened that we could not qualify for Gabon 2017. From what we have seen in their display, there is hope for Nigerian football. And we are going to ensure that Nigeria qualify for the World Cup. “I must also commend the services of coach Siasia who has shown his capacity in putting up a team we are all proud of. Siasia will go back to his U-23 team and prepare a team that will win Olympic gold for Nigeria. We’ll give him all the necessary tools he needs to achieve that. I commend him”, said Pinnick.

But Ex-international Yisa Sofoluwe said Siasia should be retained to handle the qualifying campaign for Russia 2018, given his performance in the two matches against Egypt.

“He did well even though he did not qualify the team. It was not his fault. The time is too short for the campaign to start and changing coaches will only create further confusion. Let us stick with him and give him all the support”, said Sofoluwe.

SATURDAY Vanguard, APRIL 9, 2016

2018 WORLD CUP AND FOREIGN COACH:

Odegbami, Taribo express fear, >>46/47 Pinnick confident

Jos court sacks Amaju Pinnick, NFF appeals

>>45

CHAMPIONS LEAGUE:

Enyimba ready to rumble with Etoile >>45

ACROSS 1 Head of Civil Service of the Federation, Mrs. Winifred – (3,3) 4 Comptroller-General, Nigerian Immigration Service (NCS), Mr. Martin Kure – (6) 7 African Waterbuck – (3) 8 State in Nigeria Known as “The Salt of the Nation”? – (6) 9 Lebanese Capital City – (6) 10 Niger state Deputy Governor, Mr. Ahmed – (5) 13 Lagos State Capital – (5) 15 L.G.A in Bayelsa State – (5) 17 Country in Africa – (5) 18 Fourth Month of the Year – (5) 20 Greek Alphabet – (5) 23 Delta State Capital – (5) 26 L.G.A in Abia State – (6) 2 7 A b i a Wa r r i o r s F C Chairman, Chief Emeka – (6) 28 Headgear – (3) 29 Enyimba FC Goalkeeper, Chijioke – (6) 30 Former Delta State Deputy Governor, Chief Amos – (6)

•Pinnick

•Giwa

Countries >>44 scramble for Okpekpe Race

DOWN 1 Imo State Capital – (6) 2 Executive S e c r e t a r y, National Universities Commission (NUC), Professor Julius – (6) 3 Former Super Falcons Skipper, Mercy – (5) 4 P a l e s t i n e P r e s i d e n t , M r.

Mahmoud – (5) 5 Minister of State for Aviation, Senator Hadi – (6) 6 France Premiership ClubSide – (6) 10 Indonesian Vi c e President, Mr. Jusuf – (5) 11 Shin-Bone – (5) 12 Speaker, Lagos State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Mudashiru – (5) 14 Laos Currency – (3) 16 Total – (3) 18 Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi – (6) 1 9 N i g e r r e p u b l i c ’s P r i m e Minister, Mr. Brigi – (6) 21 L.G. A in Rivers State – (6) 24 Special Adviser to the Presidency on Media & Publicity, Mallam Garba – (5) 25 Kano Pillars Chairman, Alhaji Kabiru – (5)

CROSS WORD PUZZLE

Solution on page 45

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