Reckless: Revenue Commission allocates V14.4bn severance pay to govs

C M Y

PAGE 2—SUNDAY VANGUARD, MAY 10, 2015

C M Y K

SUNDAY VANGUARD, MAY 10, 2015, PAGE 3

C M Y K

PAGE 4—SUNDAY VANGUARD, MAY 10, 2015

C M Y K

SUNDAY VANGUARD, MAY 10, 2015 — PAGE 5

20 killed as insurgents invade village in Borno

BY NDAHI MARAMA, MAIDUGURI

N

o fewer than 20 people, including 12 terrorists, were killed, while sc ores sustained gunshot injuries when a group of suspected Boko Haram insurgents invaded Ngulde Village of Askira/ Uba Local Government Area of Borno State.

Ngulde is in the south and about 80km drive from Askira and just some 40 kilometres away from

Chibok Local Government Area which shares local border with Sambisa forest.

This is the second time Ngulde is witnessing Boko Haram attack - the first was in 2014 when the insurgents attacked the town but only burnt down the Police post.

Sources said the insurgents connived with some residents of the village suspected to be collaborators of Boko Haram on Wednesday at about 12 noon and wrecked havoc on innocent civilians,

which led to the killing of eight residents with several others injured, before setting ablaze some houses, places of worship and shops.

The source added that “with quick intervention of members of vigilantes (Local hunters), no fewer than 12 of the insurgents were killed while others fled with various degrees of injuries.

“Our village came under deadly attack on Wednesday when some group of terrorists armed with AK47

rifles, Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) and petrol bombs, invaded our village claiming many lives in the process while properties worth millions of naira were destroyed. Our vigilante group confronted them and repelled the attack, killing a dozen of the terrorists.

“As I am speaking to you now, most of our people including old, aged parents have fled the village as the terrorists vowed to come back and sack the whole

village”, a surviving resident and reliable source revealed in a telephone interview with Sunday Vanguard.

Another resident (names withheld for security reasons) also said that they had to flee the village and return back on Thursday to bury the dead according to religious rites.

“The terrorists killed eight of our people including an 80 year old man, injured several others and looted foodstuff and livestock before they also

met their waterloo from the hands of our Local hunters”, a resident who did not want his name mentioned in print stated.

All efforts to confirm the incident from the Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Gideon Jubrin, did not yield positive result as his cell phones were switched off. However, a reliable security source who is not authorised to talk to the press confirmed the attack and killings in Ngulde on Wednesday afternoon.

Gov Chime,Enugu Speaker feud: Lawyer petitions EFCC

BY FRANCIS IGATA orried by the revelation that W Governor Sullivan Chime of Enugu State allegedly forged the 2012 s u p p l e m e n t a r y appropriation law, an Enugu-based lawyer has petitioned the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, to quickly investigate the matter.

This is even as the security personnel attached to the embattled Speaker of Enugu State House of Assembly, Eugene Odo, was yesterday, withdrawn by the executive.

In a seven page petition to EFCC dated May 5, made available to Sunday Vanguard, the petitioner, Mr. Ray Nnaji, requested that the EFCC should investigate Chime and Ikeje Asogwa, Managing Director, Enugu State Housing Corporation for official corruption, misappropriation, embezzlement, stealing, forgery and criminal conversion.

The allegations in the p e t i t i o n

*Speaker’s security withdrawn

‘The Enugu State of Nigeria Supplementary Appropriation Law, 2012’.

“It is an incontrovertible fact that there is no record of debate of this law nor is there any record of passage of the bill preceding the law before it was passed into law for use by the Governor.

“Governor Chime created an amorphous body or organ under his direct use and supervision called Project Development Implementation unit known

as PDI. This organ became a conduit pipe through which the state funds are siphoned by Chime and his former Chief of Staff, Ifeoma Nwobodo.

“The activities of PDI were shrouded in secrecy and were used to execute over inflated projects whose values run into billions of Naira without proper valuation whereas in the budget, the total value of work to be executed by PDI was not up to N500,000,000

reads:”misappropriation of public funds worth over N12.8 billion and forgery of public document (supplementary appropriation law 2012).

Without budgetary provisions and appropriation law backing the said expenditure, Governor Sullivan Chime proceeded to spend public funds belonging to Enugu State to the tune of N12.8

billion and misappropriated and diverted the sum into his private use without the required approval by the Enugu State House of Assembly.

“And in order to cover up this criminal and unconstitutional acts, Chime and his cohort, Ikeje Asogwa and others, subsequently proceeded to forge a document titled,

BY PETER MAKURDI

Eight crushed to death in Benue

DURU,

N

o fewer than eight persons, including a nursing mother and her baby, were few days ago crushed to death in a ghastly motor accident at Otukpa in Ogbadibo Local Government Area of Benue State, along the ever busy Otukpo-Enugu highway.

Sunday Vanguard learned from an eyewitness that some of the victims were students of nearby Benue State Polytechnic, Ugbokolo.

THOUGHT FOR TODAY

LIKE THE BANK

By Richard Eromonsele

A bank is a financial institution where individuals and organisations keep their valuables.Life is not totally different from the conventional bank.Like the bank, life keeps records of everything you say and do.For example,if you have touched somebody,s life positively,that will be recorded in your favour. Conversely,if you have hurt someone in any way,for instance,deliberately depriving someone of his legitimate earnings,that will count against you.What you make happen to others,life will make happen to you.Think about it!

According to him, the victims met their untimely death when a tanker ladened with petroleum product fell over a commercial Volkswagen car which took off from Otukpa and was heading towards Ugbokolo in Okpokwu Local Government Area.

"All the seven occupants of the commercial vehicle including a passenger in the heavy duty truck were crushed to death instantly and among them was a nursing mother and her about six-month old baby.

"Unfortunately, none of the victims could be rescued because no one could lift the tanker from the car as efforts by men and officers of the Federal Road Safety Corps, FRSC, couldn't help the situation.

"It was regrettable, because it was not until the

next day, that a towing truck was brought-in from Enugu State by the FRSC with which the

LAGOS CARNIVAL 2015

From left: Mrs. Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire, deputy governor, Gov. Babatunde Fashola of Lagos state and his wife Abimbola,during the celebrate of Lagos Carnival 2015. held at Tafawa Balewa Square, yesterday. Photos by Bunmi Azeez

•Some of the groups performing at the Carnival

•Other participants

tanker was lifted off the crushed car and its occupants whose remains were already decomposing.

in every year. A few examples of these bogus projects includes: the judiciary auditorium in the Enugu High Court, Renovation of Nnamdi Azikwe Stadium and the new court hall at the Enugu State High Court.

It would be recalled that the Enugu State House of Assembly led by Eugene Odo and 13 other members had last Monday, ordered the Clerk, Christopher Chukwurah to serve Chime an impeachment notice over allegations of forgery of 2012 supplementary budget.

The action factionalized the House as a group of eight members in the 24 member House suspended Odoh and elected a new Speaker, Chinedu Nwamba.

PAGE 6— SUNDAY VANGUARD, MAY 10, 2015

JONATHAN’S MESS BUHARI’S BURDEN Y

ou may never fully understand the malady at the Mile 2/Apapa end of the Oshodi-Apapa expressway until you visit there. This is the ill-luck President Goodluck Jonathan apportioned the residents and workers in that area; it grew incrementally worse in the last two years. Tankers, as they are called, waiting to load Premium Motor Spirit, PMS, have defied every suggested solution. It was so bad sometime last year that President Jonathan’s Special Adviser on Project Monitoring, Professor Sylvester Monye, came to Lagos but was not able to get to the point of the road where a proper assessment could be made. Why? Because the tanker drivers are the lords of the road! If you are a resident of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Abuja, just imagine the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, as the loading depot.

Then imagine a five-lane queue of tankers – highly combustible, with unruly drivers – from the airport all the way to Lugbe Estate. If you are a resident of Ibadan, imagine a five-lane queue of these same articulated vehicles from Iwo Road roundabout all the way to Ibadan Tollgate, by Lead City University. If you live and work in Enugu, imagine same from the Enugu Airport all the way to Government House, Enugu, where Governor Sullivan Chime presently resides. For those living and or working in Kaduna, visualize a five-lane queue of these terrible tankers from Angwanrimi

to Ahmadu Bello House; and if you are a Port Harcourt person, imagine same from Pipeline Junction to Mile 1 Flyover.

The reason for this voyage is that unless and until you experience this madness, the story would sound distant, very distant.

Yet, that same road leads to Nigeria’s port, one of the busiest in Africa, yielding billions of naira but enmeshed in this murkiness.

For a distance of less than 400metres in-between and depending on which part of this stretch is your house or office, you could be stranded on the road for eight, yes, eight hours. It could be worse.

Even a revered Man of God, Pastor Enoch Adejare Adeboye, of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, RCCG, when he visited Vanguard in December 2013, could not but express bewilderment at the will-power of residents and workers in this seemingly Godforsaken part of Lagos. Vanguard has had to open an ultramodern outlet in Ikeja for ease of business regarding advert placements. The madness is egregiously complemented by craters on this federal highway, which makes driving crazy.

Jonathan is on his way out. Muhammadu Buhari, Nigeria’s next President and Commander-in-Chief would inherit this mess.

If there is any part of Nigeria requiring urgent CHANGE, it is this part of town. Nigerians are waiting. 19 more days cannot be as bad as the years of neglect.

And to think Nigeria is an oil-producing nation?

Culled from the Internet

SENATE PRESIDENCY: N/W, S/W, Yobe caucuses endorse Lawan *N/Central APC Chairmen root for Saraki

By Johnbosco Agbakwuru and Demola Akinyemi

T

HE contest for the Eighth Senate Presidency may have become a two-horse race between the North East and the North central geo-political zones.

While two caucuses in the Senate (North West and South West) have now endorsed Senator Ahmad Lawan as their candidate, Chairmen of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in the six states of the north-central zone, have unanimously endorsed the candidature of Senator Bukola Saraki as the next Senate president.

Lawan’s endorsement Twelve APC members of the South West Senate caucus reportedly endorsed Lawan at a meeting held in Abuja last week.

In addition, Senator Lawan secured a crucial home support when a former governor of his home state of Yobe, Senator Bukar Abba Ibrahim, who also heads the Yobe National Assembly Caucus, endorsed his candidacy for the position.

Ibrahim, who heads the Senate Housing Committee, said the endorsement was made on behalf of the people and government of Yobe State. “Lawan possesses the required qualities, character and the frame of mind to make a qualitative Senate President. He is energetic, hardworking and possesses progressive values.

“Senator Ahmad Ibrahim Lawan has demonstrated clear commitment to progressive values. He is energetic and hardworking and he has what it takes to lead the 8th Assembly.”

Senator Ibrahim added that Lawam’s cognate experience, having been in the National Assembly since 1999, “places him above his peers”.

Yobe State Governor has also, openly endorsed Lawan and has reportedly reached out to his colleagues on the matter.

In a statement by his Special Adviser on Press Affairs and Information, Abdullahi Bego, the governor urged “all senators-elect to consider Senator Lawan’s experience, his goodwill, capacity and reach and, therefore, support him to be the next President of the Senate.”

Governor Gaidam also took strong exception to a report published in a national newspaper last week which claimed that he supports another candidate and that he was against Lawan’s aspiration.

Two weeks ago, the North west Senate caucus, at a meeting held in Kaduna Hall of Transcorp Hilton Hotel in Abuja, 20, out of 21 members endorsed Lawan for the post.

Saraki This endorsement was contained in a statement issued at the end of their meeting in Ilorin yesterday.

The APC state chairmen said Saraki was their preferred candidate for the office of the Senate president.

The statement was signed by the Kwara State APC chairman who doubles as the forum’s chairman, Hon. Ishola BalogunFulani, and his Kogi State counterpart, Haddi Ameto who is the secretary of the forum.

The statement reads: “We, the All Progressives Congress (APC) chairmen from the North Central Geo- political Zone met at the weekend and unanimously endorsed Senator Abubakar Bukola Saraki as our preferred candidate as the Senate President for the 8th National Assembly.

“Our decision to endorse Senator Saraki, representing Kwara Central Senatorial District, at the Upper Chamber of the National Assembly was borne out of his unprecedented commitment to the growth and success of the party at all levels in the Zone and across the country.

“Saraki commitment, sacrifice , sincerity and purposeful leadership ensured the success of all the Senators, House of Representatives members, House of Assembly members a s well as gubernatorial candidates in the states within the Zone.

“As a party determined to give the best to our people in terms of service delivery as well as dividends of democracy. we enjoin all our governorselect, senators-elect, House of Representatives memberselect, house of assembly members-elect, and indeed all our leaders from the North Central Zone to support the aspiration of this illustrious son of this great zone to emerge as the next Senate president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria in the 8th Legislative Assembly.

SUNDAY VANGUARD, MAY 10, 2015 — PAGE 7

SUNDAY NEWS EXTRA HEARTLESS!

Six-month old baby smashed on the ground …dies the following day

BY OLA AJAYI, IBADAN

W

hat started like a m e r e disagreement threat on April 11, 2015 between Wahab Idowu , a traditional healer, and some loyalists of Ajoriwin of Irawo, Oba Musiliu Ademola, soon snowballed into full blown violence that ruptured the peaceful atmosphere of Irawo, Atisbo Local Government Area of Oyo State.

By the time that the dust settled, the violence had left in its trail sorrow, anguish, tears and death.

Unfortunately, it claimed the life of an innocent six month old baby, Azeem Wahab.

Though, it happened some weeks ago, both sides of the crisis are still biting their fingers in sorrow and regret.

But, Wahab Idowu is the worst-hit. Apart from losing all he has labored hard to get in life, the promising and glittering sun of baby Azeem was forced to set at dawn. It was not his death that would make the heart bleed but the cruel manner he was reportedly killed.

According to Wahab, who narrated his ordeal to Sunday Vanguard, the mother told him that it was one Ojo (surname withheld) that snatched the baby that was strapped to her back during the melee and allegedly smashed him to the ground with a raging fury.

The impact was so much for the baby that he died the following day.

According to a medical certificate of death signed April 30, 2015, by a doctor from the General Hospital, Tede, baby Azeem died as a result of the effects of trauma he suffered.

soldiers. As a king, I won’t open my eyes and watch my town to be engulfed by violence. You know, if any soldier is killed, the town is in trouble. I had to rescue the soldiers.

Accompanied by his counsel, Mr. Remi Alli, and the second wife, Wahab told Sunday Vanguard that the problem started on Saturday, April 11, when Wahab, his wife, Mariam, and five others went to cast their vote.

Then, one of their attackers whose first name was given as Nafiu, allegedly pointed at them saying, ”let him come out, we will deal with him today as has directed” and they made good their threats as the rampaging youths swooped on him and beat him to a pulp using all sorts of weapons.

Afraid that his attackers could still be after him, Wahab said he decided to sleep in his second house with his two wives.

But, on the following day, he discovered that all the glass windows of his guest house had been broken and the sum of N1.9m kept in a bag, stolen. The extent of the destruction of the house attracted some soldiers who demanded to know what had actually happened.

“I then led the soldiers to the suspects’ house and they were arrested and taken to the scene of the crime at the guest house.

But, one of the suspects

•Baby Azeem,while he was still alive ran away while the other suspect led him and the soldiers to the house.

While the suspect was being interrogated, other rampaging youths stormed the scene and started hurling stones at them. The soldiers had no option than to stay aside.

“To my surprise, the Oba, Oba Musiliu Ademola, came in company of other people and the place soon became a troubled spot as I was beaten with a pestle.

I became unconscious and was later told that the Oba allegedly ordered that I should be taken to his abode. But for the quick intervention of police officers who rushed me to Abiola Memorial Hospital, Tede, I would have bled to death.”

His pain became aggravated by another development as he was told later by one of his wives that his six month old baby was flung away and the boy sustained

serious injuries by the same attackers, who had also destroyed all his block industry and allegedly poured some salt into the engine.

“All my blocks and my property were completely destroyed. They have ruined my life. I am empty now. While this was going on, the matter was reported at the police station. The suspects were arrested. But, the Oba was said to have gone to the state police command, Iyaganku. In the end, we were all invited by the police where one of the policemen told me that we should settle the case amicably as a family. The policeman then gave me N10,000 to make up for the blocks that were broken at my industry.

What prompted the policeman’s strange generosity still amazes me up till now. I collected the money. But, where would I start from? Would this money undo all the damages that I have

suffered? I have lost my baby, my block industry completely ruined.

Please, Nigerians, help me to fight this glaring injustice”.

Also, some of his workers at the block industry were not spared while the riotous situation lasted. “Three of them and my wife were beaten seriously. You can see the pictures of all of them with head injuries”, he lamented.

Reacting to the allegation, Oba Ademola said it would be unfair if Wahab said he masterminded his attack because what I did was to prevent trouble from my town.

According to Oba Ademola, Wahab and some youths were fighting and he went and brought some illegal soldiers.

“By this time, many youths had gathered wanting to attack the

“On March 25, 2015, Wahab who is a troublemaker did something and I had to report him at Iyaganku.

People wanted to beat him because he was insulting me. But, I did not allow the youths to beat him. I invited the police from Tede. In the afternoon, he (Wahab) invited some fake soldiers. Youths went on rampage. They made a barricade to prevent the soldiers from passing.

When the soldiers could not pass, they had to fire gun shots. I rescued the soldiers and told them when you arrived the town you should have contacted me. So, I brought them to my office. Wahab too was there. The youths had beaten him. I advised the policemen to take him along so that the irate youths would not kill him.

The two men they arrested were just released four days ago. It was the Commissioner of Police that helped us settle the rift. He told me to call both sides together and resolve the problem”, Oba Ademola said.

When contacted on the issue, the State Police Public Relations, DSP Adekunle Ajisebutu said he was in a meeting at the time of filing this report.

He asked Sunday Vanguard to call him much later when he would be free.

Next Week: Read the response of the police.

Buhari congratulates PM David Cameron

BY LEVINUS NWABUGHIOGU

N

•L -R: Mr. Olubayo Adekanmbi, Chief Marketing Officer, MTN Nigeria, Mr. Mike Ikpoki, Chief Executive Officer, MTN Nigeria and Mr. Dharnesh Gordhon, Chief Executive Officer, Nestle Plc at the 2015 MTN Golf Championship pre-event Dinner in Lagos.

IGERIA'S Presidentelect, General Muhammadu Buhari, yesterday, congratulated the Prime Minister of Britain, Mr. David Cameron, on his reelection in the just concluded elections.

In a statement from his media team in Abuja yesterday, Buhari said he looked forward to working with the British government led by

Cameron in many respects, after he has assumed office in Nigeria on May 29.

"Nigeria and the Britain have enjoyed good relationships, and we look forward to developing even stronger ties", he said.

Buhari also commended Cameron for the role the British government played before, during and after the Nigerian elections.

"Britain, the US, EU, ECOWAS, AU and the UN have played vital

roles in ensuring that democratic norms were adhered to during our elections. Their role in the smooth outcome of the just concluded Nigerian elections can never be overemphasized," he said.

The president-elect added that he also looked forward to furthering the "special, warm and friendly relationships" between the government and people of Nigeria and the United Kingdom under the new government of Cameron.

PAGE 8 — SUNDAY VANGUARD, MAY 10, 2015

Privatisation of PHCN a fraud,electricity workers tell Buhari •Alerts on abandoned 60 containers of 52KVA transformers by FG

By Johnbosco Agbakwuru, Abuja

I

N apparent response to the statement made by the out-going minister of power, Professor Chinedu Nebo, on the need for the in-coming administration not to tamper with the privatization of the power sector, electricity workers in the country have demanded a thorough review of the privatization of Power Holding Company of Nigeria, PHCN, alleging that the privatization project was fraught with irregularities.

The workers further alleged that the privatisation exercise had made electricity generation and consumption in the country ineffective.

The workers, under the aegis of National Union of Electricity Employees, NUEE, insisted that the payment of over N200 billion to the private sector by the government after the privatization exercise leaves much to be desired, and urged the incoming administration of Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, rtd, to revisit

•President Goodluck Jonathan(right), giving words of advice to Mr. George Turnah and his bride, Timinipre shortly after the solemnization of their holy matrimony at St. Mathew's Anglican Church, Maitama, Abuja, yesterday. Photo by Abayomi Adeshida

the exercise.

The executive members of the union, led by the General Secretary and factional President of Nigerian Labour Congress, NLC, Comrade Joe Ajaero, said this in Abuja, while conducting select journalists round the site of abandoned 60 containers of 52KVA electricity transformers, at Kubwa, in Abuja.

Speaking on behalf of the NUEE executive members, Ajaero argued that if after many months, privatization of

electricity in the country had failed to bring positive impact to electricity consumers, then, there was the need for the Buhari-led presidency to revisit the programme.

Comrade Ajaero said: “We want to say, as a union that the sham called privatization should be revisited. If privatization, as we were told, was to bring us heaven-on-earth elderado, and it has not done that, why should we insist on it?.

“Of course, our

May 29 handover: FG recalls Permanent Secretaries, Directors from leave

By Favour Nnabugwu

A

HEAD of the May 29, 2015, handover to the in-coming administration OF General Muhammadu Buhari, the Federal Government has recalled all Permanent Secretaries and Directors of government that were on leave to resume work with immediate effect.

The directive was contained in a circular titled “Suspension of Leave”, and was signed by the Head of Service of the Federation, Bar r.

Danladi Kifasi.

The circular said all affected officers that were currently on leave should resume duty immediately.

The action was to ensure a smooth and seamless handover to the in-coming administration without any encumbrances that their absence might cause the government Particularly affected by the directive are Permanent Secretaries, Chief Executives of Government Agencies

and Directorate Level Officers in the Federal Public Service.

Kifasi said that President Goodluck Jonathan gave the

directive to which the circular was issued and copied to all the Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) of the Federal Government.

Why we founded Oodua Progressives Union — Gani Adams

T

HE National Leader of the Oodua People’s Congress, Otunba Gani Adams, has said the decision to establish the Oodua Progressives Union, OPU, was based on the need to sustain the Yoruba identity.

Adams, who spoke in Istanbul, Turkey, on Friday night, said the OPU was not a selfdetermination group but a socio-cultural organisation.

He spoke at a dinner party in his honour by the Turkey branch of the OPU. He said Yoruba people all over the world must have a sense of belonging and identify with their roots all the time.

Adams equally advised Yor uba people in the

Diaspora to cultivate the attitude of returning home to invest and prepare for their journey back home.

He said: “Come back home and invest. Build houses in Nigeria. You do not know when you will want to seek elective positions back home.

Get to know your people at home. Come back home to invest.

Contribute to the development of Nigeria.

“Let it not be that it is when you need to seek elective positions that you will run back home and start running helterskelter. Let your people know you. Things are not as bad as you read out here. Things are moving fast and getting better in Nigeria. Come back home and invest,” he pleaded..

position as NUEE, has been no to privatization, especially given that we are an underdeveloped economy. It is the function of the state to provide power.

“Even the so called privatization, you can see that even this year alone, between January and now, they have even given the so called private sector over N200 billion. So, why fund them if you say the electricity is in the hands of the private sector? That brings you to the point of the fraud on who owns them.

“Why would you sell your house to somebody and you still give him money to maintain it? So, it’s a fraud.”

Emphasizing on the minister ’s comment that privatization of PHCN must stay, Ajaero added: “We want Buhari to ask questions first and foremost because it is wrong for a an outgoing minister to be setting agenda for Buhari to reverse or not to reverse the privatization of PHCN. “A minister who inherited about 4000 megawatts and is today, battling with just 2000 and something megawatts, doesn’t have the moral courage to advise incoming government on what to do.

Ajaero stressed: “If he Buhari asks questions for some months, he will now know the direction to move.”

On the abandoned containers, Ajaero said he was alerted on the abandoned equipments by concerned citizens who got wind of the development.

“With these transformers hidden here, you can now understand that while they were privatizing, certain properties were being hidden, “he alleged.

GLO hosts NYSC members to welcome party at Orientation camp in Lagos

G

LOBACOM, last Friday evening, treated the Batch ‘A’ members of the National Youth Ser vice Corps (NYSC) posted to Lagos State, to an evening of fun and entertainment.

The party, which marked the beginning of the 2015 Batch ‘A’ service year was used by the corps members at the Orientation Camp located at Iyana-Ipaja, Lagos, to bond.

The palpably excited corps members thronged the venue of the party, taking selfies and posing with Glo ambassadors at the party which began at 7 p.m. and ended at 10pm when the camp closed.

Welcoming guests to the party, Globacom’s Business Director, Kunle

Akanmu, said that Globacom was delighted to be part of the corps members’ orientation camp activities, adding that the party was aimed at celebrating the beginning of their service year which he believed, would be successful and rewarding.

Glo Ambassador and Nigeria’s biggest comedy export, Basketmouth anchored the event, unleashing rib-cracking jokes in his usual characteristic manner, and had the guests roaring with laughter. Hip hop super star, Wande Coal was also on hand to thrill the guests.

There was a dance competition among Corps members.

Nigerians must rally round Buhari – PRISTINE

N

IGERIANS from all walks of life have been admonished to rally round Presidentelect, Gen Muhammadu Buhari, with a view to helping him actualize his dream for a better Nigeria.

Making this call in Abuja at the inauguration of the protem executive of a pressure group PRISTINE INITIATIVE FOR SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT, its chairman, Alhaji Isa Badamasi, said the work at hand is “enormous and would require the active support of all Nigerians. ‘’We all know the antecedents of Gen. Buhari and we know that he has all it takes to deliver Nigeria from its comatose state to a healthy and wealthy nation. We know his

PDP’s loss a temporary setback–Uzodimma

S

ENATOR Hope U z o d i n m a representing Imo West Senatorial District, yesterday, assured that the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, would assume its position as the country’s ruling party again, describing its loss in the just concluded general elections as a temporary setback Uzodinma, a member of the party’s Board of Trustees, BoT, gave the assurance in a chanced meeting with Sunday Vanguard and disclosed that the party had began moves aimed at assuming its rightful place in the country’s polity.

Stating emphatically that the storm in the PDP would soon be over, he added that he would never desert the party for another but would join hands with other committed members to salvage the PDP.

sterling qualities, his doggedness and other attributes.

“But Nigeria is a country with its unique complexities, its peculiar ethos. So anyone who shall govern this country, and govern it well, would not only have his hands firmly on the plough, he would need the support and prayers of all Nigerians’’.

Alhaji Badamasi promised that the PRISTINE group will not only hold the incoming government accountable to the people, but would also galvanise needed sup-port and encouragement for the Buhari admini-stration to deliver on its campaign promises.

Pa Ndudim for burial

E

LDER Philip Obi N d u d i m (Ndudiohanma 1 of Uzuakoli) of Umuobasi, Mbala, Isuochi in Umunneochi LGA of Abia State, aged 87, is dead.

According to the burial arrangements by the family, lying in state/ funeral service takes place at Ndudim’s compound, Umuobasi, Mbala, after a brief stop over at All Saints Methodist Church, Uzuakoli, Bende LGA, Abia State,followed by interment.

He is survived by children, grand children and many other relatives.

•Late Chief Philip Ndudim

SUND AY SUNDA

Vanguard, MAY 10, 2015, PAGE 9

BY WALE AKINOLA hat is your take on the 2015 general elections bearing in mind the propaganda, hate campaigns and alarming predictions that went with them?

First and foremost, permit me to congratulate all Nigerians irrespective of party affiliation on the success of the March 28 presidential election in particular. The peaceful outcome of the exercise is a blessing for our beloved country. I give kudos to Professor Attahiru Jega, the Chairman of Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), for his brilliant performance. In Jega we found the hope for a new Nigeria. What we are celebrating today would have evaporated but for the calmness, sense of mission and thoroughness of Jega and his working team.

I equally acknowledge the patriotism and sense of leadership of President Goodluck Jonathan for having the inner mind and eye to appoint Jega who has proven to be the right man for the job, and for allowing him the free hand needed to do the delicate but important national assignment.

President Jonathan further demonstrated his high level of patriotism and leadership in view of his calm disposition through the course of the electioneering exercise and crowned this when he conceded defeat when it became glaring that his opponent had won the contest. The rare action in this part of the globe was most necessary to douse the fear across the nation at the period.

That was probably the most difficult decision ever taken by the President but, trust me, that’s the wisest and most profitable as well. It was a display of true leadership statesmanship.

W

Having eulogized the action of President Jonathan in ensuring peace after the presidential election, are there no other efforts within and outside the country that helped in this regard?

A lot of Nigerians, friends of Nigeria and the international community played great roles in ensuring peace before, during and after the elections.

One cannot underestimate the powerful intervention of the United States of America (USA), the European Union, the United Kingdom, the African Union, ECOWAS, Dr Kofi Annan, Chief Emeka Anyaoku, President John Dramani Mahama of Ghana, the Sultan of Sokoto, Professor Ibrahim Agboola Gambari, Professor Bolaji Akinyemi, General Abdusalam; Abubakar (rtd) and so many others who worked frantically for peace.

The churches/mosques prayed and fasted. The youths of Nigeria on their part took to the social media to canvass for peaceful general elections.

They demonstrated their seriousness about the type of government they want at all levels in Nigeria despite being let down by some of their hustling celebrities and rolemodels who tried everything to kill the dream.

The determination to achieve peace was hugely massive.

Now that the presidential and other elections have come and gone, what advice do you have for all contestants?

First, I congratulate all the candidates who contested for different positions from the presidential to the state Houses of Assembly. It is not always about winning, I know that participation is always the beginning of a long journey in the wilderness of politics. I congratulate the winners as I implore the losers not to be disillusioned. Losers genuinely concerned and doubtful about their loss should address their

•Ambassador Ekewenu

The international community helped Nigeria to deliver credible polls – Ambassador Ekewenu •Says Okowa’s rating in Delta is high Karo Ekewenu, a United Nations Ambassador on Millennium Development Goals, speaks on the general elections in Nigeria, Delta State politics, President Goodluck Jonathan and the roles of the international community and personalities of note in the democratic journey to the polls. grievances through recognized channels instead of instigating crisis that will not take the nation anywhere. Losers of today can be winners tomorrow.

What are the experiences in Delta State where you come from during the governorship election?

In Delta, I was surprised at the level of awareness from the urban to the rural areas about the contesting candidates in each of the political parties.

From Ethiope -West to EthiopeEast down to Okpe, Sapele and the entire Ughelli, everybody knows Senator Ifeanyi Okowa who was then contesting to be governor. I was moved to ask one of the old women in one of the villages in Okpe local govt who saw me in my PDP outfit on why she was supporting Okowa. The response I got from her in Urhobo language was, ‘Where we are heading to is greater than where we are coming from’. She further said that if the Urhobo can fully accommodate strangers and make them, part of them then

A lot of Nigerians, friends of Nigeria and the international community played great roles in ensuring peace before, during and after the elections why can’t we as Urhobos give them a chance to share their goodness to the land. And I must confess that this is the mentality of the Urhobo nation.

From 1999 when an Urhobo son in person of Chief James Ibori became the Governor of Delta state, the state has been flourishing in harmony as a multi –ethnic state despite the fact that the

Urhobo nation is the largest ethnic group in the state. No ethnic group can claim to be marginalized under Ibori and, just as the old Urhobo woman in Okpe said, the Urhobo are very charitable with everything and that explains why an Ibori can conveniently allow the principle of power rotation to hold after eight years in power despite the scandalous calls from some people to give power to another Urhobo man from Delta Central. From what is well known among the political class in Delta, Ibori had arranged that after the turn of Delta South, Delta North would take over and what is more was that Okowa had received the blessing of the Urhobo at that time. This is how charitable the Urhobo nation has been.

And the truth is that, we must also appreciate the Peoples Democratic Party for its policy of power rotation and fairness to all. We must be grateful to the PDP for doing a thankless job almost perfectly. Standing heavily behind a minority in a multi ethnic state in politics is

not easy and, frankly speaking, all that made the person of Okowa stronger in Urhobo land and that explains why even the PDP, in a free, fair and square election, could defeat all other political parties in Urhobo land.

What is more is that as I moved round the nooks and corners of Urhobo land through the electioneering period, the people seemed to know the political agenda of Okowa.

The expectation from Okowa among the people of Delta Central is high and to whom much is given, much is expected. Okowa is thus expected to be the Lamb of God to carry the sins of the world. It is believed in Urhobo land that he possesses the power of optical illusion to perform instant magic in a land on its bent knees. In fact, some of the keen supporters of the opposition parties told me they do not envy Okowa on his victory and that the cross he would have to bear would be a heavy one but re-affirmed that Okowa actually have all it takes to take on the demons plaguing Delta.

What is the way forward for the Peoples Democratic Party in Delta to consolidate its political grip in the state?

What is more interesting to note is that Delta people are completely of the position that the political class in the state should come to accept the final verdict of the credible governorship election. In the journey of life, there is bound to be the victor and the vanquished, there is bound to be a winner and a loser. In principle, the jostling for a political office is to consent to the fact that one person is bound to triumph and the rest aspirants are obligated by the rules of the game to accept defeat.

Indeed, this understanding is a golden rule. At the initial stage in the contest, the outcome of the Peoples Democratic Party gubernatorial primary election in Delta exposed some lapses in our political culture. A few disgruntled politicians and their hangers-on, who lost in the race for the party ’s gubernatorial ticket, took to a new vocation commonly called pull-him-down syndrome, by hacking down the winner and throwing venom at the party’s hierarchy. The tracks of the journey that culminated in the December 8 Delta gubernatorial primary are sadly being missed in the hysteria of the bitter defeat that the unsportsmanlike aspirants are finding hard to swallow. The outpouring of vitriol by a few persons at the flag bearer of the Delta PDP, Okowa, is a defective strategy.

PAGE 10—SUNDAY Vanguard, MAY 10, 2015

APC governors-elect and the request for bailout

“Politicians are their own grave diggers.” Will Rogers, 1879-1935.

(VANGUARD BOOK OF QUOTATIONS p 191).

T

HE real game has not even got underway and already some of the elected officials want to change the rules. The “solidarity” visit of the governors-elect of the All Progressives Congress, APC, to President-elect Buhari, on Tuesday, May 5, 2015 which resulted in the declaration above by Rochas Okorocha, newly appointed Chairman Progressives Governor ’s Forum, PGF, portends grave consequences for all of us in many ways. The most glaring is the

immediate cleavage created within the party by the governors elected on the ticket of the APC – at a time when many political analysts believe that the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, lost the last election mostly on account of the over-bearing activities of its Governors Forum. APC Governors Forum is taking off where the PGF left off.

The most obvious question arising from this is: do Africans, especially Nigerians, ever learn from theirs or other peoples’ mistakes? It is doubtful.

Three facts render this request for bailout very astonishing; if not too previous and, perhaps, ridiculous.

First, at least ten of the governors-elect were already governors before the election this year. They created the problem long before Buhari received APC’s nomination. How would they have managed if he did not win?

So, the admission that “most states of the federation had not been able to pay salaries and even the Federal government has not paid

With freedom, comes responsibility “We cannot trample upon the humanity of others without devaluing our own. The Igbo, always practical, put it concretely in their proverb, Onye ji onye n’ani ji onwe ya: “He who will hold another down in the mud must stay in the mud to keep him down.”– Chinua Achebe his week, there was a story doing the rounds that Wole Soyinka had made derogatory remarks about Igbo people, that he said: that they “tend to put their votes where their stomachs take them” and suffer “from incurable money-mindedness” during his lecture at Harvard. All hell broke loose and the poor man was pilloried by readers of the story, a few people were cautious of the source and the content of the story but many threw insults and such language used, it would not be polite to repeat it in polite company. It seems some people are quick to condemn and take the tribal high road at the drop of a hat but this was particularly puerile and malicious.

Soyinka has since released a statement strenuously re-

T

futing the story: “I have just read a statement attributed to me on a news outlet, evidently one of the Internet infestations. My lecture at the Hutchins Centre, Harvard University, was video recorded. Anyone who believes what I am alleged to have said must be a moron – repeat, a moron.

It is demeaning, sickening and boring to have to deal with these cowards who cannot fight their own battles but must fasten their imbecilic pronouncements on others. Only the mentally retarded will credit this comment attributed to me regarding the Ndigbo voting pattern in the last elections”.

Of course, as it transpired, Soyinka said no such things. He refuted the claim and he dismissed the report adding that anyone who dared to believe it was a moron. So right, he was too, there are some moronic individuals who would fall, hook, line and sinker for anything told without reflecting on the motive.

There is no cure for stupidity or ignorance and we have to be better than that.

There is certainly some re-

April salaries” – a statement that has already been refuted by OkonjoIweala - has demonstrated how badly the nation had been governed by ALL the governors and the President

,

“We are hoping that the President-elect will do everything possible to bring about a bailout, not only for the states, but, for the Federal Government, at least for the people [read public servants] to get their salaries..”

Rochas Okorocha, Chairman Progressive Governors’ Forum, VANGUARD, May 6, 2015.

others. As for those new to the office, they were also warned – as we intend to prove next week. Like so many sleep-walkers, they just ended up in the gutter.

Newspapers cannot force intending leaders to read and think.

Second, was the request for bailout made on behalf of only APC-controlled states or all the thirty-six states of Nigeria?

If for all, then Okorocha has overstepped his bounds, No governor-elect of PDP or even the APGA Governor had asked him to plead on their behalf. And they may never do so. If, however, he speaks on behalf of his colleagues in APC, then he has confronted Buhari with a constitutional problem.

Buhari had not been elected to bail out states who squandered their revenue on corruption and frivolities between 2011 and 2015. He has been elected to start afresh; not clean up messes left by others

,

in the last four years. The question is: why feast for four years and try to pass the bill to a new comer? It is ethically unacceptable.

Buhari had not been elected to bail out states who squandered their revenue on corruption and frivolities between 2011 and 2015. He has been elected to start afresh; not clean up messes left by

Buhari is the Presidentelect of ALL Nigerians; including those who voted against him and those who did not vote at all. There is no provision in the constitution for him to dip his hands into the Federation Account to bailout only APC states.

Buhari will bailout ALL the states or none. There is no other alternative.

sentment that gives way to such distasteful and sensationalized story like this, and that all it needs is to get the dim, not so bright and gullible out in all their moronic glory.

Some people have selective memory, if not they would have been told or have remembered that the same Soyinka was imprisoned by previous Nigerian government for protesting against the unfair treatment of Igbos during the Biafra war. The gutter press that whipped the gullible

tigation, we have come to the conclusion that the story misrepresented the views expressed by Soyinka in the question-and-answer session after his lecture.

“We take full responsibility for the inaccuracy and promise that we will continue to strive to improve our standards. Also, we wish to reiterate that we take our professional responsibilities very seriously, as our readers can attest to. We hereby offer an unreserved apology to Soyinka, Ndigbo and our readers.”

We have lost our moral compass as a people and with it a fundamental custom of valuing our elders and respecting their life experience and opinions into hate-filled frenzy, The Cable, publicly apologized to the professor over “misinterpreting” his views.

So the culprit of the piece have come forward with the their statement: “The management of Cable Newspaper Ltd, publishers of The Cable, would like to make the following statement concerning our report on the lecture by Professor Wole Soyinka at the Harvard University Hutchins Centre for African and African American Research.

“Soyinka was quoted to have made derogatory remarks about the Igbo over their voting pattern in the March 28 presidential election. He has since denied the offensive quotes attributed to him.

“After an in-house inves-

Like my mother would say, medicine after death!

You sully a man’s reputation and you put out a statement that you retract and that the story was not misleading and not true.

Shame on the Cable.

We have lost our moral compass as a people and with it a fundamental custom of valuing our elders and respecting their life experience and opinions. We are lucky to have such illustrious and brilliant minds in our midst and we reward them by hurling insults at them when we do not like what we are made to believe they say or do. I remember when the late Achebe There was a Country generated such heat.

I refuse to be either nor, I am a Nigerian and we should revel in our diversi-

interesting to know if all the APC governors-elect met to decide this matter; or was it an idea to which the majority was asked to subscribe when they reached Abuja? It will also be instructive to know why they thought the request was legitimate and the most urgent problem Buhari should address given the monumental problems associated with selecting a winning team.

Perhaps what makes this request so laughable is the fact that all the incumbent governors in Nigeria, as well as aspirants for governor ’s office, were warned on the pages of VANGUARD since 2013 about the impending economic calamity which is now unfolding.

SUNDAY VANGUARD and I repeatedly raised alarm about the worsening economic situation and even predicted that salaries might not be paid

by April this year. In actual fact, most states only paid salaries in February and March in order to avert public servants revolt before the elections. They borrowed heavily to do it. Cynically, now that the elections are over, only those returning to office now care about salaries. Those on their way out don’t give a damn anymore.

That shows Nigerians the sort of people we called Excellencies for four or eight years.

Third, the request, certainly made out of desperation, ignores the fact that Buhari is also inheriting unpaid salaries and entitlements due to federal public servants. In a report in PUNCH of May 6, 2015, it was revealed by the Federal Minister of Finance that the Federal Government had borrowed N473bn in four months – mostly to pay salaries of its own staff. Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala attributed the situation to the 50 per cent drop in oil revenue.

Presumably, we had voted matured adults as Governors-elect. So one can ask them a simple question: How on earth do they expect a Federal Government, up to its eyeballs in debt, and borrowing to pay its own staff, to bail them out?

There are some requests, which, all things considered, an adult should not make. When several adults make that demand, it only proves that groups are often more dishonest than well-adjusted individuals. Do they expect that, given the separation of powers, the Federal Government will borrow to pay its own staff and borrow again to pay their own? And what percentage of their debts to their staff should the Federal Government assume? Even if Buhari were to be unthinking enough to entertain this daffy and silly idea, will the bailout be in the form of loan, grant or extraordinary revenue allocation such as is not in consonance with the constitution?

That said; it would be

NEXT WEEK: WARNINGS THE GOVERNORS IGNORED :Why Buhari should tell them off.

ty. The fact we are blessed with some many tribes and out of many, we remain one or should remain united.

Yet, some of us are hell bent on stirring and whipping the tribal hatred and intolerance at any given opportunity. It is time to reflect on how we are with one another. Hatred is so corrosive and yet it seems in the hands of some, has become a work of art and fantasy.

We are standing on the shoulders of giants, people who fought and contributed tirelessly for independence and they did so not because of one tribe supremacy over the other, but, for us to have a place to call home and self-rule.

Is this the way we reward them? They did so for us to have a country called Nigeria. We will always be better together in spite of some of us, shouting at any sight of trouble or disagreement, they call for separation. We need to reflect on the way we behave, we often react first and think later. It has not served us well and it definitely would not serve us now. We cannot continue to do the same thing and expect different results. It is just not going to happen. It is time for conversation and reconciliation. Let’s start the conversation at homes, in schools, workplaces, in politics and at gatherings.

It is disgraceful that, people who stand for nothing and achieved nothing are quick to dismiss the great act of selflessness of these amazing Nigerians. Yes, I did say amazing Nigerians, and not tribe, but Nigerians. I am passionate about

this, as time and time again, it seems we are no better off than when we started. Well, at least some of us. We go back to this and distort history and sometime altogether dismiss it. What are we teaching our children; that it is all right to hate our neighbours. That it is fine that we don’t get along and that we should not trust the “others”. About time we grew up. We are better than that, and our children deserve better.

Let me share with you a piece I wrote in 2012: “Until the lions have their own historians, the history of the hunt will always glorify the hunter”- Chinua Achebe “I have not bought my copy of the book, so I cannot make any comment on its contents. What I however, find disconcerting is: some people’s attitude to the fact, that Chinua Achebe had the gall to have an opinion and write it in a book! If people disagree, by all means say so. What I do find disconcerting is going as far as insulting his character, his literary integrity and his tribe in one quick swoop. This is disrespectful and dismissive, the way we react to people who have a different view to ourselves.

This is not the first book written and no means, the last; some not so good, some good and a few written by non – Nigerians! So, by condemning a view because we disagree with it, will ultimately close doors to the growth of a cohesive society and it seems we want to create a place where only Yes people can exist.

SUNDAY VANGUARD, MAY 10, 2015, PAGE 11

Africa which according to the Senate President, David Mark has since gone into coma? So, why should people not befalling over themselves to be seen and accepted as Buhari’s acquaintances? After all, didn’tBuhari present

,

N

igerians are beginning to know more about our President-elect, General Muhammadu Buhari.

During the electioneering campaigns which preceded the Presidential election of March 2015, a repeated documentary profiled him as a candidate who did not meet the basic educational requirement of the West African School Certificate.

After he won the election, a new documentary surfaced crediting him with a Master’s degree in Defence Studies. If he had lost the election, perhaps the new documentary would have shown how he didn’t get near a primary school.

Having emerged as President-elect, he has become an instant hero to all in a countrywhere failure is an orphan while success is claimed by all.

His admonition and that of hisvictorious party- the All Progressive Congress APC) that defectors to the party may get no welcome package appears to have fallen on deaf ears as many are scheming to get close.

In any case, why should anyone want to remain in the former largest party in

Nigerians need to, for once, see politics as a game in which losers, go back into their shell to strategize for the next competition

himself as a man of every group during the electioneering period, especially as he had to be adorned in several Nigerian attires for the campaigns?

He could jolly well be an Ibo man.

Only last week, the Imo State Governor-elect, Rochas Okorocha was quoted by the media to have announced a new nameOkechukwu, for the President-elect.

The incoming first lady was not left out as she too was proclaimed Hajia ‘Ogechi’ Buhari. As Governor Okorocha reportedly

PhD, Department of Philosophy, University of Lagos, , 08116759758

Muskets and the musketeers (1)

A

musket, according to Chambers Twentieth Century Dictionary, is a military hand firearm, particularly of an antiquated smoothbore kind. A musketeer, therefore, is someone, a soldier most likely, armed with a musket. Somehow, the President-elect, Maj. Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (rtd) and his party, the All Progressives Congress (APC), may be likened to musketeers using revenge mentality and threats of probe as muskets against opponents, especially members of the outgoing administration and African Independent Television (AIT). As is well known, Buhari's biggest selling point in the last Presidential election is his reputation as a disciplined incorruptible leader with the iron will to fight corruption mercilessly. However, I have always maintained that the President-elect is not as squeaky clean as his ardent supporters claim.

Moreover, the showy strong-arm anti-corruption strategy he deployed as a military dictator is at odds with sound democratic practice and unsuitable for the sophisticated mutations which corruption have undergone since he was deposed by a military coup

explained, both names confirm that his people are in a season where God has chosen to bless them with the election of General Buhari. Although no one should be surprised at the eulogies being poured on Buhari, some people may

about thirty years ago.

During the electioneering campaigns, Gen. Buhari was in a dilemma. His electoral appeal and electability, as already indicated, depended heavily on his anticorruption reputation. As a result, his brief campaign speeches were dominated by allegations of graft and impunity against President Goodluck Jonathan's government, together with the promise to deal with the problem decisively if elected President. Yet, in order not to scare away dodgy chieftains of APC with stinking antecedents who financed his campaigns, Buhari announced that as President he would not waste precious time probing those who embezzled public funds before May 29, 2015. His position was reinforced by the chairman of APC, John Odigie Oyegun, who declared that the future of Nigerians is too important for the in-coming government to spend valuable time digging into the past. Now that Buhari has won, he no longer feels obligated to abide by his earlier promise not to probe past governments. In fact, there are indications that revenge mentality might compel the

,

find it hard to understand why the Southeast where Buhari performed so poorly is at the forefront of those cringing and hustling for political patronage from the same President-elect.

The story all over the place is that APC leaders in the zone led by Okorocha have already undertaken a strategic visit to Buhari with a specific mission to say: “ we know that we’ve lost out in the position of senate presidency because we did not have a ranking senator elected to the National Assembly. We however appeal and we President-elect and some potential key players in his incoming administration to move against individuals, groups and organisations that did not support the APC in the last elections. In other words, the new government that would start functioning in less than three weeks from now may embark on mudslinging probe of Jonathan and his lieutenants, clamp down on media organisations it considers anti-APC, and discriminate against those states that voted massively for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

For example, Gen. Buhari, after a courtesy visit by a former governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria and Emir of Kano, Mallam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, pledged to probe the $20 billion which, according to Sanusi, the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) did not remit to the federation account as required by law.

I have written about this and other allegations against the minister of petroleum and first female President of the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke, in a twopart essay entitled "The NNPC and its enemies."

Consequently, there is nothing really new to add now, except to note that Buhari's promise to revisit the matter despite President Jonathan's order that the findings of the investigative review of NNPC's activities carried out by PricewaterhouseCoopers be made public is indicative of his deep distrust of the out-going President. Even so, there is a new argument

because it expects Buhari to give the Igbo their due. in his government.

The President of Ohanaeze Ndigbo in Anambra State, Dr. Chris Eluomunoh, while speaking at a press conference in Awka, Anambra State said that Ndigbo would never stoop so low to beg anybody for job.The President of Ohanaeze Ndigbo in Anambra State, Dr. Chris Eluomunoh, while speaking at a press conference in Awka, Anambra State said that Ndigbo would never stoop so low to beg anybody for job.

The South-south zone which but for Edo State, made similar negligible returns to Buhari’s success did not toe the ndigbo line as a group which called itself the forum of former Speakers of State Houses of Assembly wants Pally Iriase of Edo APC, to be made the Speaker of the House of Representatives.

Are these claims supposed to be made while the party’s zoning committee is yet to produce a blue print on the subject? Again if the zones where the President-elect garnered the least votes are aggressively clamouring for what they should get, what then happens to the old adage that ‘from whom much is expected much must be given? Here, we venture to say that for change to our self-centred political interest to end, political parties must learn to give little to those who brought in little. Nigerians need to, for once, see

politics as a game in which losers, go back into their shell to strategize for the next competition. Indeed, the old practice whereby losers canvass for government of national unity which keeps them in government is one that must be jettisoned if our nation is to develop a democratic template which prepares good players to appreciate when to be in government and when to serve as a veritable opposition to a ruling party.

On this score, General Buhari’s attitude to the Southeast and South-south politicians in his party should be to admonish them to concentrate on party organization in their zones for better future performance. He should not allow them to distract him with daily visits on lobbying for their personal gains; otherwise there would be no difference between those who performed well and those who did not. This will bring some sanity to the political landscape of Nigeria which will in turn help a new President to develop a good cabinet bearing in mind that at the end of a presidential election, the victorious candidate ought to function as the President of all. The posture would also assist the Presidentelect to embrace not just the letter but also the spirit of the provisions of Section 14 of our constitution which require him to obey the federal character principle by picking men and women of vision (not lobbyists) from all parts of the country.

that the PwC probe which exploded Sanusi's allegations is just a "report or review," not a forensic audit. But I have a copy of the document PwC sent to the Auditor-General of the Federation, and it is captioned "Investigative Forensic Audit into the Allegations of Unremitted Funds into the Federation Accounts by the NNPC." On page 8 of the document, in the section labelled "1.1

it as a paragon of professionalism in auditing.

Meanwhile, with the benefit of hindsight, the timing and unprofessional manner Sanusi orchestrated his allegations strongly suggests that he might be acting out a script intended to denigrate Jonathan's government for the benefit of APC. Sanusi relentlessly raised the issue of unremitted funds in the middle of presidential electioneering campaigns so that the aura of corruption would hang around PDP and President Jonathan, the intention behind which is to reinforce APC's argument that his government is corrupt. In addition, extremely malicious rumours in the social media about financial recklessness by Mrs. Alison-Madueke, her intended asylum to avoid being prosecuted for yet-tobe identified offenses, and her efforts to secure a soft landing through the intervention of former military ruler, Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar (rtd), bear the unmistakable signature of a grand design to malign and discredit her. Of course, the minister has consistently denied all the damaging allegations, blaming her travails on agents of international oil cabals who can no longer use their local agents to steal from Nigeria because of the reforms she introduced in the oil sector.

But how many of Mrs. Alison-Madueke's traducers are willing to listen to her own side of the story or give her the benefit of doubt until adequate evidence to support the

allegations against her becomes available? Given the "Crucify her, crucify her!" chorus in both conventional and social media, it appears that an accused is no longer presumed innocent until proved guilty in a competent court.

For decades, bulimic embezzlement of public funds is the defining characteristic of Nigeria's ruling elite, to the extent that it has become the single most devastating cause of our arrested development. Thus, it is understandable if Nigerians are incensed and revolted by reports of corruption against public officials ahead of solid evidence, and are too eager to see them punished severely. Nevertheless, they should not get things twisted: people must avoid the mistake of allowing their disgust towards rampaging corruption metamorphose and harden into lynch mentality against government officials based solely on hearsay and uncorroborated allegations of graft. In this connection, it is unfortunate that many Nigerians, including welleducated people with highsounding academic and professional titles who should know better, tend to believe without question outlandish stories of corruption connected to Mr. President and members of his cabinet without sufficient evidence.

Of course if Gen. Buhari, after he takes over from Jonathan, decides to probe any former public office holder, NNPC and other federal institutions, that is up to him.

,

President ‘Okechukwu’ Buhari !

believe that you will be generous enough to consider the Southeast region for the position of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF). The team was also said to have requested for the position of the speaker of the House of Representatives or its deputy.

Meanwhile, a committee set up by the APC to review the zoning arrangement is yet to conclude its work. If so, why is the Southeast caucus already lobbying for the post of SGF? In addition,how come members of the caucus have since gone into action to position themselves for the post? A former Governor of the old Abia State, Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu, Senator Chris Ngige, a former Governor of Anambra State and Professor Anthony Anwuka, the current secretary to the Imo State Government are all said to be in the race for the post with none of them willing to cede the post to the other. Under the circumstance, who says, General Buhari will find a conducive environment to effect the much awaited change to our political culture? The point must however be made that it is not everyone in the Southeast zone that is cringing. The famous Ohanaeze ndigbo, the Igbo apex socio-cultural organization for instance, has since stated through the President of its Anambra Branch Dr Chris Eluomunoh that it would not beg for appointment

For decades, bulimic embezzlement of public funds is the defining characteristic of Nigeria’s ruling elite, to the extent that it has become the single most devastating cause of our arrested development

,

Introduction," the last paragraph says, "As this is our definitive report on this forensic work/exercise, all previous positions taken or views expressed are henceforth invalid..."

Furthermore, the words "forensic" and "audit" were used in several pages to describe the work done by PricewaterhouseCoopers.

Hence, the claim that the document is a mere report is inaccurate. I suspect that if its contents had vindicated Sanusi's claim of missing $20 billion, Mrs. Alison-Madueke's pharisaic critics would hail

To be continued

PAGE 12—SUNDAY VANGUARD,MAY 10, 2015

IGBO OPPOSITION “Z

ONING to unzone” the words of the legendary Nigerian politician and wordsmith, Kingsley Ozuomba Mbadiwe continues to offer useful political metaphor in these times. But what those words suggest was that zoning political offices at that time reflected the stage of Nigerian politics which was still fragmented by ethnic differences.

It was needed until such a time when national cohesion would make such a venture unnecessary. We would then focus on the emergence of worthy and competent leadership at the national stage. Zoning thus was principally to lay the grounds towards a more meritocratic future. Well, that future did not arrive.

Using the same old NPN formula, the PDP inserted the zoning principle in its policies, and thus, seems to have perpetuated zoning as a condition of Nigerian politics.

Zoning the most sensitive political offices in the land is absolutely problematic; however I understand the need to gesture towards Nigeria’s plurality, and the use of that framework to circulate national political privilege and representation. But I think it is about time that we reconsidered its use in

filling political office.

There is no better time than now with the so-called SESS regional bloc voting enmasse for the PDP in the national elections. As a result, these zones do not have any politician of weight in the APC to occupy potentially zoned positions in the National Assembly.

This has generated a lot of hand-wringing in some quarters and even a little gloating in some other quarters.

Dr. Junaid Muhammed, not ever shy on these matters is now on record to say, the East should be served their just deserts, and be not included in the APC’s legislative leadership since they voted overwhelmingly for the PDP. I think I agree with Junaid Muhammed.

Because the Igbo mostly in the South-East and SouthSouth made their political choices, they are obligated to pursue those choices in the parliament of the land in the opposing bench.

They could lead a formidable PDP opposition in the National Assembly, and offer robust alternatives, scrutiny, and insight to legislative governance. It is a great opportunity for the Igbo especially in this legislative cycle to place in context, the quality of their national

visions on the other side of the whip, if they have such an alternative vision. A great Igbo politician should emerge as the leader of National opposition in the National Assembly, and as minority whip, lead the charge for a great legislative agenda.

The APC does not have overwhelming majority in parliament. They will need the PDP to pass bills. They will have to trade horses, negotiate, seek compromise, cut parliamentary deals, and share bacons.

The Igbo might gain much more in opposition than at the center of legislative leadership. It is clear that what is important to the South-Eastern and South-South electorate must be pushed, and even where they are in opposition, not ignored even by the government in power. The Igbo do not need to be Senate President or Speaker of the House of Representatives to get their due from the in-coming administration. The Igbo do not need such positions to assert their national influence or establish their capacity. All they need is to establish a clear voice in the in-coming Assembly.

As the Igbo themselves say, “before there was rice on the menu, no one

resorted to eating goat droppings.” There was such a time when Nigerians did not even have a single right to vote people of their choice. Today they do.

Voting people of their choice has democratic outcomes, and the Igbo are not, and should not be afraid to live with the choices they make in a democracy. No Nigerian should therefore worry about whether Igbo occupies a position in the National Assembly or not; what should worry Nigerians is whether Igbo and other Nigerians are treated fairly in the distribution of resources

The Igbo have been Senate President; Deputy Senate President; Majority leader in the HOR, and all such. These positions may indeed have benefited the individual occupants, there is no doubt, but in what ways did it benefit the Igbo people generally? that should be available to every citizen under the incoming administration.

Opposition does not mean, and should not mean political neglect. No federal program can, or should be denied the loved ones, the admiration of their peers; withholding affection and attention is a very effective way of control and till we awaken, we remain domesticated.

Being an active member of society requires

A world of Agreements (2)

A

sober look at life at some point will often reveal hidden truths, flaws, weaknesses and even good and positive sides. We all grow, we live, we love, we learn. Life is a teacher, it uses people, situations, our emotions to teach us; we may not always embrace the lessons but we learn them again and again till we make better choices. As a rule, I try not to waste my time on regrets, I do the best I can in any situation given the knowledge at my disposal, if I knew better then I would have done better! I process things differently from most people, I am often referred to as a free minded liberal without boundaries! I would love to deny the description as its not very flattering but a denial wont really be a true position. I would instead describe myself as a broadminded soul who has learnt to let people define their own boundaries without any help from me.

I let people judge themselves by their actions

and treat them in like manner. My world view is that an open mind and an open heart make for a joyous life.

I am not shocked by anything or anyone so when I came across "The four agreements" I discovered a similar world view to mine.

A world view that promotes joy, love, heaven and givesthe choice to walk away from chains of j u d g e m e n t , condemnation and suffering.

The first half of life is spent conforming to the expectations of the world around us and the second breaking free from all of those expectations. They say life begins at 40 because people start doing things differently, they stop caring about expectations and don't need approval for their choices. I can attest to this fact except that I never really conformed even before I turned 40 but there is something about that age that is so liberating. A few years later and I am in what I call the

Disengagement phase of my life's journey, I am breaking old agreements and making new ones that serve the greater purpose of love and light. Don Miguel Ruiz, the author of the "The four agreements" talks about the domestication of man. We all can relate, as children we were all without boundaries, we didn't know malice or unforgiveness, we didn't know whether we were ugly or beautiful but the people around us soon domesticate us into creatures that conform with their expectations; the adults need to control the children; its called submission and obedience.

Religion does pretty much the same if we let it. They domesticate us through a process of approval and disapproval, they then repeat it till we learn our place.

Sometimes we are beaten into submission and we then go ahead and do same to our children. Being social creatures, humans crave the attention of their

The agreements I am actively disengaging from are those generic ones that have become a onesize fits all cap that are giving us all a headache. participation and we do this by living according to the laws of the land both legal and moral. In that regard, domestication is not all bad, we all should agree to fairness, justice and the right of all to work and live life to the best of their ability.

The agreements I am actively disengaging from are those generic ones that have become a one-size fits all

South-East or South-South because they did not vote Buhari, who on May 29, will swear to treat all parts of the federation, irrespective of religion, conscience, gender, or status equally in line with the constitution of the Republic.

To marginalize political opposition will certainly lead to problems which the in-coming administration will only do too well to avoid. In any case, in the last sixteen years, the Igbo have been Senate President; Deputy Senate President; Majority leader in the HOR, and all such.

These positions may indeed have benefited the individual occupants, there is no doubt, but in what ways did it benefit the Igbo people generally? That is the question. These positions did not change the political fortunes of the Igbo of South-Eastern Nigeria. I doubt that David Mark’s job as President of the Nigerian senate benefited the Idoma, his ethnic group in the Middle belt of Nigeria, or even his state, Benue, in any distinct material or political way. It did not add more juice to Benue’s federal allocation.

It did give Mr. Bonaventure Mark some personal leverage and power, no doubt; a little operating room; some leeway to do small favors, like giving jobs, a little contract here and there, to political friends and family, but it did not create a radical shift in the well-being of the Idoma in general. A formidable opposition should engage the governing party on questions of power, and the policies that might serve a wider public good.

This is what Nigerians must expect: an

engagement by a PDP in opposition that should arise to either counter or deconstruct an APC ideological position and deepen the national dialogue. Remarkably, the APC and the PDP do not share any profound ideological differences, but perhaps, here is the time to begin to iron out, and thresh through the mill, a clear ideological difference in the party politics of the nation.

Here is PDP’s chance to prove to Nigerians that it should be returned to power in 2019 by creating a formidable political opposition. Here is also the Igbo chance to lead that opposition and shape the political debates leading towards 2019, and perhaps, situate the possibility of an Igbo aspirant to the presidency. Being in opposition, therefore might turn out to be a greater advantage, than a disadvantage.

In any case, the Igbo have been in opposition since May 1967 against the current political coalition that has just secured electoral victory.

Mobilizing and leading a different coalition, the Igbo, as they are often wont, can transform political opposition into a vital democratic alternative by giving it sex appeal. But more vital than leading legislative opposition in this cycle, is that it is about time that the economic, cultural and political leadership of the SouthEast came together to design, chart and implement a new course towards the trilateral renaissance of Eastern Nigeria. That is the most urgent political imperative of our time. A weak East is no use to Nigeria.

cap that are giving us all a headache. Agreements that some races and tribes don't mix, that wealth or riches are some sort of class/ status divide, that there are some people that are above the law and beyond the criticisms of men, that unproven superstition be made a way of life and mostly that religious bigotry be an excuse for evil.

These days I find myself unwilling to be carried along by the wave of conformity and I am conserving my energy for those things that bring me joy; it took middle age to finally get that heaven is the absence of suffering.

My most important agreement is to live in heaven from hereon in.

Heaven is going for an early morning run at first light, enjoying nature before the world is fully awake while listening to an audio book or the most gorgeous music! Heaven is the company of good friends where no one has to worry about editing what they say because they are afraid someone will use it against them.

Heaven is breaking bread amongst strangers who bless you with a smile and leave you to your musings.

Heaven is waking up next to your friend, who is happy to wake up next to you, Heaven is travelling, seeing new places, enjoying different cultures. heaven is meditation and prayer, being truly connected to the divine and to be true to my

Ijebu roots, heaven is a credit alert that is big enough to make you feel richer than you actually are.

Its amazing that just that single agreement to live a heavenly life is unravelling a lot of other agreements.

If most of us really dwelled on it most of the agreements that form the operating system of our lives are not what we would actually think of if we hadn't been broken into submission.

There are some innate prejudices that we may not even be aware of that are based on information that have been passed down to us; we dislike people we don't know because we heard something. I was following British politics and I was one of those who didn't like Ed Miliband because of some stories that he snatched the leadership from his brother David, I gave it some further thought and came to the conclusion that he was only guilty of wanting what his brother wanted as well, he had a right to his ambition; no one should judge him for that and this position meant I was able to feel some sympathy for his bruising defeat thereafter. I want to end this in a similar manner to Don Ruiz. "Don't believe him, don't believe me either, disagree with every agreement and make your own, the bottom line is this; don't delegate your thinking. That is the beginning of the great agreements to come"...

SUND AY SUNDA

Vanguard, MAY 10, 2015, PAGE 13

BY FRANCIS IGATA

E

nugu State House of Assembly, derisively referred to as docile, last Monday, cleaned its sleepy eyes at the twilight of the administration, seeking to impeach Governor Sullivan Chime over alleged financial misconduct, forgery and abuse of office. The House, which had had a convivial relationship with the executive, rose in unison, last month, against alleged recklessness of Enugu State Universal Basic Education Board, ENSUBEB, in the award of N3.6 billion contract for the prefabrication and renovation of 500 primary and secondary schools in state which its Chairman,Ms Nneka Onuorah had admitted before the House was poorly handled.

Not daunted, the House passed resolutions condemning the concession of Enugu city water supply for 25 years to a firm. The concession would, if in place, amount to 600% increase on water rate to Enugu residents. The resolution also stopped the executive from the allocation of land in the International Conference Centre, ICC, stop the sale of land at the old Eastern Nigeria Industrial Centre situated at Zik Avenue.

The land adjacent to the Assembly Complex is presently under construction

by Park and Shop.

Chime’s position showed that the House cannot succeed in their bid to impeach him because the window of opportunity is finite.

Chime told newsmen,"They(House) called them(heads of departments) and were questioning them on all sorts of things that happened even in my first tenure. Their dream impeachment will never see the light of day. I want my defence to see the light of day. They are not aware of the constitutional provisions relating to impeachment.

The office of governor is not like Speaker that you can blow siren to the office and go home with Okada.

"Office of governor is a very serious office. You don't just wake one morning and you start thinking of impeachment. The section that deals with impeachment is Section 188. It deals with how the governor or deputy will be removed from office.

"At least one-third of the House is required to sign a notice of allegation of gross misconduct against the holder of the office. The House has 24 members. Eight of them are expected to sign that notice alleging that I am guilty.

"Under Subsection 2, the Speaker is expected to have received the notice of allegations, cause a copy of that notice to be served on me within seven days. After they go through that hurdle, within 14 days of presentation of the notice to the Speaker, the House is enjoined to pass a resolution, stating that the allegations should be investigated. I am referring to Subsection 3.

"The Speaker must get the House to resolve by motion the resolution which must be supported by two-third of its members. That is Subsection 4.

And it must be by all members of the House. So all this talk about suspension of House members is nonsense. So long as you are a member, you must be part of this.

"So, two-third of all the members, in our case, is sixteen. I am quite sure they know what they doing. I do not know the stage they are in now. Is it the stage of presenting the allegations or what? The constitution requires two-third to pass the resolution.

Nobody has served me the notice of allegations. By their own showing, they are 14 members including the Speaker who should not be counted.

So they are 13. That is why they have not activated anything.

"They need 14 days to get the notice of allegations from House members.

When that happens, they will require another seven days to pass the resolution. If they are successful, the C M Y K

CHIME DARES ENUGU LAWMAKERS:

Too late to impeach me •‘Governor confirmed he breached the law’ Chief Judge will be enjoined by the Speaker to constitute a seven-man panel and submit its report within three months. So, I am not quite sure if they are investigating me or the incoming governor. Because before they even set up the panel, I am out of this place”.

Speaker Odoh explained the reason behind the Chime impeachment move to Sunday Vanguard, “Before you reallocate funds or do virement, it must be sent to the legislature for approval. If you alter the budget that has been approved by the House without their consent, it is forgery.

"I challenge Chime to a public debate,let him come out and explain to the public what reallocation or virement of public funds means. He should provide documents for approval from the House and I will provide mine. I assure you, he will run away. If he is clean, he should come to a television debate with me."

Frowning at the development, a lawyer, Mr.Ray Nnaji, said, "The allegation that Chime forged the

supplementary budget, appropriation law 2012 was to me an allegation, not until he made comments which i heard on the radio saying that he altered and moved allocations from one section to another section.

"In law, it is called virement. And if an executive must engage in virement, he must send the same appropriation law back to the House for the House to do the needful and bring it back to the executive.

"For the governor to what he did is an alteration.

"The governor himself who is a lawyer is supposed to have known the implication of what he did which means he is no longer denying the fact that he altered the supplementary budget of 2012. By that statement i heard on the network news, where he (Chime)was saying as admission, that actually engaged in reallocation of funds from one section to another. You cannot do virement with executive fiat.

"He does not have such right. He has to face that law. We the indigenes

of Enugu State are not going to take it lightly.

"I thought the House was joking until I heard his voice, admitting that part. I will petition the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, to come in immediately. If EFCC fails to move, i will go to court and compel them to do that. I will not waste time to that. I was thinking it was allegation until he (Chime) used his mouth to say he reallocated. What do you mean by that? It is virement.

It is not done executive fiat. We have separation of powers. Your power (Chime) is to sign a bill into law. And once it is signed, you (Chime) cannot alter it. That 'a' that is there when you signed it must be there. If you want to change that 'a' you must take it back to the people that have the right to do so which is the legislature”.

The All Progressives Congress, APC, Chairman, Enugu State chapter, Mr. Ben Nwoye, lamented the House had known about the alleged forgery since 2012 and did nothing.

He said,"This should not come to Enugu people as a surprise. Chime's dictatorship has been there. Odoh has been hiding it.

The question is, have the checks and balance worked? Before now, when the governor went on a protracted medical vacation and breached the law by not coming back at the specified time, it was Odoh that gave him legislative backing.

"During the impeachment of former deputy governor, Sunday Onyebuchi, Odoh also gave him legislative backing. The question is, where did they part ways? He who seeks equity must come with clean hands. They have run Enugu State as a personal enterprise. The change in guard at the centre will ensure they do not go unpunished."

PAGE 14—SUNDAY Vanguard, MAY 10, 2015

How APC benefited from PDP’s mismanaged success – Eyiboh

BY EMMANUEL AZIKEN

M

r. Eseme Eyiboh, is one time chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Information. While in the House between 2007 and 2012, he was a sounding board for many policies that flowed from the legislature. He eventually became the Dean of The Initiatives, an intellectual resource base for the House.

In this interview, Mr. Eyiboh, scholar, farmer, policy wonk and politician speaks on issues flowing from the recent elections and how the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, prepared itself for defeat.

Excerpts: You have been out of the House for about three years now. What have you been doing?

My going to the House of Representatives was out of the desire to represent my people and representation in this case is protecting the interest of the people regardless of the constitutional responsibilities of the legislator which of course is appropriation, oversight and legislation. You also have to make sure that you buy your people in, into the national programmes and policies of government and also bring them closer and understand their felt needs and then integrate them into the National Development Plans. The National Development Plan in this case is captured in the national budget.

Since my eclipse in the House of Representatives, I have had nothing to do with the decision of my people. But I have been trying to network and open up the contacts and doing what I can to still make sure that I sustain the connectivity of my people with what is going on at the centre.

I felt that I shouldn’t play the typical Nigerian politician who after every election if he is not successful goes back home sulking as a monument of self pity, so I decided to take a step forward by making sure that in the course of it, that I now have to appraise myself, go through the process of self appraisal so that in the days ahead I will find myself comfortable enough in future competitive models because I have no doubt in my mind that there will be a change in this country.

What is your perspective of the recently concluded elections and the outcome?

You know President Goodluck Jonathan came in with the greatest goodwill any Nigerian leader ever had. That same wind that brought him in is the wind that took him out because he lost the opportunity to manage that goodwill and as he was losing that goodwill his men

C M Y K

were not able to do the integrity audit of that goodwill until they lost it. There is this theory in security called theory of “sweet descent.” You never know you are falling when you are falling because it is sweet when you are falling from the apex, no obstruction, the breeze is touching you and you are falling freely until when you are on the ground that is what our president went through in 2015 election.

The Nigerian people have handed over a handbook which is presently with the APC and that handbook is saying that time has changed. The greatest mistake of the president was that he never recruited the right people in the right places. He performed very well but he never informed and when he attempted to inform, he now took a wrong direction in managing his public communication. So, the election was PDP vs PDP, APC only benefited from the mismanaged opportunities. A situation where you had the president’s wife going in one direction for campaign and the Presidential Campaign Council was going another direction, the party was going in another direction and you now had the Governors’ Forum also going another direction. So, it was a time that the country was undergoing a great depression. A situation like this arose in America some years ago under Franklin Roosevelt when there was a great depression, and he took stock and went through a leadership recruitment process and came out with what is today popularly known as the New Deal and he took America out of that bad situation.

But here, the PDP conducted itself as a band of people who are insensitive, a political organisation that for 16 years could not even review its own manifesto. A political party for 16 years was busy building empires for people who wanted to use Nigeria as a franchise to be able to rehabilitate their age long failed ambitions. It was very unfortunate, so, there was no way that they could have succeeded.

Most of the steps that they took were steps in the wrong direction.

How do you mean?

Children who were born from 1970 till date, constitute the greater population of our people and these people were born when corruption was most manifest in this country. These people have never seen heroes, they have never seen role models and they keep reading about role models and heroes and they are desirous to see in our own clime, their own role models and heroes. You see little children wearing T-shirts with Michael Jordan, carrying names

•Eseme Eyiboh

like Mandela.

Some of them heard what Buhari did with War Against Indiscipline, but they didn’t know what happened. So, today they are desirous of seeing such a change.

In that time that we are talking about when you graduated from the university, you know you are a graduate. But today, everybody is talking about unemployment and 80% of the unemployed are unemployable because the system is emphasising on manpower and not mind power. Global competitiveness today is knowledge driven. If you go to the Silicon Valley in the United States, 80% of the engineers there are Indian Americans. Now, if you buy a machine in China you need a Chinese to be in that factory. So, what used to be a burden because of population has now become a catalyst for them. But instead of the managers of our own democracy to now look at our democracy as a vehicle to drive

There is this theory in security called theory of “sweet descent.”

You never know you are falling when you are falling because it is sweet when you are falling from the apex, no obstruction, the breeze is touching you and you are falling freely until when you are on the ground that is what our president went through in 2015 election

development, they are busy talking about GDP. But one is now talking about development as a process of which GDP is just a single component.

So, PDP for 16 years were breeding champions and Goliaths, but neglected the fact that there is a stone for every Goliath.

So, was Buhari the stone that fell PDP? Buhari didn’t do anything to PDP. It is the people who gave them the handbook that things have changed, that the behavioural pattern of the average Nigerian voter has changed and that you can no longer take us for a ride and as we speak, PDP is yet to recover and I don’t see PDP reinventing itself with the quality and calibre of leaders that they have today.

What is your reaction to the crisis in the party today?

It is a function of poor leadership recruitment process. A political party which has ruled for 16 years ought to own a think tank, a nursery cluster across the country whereby at any given time if you want to pick a national chairman you would go and pick a round peg in a round hole. We are not in a wartime, but these gentlemen were just misfits put together to manage success. A party in power is expected to rejuvenate itself in every election and is supposed to come out with innovations, it is supposed to come out with models, with strategies for productivity but unfortunately, if you observe the trend and the threats, the threat analysis of PDP was that in every election, PDP was losing ground but they were not taking note of it because of the quality of leadership mandated to manage the party. So, how would you be able to manage the party?

Because they are seeing the party as a buffet table.

What are the prospects for the party?

PDP will first have to culture itself on leadership.

Do you see Buhari being able to steer the nation in the right direction?

My concern about Buhari is that

he has the perceived personal integrity, he has an austere lifestyle and those things go well for him but how can those be translated into national leadership? What is the mentality within APC? Who would be able to complement this his mentality? Buhari and Osinbajo are fantastic men in their own right? They have the sense of personal organisation, but this change is a process and people will have to buy into it. What process is he going to use to persuade and invite people to buy in? Remember election has ended it is no longer APC/PDP, it is now Nigerian people and the president.

So, he has an onerous task to perform because we are in a situation of great depression and we need a leader in the mould of Roosevelt to be able to create a new deal model for us.

So, could Buhari do that?

It depends on leadership recruitment. If he subjects himself to the clannish interests of his political party and the influence of godfathers, I would rather say that this success may become a potential for implosion. But if he is firm and puts to test his sense of personal organisation and acts to type as a general we have always known, I think it would be an issue of time.

You were the Dean of the Initiatives. Did you not have a successor?

I had a deputy dean and The Initiatives was formally registered with the Corporate Affairs and recognised by a number of international development partners. But this thing is all about perspectives. I was looking at it as a vehicle to share policy directions and perceptions of government and drive the process. But today because there has been an eclipse of visions and in the country we are no longer talking about visions, we are now talking about perks, so some people are discouraged from investing in those things which are intellectual which are research based and some of them also are afraid too that leading The Initiatives would also make them vulnerable to the governors who are also powerful, because that it seemed, was one of my undoing.

SUND AY SUNDA

Vanguard, MAY 10, 2015, PAGE 15

Okowa will build on predecessors’ foundation — Ambassador Okporoko

BY LUCKY OJI Ambassador Godwin Okporoko, is the founder and President of Goodwill Professionals and Care Foundation, a non governmental organization, based in Abuja.

He is also a chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP and Vice President of Urhobo Youth Leaders Association in Delta State. In this interview with Sunday Vanguard, he explains why the Urhobo voted for Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa at the just concluded governorship election and the performance of outgoing Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan. ow would you assess the per formance of the outgoing gov ernor of Delta State, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan?

To the best of my knowledge, Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan, has done so much for the state and even the people of Delta can testify to that.

Evidently, since 2007, when Governor Uduaghan assumed office, the state has witnessed tremendous human and infrastructural developments. The people of Delta have continued to enjoy sustainable peace and security provided by the outgoing administration of Uduaghan.

Uduaghan has constructed bridges, which include the Asaba flyover, Effurun flyover, Omadino and Abigborodo bridges, among others. The Asaba airport is also a major achievement of the Uduaghan’s administration. Several roads were constructed across the state, for instance, in Warri axis, you have the Refinery, Deco-Okumagba and Okere roads, Others are the Udu and airport roads being rehabilitated, just to mention a few.

Several schools were also built and renovated by the governor, hospitals were built.

The governor initiated laudable policies and programmes to provide effective and free healthcare delivery to the people of Delta State.

I want to advise Ogboru and Emerhor to work with Okowa to move the state forward.

The time and resources for litigation should be directed towards the growth and development of the state

H

•Amb.Godwin Okporoko The governor also ensured that scholarships were given to deserving students of Delta State extraction, small business owners and youths were encouraged and empowered through the State MicroCredit programme, which I was a beneficiary.

I was appointed a member of Delta State Waterways Security Committee by Governor Uduaghan, and I served faithfully. It beats my imagination that the same people that were actually helped by the governor are the ones castigating him. Uduaghan was able to achieve all he did for Deltans because of the foundation laid for him by former governor, James Ibori before he left office in 2007.

In summary, Uduaghan has done very well for Deltans.

Could you explain why majority of Urhobo people voted for Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa, at last governorship election in Delta state, despite having two of their sons, Chief Great Ogboru and Chief Ote-

DIASPORA MATTERS

Behold! The Sco ts are coming tto o Scots London

T

he results of the United Kingdom 2015 General Elections threw up many shock defeats for some of the major political parties and clear gains for others.

The elections, projected to be the most indecisive in the history of the country turned out to be one that the people of Great Britain rose and made a clear choice for the continuation of the Conservative Party government.

The Tories, led by incumbent Prime Minister David Cameron, won with a clear majority of 331 seats in the house of parliament against Labour’s 232. While in the north of the UK border, the Scottish Nationalist Party (SNP) won 56 of the 59 seats on offer. It was the largest gain in the history of the party. A feat that completely swept the Labour Party out of contention after so many decades of tight hold on most of the seats in Scotland.

As it is the tradition of the country, Cameron with the clear majority to form a government took a mid day trip to the palace for an audience with Queen Elizabeth to form the next government. With backing of the Queen, Cameron on the steps of No 10 Downing Street declared that he and his party hope to govern a united country.

The election was projected to bring up a hung parliament with none of the two major political parties winning a majority to form the next government. As a result of these projections, there were talks of coalition and

The Labour Party and the supporters were in shock but refused to believe the exit polls result. Instead they indicated the possibility of Miliband forming a minority government deals among the political parties even before the election campaigns kicked off. The minority parties, such as Green Party, United Kingdom Independence Party (UKIP), the Liberal Democrats (LibDem) and the SNP had a false idea they stood the chance of forming coalition government with either the Conservative Party or the Labour Party.

The opinion polls conducted by various organisations did not give majority to neither the Tories nor Labour. The Conservative Party, according to the polls, had a small margin lead over the Ed Miliband-led Labour Party, but not expected to reach the 326 seats majority mark. This “small margin” gap must have given the Labour Party leader the energy he needed for the final push to turn in the “votes”.

When the exit poll result was announced on election night, the “wishes” of Miliband, LibDem’s Nick Clegg and UKIP’s Nigel

ga Emerhor as contestants?

It was expected. The Urhobo people voted for Okowa because he was the candidate of all Deltans irrespective of their political parties. As a former council chairman, commissioner, Secretary to State Government, SSG and a senator, he is more qualified and has the grassroots supports which paved way for him.

Urhobo people believed in him, and they are also convinced that Okowa’s administration will enhance their fortunes and indeed, those of Deltans.

He has the experience, very focused and determined to build on the foundation laid

by Ibori and Uduaghan. I want to advise Ogboru and Emerhor to work with Okowa to move the state forward. The time and resources for litigation should be directed towards the growth and development of the state.

As a grassroots politician, who has been in PDP since 1999, what is your advice to Okowa as he assumes office on May 29?

Sincerely, I think Okowa must beware of sycophants. He is much familiar with the common challenges confronting the people of Delta State, which include unFarage took painful blows as they never envisaged the dramatic turn in the outcome.

It was a clear departure from the opinion polls’ results for the past weeks before the elections.

The exit poll was clear as it gave a majority win to the Tories while it forecast a clean sweep for the SNP in Scotland and a “bad” outing for LibDem. The Labour Party and the supporters were in shock but refused to believe the exit polls result. Instead they indicated the possibility of Miliband forming a minority government.

The Labour leaders played ostriches, with heads buried in the sand, came on air to remind the public that exit polls had been wrong in the past, and therefore this might be as unreliable.

The reality of the exit polls was not lost on Miliband and his team forever. After the initial lead for Labour by the victories in Sunderland, the tide changed as the Tories made significant gains, in Labour and LibDem constituencies.

It is not clear at what point Miliband accepted that his ‘desperate’ dream of becoming the next Prime Minister would never become a reality, but in the early hours of Friday, he openly lamented the painful defeat of Labour.

Just a few minutes before Cameron formed the government, Miliband announced his resignation as leader. In the speech, he apologised to supporters that he “was truly sorry” for the defeat. He called on his party members to plan ahead and take back the mantle of leadership in the country.

It was a sad stance also in the Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg’s abode, as the harsh reality of defeat hit him. Clegg, by his preelections statements had thought he would still be an appealing bride to the Tories in the event of a hung parliament. He seemed confident, contrary to public opinions, that his party would be the surprise of the elections.

He was right, as LibDem had a “drubbing” of their existence with big losses.

The goodwill Clegg and his party gained in the 2010 election seemed to have evaporated with the participation in the coalition government. While Clegg managed, by small margin, to keep his Sheffield Halam seat,

employment and youth restiveness, though the outgoing governor, Uduaghan had made some efforts to tackle the situation. I expect Okowa’s administration to give priority to creating employment for the youths and consider reviving government-owned ailing industries. He should as well build new industries to generate income for the state and provide more employment for the people.

Very importantly, the incoming governor, Okowa, should appoint persons with experience, who are willing to serve the people of Delta and not those whose interest is to enrich themselves with the resources of the state.

Those who have made money from the state, they know themselves, they should use the money to build industries, do something meaningful to contribute to the growth of the society. They should also allow others who want to serve faithfully to be appointed into positions.

As a youth leader in the state, do you think Okowa can tackle unemployment and youths restiveness in the state?

Yes, I am very sure that Okowa would deliver. Like I said before, he is aware of the common problems affecting the people. The agricultural sector no doubt will create massive employments for the youths. Let us remove our attention from oil; the Okowa government should focus on manufacturing and production. It will boost the revenue-base of the state and create jobs for the unemployed in the society.

I want to also appeal to all Deltans to embrace the God-given opportunity of Okowa's government to transform the state. We should give Okowa our total support to enable him serve us diligently.

I want to use this medium to thank the Urhobo people for supporting Okowa, who is from Delta North because after Okowa, the governorship position is coming to the Urhobo. some of his senior colleagues were not as lucky.

The likes of Danny Alexander, Vince Cable and Ed Davey all went down on “a cruel and punishing night for Liberal Democrats”.

Before the election, Nigel Farage thought UKIP was the party to watch out for. He moved from one city to another campaigning for votes based on anti-immigration and anti European Union sentiments. He was flamboyant and colourful in his choice of words and venues. The British people, especially his constituents, saw through his gimmicks and withdrew their supports for him. When the result for the South Thanet seat was announced, Farage was a pitiable man on the rostrum.

When he announced his resignation as leader of UKIP, it was clear that Douglas Carlswell, the 2014 Tory defector would be a Lone Ranger in the parliament. His codefector, the promising Mark Reckless who won a bye election late last year, was “beaten” hands down this time around. The support for UKIP could only translate to second best in some constituencies.

The SNP leader, Nicola Sturgeon is a woman you cannot easily put down. She is fiery, domineering and sometimes comes across as a desperate politician, but no doubt, a good hit with her fellow Scots. Prior to the elections, Nicola tried unsuccessfully to draw Miliband into promising a coalition government in case of hung parliament. Her words were that Labour and SNP should come together to see the back of Cameron out of 10 Downing Street.

She needed not worry. For the first time in the British parliament, the Scots will command the third largest party. The victory completely annihilated the Scottish Labour Party as SNP routed the party even in constituencies where it held a wide margin in the previous elections. The gain of SNP was the loss of Labour, and leader Jim Murphy.

The surge of support for the SNP gained momentum just before the 2014 Scottish Independence Referendum. The former leader, Alex Salmond and his lieutenants, including Nicola, rekindled the nationalism fire in their compatriots.

PAGE 16—SUNDAY VANGUARD, MAY 10, 2015

Reckless allocation as severance package to governors •REFORMING RMAFC IS HALF THE BATTLE TO FISCAL SANITY •“BLAME RMAFC: NOT GOVERNOR GOJE OR GOVERNORS’’

BY DELE SOBOWALE “It is true that we have increased the salaries and remuneration packages in line with our mandate.

But we did not increase on the basis of percentage. The whole increase was done across the board for political officers, lawmakers and judicial officers.

The increase has also taken effect because it has been approved accordingly. - Mr Emmanuel Nnamani, RMAFC Commissioner, in THE NATION, August 18, 2008.

All Nigerians who have for long been baffled by how public servants including Presidents, Vice Presidents, Governors, Ministers and SpecialAdvisers, Senators and Representatives, have been fleecing us need look no further than the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation Fiscal Commission, RMAFC, which is charged with determining the remuneration packages of public officials. One of the first ruinous measures taken by the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in 1999, and until now, was to select what in retrospect now appears to be conscienceless people to be in charge of RMAFC. Since any amount recommended

by RMAFC becomes legal and binding on the Federal Government and States to pay, everybody can go home with a bundle claiming it was legitimate. On account of the recommendations of RMAFC, since 1999, Nigeria’s public officials have become the highest paid in Africa at least and in most of the world.

If Buhari wants to keep public expenditure under check and save Nigeria from the ruin planned for us by the PDP, he would be best advised to read the following articles written in the past about RMAFC. WHAT MANNER OF PEOPLE MANAGE RMAFC? The Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission, RMAFC, whose Chairman is Alhaji Hamman Tukur, must be the most misunderstood commission in Nigeria today. Its recent announcement, which was meant to correct rumours about entitlements of public officials has only left many people wondering what criteria were adopted by the commission when fixing the entitlements. Let me start by pointing out one which will shock most Nigerians. The pension for many professors who retired before 2000 remains a paltry N1300 per month. At least three have collapsed while on line for verification before collecting this sum that would not even cover the round trip from Lagos to Ibadan.

They are public servants who individually and collectively have C M Y K

contributed more than Special Advisers who the RMAFC is recommending should be paid N16 million per annum. Surely, Nigerians will want the RMAFC to tell us what are the functions of Special Advisers which are so awesome as to earn them this colossal amount?

That was in 2008 before the influence of RMAFC on our annual expenditure became clear to me.

Later, a longer article highlighted how this Commission alone determines a great deal of our collective fate by allocating obscene amounts to our elected and appointed public servants.

Please read the rest.

Mr. Nnamani went on to inform us, that “what we have done is to review the remuneration packages of these officers in line with the present realities. As a commission, we did some research and met several times before we came up with the increase. Other indices are the rate of inflation and the need for a living wage to ensure honesty and the dignity of the office holders”.

Let us quickly make a few observations about that statement of defence by Nnamani in order to position the salary increases for political office holders in proper perspective and then to address the issue of how it has played out in Gombe State.

Everybody remembers, because it is too soon to forget, that teachers in the public sector went on strike recently demanding for salary increases “in line with the present realities”,(to use Nnamani’s words), the rate of inflation and the need for a living wage” because that is the sum total of their demands. Governments at all levels pretended they could not afford the increases and kept our kids at home for weeks. Eventually, teachers were persuaded to accept 27.5% increase after taking a lot of abuse from everyone; everyone without brains that is.

Now that the same political office holders and those who could not think deeply, who were asking teachers to be reasonable and to accept less than their demand have seen clearly that elected officials were being dishonest and RMAFC had delayed announcing their own juicy packages perhaps we can now realize the role of the RMAFC and its commissioners – mostly errand boys of politicians – in the distortions taking place in the remuneration of political office holders.

One question needs to be asked for now, “do teachers and political office holders shop in different markets? Are they not subject to the same level of inflation and so called “present realities”? I will next week go through the entire recommendations by RMAFC for various offices in order to demonstrate how utterly bereft of

•Buhari

commonsense or patriotism they are.

This week, we intend to address only one or two.

But, first, let us travel to Gombe where the RMAFC recommendations and implementation has become a public issue.

Governor Danjuma Goje of Gombe State must be wondering what he had done wrong to warrant all the attacks he had received for claiming the pension which the Revenue Mobilisation and Fiscal Commission, RMAFC, has recommended for him and all the other governors of Nigeria, many of whom have quietly helped themselves to the money without a whimper from those who now want Goje crucified. As for me, Goje has done one thing wrong; he has refused to pay his predecessor in office former Governor Hashidu on the flimsy excuse that the man is under probe. Even, if a probe indicts Hashidu, his pension cannot be confiscated. The penalty is quite different and can only be determined by a court of law.

Beyond that, I fail to see what the governor has done that is not legal.

It might not be exactly cricket for someone to claim his pension while still serving but the RMAFC had exonerated him even on that score and it has even revealed that other governors have claimed their own money.

The question is: who do we blame for this mess? The plain and honest answer is: the RMAFC. It is the

commission that has in its utter folly recommended N200 million for a governor who serves two complete terms as pension; not the governor. How the commissioners came about this colossal figure is what we need to address not the individuals who suddenly find themselves with abundant and legalized loot because when Goje leaves, the next governor will be entitled to the same amount or something larger.

Let us start with some figures published and not yet denied by RMAFC. They collectively reveal the lack of economic thought that went into the preparation. Motor Vehicle loan is now 400 per cent of basic annual salary payable in six years. But, the elected official is elected for four years and might not be returned to office all being well; he might be removed for a lot of reasons after collecting the loot; and he might die as many have done since 1999. How then are the country’s financial interests protected by offering a loan for tenure in excess of the person’s service period? In case of death, how does the country recover the loan from his family; if he has any?

Or do we write it off as an unfortunate situation when simple commonsense would have made it possible for us to avert the problem? If he is removed and cannot afford to pay, do we then inherit an old banger as a nation which will then be sold at a giveaway price to those in the corridors of power?

We have isolated this particular allowance in order to demonstrate the absurdity of the thought processes that went into the measure announced by Turkur and Nnamani. At the moment, nothing less than ten thousand officials at the three tiers of government will qualify for these largesse. Even if they are all modest, and we know from experience that modesty is not one of the virtues of the Nigerian politician in office, and accept loans of four million each, the country will pay out N40 billion in car loans alone. And these salaries and allowances will be paid regardless of whether the state is Taraba, Ekiti, Ebonyi, Kebbi, or Rivers. That should make a lot of sense – to fools.

Now, let us briefly examine some of the other recommendations based on “the present realities” as claimed by RMAFC. Senators’ basic salaries moved up from just under one million to almost N2.5 million, which means a 150% increase; the same increase was granted to all other elected officials. The last exercise was conducted in 2000; so this is the eighth year.

First, how much inflation has the country experienced in those eight years?

Second, how many other Nigerians in the public and private sectors have had such an increase? Third, why then were teachers, doctors etc in the public service not given the same increase? What are “the present realities” faced by these officials

that are different from those the rest of us face?

The RMAFC, of course, perhaps because it cannot think of anything substantial or out of shame, after the fact, has not bothered to tell the people of Nigeria whose money it is spending so recklessly, what they are specifically.

Furniture allowances also skyrocketed by 300% - naturally, “in line with the present realities”.

As many Nigerians, except those permanently forgetful, would recollect, in 1999 Senators and members of the House of Representatives at first proposed N5 million and N4 million for furniture allowances for themselves. Public outcry, led by the media, and a then still credible President Obasanjo as an anticorruption crusader, forced them to reduce it to N3.5 million for Senators and N2.5 million for reps.

At least that was what we thought until it was later revealed that they went ahead and took the original amounts when the noise died down and when nobody was watching. That should tell us a lot about the character of people in the National Assembly.

Now if we apply the 300% increase in furniture allowance rule, the questions that will arise are the following: Will it be 300% of basic salary or 300% of the previous allowances they granted to themselves?

Irrespective of whichever one is applied, the nation will be expected to spend another N20 billion to N25 billion on furniture for less than 500 people. That is N40 million per elected official in a country in which 70% of the people live on less than one dollar or N120 a day. That fact about 98 million Nigerians living on less than N120 a day is one of “the present [and abiding] realities” which the commissioners of the RMAFC, who themselves will share in the bonanza, obviously have failed to take into account.

They know that their appointments have not depended on the masses but on the ruling group and like most people who know where their bread is buttered, they instinctively know who to please. The majority poor, the critics (including the NLC) and the nation itself can go to hell.

Let us sum up for this week and go to something else, which is pressing. On just two items on the remuneration package of elected officials the RMAFC has committed the nation to paying out almost N75 billion naira, not including the furniture allowances of those at state and local government levels, if we include those, the bill will top N100 billion. Is there any wonder why roads are not tarred, hospitals have remained what Buhari called abattoirs; and teachers went on strike; and there is no water supply even in Portharcourt. The RMAFC has given away all the money for development to elected individuals.

Since 2008, it had been clear that we either tame RMAFC or it will ruin us. Irrespective of what Buhari does or fails to do elsewhere the people appointed to RMAFC will determine his and our fates.

SUNDAY Vanguard, MAY 10, 2015, PAGE 17

bb pin:2BD74DOB

It took me 4 hours to compose Nwayo —Sefiya

By KEHINDE AJOSE

O

•Sefiya

ccasionally, artistes tell stories through their music which make their fans connect with them. Beautiful singer, Sefiya who is taking steps to set the wheel of fame rolling for her, recently released a new song titled Nwayo. The Afropop damsel tells the story of her love for a dude, showering praises on him.

In a chat with Potpourri, the Purple Ice artiste revealed that the song isn’t as a result of her personal experience. “ I woke up one morning and felt like recording a new single. I wanted something different, something with more energy, something one can dance to. I called my friend and producer Mystro and we had a little chat about what I wanted to do. At first, I didn’t know the kind of beat I wanted, so I let him be in charge .Funny enough, he didn’t disappoint me, because I liked the progression of the beat. I jumped on it. My environment inspired the song and not a personal experience.”

When asked how long it took her to compose the song she said: “It took me about four hours to compose the song.” The bubbly artiste also revealed that she is yet to experience a wardrobe malfunction during her performance.

Lord of Ajasa begs fans for years of

Tiwa Savage is my e exxample of a tto otal w oman woman

musical silence

By KEHINDE AJOSE

I

— Ms Jaie

By KEHINDE AJOSE

B

udding RnB artiste Ms Jaie who is preparing to unveil her collabo with Olamide in a chat with Potpourri has nothing but praises for MAVIN first lady who she describes as a total woman for her ability to find a balance between career and her home. She says it shows women can maintain balance on both ends.

According to her: “Tiwa Savage is very professional and her music is her passion. She is not going to be away from the scene for too long. I think her doing these shows regardless of her present condition is a proof that women can be versatile and dogged in pursuit of their careers .We can be family women and have successful careers. It’s like an inspiration to me because it tells me that being a mum or pregnant is no barrier to pursuing one’s career and dreams”

•Ms Jaie

ndigenous language rap pioneer, Olusegun Osaniyi aka Lord of Ajasa, has apologized to his fans for his long absence from the music scene.Recall that Lord of Ajasa was virtually the only rapper using his local dialect to rap years back. In a recent interview, the rapper revealed that he hasn’t quit music.

“I have not been around, but right now I am around.

Sometimes, you will see me sometimes you will not, for personal reasons. That doesn’t mean that I have left music. I am still doing my music. I am still working and my album will be out in a week’s time. I was just waiting for ITunes to send my link. My fans shouldn’t be angry,” he said

•Sylvia Ukaatu

Why I prefer African braids tto o human hair — Sylvia Ukaatu

any ladies, these days, prefer to wear different human hairs on their head ranging from M Brazillian to Peruvian brands, but Nollywood actress,

Sylvia Ukaatu believes that African braids are the best way to express her beauty.

In a chat with Potpourri, she said, ‘Since the emergence of Brazilian and Peruvian hairs, our girls have neglected braids which is a true picture of the African lady. We now embrace the culture of the white people by wearing long human hair, so I decided to bring back braids, but in a unique way. I called my stylist, UzeePremium, to give me a style that will attract ladies and she did this wonderful act on me.

And for real, it has not only attracted ladies but men as well. Many married men even take pictures of me because they want their wives to make the same kind of hair.

With that, I can say that my desire has been met seeing Africans craving to have this hairdo on them. The name of the hair style is `Sharp Rate’, because it’s a combination of two sharp colours which further enhances the beauty.’

Sylvia also gave the reason behind her nickname, Nollywood Blanca. According to her, many people think she is not an African because of her light complexion. In her words, ‘Blanca means a white lady so Nollywood Blanca is a white lady in Nollywood because many people still doubt my race. They believe I am a half-caste because of my look. But I am a full-blooded Nigerian.’

So what’s the cause of her mulatto-like looks?

She said, ‘I don’t know. In a family of five, I am different so I had to ask my mum, and she told me that when she was pregnant with me, she constantly looked at Virgin Mary’s picture and asked her to make me take her look.

When I was born, her wish was granted. And she said because of that, she remains faithful to the mother of Jesus. She in-turn urged me to join her in honouring Mary. You know •Lord of Ajasa our mothers can be funny at times.’

STOP PIRACY NOW! STOP BUYING PIRATED MOVIE AND MUSIC CDs, DVDs. IT IS KILLING THE ENTERTAINMENT INDUSTRY. STOP! C M Y K

PAGE 18, SUNDAY Vanguard, MAY 10, 2015 Onikoyi68@gmail.com

RETURN OF INDEF ATIG ABLE SOLA SOBO WALE INDEFA TIGABLE SOBOW

Home videos have rebranded Nigeria — Sobowale fully recorded up to Season 3. It is showing presently on AIT.

By DAMILOLA SHOLOLA

W

ithout any shred of doubt, Sola Sobowale is a veteran actress with huge talent. Many would remember her as Toyin Tomato in Wale Adenuga’s hit TV series, Super Story.

She is the effervescent character who could blend from one volatile act to another. Just when the movie viewing audience could not get enough of her she disappeared into thin air!

“Has Sola dumped acting?”, was the question on the lips of many. Now she is back, doing what she knows how to do best and currently stars in a new series called ‘Nectar ’ showing every Monday on AIT at 7:00PM with a repeat every Sunday at 9:30PM. In this exclusive interview, she talks about her absence from Nollywood, acting and more.

Are you working on any movie besides the soap?

I just finished one called ‘Bose ye kori’ You’ve featured in over 200 films, how many of them have you produced?

I can’t count, but I’ll just say close to 50 You act with so much passion and conviction, what is your staying power?

First of all, I’m from a disciplined home.

My late father was a retired school principal and my mom was a retired head teacher. We were taught that ‘ what is worth doing is worth doing well’.

This is what I’m ordained to do, this is what I love doing and when you’re doing something you love, you need to put in all your effort and energy. You must be focused, know your onions and know what you want to do. That is why you see me working like this.

You’ve been off the movie scene for a while, are you fully back?

I never left, I only changed my base. Even when I was living in the UK, I still come home and do what I know how to do best. I still act and produce and presently, I’m developing a script.

What are you currently working on?

I’m on a soap opera called ‘Nectar ’ and we’ve

•Sobowale

Can you give a list of your best TV productions?

I’m not going to say one, I would say all. You know why? Because if I don’t love something, you can’t find me there and I endorse what

I do. It is not every script that comes to my table that I do because my own job is not for people to just come and see something that has no meaning. I get involved in stories that people would learn from and if you know me very well and have been following my stories and seen my movies, you will notice that everything I do has to do with family. I do proper drama and all this drama I do has to touch everybody; fathers, mothers, young ones, everybody. All I do is make-believe and at the same time it is what happens in our society both locally and internationally. I thank God for Super Story. A lady walked up to me in Abuja and said “Thank you very much Toyin Tomato, you saved my marriage” I said “ what do you mean by that?” She said that her husband was like Suara and there was someone out there like proper Toyin Tomato that was taking him away.

She then called her husband to watch Super Story and he settled down, watched, listened and saw the whole thing and he came back home. I’m very happy that I could touch that woman’s life.

What would you say shot you to limelight?

When I was in ‘Mirror in the Sun’ years back, it was popular. Village Headmaster was popular, Asewo to Re Mecca happens to be the pacesetter for home videos and then there’s Super Story. I give kudos to Uncle Wale and I thank him so much for believing in me and bringing me on board for Super Story. I would say Super Story shot me to limelight because I had been working and no one had invited me out of Nigeria but with Super Story, I got an invitation to go to South Africa and Zimbabwe. It threw me everywhere; even Jamaicans saw me and said “Did you watch that show? This is Toyin Tomato”.

You started acting when it was not this lucrative, have things really changed?

I will not say I started when there was no money.

But the money wasn’t that high?

Yes, and today it’s a shame that it is going back. We are praying to God that we need a Messiah and that is the government, they need to come in now. On our own, independently and individually, we’ve rebranded Nigeria. Years back, Nigeria was known as a country of 419, drug traffickers, etcetera, but

Continues on page 19

STOP PIRACY NOW! STOP BUYING PIRATED MOVIE AND MUSIC CDs, DVDs. IT IS KILLING THE ENTERTAINMENT INDUSTRY. STOP! C M Y K

SUNDAY Vanguard, MAY 10, 2015, PAGE 19 Onikoyi68@gmail.com

Continues from page 18 when home video came, we rebranded Nigeria. They now know Nigeria for movies and drama and we are really popular, so this is a business that the Nigerian government must invest in.

Why do you think actors are paid peanuts in Nigeria?

When no one is helping and no one is sponsoring, no one wants to put their money down for anything.

But abroad you see a lot of people sponsoring; corporate bodies, banks and so on. If I want to get money now, I’ll have to get my friends to assist me. I don’t know how to do anything else besides this. I don’t have a shop, so I can’t stop no matter how bad it is. That is what is happening and it’s not good. That is why you see Nigerian actors and actresses dying anyhow because you see us working too hard. Nobody is taking a break from work, nobody is going on holiday, nobody is saying let me do 2 or 3 movies in a year and I’ll be satisfied. You see us shooting over 500,000 movies a year because of how much you are paid?

You’re going to pay your house rent, if you want to live in a good place, a flat in a good environment will cost you like N2,000,000. We want to pay our children’s school fees, afford good clothing and 3 square meals. We just want to be comfortable like normal human beings which is difficult.

Why is it that they focus more on quantity instead of quality in Nigeria?

It’s a pity because you know the answer yourself.

We need to feed ourselves. I shot a movie about 2 or 3 years ago called Adayeba Ote Part 1, 2, 3. When I was tired of recording, I had spent about N5.8 million and we had not finished editing. After editing, I did not make up to 3 million. I thank God I did not borrow any money to do that, if I had borrowed money what would have happened to me? I lived in England, I do all the jobs and I bring the money back to Nigeria to shoot a movie because this is me, this is my passion.

When you talk about quality, where are you going to get the money for the quality?

Are you really fulfilled as an actress?

I am not talking about money but you know something in life? When you enjoy doing what you love, you will be fine. I am fine but I need money to survive.

I want all my effort to be crowned because I work very hard so I can’t just be doing it in vain Are all your children in Nigeria or in England?

They’re in England, one is here. He has graduated already and he just recently got married How does someone become good at acting?

First of all, you need to find yourself and believe in yourself. It is not a platform to showcase your beauty or for publicity, it is a profession. You need to treat

•Sobowale

Many people have described you as an ageless beauty, is there any secret to maintaining your good looks?

When you came to my house, how did you see me?

I play a lot, I laugh, I smile and I am not a schemer.

When you scheme, your head works 24/7 and before you know it, wrinkles are all over your face. Or if you lie and you want to keep lying, your head is never resting and it is ever thinking.

Mine is, ‘What you see is what you get’ and I give glory to God and I thank God for my parents; they raised me very well and I got that from them Apart from that Saudi Arabia scandal, is there any other one you’ve faced?

You need to tell me that scandal, tell me the whole story

You don’t need to get naked to act as a grade A prostitute – Sola Sobowale it as a profession like a doctor or a lawyer or an accountant. When you know that this is your profession and you get there, you take things step by step. Don’t say because you’re beautiful you want to sleep around, how many would sleep with you? Don’t forget that beauty is not on the outside, it’s on the inside I’m sure you get upset when you see actresses dress almost nude?

I don’t get annoyed, the bottom line is this; nobody forces you to do anything.

We need education and we need exposure. I’m a typical Nigerian woman, I love my Naija and our culture; there are some things we don’t do, it’s not in our culture. If

we say we want to do it, we can do it in our house under our roof not in public because you get no respect doing that. Our producers and directors need to know that when you are acting as a prostitute, you don’t need to remove your dress to become a prostitute. You don’t need to be touched to act as a grade A prostitute. I did Asewo to Re Mecca, the pace setter, fantastic; myself and Toyin Adegbola. I played the number 1 Asewo and I introduced Toyin’s character to it. We didn’t remove anything and it was talk of the town. When the producers know this, you will not see nakedness again. We should want people to respect us and respect this profession.

They said that you smuggled cocaine and then they beheaded you in Saudi Arabia?

(Laughs) Do you believe in abracadabra? Whether I put my head back, they should tell me. If you give me the map of the world, I don’t know where Saudi Arabia is.

I am not a Muslim, I am a Christian, so what is my business in Saudi Arabia?

I’ve never been there; I’ve never in my life seen cocaine. Yes, I watch movies; internationally I saw Al Pacino in Scarface and I saw our own Nigerian movies where we do cocaine, that’s all. Where that scandal came from, how it came to be, still baffles me. I don’t know why people would just sit down and fabricate stories to rubbish people’s name, it is not fair.

What would you advice celebrities to do in order to keep their marriages?

What I would just tell everybody is, I know my home and I know myself.

What happens in that other building; I don’t know so we should not judge. Secondly, there is something called foundation. In education, when you go to secondary school and you come out of that school and make your papers, that is the foundation. Without that foundation, you can’t get to university or further your studies. The foundation of marriage is love, endurance, honesty and to crown it all; keep it in the house What more should people expect from Sola Sobowale?

Nectar; people should just watch out for Sola Sobowale because it’s going to be a great comeback

STOP PIRACY NOW! STOP BUYING PIRATED MOVIE AND MUSIC CDs, DVDs. IT IS KILLING THE ENTERTAINMENT INDUSTRY. STOP! C M Y K

PAGE 20— SUNDAY Vanguard, MAY 10, 2015 Onikoyi68@gmail.com

Coded TTunes unes un unvveils ne w ar tist es, postpones new artist tistes, reunion concer concertt

•Gaise

By TOFARATI IGE

C

oded Tunes Entertainment has unveiled two new artistes signed to its label, namely, Gaise, an Afro-fusion artiste, and Chinekeboi, an indigenous rapper. Gaise who was formerly signed to Sanctified Records and widely believed to be a gospel artiste has cleared the air on his genre of music.

According to him, ‘I’ve always been an Afro-fusion artiste. It’s my style and genre, and I understand that artistes are classified along those lines. The focus of my music is to promote Godly values, and push out wholesome content.’

On his part, Chineke Boi stated that though he raps in Igbo, he is neither in the industry to copy Phyno nor compete with anybody. In his words, ‘I’m happy to be signed to Coded Tunes, and I’m simply here to do good music. I believe rap is rap, whether in indigenous language or not.’

Meanwhile, the highly anticipated reunion concert tagged, ‘Coded Tunes Live In Concert: Our Story’ which was initially billed to hold on Sunday, May 10, 2015, has been postponed.

According to ID Cabasa, their producer “The concert was postponed due to unforseen circumstances beyond the control of the management. This is also geared towards having a better event. Artistes expected to perform at the concert include 9ice, Olamide, ID Cabasa, Lord of Ajasa, 2phat, Reminisce, Ruggedman, Don Jazzy, Banky W, Cobhams, Pasuma, Seriki, Jahbless, Kayefi, among others.

Tunde, W unmi Obe release Wunmi fif th studio album ifth ollowing over twenty-five years of professional and personal Fsongs collaboration in a career which has spawned several hit and music awards, pop duo Tunde and Wunmi Obe, aka

•Tunde and Wunmi Obe

T.W.O., have announced the release of their fifth studio album titled T.W.O. Plus.

Featuring collaborations with artistes such as 2face, 9ice, Dammy Krane, Teniim, Segun Obe, Floss and Brace among others, the 15-track album is a fresh addition to the artistic repertoire of T.W.O who have previously been recognised for being one of the few Nigerian music acts from the 90s who have maintained their staying power with evergreen music. T.W.O. Plus employs a more urban production feel and mixes it with their signature melodies and socially conscious messages. Speaking about the new album, Tunde Obe remarked that it was the culmination of their musical careers thus far, and the result of four years of painstaking creative work. In his words, “T.W.O. has grown and evolved over the years, both as a sound and as a brand and this album is a celebration of all that is great about T.W.O. as well as a venture into a fresh sound because we have always prided ourselves on our ability to be musical innovators. I think our fans are going to love this new album because we made it with them in mind. I myself find it very difficult to pick a favourite from the songs in T.W.O. Plus.”

Irish Mayor cream liquor unveiled in Lagos ByANOZIEEGOLE overs of good cream liquor can now L have a deep breath of relief as Proudmoment Ltd, importers of Irish Mayor cream liquor has unveiled the drink into the open market. The drink according to Mr. Rotimi Adebari, was created to celebrate his emergence as the first Black to be elected to the position of a Mayor in the Republic of Ireland and he reigned between 2007-2009.

Speaking at the unveiling event at the Trade Fair Complex, Lagos, the mayor who is also the CEO of Proudmoment Ltd, Mr. Rotimi Adebari, said that the drink was created two years ago for the special reasons of his being the first black elected African mayor in the Republic of Ireland. “ I was an erstwhile mayor in a town called Porklish in the Republic of Ireland in the year 2007. I would say that the drink is special in the sense that it was specially created to celebrate my election as the first African to be elected a mayor in the Republic of Ireland.

So Irish Mayor was created to celebrate that occasion and for me and for the entire country, it was a proud occasion. I first won an election into the council in 2004 and in 2007 I was elected the mayor. So, when you are talking about the drink, it was created for special occasion and that is my own special occasion” he said.

C M Y K

“Actually, the drink has been in the market for over two years but all this while, it has been sold in the structured markets. What I mean by structured markets are the supermarkets, shop-rites and all that. But this is the first time we are pushing the drink into the open market for the public to enjoy what a few have been enjoying all this while. The drink is very affordable, I have to say. The bottle is 75ml and it is 5ml bigger than a lot of its contemporaries in the market. One fact I want to state is that, cream liquors generally are not very cheap but we have come up with a price every Nigerian can afford. I was in the Republic of Ireland for 11 years, so, I thought it would be a brilliant idea to bring to my people what others have been enjoying. No country does Whiskey better than the Scottish and when you are talking of cream liquor, no country does it better than the Irish. So, they should expect a high quality drink,” he added.

•Skales

Skales says he’s ner nervvous as he prepares for first album launch

By KEHINDE AJOSE

C

urrently the most anticipated album of the year, Skales debut album titled “Man of the Year ” is finally set for release on May 18, 2015. The release will be followed with an album launch concert which holds on May 31, at the Federal Palace Hotel, Lagos.

Skales got signed to Baseline Entertainment in 2014, and since then has released hit songs after hit songs. With singles like Shake body, I am for real and Je kan mo ruling the airwaves, it’s evident that the young musician is set to thrill with his debut album and the launch concert.

“We’ve started rehearsals already,this has to be the most excited and most nervous I have ever been in my life but I promise it’s going to be the best concert yet” the Baseline General, Skales says.

The concert will feature never before seen performance by Skales and support performances from artists featured on the album and many others. The Man of the year album is officially the first album to be released under the Baseline Entertainment franchise.

STOP PIRACY NOW! STOP BUYING PIRATED MOVIE AND MUSIC CDs, DVDs. IT IS KILLING THE ENTERTAINMENT INDUSTRY. STOP!

SUNDAY Vanguard, MAY 10, 2015, PAGE 21

Just bef ore yyou ou ge e before gett intimat intimate

I

BY ONOZURE DANIA

t’s a hard pill to swallow, but it’s true.

Just because a man has had an affair with a woman does not mean that he has even spent a second thinking whether or not he wants to be with her or have a relationship in the future.

So, if you are thinking that sleeping with a man will make him see your worth, you are dead wrong.

It is not the physical attraction a man feels for a woman or getting close to her physically, that makes a

Networking/ Sponsorship •Valentine resides in Edo state and an architect, needs help, from well meaning Nigerians, who can help him with an office to enable him start work, as he has just finished learning how to draw plan of house Peking and surpervision. 08078683067 •Cyndy,20,an undergraduate with great dreams and very optimistic and brilliant, needs someone to finance hereducation. 08127399867 •Kens, a graduate, in Delta state, needs someone to sponsor his business plan, food production school. 07039596812 Links •Aziba Sam wants to link up to Vero Obhahimejie, from Ivue.08065780111 Friends Searching Female •Emily, 16, needs male and female friends in Delta state, aged 16-18. 08157977017, 0 7 0 1 8 9 6 3 7 0 3 •Ebube, 27, needs male and female friend from Anambra and Asaba, aged 24-30.

08065993336, 08091925874 Searching Male •Osas from Benin, needs a female friend from Benin, aged, 19-20.08075346536 •Victor,30, a graduate, businessman and resides in Enugu, needs female friends.

0 8 0 3 2 7 4 0 8 7 8 •Kama, 45, from Abia, God fearing and employed, needs a female friend in Abia.

0 8 0 2 3 8 3 1 4 1 5 •Young, needs mature male friends, aged 30 60.

08136627922, 08136627966 •Joel, from Delta state, needs female friends, aged 15-20, who are loving and caring fromDelta state 09099029221, 08021328896

man really feel for you and want more of you.

Yet almost every woman equates an affair with a relationship.

Let’s say you slept with a guy and then he got distant. You are probably thinking he played around with you and was not being honest about what he was looking for.

But let me ask you this question, did you tell him what you wanted before you got physical?

Did you say something like, “I only sleep with a man if he already values me and sees

Lovers Searching Female •Sandra, 25, a graduate, from Anambra state,God fearing, responsible and good looking, needs an educated man,who is God fearing and employed for a relationship, that will lead to marriage. 09031837931 •Nikky, 29, bursty, sexy, fair, good looking and intelligent needs a man 50 and above to call her own.08052420758.

•Emilia, 32, naturally endowed with a very alluring backside and a sultry/appealing body needs a man for a lasting union.08181073394 •Naomi, sexy and beautiful with and alluring behind and succulent boobs needs a real man aged 45 and above who knows what he wants and what it takes to be my man.07081409657 •Mercy, 40, a single mother of two, employed and resides in Abuja, needs a decent, God fearing, and employed single father who is ready for marriage, aged 40-50.

08I866O4234,08055458194 •Rakia, 34, 5.8, tall, educated and a Christian, needs a good looking, decent, cultured, polite Christian, minded and employed man, for marriage, aged 38-50.08097627138 •Cynthia, 25, sexy and bursty, needs a hot man within Lagos and Asaba, for satisfaction.08104095972 •Nancy, a 23, a graduate, needs a matured guy, she can settle down with. 08166245147 SearchingMale •Perry, 30, tall, dark in complexion, employed, very comfortable, and resides in Lagos, needs an endowed, pretty lady, for a serious relationship.08126267365, 0 8 0 6 5 0 5 7 4 5 5 •Lazel, 40, needs a hot and sexy lady, for a relationship.

0 9 0 9 0 8 9 2 2 1 4 •Chris, 29, fair in complexion, tall, a graduate and from Anambra state, needs a caring

me for the amazing woman that I am?”

I’m guessing no. Instead, you probably did what lots of women do during casual dating.

You gave him no impression about whether you were in it for the fun and connection of it all with him or were actually looking for something serious.

You thought the act of an affair alone would speak for itself. Wrong.

If you have ever felt hurt because you became physical with a man and he ended up not having an lady, for a relationship.07062083171 •Dan ,tall and handsome, needs a lady, aged 30-68, who is sexy, for a relationship.

0 8 0 5 6 5 7 6 8 1 9 •Ik,37, employed and resides in Asaba, needs a hot, sexy and pretty lady with big backside, aged 45-50,for a serious relationship.

0 8 0 3 6 6 2 8 9 4 0 •Dennis, 26, resides in Delta state, needs a lady, for a serious relationship that can lead to marriage, aged 2025.07067077853, 08114412085 •Sunday, 55, a graduate, employed and resides in Lagos, needs a quiet and educated lady, who is employed, aged 28-54, for a relationship, that will lead to marriage.

08023401990 •Nnamso, 31, employed, and resides in Uyo, needs a lady, aged 24 and above, for a fruitful relationship.

0 7 0 6 6 5 2 7 2 2 2 •Michael, 63, from Delta, needs a good looking lady, aged 50 and above for a relationship, preferably from Benue, Kogi and Kwara.

07084557942,08163870355 •Timothy, 27, from Delta state, needs an employed and very tall lady, aged 30-40,who is ready, for a serious relationship. 08104902513, 0 8 0 8 7 5 4 7 7 1 5 •Francis, 22, resides in Benin, needs a lady, in Benin, for a relationship, aged 20.

08075346536 •Isaac,30, dark in complexion and handsome, needs, a God fearing lady, aged 21-28, from any state, for a honest and s e r i o u s relationship.08070775059 •Daniel, 29, needs a lady, who is either a medical doctor or nurse, in Lagos, for a relationship, that will lead to marriage, aged 25 and above.08142372211 •Tunde, 49, a businessman, needs a Christian, busty widow or single lady, aged 3540, who resides in Lagos for

DISCLAIMER! Dear readers, please note that we neither operate, nor are we an affiliate of any match–making agency in or outside the country. Any reader who transacts business with any one claiming to be our agent does so at his/her own risk. Our mission is only to provide a platform for social networking.

Also note that neither Vanguard, nor Yetunde Arebi will be liable for any error in the publication of requests which may result in any form of embarrassment to any member of the public. We therefore request that text must be sent through at least one of the numbers for contact. This notice is necessary to enable us serve you better in our refreshingly different style. You can send your requests to 33055. For enquiries, text or call 08026651636

interest in dating or starting a relationship, then the odds are you can look back and see that you have made this mistake.

Of course, it does not seem like it’s you who is making a mistake in these situations. It feels like the man you are with is the one who obviously doesn’t get it and is a player for not being ready for a relationship.

But deep down, you know you slept with this man because you believed that if you could come up with enough “proof” that he should love and value you, and if you could make things “perfect” between you two, then he would become the open and loving man you imagined him to be. You have

to stop banking on what you think a relationship could be or should be.

Start opening your eyes to what is.

You are so wrapped up in his perspective, what he is doing, his feelings, his emotions and his desires or lack thereof, that you all have but have forgotten about something way important which is what you really want.

I will take a wild guess here and bet that the kind of guy that you truly want is not a guy who is going to freak out or act distant just because you are telling him how you are feeling after you have already slept together.

marriage.08126474820, 0 8 1 8 6 2 8 1 3 1 6 •Ikenna, 51, a graduate, employed and a widower, who resides in Anambra state, needs a Godly, employed graduate, dark in complexion and a beautiful lady, for a wife, aged 40-50.

08064537307 •Frank, from Delta state, Isoko by tribe, employed and needs a tall, fair in complexion and beautiful lady, who is who is God fearing, aged 30-35,for a relationship that could led to marriage.08058001676 •Sam, 48, dark in complexion,employed and from Delta state, needs a God fearing lady, aged 35-40,for a relationship that will lead to marriage.0 7057747544, 0 8 0 3 2 7 8 0 2 8 8 •Innocent, employed and resides in Lagos, needs a lady, for a relationship that will lead to marriage. 08083586660 •Kevwe,28, resides in Benin, needs a good looking lady, aged 21-32, for a relationship.

0 8 0 9 9 5 1 4 9 2 5 •Oborna, needs a pretty lady, for a serious relationship.

0 8 0 6 3 1 6 1 4 0 4 •Henry, resides in Benin, needs a lady for a serious relationship.08114813751,bbm p i n 2 1 C 0 D 2 A 4 •Wilson, 30, employed and resides in Enugu, needs a serious minded lady for a relationship, that can, lead to marriage. 08167665688 •David, 35, average height, responsible, employed, God fearing and resides in Delta state, needs a cool, lovely and beautiful lady, aged 30-38, in Warri, for a relationship, that will lead to marriage.

0 8 1 3 8 6 3 5 8 8 1 •Godswill, 25, a student, resides in Delta state, needs an employed lady, aged 23-25,for a serious, relationship.

0 8 0 6 3 4 3 0 4 6 4 •A man, resides in Sapele Delta state, needs an employed, fair in complexion lady, for marriage, aged 33 and above.

08063534323,08105351650 •Uche, a graduate, handsome, God fearing, self employed, needs a God fearing, graduate, and beautiful, lady, for a relationship that can lead to marriage.08134747171

matured sugar daddy for a hot s e x u a l relationship.08102362446 •Cynthia, 25, sexy and bursty, needs a hot man within Lagos and Asaba, for satisfaction.08104095972 •Joy, fair in complexion, beautiful, average height and a student, needs a wealthy, sugar daddy who can take care of her, aged 40-60.

07088477688

Sugar Cares Searching Female •Princess, 24, sexy, pretty, very bursty and sexually active young girl needs a kind and

Searching Male •Tolu, 33, dark in complexion and good looking, needs a romantic and caring sugar mummy for a serious relationship.08161854273 •Samuel, 28 years, in Lagos, needs a sexy, and loving sugar mummy in Lagos. 07037177183 •Barth, 26, resides in Lagos, needs a loving and caring sugar mummy, aged30-40.

08124409112 •Tosin, 30, reside in Lagos, needs a sugar mummy that can take care of him. 08137560501 •James, 26, from Benin, needs a caring sugar mummy.

08072611707 •Thomas, 29, needs a sugar mummy aged 35-50, who resides in Lagos for a relationship 08078535586 •Canzo, from Onitsha, needs a sexy sugar mummy, aged 2035, for a serious relationship.

07036159075 •Dan, 32, resides in Abuja, needs a sugar mummy, for arelationship. 08122073888 •Sheriff, 26, chocolate in complexion, handsome, and a student in Benin, needs a sugar mummy, who has a big backside, for a relationship.

08072611707,08054957220 •Charles, 19, handsome and needs a rich sugar mummy, aged 30-40, from Anambra state.08108001236 •David, handsome,employed, caring and resides in Lagos, needs a lovely sugar mummy, for a relationship.

0 8 0 7 3 6 5 7 7 8 2 •Deco, 25, needs a sugar mummy, aged 38-45, with lot of care and love who has good shape.08106171838 •Goodluck , resides in Warri, needs a sugar mummy, who is beautiful, sexy and generous.

0 7 0 3 5 1 1 9 9 9 2 •A guy, resides in Lagos, needs a sugar mummy. 08038751966 •Dan, 24, needs a rich sugar mummy, who can take care of him in port Harcourt.

08131630236

PAGE 22 — SUNDAY Vanguard, MAY 10, 2015

Ever y woman mus t take a spiritual stand -Apostle Fidel Chimezie

A

postle Fidel Chimezie is Chief Apostle, Nigerian Ministers Project, NIMPRO. An exceptional cleric who takes pride in the holistic empowerment of women, Chimezie believes that only so can the family, as well as society in general, be sanitised and better enhanced. This, she emphasized in a recent encounter with Feminista. Read on:

BY ANINO AGANBI

N

IMPRO has come a long way. In fact, we now hold most of our programmes at the national stadium in Lagos. As head of the organisation, God has been able to move me within and outside the shores of this country.

The most recent of them all was when He called me, along with some other apostles, to raise him an alter so there will be peace in Nigeria. We did that and the election was conducted peacefully.

God also inspired us to celebrate a new Nigeria, which we have done.

Career and family NIMPRO is keen on advancing both the home and family of every woman because these two are very important. However, we have to balance the mindset of the woman because God needs the woman to be able to balance what is happening in the society. God is a God of perfection and he created women to bring balance and perfection in his creation.

I must say every woman needs God to be able to manage both her career and home. Your home needs you, people need the work you are doing and you need the money to be able to manage or support your home.

What I advise women to do is to come closer to God so they can have a very good balance, as well as the stability and strength. It is only by committing every activity of the day in the hands of God that you’ll have the strength because your husband is demanding from you in marriage, your children are demanding from you, the society is demanding from you and you also need to have time for yourself.

Role of God, husband To succeed as a woman, we advise that every woman takes a spiritual stand. It is your spiritual stand that will make your husband and children excel. Women are fighting now because they have been subjected to the customary ways of being wives. They want to be heard because there is something they can contribute in the society. That’s why you see them

I must say every woman needs God to be able to manage both her career and home. Your home needs you, people need the work you are doing and you need the money to be able to manage or support your home fighting for equality. For many of them, their partners have failed to understand they have the capacity to run the home alongside their career. Hence the constant spat in many homes.

My advice is that we go back to God’s formula so we would not allow the excesses on the man’s side to put the woman where she does not belong, and we would not allow the excesses of the woman rise over the man.

Women, home and society Every woman that knows her onion in God would strive to build a good home because for the society to improve, it all starts from the home, with you discovering your mandate.

For every marriage, there is a purpose. Not just because of God, but for the Godly children that will be produced. If you know your onions and put God first; having altar of prayers, bringing your children up in the way and fear of

•Fidel Chimezie God, and contributing effectively to every life around you, we would all be playing our part in having a good society.

Vocational skills I actually empower women through evangelism; I teach them about trades I have knowledge of. I am vast in various industries, so, I teach these skills to these women. I also source for fund to be able to establish the widows in particular.

Using Pho o ttell ell hist orical st ories Phottojounalism tto historical stories

By ANINO AGANBI

T

HE beauty of art is that every picture has a story to tell. Capturing an image or mood that can be seen and appreciated through time is what makes photojournalism an interesting part of the art while the historical scene of culture and art being retained for generations is what makes telling the story fun. A graphic picture of an historical event leaves a vivid impression on the eyes of the mind in time to come. Appreciation for art in Nigeria has evolved a lot with youths taking up so much interest in arts and photography.

It was on this premise that the solo exhibition of Akintunde Akinleye, a photojournalist, showcased his documentation of Nigeria’s every day scenes that many may have taken for granted.

The theme of the exhibition, “Each Passing Day”, brings together photographs categorized to reflect series of

Photojournalist Akintunde Akinleye and others at the opening solo exhibition of Each Passing Day.

unrelated events and activities in the daily lives of the ordinary Nigerian citizen.

Central to Akintunde’s story telling of the post military era in Nigeria, are the trials, tribulations and joys of ordinary Nigerians, as they aspire for a better quality of life. The pictures depict a truthful rendering of each passing day in the life of resilient

Nigerians and shown political, social and physical landscape in which we exist.

Each Passing Day is a few of hundreds of thousands of single images, extracted from different documentary projects and spot news events, but inspired by the Nigerian space during the last decade and now.

SUNDAY VANGUARD, MAY 10, 2015, PAGE 23

08112662589

Just how quickly do you want that divorce?

W

hat is the life span of a marriage these days? Very hard to even imagine as we watch in horror as newly weds trivialize their vows.

Statistics show that the number of couples rushing to the altar is dwindling – and of those who take the plunge, many don’t make it to the 10th year anniversary.

As an alternative to the stringent vows of marriage, the French authorities a few years ago, came up with an alternative – Marriage Lite.

Although the French have a reputation for being romantic, they have taken a practical approach to the problem by introducing le pacte civil de solidarite – The PACS. It’s a way for couples to show their commitment without making promises they don’’t really mean. A PACS is quick and convenient.

And some believe that it’s the beginning of the end for marriage as we now it. To get a PACS, all couples need to do is go to their local court, answer a few questions about their marital status, and sign the papers. That’s it. Done! If you get tired of your PACS partner, just let the authorities know, and within three months, you’ll be single again. A PACS entitles you to tax breaks, social security benefits and

the right to have the lease on your home transferred automatically to your partner. It can also help you get a residence permit.

But could it work here in Nigeria? Even with the strict marital vows and legal requirements for its dissolution, married couples, mostly men, have little or no regard for their marital vows. It’s alright when couples are still enamoured with each other and coo over the children as they arrive, but what happens if a husband or wife has had enough?

Take Jumai’s case for instance, 12 years after her show-stopping marriage, Julius, her husband, no only started an affair, but wanted a second marriage.

“I don’t know how these so called mistresses get round to making fools out of otherwise sane men, Jumai told me. “We already had four children, a home of our own and two other houses we rented out for extra pin money. If Julius wanted a thing, why not have one without waving the flag of marriage at his bit-on-the-side? And once a man embarks on the road to marital distraction, there is no going back.

“It’s like being hooked on a dangerous drug. Almost overnight, Julius turned into a monster. He seldom stayed home and when I eventually confronted him

with his affair, he said it had gone more than that. He was in love again and wanted a second wife. The fact that half of our friends knew about his new relationship testified to how serious it was!

“At first I thought it was a joke. When I realised it wasn’t, I bidded my time, convinced it would fizzle out. It didn’t. Julius `married’ his second wife, albeit illegally and moved in with her. It was the most humiliating experience of my life. A few months after he left the house, I was informed by an estate agent that the family house had been sold and its new owners would move in in six

months. I saw red. This worm was about to turn! I spoke to a good lawyer and took Julius to court. We weren’t divorced for a start, and when we bought the land on which the family house was built, the title deeds carried both our names. It was a good thing I insisted on that before I agreed to part with my money. How easy it was for him to forget in the befuddled state his new `marital’ status threw him.

“My lawyer, armed with all facts and copies of document Julius thought I didn’t have, went to have a word with him.

He reminded Julius that he currently held a public

office. If he wanted a roforofo fight, then my lawyer promised he would not only give him one, he would make sure proceedings of the court case were carried by the press. If he had sold the family house as the agents had alleged, then he should put us in one of his other houses with the documents of the house made over to me. Julius complained the lawyer was heavy handed and rude, insinuating he was a thief. I told him that had nothing to do with me.

If he wasn’t happy with the way things were the court would be our last resort. The facts in this case, spoke volumes.

“He grudgingly agreed for us to stay in the family house. I wanted to divorce him there and then but my lawyer advised if I didn’t have a plan to re-marry, I should leave things the way they were. If he died for instance, as the legal wife, I could still corner the rest of his property. What for? I fumed. I wanted to be rid of the worm he’d turned out to be – so I went ahead and got the divorce with the court properly spelling out who got what. Why should I wait for him to die before fighting over his property with a woman I hated?

“It’s unfortunate in this country that it is the wife who suffers most when a marriage breaks. Thank

goodness the women are now wising up. They buy properties in their maiden names even when they’re married, execute mega deals and make tons of money without their husbands being aware of their enterprise and their secret next eggs. Once they see any cracks in their marriage they take off with the kids they have. They move into cosier apartments and live a life they ’d dreamed off – without the shackles of a domineering husband laying down the laws!

“Its laughable that these days, it is men who complain about the fickleness of the opposite sex. But they had a good teacher in the men. The tools men use for bringing a woman to heel are the same women now use to get rid of an unwanted husband. That’s why today, you see an increase in the number of couples who are happy to live together and have children together but won’t get married. They don’t pressurise the men to make `honest’ women of them either.

These people look at relationships with their heads not their hearts.

These are probably the type of people who would go for a PACS if we had no equivalent here!

08052201867(Text Only)

The Head-to-Knee pose Technique: IT down with feet stretched in front of you and rather close together.

Now raise both hands over-head and gently ease the trunk and hand as far down as you can then return upright with hands still overhead and then go back down again. Do this for a couple more times to limber the back and hamstrings for the head to knee pose. In the final stage of the posture you form a ring with the fore-finger and thumb around the big toes with the forehead resting on the knees and the elbows touching the floor.

In the initial stages when it’s impossible to assume the full posture, it will do to hold as far down the legs as you can and lower the trunk as well. Stay in the position for as long as 10 seconds and eventually hit the target of two minutes in one stretch.

It ...... to allow the circulation to stabilise and also get in a little rest.

Benefits:

S

The head to knee pose tones up the muscles of the back, the arms and the hamstrings. The effect of “doubling up” lends a gentle massage to the digestive organs improving the way the body handles nourishment.

In the womenfolk, this pose is said to help painful periods and eventually stop it completely. It’s also a great exercise for long distance runners as the hamstrings are where the long distance runner is most likely to develop muscle

pulls.

Physical benefits: Powerfully massages all the abdominal organs, * Stimulates and tones the digestive organs, increases peristalsis, and relieves constipation and other problems. * Counteracts obesity and enlargement of the spleen and liver. * Regulates the pancreatic function, providing a valuable aid for those with diabetes or hypoglycaemia.

* Mobilises the joints and increases elasticity in the lumbar spine. * Relieves compression of the spine and sciatica.

* Strengthens and stretches the hamstrings.

Mental benefits: * Greatly enhances concentration and mental en-

Keep the back, head, and neck straight as you bend forward

The body will come down further as it relaxes

durance. * Invigorates the mind and nervous system, controlling many nervous complaints.

Visualize the top of the head coming down towards the feet

Feet are together and flat with the toes back towards the head

Yoga Classes STARTED Physical Therapy Centre

The spine and muscles of the back get a full stretch

Do not allow the feet, legs, or hips to rotate outwards

Legs are straight with the backs of the knees on the ground

@ 32 Adetokumbo Ademola, Victoria Island Lagos.

9.00am — 10.00am on Saturdays

P AGE 24 — SUND AY Vanguard, MA Y 10, 2015 SUNDA MAY

bunmsof@yahoo.co.uk 08056180152, SMS only

This is bound to boost the male ego!

D

id you know that during orgasm, most of the brain shuts down? That with orgasm, raised levels of what are called the cuddle chemicals – oxytocin and vasopressin - lead to feelings of satisfaction and attachments? A study has found that women who regularly receive semen vaginally are less depressed than those who don’t says Helen Fisher, PhD, author of: Why We Love, The Nature and Chemistry of Romancing love. A bit of an ego-booster for men who are forever jealous of the role that dreaded vibrator is playing in their lover’s life!

The feel-good experience semen gives female recipients could be because they really like their partners”, Fisher said, “it could also be because seminal fluid is awash not only with testosterone and oestrogen but also with chemicals such as dopamine and norepinephrine, serotonin, and oxytocin which can contribute to either elation or calm.”

Another recent study revealed the unsurpasing result that the more often a person has sex, the happier he or she is. This could be because people who have sex often are more likely to be healthy and enjoying a good relationship,. It could also be because sex exercises the muscles and the respiratory system, gets the circulatory system moving, which gives the skin a gorgeous glow;

and according to Fisher’s research, triggers the brain circuitry for romantic love and attachment.

So why do we have sex? Because it is fun, says Fisher. Because it can be the most powerful, concrete way to demonstrate the love for ourselves and for someone else. Because sex helps us to remember. Because it helps us to forget.

Because when we open ourselves to the experience completely, we become intimate with the world in a way that’s otherwise inaccessible, and unique. Flooded with hormones that can release us from the mooring of selfconsciousness and control, we can relax into a presence of mind that allows boundaries, momentarily to dissolve.

Sex can not only help us feel better – it can also

help us feel …

When; to suspect your partner could be off his rocker!

Recently, a former colleague told me that she was worried about an older brother who had suddenly gone religious.

According to her, this brother said: “he could hear God talking to him through the radio. He also alleged that all of us in the family were evil because, we didn’t believe in the spiritual church. He thinks his own spiritual church and his beliefs are right. As wild as he looked when he made these allegations, it was obvious that he was cracking up. So, how do you tell if someone close to you is cracking up!|” With all these named disasters and economic crunch plaguing the country wouldn’t it be nice to know?

According to psychiatrists, there are seven clues to alert you.

For instance, an unexpected change in behaviour is the big tipoff that a friend, relation or co-worker is suffering from emotional problems and may need professional help. Here are the seven clues to look for: *A person who is usually energetic acts tired and indifferent. The person may complain about being tired. His work may be neglected and he doesn’t seem to care. *A previous polite and caring person suddenly becomes insensitive.

Manners and social etiquette often fall apart during mental illness, said a psychiatrist.

“Words like `please’ and `thank you’ may disappear from the person’s vocabulary and

glow and shine forever in my heart.

Akachukwu Ferdinand. 08063819314 akachukwuferdinandc@yahoo.com

Letter to Kcee

It's been like forever since you walked away; still feels like yesterday:

Y

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

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

You beautify my world!

In every beat of my heart you exist in my soul adding a spectacular sizzle and aroma in the right places.

And like flower, you beautify my world, like honey you sweetenes my life and just like a diamond you

Am writing this letter to let you know am not getting better: I think of you lying in that bed and wonders if there's anything I could have said, I wish you are a mile away, But I know you are never far away.

The tears you left in my eyes has refused to seize; while my heart continues to pay the price: You could be a distance away; walking down memory lane...

he or she may act rude – pushing ahead of others in a line, for example.” *A person who usually controls his alcohol or drug intake loses control. When someone with no history of alcohol or drug-abuse begins to abuse these substances, it can be a sign of mental illness. And drug abuse doesn’t necessarily have to mean illicit drugs – it also can mean prescribed drugs. *A person who usually maintains stable relationship starts to develop difficulty with important ones. The person may have trouble dealing with people on the job – and with his or her spouse. He or she may resort to physical or emotional abuse and may yell or scream. *A person with emotions in the normal range becomes despondent or shows rapid shifts in mood. The person may begin to have rapid shifts in emotions going from anger to playfulness, from sadness to giggles. *A previously decisive person has trouble making decisions. Even the smallest decision, like choosing clothes, becomes difficult. The person might make up his or her mind and then changes it possible several times. *A person with good hygiene develops poor hygiene. His or her clothes may be inappropriate, dirty or not ironed. Often,the person may wear the same clothes for days, not brush his or her teeth and bathe less frequently – and may even begin to

smell bad.

According to a recent publication in the medical journal, you could be a candidate for a nervous breakdown if you answer yes to six or more of the 12 questions: *Did you have a tragic childhood? A parent’s death or separation? *Was your childhood unsettled with constant moves, parents coming and going? *Do you always felt everyone is bigger, more clever , and nicer than you? *Do you think too much or take drugs? *Are you the sort of person who thinks happiness won’t last? *Have you always felt people criticize you behind your back? *Do you find it difficult to express your feelings? *Do you find it hard to be angry even when you’ve reason to be? *Do you find it difficult to find and keep friends and lovers? *Have you been exposed to a nervous breakdown sufferer, particularly when young? *Are you pre-occupied with your health?

Indeed, reading this, are you now convinced you’re having a nervous breakdown?

According to the psychiatrist: “in approaching someone you think needs help, do so in a caring manner.

Say something like, “something seems to be different about you.

You’re not acting like your old self. I really care about you and I think you should talk to someone who is skilled about it.”.

Our moon light love stories; make me feel so lonely.

I still value you much more than you know; If I could, I wouldn't have let you go!

I dream of more days with you; don't know if you desire same too: I miss you more and more each day; there's so much more I could say: I care about you too much to script this in print, a piece of me I left behind has produced an offspring.

Seeing you may relieve my pains; but things may never remain the same again!

I cherish another man's choice, never ask me whose!

Joe Onwukeme, 08036412930, Imo State Josephonwukeme@gmail.com

SUNDAY Vanguard, MAY 10 2015, PAGE 25

Gunmen kill f ather , son … as brothers go to war in Kogi!

BY BOLUWAJI OBAHOPO, Lokoja

P

eace seems to have returned to Iyamu, a remote community in Ibaji Local Government Area of Kogi State, after the feud that left at least four persons dead.

There are divergent opinions about what triggered

the crisis. The two groups involved in the battle continued to link the incident to different things. One said it was a political battle; the other said it was a dispute over a fish pond.

Though Ibaji people are traditionally warriors, they are known for their unity when they are confronting a common cause. Their battles have always been with external aggressors.

Not long ago, it was the Ibaji people who confronted the Aguleri people in Anambra State during the battle for the oil-rich border location. That is why concerns were raised when they now carried arms against each other; especially during an election period.

Iyano is made up of three clans: Aluaja, Iruh and Itale.

Though there has been a lingering crisis between Iyano and another community, Achechule, the recent crisis is between Aluaja and Iruh.

Representatives of Aluaja addressed journalists in Lokoja, Kogi State capital over the crisis, alleging the clan had been the target of attacks which started days after the March 28 presidential election.

C M Y K

•Gov’s aide, clan trade claims over crisis Thomas Ejima, who spoke on behalf of the representatives, said the crisis was being fuelled by one of the state governor’s aides from Iruh. He said the aide had been sponsoring an armed gang called the Abuchaga Boys which had been attacking his people.

Ejima said the governor’s aide promised to deal with

the people of Aluaja immediately his party, PDP, lost the election in the area to the opposition party which he (Ejima) championed.

“Exactly six days after the election, his (Achuba) boys

According to him, it was the Aluaja people who first attacked the farm land and produce of other clan members who retaliated, “If you destroy somebody’s farm which is the source of living throughout the year what do you expect

(the Abuchaga Boys) entered the community and unleashed terror which left two of my clan people dead”, he stated.

Ejima refused to accept the claim of land dispute for the crisis, saying the land dispute in the community had been with another community and wondered why the governor ’s aide who hails from the same community with him could give the crisis land dispute colouration.

He said the first attack on his people was in 2013, saying it was carried out by Abuchaga boys.

He added that in April last year, the same boys attacked his people again and killed one Emmanuel Ameh, which prompted them to report to the police at Onyedega (headquarters of the LGA)

and Lokoja, pointing out that the case was still pending when the latest attack on the community took place on April 3.

Sunday Vanguard gathered that the dispute over fish pond has been on for sometime, but it attained a new level during the election because the two clans where also divided along political parties lines.

Ejima said the effort of the Ibaji Development Union, IDU, to settle the dispute was aborted when the Abuchaga Boys ambushed it’s team on its way

to a peace meeting. The Aluaja spokesperson said his community’s decision to cry out was because the governor’s aide had vowed to continue the attack on him and his people because his party lost the area during

the election. According to him, all complaints they made to the police and other security agencies in Kogi and Abuja had not received attention. He called on government to intervene.

The governor’s aide, when contacted, described Ejima’s allegation as lies. While confirming there was a communal clash, he however said it was the same Ejima and his people that were fuelling crisis in Iyano.

According to him, it was the Aluaja people who first attacked the farm land and produce of other clan members who retaliated, “If you destroy somebody’s farm which is the source of living throughout the year what do you expect?”.

He denied sponsoring any armed group or having hand in the crisis. “It is not true.

Ignore them. I didn’t play any role. It was the Aluaja people who destroyed the Iruh peoples yams. The crisis is not related to politics”, the aide stated.

The police are also blaming the Iyano crisis on land dispute refusing to admit it is

a political crisis. Kogi State Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, ASP Sola Adebayo, confirmed that the crisis was related to fish farming.

This, according to him, led to the attack on Aluaja people by the Achechule people and the killing of one person on April 3, but the state Commissioner of Police deployed Mobile Police, State Criminal Investigation Department and CTU to restore law and order in the area.

The PPRO dismissed the claim that the police was favouring any of the clans in the trouble, saying investigation was ongoing.

He also said the attack of April 6 occurred in Inene and not Iyano, and should not be linked with the raging battle.

Speaking on the Irene incident, Adebayo said one Paul Egwemi and his children were working in their farm when some gunmen came and started shooting. Paul and one son Raymond, were killed while the other son Godfrey escaped and reported to the police in Lokoja. He said Godfrey did not mention any link between the gun shots and the two clans fighting over land.

“Police are still investigating the killing of the two people.

The police are not in support of any of the parties involved.

This is a political season, politicians from both parties have been pointing accusing fingers at each other without evidence. When such report are made, the police follow laid down procedure”.

PAGE 26—SUNDAY

Vanguard, MAY 10, 2015

Klint Da Drunk, Mr Melody Melody,, other otherss ssttorm Bamboo for Most Beautiful Girl in Eko

Why students lose interest in agriculture —President, Sharon University

BY EPHRAIM OSEJI & IKENNA ASOMBA

B

ishop Charles Ighele is the President, Sharon University of Agriculture and Rural Development, in the pipeline by the Happy Family African Foundation (HFAF).

Ighele, who just clocked 60, in this interview, speaks of the plans to establish the first ‘real’ university of agriculture that will drive development in the rural areas, thus formulating the catchword from oil to soil.

You just clocked 60 years, and you are coming up with a university of agriculture and rural development. What is your driving force?

Yes, what we are coming up with is Sharon University of Agricultural and Rural Development, established by the Happy Family African Foundation, which I’m the President. It is part of our efforts to lift up the dignity of the African family. Our catchword is from oil to soil. We have put our strategies in place to make this university not like the conventional universities.

The university will drive development in the rural areas, whether in the east, west, north or south. It’s about the African which will drive development. At this point we are going to show practically that in two or three years, somebody can become a millionaire through farming. We have travelled and seen it, and we have put our arts together. We are are not going to admit too many students, and we have put our strategies in place on how their fees is going to be paid. When people know that you can be a millionaire in two or three years after studying agriculture in the university, they will flock to the sector. Nigeria will become a nation that will be exporting foods, both primary and processed.

not a tea-party, but this is what we are determined to do. I believe that if anybody is a servant of God, we should see how the whole thing comes out of the four walls of the church.

Do you have any partnership with local or international organizations?

We depend on support from the public to establish this university. In terms of technical support, we are in partnership with one of the best international institutions in Agriculture in the world.

The UN Secretary Banki Moo, even recently went to inspect the institution.

Myself and my wife have visited the institution, sometime ago. We went there again with some of our Pastors, about 16 of us. More recently, we went there with four Senior Pastors to finalize the technical aspect of the partnership. Everything has been agreed upon and that is hat gives us edge over any institution of agriculture already in existence in the country today.

Unique feature Our unique feature is that we are poised to produce a crop of farmers that will not only employ themselves, but will also employ other people, thus, solving the problem of unemployment in the country. Apart from that, we are poised to produce the new elites from the rural communities. People should be able to know that you can be in the village and still make it.

Apart from that, we are going fully into Agroecology, this is what

•Bishop Charles Ighele

makes the university unique. In the Nigerian market today, we have a lot artificial foods, such as biscuits, ice-cream among others. All these are junk foods, that’s why you see people having junk body systems, junk bones and the rest. Again, when you look at the tomatoes gotten from the north, and the vegetables gotten from the south, they are fertilizer-assisted.

They are fertilizer-grown.

These are all products of chemical farming whose products don’t withstand the test of time. For instance, if you get a vegetable that is fertilizerassisted and the one that is not, the former withers-away before morning. This gives us a picture of how healthy are the foods we are eating today.

So, what we are doing now is agro-ecology, we are creating a natural environment where these farm products would have grown naturally, and not assisted by fertilizer. These are the kind of farmers we are going to produce, who will produce healthy foods that will make the African man healthy.

Why do you want to target students from rural communities?

We want to get children from rural communities who have that spirit of agriculture because they have been farming with their parents from when they were young. So, we are simply targeting the rural areas of Africa to get these highly intelligent children, who are already farming with their parents, and make them apply to our university. When, they apply, they are are going to bring to fore what they have been doing in the village with nothing to show for. While, they are in the village, their parents can’t even raise their tuition fees in schools from their farming. But here, we are going to prove to them that they can be millionaires through agriculture when they finish from our school.

We are going to show them what use they can be for their country through agriculture. So, it’s catch them young into agriculture.

How do you expect these kids from rural communities to raise the finance to come to your school, or is it a nonprofit institution?

Stage of establishment The Federal Government regulation is our major constraint. Again, we need over 250 acres of land to meet FG’s requirement.

Now, we have been able to purchase about 120 acres of land, almost half of that.

The land is some 20 minutes drive from the Redeemed Camp. We have laid the foundation stone, so we are still putting things in place to kick-off.

The NUC requirement is

These are the kind of people we want to release, this is our driving-force. It irritates us to see that our people are eating junk foods today.

Vice Chancellor, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH), Professor Adeniyi Gbadegesin (left) in a handshake with Osun State House of Assembly member-elect, Obokun Constituency, Olatunbosun Oyintiloye, and Oyintiloye's daughter, Elizabeth (middle) during LAUTECH's 2014/2015 matriculation ceremony in Ogbomosho.

Their parents would not have been able to pay their tuition fees. That’s is why we are now helping these kids from poor background, who would have amounted to nothing by making them to be a new set of elites. How do we do this, we are going to get people who will pay their fees through scholarship grants. So, we are not going to be admitting

The second edition of The Most Beautiful Girl in Eko Cultural Pageant takes place at the Bamboo Event Hall, Omole, Ojodu, Lagos on Friday, September 18.

The General Manager of Ereon Pageantry, Miss Taiwo Samson, who is also the Chairperson of the 2015 Planning Committee, stated that the change of venue to Bamboo Event Hall became necessary for optimum result being the second edition.

“The 2015 edition of MBGE Beauty Pageant has been reloaded and upgraded, with a new website www.mbge.com.ng, innovations and four winners to emerge as beauty ambassadors in Lagos namely, Most Beautiful Girl In Eko (MBGE) as overall winner; MBGE Tourism (new), MBGE Entertainment (new), and MBGE Environment.

“The four beauty queens would be attached with chaperons in their official duties and functions till the end of their tenure.”

Also speaking, the Executive Director of Ereon Pageantry, Fumi Bolatiwa Quadri, said, “We now have two new queens namely, MBGE Tourism and MBGE Entertainment. Also retained is MBGE Environment. But Miss Hospitality is no longer in the league of our queens”.

She stated that star comedians Klint Da Drunk and Mr Melody would perform live at the event.

•Taiwo Samson, GM, Ereon Pageantry

CHRIST LOVE ASSEMBLY ANNIVERSARY The annual anniversary and convention thanksgiving of Christ Love Assembly a.k.a. The Soul Winners comes up today.

According to a statement by the church’s president, Rev. Samuel Olaberinjo, the programme, which has as its theme “Open Heaven”, will come up at the church’s premises on 10/12 Kunle Ogunade Street, off Pastor Ojediran Street, Orilowo Estate Bus Stop, Ifoshi Road, Ejigbo, Lagos.

SUNDAY Vanguard, MAY 10, 2015, Page 27

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

Dissecting APC’s performance in S-South Dear Sir,

T

he gubernatorial and House of Assembly elections, which held on the 11th of April, 2015 ended up as a most bizarre exercise in electoral fraud and political hooliganism across the length and breadth of the entire SouthSouth with the arguable exception of Edo State where there was at least an approximation to a proper election.

Across the geo-political zone, electoral brigandage was the order of the day, a most despicable trend I witnessed firsthand in Delta, my home state. Hitherto, the credibility of the Presidential and National Assembly elections had similarly been criminally compromised. While, like most of my fellow Deltans, I am used to truly nonsensical pretenses at holding elections, as with most other states of the SouthSouth, the polls in question were entirely in a class of their own against the background of the brazenness with which the People’s Democratic Party, PDP’s rigging machine prosecuted the contest.

At the end of the day, there simply were no elections in Delta just as there were none worth the name in Rivers, Akwa-Ibom, Cross River and Bayelsa. All we had was an operation in what evidentially amounts to electoral terrorism, an approach to power acquisition the PDP has embraced as an ethos and developed into a political way of life. The people of Delta, like their fellow Niger Deltans, simply know

the PDP too well to have delivered the flood of votes it purportedly recorded in the elections. In Delta, for one, we certainly did not vote for the party and are determined not to be ruled by its governor.

Regrettably, it has become the culture of the PDP to adopt tokenism as its preferred mode of governance. This has been so for the last sixteen years in Delta – it moves mountains to pretend at delivering the dividends of democracy while actually governing by a process of whitewash even though there are adequate resources to actually deliver on genuinely beneficial projects and programmes. Thus virtually every single project of the Ibori administration, for instance, has failed with little signs that those of the outgoing administration will not suffer a similar fate. While it is true that many of the programs and projects of the PDP, at first glance, may indeed strike even the eagle-eyed assessor as attractive and laudable, upon further scrutiny, they are invariably exposed as shoddy, haphazard and unable to stand the test of time.

Relying on injecting a colossal quantum of our common patrimony into the electoral process and deploying our own money towards humiliatingly subverting our will, has been the philosophy of power the PDP has become addicted to. On no other occasion was this more comprehensively demonstrated than in the exercise the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, presided over in the guise

of conducting elections in Delta and most other South-South states.

Yet there is an even more macabre dimension to the perfidy of this rape of democracy in the name of elections. Being scared silly of the All Progressives Congress, APC, the PDP insisted on not merely returning itself to power against the will of the majority of Deltans and their fellow Niger Deltans across the South-South,it additionally committed itself to giving the impression that the APC barely exists in most states of the geo-political zone. True to its training, inclination and experience it pursued

this objective with shockingly mindless determination.

In the process, the entire electoral process decomposed into a putrefacted sham in which results were arbitrarily written, with votes being stolen or openly and brazenly bought. At the end of the day – as was clearly the case in Delta, for instance – the PDP, in conjunction with its INEC partners, simply capriciously allocated victories to itself and a token to its Labour Party surrogates.

Crucially, little if anything was left for the APC in furtherance of the PDP’s clandestine determination to sell the dummy of the APC’s

irrelevance.

In Delta, in particular, so desperate was the PDP’s insistence on telling this very big lie that at a point a grotesque order is said to have emanated from Government House to the effect that the APC must not be allowed to score more than fifty thousand votes at the Presidential and National Assembly elections, with further instructions that the party must not record more than one hundred thousand votes in the Governorship and House of Assembly polls! This is the core nature of the brand of electioneering that has thrown up Senator Ifeanyi Okowa as the Governor-

elect of Delta of all places!

In the final analysis, the APC is the one and only credible face of change in Delta and its sister Niger Deltan states. Indeed, it remains the best hope of popularly executing the final liberation of these states from the PDP, a party that is to all intents and purposes, a brood of vipers and in fact – in the words of one of its own founding fathers, the late Sunday Awoniyi – a basket of scorpions!

Barr. JESUTEGA ONOKPASA, writes in from Sapele, Delta State. ekwetafia@gmail.com

My advice to the President-elect and others Dear Sir, hereby on behalf of all Nigerians urge the I President-elect, General

Muhammadu Buhari (retd), and other elected officers not to disappoint us, but strive to provide good governance, for the massive votes given to Buhari was a trust, he should not betray the trust. The incoming political office holders should hit the ground running immediately after their swearing in ceremony to make a positive impact on the lives of the people in the shortest possible time.

Generally speaking, most Nigerians are aware that the challenges ahead are enormous, but with

hard-work, perseverance and selfless service to our fatherland, coupled with prayer from all-of-us, Buhari-led government will overcome and move the country forward.

Without mincing words, Nigerians yearn for good governance, freedom of expression and freedom of conscience, so that, they can participate actively on how they should be governed.

The international community will be watching the President-elect (Buhari) to see how he would fare in his second-coming, as Nigeria leader, hence, he is expected live up to expectation as from May 29, of many Nigerians, who crave for CHANGE. The most critical tasks

ahead of Buhari include, fixing of the energy sector, which has defied successive regimes, shoring up the value of naira to the dollar, development of infrastructure, education, health sector and also ensure the diversification of the economy as well as security and job creation.

Since governance is a continuum, the President – elect should continue with his predecessor’s good programmes and complete them, just as the bane of governance in Africa, is lack of continuity of good programmes, from one administration to another.

I advised the Presidentelect to unite the country that has been fractured by ethnicity, religion and politics and give Nigerians

a sense of belonging in the Nigerian project and lay to rest all divisive tendencies that have worked against the growth and progress of the country.

I also urged the President-elect (Buhari) to bear in mind that he would from May 29 be the President of Nigeria and not of APC, hence, he should treat all parts of the country as his constituency, and to also choose the people that will work with him carefully and closely monitor them.

Prophet Oladipupo Funmilade-Joel General Overseer, The Way of Reconciliation Evangelistic Ministries (TWOREM) Int’l, Lagos, Nigeria babasekunderin@yahoo.com

PAGE 28—SUND AY 28—SUNDA

Vanguard, MAY 10, 2015

Incestous brothers and sisters!

BY EMMANUEL EDUKUGHO

W

e are living in a complex and highly sophisticated society in which sexual intercourse is often taken for granted not only among individuals unknown to each other, but even between family members and close relatives.

Incidents of incest, defined as “having sexual relations or activity with close family members”, are common today all over the world, but not often reported. That presents a dilemma.

Incest is not only a taboo but also illegal. Different kinds of incest exist – one is when a father and daughter, or step

father and step daughter engage in sexual relationship.

This kind of incest has been the most reported worldwide. But in Nigeria, incest between fathers and daughters is hardly reported because nobody wants such a story to be heard outside the family.

Incest in Nigeria is kept often as a “family secret”, not to be reported to the relevant authorities.

However, some fathers and stepfathers abuse their daughters and stepdaughters on regular basis, while victims are unable to do anything about it. Even when a mother knows what is going on, she tries to put an end to it in her own way, but rarely reports the matter to the authorities, for fear of being

stigmatized.

Sex between siblings is another kind of incest that is common but rarely reported.

Little children are fond of practising what they see adults do. Often times, they imitate what they watch on television when adults kiss or have sex. So parents must monitor their kids and the kind of films they watch while they are around and block such films or video from their children when they are not at home.

There have been instances where teenage or adult siblings fall in love with one another and get involved in sexual relationship without the knowledge of their parents. Even when the

Our investigation showed it is very difficult for girls and women to report cases of incest in their families, either as victims or as eye witnesses for fear of being stigmatized

parents are aware, there is little or nothing that they can do to stop it.

A youngman (names withheld) involved in incest confessed, saying, “You can’t help whom you fall in love with, it just happens. I fell in love with my sister and I am not ashamed of it.

I only feel sorry for mom and dad.”

But the question is whether the man’s excuse is morally justified. We can decide who to fall in love with if we exercise self control, because we are in charge of our actions and emotions, not the other way round.

Continues on page 29

SUND AY SUNDA

Vanguard, MAY 10, 2015, PAGE 29

goes by the name ‘Rachel’ spoke of her intimacy with her brother ‘Shawn’.

In general, inbred children (born by incest sexual relations) exhibit lower intelligence and physical strength and get sick more often compared to their non-inbred counterparts. The risk for lifethreatening diseases and deformities among inbred children is relatively higher.

Our genes are responsible for essentially every part of who we are.

Most of our genes are either beneficial or largely neutral, but a small number of genes usually carry serious health consequences known as “autosomal recessive diseases.”These include cystic fibrosis, sickle cell anemia, Tay-sachs disease and albinism. In small gene pools, the chances of offspring inheriting the two recessive genes needed to express these conditions increases.

For example, first cousins would have a 12.5% of having a child with one of these disorders.

Hence Tay-Sachs, a genetic disorder that retards mental, physical action, being most prevalent in some population trends of Jewish origin, and Puerto Rico having the highest density of albinism in the world, a US research institute reported.

When you have an even smaller gene pool, such as two first relatives, the chances of inheriting these recessive conditions may go up to 50/50. A 2008 study on 48 cases of incest found that the risk for birth defects is around 2% in the general population but rises to only 4% between first cousins.

Incestous brothers and sisters!

Continued from page 28 Our investigation showed it is very difficult for girls and women to report cases of incest in their families, either as victims or as eye witnesses for fear of being stigmatized.

Family members often insist on solving the problem, but time has proved they lacked the will to tackle it.

The judicial system is not helping either, because such cases are left to die due to lack of diligent prosecution. The case may drag on for years, then forgotten, frustrating victims from seeking justice for those who are even courageous enough to approach the authorities. At the end, the abuser goes unpunished while the victim returns, depressed, discomforted, hopeless.

Incest destroys relationship in the family, especially between the abuser and the victim; the victim may become loose and promiscuous and could end up in prostitution.

Incest the risk of teenage or adolescent pregnancy, causes depression and intense guilt, can lead to drug and alcohol abuse by victims.

Social research studies showed that most societies regard sexual relations between close family members as not only a taboo, an affront against C M Y K

decency, an abomination, but also illegal. “Incest occurs everywhere even though people won’t admit to partaking in it,” said a university don.

Some researchers argued that in certain circumstances, incest is a necessity while multiple studies showed that offsprings of distant relatives are actually healtheir than the general population. Because there is usually more of an evolutionary advantage to diversifying the gene pool, therefore incest is not very common in species who practice sexual reproduction.

But where there is no natural advantage, to genetic diversity, incest still exists. An evolutionary biologist at Bowdoin College in Maina, USA, Dr. Nathaniel Wheelwright, who focuses on sexual reproduction, described asexual reproduction to LiveScience as the “ultimate incest” because an organism is breeding with itself.

“You can still see species asexually reproducing, or cloning themselves, in situations where there is no advantage to (sex)”, Wheelwright explained, “and you can see species that

commit incest where there is no penalty to inbreeding.”

What Draws Some People To Incest It is believed that people have a biological defense against close forms of incest, since there are the cases most likely to end in genetically compromised offsprings. LiveScience reported that Finnish sociologist, Edward Westermarck, suggested that growing up in the same house puts people off from developing sexual feelings. This is so even in cases where children are not directly related.

When close incest does occur, that is, sexual relations between first relations like brother and sister or father and daughter, it is more likely due to a psychological factor than a biological attraction. Genetic attraction occurs when two relatives who have been seperated for a long time in their lives meet for the first time and experience intense emotional attraction. According to a report, this occurs in around 50% of reunions between close relatives separated at birth. “These people regress to a very early stage of development. The relationship is sensual, but we don’t call it ‘romance’ or being ‘in love’ when it’s breastfeeding, cradling, and stroking, or when it’s a mother and baby gazing into one another ’s eyes,”explained psychotherapist Joe Soll.

According to him, this jump to incest is most common in brother – sister relationships, although it’s unknown why. According to one brother and sister relationship, the intense attraction is rooted in their physical resemblance.

“It’s like kissing myself, “ a woman who

Incest Statistics *Research shows that 46% of children who are raped are victims of family members (Langan and Harlow, 1994) *The majority of American victims (6%) are raped before the age of 18; furthermore, an astounding 29% of rape occurred when the victim was less than 11 years old. Also 11% of rape victims are raped by their fathers or step fathers and another 16% are raped by their relatives (National Centre for Victims of Crime and Crime Victims Research and Treatment Centre, 1992). *The Study of a nationally representative sample of state prisoners serving time for violent crime in 1991 showed that, of those prisoners convicted of rape and sexual assault, two-thirds victimised children and almost one third of the victims were children or step children of the assailant (Greenfield, 1996). *In a study of male survivors of child sexual abuse, over 80% had a history of substance abuse, 50% had suicidal thoughts, 23% attempted suicide and almost 70% received psychological treatment. About 31% had violently victimised others (Lisak, 1994) There was also the Bible story about incest in which Lot, a just and righteous man who got drunk and impregnated his virgin daughters. “Come, let us make our father drink wine and we will lie with him, that we may preserve seed of our father. And they made their father drink wine that night; and the first born went in and lay with her father, and he perceived not when she lay down n or when she arose. The younger daughter did same.

Thus were both the daughters of Lot with child by their father.”Genesis 19:32-36.

PAGE 30—SUNDAY VANGUARD, MAY 10, 2015

Princess Adebimpe Adesida weds Prince David Adejumo

I

.

L-R: Wife of Ondo State Governor; Mrs Funke Mimiko, and the groom's parents, Apostle Felix Adejumo and Rev. Funke Adejumo.

t is not exactly an extraordinary thing to have a prince seek the hand of a princess in marriage.

What may be extraordinary are the ceremonies that accompany such occasions, which more often than not, are replete with ostentatious pomp and ceremony. For Princess Adebimpe Aduke Adesida and Prince David Adedotun Adejumo, it was much the same, and their parents spared no expense in living up to the bill. The wedding held at the Cathedral Church of Saint David (Anglican Communion), Ijomu, Akure, Ondo State on Saturday, May 2, 2015. Photos by Dare Fasube

The couple, Mr and Mrs Adedotun Adesida

Cross section of traditional rulers representing the Ooni of Ife, Oba Okunade Sijuade.

Bidemi Ogundahunsi, Ibironke Olakojo weds Representative of Kwara State Governor's wife; Justice Adenike Akinpelu and wife of Ondo State Governor; Mrs Funke Mimiko.

Parents of the bride, Prince Adedoyin Adesida and Olori Adedolapo Sijuade.

Razzmatazz all the w ay ffor or Gani A dams @ 45 wa Adams

I

R-L: President, Women Arise, Dr. Joe Odumakin; Minister of State for Works, Prince Dayo Adeyeye; Celebrant/Coordinator, Odua People's Congress, Otunba Gani Adams; his wife, Mojisola and Ondo State Commissioner for Environment, Mr. Sola Ebiseni.

t was razzmatazz all the way laced with pomp and pageantry as hundreds gathered inside the All Seasons Plaza Main Hall, Ikeja, Lagos to celebrate the 45th birthday of Odua Peoples’ Congress (OPC) National Coordinator, Otunba Gani Adams.

Chiefs, top Government officials, activists, beauty queens and top Yoruba Nollywood stars and ordinary members of society who had benefited from his scholarship and cultural activities stormed the venue that was filled with music and dancing.

Photos by Kehinde Gbadamosi

Bidemi Ogundahunsi and Ibironke Olakojo after their wedding in Akure.

Otunba Gani Adams and Chief Falade Oluwatosin, Seriki of Egba Land

L-R: Chief Rotimi Faloba, Oba Dio of Ife, Chief O.O.O Dada, Oba Lesu of Obatala, representatives of Ooni of Ife and two other traditional rulers from Benin Republic C M Y K

Dr (Mrs ) Sally Mbanefo, DG NTDC, presenting key to brand new Toyota Haice bus donated by the National Executive Council and National Coordinating Council Members of OPC to Otunba Gani Adams

Beneficiaries of Otunba Gani Adams scholarship scheme presenting birthday gift to him.

SUNDAY VANGUARD, MAY 10, 2015, PAGE 31

Time yin Amuk a-P emu tak es wif e in style Timeyin Amuka-P a-Pemu takes wife

F

or the Amuka-Pemus and the Obozuwas April 23 and 25, will remain days to cherish for always as the two families had the pleasure of coming together as one, when their children, Oritsetimeyin Anthony Amuka-Pemu, son of Mr Godfrey Amuka-Pemu and Omosi Victoria Obozuwa consummated their union.

Thursday, April 23 was for the traditional engagement ceremony while Saturday April 25, was the church wedding which held at Our Mother of Perpetual Help Catholic Church, Amuwo Odofin, Lagos. Photos by Joe Akintola, Photo Editor.

Chief and Mrs John Obozuwa, bride's parents

The couple, Mr and Mrs Oritsetimeyin AmukaPemu.

L-R: Mr Peter Arigbe; Mr Sunny Okpurhie and Mrs Rita Amuka.

The couple with the bride’s maids and groom's men.

L-R: Mr Kelvin Omomodion; Mr Olusola Ojo, Internal Auditor, Vanguard Media Ltd; Mr. Solomon Emori, Asst Transport Manager; Mr Mideno Bayagbon, Editor; Mr Eze Anaba, Deputy Editor; Mr Fred Odueme, AGM Brands and Mr Sunday Awevia, Operations Manager, all of Vanguard Media.

L-R: Mrs Tobi Odunaiya; Mrs Bill Amuka-Pemu and Mrs Chuko Aminaghan C M Y K

The couple, Mr and Mrs Oritsetimyin Amuka-Pemu with the groom's parents, Mr and Mrs Godfrey Amuka-Pemu.

L-R: Mr & Mrs Bill Amuka-Pemu and Mrs Richard Okotie

L-R: Mr and Mrs Sylvester Egede, sponsor/witness with Ajijala Rone-Orugboh, chairman at the reception

PAGE 32—SUNDAY Vanguard, MAY 10, 2015

C M Y K

SUNDAY Vanguard, MAY 10, 2015, PAGE 33

C M Y K

PAGE 34—SUNDAY Vanguard, MAY 10, 2015

The post-election prize Jonathan deserves – Abubakar Audu

*Says APC will not mismanage success *’Why Kogi people want me back as gov’ Even though he is a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress, he still sees good in what outgoing President Goodluck Jonathan did on the heels of the March 28 presidential election.

According to him, had Jonathan behaved like some Africa leaders and refused to concede defeat, Nigeria would have boiled. But his swift telephone call to the winner of the March 28 presidential election, now president-elect, General Muhammadu Buhari, to congratulate him even before the results were officially announced by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, brought peace. For that, a former governor of Kogi State, Prince Abubakar Audu, amongst other things in this interview, says Jonathan deserves the Nobel Prize for Peace. Excerpts:

BY LEVINUS NWABUGHIOGU

T

he presidential and National Assembly elections saw your party, the APC, in clean sweep of the three senatorial districts and a good number of seats in the House of Representatives even though you are not in charge in Kogi State. How did that happen?

The secret of any success is hard work and that has always been my contention.

We worked very hard and time will virtually tell the story and time has told the story. People were given the opportunity to compare and contrast between my administration and the successive administrations of the PDP since I left office. I governed the state between 1999 and 2003 and PDP rigged me out using all manner of forces that have never been seen in any democratic sector. They brought soldiers from the air force and the barracks in Lokoja which harassed and killed. For the first time I saw military personnel carrying ballot boxes. That was how they rigged us out in 2003.

They brought in a governor that spent 9 years and has not commissioned one single project. It is where I left Kogi in 2003 that Kogi is up till this moment. It is not political rhetoric neither am I praising myself. You can confirm this

from any Kogi man. After spending 9 years instead of 8 years as stated in our constitution another PDP governor took over and I don’t think he has done much again. I leave everything to the electorate to judge. This time the electorates said it is time we bring Audu back. If you are a regular visitor to Kogi, at the Kontokafi bridge, you will see a billboard where the masses are crying, saying ‘where is Audu? So, as far as I am concerned it is the first step to bringing me back and convincing me to come back.

That is why you see those changes in Kogi state especially in the electoral system. We won all our Senate seats. We won about six or seven of the nine House of Representatives seats and out of accredited 400,000 voters in Kogi for the presidential election, we won almost 300,000 and you know we are not in government in the state. Even a councillor, we don’t have. But now people have been placed in a position to know the difference between the good, the bad and the ugly. So, they have spoken and God in His infinite mercy has exonerated me. That is the secret of the success we achieved in Kogi state because people want me back and they have seen what I did for them in four years that I was in office. They have been given the opportunity to compare and contrast and

Abubakar Audu...people have been placed in a position to know the difference between the good, the bad and the ugly

this is the first step of the 1,000km journey and, by the special grace of God, we shall arrive there safely.

What is your impression about General Muhammadu Buhari’s victory after three failed attempts at the polls?

Let me tell you, my history in politics is similar to his. In 2003, that was when he fired the first shot. He contested and won but he was rigged out. In 2007 and 2011, they robbed him but, in 2015, all the robbers went to sleep and God took control. Everyone knows the kind of person Buhari is; a very disciplined and gentle man, a man who is highly principled, a man of proven integrity. I am not singing his praises but it is exactly how he is and everybody that knows him knows he is like that. The economy of this country has been battered. Look at the unemployment rate. Look at the decay in infrastructure, and look at the security aspect, insurgency, kidnapping and all sorts of notorious things. We need people with experience, people that have the ability, people with the right intellectual capacity to save us. This is why God directed the electorate in Nigeria to bring him in because there is nothing they didn’t do to ensure that PDP rigged the election but there is nothing God didn’t do to make sure that the truth prevailed. It is

the handiwork of God. God wants to salvage Nigeria from total devastation that befell Nigeria under the 16 years rule of the PDP. So we have every reason to thank God and celebrate without any atom of doubt. Yes, the expectations are very high.

Both Muslims and Christians voted for him, even the

Nigeria is one of the richest countries in Africa if not the richest in terms of natural endowment but has not been lucky with managers of our resources

traditionalists voted for him, men and women voted for him and that is why he recorded landslide victory.

Therefore, the expectations are very high. Mark you that Nigeria is a very resourceful country. Nigeria is one of the richest countries in Africa if not the richest in terms of natural endowment but has not been lucky with managers of our resources. We haven’t been lucky with leadership. It is the first time that we want to know what is meant by having the correct leadership to lead the country because we don’t have any business with poverty. It is a very unfortunate situation but, with the right leader in democracy and democratic norms, we will work towards that goal and Nigerians will have the opportunity to compare the four years of the first tenure not even talking about second tenure, with the 16 years of PDP. It is God’s time to change the position for us. So I congratulate you young men; all the pains you have gone through in Nigeria will soon be a thing of the past by the special grace of God.

Talking about high expectations, how do you advise Buhari to go about meeting them so that he will not disappoint the youths and teeming Nigerians who

Continues on page 35

SUNDAY Vanguard, MAY 10, 2015 , PAGE 35

Continued from Page 34 came out to express their confidence in him?

A square peg in a round hole is not the answer. Have the right people on the right job; people who been loved and accepted by the people of Nigeria and consider the people of Nigeria who have been wallowing in abject poverty and the drive to alter that situation. Secondly, people of integrity who are not clamouring for positions because of the dividends that come from it most be in this government. In my case for instance, I worked in First Bank Nigeria for over 25 years and I left as Executive Director. I was General Manager at Standard Chartered Bank in London and New York. I was a training officer in London; if you compare me with a school leaver and someone who is doing that job for the first time, you will know that there is no basis for comparison. This is why it is good to bring technocrats into government, those who know and have the love of Nigeria at heart and those who will be able to separate the wheat from the chaff. I am sure General Buhari is going to do that because during his military rule when he was Head of State, there was some measure of improvement in virtually all the sectors in Nigeria because discipline. You can never achieve anything without discipline. You can only enforce discipline if you are disciplined yourself. You must be able to enforce discipline on others if you are disciplined yourself. And you know that he is a very disciplined man, so, once again, Nigeria is lucky and Nigeria has taken the right decision to have voted him in and this is the first time after 1999 election that our electoral system has been judged as free, fair and credible and therefore it is peaceful that is why there is less acrimony. But we have witnessed in this country a situation where someone didn’t contest for any election and he is declared a winner.

What worked for him was the ability to carry ‘Ghana must go’ bag to the villa at the end of the day. Those days are gone forever in Nigeria.

Your party is sharing offices? What is your advice?

We believe that if we want peace to prevail in Nigeria, the winner-takes-all syndrome should be very minimal; it should be all an embracing government.

Every segment of Nigeria should be given a role to play. We are not going to run on exclusive government but an all-embracing government and, so far so good, based on newspaper publications, you will see that most of the positions that have been shared out have even spread.

Even where Buhari didn’t get votes, he has given them a

‘APC will not mismanage success’ into APC? Would they not pollute the party?

They are coming here for a purpose and, as far as we will separate the chaff from the wheat, no problem. But democracy and politics being a game of numbers, we are not going to reject anybody but we will receive them with caution. If you are coming with good faith and with a view to contributing your quota to the development of Nigeria and the party, we will embrace you with open arms.

With all our heart, we will receive you but if you are coming there with a purpose of sharing money or bringing corruptive tendencies, we will treat you with caution.

Abubakar Audu...I was known as the best performing governor position, a very powerful position, all with a view to making sure that, at the end of the day, peace prevails and everyone is given a good sense of belonging.

Let’s go back to the internal politics of APC. Sometimes managing success is more difficult than getting it. How is APC going to manage this success that it has achieved?

It is more difficult to manage money than to make money. Just as you said, it is more difficult to manage victory than achieving victory.

Now, once you have the right persons in position, all these things are no problem.

Having the right leadership, people with balanced outlook, people with balanced judgements, people who have the fear of God at the back of their minds has always been a problem in this country. And if you talk about that, Buhari will score a very high mark if not the highest mark in the entire country. I try not to exaggerate; I try not to embark on political rhetoric but on the fact of the situation.

Given the sit-tight syndrome of most African leaders, would you commend President Goodluck Jonathan for reacting the way he did, calling Buhari to congratulate him even before the results were officially announced?

I don’t want to pre-empt what Buhari can do but, as far as I am concerned, President Jonathan deserves to be recommended for the Nobel Prize for Peace. You

know what has been happening around Africa that once a leader is in position, he wants to stay put. They don’t like to relinquish position. Look at what happened in Ivory Coast and other places. We have seen a lot of maturity and love in him. He said it is not worth shedding any blood for the position of the presidency.

How many people in Nigeria, in Africa, in the third world reason that way? They want to perpetrate themselves in power and, for the mere fact that he has shown the difference, he deserves the Nobel Peace Prize. But for this maturity, trouble would have erupted in Nigeria.

Mark you, so many years ago, America predicted that, in 2015, Nigeria will disintegrate. Have we proved them wrong or not? Even Nigerians themselves, before the election, a lot of people left their business areas to retire to their villages saying if they should die, they will not like to die in the town, they will like to die in their village because they predicted the aftermath of the election to be very disastrous, but Jonathan has proved such prediction wrong. So, I take off my cap for him. He is a good leader and he should be given special recognition by recommending him for Nobel Prize and considering what has being happening in Africa to set a very good example for other leaders to emulate. Look at what is happening in Zimbabwe?

Are you comfortable with the influx of persons, especially PDP members,

We believe that if we want peace to prevail in Nigeria, the winnertakes-all syndrome should be very minimal; it should be an all embracing government

Many people feel you are arrogant. Have you learnt your lessons now that you want to go back to power?

Instead of me learning any lesson, they have learnt a lesson that the accusation heaped on me was unfounded. I will tell you the offence I committed and this is why the Kogi you know in those days is not the Kogi you know today. I have a background of private sector concept of efficiency and prudent management in managing available resources but the people I met in the political arena said no! That this money isn’t meant to develop the state; that it is meant to be shared and I said I didn’t have that background and they said if you don’t have that background, we will show you the exit road and we will deal with you’.

You can’t convince anybody in Nigeria that I am not development oriented, that i didn’t develop the state because even the PDP government gave me seven awards out of 12, courtesy of the media tour headed by Professor Jerry Gana, the then Minister of Information and National Orientation. I was known as the best performing governor in Nigeria and my own people said they didn’t want that.

They wanted to ridicule me but God has ridiculed them because, look at what is prevailing in Kogi; it is so pathetic. Today, without any iota of exaggeration, Kogi is one of the most backward states in Nigeria. During my time, they described Kogi, again, courtesy of the media tour, as the fastest developing state in Nigeria but you see now because they say I am very arrogant. Some said that what have I missed that I am going back to the Government House to take? What are you talking about? My baby is sick. I was one of the pioneers of the state and the way the state is now is very pathetic. It is a shame to all of us who knew that state when I was there. So that is why there is a huge cry from the masses that I should come back and govern them. Some say i am old but I am not older than the present governor. I am not older than my predecessor. So, what are they talking about? At 72, God bestowed leadership on Buhari so that he will take Nigeria out of the woods, out of the pains, out of total devastation, out of the ills that pervaded this country for 16 years.

Experience isn’t something you go to the classroom to read and people have natural ability. If you don’t have that ability, there is no way you can measure up. I don’t want to praise myself but I have given the opportunity for people to see and differentiate between me and my colleagues.

PAGE 36 — SUND AY SUNDA

Vanguard, MAY 10, 2015

PDP:

Muazu, the govs and the war within

BY HENRY UMORU

I

T is no longer news that the ruling Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, after 16 years in government, lost the March 28 presidential election to the opposition All Progressives Congress, APC. Besides the removal of President Goodluck Jonathan from office in the election, the first of its kind in Nigeria since 1999, the ruling PDP also suffered defeat at both the Senate and the House of Representatives which it hitherto controlled.

The PDP equally lost in its traditional states of Plateau; Niger; Kaduna; Benue; Bauchi; and Jigawa, just as, ahead of the inauguration of the National Assembly, on June 4, the ‘ Almighty PDP’ will become an opposition party in the Senate with 49 senators while the APC has 60 members and same applies to the House of Representatives where it has been thrown into the opposition.

What is the news in the party that suddenly found itself as an opposition, which it ought to have taken as a serious challenge, is internal bickering. Leaders are up in arms against leaders of the party.

The naked truth is that all is not well with the PDP which claimed it would rule for 60 years as the governors elected on its platform and the National Working Committee, NWC, are out to outwit one another, with the former calling for the resignation of the Alhaji Adamu Muazu-led National working Committee, NWC, following the party’s abysmal outing during the polls.

Muazu, in January 2014, replaced the former National Chairman, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, who came on board March 24, 2012.

Since its inception in 1998, the party has had 11 national chairmen in full and acting capacity, namely, the late Chief Solomon Lar, Barnabas Gemade, Audu Ogbeh,

C M Y K

•Muazu

•Gov Akpabio

Senator Ahmadu Ali, Prince Vincent Ogbulafor, Dr. Okwesilieze Nwodo, Dr Bello Haliru Mohammed, Abubakar Kawu Baraje; Alhaji Tukur and Muazu. Many of them were removed from office under controversial circumstances.

Lack of confidence In the past few days, the governors, led by the Chairman of the PDP Governors’ Forum and outgoing governor of Akwa Ibom State, Godswill Akpabio, have been pushing for the sack of the NWC, voicing their lack of confidence in Muazu and blaming him and the NWC for leading the party into what they described as a disastrous electoral performance in the 2015 elections.

Also calling for the resignation of the Muazu - led NWC is a group under the aegis of the PDP National Renaissance Movement, the 9,000 Support Group and some organisations that supported the aspiration of Jonathan for second term in

Despite losing our dominance in the National Assembly, our party has the largest number of experienced legislators in both chambers and will surely be calling the shots there

office, just as they called for fresh minds, fresh ideas, fresh vision and fresh strategies in the PDP leadership.

Rising from a meeting in Abuja, the PDP National Renaissance Movement, in a communique signed

by Dr. Ayakeme Whisky and Dr. Ifedi Okwenna, Chairman, Steering Committee and Secretary, respectively, noted that the party needs rebuilding to bounce back in 2019 and the beginning of the rebuilding process was for the present NWC to throw in the towel, adding, “That in order to effectively rebuild and reposition the party as a credible opposition with intent to win back power in 2019 at the centre, there is urgent need for immediate injection of fresh minds, fresh ideas, fresh vision and fresh strategies at all levels of the party.

To effect these changes in a peaceful, orderly manner, the current leadership of the party should stand out to make a necessary, but inevitable sacrifice for the re-emergence of the party in the shortest possible time”.

Continues on page 37

SUND AY SUNDA

Vanguard, MAY 10, 2015, PAGE 37

Continued from Page 36 As the cold war continued and following calls for his sack, Muazu took a swipe at his critics, warning that the attitude of use and dump must stop in PDP. The National Chairnan, who warned the PDP governors, leaders, stakeholders, elders and members that the party cannot continue with the culture of changing National Chairmen and members of the NWC, said that the infighting and mudslinging in the party, after losing the 2015 presidential election, was uncalled for.

While reminding those calling for his resignation that the present leadership of the PDP has until next year to run its course, he stressed that the party would, in 2016, decide how to deal with the zoning of the next leadership and strategies for winning the 2019 elections.

Muazu said, “It is also time to end the spate of in-fighting and blame games currently dominating the political discourse among our membership and the leadership. It will do no one any good. The present leadership has until next year to run their course. The party will then decide how to deal with the zoning of the next leadership and strategies for winning the 2019 elections.

“The developing culture of using and dumping has reached fratricidal proportions in the PDP and it must end. You cannot be changing Chairmen and NWC every year and still have cohesion which is a vital ingredient of winning. A good example occurred when we changed five Senate Presidents in eight years and produced calamity in the process, but for eight years we have had one senate president and produced harmony between the presidency and parliament.

“Great lessons to be learned from the outcome of the 2015 Elections are many and I have already mentioned this in earlier interactions with the media. Lessons of candidate imposition, deepening of internal democracy in our party and other obvious lessons we need to learn for future guidance. It is so important for us to learn from what has happened. We must note that when the going gets tough, only the tough like the PDP can get going.

“Therefore, what I consider the most stupid thing going on within our party at the moment is the gale of defections. “Personally it does not worry me but I shudder at the wedge placed by the new ruling party banning the incoming troupes.

It shows signs of how they will run the country from May 29 2015. It shows how they will not regard non APC Nigerians as part of their responsibility which will be a shame.”

In a statement titled, “Time to Reinvent the PDP and signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Chief Tony Amadi, the PDP National Chairman further said, “The result of the 2015

•Chairman PDP post- Election Assessment Committee

PDP: Muazu, the govs and the war within In order to effectively rebuild and reposition the party as a credible opposition with intent to win back power in 2019 at the centre, there is urgent need for immediate injection of fresh minds, fresh ideas, fresh vision and fresh strategies at all levels of the party

presidential election is the elixir the Peoples Democratic Party needs to reinvent itself and retake power in 2019 instead of wasting time and energy mudslinging and blame gaming over the party’s failed bid to win a fourth consecutive presidential election victory.

“It is therefore time for our great party to reinvent ourselves, show great maturity and map out a strategy that will return us to power in 2019. Despite losing our dominance in the National Assembly, our party has the largest number of experienced legislators in both chambers and will surely be calling the shots there.

We will however help to reduce the imminent issue of learning process occasioned by the horde of inexperienced APC members in both houses because of national interest.”

Truce committee As part of the moves to rescue the PDP, a committee of 15 members, with Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu as Chairman, was put in place by the NWC to carry out a post-mortem of the 2015 elections, look at why the party lost the polls and the way forward. The committee is saddled with, among others, the responsibility of looking at the funding of the elections to determine whether or not the funds meant for the campaigns were adequate and whether disbursements were

properly done, just as how the funds meant for the campaigns were spent and shared have been raging in the last couple of days.

Governors, who are members of the Ekweremadu- led committee and tagged, PDP Post- Election Assessment Committee, are the Chairman, PDP Governors’ Forum, Akpabio; Governor Ibrahim Hassan Dankwabo of Gombe ; Governor Theodore Orji of Abia State and the Rivers State governor- elect, Nyesom Wike.

Other members of the committee are the Minister of Education, Mal. Ibrahim Shekarau; Minister of Women Affairs, Hajia Zainab Maina; former governor of Niger State, Engr. Abdulkadir Kure; Deputy Speaker, House of Representatives, Hon. Emeka Ihedioha; Minister of Interior, Mr. Abba Moro; Alh. Adamu Waziri; Sen. Ahmed Mohammed Makarfi; Chief Makanjuola Ogundipe ; Chief Pegba Otemolu; Shauibu Oyedokun; Senator Florence Ita- Giwa.

Secretary, PDP Board of Trustees, BoT, Sen. Walid Jibril, who was earlier named as Secretary of the committee, was replaced with Maina Waziri, who would act as Secretary till Jubril recovers from the surgery he undertook.

At the inauguration of the committee, which took place at the NWC Hall of the PDP National Secretariat, Akpabio, Dankwabo and Orji were absent, just as Muazu and Jibril were also absent. They did not give reasons for their absence, but the PDP National Publicity Secretary, Olisa Metuh, disclosed that Muazu was outside the country on a family commitment and the three governors were indisposed.

The absence of the governors at the inauguration may not be unconnected with the lingering crisis between them and members of the NWC. Inaugurating the committee, PDP National Secretary, Professor Adewale Oladipo, who gave the committee three weeks to submit its report, rolled out the terms of reference as follows: To identify the remote and immediate causes of the relatively poor performance of the PDP in the 2015 general elections; trace the origin and process of the seeming decline of the party in its electoral performance; take a critical look at the preparations and buildup of the PDP to the general elections and determine its adequacies and lapses; review and determine the adequacy of the structures for the 2015 general elections and how those structures functioned; ascertain the degree of anti-party activities, compromises and outright sabotage that may have contributed to the misfortunes of our party at the elections; look at the funding of the elections to determine whether or not the funds meant for the campaigns were adequate and whether disbursements were

Continues on page 38

PAGE 38 — SUND AY SUNDA

Vanguard, MAY 10, 2015

PDP: Muazu, the govs and the war within

•Mark

•Gov Dankwabo

Continued from Page 37 properly done; identify different groups in the party who were to play critical roles before and during the elections and determine the effectiveness or otherwise; determine any other matter that may be considered necessary and in the interest of the party; and propose a road map for the party to recover its past glory and definitely win the general elections in 2019.”

Responding, the Chairman of the PDP Post-Election Assessment Committee, Ekweremadu, who urged PDP members to learn from their failure and stop what he termed self pity, said blame trading will not solve PDD problems. “I thank the national leadership of our great party for deeming it imperative to assess PDP’s performance in the 2015 general elections and finding us worthy of prosecuting the task”, he said.

“First, let me empathize with party faithfuls across the country over what has been generally accepted as the poorest outing of the PDP in any general elections since its birth in 1998. Our pains and disappointments are well founded, especially given the enormous hopes and prospects the party holds as a panNigerian movement for social, economic, and political transformations. Thus, it is not a loss for the PDP only, but a loss to the great people of this country that the party lost the steering at the time it had laid a solid foundation through the Transformation Agenda of the present administration.

“However, we must appreciate the fact that change is the only constant thing in life. Much as we are pained by the sad turn of events, we must come to terms with the fact that anger, recriminations, self-pity, and blame trading will not take us even an inch away from the harsh outcomes of the 2015 general elections.

“Let me empahsise that the worst tragedy that could befall the PDP is not to have lost the 2015 presidential election or our majority status at the National Assembly or some PDP controlled states to the opposition. All through human history, even the greatest and strongest empires

In the interest of our party, we call on party faithfuls to cease all internal bickering and media hostilities. Such tendencies are not only capable of further deepening the challenges we currently face, but also wrongly portraying us as confused, frustrated, stranded, and bad losers

•Gov Orji have suffered one setback or the other at certain points of their existence. Instead, the greatest tragedy would be our failure to draw from the lessons embedded in the outcome of the elections.

“The seeming dwindle in our fortunes is an opportunity to reassess and reinvent our party to retake its rightful place in the Nigerian polity for a much longer time. But we must first understand our immediate past to be able to chart our future. I believe this underscores the essence of this Committee, which we have been called to serve on. Indeed, unless a man knows where the rain started beating him, he would never know where it stopped.

“Members of the Committee, therefore, count it an honour to be called upon to pilot this voyage of soul-searching and reinvention. We wish to assure you all that we will carry out this assignment to the best of our ability and without fear or favour. We earnestly request members of our party to avail the Committee all necessary information in line with its terms of reference. We will ensure that all shades of opinion are heard. This is the only sure way to get to the root of the matter and move the party forward. ‘“In the interest of our party, we call on party faithfuls to cease all internal bickering and media hostilities. Such tendencies are not only capable of further deepening the challenges we currently face, but also wrongly portraying us as confused, frustrated, stranded, and bad losers. We must be careful lest we play into the hands of our opponents. We also urge all our members to remain with the PDP and rest assured that we will bounce back very soon. I agree with the position of our national leader, His Excellency, President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, GCFR, that those who dump the PDP will return home with empty stomach. I therefore enjoin all of us to remain in our house and rebuild it instead of running to already-made shelters.”

Following the PDP post-election crisis, Jonathan warned members of the NWC, stakeholders and elders to put an end to all internal bickering and media hostility as they were capable of further deepening the

•Wike challenges the party is facing.

Oladipo, who gave the message of the President, said, “Let me use this opportunity to relay President Jonathan’s message to all PDP leaders and members. He has given definite instruction that all acts of unwarranted attacks and counterattacks on members and leadership of the party should stop immediately.”

‘Party may die’ Speaking along the same line, President of the Senate, Senator David Mark, warned that the PDP would head for its final destruction if the leadership, stakeholders and members failed to end internal bickering, accusation, tongue lashing and media hostility.

Mark who, when the Deputy President of the Senate, Ekweremadu, and other nembers of the PDP postelection committee, visited him, cautioned members of the party that the in-fighting was unnecessary, condemnable and capable of further deepening the challenges the party is facing.

According to him, all stakeholders must rise above the present circumstances and work hard to rejuvenate the party, against the backdrop that the new status of the PDP as an opposition was a challenge which “ we must face with all honesty, sincerity of purpose and dedication to duty”.

Mark believes that democracy and the nation would be better for it, “if we play credible opposition to ensure good governance and delivery of dividends of democracy to Nigerians”.

Expressing worries over the unfolding scenario especially from the leadership and between factions in the party, he said, “the PDP is already hemorrhaging”, pointing out that, “unless we halt the bleeding and find the necessary therapy, we

Continues on page 39

SUND AY SUNDA

Continued from Page 38 may be heading for the final burial of the party”.

The Senate president went on: “The party is already in a comatose status and we should do all we can to resuscitate the party rather than this unnecessary rancor and bulk passing.

The emerging factions are absolutely unnecessary. The combatants must sheathe their swords and embrace dialogue. My appeal is that we should not do anything further that would damage the already fragmented house.

“Everybody should come together and rebuild the party. We have gotten enough bruises. We need not inflict further pains on ourselves, with continuous bickering. Enough of this blame-game. We should return to the drawing board and need not wash our dirty linen in the public, anymore.

“I believe a useful lesson has been learnt from the PDP electoral misfortune. As for me, it is time to put on our thinking caps and chart a new course.

“I trust Senator Ekweremadu that he and his team will do a good job and unearth the remote and immediate causes of our misfortune and make recommendations that will enhance the future of the party.

“I have worked closely with the Deputy President of the Senate over the years and I know his capability and capacity to handle issues”.

To ease the tension in the PDP, the PDP National Publicity Secretary, Olisa Metuh, in a statement, disclosed that the party had recovered from the shock and trauma it went through following the defeat of the President at the polls.

The PDP spokesman attributed the timely intervention of Jonathan to the quick recovery, just as the party hailed the President for the mature and timely intervention in ending the bickering among leaders of the party.

The party asked all members to join forces to ensure that the core values and the vision of the founding fathers were sustained, even as it directed all organs of the party to focus only on party administration in a manner that would rekindle the zeal and commitment among members as well as supporters at all levels.

Getting it right With the Ekweremadu committee in place, it is hoped that the PDP can still get it right if the stakeholders can put aside ego, self aggrandisement, sentiments and put the interest of the party above all personal interests. If supported by the stakeholders and, learning from the past, the Ekweremadu committee would succeed especially against the backdrop of the zeal the Deputy Senate President would put into the job as he did in the Senate during the 1999 Constitution review.

It is hoped that the party would implement to the letter all the recommendations of the committee at the end of its three- week

Vanguard, MAY 10, 2015, PAGE 39

PDP: Muazu, the govs and the war within

•Metuh

•Hajia Maina

Perhaps if their recommendations were adhered to, there would have been party supremacy, rule of law, respect for party structure, hijack of party structure by the governors under the guise of leaders would not have existed

•Shekarau

•Oladipo brainstorming. It is also hoped that all those involved in the PDP crisis will avail the committee of needed information.

The leadership of the party, through Metuh, asked stakeholders who have complaints about the election and the way forward to submit such to the Post Election Assessment Committee.

A peep into the past Before the Post - Election Assessment Committee, there was the PDP National Integration Committee inaugurated on September 12, 2014 by Muazu for the six geo- political zones of the country. The committee was saddled with the task of reconciling estranged members with the party.

Also, his predecessors, in their different ways, tried to find ways to resolve political quagmires that came up and almost tore the party apart. After the 1999 presidential election, which brought in former President Olusegun Obasanjo, the late Chairman of the party and former governor of Plateau State, Chief Solomon Lar, set up a reconciliation committee headed by former Vice President Alex Ekwueme.

The committee had a former Kano State governor, the late Abubakar Rimi; a

former governor of Old Anambra State, Chief Jim Nwobodo; Chief Richard Akinjide; a former governor of old Kaduna State, Alhaji Lawal Kaita, among others, as members.

It had become imperative for Lar to unite all in the party, following issues before the 1999 election that saw Ekwueme stepping down for Obasanjo because it was clear then that colleagues of the latter in the military were backing him to win the PDP’s ticket. Ekwueme was pressurised to settle for the Senate where he would be the Senate President, but he refused.

There was also, in 2002, a PDP reconciliation committee on the executive/legislature impasse.

Still on the moves to bring back members who were forced out of the party, the late President Umaru Yar’Adua raised a committee also with Ekwueme as Chairman. The Ekwueme committee, at the end of the exercise, discovered to its chagrin that only six of the 34 founding members were still in the party.

The committee recommended that those who left be allowed to come back while there must be rule of law, internal democracy, among others.

Rather than implement the recommendations of the the committee’s report, soon after he came in as the PDP National Chairman in 2008, Prince Vincent Ogbulafor set up another 18-member committee to review the report with his then deputy and former Minister of Defence, Mohammed Haliru Bello as Chairman.

Soon after Bamanga Tukur came in and with the determination to implement his 3R agenda of Reconciliation, Reformation and Rebuilding the party, he set up an eight–man committee with Chief Alabo Graham Douglas as Chairman to reconcile members in Kano State.

He also set up a committee headed by former Deputy National Chairman, Alhaji Shuaib Oyedokun to reconcile aggrieved members of the PDP in Benue State, just as there was that of Governor Ibrahim Shema of Katsina State to resolve the issues in the South West.

There was also a 30-member Reconciliation Panel headed by Governor Henry Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa State. Former Governor Diepreye Alamieyeseigha of Bayelsa State was in the wake of crisis in the state appointed to chair the PDP Elders Forum to reconcile all.

But the problems continued in all the zones even after the committees’ efforts. Perhaps if their recommendations were adhered to, there would have been party supremacy, rule of law, respect for party structure, hijack of party structure by the governors under the guise of leaders would not have existed, imposition of candidates would have been a thing of the past, there would have been serious and genuine primaries and not selection.

It is hoped that now that the PDP is out of government to adjust to its new status, the opposition for the next four years, it would put its house in order.

IS PDP ACTUALLY HEADING FOR SELF DESTRUCTION? Nigerians watch as events unfold.

PAGE 40 — SUND AY SUNDA

Vanguard, MAY 10, 2015

Chief Alex Ekwueme

Alhaji Kawu Baraje

Alhaji Tukur

Chief Audu Ogbeh

Sen Banarbas Gemade

PDP: FROM RULING TO OPPOSITION PARTY

House of Representatives where it lost its majority status. From being in control of most states, the party only won in 10 states having lost its traditional strongholds especially in the North.

•Muazu and co: To go or not to go •Hindsight of Lar, Gemade, Ahmadu Ali, others

Moves to change guard

The dirty fight to live!

BY CHARLES KUMOLU

W

HEN a former Tea Party leader, Jack Kimbal, emerged the Chairman of Democratic Party in Newhampshire, expectations were high that he was going to boost the party’s bid of making Barack Obama a one term President.

The state’s special election in 2011 presented an opportunity for Kimbal to bring his understanding of the mechanics of party leadership to bear.

But with lackluster performances at the poll and fundraising, there came concerns over what becomes of the party at a time when the state was poised to host the nation’s first presidential primaries.

The price of defeat for Kimbal was that he lost the confidence of the state’s congressional delegation and most elected leaders.

It was common to have expected that he would throw in the towel in line with the political culture in that part of the globe, but Kimbal, who was only seven months on the seat, would not hear nothing of such.

The resulting infighting was such that threatened the state’s coveted position as a swing state in the electoral calendar.

So distractive was the controversy over calls on Kimbal to resign that the Republican National Committee, America’s equivalent of the Peoples Democratic Party,PDP, National Working Committee, NWC, became reluctant about funding the party in Newhampshire.

Faced with so much pressure from those who wanted him out, Kimbal, at a time when the GOP, Grand Old Party, leaders were expected to remove him, told a packed room of opponents and sign-waving supporters that he was stepping down.

“I am not going to become an obstacle for this party. I am tendering my resignation,” he noted.

A similar scenario also happened in Hong Kong in 2012 when one of its leading parties, the Democratic Party, lost the legislative council elections.

As a result, the party’s National Chairman, Albert Ho, resigned, citing the defeat and the need to reposition the party.

First defeat in 16 years

Same episode that happened in America and Asia is currently playing out in Nigeria where there are calls for the resignation of the ruling party’s NWC following PDP’s woeful outing at the just concluded general elections.

At the centre of this crisis of confidence is the party’s National Chairman, Alhaji Adamu Muazu, who led the party to its first defeat in 16 years.

His emergence as the leader of the party in January 2014, at a time the party presented the picture of a disorganized group torn apart by endless strife, signaled hope.

Many were optimistic that he could rein in trouble makers and reinvent the PDP that had assumed an overbearing position in the political space.

Aside the various crises at some

Should the former Bauchi State governor resign, he would be the eleventh chairman the PDP had produced since it’s August 31, 1998 formation

state chapters of the party, Muazu is seen to have ensured some level of stability since he succeeded Alhaji Bamanga Tukur.

Though that perceived achievement is still contentious among his loyalists and growing number of critics.

So noticeable was the aura of relative calm that came with Mauzu’s leadership in the often rancorous fold that he was dubbed ‘’The Game Changer.’’

Indeed, the Game Changer was loved by The Presidency, accepted by the powerful governors and admired by party faithful.

But such wholesome romance that only existed during the three-year chairmanship of Col Ahmadu Ali is now threatened or, better still, shortlived.

The trouncing of the PDP at the general elections of March 28 and April 11, ensured that the relationship existed only for about one year and six months.

Apart from losing the presidency, which it held for 16 years, the PDP lost its majority in the National Assembly and will be the leading opposition in parliament in the next four years having won only 46 senatorial seats out of 109.

Same is obtainable in the

The stark reality that all these happened, like never before under Muazu’s watch, gave rise to moves for a change of guard at the NEC even when the current leadership boasts of one year to the expiration of its tenure.

Believed to be championing the Muazu must go campaign are the powerful PDP state governors, who want him to take the path of honour and resign.

Whereas the PDP constitution stipulates a three year tenure for its NWC, which includes the Chairman and other members of the executive, apart from Ali and Gemade, other former chairmen hardly exhausted the tenure as prescribed by the party’s constitution.

Should the former Bauchi State governor resign, he would be the eleventh chairman the PDP had produced since it’s August 31, 1998 formation.

Those before the embattled chairman were: Dr. Alex Ekwueme, Chief Solomon Lar, Sen Banarbas Gemade, Chief Audu Ogbeh, Col Ahmadu Ali, retd, Chief Vincent Ogulafor, Chief Okwesileze Nwodo, Dr. Haliru Mohammed, Alhaji Kawu Baraje and Tukur.

In what could be considered as a trend,

Continues on page 41

SUND AY SUNDA

Vanguard, MAY 10, 2015, PAGE 41

Muazu and co: To go or not to go

Chief Okwesileze Nwodo

Col Ahmadu Ali (rtd)

Chief Solomon Lar

Continued from Page 40

Obasanjo’s opposition in addition other powerful interests that did not want him to return.

was also noticeable from the respite that his emergence brought about in the PDP within a short time.

Coming on board at that juncture when the party was faced with several challenges across the country, placed so much responsibility on Ali, who had been the party’s campaign coordinator in the North Central zone in 2002.

In fact, no PDP leader before him inherited the party’s leadership during such a very tasking phase, but with the combination of vast experience and wisdom, he snatched the party back from the brink.

During his three-year stewardship, the rancorous relationships that existed between his predecessors and Obasanjo never played out. The party was also led to victory in the 2007 presidential poll and also putting in its kitty 27 states- a feat that remains unrivaled.

Observers attribute this resounding success to his detribalised personality and ability to build enduring bridges across different ethnorelegious divides.

These qualities conform with some distinguishing attributes expected of whoever that can lead the party at this critical juncture.

the tenure of nearly all these men was shaped by dramatic intra party relations which formed the core reasons for their premature exit.

Ekwueme

As the leader of defunct G34-the leading progressive group that metermophosed into PDP-Ekwueme emerged the protem chairman of the party from inception.

He held that position for only three months as a result of his presidential ambition which he stepped down to pursue.

Lar

Under Lar, the first national convention of the PDP was held in Jos. It was at the convention that Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, with the backing of some powerful Nigerians, defeated Ekwueme to become the party’s presidential flagbearer ahead of the 1999 election.

The former governor of Plateau State led the new party to its first presidential election victory with Obasanjo winning at the polls over a progressively inclined Olu Falae of the APP/AD alliance. He had the rare reputation of party leader in whose tenure a successor emerged through the ballot box.

Gemade

With party’s zoning formula, which required that the chairman should come from the North Central geopolitical zone, Gemade emerged in 1999.

However, his victory did not come easy even with the backing of Obasanjo given that the late Chief Sunday Awoniyi’s participation ensured that the position was hotly contested.

Gemade’s desire for a second term in office at the end of his two-year tenure met a brick wall following

Ogbeh

The ill-fated attempt of Gemade to be re-elected at the party’s second national convention in November 2001, made Ogbeh’s emergence with the support of Obasanjo possible.

Under his leadership, the party recorded the second presidential election victory with impressive inroads in the South West where the PDP defeated the AD in the five states.

Intra party strife was not a prominent feature of Ogbeh’s tenure-a development analysts attributed to his relationship with Obasanjo.

But that remarkable calm period in the life of the party was shortlived by the sudden pressure from Obasanjo on Ogbeh to quit.

Ogbeh drew the ire of Obasanjo when he criticized the President’s unfair posture on the political crisis that had engulfed Anambra State then through a strongly worded letter. In spite of his reluctance to resign during his stand off with Obasanjo, Ogbeh later resigned in January 2005, citing threats to his life.

Ali

Succeeding Ogbeh in an acting capacity was largely welcomed, given that the controversy between Ogbeh and Obasanjo was already being distractive to the party.

At the national convention in 2005, Ali emerged the substantive Chairman.

The physician by training, who rose to become the Deputy Director of Army Medical Services, unlike others before him, got along with Obasanjo having had working relationships with him in the past.

His experience as an administrator of great repute

Ogbulafor

After Ali’s tenure, Ogbulafor became the chief beneficiary of the battle for the chairmanship position between Sen Pius Anyim and Dr. Sam Egwu.

The role Ogbulafor, who was formerly a chieftain of the All Peoples Party, APP, played during the controversy over the late President Umar Yar’Adua’s long absence from the country pitched him against many party faithful.

Pointedly, his stance on the contentious issues of that period were construed as being sympathetic to the purposed cabal that allegedly held the country to ransom.

With that in mind, people were hardly surprised that Ogbulafor fell from power on the account of an alleged

Haliru Mohammed

Chief Vincent Ogbulafor

criminal case shortly after President Goodluck Jonathan assumed office in May 2009.

Till date, the failure of the Tukur leadership is still being listed as one of the factors that made the party’s recent defeat possible

Nwodo As a former National Secretary of the PDP, Nwodo had a deep knowledge of the workings of the NEC. So the enormity of the job of Chairman were not knew to him. It was with this baggage of experience that the former Enugu State governor succeeded Ogbulafor.

Nwodo’s plans of reinventing the party along acceptable democratic practices and strained relationship with the governor of his home state, Sullivan Chime, contributed in shortening his tenure.

Mohammed

During his tenure, Mohammed, who has been in politics for more than three decades, brought his rich experience and age to bear in the management of PDP affairs.

The Kebbi State born politician had to relinquish the position upon being appointed the Minister of Defense.

Baraje

Baraje, who hails from Kwara State, was never confirmed a full-fledged Chairman, as he remained in acting capacity until he handed over to Tukur.

He later became the Chairman of the breakaway faction of the PDP alongside seven governors elected on the platform of the PDP.

Tukur

Till date, the failure of the Tukur leadership is still being listed as one of the factors that made the party’s recent defeat possible.

Under his watch, the once monolithic party imploded, leading to the defection of its key members.

Allegations against Tukur border on repression, restrictions of freedom of association, arbitrary suspension of members and other violations of democratic principles.

PAGE 42—SUNDAY Vanguard, MAY 10, 2015 japhdave@yahoo.com 08066625505

Artistic expresssion of contemporary atmosphere of two cities

By PRISCA SAM-DURU PHOTOGRAPHY

T

he just concluded photography exhibition by two young Nigerians on a study tour of Warsaw and Berlin which held at the Goethe institut, Lagos, was indeed, a stunning display of nothing less than an artistic expression of the contemporary atmosphere of the two cities.

The photography event themed, “German-Polish Photo Exhibition, was put together by the German and Polish embassies in Nigeria, which actually invited the two photographers, Jide Odukoye and Olayinka Sangotoye to visit Berlin and Warsaw in 2013.

The duo including Abubakar Adam Ibrahim, a Journalist and writer who toured with the artists, vividly documented their impressions of the daily activities, the people as well as atmosphere of the two cities which were first exhibited in Abuja last year before the Lagos event.

As they toured the cities, while the photographers captured the cities with their lenses, Abubakar did his with the pen, resulting in a collection of short stories which was made available during the exhibition.

The Director of Goethe Institut, Mr. Marc-André

Schmachtel who explained that the idea of the study tour and exhibition was conceived by the German Ambassador to Nigeria, said “He wanted to underline the good relations between Germany and Poland.

He came up with the idea where Nigerian photographers would travel to Berlin and Warsaw, to capture a little bit of the contemporary spirit of these two big cities. The exhibition was first shown in Abuja, in the residence of the Ambassador last year. Now we wanted to bring it here to Lagos to show the images to the people of Lagos.”

“It is an international exhibition because we are

The images you see are very significant as they portray the contemporary atmosphere of these two modern European cities

An image from the photo exhibition

talking about two big European cities in the eyes of two young photographers from Lagos, the culture capital of Nigeria. It is a German-Polish organization with Nigerian photographers, showing here in Lagos.

The images you see are very significant as they portray the contemporary atmosphere of these two modern European cities. It’s not just a German city or Polish city, it’s an international city. You can see the image of a Nigerian woman making waves in Poland and the Nigerian who is a legislator, also in Poland. It sure showcases the identity of modern cities. It is more interesting because the cities are seen through the eyes of Nigerians.

If you want to show an

exhibition done by German photographer on Poland in Nigeria, it won’t be as interesting for the Nigerian audience as when you have a Nigerian photographer, who will see it from Nigerian perspective, go into Poland and Germany. I think it’s a different and interesting way of seeing the city.” He said.

Schmachtel also disclosed that Goethe Institut has other interests other than photography. He added that “Photography is a very interesting art as it gives you an immediate result. A painter needs time to paint and come up with a desired result. A film maker needs time to produce a film but in photography, you get an immediate result of whatever message you want to convey.

We are also interested in photography because of aesthetic reasons. But we are not only focusing on photography, we have a lot of literature and film events.”

Also speaking, Olayinka Sangotoye who expressed joy for being given the opportunity to explore the two cities, said it was a memorable experience “It was breath taking experience. Wonderful!

It was a lifetime opportunity.

That was my first outing to shoot outside Nigeria.

We saw different cultures; we went there to see many great ideas that can be brought to Nigeria to make our country great as well.

Because taking pictures goes with asking questions, we got more information on the culture of the people.”

Delta Be ting gif o Deltans Beyyond Oil: Uduaghan’s par parting giftt tto

By JAPHET ALAKAM REVIEW

A

s part of efforts at leaving a sustainable and enduring legacy of Governor Uduaghan, the Delta Board of Internal Revenue, DBIR, has come out with a new book titled Delta Beyond Oil. In the 253 pages book, the board ingeniously demonstrated and translated a major policy of the Governor of Delta State, Dr. Emmanuel Eweta Uduaghan – DELTA BEYOND OIL, DBO. This book which comes in two volumes has translated the theme of Delta Beyond Oil, DBO, from the theoretical to practical terms. It stretches its narration from the evolution of the state through its component parts, natural resources, its needs and wants to a missionary call for the people to think and live lesser on oil and look at other revenue/ income generating sectors of the economy.

The unique book which have attracted the great attention is already in the school curriculum of Delta State, will be studied in schools; secondary and tertiary apart from the general readership The book is obviously advocating a wake-up call on the younger generation, to know and understand the history and operations of the oil industry and what it has done or failed to do C M Y K

for the society.

The revenue from oil has been the mainstay of the economy to the level of ninety percent plus and this has given Nigeria the unenviable brand of a monorevenue nation.

Before oil, the country, first of all, studiously concentrated on agriculture and its allied businesses. And it then, took to another sector – manufacturing, nearly as seriously as it did to agriculture which was then the king- of-the-economy. The country ran well and hopes were high.

Then came the first oil find at Oloibiri then in Eastern Nigeria and later in Rivers State and finally in Bayelsa State.

Thus oil bulldozed its oily ways not only into the heart of the economy but became the only resource that attracted the desired attention.

The continuous revenue from oil was at once stupendous and blinded the country to its adverse realities.

The Head of State, General Gowon, at this time of plenty, did not only prosecute a civil war with the enormous proceeds from oil revenue but once exclaimed that the problem of Nigeria was not that of cash but on how to spend it.

During this era, it did not occur to them that the oil market and prices would eventually

Delta Beyond Oil: A Quest for sustainable development;Delta Board of Internal Revenue, DBIR; edited by Prof. S.O.Aghalino; Vol.1&2; PP. 253 plummet far below budget benchmarks and this made the country not to heed to series of warning signals. he successive governments of Nigeria failed, so to say, to either hear the sounds of the wailing whistles or heard but kept mute. But the 2014 geometric plunge in the price of oil from a hundred dollars plus to the fifty dollars range, it became clear that something drastic must be done by way of diversification.

It is noteworthy that before the last death knell to the reliance on oil revenue came through, thorough and clear, Governor Uduaghan saw through it. And in the book he was referred to as the

T

man “…who saw tomorrow.”

Continuing, the book credited the foresighted Governor further: “This dire situation must have stirred the ingenuity of the incumbent Governor of Delta State, Dr. Emmanuel Eweta Uduaghan, to espouse the philosophy of Delta Beyond Oil, which is the focus of this book.”

This prophetically proactive call from the Governor whose state is the second largest producer of oil after Rivers State, may not have taken many by surprise because of his track records. He saw through the coming dangers.

Governor Uduaghan, therefore, designed, perfected and began his gospel of Delta Beyond Oil before the last fall in oil price. His earlier

call and step definitely placed Delta State ahead of the danger.

Today, while other states in the federation are still grappling with the disquieting new realities of reversals in their revenue accruing from the federation account, Governor Uduaghan is certainly a head start ahead of other states. He began the architecture of building the needed infrastructure for the diversification of the economy.

“He (Governor) noted that the best way to attract and retain investors was to provide the needed infrastructural base for industrial development.” he deliberate intervention of Delta Board of Internal Revenue, DBIR, in enunciating and eventually evolving an alltime-relevant-study in the diversification of the economy was treated in the book.

As the Chief Taxman of the state, Honourable Joel-Onowakpo Thomas, has no doubt, reasoned futuristically that the diversification of the economy will inexorably lead to giant leaps in the economic activities of the state and then to more taxable sectors.

As a book crafted by ten seasoned academics, it has lived up to its billing. It is sure to delight readers as a treasure trove that will enrich their ways of thinking and securing a pile of the economy outside the oil industry.

T

SUNDAY Vanguard, MAY 10, 2015, PAGE 43 japhdave@yahoo.com 08066625505

Nike Oshinowo radiates season after season

By CHRIS ONUOHA CELEBRATION

T

he delectable quintessential queen of screen and former ‘Most beautiful’ Nike Oshinowo, who once described how she cringes in front of camera is now transformed into a formidable maverick on screen, full of confidence and creativity that makes her talk show a delight.

Late night show isn’t something that could have easily crept in to a typical Lagos television viewer ’s mind judging the timing, but the style, flavor and content Nike introduced jolts and attracted the workaholic Lagosians to make it a must watch every Thursday night it airs on AIT station by 11.00pm.

LNWNO is Nigeria’s first-ever exciting new entertainment and lifestyle late night talk show, showcasing the best of art, culture, music politics and popculture. Very unique in the sense that it is the only show that serves as a platform for various personalities, industry leaders, politicians, celebrities, artists, musicians to connect directly to the people across the globe through engaging interactions and candid interviews with Nike and her co-host, Cheta Nwanze alongside the in-house DJ, DJ Spinall with sizable audience.

Journey so far Nike has come a long way surpassing critics doubt with her strong personal brand and

By PRISCA SAM-DURU LITERATURE

N

igeria’s Lesley Nneka Arimah has been announced winner of the Africa region of the 2015 edition of the Commonwealth Short Story Prize.

Lesley emerged winner alongside others namely; Asia, Siddhartha Gigoo with ‘The Umbrella Man’ from India and for the Caribbean, Kevin Jared Hosein of Trinidad and Tobago for ‘The King of Settlement 42. for Pacific and Canada & Europe have Mary Rokonadravu’s ‘Famished Eels’ (Fiji) and Jonathan Tel’s ‘The Human Phonograph’ (United Kingdom), respectively.

This year’s contest received up to 4,000 unpublished entries from the 53 countries of the Commonwealth’s five regions.

Nigeria’s Lesley Nneka Arimah’s short story titled, ‘Light’ emerged from the Africa region.

According to this year ’s Chair, Romesh Gunesekera, “We had a strong short-list of stories from around the world that excited the judges and provoked a lively, stimulating set of discussions. The judges were looking for well-crafted stories that were compelling and original. The standards were high. We wanted stories C M Y K

life is quite intriguing. Those are kinds of things, the amount of knowledge I know about our females; Folake Coker, Ruth Osime, Dolapo Oni all in different fields discussing knowledgeable issues that touches the heart.

It’s interesting to know that we have a huge international viewership from China, Thailand, Spain, Ireland and the whole of Europe and America via internet and digital TVs. We do want to make it more interactive since we have a lot of global audience. It’s really humbling and exciting.”

influence coupled with her huge intellectual swagger to sustain this ‘first of its kind’ show in Nigeria with quality format and content. Excited and optimistic Nike during the celebration of successful first season curtain call revealed that it has not been easy but the show has been awesome with optimal expectations.

She said, “Season one was an eye opener to me.

Obviously I thought I was a big champion until my interaction with some Nigeria guests that changed my whole perception. The one on one with the music icon, 2face Idibia was enriching and quite revealing. It blows my mind to know we have great geniuses among us. Also the interesting chart with Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, to see an intelligent, articulate and well exposed man like Femi compounds that notion that

The personality of the host, lifestyle, dress code, carriage, accent and charisma, are all that form part of what build up the quality and success that counted on the first season

Transcend

•Nike Oshinowo we have to wait to know what goes on behind the scene before we form opinions about people.

I was amazed and impressed with level of creative and iintellectual people around us.”

The personality of the host, life style, dress code, carriage, accent and charisma, are all that form part of what build up the quality and success that counted on the first season and taking it further, “I am

impressed with certain females. Being a woman, even though I am not actively promoting this gender alone, there are women featured in the show that dazzled my imagination. Dakore being one, is one of the most intelligent and coherent.

She has the most passionate set of morals. Revealing what she’s been through in

Currently, LNWNO is in season two with over six episodes, featuring interesting topics by overwhelming personalities.

Nike said, “The difference between one and two from my view is that I feel more comfortable in front of camera than before. Season two is similar to one, only that it’s more interactive and exciting.

We have real entrepreneurs and lots of politics because of the period we are in now. It will be excitement all the way as the political wave will be settling soon with new President, new Governors, Senators, new First Ladies etc, all these people will be featured thus bringing more life to the programme. Then, for the entrepreneurs, we will have top celebrities from abroad and lot of international events featuring during this time.”

Lesle 15 Lesleyy Arimah is Africa regional winner of 20 2015 Common wealth Shor Commonw Shortt S Sttor oryy Prize that would engage us and make us rethink our notions of form, language and what mattered. The winning stories did all of that and more.”

The organisers hinted that events to celebrate the regional winners will be held in local venues and locations, relevant to the individual authors, across the world, including a Chinese restaurant in London, a book store in New Delhi and a literary centre in Minneapolis, U.S.A. Subsequently, the regional

We had a strong short-list of stories from around the world that excited the judges and provoked a lively, stimulating set of discussions

•Lesley Nneka Arimah winners will compete with each other to become the overall winner, which will be announced in London on September 8.

Arimah says the recognition that comes with winning an international award is gratifying.

“I was delighted to hear that I’d won the regional prize,” she says. “Writing sometimes feels like yelling into a void and this was the pleasant

state of Minnesota where she spends the winters in hiding, working on a novel and a collection of short stories.

“Organised by Commonwealth Writers, it is the cultural initiative of the Commonwealth Foundation. Commonwealth Writers, which believes that well-told stories can help people make sense of events, engage with others and take action to bring about change, was set up in 2012 to inspire, develop and connect writers and storytellers across the world.”

The Commonwealth Short Story Prize is awarded for the best piece of unpublished short fiction (2000-5000 words).

Regional winners receive shock of having a voice £2,500 and the Overall Winner shout back ‘I get what receives £5,000. Short stories into English from you’re doing and I like translated other languages are also it!’ Especially with this eligible. Translators receive particular story and it’s additional prize money.

The international judges who wry, tongue-in- reflect the five regions of the cheekiness. It means a Commonwealth include: Leila lot to me.” Aboulela, (Africa), Bina Shah (Asia), Marina Endicott (Canada and Europe), Fred grew up in Nigeria and D’Aguiar (the Caribbean) and the UK. She currently re- Witi Ihimaera (the Pacific). sides in the U.S.A. in the

PAGE 44 — SUNDAY Vanguard, MAY 10, 2015

INTRIGUING EXPERIENCES

DEADLY TRIP FROM BORNO FOR NAMING CEREMONY

Kaduna attackers wanted my head for being ‘an infidel’ — Redeemed Church pastor

By LUKA BINNIYAT

O

ld giant threes with fat, twisting trunks that outlived their colonial planters, spread forth their huge branches of green leaves over the Seventh Day Adventist Hospital, Jengree in Bassa Local Government Area, LGA, of Plateau State.

The hospital, said to be over 60 years old, bore all the trappings of colonial structures in Nigeria simple homes of asbestos roofs with walls made of stones and well spaced from each other; and rows of flower beds all over the place.

In one of the wards, Pastor Emmanuel Danjuma Garkida lay on his sick bed bare-chest, with sunken eyes that seemed to stare at nothing. There was a wide band of bandage on his lower abdomen.

The story behind the bandage is a summary of the bloodlet that took place in Saminaka in Lere LGA, Kaduna State, on April 13 and 14 after the 2015 gubernatorial election. In barely audible voice, Garkida, who hails from Borno State, narrated to Sunday Vanguard his close shave with death.

Naming ceremony “I come from Borno State, but I am a serving pastor with the Redeemed Church of God, Yobe Province,” he stated.

“My wife is a native of Abadawa, Saminaka in Kaduna State and she had come back to her parents and put to bed a baby boy a week earlier. I had come to see her, my kids and her family, and I could name the new child.

“I took a bike, that morning to go see my fellow pastor in the other side of Saminaka to help officiate the ceremony”.

According to him, on arriving the Saminaka main bridge, on the Jos-Zaria Expressway, met had a grim encounter.

Saminaka’s green line The bridge has for long served as a kind of green line between the two major political parties in the country, and the two main religions. Sunday Vanguard learnt that the two group of people had always voted in opposite directions in all elections since 1999. Some said it even dated back before then.

Christians and some Hausa/ Fulani occupy the eastern part of the bridge and dominate the Abadawa ward where the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has a comfortable base in the town. The western part, called Hayin Gada and populated mostly by Hausa/Fulani and Muslims, but with good presence of other tribes, is a bastion of the All Progressives Congress, APC.

*Garkida... They stabbed me until I fell ‘Kill the infidel, cut him down!’

“I reached the bridge on my way to Abadawa when I met some Hausa youths carrying weapons and inflicting injuries on passersby who were not of their own. But since I know some of the boys, I asked them to show mercy on people. To my surprise some of them started yelling, “Kill him! Kill the infidel! Cut him down!”, he said. “One of them rushed at me with a machete. I don’t know how I managed to grab him and threw him away. Another came with a sword and aimed at my neck, I used my hand to receive the blow.

“I started running, and one of them used a cutlass and wounded me at the back of my head. I started bleeding and I could feel the blood dripping on my clothes.

I kept running, and they kept hitting me with sticks and stabbing me with knives until I fell.

Saved by a stranger “As they were coming to finish me off, the last thing I remembered was that a Hausa man, well dressed in white agbada and cap sped on a bike and arrived at my side. ”The man shouted at them in Hausa, ‘leave this man alone and disappear now! Are you not satisfied that you have killed him? Every one of you must leave

I started running, and one of them used a cutlass and wounded me at the back of my head. I started bleeding and I could feel the blood dripping on my clothes

immediately I don’t know what happened afterwards. I went into coma, the bleeding and pains were too much.

“The man whom I had never met before was said to have stayed there with me, as I later learnt, until my friend, Skido, a Yoruba man, came and evacuated me to an hospital in Saminaka. I was told that I had ruptured intestine.

“The doctor had to bring out my entire intestine and clean up

by stomach before stitching me back. I have been stabbed in many places. You can see the healing wounds. I was brought here to Jengree when my condition got worse. But I am fine now. And I thank God for sparing my life. My sister and mother have been the ones bearing the emotional and financial burden of this problem alone”.

District head’s account The districk head of Abadawa, Dahiru Abubakar, himself a Muslim, and a native of Kurama - original inhabitants of Saminaka - wrote a report on the violence to copied Kaduna State government and copied the heads of military and security outfits in Kaduna State, the Emir of Zaria, the state House of Assembly and National Assembly members and others. He blamed the violence on a political party’s supporters.

In the report obtained by Sunday Vanguard, dated April 20, 2015 the district head said that on April 13, 2015, he was lying in his palace when around 1pm he was told on phone by someone that “some political thugs” were coming to his palace possibly for trouble.

“Before I could come out, they had reached my palace and immediately started destroying the doors and windows. They were saying, ‘ we will drink the blood of pagans’. They were saying, ‘new assembly, new governor, new district head’.

They said that I should come out so that they spill my blood”, he wrote.

According to him, they youths left shortly. He wrote that before he could make contact with the police in Saminaka, a fracas had broken out between the invading youths and Abadwa youths.

The district head spoke of seeing more violence as he rode in a car with one of his chiefs in Abadawa despite the arrival of the police. “By the junction of Anguwan Jega (in Abadawa), we met two motorcycles burning.

Towards the Roman Catholic Church, we saw a corpse covered with leaves. The police picked the corpse and put it in their vehicle”, he wrote.

Abubakar, said they came under attack in another part Abadawa, but they managed to escape.

The attacker later left or were pushed outside Abadawa ward, that afternoon, according to the report. The district head said elders of Abadawa, including him, went from street to street pleading with the youths to calm down, and that the police would

take care of everything.

From his report, he did not cross the main Saminaka bridge on April 13.

Abubakar maintained that Abadawa became calm, and he urged everyone to be vigilant in the night.

He said that on April 14, Abadawa was rife with the rumour that staff of Water Board Corporation, Saminaka , and natives of Abadawa had been murdered by the rampaging youths from the other side.

“This triggered another round of tension as people started looking for ways to revenge. . . Another corpse of an Abadawa man was found by the river side. . . security agents succeeded in chasing people back to their homes. That helped a lot. And later a 24-hour curfew was imposed in the town.

The district head wrote that on April 15, tension was renewed when the corpse of an employee of the Water Board from Abadawa was brought for burial. He praised the Nigerian Army and the police for strictly enforcing the curfew which led to peace. “Shops and other businesses were opened and hungry people caged for three days rushed out to buy food and other needs”, according to the report.

Undergraduate hacked to death The report listed the names of those from Adabawa killed as follows: Habila Daniel, Danlami Gaba, Michael Timothy Yusuf Usman and Stephen Galadima.

Also, one Hausa, Yusuf Usman, was said to have been killed, curiously in the Hausa area of Hayin Gada part of Saminaka.

Joshua Akpama, an Igala from Kogi State and a final year economics student of the Ahmadu Bello University, ABU, Zaria, was also reportedly killed after he was forced out of the vehicle he traveling in.

Garkida not on list Meanwhile, the name of Pastor Garkida is not among those injured according to the report.

The district head also listed several damages done to property of many people.

Two suspects were arrested by the police and taken to Kaduna, Abubakar stated in the report.

“The government/authority concerned should ensure that all the perpetrators of such evils are punished according to the rule of law, this will serve as food-for-thought to other youths with same behavior ”, he advised in the report.

SUND AY SUNDA

Vanguard, MAY 10, 2015, PAGE 45

AFTERMATH OF POLLS

The North must win back Igbo confidence – Ezeife •’How S-East will benefit under incoming govt’

By OLAYINKA AJAYI

C

ontrary to the claim that Ndigbo put all their eggs in one basket by voting for President Goodluck Jonathan en masse in the just concluded presidential election, the Okwadike Ndi’gbo, Dr. Chukwuemeka Ezeife, a former governor of Anambra State, and a delegate at the 2014 National Conference, in this encounter, stresses the need for the North to win the confidence of Ndigbo to move Nigeria forward. He adds the need for the Presidentelect Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (rtd), to implement the report of the 2014 National Conference in the interest of a peaceful Nigeria. Excerpts: You hoped for an Igbo president after Jonathan.

What happened?

We Igbo believe totally in God. By the just concluded 2015 general elections result, what is God saying to us? He said: “I only used the instrumentality of British colonialism to create Nigeria. I don’t want Nigeria to disintegrate. I created Nigeria for the benefit of the Blackrace and it should continue to exist for the benefit of mankind”. That is how I see the result of the just concluded 2015 general elections. For instance, If you have a relation that is sick, C M Y K

*Dr. Chukwuemeka Ezeife and you took that relation to every conceivable place you believe he or she ailment will be cured, yet, he died, you don’t go sobering like a person that has no hope. I campaigned for President Jonathan, but God chose Gen. Buhari to win the presidential election. All of us: Yoruba, Igbo, Fulani and Hausa should cooperate with the will of God. I had a pre-conception of a nation ruled by an executive Igbo President because we are people of destiny. We believe in what we are doing. When it becomes necessary, we act like one person and one voice.

You saw how the election was in the East. Nigerians can now know who they are dealing with, when they look towards Igbo people. We are a united people acting like one person. As you can see, we are not divided even by religion. Therefore when something becomes necessary, we focus and act as one.

Some otherwise wise people said we packed all our eggs in one basket, but for most of us who are not so wise, we are so happy with the result of the elections, where we demonstrated oneness, trust and comradeship with the South-South.

There are people who say the Igbo, unlike other tribes didn’t negotiate with President Jonathan, rather they voted for him on compassionate ground because he is from the

Some otherwise wise people said we packed all our eggs in one basket, but for most of us who are not so wise, we are so happy with the result of the elections, where we demonstrated oneness, trust and comradeship with the South-South minority. How do you react to that?

You don’t negotiate in the market place. People will always find excuses. The South-west that negotiated with Jonathan, did they vote for him? We, in South-east who did not negotiate with him, came out en masse to vote for him. Let us be truthful to ourselves; the fact is that President Jonathan is from the a minority tribe, an area where the economic power of Nigeria comes from. And we believe, it is not right to treat the minority as if they are inferior to the rest of the country. If any person, deserves a second term, we, Igbo, believed President Goodluck Jonathan deserved it. We saw the

difficulty he went through from those who vowed to make the country ungovernable for him.

Emotion is a natural thing. If your neighbour’s home is on fire, it is not just emotion that will propel you to help put out the fire, but the fear of not allowing fire to consume your own house.

But we negotiated with President Jonathan in his first term. At first, we negotiated with the North, but majority of the Igbo that decided to support the North wrote a communiqué and said they supported the Northern candidate for 2011 election,and in return the northerners will support Igbo for 2015 election. Some people were boasting that they got a major achievement by that. In fact, one of them said if the devil gives you scholarship, take it. Because they saw it as a scholarship. But to me, as a person, I saw it differently. I didn’t see how anybody, be it Gen. Babangida, Atiku or whoever is from the North will serve one term, then in 2015 will handover to Igbo. So I disagreed. But the majority carried the vote. Fortunately, when the document got to the media, I found my name on it just the next day and I kicked against it violently. It was on a Tuesday that we met with the North, the same week, Friday, there was an Ohanaeze Ndigbo meeting in Enugu. I rushed to Ohanaeze to fight against the communique.

Uwazurike Amaechi had

wanted to head the summit. I stopped him, because when the adoption of the Northern candidate came, I told him to go ahead with his plan. Then Jonathan was adopted.

Coming back to Abuja again, I got a message that Chief Edwin Clark is waiting for me in Warri to assure his people that they are not alone. So, I left for Warri. So, eventually, we all agreed to support Jonathan.

We negotiated with Jonathan and we demanded something apart from positions in government like secretary to the government, Chief of Army Staff, Chief of Naval Staff, then Minister of Finance, Power and Aviation.

We also requested for the construction of the second Niger Bridge. We also demanded for an International Airport in the East and many other things. Of course, we got most of what we asked for.

However, the most important in terms of movement is that all federal roads in the East are very bad. That is the one thing you can say Jonathan did not do for our people. But he did more by far for the North.

One of the things we asked from him, was an access to the sea. I went to identify the spot where the seaport would be built, so Igbo will have access to the sea. I even negotiated Finance for it. So it not a matter of government spending too much on the

Continues on page 46

PAGE 46 — SUNDAY Vanguard, MAY 10, 2015

Continued from page 45 project, what we wanted from the government is an approval of the project by dredging 21 nautical miles to reach the Atlantic.

So it is not true that we voted Jonathan based on emotion, but emotion is reasonable at that circumstance.

There is the view that Ndigbo are dis united and are short changing themselves to the detriment of the Igbo agenda. What do you make of the view?

Either we are united in mouth or not, our action shows a solid unity. Is there any state in core Igbo land where Gen.Buhari scored 25% vote? Absolutely none. Not even in Imo State where Governor Rochas Okorocha is from APC. So I see it as a meaningful unity but that is just the beginning.

The 2015 elections is a wake up call for all Igbos, it is time to show whom we are, by planning for it. We are people to emulate but our unity must be real not only in action, even in words. However, you cannot remove selfishness from any group be it Hausa,Yoruba or Igbo.

But some people are prepared to dance to any music played not to be in power. There is a new president and some people must dance to be favoured.

Doing so, they don’t mind the insult they are bringing on their own people.

We do accept that there is a job to be done by bringing our people together to plan ahead as a destined people for the realisation of that destiny. The rest of Nigeria should know who they are dealing with. If any person does not see the solidity of our vote as telling a story, then that person has a problem.

Do the Igbos have any formidable party or a platform that can bring to the realisation an elected Igbo president?

We are at a stage at which we should be consulting. And it will not be done in isolation.

The result of the 2015 presidential election has posed a problem for Ndigbo and it is also a wake up call for Ndigbo. A new planning has to be undertaken, a new goal has to be set, a better understanding of the relationship between Igbos and the rest of Nigeria is required. And we are not shying away from it. Those of us that think creatively have been calling each other and there is arrangement in this regard. But I don’t expect it to manifest in the first two years of the new government, we will be fully organised and C M Y K

everything. We don’t feel left alone, we believe God is on our side. Some people are saying we have properties worth trillions of dollars everywhere, from where that came, more can still come because it is ingrained in the psychic of an Igbo man which is God’s gift and some people are envious of it.

‘How S-East will benefit under Buhari govt’ integrated. We had a party which was APGA but from among our people we scattered it. But it can be rebuilt.

The present governor of Anambra State, Willy Obiano, who is not just doing well on security and investment, he is also doing well on leadership for APGA and I think alliances can be built with APGA, with SDP and other elements that favour our ideological stand.

So I see problem but not one that is beyond human organising. For instance, ACN was known as a Yoruba party but, eventually, Asiwaju Tinubu and Gen.Buhari’s CPC merged and formed APC and they became a major factor. It was designed to frustrate President Jonathan, to make Nigeria ungovernable for him. Jonathan was the main foe in all that happened.

So our people are not happy with the state of things but you can see concrete evidences of our chosen line through our vote.

What are the tactics being employed to achieve this aim?

Nobody, as an Igbo man, can say that, presently, but there is need for consultation.

We don’t have any person that dictates this way and everybody follows. We believe in being convinced about issues; that is the reason some people keep saying (Igbo faweran Eze) Igbos have no leaders but they work together to achieve a goal.

Nobody can single himself out that what he says, is what Igbos will do!

Since the Ndigbo did not vote for Buhari, what is the plan of the Igbos to negotiate power sharing in Buhari’s led administration?

We have listened to Gen. Buhari a bit, he said wisely that he intends to move Nigeria to a higher level. And anything that is truly good done by Gen. Buhari for the advancement of Nigeria, is indirectly for the good of Igbos. We have always stand on our feet for one Nigeria, and anywhere you reach in Nigeria, apart from the indegenes, the next high population you find are the Igbo people. If he (Buhari) decides to build roads in

*Dr. Chukwuemeka Ezeife

The rest of Nigeria should know who they are dealing with. If any person does not see the solidity of our vote as telling a story, then that person has a problem Kaduna, we the Igbos will definitely benefit from it. If he generates regular power supply in Lagos, we will also benefit. Fundamentally, anything clearly good for Nigeria is definitely good for Igbo people. So we believe him when he promised to work for the betterment of Nigeria. And the Igbos are the only Nigerians that have nowhere to go. Because we don’t have Igbos outside the borders of this country, except business men moving around.

Lest you forget, we leave everywhere but our home is Nigeria.

What do you make of the lingering distrust between the Igbos and northerners due to the civil war. How do the Igbos win back the confidence of northerners?

It ought to be the other way round, whereby northerners ought to strive to win back our confidence. Remember, after the pandemonium in the North, we decided to build the world of our own (Biafra), eventually, when they realised the consequences of it, they

came fighting again, and we half willingly came back to Nigeria. We adopted Nigeria as a country, started building everywhere again. Abuja was not there before the civil war.

In terms of structures built, money invested, and labour, who owns it? Igbos are God’s gift to Nigeria, and until Nigeria realises it, they will keep wasting time and lagging behind in a developed global world. The Igbos had been carrying brief cases for the northerners since inception.

Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe was among the compatriots who fought for the independence of Nigeria, In order to maintain one Nigeria, he gave up being head of the government for the peace of the country.

Since then, Igbos had never had any elected executive power in Nigeria.

I believe in one Nigeria and the core Hausa, Fulani Muslims should also believe in one Nigeria, because they are the reason for the amalgamation. The colonial administration needed the resources of the South, to cover the deficit of the North.

The Americans and Britons appear to be supporting Buhari. What I noticed is that these people want us to break up. It is not because they hate us, but they are afraid and cannot resist Islamisation. An Islamic Nigeria with this magnitude will have a staggering effect on the world.

Therefore they chose to split us for a better Nigeria.

Imagine what would have happend if Jonathan was declared the winner of the election. Even the celebration of Buhari’s victory led to some deaths. So God knows

What is your message to Gen. Buhari on the Ndigbo race?

He has made two major points that I find striking: one is anti-corruption which if achieved, will go a long way to lift Nigeria. To fight corruption is not just a matter of fighting current corruption, it is necessary to take concrete action on corruption in order to warn everybody that it is a wrong road to take.

That even after decades, what you earn from corrupt practices may come to haunt you, if you live long enough.

We need an anti-corruption agency that will look into public records of all public officers, even the ones that are dead to some extent. Their assets, can they account for them? The money in banks, how did they get? You create such a commission with people you know their integrity, not just people with bad records in the public domain.

I will urge him to employ the ‘Do as I do’ strategy. Some public officers, when they are asked to declare their present assets, they will be declaring what they will have at the end of their tenure. When I was the governor of Anambra State, I appointed commissioners and other people. I told them collectively, if you know I collected money from you before appointing you, then go ahead to collect money from people, but if I did not collect money and you are caught doing so, then you are gone.

There are so many graduates that have no job.

Government must create a welfare package for all people that have struggled through education but have nothing to show for it in terms of employment. The money recovered from corrupt people, should be used to maintain what can be considered as a national welfare scheme that will assure most Nigerians three square meal a day.

The uneducated should not be left alone as well. More so, all federal roads should be in good condition. He should implement the resolution of the 2014 National Conference. It is beyond one person or tribe ruling for four or eight years, what we need is permanence of one Nigeria.

The report of the CONFAB guarantees the permanence of Nigeria. If Gen.Buhari can achieve that, it will be for the good of all Nigerians, tongue and tribe notwithstanding.

SUND AY SUNDA

Vanguard, MAY 10, 2015, PAGE 47

BUHARI: My tortuous election journeys •How Russian revolution stirred the democrat in me

BY LEVINUS NWABUGHIOGU

F

rom 2003 to 2011, he showed faith and resilience. For three consecutive times, he contested the presidential election but the outcomes remained the same: failure.

But he perceived his loss as human induced and went to the courts to seek redress.

There, he got the bitterest bashing of his life. Today, the man who was “rejected” by both the ruling class and the courts has been elected president by the common man. Read the account of many election journeys of Nigeria’s president-elect, General Mohammadu Buhari, as he told the story in his own words.

It is a story of perseverance and conviction.

The story evoked empathy as he told it. Though it wasn’t the first time he was telling the story, the content always draws emotions from the listener each time it is told. On January 20, 2015, at a public forum in Abuja where he later signed a peace deal with President Goodluck Jonathan, he stood, almost with tears in his eyes, telling the story.

That was, perhaps, the first time he was publicly sharing the ugly experience which though personal, satirizes the Nigerian society in such a pitiable way.

At 72 years, he had seen a lot in life and one of those is that he was a victim of both political and judicial conspiracy. For sure, he knew that nothing good

C M Y K

comes so easy. One has to fight for it but in his case, he alleged a brazen act of impunity, reproach and extreme judicial subterfuge.

For 12 consecutive years, he was denied victory. He was jeered at. He was written off. He was defeated(?) But he soldiered on. Obviously one thing worked for him: Resilience.

Today, it has paid off and in 19 days time, he would be sworn in as the president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

Indeed, anyone who listened or watched General Mohammadu Buhari, on

At 72 years, he had seen a lot in life and one of those is that he was a victim of both political and judicial conspiracy

Wednesday in Abuja, tell the story of his many failed attempts at winning would walk away with one impression: that one does not give up on one’s convictions no matter the circumstances.

Former Head of State between 1983 and 1985, Buhari exited from partisan politics afterwards. But in 2003, he staged a full relaunch, vying for the presidency of Nigeria.

First, he ran on the platform of the defunct All Nigeria Peoples Party, ANPP, against the then President Olusegun Obasanjo. He also faced late President Umaru Musa

Yar ’Adua in 2007 presidential election but lost. Later 2010, he formed the defunct Congress for Progressive Change, CPC. On that platform, he contested in 2011 but also lost to outgoing President Goodluck Jonathan of the People’s Democratic Party, PDP. By the middle of 2013, Buhari’s party, CPC, joined forces with three others to form the All Progressives Congress, APC. He contested on this new platform and won the March Continues on page 48

PAGE 48—SUNDAY Vanguard, MAY 10, 2015 Religious intolerance and tribal sentiments are not the worst enemies of Nigeria. The common enemy is corruption. And Buhari demonstrated this in the story of how Supreme Court Justices that presided over his case got sharply divided. He, perhaps, had thought that his Fulani brothers would have sided with him but no. It was others who showed courage and reasoning.

Now, for a man who has suffered from several electoral and judicial strokes with little or no financial muzzle to meet the expectations of SANs or their Lordships, reforming the electoral process, and fighting corruption should be his priority once he assumes office. And this is what Buhari promised the Akwa Ibom delegation on Thursday.

“Now the records are very clear.

Anybody who wants to study the political development of Nigeria cannot do without getting the Supreme Court’s judgments of those years, 2003, 2007 and 2011.

If you could recall in 2007, the Supreme Court was split into two.

Six panel of justices were divided. Six justices led by Justice Oguntade, a Christian, a Yoruba man, Justice Aloma Mukthar, I think she’s a muslin but a Yoruba woman and another justice from Delta State said that election of 2007 was null and void because it was not conducted according to law.

“But the former Chief Justice, Mustapha, a Fulani Man from Jigawa and another Justice from Taraba, also a Fulani Man said well, the election was not flawless but all the same PDP has won and then the Chief Justice, a Muslim, cancelled the votes with them so it was four against three.

So the point I want to make here is that the problem of Nigeria is get the millions to give to those Senior not ethnic or religious. You Advocates of Nigeria? I was able to do know what it is. it because of the goodwill of Nigeria “This is what we are fighting, which again demonstrated itself this that is why corruption is number year. three in my campaign. The first “People agreed that I am not a very one is security, the north east, the rich man, but I was lucky that delta areas where people are Nigerians believed in me and they put kidnapped and ransom is their strength together, voted and made demanded which people cannot sure that their votes counted. I say afford. The second one is thanks to the technology. Please unemployment, sixty percent of continue to support those among you Nigerians are youths, most of that you feel will go and work for your them, whether they went to state and for the country. I assure you school or not are unemployed and that the government of the APC, when that is dangerous. eventually put in place will be a “So we have to get the issue of competent Nigerian government. the economy right to make sure “We will never betray the people the jobs are made available and because they have risked everything. we should try to kill corruption Some even lost their lives in this before corruption kills Nigeria. course to make sure that APC Let us practice what we preach succeeded and that we have a as well. Whoever wins as a leadership in place that they can trust governor too has a lot of work to is what multi party democracy is all do because corruption is fast about,” he said. becoming a culture and to try to caution people is not an easy ‘How I became a born-again task but it must be done. I know you all represent various democrat’ constituencies, please pass our Buhari, a retired Major-General in the Nigerian Army also gave an insight message and give them hope that we’ll do our best in the on his conviction to become a true interest of all. I wish sincerely democrat.

“I will tell you what made me a multi those that are going to tribunal the best of luck. party democrat. In 1991, after coming “We have made a big stride out of detention, I was sitting at home this year and I assure you God and the Soviet Union collapsed. They willing, if we survive the next were the world power fighting the four years, Nigerians will be in western world. They had more a position to confidently raise sophisticated weapons, but something their heads up and elect their happened. own representatives and “There was confusion and everybody leaders. went away. Today, there’re 18 countries “They will choose those they in the former Soviet Union. That was want as their representatives when I believed that multi party from local government, states democratic system is a superior form of and to the centre. I will fight for governance and that is why I joined free, fair and credible election democracy”, he said. because that is why I remained in politics. I thank you very I am in politics to fight much for the sacrifices you have corruption, insecurity and made to make sure we unemployment succeeded”, he said.

‘How Russian revolution stirred the democrat in me’ Continued from Page 47 28, 2015, presidential election.

Faced with similar daunting electoral challenge, the APC’s gubernatorial candidates of Taraba and Akwa Ibom in the last April 11 governorship polls, Mrs. Aisha Alhassan and Mr. Umana Umana within the week besieged Buhari’s house in Abuja, crying to him about the charade of an election they had in their respective states, informing him of their separate resolve to contest the outcome of the elections at the Election Petitions Tribunal.

But unknown to them, they provoked Buhari, reminding him of his own experience and the endless legal voyage that followed suit.

And as expected, the now president-elect told his story, first to Alhassan on Wednesday and Umana on Thursday.

According to him, his journey from the tribunals down to the Supreme Court was an indication of his firm belief in the tenets of democracy.

Here him: “It is a battle well fought and I am very pleased that you have taken the honourable way.

According to the Nigerian constitution, you may go to court. I was there three times and ended up in the Supreme Court. Sometimes, people wonder why I tried so hard. I tried so hard because it is a system I believe in. I believe that multi party democratic system is the best form of governance with a big caveat that election must be free and fair.

“Really, this is why I am in it. I was in APP. I joined partisan politics in April 2002 and on that date, at my ward, I said that those who knew me, and myself, following my career and antecedents in the military, if I tell people that I will participate in partisan politics, people would not believe it and I will not also believe it. But I found myself in it and I never turned back.

“Within one year, APP gave me the ticket. There were governors, senators and much older people than me, but all the same, I got the ticket. I lost; I was in court for 30 months. In 2007, we tried to have a limited merger and became ANPP and again, I participated and was told I lost.

“I went to court for 20 months up to the Supreme Court and I felt that my party was not fair to me.

While I was in court, the leadership of the party proceeded and took two marginal ministries in late Yar ’Adua’s cabinet and an Adviser. For that disgraceful C M Y K

behavior by the party leadership, I left the party and we floated the CPC. “Again, I attempted in 2011 and lost and again, I was in court for about eight months and I contested now for the fourth time on APC’s platform having successfully gone through with the merger of the three legacy parties.

“So, Aisha, don’t give up. You are younger and this is your first attempt. I contested three times and this is my fourth attempt. I hope that you succeed in the court. I am impressed by the quality of Taraba people you brought here.”

2015 elections, a landmark

Were it not for the advent of the technology of card reader and the unprecedented expression of desire for change from the status quo by the Nigerian people, Buhari said that the election that made him the winner would have also followed the ways of the previous ones.

“I think that 2015 will go down in Nigeria’s political history as a glorious year. Nigerians have deliberately understood what is multi party democracy. But we thank God for technology - PVC and card reader.

If not this luck we had with technology and the insistence of constituencies to make sure they are used, in two geopolitical zones where they were subverted, the people wanted to vote, but they were not allowed to vote.

“They continued with what they used to do in their party offices or their sitting rooms, write the results, go to radio house and television house and announce the result and say whoever does not want the result should go to court.

“How many people can go to court when they are struggling to get the next day’s meal? Where will they

SUNDAY Vanguard, MAY 10, 2015 , PAGE 49

The structure Nigeria needs under Buhari,

by Gani Adams •Otunba Gani Adams

BY EBUN SESSOU

A

s the president-elect, Muhammadu Buhari, takes over from President Goodluck Jonathan on May 29 after 16 years of democracy, the leader of the Odua Peoples Congress, OPC, Otunba Gani Adams advises him to give priority to the implementation of the report of the 2014 National Conference.

Your candidate, President Goodluck Jonathan of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, lost in the general elections. Will the development affect your relationship with him?

As non-governmental organisation, we only gave our support to President Jonathan on personal ground. Our relationship started since he became vice president. We supported him because he was good to us.

He is a kind man.

Unfortunately, people alleged that we were given N1.6billion to campaign for Jonathan. Even Jimi Agbaje, who contested in one of the most lucrative states in Nigeria, did not get N2billion to campaign in Lagos.

The pipeline contract came because we bidded for it.

People have said lots of things about the contract. If I collected N1.6billion to support Jonathan’s campaign, you wouldn’t meet me in this office. People have been calling and demanding

C M Y K

is about local interest. He must be unbiased in the choice of members of his cabinet. A good leader must have vision.

money from me since the issue of the pipeline contract started; interestingly, the money for the contract has not been released till now.

Declaring of his assets and his simplicity will be an advantage to reduce the cost of governance.

If the president is modest in his spending, his subordinates wouldn’t have any choice than to be prudent.

You said there is no permanent friend or enemy in politics.

What do you want the presidentelect, Muhammadu Buhari to do to earn your support?

If he can declare his assets and get members in his cabinet to do so as he has rightly promised, then it is a good omen for democracy and evidence of transparency in governance. He should also ensure that anyone who fails to truthfully declare his asset gets seven years imprisonment. While leaving government they should declare their asset as well. I believe this will set precedent to those coming afterward.

I think that would be a good foundation for transparency in governance; if he can do that, we would have reduced corruption by 65percent. That is when you will see people who are really ready to serve the country. I know many people will not be interested in political appointment again.

If you are to meet the presidentelect, what will you tell him?

The issue of National Conference is very important to us. He needs to restructure the country.

Transparency must be his watchword. He must know that he is a father of all and not a particular political party. Politics

His ability to reduce the price of fuel to N30 per litre will be good for the country. The major issue is accountability and transparency. If he can reduce the salaries of government officials, that is when we will know that there is real change.

If the presidentelect wants to solve Nigeria’s problems, he must consider the need to restructure the country

Free health, education and housing for the common man are areas the new government must look into. An average Nigerian needs to be 75 percent comfortable. But if an average Nigerian does not live in a conducive environment, he will be negatively influenced. Even his children will be influenced by criminals. If he can give the Nigerian child free and affordable education up to the higher institution of learning, then his government will be embraced by all. Today, private schools are milking people dry and government is doing nothing about it. There are more private schools than public schools.

He should be ready not to defend crime. He is from the North, I believe he has the power to influence those behind Boko Haram and convince them

to stop insurgency. He is a civilian president, he must be ready to follow due process before taking any decision on issues. If he fails to do the needful, then he should not be surprised that some people in his party will sponsor PDP against his government and leak information to them. His objective should be to reduce hostility in the country. He must not be biased in his judgment.

As one of the delegates of the 2014 National Confab, do you think the resolutions that emanated from the confab will be addressed by the incoming government?

If the president-elect wants to solve Nigeria’s problems, he must consider the need to restructure the country. As difficult as it may be, he has the sole responsibility of implementing the outcome of the National Conference so that Nigeria can move forward. A lot of things are expected of him especially his campaign promises.

How do you describe President Jonathan’s character when he conceded defeat and congratulated his opponent?

President Jonathan conceded defeat even before the declaration of election result and that solved many problems in the country. Even though there were irregularities in the election, from South to the North, the simplicity of Jonathan played out in the general elections; were it not for that, the country would have been in crisis now. I think African leaders should emulate this gesture so as not to give room for unnecessary war.

PAGE 50—SUNDAY Vanguard, MAY 10, 2015

TALES OF HORROR FROM SAMBISA FOREST

I never believed we would make it out alive — Rachael, Christian hostage •Lami Musa: Two months pregnant when abducted •Salamatu: Boko Haram fighters, running out of basic supplies, abandoned us moments before the military struck

BY UMAR YUSUF, Yola

P

enultimate Saturday, 275 rescued victims of Boko Haram were moved from Sambisa forest to the Malkohi Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) Camp on the outskirts of Yola, Adamawa State capital. The victims, women and children, were driven into the camp amid tight security. They arrived the camp after almost three days journey which forced the victims to be exhausted. Many of them, especially kids, could not alight from the vehicles that brought them. They had to be assisted by officials of the National Emergency Management Agency, NEMA, the Red Cross, the military and other agencies in the camp.

The children looked malnourished. But more worrisome is the fact that many of them had gunshot injuries. The journey from Sambisa to Yola lasted over 72 hours owing to many reasons.

One, the military had to do a mop up of the roads in the forest to clear landmines believed to have been planted in the dreaded forest by the fleeing insurgents. A military bulldozer had to be used to clear the roads for the vehicles conveying the victims to have access to the road linking Adamawa, Borno and Yobe states.

Another reason for the threeday journey as adduced by the military, was the fact that the trip had to be broken into phases to reduce the stress for the former hostages.

Lami Musa, a 27-year old housewife, who gave birth to a baby a day before the victims left Sambisa, was among the 275 victims who survived the long drive.

On arrival in the camp, the victims were treated to a taste of Nigerian foods. Their states of origin cut across the three north-eastern states of Borno, Adamawa and Yobe worst affected by the Boko Haram attacks. They were captured from different remote areas of the three states during occasional Boko Haram raids.

The victims narrated how they were captured, how they were moved to Sambisa forest, their horror in the hands of the insurgents and how they regained freedom.

Mrs. Lami Musa, a mother of four who gave birth to a baby girl barely three days before the military moved her and others from Sambisa enroute to the IDPs camp, told her story. Her husband, an artisan, was killed in their Damboa town when the insurgents came calling. She narrated: “I was C M Y K

•Some of the freed hostages two months pregnant then when the insurgents invaded the town at about 6pm one Monday in August 2014. As sporadic gunshots enveloped the town, able bodied men, including our husbands, among others, fled to the bush. The invaders ordered us to follow them.

The trip which some of us made in vehicles while others trekked took us almost two days to get to their camp”.

Another victim, Mrs. Talatu Maina, an indigene of Madagali, Adamawa State, claimed she, along with many others was abducted in September last year along the borders of Borno and Adamawa State. She said they were returning from a local market when they were ambushed and driven straight into Sambisa forest.

“The male passengers among us were slaughtered instantly. On reaching Sambisa forest, we met hundreds of other women and children”, she stated. Talatu disclosed that life in the Boko Haram enclave was simple in the sense that the captives were directed to choose their leaders in all fields of human endeavour. “We had our leaders in Islamic affairs, food and general welfare of the camp”, she disclosed.

Mrs. Hannatu, also a returnee, said: “We did the cooking ourselves from the corn provided by Boko Haram. The corns were normally ground, but not filtered, even as the only soup was the local ‘Mia Kuka’ or leaves of baobab tree. We ate twice daily, except our little children who ate at random depending on availability of food”.

Commenting on how Boko Haram people conducted

As sporadic gunshots enveloped the town, able bodied men, including our husbands, among others, fled to the bush. The invaders ordered us to follow them

themselves, Mrs. Hannatu, a mother of six, confessed that where they were camped was not close to the residence of the Boko Haram leaders. She said there was a gap of about five to six kilometers between their camp and the Boko Haram leaders residence, adding, “Only gunmen between the ages of 12-14 years stayed with us round the clock as our guards”..

“We only saw the leaders in their motor and motorcycle convoy each time they were going or returning from operations. If they were going for operation, they will stop at a distance. The boys guarding us will run to them for update on our upkeep. Then they will zoom off, their vehicles leaving behind a thick dust. We will only see them again when they are returning from operation; this time around, foodstuff confiscated from the operation will be dropped for us,” she explained.

She disclosed that while cooking in the daytime, they used underground kitchens to prevent the smoke from attracting the bombardment, of the Nigeria military jet fighters.

Another victim, Rachael Habila was kidnapped from Buni Yadi, Yobe State and taken into captivity by the insurgents the day the Government College there was attacked leading to the killing of over 50 students.

Rachael said she did not know she will survive in the camp because of her religious background as a Christian.

“When I joined them in the

camp, about five or six of us that were of the Christian faith were gathered in one place and directed that we should either embrace Islam or be killed”, the 40-year-old school teacher said.

“We had no option than to embrace Islam and there and then we were provided with Hijab and an Islamic teacher was attached to us. The basic teaching of Islam and how to perform the five daily prayers was our major preoccupation”.

“Along the line, two of our mates were no longer seen and we continued to puzzle among ourselves that what happened to them will surely happen to us. But, thank God, we are alive in the IDPs camp today to tell our experience”.

She added that while converting non-Muslims, one of the leaders of the sect whose responsibility it was to do that will only tell you that your name has been changed with the pronouncement of the Muslim name for you and those around him will chorus ‘ ALLAHUAKBAR’, meaning God is great.

Racheal confessed that victims were not arbitrarily tortured, except if one violated one rule or the other. “But if an offense to them, which you might not know, is committed, the punishment, which involves flogging, among others, is normally severe and painstaking and, at times, it involves slaughtering of the people depending on the magnitude of the offense to them”, she stated.

Salamatu Musa, 23, was only six months old as a housewife when she was taken away from a village in Damboa local government area of Borno State. She said she was kidnapped during a midnight attack on their village by the insurgents during the month of Ramadan last year, adding that they were up to 22 women and over 50 children that were taken into captivity that night.

According to her, she was two months pregnant when the incident occurred and that she had given birth to a baby girl who is almost four months now and she has not yet been named.

Asked why the baby had not yet been named, Salamatu replied that it should be done by the father of the girl, if he is still alive, pointing out that the naming ceremony will be done if eventually she is back home from the IDPs camp.

Asked whether she was aware that Nigerians went to the polls to elect their leaders recently, she replied that all of them in the Boko Haram captivity had no idea of any election and they were not aware that Nigerians had elected a new president.

Salamatu disclosed that following the military onslaught on the insurgents, they ran into the interior of Sambisa forest towards Chad and “we were left alone only for the military to discover us”.

She added: “We did not see any Boko Haram fighters killed by the military. They ran away leaving us and many of their belongings because they were running out of many things for them to operate, including ammunition, food and other essential goods”.

SUNDAY VANGUARD, MAY 10, 2015, PAGE 51

Oil sector rot will overwhelm Buhari if not tackled within 3 months — Esele

BY MICHAEL EBOH The release of the full report of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) forensic audit, as well as possible removal of the subsidy on petroleum products have been a major talking point in the country.

Peter Esele, a former President of the Trade Union Congress as well as the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN), shares his views on the issues.

In this interview, Esele talks about the rot in the NNPC and indicts the executive and the legislative arms of government for corruption in the oil industry.

He warns the incoming Buhari administration to focus on tackling corruption in the NNPC immediately it is sworn in or risk being sucked into the rot within three months.

The NNPC has of late been in the news for so many negative reasons. What is your view on the recently released forensic audit report on the NNPC? When people talk about forensic audit of the NNPC, or that the NNPC is this or that, there is nothing that comes out of the NNPC that surprises me. It is people like you that are surprised.

The NNPC is opaque, even its financial system.

The way the NNPC is run is, the more you look, the less you see. Again, one other thing that people do not know; the labour movement, especially PENGASSAN, has always talked about this, the need for NNPC to be run as a going business concern.

I can assure you, every government just coming in, military or civilian, always said it will do something about the NNPC, after two months, nothing will be heard about the promise, because NNPC is the cash •Esele cow of whoever is in power. When they talk about forensic audit, this or that, how do they expect NNPC to operate?

Now, the first fundamental mistake or error of the NNPC, the Chairman of the Board is the Minister of Petroleum.

Now where are the checks and balances? The Minister is supposed to oversee NNPC, now the same Minister chairs the Board. Whatever the Board of the NNPC agrees on who oversees it, who supervises it? How will the technocrats at the NNPC now act?

Who can look at the Minister in the face and say no? When you go through all of these reports, we already know that, from day one, the political interference in the NNPC is second to none.

All government parastatals have tenure, only the GMD of the NNPC does not have tenure. The GMD can be fired after four months, after six the president. At the end of months, even without being day, he is not running any corrupt. You know what it is to business. Hence the NNPC remove the CBN Governor; became something for a few. even the NCC, do you know All of these abuses that are how difficult it is to remove the perpetrated inside the NNPC chief executive? You need twoare nothing new. If you have third of the Senate memberbeen reading NEITI reports, ship to concur to remove the they alluded to the fact that the CBN Governor. Go and check financial system in the NNPC if that applies to the NNPC is opaque.

GMD. At the end of the day, When you talk about all of the GMD of the NNPC does these, where are the oversight not even have time to face his functions? The Minister is core responsibility. Every day supposed to do his or own, he is summoned, either by one which is the executive; then governor or one’ oga at the you also have in the Senate top’ from The Presidency or and the House of Representasomewhere else, hence he tives committees that are does not owe Nigerians or the supposed to oversee what is NNPC Act any responsibility; going on in the NNPC. When instead his responsibility is to

The way the NNPC is run is, the more you look, the less you see. Again, one other thing that people do not know; the labour movement, especially PENGASSAN, has always talked about this, the need for NNPC to be run as a going business concern

C M Y K

you talk about the NNPC being corrupt, you have to look deeper. The NNPC became an octopus because every other agent of the state that is supposed to oversee what is happening in the corporation is also part and parcel of what is going on there.

Just take your time, go and find out who gets the oil wells; go and find out who are behind products coming into the country; find out who are those getting the kerosene contract; you will find that a whole lot of people who are supposed to oversee the NNPC have their hands inside the NNPC. That is why from 1999 till date, NNPC gets away with anything, because all of those, whether in the National Assembly, whether in the executive or the legislatures, they are all part of the problems inside the NNPC. What we should be asking is if all the various GMDs of NNPC and those holding key positions, both present and present, will actually come out and start talking. If they are allowed to talk, then we might be able to know of a lot of things.

Remember that at one time, former president Olusegun Obasanjo was both president and minister of petroleum.

Where is that done? The corruption and whatever that has been happening in the NNPC was done with the connivance of both the executive and the legislature, so let nobody come and do holier than thou here.

The incoming administra-

tion must have to decide what they want to do with the NNPC before they get there. If they dilly dally, I can assure you that after three months, they will be part of the problems, because NNPC is big and financially strong to handle anything.

What changes would you like to see in the NNPC? First of all, I would advise that they look at the areas of the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) that they think they can work with. If I am the President, the Minister of Petroleum would have to leave the Board of the NNPC. The Minister of Petroleum has no business on the Board. Let the NNPC run like a business.

Another thing, no matter how little it is, is that the office of the Minister of Petroleum is inside the NNPC Towers. That in itself is also very wrong. It is like telling me that the office of the President will now be domiciled in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. No. The Ministry of Petroleum has to leave the NNPC Towers and the Minister must know that his or her role is to oversee what is going on inside the NNPC, not to be part of what is going on in the NNPC. What has been happening is that the Minister is part of what has been going on inside the NNPC, so the executive cannot say they not know what is happening there.

Another aspect the incoming administration has to look at is all those who are within; those

who are inside, you can go through what they are doing.

What if those in the NNPC see themselves and set tasks and targets for themselves? Tasks and targets must be set for the GMD of the NNPC from day one. Then the GMD will now set that out for the various Managing Directors and other officers. That way, people will be responsible for what they have to do.

Everything must be done transparently. There must be transparency in bidding process. I will tell you now that if you go to the IOCs, you go to the NNPC and the CBN, there are discrepancies in the amount of crude oil that is being lifted in the country on a daily basis. The figure from NNPC, IOCs, CBN, tax, are all different. Why? The incoming government must also look at those that have really breached the system and use one or two of them as example, because that way you are sending a signal to others that this would not be business as usual.

Do you support plans to remove petroleum subsidy?

I am not going to say whether I support or do not support, but the first thing I am going to say is that in any society, when there is a change of government, the reason you have a change is because the people are saying they want things done differently or they want the new leadership to take them to a different dimension.

So, if what we are talking about now is still removal of subsidy, which is still the old way, then we are going to get the same response that we have been getting.

What I expect the incoming administration to do about the subsidy matter is to go down to the bottom of the issue and look at the nitty gritty, determine what are the problems and challenges? Why does the labour movement always reacts the way it does?

The first thing is, we have to identify if there is subsidy with the price of crude at $64; if there is subsidy, how much is it? And then how many litres of petrol do we consume on daily basis and then we now need to get how much is our average consumption level? Why is it that in January we consume same; June, July, we consume same and in the last quarter we also consume same? Why would the amount that we pay for subsidy be the same figure, it never comes down; it is either it is the same figure or it goes up.

These are all the challenges that I expect the incoming government to grapple with and find solution to. By the time they go through all of these, we will be in a position to say if subsidy should go or not.

Just coming up to say Continues on page 52

PAGE 52—SUNDAY VANGUARD, MAY 10, 2015

Continued from page 51 subsidy should be removed, is like behaving the way we have always reacted and we will get the same result. Labour and government must have data analysis. There must be data analysis of everything that has to do with that sector. Importation must be looked at and how much is being paid.

There was a time we said we were consuming 25 million litres, later they now said it was 27 million litres, a difference of about two million litres a day.

I will be worried if the incoming government is also talking the way of the pat government. They must do something different.

From you interactions with the labour movement, do you think it will support this issue?

We have to wait for the new government to be sworn-in, and then we can actually know the way it is going to handle it.

I think it all depends on the way it is managed, because effective communication around it is key to determine whether subsidy goes or remains. What labour is always after is: if you are taking away the subsidy, where actually is the subsidy, where is the money going to and how is it going to improve the lives of the ordinary Nigerians?

However, if they are able to manage it and labour sees that the subsidy has to go, it will not be averse to it, because we now have to know if there is subsidy. We were paying N97 per litre before, now it is N87 per litre, you reduced it and you are still telling us there is subsidy. How? How do you marry those two, that the price of crude was over $100, we were paying N97 per litre, now the price is almost half of that, you now reduce by N10.

How do you even arrive at that subsidy that you are paying?

Are you factoring in the devaluation of the naira and its effect on fuel price?

Of course I know that when the naira was devalued, this was what was likely going to happen. Let us not look at it from a single angle approach or what I call a helicpoter viewpoint. I prefer the bird eye view, to look at it carefully and look at all the rot that is there.

This is because whether you like it or not, if the price of crude oil goes up to as high as $120 or $140 per barrel, we are in trouble, if it is as low as $60, we are still in trouble. Why must we be in trouble? All other countries are so happy when the price is high. It gives them room to save. But when the price is high here, the next thing we talk about is that we are subsidising; when the price is low, the next thing is that we devalue our currency and we still say we are subsidizing. So, it is more like head, we lose, tail, we lose.

The best that government said they do is that they save money in the Excess Crude Account. You save money, yet the lives of your people are not in any way getting better.

The only way out of this is for us to put on our thinking cap, leave out emotions so that C M Y K

we can sit down and really look at this sector; how many jobs can we guarantee? How do we open up the sector to make sure more people are gainfully employed? When we talk about producing two million barrels daily, the jobs that it generates are few, compared to the jobs that the downstream sector will generate in terms of functional refineries. Why are our refineries not working?

It does not matter if you talking that the highest that you will save is N10 per litre. If you save N10 for one million litres, you know how much that is.

Not to talk of saving N10 from about 20 million litres daily.

Those are areas where I expect the incoming administration to look at. Fortunately, the president-elect has what I call goodwill. It is very clear that, whether you voted for him or not, whether you like him or not, there is a general agreement by Nigerians that he is not corrupt. That is a very huge moral high ground that he has that he can also deploy.

What advice do you have for the incoming administration on the power sector and the refineries?

Privatizing the power sector, nobody said that was bad, but you have to look at the process of the privatization. I heard the former Vice President talking about reversing it. I will not go for wholesale revision, but I am going to say look at where our laws were breached. There were times I think the Federal Government was paying these people when they were not generating any power. That has to be looked at. If any of them has gotten money they did not deserve, government should take it back.

Whoever wants to generate power let him generate power.

They have taken what they have taken; let them now invest in the sector. You cannot say you have privatized power and, right now, their charges are high, we are not getting the power. Of course, power is not like going to the supermarket to buy soap, but we must see the plan of those who have taken over the power sector, to tell us how much megawatts they intend to generate on annual basis. That is for the purpose of planning.

The incoming government said they will create three million jobs per annum. You cannot do that without power.

Power is key. Hotels in Nigeria are the most expensive in the world, due to the issue of power, the cost of buying diesel.

The generating companies (Gencos) must tell us how many megawatts they can generate on annual basis.

That will help us to project. If for example they said they will be generating 2,000 megawatts annually, then we will know that in the next four years we will add 8,000 megatwatts to the national grid. Similar thing should be done to the distribution companies (Discos). Then there must be somebody somewhere who will hold these people accountable.

One of the biggest problems we have is not that we do not have policies. In terms of policies.

The incoming government

•Esele

Oil sect or rro ot will o whelm sector ovver erwhelm Buhari if not tackled within 3 months — Esele does not need to do too much, what they need to do is to dust some of the policies and documents that we have already. There are so many documents in The Presidency.

No matter how bad people think Abacha is, his Vision 2010 document is there and we also have the one for 2020.

Dust them and put the them in place and make sure there is effective supervision and monitoring. Once you start carrying out the monitoring and everybody is kept on his or her toes and held accountable to the various milestones and projection, while whoever does not do that is shown the exit door, you will be surprised at how much our country will grow.

In the area of refineries, when people talk about labour, they always have this mindset that labour is cantankerous and troublesome. That is not true.

The difference is that labour is always far ahead of govern-

The incoming government said it will create three million jobs per annum.

You cannot do that without power. Power is key. Hotels in Nigeria are the most expensive in the world, due to the issue of power, the cost of buying diesel.

The generating companies (Gencos) must tell us how many megawatts they can generate on annual basis

ment in their thinking. When I was PENGASSAN President, we signed for the privatization of the refineries. I signed, the President before me signed also. But we were shocked that the same government that was talking about the privatization of the refineries did not go ahead to carry it out.

There are two options before government. Why have the refineries not worked optionally under the NNPC? I know there was one time that the GMD of NNPC said the refineries will work within six months. I said it was not possible, not because the workers there could not do the job, but because the bureaucracy in the NNPC and interference from outside will never allow the refineries to work.

That was why PENGASSAN, at a time, signed up and said let us have a co-operator for the refineries, let us have the NLNG model. If it does not work, I do not think the union would be averse to the NLNG model, because the model will make the refineries functional, especially as the workers in the NNPC want to work for their pay. That is the worst case scenario that the workers will accept.

In the NLNG model, the cooperator runs the day-to-day business in that place and it has to make profit, it has to make the things work and he pays from whatever profit he gets to government. You have not heard one day that the NLNG has fallen or things are not working there, because there is no interference from anywhere.

As long as the NNPC is the way it is, from now till 500 years time, I do not think they will allow NNPC to grow.

Politicians will not. That is why whoever comes on board says all the nice things they will do to NNPC; Obasanjo said the same thing, he did nothing; Yar Adua said the same thing, nothing happened. President Goodluck Jonathan also said

the same time and nothing happened. NNPC is still the way it is.

If the incoming government — and I am saying it — if they do not do something about the NNPC within the first 100 days, if they do not have a plan for the NNPC, they too will also be sucked into it.

Sometimes I believe that all the fight about the north and south; all the fight about who gets power; who gets what, is actually a fight about who controls the NNPC. It is my expectation that the incoming government would not toe the same line. The character and integrity of the president-elect, and as a former Minister of Petroleum, will actually be tested in how he handles the NNPC in particular, the Ministry of Petroleum and the oil sector in general.

Government and labour unions have been silent on the issue of minimum wage and workers’ welfare, what do you expect from the incoming administration in this regard?

When I was asked to project for workers in the new year, I said 2015 was going to be a tough year for workers in particular and Nigerians in general. When they were now doing their first quarter review, I was told that what I said was coming to pass. More than half, about 20 to 24 states, of the federation cannot pay salaries. Some owe as much as 12 months, some nine months, eight months, and four months.

We had less than 10 states that have been able to pay salaries regularly.

At the moment, the actual value of the N18,000 minimum wage is like N9,000 if you base it on the fact that the dollar is going for about N200 now. At the time we did the minimum wage, the dollar was between N120 and N140. Now, that N18,000 has lost about 40 per cent of its actual value from when we negotiated the minimum wage. You now look at it that the N18,000 cannot really buy what it was buying when it was negotiated. If you now say based on the current realities and the challenges the states are facing, are you now going to say you are going to increase salary to N50,000? It just does not fly.

What we now have to look at is: what are the areas that you can augment the expenses being borne by the workers?

The major areas where the workers spend his money are health, education, transportation and housing. If you are able to make it easier for somebody to transport himself to his place of work, it will be better. Transportation in the UK, whether by rail or bus, is subsidized. We should consider how we now go in that direction to now look at how we can make the transportation system affordable. We don’t have a transportation system, how do we make that affordable? Then how do we go ahead and make healthcare affordable. To treat malaria normally, you go to a chemist, it would not cost less than N3,000 or N4,000. Just divide that sum for a family of four, you will discover that the N18,000 will not take you home.

SUNDAY VANGUARD, MAY 10, 2015, PAGE 53

Computer programming, like Nollywood, as money spinner

BY CHINEDU EMEKA

N

ollywood is the collo quial name of the Ni geria movie industry – the name is coined from Hollywood which is the America motion picture industry.

Though Nollywood and Hollywood are continents apart, they share many similarities. For example, just like Hollywood, Nollywood has become a huge industry and is playing a leading role in the Nigerian economy particularly in the areas of employment generation, wealth creation and entertainment of the citizenry.

As at 2009, Nollywood had grown to be the second highest employer in Nigeria. Informed sources cited Nigeria’s film industry (Nollywood) as the third largest in the world (behind Hollywood and Bollywood) in earnings and estimated the industry to bring in US$250 million per year. In April 2014, Nollywood was announced to be worth N853.9 billion (US$5.1 billion).

The fundamentals of what has led to the success of Nollywood are: 1. There is a strong demand for the product (Nigerian films are in high demand around the world) 2. It is a profitable business with modest takeoff capital requirements (on average, it costs about $20,000 to produce a Nigerian film) 3. It serves a useful purpose in the society (an avenue for entertainment and cultural rejuvenation of the citizenry) It has been pointed out that government intervention will greatly enhance the potentials of Nollywood. The administration of President Goodluck Jonathan pledged to support Nollywood with a grant of N3 billion to include “grants for the best film scripts; a capacity development fund, and funds for supporting the industry ’s infrastructure”.

Government can also do more to checkmate the activities of pirates who deprive film producers of a sizable portion of their income.

There is need to replicate the success of Nollywood in other sectors. One sector that shows great potential is the area of computer programming.

Computer programming or coding is the process through which instructions are relayed to the computer for execution.

Some computer programs are constructed as scripts. These scripts are akin to film scripts while the screenplay (script) specifies the movements and interactions of characters in a film, a computer script specifies the steps required to achieve a particular programming objective.

A person that writes computer programs is called at the basic level a computer programmer or coder while a person who has been formally trained in

Many countries are now planning ahead by training the next “army” of computer programmers. For instance, “Cyberport Youth coding jam 1000” was recently organized by Hong Kong – it brought 1000 youth coders together to build a digital map of a futuristic Hong Kong computer programming is a software engineer.

Are the fundamental factors that led to the success of Nollywood applicable to Computer programming?

Factor 1: Is there a strong demand for the product (software)?

According to Gartner Dataquest’s statistics as at 2007, over 2 billion personal computers had been sold. In a related development, Cisco systems announced that the number of internet connected devices reached 8.7 billion in 2012. This number would include traditional computer devices, mobile devices, as well as the new industrial and consumer devices.

Computers and computer programs are omnipresent in today’s society and the demand for computer programs will increase as humanity continues to develop and rely more on technology.

Factor 2: Is it a profitable business with modest takeoff capital requirements (how much does it cost to develop software, how much do software engineers earn)?

The most important tool required by a software engineer is a computer which can be procured with about N200, 000 – however, the financial rewards of developing a computer program can be quite enormous.

It is not a coincidence that for about a decade now, a computer programmer - Bill Gates, founder of Microsoft has been consistently ranked in the Forbes list of the world’s wealthiest people.

When MS-DOS (Microsoft-Disk Operating System) – a software created by Microsoft became the standard operating system for Personal Computers, Microsoft’s sales soared from $7 million in 1980 to $16 million in 1981. Mark Zuckerberg of FaceBook is another example of a person who

has amassed a great fortune from software development. The pay scale for software engineers is higher than any other computer specializations; it is also better paying than most other jobs.

Software engineers are among the highest paid professionals in the world today with the lowestpaid coders earning around $55,000 a year while top tier software engineers can earn up to $138,000 a year.

Factor 3: Does it serve a useful purpose in society?

Software ranges from systems programs that run computer systems to application programs such as Microsoft word, internet browsers and apps that run on smart phones. Every device in our modern world that has a microprocessor embedded in it runs software to do one thing or the other. Such devices include satellite dishes, refrigerators, televisions, phones, vehicles, etc.

Some of these devices will not work at all without Computer programs while others are made more efficient and user friendly by addition of computer software. As long as these devices are useful to society, the computer programs embedded in them are also useful.

Many countries are now planning ahead by training the next “army ” of computer programmers. For instance, “Cyberport Youth coding jam 1000” was recently organized by Hong Kong – it brought 1000

youth coders together to build a digital map of a futuristic Hong Kong. Such events serve as catalysts to ignite interest in computer programming at an early age.

In the United States, an attempt is being made to overhaul and provide more impetus to computer science education in both the primary and secondary school levels. A bipartisan bill titled “Computer Science Education Act 2013” is presently before the US congress and has garnered support from over 100 (Democrats and Republicans) members of the US congress.

“The bill seeks to define computer science as the study of computers and algorithmic processes, including the study of computing principles, computer hardware and software design, computer applications, and the impact of computers on society”.

Essentially, the bill seeks to make computer science a core academic subject which will be taught from primary school up.

It will also allow federal funding set aside for core academic subjects to be used in support of computer science efforts in schools.

Governments in Nigeria and Nigerians must pick up the gauntlet by embracing computer programming. A policy that provides adequate funding for computer science education (just like the one that has been introduced by the US congress) should be put in place and curricula that espouses computer science education rather than computer appreciation should be developed and deployed at the primary and secondary school levels. Furthermore, primary and secondary schools should be mandated to provide computer laboratories fully equipped with functional computers that are connected to the internet for the use of their students.

Competitions can be organized and awards given by both Government and reputable corporations to nurture computer programming and propel excellence.

The success of Nollywood is a tribute to the ingenuity of Nigerians but it may be immodest to brag about the accomplishments of Nollywood alone. The challenge now is to replicate these accomplishments in computer programming and thereby prove that Nigeria is indeed the giant of Africa and that perhaps the sleeping giant has awakened! *Emeka, a software engineer, was recently appointed Commissioner for Science & Technology in Anambra State

Why incoming government must Scrap petroleum ministry —Expert .Says FG should subsidise production not large scale consumption

By Udeme Clement

A

s controversy continues to trail the persistent fuel scarcity and subsidy allocation, the incoming government has been advised to subsidise production rather than large scale consumption, such that if an investor wants to build a refinery but has no money,

government can give him loan to pay back within 20 to 30 years, says the Director General, West African Institute for Financial and Economic Management (WAIFEM), Professor Akpan Ekpo.

In a chat with Sunday Vanguard in Lagos, Ekpo, who is also a Professor of Economics, advised government to look at the supply

side of petroleum products, stressing that some people in Nigeria need targeted subsidy, especially the poor using kerosene. “However, everything depends on oil in the medium and long term. So, the incoming government must diversify the oil industry to commercialise Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), by selling

shares to Nigerians while government continues to manage it”, he said.

He added, “The new government should scrap Ministry of Petroleum Resources to replace it with Ministry of Natural Resources, to deal with petroleum and other minerals.

They must also diversify the oil

Continues on page 54

PAGE 54—SUNDAY VANGUARD, MAY 10, 2015

Taking play seriously A

s simple as it may seem, there is more to play than meets the eye. It is a complex activity performed mainly by children for self- amusement and it has behavioural, social and cognitive benefits.

Even though some adults frown at children playing because they could get hurt or mess up their clothes in the process, the fact is that for kids, play time is a whole lot more than just fun and games.

It is both a direct and an indirect process through which they learn and acquire new skills for their development.

In recent time, very prominent associations and institutions have been touting the importance and relevance of allowing children play. In fact, the National Literacy Trust (NLT), a charity organisation based in the United Kingdom has cited various benefits of allowing children play, the most important being that, it lays the foundation for literacy.

According to the organisation, Play nurtures development through socialization with other kids, gives children the opportunity to be creative and teaches kids how to be content while play-

ing with themselves or with others.

A research paper, “The Importance of play in early childhood development” published by MontGuide noted that, “Play is a child’s work, play is important for children’s development and for children to bond.”

Research has shown that over 75 per cent of brain development occurs after child birth and play has also been acknowledged to increase brain development, as it occurs more during the periods of more rapid brain growth.

Play helps by stimulating and developing fine and gross motor skills. Fine motor skills are actions such as holding and grasping items, while Gross motor skills, when developed, enable children walk, jump and run.

Play time not only promotes bonding between children and their caregivers, it also helps kids achieve social, physical, cognitive, intellectual and emotional growth needed for future successes and social integration.

Despite the numerous benefits of play to both parents and children, modern life has drastically reduced the amount of time for

With the new Fanta “Play” campaign, Fanta is offering kids the creative opportunity to explore a whole new world of fun, especially with the introduction of its fun, youth -centric characters Play. Today’s children play a lot less than the generations before them. This is largely due to a variety of factors, such as a faster paced lifestyle, rising number of middle income earners, higher levels of stress, increased attraction to academics, electronic devices and most especially, insecurity.

In recent time, insecurity has encouraged less outdoor play and tight schedules have eroded on play time.

Well, the good times may just be coming back, as Fanta - the delicious fruit drink bursting with exciting flavours is on a mission to regenerate Play time and highlight its importance in the lives of kids and even adults.

Fanta cares about the significance of the activity on the growth and development of kids and has always been associated with Play.

With the new Fanta “Play ” campaign, Fanta is offering kids the creative opportunity to explore a whole new world of fun, especially with the introduction of its fun, youth -centric characters including, Gigi- the adventurous fun loving and intelligent leader of the pack, Tristan- the cool dude with urban and dapper style, Todd- who seems a little nerdy, independent and is full of life and Floyd- the gadget guy who is always ready to defend his love for music.

Others are Maude -who literally “lives to play” with her amazing ability to turn the dullest location into a party hub, Andywho is a little more laid back but

passionate about skating and riding waves, Lola -who is fun and very competitive in nature and of course, the mysterious Lhava twins, who always seem to know where the fun and action is happening.

Although all the characters are from very diverse backgrounds, they are all united by their love for Play. These amazing characters also offer parents the opportunity to relive their youth by offering them access to the creative and dynamic world of Play.

After all, parents are also seen as one of the most important play mates for children.

In the same vein, the fruity flavoured drink through the Fanta Playzone, its signature platform for providing fun activities such as a mobile gaming centre fitted with the latest video game consoles, serves as a platform to immerse young people in the colourful, youthful and imaginative world of Play.

The Fanta Playzone which is a series of fun activities embedded in the Play campaign also comprises activities such as HulaHoops, a sing along competition as well as an opportunity to sample refreshing Fanta at activation points where the Playzone comes alive.

Undoubtedly, kids and parents are in for a swell time in this new world of Fanta ‘Play’ campaign.

Let the Play begin!

‘FG should subsidise production not large scale consumption’ Continued from page 53 sector itself, because the sector only exports crude oil without refining petroleum products. Our oil sector has no linkage to petrol-chemical industries, that is why there is recurring scarcity of fuel in the country. We need more refineries to enhance competition, in order to force down prices of refined products.

For example, Singapore has no crude oil, yet they have refineries.

This shows that Nigeria can refine for local consumption and export. In the 80s, Nigeria exported refined products, but suddenly it stopped. That period, the refineries worked well, but now the plants are producing below installed capacity even with the Turn Around Maintenance (TAM), which takes so much money.”

On the recent ban of dollars for local transactions by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), he explained, “The CBN in my view is only reminding the public that Naira/kobo is the only legal currency to be used in economic activities in Nigeria. This is in the Constitution as well as the CBN Act. Nigeria’s economy is not a dollar dominated economy. I suspect that the apex bank has realised that most transactions and deposits in the banks are mostly in dollars. If about 20 percent of bank deposits are in dollars, that is not healthy for the economy. Do not forget that we are a sovereign nation. The other issue to address is why confidence in the dollar?

Economic agents in the country see the dollar as a store of value.

In addition, it is a convertible currency anywhere in the world.

Consequently, our economy must be well managed to give confidence to economic agents that the local currency can be convertible at a reasonable rate.

Therefore, the economy must not

only be productive but also export semi-finished or some value (exportable) in the production chain”.

Responding to the claim by the Finance Minister that government borrowed about N473billion to finance the budget and to pay salary, he said, “It is not surprising that Nigeria is broke. As an observer of the economy, this was perceived about two years ago when the country started borrowing despite the existence of the excess crude oil account. It is one thing to borrow to finance capital expenditures in the budget, but borrowing to finance overheads and salaries (recurrent expenditures) makes no economic sense, particularly if the economy is not in a prolonged recession. The implications are many. It is clear that for the last two years, there has been no meaningful capital projects in the economy, implying that growth has slowed.

“It would be important to know the status of on-going projects particularly those on infrastructure. One wonders, where the positive growth rates have been coming from. Without growth, there can be no development. It is always dangerous to borrow to pay salaries. I have always argued that the economic performance of Nigeria cannot be satisfactory given the rising misery index.

Fortunately though not comforting, the borrowing was mostly domestic debt (government bond issuance) and not printing of money. Reliance as to whether the economy is within the debt/GDP threshold is not helpful. GDP does not pay debts. Debts are paid broadly from revenues. It means the oil revenue before the sharp decline was inadequate to run the economy. Hence, government spent more than the expected revenue from oil. The decline in oil revenue exposed the fiscal

• Prof Akpan Ekpo

GDP does not pay debts. Debts are paid broadly from revenues. It means the oil revenue before the sharp decline was inadequate to run the economy.

Hence, government spent more than the expected revenue from oil rascality of government. The economy has no fiscal buffers.

The excess crude account only exists in name! It is, therefore, crucial to think strategically on how best to reduce dependence on oil revenues. This is the time to reduce wastage in government, block leakages and prioritise government expenditures.”

On the drop in electricity generation from about 4,000mw to 2,912mw, he added, “It means the epileptic power supply would not only continue but worsened, meaning growth of the economy may decline. It means there is no hope for job creation and no hope for Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) to fast-track economic growth.

More importantly, this calls into question all the claims regarding the progress made in unbundling the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN). I suspect that Nigerians are getting tired of excuses as to why the economy cannot boast of at least 15-18 hours uninterrupted power supply. The mechanics of electric power supply is not a rocket science, particularly when almost 75 percent of the required inputs are available in the country. The country has gas, yet gas supply to power plants is now a problem!

It is always one excuse or another. Recently, the Minister of Power said the in-coming government should not reverse the privatisation process of the power industry. The privatisation process was carried out by government through its agency

the Bureau of Public Enterpsis (BPE) not by invisible agents.

Persons were involved in the process not ghosts. So, the incoming government has the right to probe the process, especially if the promised outcome has not been realised. Selling-off public assets is a serious matter.

Government and the players in the power sector should be honest to tell Nigerians that power would be available after 10 years. For instance, now, Nigerians are reacting to what they were promised four years ago that epileptic power supply would soon be a thing of the past.

The decline in power supply confirms that the economy would remain generator-driven and no economy grows and develop with generators as the major source of power supply.”

On if the government can force down the price of petrol from N87 to N40 per litre, he said, “N40 for fuel pump price is realistic if corruption and bottlenecks are removed. In the 90s, government wanted to use the market to determine the pump price below what was prevailing at that time.

Government must block revenue leakages from the system, and can increase Value Added Tax (VAT) by one percent to give State governments enough money to deliver services.

It is embarrassing for a country that exports crude oil to experience incessant scarcity of fuel.

Government at all levels must expand the Civil Service and invest massively in the housing sub-sector to tackle unemployment crisis, which stands at about 30 percent now.

Influx of Foreign Direct Investments (FDI) into the economy is crucial. The investors must come here and build factories to create jobs, not portfolio investments in the stock market, where they gamble and pull away their investments at a slightest uncertainty in the economy.”

SUNDAY VANGUARD, MAY 10, 2015, PAGE 55

Falling oil price: “Pathway to diversification”

BY PETER POPOOLA

O

ne of the key indicators for measuring overall development in the world is the Human Development Index (HDI). This is a composite index based on three indicators: longevity, as measured by life expectancy; education attainment, as measured by a combination of adult literacy and the combined gross primary, secondary and tertiary enrolment ratio; and standard of living, as measured by gross domestic product (GDP) per capita. The HDI is used to rate and rank all the countries of the world, from 1 to 187 countries that are assessed every year. The 2014 Human Development Report (HDR) of Organization Institute for Statistics and the World Bank presents Nigeria’s HDI value for 2013 as 0.504 which is in the low human development category positioning the country at 152 out of 187 countries and territories. This is shocking giving the fact that Nigeria generates huge revenues from the oil sector.

Following the first discovery of crude oil at Olobiri in the Niger Delta region of Nigeria, drums were rolled out as an elated people rejoiced over the opportunities it would bring to their community and the nation as a whole.

These expectations were justified as Nigeria’s crude oil production capacity increased to as much as 2.5 million barrels per day, making the nation Africa's largest producer of oil and the sixth largest oil producing country in the world. Unfortunately, since the

discovery of crude oil in Nigeria, the economy became heavily dependent on the oil sector for foreign exchange earnings and revenue.

“Why would a country richly blessed with oil and other natural resources remain in poverty” one would ask? The simple answer among other reasons would be that Nigeria lacked the capacity to add value to its crude oil.

The extraction and exploitation of the oil involved capital-intensive techniques (in terms of machineries, hi-tech and skills) which Nigeria did not have at the time when oil was first discovered and exploited in the late 1950s and beyond. As a result of this, foreign investors dominated the oil sector and the huge earnings generated from the oil sector were repatriated by the foreigners to their countries. Thus, leaving Nigeria with meagre resources for development purposes. .

Nigeria’s current status can be likened to the Dutch Disease Syndrome. The Dutch Disease Syndrome is a situation whereby the sector that was initially a major source of economic growth (Agriculture in the case of Nigeria) starts declining in performance due to the discovery of a natural resource.This disease resulted in a big problem because the booming oil sector had low employment rates as many Nigerians lacked the skills and competences required for the various processes involved in oil production and refinery. Moreover, the proceeds of the booming oil sector pre-

Since the discovery of crude oil in Nigeria, the economy became heavily dependent on the oil sector for foreign exchange earnings and revenue sented a false picture of abundance (“national cake”) resulting in a near total neglect of other sectors, particularly the agricultural sector which had the potential for tacking unemployment and poverty being experienced in the country.

In the 1960s and up to the early 1970s, Nigeria’s agriculture flourished. The country was one of the world’s highest producers of palm oil, cocoa, and groundnut. However, overtime agriculture which contributed immensely to the Nigerian economy and in particular the GDP remained neglected for crude oil.

The sector before its neglect provided food for the increasing population and supplied ad-

equate raw materials (and labour input) to a growing industrial sector; a major source of employment for about 70% of its population; generation of foreign exchange earnings; and provision of market for the products of the industrial sector.

In recent times, more attention is being drawn to the agricultural sector through the Value Chain Approach. This approach involves addressing the major constraints faced by farmers and producers, processors, traders and other businesses at multiple levels and points along a given value chain. This will inevitably include a wide range of activities such as ensuring access to good quality inputs, facilitating access to cheaper and quality inputs, strengthening the delivery of business and financial services, enabling the flow of information, facilitating improved market access through value added products, and so on. Evidence of this is the reduction of food import bills, price stability of food in the country, despite fall in oil price and devaluation of Naira. This puts the agricultural sector in the front burner as a key area to consider in the economy for diversification as the sector has proven to be able to engage 70% of the population in employment which the oil and gas sector was unable to achieve.

The quality of education is another issue for diversification.

Education for Rural People is definitely an effective means of strengthening human and social capital for entrepreneurship,

Killing direct foreign investment How not to respond to Xenophobia

BY TOBI SOBULO

U

nderstandably, pas sions were inflamed following the last month’s anti-immigrant attacks that left seven people dead and many others displaced and injured in South Africa.

All around the continent and indeed, the world, there were loud condemnations of the shameful event in the South African cities where such occurred and the country’s government for its less than appropriate response to the matter.

Nigeria, with which South Africa barely escaped a fullblown diplomatic spat, was justifiably angry, given that its citizens had been targets of such attacks in the past.

So deep was the anger that there were suggestions that the most appropriate riposte to the unfortunate event should be the targeting of South African business interests in Nigeria. MTN, Shoprite and MultiChoice were the names that featured more than most.

Of the three, MultiChoice, the pay-TV company, was the runaway favourite as target for the proposed attack. The anti-foreigner attacks had coincided with the time MultiChoice subscribers in Nigeria got into a funk over the company’s new prices for its various programme bouquets.

There is also no doubt that the people behind the anti-foreigner attacks were driven by unpardonably deranged impulses Thus, many subscribers, who had been persuaded-wronglythat the company treats its Nigerian subscribers with a disdain on par with oil multinationals’ treatment of host communities in the Niger Delta, saw an opportunity for revenge.

I was troubled, very much so, by this attitude.

Admittedly, the South African government hardly covered itself in glory with its tardy response and less than sensitive utterances of some of its officials. There is also no doubt that the people behind the anti-foreigner attacks were driven by unpardonably deranged impulses.

I was troubled-and I think we should all be -that the actions of a few morons pushed us to consider for punishment enti-

ties that played no part in the event and were clearly appalled by what happened.

MultiChoice, I remember, issued a statement condemning the violence in South Africa shortly after it erupted.

The company ’s history of multiculturalism and penchant for diversity, as evidenced by its multinational staff and African programming on its DStv and GOtv platforms, hardly mark it out as insular and therefore, deserving of the suggested punishment. There is no doubt that MultiChoice makes money in Nigeria. It does in other countries as well. If not, it would not be here and other places.

But it is also a fact-verifiable, that is-that it has spent heavily in Nigeria since it arrived on these shores in the early 90s, when it announced itself as a Nigerian company.

MultiChoice is headed by a Nigerian and employs thousands of Nigerians directly and indirectly.

Among MultiChoice’s major investments in Nigeria is the MultiChoice Research Centre Project, which has delivered top-tier educational facilities to 322 public secondary schools in 29 states of the federation.

The MRC project was conceived to grant beneficiary schools access to MultiChoice Education Bouquet and integrate programmes on the bou-

quet into the school curriculum in a way that enhances teaching and learning.This is done through media devices that include a television set, High Definition PVR decoder satellite dish, a generator, stabiliser, a set of chairs and desks for the laboratory, and other instructional aids. The company also provides training for the teachers as coordinators of the centres.

The local content industry is a huge beneficiary of MultiChoice’s investments.

DStv now has nine AfricaMagic channels (including the recently launched AfricaMagic Igbo) that screen shows African content to the entire continent round the clock.

A huge percentage of the content and programming is derived from Nollywood which, through MultiChoice, has become known and admired throughout Africa.

Through AfricaMagic, the world has also become more familiar with Nigerian culture, while actors and actresses have earned global recognition.

AfricaMagic also serves as a platform for industry stakeholders through AfricaMagic Viewers’ Choice Awards (AMVCA), which honours and celebrates creativity.

Also through M-Net and SuperSport, MultiChoice has

agro-food business management and for addressing the basic needs of small farmers, the rural workers and marginalized groups. However, it is imperative that education at all levels be relevant to the livelihood options of the people, otherwise it will not enable people to manage and improve their production options and secure social development and peace building in our communities. Otherwise, education will simply be a passport for emigration from rural areas, which quite often is the case.

Let me conclude this article with a famous Chinese proverb, “If you want one year of prosperity, grow grain. If you want 10 years of prosperity, grow trees. If you want 100 years of prosperity, grow people.” Human capital development is specifically the major approach China is following on its steady rise to becoming a global economic powerhouse. This approach has to be replicated in Nigeria, particularly, with a special focus on the rural communities who up till now have the nation’s biggest, neglected and silent majority.

This can be achieved through interdisciplinary alliances and partnerships among those working in agriculture and rural development as well as education sectors.

• Peter Popoola,is a Senior Management Development Officer, Agricultural and Rural Management Training Institute (ARMTI), Ilorin; member, Forum for Inclusive Nigerian Development (FIND)

invested hugely in local content through MultiChoicefunded wholly Nigerian productions like soaps, drama etc.

The company has invested billions of naira in building High Definition studios for both SuperSport and M-Net as well as in providing cutting-edge staff training staff MultiChoice has also provided generous support for the industry. It currently carries domestic channels like NTA, Silverbird TV, Channels TV, MITV and AIT on its platform at no cost to the operators.

This ensures that those stations are watched by viewers in other parts of the country.

Ordinarily, such viewers would have been unable to see those channels because of their locations.

I am convinced that if the company has no belief in or commitment to Nigeria, it would not have invested as heavily as it has here.

Suggesting an attack on its operations, whatever form it would take, to my mind, is not how to repay commitment and willingness to invest in a country with serious infrastructural deficits. MultiChoice had to build the needed infrastructure from the scratch. A less committed entity would have fled long ago.

Reverse xenophobia, even the lightest shade of it, is undesirable.

Otherwise, we would not be different from those vile thugs on the streets of Durban.

Sobulo, a lawyer, writes from Lagos.

PAGE 56—SUNDAY VANGUARD, MAY 10, 2015 sam.eyoboka@gmail.com

08023145567 (sms only)

Buhari will take Nigeria out of woods — Ademowo

BY OLAYINKA LATONA

T

HE Diocesan Bishop of Lagos, Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion), Most Rev. Ephraim Ademowo has described President-elect, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (retired) as a leader who will rescue the nation from its present challenges.

Ademowo made the statement while reading his presidential charge during the opening ceremonies of the Third Session of the 32 Synod of Diocese of Lagos at Our Saviour ’s Church, Tafawa Balewa Square, Lagos. The theme of this year ’s event is: “The authority of the Scripture”.

Stressing his confidence in the coming administration, the bishop described Gen. Buhari as a trustworthy, forthright leader who will lead Nigeria forward and “take Nigerians out of the woods”.

He, however, reminded the president-elect that Nigerians look up to his administration for a better tomorrow, noting “Nigeria is a collective project which requires collective efforts to build and

maintain. I trust that the incoming administration should as a matter of necessity and urgency address the issues of poverty, insecurity, unemployment, corruption. There should be improvement in sociopolitical and economic life of the citizenry”.

On corruption, the Diocesan

Bishop advised the incoming administration to assemble men and women of transparency, integrity and accountability in their private and public transactions to make noble contribution for the nation.

The Bishop of Mainland Diocese, Prof. Adebayo

Akinde also used the occasion to urge Christians to abide by the rules of the scripture, lamenting that most Christians compromise the word of God for their selfish interest.

Earlier during the celebration of God’s word, Ven. John Agboro urged

The change Nigerians voted, by cleric

P

Dr. Chris Kwakpovwe ministering during the April Anointing Service at Manna Prayer Mountain Ministry at Ogudu Orioke, Lagos.

Osinbajo’s testimony at Redemption Camp

BY OLAYINKA LATONA

V

ICE-PRESIDENTELECT, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo has appreciated Nigerians for their love, support and vote during the just concluded March 28 presidential and National Assembly elections.

Speaking during the monthly Holy Ghost Service of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, RCCG, at Redemption Camp, Kilometer 46, LagosIbadan Expressway, Prof.

Osinbajo, who is the Pastor-incharge of Lagos Province 48, attributed the All Progressive Congress’ victory at the election to God’s favour.

He said God saw the party through the campaign period and eventually crowned its efforts with victory, adding that his emergence as the vice president of the country is a special gift from God and a fulfillment of the General Overseer’s prophecy.

In his words: “We were campaigning for over four months on air, road, rail, everywhere and God saw us through, protected us and kept us from harm. And on March 28, God crowned our efforts. I thank God for the special gift and I thank God for marking me out as a person and giving me the position of the vice president-elect. This is a

Christians to live by the faith they profess and be committed to the word of God notwithstanding the challenges they are facing, noting that one of the ways to live a life that is pleasing to God is by reading, studying and meditating on the word of God.

…as Adeboye tasks workers

•Prof. Yemi Osinbajo fulfillment of Daddy G.O’s prophecy earlier this year that among RCCG ministers,

governors, ministers will emerge from the Redeemed Christian Church of God and they will be used by God”.

Admonishing the congregation on the theme of the programme; “Fulfilling Destiny”, General Overseer of the church, Pastor Enoch Adeboye described destiny as God’s plan concerning one’s life and that such a plan has been settled before the creation of the world.

He explained that occasionally, there can be delay in destiny due to human interference but God has the power to nullify such interference.

Highlighting how one can fulfill destiny, the cleric said: “Watch what those who fulfilled destiny did and follow them, notice what those whose destinies were truncated and avoid their errors, watch your temper, honour God, obey God to the last letter, let your obedience be complete. Do not rest until you reach your goal, keep on praying and fasting”.

At the meeting with thousands of the RCCG workers briefly after the Holy Ghost service, Pastor Adeboye said it is paramount for them to fulfill destiny, bear fruits, save souls through evangelism, establish churches, teach amongst others.

2.5m Christians to attend Deeper life crusade in Ogun

BY DAUD OLATUNJI

A

bout 2.5 million people are expected to attend a crusade organised by Deeper Christian life ministry in Abeokuta, Ogun state capital .The crusade scheduled between May 17and 18 , 2015 would be presided over by the founder of the church, pastor Williams Kumuyi .

Addressing a press conference held to herald revisitation crusade scheduled for the people of Abeokuta and it’s environs , the state regional Overseer, Pastor Edison Daminabo said the programme is in

collaboration with the Pentecostal Fellowship Of Nigeria PFN and the Christian Association of Nigeria , CAN in the state.

According to him, the church is expecting over 2.5 million people at the crusade adding that the programme will serve as a means of deliverance, breakthrough, success among others.

Daminabo who has just been transferred to Ogun state from Uganda , however, advised the President-elect ,General Mohammadu Buhari and other newly-elected leaders in the country to put God first in

their administration to aid success.

He also advised the President -elect to be steadfast regardless of his religion, saying any government who refuses to put God first will not succeed.

He also urged ministers of God in various churches in the country to leave an exemplary life, staying their failure to leave an exemplary life has led to the increase in corruption.

It would be recalled that the proposed crusade which would be the third time the General Overseer of the church would be visiting the state since the creation of the state.

RESIDENT of Joyful Smiles Foundation, a faith-based nongovernmental organisation, Pastor Tayo Kayode, has appealed to the incoming administration to deliver on its change mantra. He said Nigerians expect nothing less at the national level in the next four years.

Kayode, in a letter to the president-elect, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, said Nigerians are tired of decaying infrastructure, failed promises and poor standard of living.

This, he said, was why they massively voted for the Buhari/ Osinbanjo’s ticket on March 28.

According to him: “Indeed, this is a victory for the common man on the street, victory for every Nigerian, victory for democracy and victory for change. This victory has shown that there is hope for our great country Nigeria and that the vote of the people now counts. We have now entered into that new era.”

Listing ar eas that Buhari

should concentrate on, the cleric said: “Nigerians need transparency and revival in the oil sector,” urging the president-elect to shun political interests and appoint only credible and competent men into his cabinet as ministers.

Kayode also urged the incoming administration to fight corruption and fix the power sector, saying the epileptic supply in the nation was embarrassing.

Nigerians, he said, want Buhari to “reduce the nation’s dependency on crude oil for revenue. Block and eliminate wastages, reduce numbers of federal ministries wher e possible, develop other sectors to account for about 50% of our total revenue yield. Nigerians want to see you diversifying the economy.”

On telecommunication, he called for stoppage of exploitation by operators, saying the consumers must be protected to get value for money. To achieve all of these, he urged Buhari to lead by surrounding himself with “tacticians, strategic planners made up of intellectuals, economists, security experts, agriculture gurus, sport giants, radical politicians, technocrats, educationists, medical and health administrators and engineers that share the same change vision to start the preliminary plans for your administration now.”

SUNDAY VANGUARD, MAY 10, 2015, PAGE 57

F God promises to give a car, can you receive Iit?you Don’t be quick to

answer. In the first place, what should you receive if God promises to give you a car? If you receive a car at the promise of God, you might miss real the car of promise. God does not give what man gives. Neither does he give like man gives. Jesus says: “I do not give to you as the world gives.” (John 14:27).

The peace of God is different from the peace of man. The joy of the Lord is different from the joy of the harvest. Therefore, the car of God is bound to be different from the car of men. God says: “My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways. As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.’” (Isaiah 55:8-9).

Rejecting the God-given Many Christians cannot receive the “car” that God gives. They can only receive the car that men give. Therefore, if God says he is going to give them a car, they immediately receive the car of men. It never occurs to them that the car of God might be different from the car of men. Jesus says: “It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing.

The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life.” (John 6:63).

When God promised Abraham a child in his old age, Sarah could not receive him initially. She

RECEIVING THE BREAD OF LIFE could only receive a child according to the flesh; therefore she doubted the word of God because she was past child-bearing age. “She laughed silently to herself.” “How could a worn-out woman like me have a baby?” she thought.

(Genesis 18:12). God confounded this thinking even more by waiting for another 25 years before giving them Isaac.

God made a promise to the church in the wilderness.

He said to Moses: “Tell them, ‘At twilight you will eat meat, and in the morning you will be filled with bread.” (Exodus 16:12). Accordingly, the Israelites expected beefburgers from heaven. But what they got instead was so strange they called it “manna;” which means literally: “What is it?”

Receiving life Every promised gift of God must be received in all wisdom and spiritual understanding. Every promise must first be received spiritually otherwise its actualisation will disappoint. Flesh and blood will disappoint because the word of God is spirit. Therefore, God’s promises must be

It’s God’s finger at ODM anointing service

BY OLAYINKA LATONA

I

T was another time of spiritual refreshment and blessing at the April anointing service of Manna Prayer Mountain Ministry at Ogudu Orioke, Lagos. The service with a theme; “The Finger of God” attracted participants from different parts of the country.

Leading the eager participants in breakthrough prayer, the publisher, Our Daily Manner (ODM), Dr. Chris Kwakpovwe, told the mammoth crowd of worshippers: “When the finger of God shows up in a man’s life, financial breakthrough will manifest, barenness will disappear.

When God’s finger shows up, people cannot understand you and because they can not comprehend what God is doing in your life, they will conclude that you are being diabolical.

“God’s finger makes a man’s life unexplainable for the enemy; God’s finger exposes the enemy, cast out demons,” he noted.

Using biblical characters as case study, Rev. Kwapkovwe encouraged participants not to panic when in problem because the finger of God is always there to take away all forms of reproach in their lives.

Continuing, he reminded the congregation that God

did not forget Noah, Lazarus, Elijah amongst others in their days; therefore He will single them out in all their endeavours.

Dr. Kwakpovwe further explained that because God created all things with His finger and when His finger is at work all things work for good because His finger shows mercy, disappoint enemy, and brings God sent helpers, adding that God used the foolish things of the world to confound the wise.

Commenting on the just

If God says he will give you a car, rejoice in the word and not in the car spiritually received. The word of God is a doubleedged sword. (Revelation 1:16). It kills and it makes alive. (Deuteronomy 32:39). It is a stone that makes men stumble as well as a sanctuary that keeps men safe. (Isaiah 8:14).

Can you receive the gift of God? Again, don’t be quick to answer. Most people find it difficult to receive the things of God. We can receive death but we cannot receive life. We can receive loaves of bread, but we cannot receive the bread of life. We can receive the fruit of the vine, but we cannot receive the fruit of the spirit.

We can receive spring water but we cannot receive living water. Jesus said to a woman he met at the well of Jacob: “If you knew the gift of God, and who it is who says to you, ‘Give me a drink,’ you would have asked him, and he would have given you living water.” (John 4:10).

Receiving by faith concluded elections, the cleric described Gen. Muhammadu Buhari as “God’s sent”, saying God’s purpose for the Presidentelect came to pass despite various challenges, false prophecies and plots to overturn the election results.

He warned ministers of God who gives false prophecy concerning the country to desist from such, stop lying in the name of God and carry out their ministerial work accordingtoGod’s instruction. “False prophets should stop deceiving the masses, if God is not telling you anything about a situation, it is better to keep quiet,” he noted.

A baby validates things by putting it in his mouth. Can you receive what you cannot see, feel or touch?

Can you value what is absolutely free of charge?

Can you esteem what you do not have to buy with money? Simon the sorcerer could not. He sought to pay for the gifts of the Holy Spirit. But Peter rebuked him: “Your money perish with you, because you thought that the gift of God could be purchased with money!”

(Acts 8:20).

God says: “Come, all you who are thirsty, come to the waters; and you who have no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without cost. Why spend money on what is not bread, and your labour on what does not satisfy?

Listen, listen to me, and eat what is good, and your soul will delight in the richest of fare.” (Isaiah 55:1-2).

The word of God is everything. God does not

J

ESUS The Answer Pentecostal Ministries, aka Christ the Solution Rock Assembly has concluded plans to mark its 17th anniversary with the theme: “The Only True Unchangeable God”.

According to the host minister, Pastor Bon Ndukwe, the 7-day programme will

give anything without his word. His word is all in all.

In Jesus’ seminal prayer to God, he did not talk about giving believers houses, lands or property. Instead, he says: “I have given them your word; and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world.” (John 17:14).

Receiving the word Therefore, if God says: “I will give you a car,” beware what you receive because “the letter kills but the Spirit gives life”. (2 Corinthians 3:6). What then should you receive?

Don’t receive a car: receive the word. If he says he will give you a car, then he has not given you a car. What has he given? He has given his word. What will he give you? He will give you a car. Receive what he has given you. If you don’t receive the word he has given, you cannot receive the car he will give.

Mary says: “Blessed is she that believed: for there shall be a performance of those things which were told her from the Lord.”

(Luke 1:45). If we believe, there shall be a fulfilment.

To believe is to receive. In the world, we say: “seeing

is believing.” But in the kingdom, we believe to see.

Jesus says to Martha: “Did I not say to you that if you would believe you would see the glory of God?” (John 11:40).

Seek first the kingdom.

Always receive the word first. In all and every respect, the word of God is enough. Jesus is the word of God. Is Jesus enough for you? Would he only be acceptable if he comes with a car? What if Jesus comes with tribulations, would he be acceptable?

Would you then reject him?

Under what circumstances would Jesus become unacceptable? Under what circumstances would you lose interest in eternal life?

It does not matter, the pain and the anguish. It does not matter the discomfort.

Receive Jesus. If you receive Jesus and no car comes, let Jesus be enough.

If you receive Jesus and a car comes, let Jesus be enough.

Jesus is the word of God. If Jesus is enough, then the word of God is enough. If God says he will give you a car, rejoice in the word and not in the car. The word is more important than the car. God has no regard for cars. But he has magnified his word even above his name.” (Psalm 138:2). Rejoice then because God says he will give you a car.

Rejoice because: “it is we who are the circumcision, we who worship by the Spirit of God, who glory in Christ Jesus, and who put no confidence in the flesh.”

(Philippians 3:3).

Church marks 17th anniversary commence on Monday, May 25 to Sunday, May 31, 2015 at the church premises in Kuje Amuwo, Lagos and will feature salvation, healing, breakthrough, deliverance, promotion

amongst others with the former General Superintendent of Assemblies of God, Rev. Charles Osueke, Pastor Paschal Ositadinma, Pastor Lucky Odjoji and other anointed ministers of God ministering.

RCCG APAPA FAMILY HOLDS EXCEL 2015

I

N what has become an annual celebrated affair of music, worship, and insightful sermons; the eight in the series of the yearly gathering of the Apapa Family of the Redeemed Christian Church of God tagged EXCEL will hold on Sunday, June 7, 2015 at the Tafawa Balewa Square, Lagos.

Ministering at the event themed, ‘Riding On The Wings of Change’ is the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, Pastor Enoch Adeboye. This year’s Excel will feature music ministrations by Wale

Adenuga, Frank Edwards and Nathaniel Bassey. A statement by the Pastor-inCharge of the Region, Pastor Idowu Iluyomade, said the focus of this year’s event is on harnessing the thrust of change championed by the Apapa Family since the 2010 edition, which had the theme ‘Leading Change’.

The event billed for 7am will also offer free medical check-up and food for attendees. The Apapa Family is the group of churches that grew out of the old Apapa Parish of the Redeemed Christian Church of God.

DONATION … Co-ordinator Assemblies of God Lagos Mainland District, Rev. (Mrs.) Bright Okorie, (middle) presenting food items and cash to General Manager, The Heritage Homes Orphanage, Mrs Olakitan Osuntokun as part of activities marking the WM Day by the Evangel Women’s Ministries Foundation of the General Council of Assemblies of God held in Lagos.

Page 58 — SUNDAY Vanguard, MAY 10, 2015

VIEWPOINT

By Gbolahan Dimeji

VIEWPOINT IN BRIEF The fear of council polls

A

S Governor Raji Fasho la takes his exit from power it is necessary to ask him why he was not able to allow the state electoral commission to conduct elections into the state local governments before leaving office . In January, the governor swore in 57 Executive Secretaries for 20 LGs and 37 LCDAs instead of holding elections in the LG s and LCDAs whose tenure expired in December 2014 . That was clearly a misuse of power and authority. An announcement in the media said he would launch his book titled. The Example - The Era of Babatunde Raji Fashola as the Governor of Lagos State, and that he would speak at the Public Lecture Series of the Institute of Directors on the topic My Stewardship - Eight Years of

Democracy and delayed LG elections in Lagos Delivering Excellence, as the guest speaker of the IoD. The fact that the governor has appointed Executive Secretaries to head the local governments in his state rather than have elections as expected in a democratic dispensation puts a stigma on his claim to excellence in terms of service delivery during his tenure and casts aspersion on any claim or achievements he may want to celebrate as a democratically elected governor. This is because, by simply not allowing the elections to take place at the local government level which is the grassroots of our democracy, he has done worse than even a military dictatorship. So how can he claim excellence at the point of exit as a true democrat .? Certainly on the local government elections, the governor is leaving office as a dictator rather than a promoter and lover of democra-

cy. That is the truth and that is his legacy .

Some have said the fear of the APC losing local government elections on the eve of the 2015 elections was the paralyzing factor . It was felt in his government that it was becoming unpopular and the loss of the local government polls would be a death knell for the ruling party in the general elections . But then that was to be expected and the anti dote was to have had a good record of performance for eight years of two terms in office .

Nothing best illustrates poor performance and deceit on the part of his administration than the news that after cajoling the Okada motorcyclists to vote for his candidate at the last election for governorship which his party won, the state government asked the Okada people not to

ply routes which were opened for them during the campaigns for governorship which the APC has now won . Of course the state government’s hands were forced by the successful strategy of Jimi Agbaje of the PDP who rode to a campaign rally on Okada, a feat that drew tremendous applause and admiration from the Lagos electorate whose sympathy was with the Okada people because of their functionality and convenience in making people move around the state in an affordable means of transport . Now that the APC has won, the government has gone back on its words and the world is to be bleak and painful for Okada riders and their millions of Lagos commuters again .

That simply means the people of the state have been taken for a ride by a government that wooed Okada riders only to disap-

Delta, Emerhor and the undying change message VIEWPOINT

By FredLatimore Oghenesivbe

VIEWPOINT IN BRIEF

The alleged plot against APC

T

HE Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) at the national and state levels across the country is sinking. The party is embroiled in internal crisis because of the confusion which arose from its loss at the just concluded polls.

The craftsmen of the party are fading away, except in Delta and a few other states where the incumbent governors and their political associates are fighting back.

VIEWPOINT

By Obaro Obru-Egboro

VIEWPOINT IN BRIEF The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands in the times of challenges and controversies…………Martin Luther King Jnr

T

HE German Philosopher, Arthur Schupenhauer stated that all truth goes through three stepsit is ridiculed, it is violently opposed, and it is accepted as self evident.

Therefore it is safe to aver that the Oil Producing Communities of Delta State is one locality where the chicanery of leadership is already an albatross and should not be further compromised and held hostage by tribal concepts. With the razzmatazz of democracy came suspicion, distrust, bickering, disunity and various socio-political challenges amongst the ethnic nationalities in Delta State, In the light of all these and in an effort to try and assuage the oil producing communities in Delta State.

The government came up with a child of necessity, christened DESOPADEC (Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission) to balance development and growth and also to articulate the agitations of the oil producing communities in the State.

For those not familiar with the politics of Delta State, the Commission

Delta is worst hit by the scheming of these desperate elements. For 16 years in the state, they held sway using various methods to suppress the electorate’s strong desire to elect their own leader The 2015 elections were not easy for the PDP in Delta. The party leaders had sleepless nights holding meetings on how to suppress the rising political popularity of Olorogun O’tega Emerhor and the unprecedented crave for the All Progressives Party (APC) by the vast majority of Deltans.

PDP beneficiaries of government wealth had to pull huge financial resources together to use all

manner of unlawful means to disenfranchise Deltans so as to install one of their own.

They employed rigging strategies and allocated huge financial resources to actualize their unholy intentions. From the party primary, the heir-apparent to the throne was hand picked. They came together to hatch the plan to frustrate the desire of Deltans for CHANGE. Deltans actually fought for CHANGE but the financial resources and the fire power of the cabal was too fierce to checkmate.

Here we are, still pressing forward to actualize the CHANGE that Deltans truly yearned for. The

struggle continues, the appointed time is near.

The essence of this piece is to let the world know the new strategy by the PDP cabal currently sponsoring internal crisis within the rank and file of Delta APC. They have allegedly voted a huge amount to fight Emerhor and weaken the popularity and super presence of APC in Delta.

Advertorials and media reports targeted at the APC governorship candidate in the 2015 elections in Delta speak volumes of the plot.

Emerhor deployed personal resources in large quantity to ensure APC becomes what it is today in Delta and is still working

point them after securing their votes. That is certainly dishonest and is a misuse of a fresh election mandate and is highly condemnable.

Whether the outgoing governor likes it or not, he is postponing the evil day for his party as Lagos is not a one party state as the 2015 elections have shown with the brilliant performance of Jimi Agbaje of the PDP at the guber election.

Lagosians cannot wait long enough to get even with the APC for the nagging electoral fear of the outgoing governor in not being democratic enough to organize LG and LCDAs election before his exit as demanded by the law.

Definitely there is nothing excellent about such an undemocratic legacy.

•Dimeji, a public affairs commentator, is based in Lagos. so hard and spending his hard earned money to project the party in the state.

It is the “never say die” attitude of Emerhor that is creating discomfort for the PDP cabal. At the moment, petty squabbles and malice have crept into the leadership of APC in the state, sponsored by the PDP hell bent on ensuring that Deltans remain in hunger, acute poverty and decayed infrastructure.

Meanwhile, Emerhor, the progressives and the APC will not relent, Delta must be rescued from the PDP. Emerhor remains the arrowhead of the APC in the state and very soon the party will take over political leadership from the PDP. •Oghenesivbe, a political commentator, is based in Asaba.

DESOPADEC, matters arising and the burden of history was designed to look out for the interest of the oil producing communities with a clear mandate to rehabilitate, rejuvenate, resuscitate, and holistically develop the oil producing communities in respect of their socio-economic challenges as it were. This mandate is captured succinctly in section 13(1) of the enabling Law which set up the Commission which states that the Commission shall receive and administer exclusively 50% of the 13% oil derivation fund accruing to Delta State Government.

The rehabilitation and development of oil producing areas in the State, other development projects as may be determined from time to time by the Commission.

What is agitating our minds today as stakeholders in the oil producing localities is that so far, DESOPADEC seems more like a voodoo existing only in name with negligible impact in respect of its activities in the oil communities. Apart from a few water boreholes, boy‘s quarter-like health centres and access roads constructed by traders, tailors and mechanics as road engineers, there is not much to be remembered of the Commission and its statutory responsibilities. According to close watchers of the Commission it has been the case of either insufficient funds or humongous funds misappropriation.

Today the Commission LPOs are rejected by banks because of the burden of debts and unfulfilled promises especially on the part of frustrated

contractors. It is safe to aver that DESOPADEChasnotdeliveredonitsmandate because it has not been properly strengthen institutionally in terms of funding and programme evaluation/ monitoring. Instead of looking into the factors that are presently bedeviling DESOPADEC from optimally delivering on its mandate, we have decided as government to perfidiously bludgeon the Commission into new nepotic liliputan bodies through a bill called the DESOPADEC BILL now before the Delta State House of Assembly. It is corruption vampires and bandits that strangled DESOPADEC to its present state of a near morbid cadaver. This approach of the Government can be likened to a man who fetch home firewood infested with ants and trying to avoid the invasion of lizards.

The take of this discourse is that what stifled DESOPADEC will also crush the new bodies and the haste with which the bill is being pressured for passage suggests that the government intentions are suspicious. The Delta State House of Assembly should study the proposal very well by giving it the expected public hearing. The DESOPADEC and NYSC are oxymoronic in their objectives as to fostering unity and the former was deliberately designed to create a synergy amongst the oil producing ethnic nationalities. The new DESOPADEC Bill is fraught with disunity that we are labouring to engender. This is not the time in our history as a state to

encourage concepts that would further divide us along tribal lines. The establishment of Agencies and Corporations with tribal colourations will further push us apart especially in the oil producing communities with cultural affinity adumbrated by similar traditional values. The bickering and political cum economic wars fostered on us by the divisive political Goliaths in our midst helps only to oil their egos. It is high time we resisted these by saying enough is enough.

DESOPADEC is a laudable concept and it brings all the oil producing communities under one umbrella with appointed representatives designated Commissioners. The Commission ordinarily fosters unity with rotation of its executive positions amongst the oil producing ethnic nationalities. What we need at this point is to strengthen this much vaunted Commission through a non-corruption funding and sincere evaluation and monitoring of its projects to realize its objectives and not the new jumbo proposal being proposed by this administration which is structurally defective.

The DESOPADEC Bill recently sent to the Delta State House of Assembly by the out-going Uduaghan administration will not have elicited so much acrimony if not for the timing and the haste with which the Bill is been hurried for passage in the mist of other pending bills in an administration in its twilight or injury time so to speak. Over the years there is this

mutual feeling of mistrust between the oil communities and the Delta State government over the administration of the 50% of the 13% derivationfundthroughDESOPADEC.Presently the Host Communities( HOSTCOM) are in court over the issue of 230BN accruals to the communities through the Commission in the past 8 years which according to them has not been properly accounted for.

In his literary wisdom, George Santayana(1863-1952) admonished us pro bono that –those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it. As a paradigm shift we should resolve to do things differently by strengthening our institutions with corruption -free funding and sincere implementation of their objectives in line with global best practices. As the Lawyers would say ipso loquito- A hood does not make a monk and so in a nutshell the Delta State Government and her House of Assembly should jettison the bill in all its ramifications. This new bill with its ambitious jumbo provisions will suffocate the dwindling oil revenue accruals occasioned by the drop in global oil prices with nothing left for development. It is a disunity tsunami, ill timed and ill conceived that will blow stunted growth wind into the oil producing areas with its present pyrrhic peace.

•Obaro Obru-Egboro, president, Down2earth Network (a nongovernmental initiative)

SUNDAY Vanguard, MAY 10, 2015,

Between Buhari’s Integrity, “Change” and Jonathan’s Greatest Failing across the country.

He charged Nigerians, particuBy Adebayo Rasheed Mabayoje larly members of the APC, to put their conscience to test on their sinVIEWPOINT IN BRIEF The next cabinet must be peopled cerity about the APC mantra“change”. The then aspirant told by men of integrity the delegates: “I am not a rich perT is weeks to the swearing-in son. I can’t give you a fistful of dolthe president- elect, Muham- lars or naira to purchase your supmadu Buhari. I reflect on how port. Even if I could, I would not things came the way it is today for do so. The fate of this nation is not the retired general and conclude up for sale. What I will give you, on integrity. “No real success is and this nation is all of my possible, no matter whether it is strength, commitment, sweat and on a section gang, a football field, toil in the service of the people. in an army, or in an office”, unless What I can give you is my all”.

These words from this man of upon honest and strong moral prinshort words won ovation from ciples.

Buhari and lost three election those present at the primary. Only battles for the presidency only to a few politicians in today’s Nigeria would talk and be taken for his win the fourth.

All interests relating to Buhari’s words. Only a few has something ‘final battle’ for Aso Rock started to do with integrity which expectto build up in quick succession edly travels before them. After the immediately after last December times of great Nigerians like Chief 10. That was the day the presiden- Obafemi Awolowo, Dr. Nnamdi tial primary of the All Progressives Azikiwe and Alhaji Tafawa Congress (APC) flagged off in La- Balewa, only the likes of the Osun gos at the Teslim Balogun Stadi- Governor Rauf Aregbesola um. Four presidential aspirants amongst other few would have slugged it out with Buhari at the people listen to and take them for their words like they did of Buhari. primary. Former Vice President Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, publish- This is so because, a check on peoer of Leadership Newspaper Mr. ple like this reveals some comSam Nda-Isaiah, Kano State monness in their lifestyle. They are Governor Alhaji Rabiu Kwankwa- rigorous, self-restrained, simple, so and Imo State Governor Chief frugal, courageous in the face of Rochas Okorocha viee with Bu- pain, danger or adversity. These virtues go everywhere ahead of hari.

Buhari had the least financial them, and whenever the need arismuscle to stake on that day. He es they easily purchase their goals had no dollars to place on a win at with the integrity the have earlier built for themselves. the occasion.

For 16 years, Nigeria particularIt is historic that a speech of less than 10 minutes could trigger a ly the political system during new political orientation in those Jonathan’s reign- has been like 800 delegates who were represent- bazaar. By and large, the system atives of the APC membership got rotten such that Nigerians be-

VIEWPOINT

I

VIEWPOINT

By Osaretin Omoregie

VIEWPOINT IN BRIEF

The need for leadership change

I

cannot seem to remember ex actly when you assumed office as Chairman of our party in Edo State but it now seems such a long time ago that I even think you have over-stayed in office and, therefore, your welcome. It is common knowledge that at the time you inherited your present position, our party was more vibrant, relevant, cohesive and full of hope even as an opposition party. Today, my dear Chairman, our members feel that you have given your best, not in positioning the party on winning ways, but in running it sluggishly on the road to extinction. Ironically, you continue to delude yourself and a few others that the recent electoral ‘victories’ signify a strengthened party sure of victory in the governorship election coming up in our state next year 2016.

Let me remind you that before the just conducted presidential, national and state assembly elections, our party had two out of the three senators representing us in Abuja. Today, we have managed to retain the number. We recorded a marginal gain in the House of Rep-

came totally disorientated regarding how things should normally run. Some say it is a backlash of the military interregnum in our democracy. This cannot be so because -for example- like Nigeria, Ghana also suffered military intervention, and most Ghanians today know “right from wrong”.

Their experience of military rule started with when the government of independence leader Kwame Nkrumah (the founding father of Pan-Africanism) was toppled by a military coup in 1966 amid growing dissatisfaction over corruption, declining living standards and spiraling foreign debts. This is quite similar to the experience of Nigeria’s first coup of 15 January 1966.

Also like Nigeria, Ghana held a successful general election in 1969, although Nigeria’s own (a parlia-

Buhari’s quality of honesty and strong moral principles as it is being celebrated today is mostly traced to his days as a head of a military government in Nigeria 30 years ago

mentary) was held a decade earlier- 12 December 1959. Both countries at different times similarly entered a new period of political uncertainty and economic stagnation for long periods.

Analysts of military interregnum in Nigeria and Ghana maintain that only two military regimes in both countries came close in similarity- placing their scorecards on living up to the reason behind their takeover of government in both countries at different times. Military governments of Jerry Rawlings of Ghana and Nigeria’s Muhammadu Buhari come quite similar by the manner both leaders dealt with corruption. However unlike what obtained in Ghana where after “solidifying power” and economic and political conditions in the country improved, Rawlings went on to win two presidential elections in 1992 and 1996 and placed the development of the country on a very sound footing.

This was not so for Nigeria as Buhari’s 22 months military administration was toppled on August 27, 1985.

Buhari, like Rawlings, dealt with corruption and established a right social order of right discipline in the Nigerian systems. Buhari’s quality of honesty and strong moral principles as it is being celebrated today is mostly traced to his days as a head of a military government in Nigeria 30 years ago.

It is integrity that earned Buhari 3,430 votes from the 800 APC delegates who gathered in Lagos last December for the party’s presidential primary. In the same manner, Buhari earned 2.57 million votes of the electorate by virtue of his integrity and the political ideolo-

Open letter to Edo PDP Chairman resentatives seats winning five of the nine available seats. Our woeful performance in the House of Assembly election cancels whatever gains we may have made in the House of Representatives election.

It shows we are no longer a grassroots party if out of 24 seats in the state House of Assembly we were able to win only three. Of what significance will three members’ voice be in an assembly where the overwhelming majority comes from the ruling party? I think the same question can be asked in re-

Not only did we lose the presidency, we lost some of our members I consider to be the pillars which held the roof over our heads

spect of the National Assembly members from our state. Can what happened in Ishan where we retained the senatorial seat, the two House of Representatives seats and three of six state assembly seats be considered victory for our party?

Has the opposition boxed us into an Ishan corner the same way Nigeria has boxed our party into an Igbo/Niger Delta enclave?

Losing the presidency, Mr. Chairman, amounts to losing the promise of a bright tomorrow for our party. Not only did we lose the presidency, we lost some of our members I consider to be the pillars which held the roof over our heads.

Consider the impact the exit of Captain Hosa Okunbor, Gen. Charles Airhiavbere, Gen. Idada Ikponwen, Prof. Osariemen Osunbor and many others has had on our party in the wake of the March 28 presidential election loss. On the eve of the House of Assembly election, your local government area Chairman of our party defected to the opposition, thereby paving the way for an easy win.

Some of the other ‘powerful’ members of our party are, in fact, also planning to leave not minding the fact that the National Chairman of the opposition has warned

our members to stay where they are. All these men and their supporters and followers who have left us dealt us a heavy uppercut from which we may never recover, at least not in the nearest future. Who will fund the party now, Mr. Chairman? Is it you, Osagie Ize-Iyamu, Mike Oghiadomhe, Mike Onolememen, Lucky Imasuen or Mathew Urhoghide?

By all means the biggest loser in all of this is you, Mr. Chairman.

The results we achieved in the national elections indicated clearly that you will never be able to realize your long standing ambition to remove Comrade Adams Oshiomhole from office before the expiration of his governorship in November 2016. Mr. Chairman, your dream is unrealisable now that your party does not have control of the incoming House of Assembly and Oshiomhole will not contest the next governorship election.

Where does all of this leave you, Mr. Chairman?

Someone told me a few days ago that he thought you had been a big distraction to our party by the way you had carried puppetry and clownishness to high levels. He said you engaged in talk while the opposition engaged in thinking

Page 59

gy of his party.

The last six years is bad under President Goodluck Jonathan whom the last Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, described as though a simple man trying to do his best but whose “greatest failing obviously is that he is surrounded by people who are extremely incompetent, who are extremely fraudulent and whom he trusts.”

For the new Buhari government, a number of challenges stand. The head of Nigeria’s next government is undoubtedly renowned for his enviable integrity. Same goes for the incoming Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo - a religious man and renown egg-head. Both men have great profiles. But can these “two good trees make a forest”? Thus, it makes sense to drop anchor on the foregoing at the point of the first crucial task before Buhari- composition of his cabinet with competent hands and people of integrity. Point blank, it would be disastrous for Nigeria if Buhari is later also described as being “surrounded by people who are extremely incompetent, who are extremely fraudulent and whom he trusts.”

To determine “other trees that would make the forest” with him in his government, it is pertinent that Buhari takes a critical look at the all important speech he delivered in December in Lagos, especially the last of the five pledges he made that he “will select the best Nigerians for posts” in his government. Expectedly, such people must be of integrity and strength – people with unbending commitment to do what is right. A leader’s integrity is actually worth the quality of characters that runs government with him. I so submit!

•Mabayoje, a journalist and political analyst, lives in Osun State 08032866333

and acting out policies and programmes that benefit the populace. He was, therefore, not surprised about the results of the national elections. I must confess that I am in agreement that the way you have carried on is inimical to the progress, stability of our party and state. While you are waving papers on television and/or campaign grounds about what sums of money Oshiomhole has expended on particular sub-heads, the government remained focused and progressive and our people watched and noted the difference. The verdict delivered on April 11 is that no one was ever swayed by your comical, clownish display.

Which way forward, Mr. Chairman? It is difficult at the moment to suggest a way forward for our party which can lead us to Government House in 2016 or beyond.

We can at least start now to put the broken pieces of our party together by bringing forward the proposed congresses scheduled for later this year. Our party requires a leadership change now. It is now a situation of the earlier the better if we must hold back the members threatening to leave for greener pastures.

•Omoregie, a political affairs analyst, is resident in Benin-City.

Page 60 —

SUNDAY Vanguard, MAY 10, 2015

2015 GLOBAL CONNECTIVITY INDEX:

include data centers, cloud services, Big Data, broadband, and the Internet of Things.

These technologies, the release added represent the targets that stakeholders should focus their investments on in order to most efficiently transform their economies for the digital age.

Recommendation: For a better connected West Africa, Huawei GCI ecommended increased datacenter investment, developing economies need to moving from Investing in supply to building demand and learning from developing countries’ success to become Global GCI leaders.

Nigeria ranked among top 3 emerging broadband markets

By EMEKA AGINAM

D

espite its infrastructural c h a l l e n g e s , Nigeria is among the top three countries in the emerging broadband markets, according to the first Global Connectivity Index, GCI, on West Africa released at the weekend by Huawei Technologies.

Covering 50 countries including Nigeria among others and 90% of the world’s population, the 2015 GCI, highlited on the growing opportunities around the world.

Although all economies are digitizing, the GCI provides a guide of which country is ahead, behind , why and who is poised to move up or back.

The Index , among other things benchmarks 50 economies in terms of connectivity, ICT usage, and digital transformation.

The President of Huawei Western Africa Region Mr. Peng Song who released the GCI at the just concluded Huawei Cloud Congress (HCC) West Africa 2015 held in Lagos at the weekend told the gathering that Nigeria has a small fixed base but huge potential in the uptake of mobile products.

Stating that Nigeria is one of the world’s largest mobile subscriber markets offering impressive opportunities primarily in the mobile broadband space where rapid m-Commerce uptake is driving market growth, he said , “Nigerians are the highest

number of internet users in Africa all of which accumulates to an improved potential within the country.

Overall, the 2015 GCI, according to him, showed that 20% growth in ICT investment will increase a country’s GDP by 1%.

“The Global Connectivity Index is not merely a ranking of countries. We see it as a platform to partner with policymakers and enterprise leaders to identify, harness, and create new digital economy opportunities with the aim of building a better Connected West Africa.”, , he said.

By 2025, according to Huawei forecast, as many as 100 billion connections will be generated globally, 90 percent of which will come from intelligent sensors.

This increase, he said will be attributed to enterprises becoming enabled by the internet.

By leveraging connectivity to streamline business processes, reduce costs and improve efficiency, enterprises will drive innovation and move the focus from a consumer driven internet to an industrial one.

•Mr. Peng Song

“It is an amazing era with rapid growth and data explosion. In this dynamic environment, Huawei will continue to invest in IT industry, emphasizing on the concept of being integrated, customer-

Data centers, cloud services, big data, broadband, and the Internet of Things are enablers of digital transformation

S

mart phone maker, Archos has introduced fusion storage, a software innovation for android users , recently unveiled by the French brand at this year’s Mobile World Congress in Barcelona.

The solution, according to the mobile phone maker is now available on the Archos 101 Oxygen, Archos 50 Diamond, Archos 52 Platinum, and Archos 50b Helium respectively.

To allow users enjoy more applications or content, it merges the internal memory capacity of the device with that of the Micro SD card.

NBC to tackle anti competitive practices in Nigerian broadcasting

T

he National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) at the weekend said that it would tackle headlong the long standing issue of competition

within the Nigerian TV market.

The Commission had recently invited an international team of TV market consultants to

Ericsson opens network operations center in Lagos

T

centric and providing customers with innovative, differentiated, leading-edge products and solutions. “, he added.

Top countries: The United States ranked highest among surveyed countries with Sweden, Singapore and Switzerland leading the GCI. Similarly, Chile, China, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), according to the GCI lead the developing markets, with all three ranking in the high teens to low twenties overall.

Enablers of digital transformation Accordingly, the GCI also identified five enablers of digital transformation to

Archos unveils fusion storage software

o better serve both operators and end users across the continent, Ericsson is building a new network operations center in Lagos, Nigeria, while expanding the capabilities of its existing facility in Abidjan, Ivory Coast.

Expected to be operational by the third quarter of the year, the capabilities provided by the network operations centers will include engineering, operations and customer experience management.

The facilities in Nigeria and Ivory Coast, according to Fredrik Jejdling, Head of Region Sub-Saharan Africa at Ericsson in a press conference recently would help Ericsson’s customers in Africa make the transition from managing network performance to managing the quality of end-user services such as voice, web browsing and video streaming.

Capabilities provided by the network operations centers, he added will include engineering, operations and customer experience management Lagos and Abidjan, he said were selected

as the sites for the network operations centers due to the availability of talent, infrastructure and connectivity, and will act as hubs used to manage networks across the rest of Africa.

“As the country in Africa with both the largest population and the largest economy, Nigeria was the logical choice as the host country for our newest network operations center. Together with the expanded facility in Ivory Coast, this center will allow us to continue a proud tradition of more than 100 years working with our customers in Africa.”, he said. He disclosed that the network operations centers will help operators keep pace with rapid socio-economic and technological changes in Sub-Saharan Africa , a region that had 635 million subscriptions in 2014 and is expected to have 930 million subscriptions by the end of 2019.

Ericsson is the global leader in telecommunications managed services, managing networks for multiple operators worldwide via a combination of global and local network operations centers.

undertake an economic baseline study of the sector.

Sources at the Commission disclosed that in order to adequately deal with some of the issues which has arisen from both the digital transition and the competition issues within the Nigerian broadcasting market, the NBC recently set up the DigiGroup Contact Team made up of broadcasters, signal distributors, set top box manufacturers, legal and technology experts.

The team, according to NBC, would specifically undertake a review of current market structures to see if there are any restrictions to content, including premium rights and events. Accordingly, the team will also look at whether such restrictions hinders the emergence of new services, and platforms, and their ability to compete effectively.

The consultants, among other things, would also assess other issues such as: Market dominance, network, program access rules and content exclusivity; impact of the

advertising market on broadcast revenue and operations; with particular attention to revenue returns for broadcast stations.

The consultant, NBC said would examine whether any current market conduct adversely affects revenue for broadcasting stations in Nigeria.

This is of vital importance because the economic survival of the broadcasting market depends on the operation of the advertising market.

Furthermore, the commission is set to institute a team of local and foreign experts to examine the role of foreign sports broadcasting property rights, such as football rights on the cost of pay television in Nigeria as against the development of our local leagues, and its impact on the cost of pay television in Nigeria.

The committee which shall be formally constituted soon, NBC said shall work to reduce the possible impact of such rights on the cost of our local TV rates.

SUNDAY VANGUARD, MAY 10, 2015 PAGE 61

Star Football SuperFans gameshow: Arsenal fans drag Chelsea fans to penalties TAR SuperFans, the and excitement reach an moving his team deep Five Star and Ultimate S popular game unprecedented level. into Five Star FC’s before Kelechi Ohaju of show powered by Star Timothy Ike of territory. James Samuel Five Star replied with a Lager, witnessed an explosive matchup in the fifth episode which aired this week. Ultimate FC made up of five Chelsea fans and Five Star FC made up of five Arsenal supporters, the episode became the first to go to penalties since the inception of the game show, and it saw tension

•Martins

Martins on Bournemouth radar E

NGLISH Premier League new entrants AFC Bournemouth, who won the English Championship this season, have been linked to Nigeria striker Obafemi Martins.

The former Levante striker has been in superb form for Seattle Sounders

in the Major League Soccer (MLS) since last season and has scored six goals in seven games this season.

To land Martins, the England Championship winners must be ready to pay big money to the Nigeria striker, that may block the move as has been speculated because

the team are not big spenders.

During their rise from the lower league to the Premier League, Bournemouth have resisted big spending and focused mostly on building from within.

Martins is not new to EPL as he played for Newcastle United and Birmingham City.

Ultimate FC scored the game’s first 20-pointer,

and Collins Ugwu then missed questions for

correctly answered 20pointer.

Keshi

AFCON competition in Equatorial Guinea.

“We are not taking Chad for granted, neither are we taking any other team for granted,” he told sl10.ng.

“We want to take every

team seriously and avoid giving things away. We must learn from previous mistakes and I’m sure the players know that too.”

The 53-year old called on Nigerians to get behind the Super Eagles and give them the support they needed, which he says will give the players belief in themselves.

“I urge the fans to be patient and support the team,” he added.

“They need to have belief in their team and with time we will meet our targets.”

Continued from BP a mixed reaction from fans and pundits in Nigeria, with many concerned by his inability to qualify the team for the 2015

Awoniyi Continued from BP at the end of the day.

“With the preparations we have put in, we want to be world champions in New Zealand. Every game will be a cup final for us,” Awoniyi told Fifa.com.

“We are yet to watch any videos of our opponents, but our coaches have concentrated fully on preparing us for whatever challenges we will come across. We are ready.

“Our biggest strength is outside the pitch of play. It is the unity among the players. We are a big, happy family.

“On a personal level, scoring goals comes naturally to me. I also hold the ball up-front and try and bring my team-mates into the attack. I play for the team as well.”

Continued from BP others to feel good about them,”Okagbare reeled out.

She wondered why the AFN boss would compare her with her Ivorian rival Muriel Ahoure, adding that, it was an “absurdity”.

“He is comparing me with the Ivory Coast athlete? What that country has done and still doing for that girl, have they done it for me?

“You can call my coach in Sapele and confirm.

He and my husband on several occasions have distributed clothing and shoes to athletes and even soccer players. My coach will testify how I have shaped some of the athletes and soccer players lives,”Okagbare added.

She called on Nigerian athletes to stand up for their rights.

“We Nigerian athletes must

C M Y K

“Football is unpredictable. We are African champions and we want to prove ourselves again at the World Cup. I don’t want to think of failure in New Zealand because I believe in this team,” he concluded.

Burnley Continued from BP continue Burnley’s fine form against Hull, however results elsewhere consigned them to the drop.

Victories for Aston Villa and Leicester City coupled with Newcastle United’s draw with West Brom leave Sean Dyche’s side stranded in the drop zone.

Much has been made of the prudent way in which Burnley have operated in the transfer market since sealing automatic promotion back to the top flight last

Okagbare not sit down and fold our arms. We must insist that the right things must be done, that it the only

Rangers Continued from BP though he hopes to win, he can only give as much as he gets.

“We have a very bad situation,” he said.

“Three of our players have been stopped from playing and I cannot do anything about that,” he lamented.

“We have several players injured so we’ll just have to make do with what we have. We hope to win but I cannot do beyond my best.”

The trio of Osas Okoro, Orji Kalu and Bobby Clement have been barred by the League Management Company

May after finishing as Championship runnersup to Leicester.

A safety-first financial approach to the club’s future meant that Dyche’s side were firm favourites for the drop before a ball had even been kicked in 2014-15 and their season started with a 10-game winless run in the league.

Draws away at Chelsea and Manchester City – coupled with a memorable 1-0 win over the latter at Turf Moor in March – offered fans hope of proving the doubters wrong, but a lack of goals in their runin cost them. way we can make progress in our sport.”

Okagbare and the Nigerian 4x200m quartet won a relay gold at the Bahamas meet. from playing against their former team, Heartland, as controversy continues over their true ownership.

And Emeteole, a former Heartland coach, went on to state that he cannot do much with the current players he has since most of them were signed on loan.

“Most of the players we have here are on loan.

The club is complaining about finance so they can’t sign players and now we have to make do with the players we have and already three of them will not be playing,” he lamented further.

PAGE 62 — SUNDAY Vanguard, MAY 10, 2015

Rivalry with Real pushes Barca on — Enrique Aguero B

ARCELONA coach Luis Enrique has admitted that La Liga rivals Real Madrid have forced his side to maintain a consistently high level throughout the campaign.

Barca, yesterday beat Real Sociedad 2-0 to maintain their lead.

There are only two games of the Primera Division campaign remaining and, though the Catalans command a two-point advantage over the capital side, the ex-Spain international, who turned 44 on Friday, believes nothing is settled in the title race.

“We’ve had the good sense to rely on our own results so far, and we want to keep it that way.

We will not relax. We’re thinking of our fans 100 per cent and the key is to win these points and be champions,” Enrique said

Earlier this season, there was a rift between the coach and star player Lionel Messi, but the former Celta boss has now praised the unity in the locker room.

Asked what his perfect birthday present might be, he responded: “The best gift has been the players’ professional attitude this season. The best gift for all of us would be trophies.

“I always watch how the bench players celebrate the goals. ” The Catalans are still placed to win the treble of La Liga, the Copa del Rey and the Champions League.

Pep taking over at City EP Guardiola will quit as Bayern Munich manager P and take over at Manchester

City, according to an extraordinary report.

The report emanates via Qatari-owned sports media giant Bein Sports, who claim that the former Barcelona manager has agreed to join City in time for the 2015-16 season.

A tweet on their company’s Arabic language account quoted by the Manchester Evening News reportedly read: “Urgent - sources beIN SPORTS: Manchester City reached a tentative agreement with Bayern Munich coach Guardiola to train the team for next season.”

Former Sky football anchor Richard Keys, who now works extensively in the Middle East, claimed that the story is “true”.

Meanwhile Bayern lost 1-0 at home to Ausburg as goalkeeper Pepe Reina was sent off.

First-choice Manuel Neuer was rested with Tuesday ’s Champions League semi-final against Barcelona in mind.

Bayern wrapped up the league title two weeks ago, but have lost all four games since then - including a penalty shootout defeat by Borussia Dortmund in the German Cup semi-final.

Guardiola has rejected suggestions his mission at the club has failed, saying: “It’s been a super season.”

Addressing the media at his news conference in Munich on Friday, Guardiola defended his record.

“There will always be pressure at a big club,” he said. “I accept that. I also want to win everything, but sometimes it’s not easy.

STAR ATTRACTION... Barcelona’s Lionel Messi and Man City’s Sergio Aguero battle for ball possesion during a champions league match.

Depay will be United’s Messi — Van Gaal M EMPHIS Depay ‘goalscoring winger ’ like Lionel Messi - Louis van Gaal Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal mentioned Memphis Depay in the same breath as Lionel Messi as he said why he is signing his f e l l o w Dutchman.

United agreed a £25 million fee with PSV

Eindhoven on Thursday for Depay, who will become their first summer signing providing he passes a medical at Old Trafford.

The Netherlands international is the top scorer in the Eredivisie this season with 21 goals and Van Gaal — who worked with the winger at the 2014 World Cup — said that prolific return had convinced him to bring in the youngster.

“He’s a goal-scoring winger and there aren’t so many of them in the world,” Van Gaal told MUTV. “Messi is one of those.”

Van Gaal said he acted swiftly and decisively because Depay, who was also a target for Liverpol, would have moved to Paris Saint-Germain if he did not.

Memphis Depay is set to join Manchester United for £25 million.

“I was forced to handle [the situation] as a manager because, otherwise, he was going to PSG,” he said. “That’s why I had to sign him and we’ve done it within one day.

But, for us, it’s better to focus on the game against [Crystal] Palace [on Saturday].”

bemoans title miss M

anchester City ’s inform goalscorer is leading the race for the Premier League Golden Boot - but rues a missed title opportunity.

The Manchester City hitman took his goalscoring tally to 22 - the best in the Premier League - in the 1-0 win over Tottenham last Sunday to move two clear of Spurs’ Harry Kane in the race for the Golden Boot. Chelsea’s injured forward Diego Costa, with 19, is third but may not play again this season, so Aguero is on course to finish as the top scorer in England for the first time.

Aguero, 26, with 28 strikes in all competitions this term, predictably would swap a potential Golden Boot win for another title medal.

“I’d rather be competing for the top position of the Premier League,” he told the City website.

“I always say goals are worth more when they let us make great achievements as a team.

“But that’s no longer a possibility, so I hope I keep doing things right in these last three games so we can reach the best position possible and so I can be the top goal-scorer this season.

“I’d be hugely proud of achieving that goal in the games that remain.”

City host QPR - a fixture that is imprinted in Aguero’s mind following his final-day title winning goal of three years ago. “Even if each match is different from one another, it’s inevitable that we’ll remember that 2012 game, right?” said Aguero.

“It’s simply impossible to take that out of your mind because of all it meant to this club, the players and our fans. In any case, things must be put in perspective. That was an incredible, one-of-a-kind day.

Mourinho questions manager of the month award J

Calling United...

Memphis Depay

OSE Mourinho has admitted that he is intrigued to know who is on the Premier League manager of the month panel after being overlooked again for the award in April.

Chelsea have led the Premier League since their first game but Mourinho is yet to win the honour, making him the first manager of a championshipwinning team to go the season unrewarded since he won the title with Chelsea in 2005-06.

“For many months no defeats, only victories but I can do nothing,” said Mourinho. “I can just enjoy my title, which is the most important thing. My

objective for the season is to be champion and what comes and what doesn’t come doesn’t come.

“I prefer not to comment, but I would like to know the people in the panel.

Who are they because maybe someday I meet somebody and I want to hug him.”

On his own personal situation ahead of talks to extend his Chelsea contract, Mourinho said: “I don’t need a contract.

Mr Abramovich has to be calm because he has me, I’m in his hands, I want to stay, I don’t want to leave, I’m not asking for a better contract, I’m very calm, so he doesn’t have to be worried.

SUNDAY VANGUARD, MAY 10, 2015 PAGE 63

Ifeanyi Uba United: A new concept of club football in Nigeria •He is another Abiola — Amun

By Jacob Ajom

S

ITTING second in the log with 13 points from 7 matches, newly promoted Ifeanyi Uba United has been one of the surprise teams of the 2014/15 Glo Professional League season, so far. For a team that is tasting top flight action for the first time in over a decade to exert so much authority and lord it over and above relatively ‘older’ clubs in the league speaks volumes. One may say it is still early to praise the club’s exploits in the top flight, but it can be argued that Ifeanyi Uba United have brought about a fresh breath into the Nigerian Professional Football League.

Originally called Gabros International Football Club of Nnewi, the club changed it name to Ifeanyi Uba United following the change in ownership structure, just before the kick off of the ongoing season. The

•Uba entry of Chief Ifeanyi Uba into the Nigerian football family has been welcomed by all those who know him and his football roots.

Chief Uba was a goalkeeper with his childhood club, Gabros International Football Club in the early 1990s.

Indeed, he went for trials in coach Fanny Amun’s U-17 camp, alongside the likes of Nwankwo Kanu, Wilson Oruma, Peter Anosike, Celestine Babayaro, Pascal Ojigwe among

others.

In the goalkeeping department, Amun preferred Emmanuel Babayaro, Destiny Iyonu and Emmanuel Okhenoboh to Uba. That was how he missed the cut to Japan.

“He was a very good goalkeeper,” Coach

Fanny Amun admitted, in a chat with Sunday Vanguard Sports.

Ifeanyi Uba’s soccer career did not last for long as he soon went into business. Having made it big in the world of business, Uba, who is the CEO of Capital Oil decided to return to his childhood club, this time in a bigger way. He bought over the club and injected new blood into the technical and administrative makeup.

New players were also drafted in to keep the club afloat in the highly competitive top division.

In his continuous drive for excellence, the club proprietor attracted some of the best hand and brains to the club.

Former Flying Eagles coach, John Obuh and Fanny Amun were brought in as part of the technical set up. While Obuh was handed a

supervisory role, Amun’s job is to set up a proper structure for the club, while Waidi Akanni will act as consultant.

Bulgarian coach Mitko Dobrev will continue in his role as technical adviser of the Nigeria Professional Football League side. Willy Udobe remains chief coach and Kingsley Obiekwu assistant coach.

Although Amun denied taking up a permanent appointment with the club, he admitted the club contacted him for help, which he obliged.

Said he, “I was called to put in place a framework which will make the club excel like Chelsea, Arsenal and the like.

The methodology on ground was faulty. That has been corrected and I’m almost through with my job there.”

He heaped accolades

Techies tourney 2015: Microsoft emerges winners

I

T was a different ball game altogether when the football team of tech giant, Microsoft, MS Spartans took on Team SAP Nigeria in the finals of the Play for Literacy Battle of the Techies Tourney held at the Campos Square Mini Stadium.

MS Spartans defeated Team SAP Nigeria in the final match by 3-2 on penalties after playing 2-2 at regulation time. Team SAP Nigeria led by Arinze Okonkwo gave a good account of themselves in the epic final.

The awareness and funds raised from the match will go to Educate-aCommunity Literacy Programme, a charity project which works for educationally disadvantaged women and children. AYECI Africa, a non-profit organization launched the Play for Literacy (PFL) Tourney in 2013 as an engaging way to mobilize leading corporate organizations and their employees to give to its literacy project.

The Play for Literacy Tourney which is fast becoming a sought-after charity sporting event by corporate organizations celebrates the value and C M Y K

power literacy offers in promoting knowledge and improving people’s prospects while creating more empowered communities.

Shina Oyetosho of MS Spartans who scored twice in the two (2) day football tourney emerged the Highest Goal Scorer of the competition, while Kelechi Nwosu of Team SAP Nigeria clinched the Most Valuable Player and Best Goalie Award of the tourney.

•Action from a Glo Premier League match.

on the billionaire club proprietor, Ifeanyi Uba, saying, “What I see in him is another Abiola.

The difference between him and the late Abiola is in age. His large heart, the will to succeed and his ability to infect those around him with this intrinsic qualities stands him out. He is building a model club which will soon dominate Nigerian football,” Amun said.

Apart from making strategic appointments, the new club owner has made Nnewi the destination to be for all football lovers all over the country, particularly those from east of the Niger. Ex-internationals, football administrators retired and active players among others flock Nnewi each match day for Ifeanyi Uba United. Undoubtedly, the club have, within a short time, one of the largest fan base among the top flight clubs in the country.

According to Friday Kujah a prominent figure in Nigerian football circle and a close confidant of the club proprietor, “the fans are growing in their thousands. Everybody in the east wants to identify with Ifeanyi Uba United and as a result, each time they are playing the fans outside the arena always outnumber those inside the stadium.”

But the club proprietor is not blind to this fact.

“Plans are in advanced stage to construct a 35,000 capacity stadium in Nnewi,” Kujah told this reporter, adding that “no stone will be left unturned to make Ifeanyi Ubah United a model club in the country.”

Civil Servants under-develop sports in Nigeria, says Ebewele

By Eddie Akalonu

F

ORMER Edo State Director of Sports Brown Ebewele is unhappy at the domineering influence

by Civil Servants on sports in the country, saying their presence in the National Sports Commission and Sports Ministry has stagnated the growth of sports in the country.

Speaking in Lagos, he said, “Sports is in bondage as long as Civil Servants continue to exert undue influence at the top echelon of administration. They are

the problem of sports in Nigeria and as long as they remain in charge, we are not going to progress,” he said, adding that “no matter what is put in place to revamp or reposition sports can always be undermined by this same people.”

Continuing, the former Edo State Sports Commissioner said,”I would like our PresidentElect, who is an epitome of ‘change’ to note that Sports is the first sector that his administration should look into. It needs total overhaul and reorganization because

Civil Servants have dragged the sector into ruins. As long as they remain in-charge progress cannot be made.”Explaining the need for change, Ebewele threw some posers “Civil Servants have made sure that the core of Nigeria’s elite athletes who were sent out for training are jobless years after. There is no reason whatsoever that Innocent Egbunike, Yusuf Ali, Henry Amike, Falilat Ogunkoya and others have no jobs in sports when the same country sent them out to be trained after their

competitive years. Civil Servants have ensured they are not employed for selfish reasons,” he said. “But the issue is one that can be sorted out fast if we truly want progress “This is the only country in the world with almost it’s Olympians without jobs in sports or elsewhere. We have mortgaged sports to Civil Servants and they have sealed all avenues preventing our Olympians from making contributions. we need to change this seriously,” he added.

•Ebewele

SUNDAY Vanguard, MAY 10, 2015

N

IGERIA head coach Stephen Keshi revealed his side will not be taking Chad lightly when the sides clash next month in a 2017 Africa Cup of

Keshi wary of Chad Nations qualifier.

Keshi, who controversially signed a two-year extension to his

FIFA U-20 W/Cup: Brazil camp in disarray

We’ll rule the world – Awoniyi

F

LYING Eagles striker, Taiwo Awoniyi has admitted that the Nigeria’s U-20 national team are going to battle to win the 2015 Fifa U20 World Cup New Zealand later this month.

Nigeria has never won the title since the competition started, but

•Manu

reached the final on two different occasions, one in 1989 and the other in 2005.

Awoniyi, who scored three fabulous goals at the African Youth Championship in Senegal, where Nigerian conquered the continent of Africa for the 7th time has been an integral part of the team, even from the U-17 days when they ruled the world.

The team is currently in Germany where they are perfecting their tactics which will enable them break the jinx of getting to the finals and losing Continues on Page 61

Burnley go down, Newcastle draw POACHER: Super Eagles and West Brom forward, Victor Anichebe is mobbed by teammates after scoring against Newcastle Utd. in a Preemier League match yesterday. The match ended 1-1.

Okagbare: I did not ask Ogba for money

By Ben Efe

A

•Okagbare

FRICAN double sprint champion, Blessing Okagbare is still holding a smoking gun as words continue to trail Nigeria’s acrimonious campaign at the IAAF World Relays in Bahamas. Okagbare stated yesterday that she never asked Athletics Federation of Nigeria president Solomon Ogba for money.

Chief Ogba was quoted in a report as saying that Okagbare demanded for money and it was not given hence her protestations.

“I did not ask them for money. I am only asking the AFN to do the right thing.

“If they have to tell lies to cover up their deeds, too bad. They shouldn’t find a way to paint me red because they want

DOWN 1. Sample (5) 2. Niger state town (4) 3. Observe (5) 4. Lecture (6) 5. Everyone (3) 6. Use (6) 10. Inquires (4) 12. Carpet (3) 14. Colour (6) 15. Resistance unit (3) 17. Coax (4) 19. Rollicked (6) 21. Hatchet (3) 22. Satisfied (4) 23. Nigerian state (3) 26. Cry of derision (3) 27 . African country (6) 28. Endure (4) 29. Child (3) 30. Spoke (6) 31. Adorn (5) 33. Baking chambers (5) 35. Asterisk (4) 37. Possessed (3)

B

URNLEY have become the first team relegated from the Premier League this season, despite a 1-0 win at Hull City on Saturday.

Danny Ings struck the

Continues on Page 61

•Dejected Burnley fan yesterday.

TODAY’S MATCHES Taraba FC Enyimba Bayelsa Lobi Akwa Utd Rangers Sunshine W Wolves Warriors Pillars EPL Man City Chelsea

v v v v v v v v v v v v

I.Uba Utd Giwa FC Dolphins El-Kanemi Wikki Heartland 3SC Nasarawa Kwara Sharks

4 pm 4 pm 4 pm 4 pm 4 pm 4 pm 4 pm 4 pm 4 pm 4 pm

QPR 1.30 pm Liverpool 4 pm

RESULTS

See solution on page 5

only goal of the game at the KC Stadium, plunging the hosts into the bottom three.

Ings bundled home his 10th goal of the season just after the hour to

Continues on Page 61

CROSS WORD PUZZLE ACROSS 1. House of Reps Speaker (8) 5. Assistant (4) 7. Praise (5) 8. Upright (4) 9. Lantern (4) 11. Tradition (6) 13. Lagos masquerade (3) 15. Exclamation (2) 16. Pig’s nose (5) 18. Agent (3) 20. Glitters (6) 24. Forward (5) 25. Nigerian state (6) 27. Boring tool (3) 29. Ghanaian fabric (5) 31. Perform (2) 32. Oshiomhole’s state (3) 34. U.S. currency (6) 36. Vow (4) 38. Musical quality (4) 39. Inclination (5) 40. Eager (4) 41. Damages (8)

•Keshi

Continues on Page 61

W

ITH less than three weeks to the start of the Under20 World Cup in New Zealand, Nigeria’s opponent in their opening game, Brazil, have sacked coach Alexandre Gallo.

Nigeria will be hoping to pick her first win at the Under-20 level against Brazil when both teams clash in New Plymouth on the 31st of May 2015 and their chances have received a big boost.

Gallo was dismissed as coach of the Under20 and 23 teams of Brazil, following a string of poor results and his replacements were named almost immediately.

New Brazil Football Confederation president Marco Polo Del Nero ordered a change of coaches in their youth teams in his bid to reposition their football after a disastrous world cup campaign last year.

Brazil media reported that the coach was axed due to the team’s poor performances especially at the last Copa America u n d e r - 2 0 championship.

The man who will now be in the dug out against the Flying Eagles of Nigeria will be Rogerio Micale while senior team coach Carlos Dunga will handle the Under-23.

contract with the Nigeria Football Federation recently, says he has learned from his past mistakes and will not underestimate any of their opponents.

The coach’s reappointment received

Everton 0 Aston Villa 1 Hull City 0 Leicester 2 Newcastle 1 Stoke City 3 C. Palace 1

Sunderland West Ham Burnley Southampton West Brom Tottenham Man U

2 0 1 0 1 0 2

Rangers coach dreads Heartland

E

NUGU Rangers’ coach Kelechi Emeteole has surprisingly expressed doubts about his team’s chances against Heartland in today ’s Oriental Derby.

‘Caterpillar ’ as he’s fondly called, has rued the ‘bad situation’ at Rangers, and says even Continues on Page 61

Printed and Published by VANGUARD MEDIA LIMITED, Vanguard Avenue, Kirikiri Canal, P.M.B.1007, Apapa. Advert Dept: :01- 7924470; Hotline: 01-4544821; Abuja: 09-2341102, 09-2342704.

E-mail website: sundayvanguard@yahoo.com, editor@vanguardngr.com, news@vanguardngr.com, sunvanguardmail@yahoo.com. Advert:advert@vanguardngr.com.

Internet: www.vanguardngr.com (ISSN 0794-652X) Editor: JIDE AJANI. 08111813023 All correspondence to P.M.B. 1007, Apapa Lagos.

C M Y K