LOOTED BILLIONS: Buhari tightens noose on Jonathan's men

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Vanguard, OCTOBER 11, 2015

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Vanguard, OCTOBER 11, 2015 — PAGE 3

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Senate condoles with the Itsekiri on Olu of Warri

•Okowa tasks senators on economy •Traditional Council proposes 2,000-seater hall in honour of departed monarch

By Egufe Yafugborhi & Festus Ahon

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HE Senate, yester day, visited Warri, Delta State to condole with the Itsekiri over the passage of the Olu of Warri, HRM Ogiame Atuwatse II. Sen. Kabiru Gaya, who spoke on behalf of the lawmakers at the Olu palace, hailed the departed Atuwatse II as a “great hero”, pointing out that his subjects, Delta State and Nigeria at large benefitted from his wealth of experience.

Those on the delegation included Sen. James Manager, Sen. Ighoyota Amori, Sen. Theodore Orji, Sen. Godswill Akpabio, Sen. Ishiaka Adeleke and House of Reps members, Hon. Loveth Idisi and Rt.Hon. Daniel Reyenieju.

Gaya said, “The Senate decided to condole with the Itsekiri nation and to deliver a letter of condolence on behalf of the Senate President, Bukola Saraki, to the Regent and people of Warri Kingdom over the departure of the Olu.” He noted that there is nothing the Senate and the Itsekiri could have done to prevent the

death of the revered monarch than to respect the will of God when He has spoken.

The Senator prayed God to give the royal family and the Itsekiri the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss.

The Regent of Warri Kingdom, Prince Eroro Emiko, in his remarks to the visitors, said the Itsekiri were happy in mourning over the departed monarch because of the fulfilled life he lived.

Emiko told the lawmakers, “Our hearts are heavy looking at you with the depth of solidarity shown and the confidence it raises for us”, pointing out that preparation for the burial rites of the late Olu were ongoing.

Earlier, yesterday, Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta State played host to the Senate delegation in Asaba, the state capital, during which challenged members of the National Assembly to revive the nation’s economy.

Okowa said the National Assembly has experienced Nigerians who can proffer solutions to the economic crisis facing the country.

He thanked the Sen-

Amaechi dares Rivers govt to go to court over allegations against him ceeded from conclusion to

By Jimitora Onoyume

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ORMER Governor Chibuike Amaechi has dared Rivers State government to go to court over the report of the state judicial commission of inquiry which indicted him on allegations of corruption.

According to a statement, yesterday, from his media office, Amaechi maintained that the commission was a sham, insisting that it was set up mainly to rubbish him.

The statement said witnesses were muscled up and told what to say and what not to say at the commission.

Describing the commission as a negation of the values of ethical justice and rule of law, the former governor said he will be excited if the state government goes ahead with its threat to take issues in its white paper on the commission to court.

He noted that the commission allegedly proC M Y K

trial, stressing that even before it commenced sitting, it had indicted him.

The statement, “As we expected, the Justice G. O Omereji Commission of Inquiry set up by Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike supposedly to probe the immediate past Governor of the State, Rt. Hon. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi did not disappoint. The panel lived up to expectations as a shambolic inquisition panel that was set up to indict Amaechi.

“Crudely, without any sense of finesse or attempt to disguise its mission to ‘hack down Amaechi’, the Omereji panel did the bidding of its paymaster. As we earlier warned, it turned out to be a comedy, a circus show to grab media headlines with bogus, phantom and fabricated claims of corrupt practices against former governor Amaechi and officials of his administration. It achieved nothing beyond political excitements, entertainment and theatrics”.

ate for commiserating with the state government, its people and the Itsekiri on the demise of the Olu of Warri.

Meanwhile, to give the late Atuwatse II a befitting funeral, the Warri Kingdom Traditional Council has proposed the construction of a 2,000- capacity hall.

Chief Rita Lori-Ogbebor, the Igba of Warri, presented the proposal on behalf of the council in a meeting held in Warri yesterday with Itsekiri Professionals.

Lori-Ogbebor said the project is cost intensive, calling on all sons and daughters of the Itsekiri to join hands to give the departed monarch a befitting burial.

Participants of diverse professional backgrounds agreed to work with the proposal for the befitting hall at Ode-Itsekiri.

The Itsekiri Professionals also agreed to have representatives in the Central Working Committee in realization of the project.

•Sen. Kabiru Gaya presenting a condolence letter to the Regent of Warri Kingdom, Prince (Barr.) Eroro Emiko, during the Senate delegation’s visit to Warri, yesterday.

•L-r: Sen. James Manager, Sen. Ighoyota Amori, Sen. Godswill Akpabio, Dr. Duakpenmi Andrew Ayi, Head of Royal Family, Rt. Hon. Daniel Reyenieju, Sen. Kabiru Gaya, Prince(Barr.) Eroro Emiko, Regent of Warri Kingdom, Sen. Ishiaka Adeleke, Sen. Theodore Orji, Chief Yahay.T. Pessu, Chief.

S.S.Rone, Chief .C.D.Ikomi, Chief (Mrs.) Yemi Oritsejafor and others during the visit.

Kidnappers seize Edo lawmaker’s daughter in Abuja •Police begin manhunt for 25-year-old NYSC member taken since Wednesday

By Soni Daniel, Northern Region Editor & Kingsley Omonobi

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EAR has gripped passengers using the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja (NAIA) following the invasion of the facility by kidnappers and other criminals posing as commercial transport operators.

Sunday Vanguard learnt that the men, who have laid siege to the airport and environs, kidnapped a National Youth Corps Service member and daughter of a serving House of Representatives member from Edo State last Wednesday.

The NYSC member, Eghonghon Jessica Edionwele, the second daughter of Chief Joe Edionwele, a member of the Peoples Democratic Party representing Esan West, Esan Central and Igueben federal constituency of Edo State has not been found.

Eghonghon, a graduate of physiotherapy from Ambrose Ali University, Ekpoma, is serving in Ibadan and had flown with the 4pm flight of Arik Air from Lagos to Abuja to join his father, when she was taken by her captors.

The victim reportedly boarded a vehicle from the NAIA to the Area One residence of her father but was never taken to the house by the driver who picked from

the airport.

She was feared to have boarded a commercial vehicle known as ‘One Chance’ operated by kidnappers and armed robbers, who simply railroad their victims to their hideouts and rob or kill demand heavy ransom as a condition for release.

Findings indicated that although the NYSC member landed at the NAIA at exactly 5.15pm that Wednesday, her whereabouts remained unknown while her phones were also switched off.

The father, who spoke to Sunday Vanguard, said her daughter was expected to arrive at her Abuja home around 6pm that Wednesday, regretting that nothing had been heard from her since then.

Sunday Vanguard learnt that although the captors of the 25-year-old had not established any contact with the family, some people had been using her Automated Teller Machine (ATM) card to withdraw money from her account.

As at last night, N30,000 had been withdrawn from Eghonghon’s account.

The FCT police, where the matter had been lodged by the family, said they were aware of the development but declined to give further details.

The FCT Police Command spokesman, Mr. Wilson Inalegwu, said he had no further information to give on the matter, when our correspondent called him, yesterday, evening.

EU, Council of Europe oppose death penalty

BY VICTORIA OJEME

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S the global commu nity marked the World Day Against Death Penalty, yesterday, the Council of Europe and the European Union (EU) have strongly opposed capital punishment, describing it as “inhuman and degrading treatment.”

The EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Federica Mogherini, and the Secretary General of the Council of Europe, Thorbjørn Jagland, made the remarks in a joint declaration in commemoration of the day.

According to them, the death penalty does not have any proven significant deterrent effect, and allows

judicial errors to become irreversible and fatal.

“Today, on the European and World Day against the Death Penalty, the Council of Europe and the European Union reaffirm their strong opposition to capital punishment.

“No execution has been carried out in our member states for eighteen years.

The Council of Europe and the European Union urge all European States to ratify the protocols to the European Convention on Human Rights which aim at the abolition of the death penalty,” the statement said.

It also deplored the continuing use of the death penalty in Belarus, urging the authorities of Belarus to commute the remaining

death sentences and establish without delay a formal moratorium on executions as a first step towards abolition of the death penalty.

It welcomed the Resolution of the United Nations (UN) General Assembly on a moratorium on the use of the death penalty adopted on 18 December 2014.

“With an increasing number of votes in favour of that resolution compared to the previous four resolutions of this kind, and with almost two thirds of countries in the world having abolished the death penalty in either law or practice, there exists now a clear global trend towards the abolition of capital punishment,” the statement added.

SUNDAY VANGUARD, OCTOBER 11, 2015, PAGE 5

Mike Enahoro, 76, is dead

By Simon Ebegbulem & Lekan Bilesanmi

•Uromi mourns

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E G E N D A R Y broadcaster, Mike Enahoro, is dead. Aged 76, he was said to have passed on, Friday night. Details of the circumstances surrounding the death were not available at press time.

Mike was brother to the late elder statesman, Anthony Enahoro, and Peter Enahoro, a former Managing Director of Daily Times. He was the youngest of the trio. Mike rose through the ranks at the Nigerian Televison Authority (NTA) to become its Director General. He was popular with viewers because of his diction and traditional Ishan dress.

Mike was a man of many parts while in NTA. He was a newscaster, producer,director and presenter.

His last appearance was on Channels TV 40 years of exemplary service in broadcasting for veteran newscaster, Bimbo Oloyede.

The death threw Uromi in Esan North East LGA, Edo State into mourning, yesterday.

A former Commissioner for Energy and Water Resources in the state, Mr Chris Ebare, described the deceased as a role model who will be missed not only by the people of Uromi but also the entire nation.

“He was a great son of Uromi Kingdom, a role

•Mike Enahoro model to the youths. Once you speak our dialect to him he will draw you closer.

Whenever he was around when we were in primary school, he would share money for us”, Ebare said.

“Even when he retired from NTA, I met him severally, he gave me a lot of advice and how to be a man in life. I must say that Uromi in particular, Edo and Nigerians in general have lost a great son, he was an

ace broadcaster. He always called me young lawyer.

“We benefited from his generosity and wisdom. I was shocked when I heard it today, may his soul in peace. My father actually built their house in Uromi 1931”.

Sunday Vanguard learnt, last night, that the family in Uromi was consulting with members in Lagos where the broadcaster was said to have died after a brief illness.

Buhari tightens noose on Jonathan’s men Continues from page 1

President Goodluck Jonathan. The on-going investigations border on some scandalous deals in the petroleum industry regarding Offshore Processing Agreements, OPAs, whereby crude oil, worth billions of naira, was given to traders in exchange for refined imported products – specifically, Premium Motor Spirit, PMS, also known as petrol, as well as the illegal use of diplomatic passports by some individuals to engage in illegal foreign exchange movements.

Sunday Vanguard investigations also revealed that the presidential directive issued last month, instructing the Nigeria Immigration Service, NIS, to withdraw diplomatic passports from some individuals, who are no longer in service, was a swift move by the Buhari Presidency to forestall what a source described as the “the continued use of the passports by some dirty individuals to smuggle foreign exchange out of the country”.

Meanwhile, the trial of some of “those believed to have illegally benefited from petroleum subsidy would resume with Buhari determined to ensure that monies stolen from the treasury of the Federal Government of Nigeria, FGN, would be recovered”, a Presidency source disclosed

to Sunday Vanguard We were also made to understand that the outcry by the immediate past Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, who now occupies the position of Emir of Kano, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, regarding tens of billions of dollars that were missing, can be linked to some powerful individuals who walked Aso Rock Presidential Villa freely Oil deals Some documents sighted by Sunday Vanguard, regarding the activities of some persons known to have enjoyed the confidence of the Villa, showed the intricate web of conspiracy for the purpose of milking the Nigerian state.

Two companies (names withheld), used principally for some of the deals which saw Nigeria losing billions of dollars through oil deals and whose addresses are the same, located in Victoria Island, were directly linked to the Presidency.

Presidency officials during the Jonathan administration had argued that the selection of one of the companies was based purely on merit and that it was not fronting for anyone.

But one of the promoters of one of the companies, who featured prominently in the “SWISS TRADERS’ OPAQUE DEALS IN NIGERIA,” is said to have had familial links with one of the confidants of the former President who got him

Nigerians steal show at African Journalists of the Year Awards *Sport Reporting Award

By Jide Ajani Photographic Award -

THOUGHT FOR TODAY THE LOVE OF GOD

By Richard Eromonsele

Naturally, humans are religious.Virtually, everyone claims to love God in one form or the other.Yet, not many can boldly say we love our neighbours.This is born out of the fact that we see love as an abstract.The truth is that love is a fact of life.Take love out of life and man will be like the beast of the jungle.The love of God starts with the love of our neighbour.The love of God that does not encompass the love of man is fake, artificial and not real.Love is the force that binds one man to another and to God.How can you claim to love God when you are keeping enemity with your neighbour?Think about it!

reporting from Nairobi Kenya

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IGERIAN journalists showed the stuff they are made of, yesterday, in Nairobi, the capital of Kenya, at this year’s CNN/ Multichoice Journalists of The Year Awards, as four of the winners were Nigerians.

They are Adewale Olugbenga Emosu, Ibanga Isine, Femi Joshua Asu ànd Arukaino Umukoro.

Although the 2015 Journalist of The Year Award went to Hyacinthe Boowurosigue Sanou from Burkina Faso, the thunder was stolen by Nigerian journalists who were the toast of the night.

The categories and winners of the awards this year are: *Culture Award Adewale Olugbenga Emosu (Tribuneonline) *Dow Technology & Innovation Reporting Award - Sarah Wild (Mail & Guardian, South Africa); *Economics & Business Award - Femi Joshua Asu (Punch, Nigeria) *Features Award - Julie Lauren & Jacqueline Jayamaha; *Francophone General News Award - Hyacinthe Boowurosigue Sanou (print) and Ibrahim Diallo (broadcast) *GE Energy & Infrastructure Award, *Mohamed Amin

Herman Verwey; *MSD Health & Medical Award - Enoch Sikolia & Charles Kariuki *Portuguese Language General News Award Carl Goncalves (Cape Verde) & Pedro Paxi Ndoma (Angola) *Press Freedom Award Zacharie Flash Ndiomo

- Arukaino Umukoro (Punch) *The African Development Bank & Environment Award Thomas Naadi Bitlegma (ETV Ghana) *The Coca-Cola Company News Impact Award - Ibanga Isine (Premium Times).

appointed into one of the Multi-National Commissions/ Joint Development Authorities, JDAs, that Nigeria had with one of its neighbours.

It was learnt that some of the directors of the Commissions/ JDAs carry diplomatic passports.

The companies were, according to a source, used “to engage in all manner of oil deals some of which did not enjoy the benefit of due process but were anchored and driven from the Presidency”.

Sunday Vanguard gathered that the CBN’s directive on the deposit of foreign currencies into domiciliary accounts in Nigeria was a function of the realisation by the Buhari Presidency that huge sums of forex were being warehoused by some individuals who had direct access to the Villa in the last dispensation.

Indeed, a few of those who were said to have been intercepted while trying to take millions of dollars abroad were described by a Presidency source as “having direct links to Aso Rock in the last administration”.

This is a different leg of the investigation into the corruption allegedly allowed to fester by the Jonathan Presidency, totally different from the former Petroleum Minister, Diezani AllisonMadueke.

Acting on a petition before it, Sunday Vanguard was informed by the Presidency source that “a lot of terrible things were discovered to have happened, especially in the last days of the last administration, but Mr. President is acting on some of the information while investigations are on-going; also”.

The source added: “Those close to the Villa in the last dispensation and known to be involved are being zeroed-in on.”

We’re committed to quality education – Amosun

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ENATOR Ibikunle Amosun, the Ogun State governor, has reiterated his administration’s commitmenttodoeverything possible to ensure that education in Ogun State is affordable for all.

Airforce plane crashes in Yola

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IGERIA Air Force (NAF) plane; yesterday, crashed in Yola, Adamawa State capital.

Colonel Abubakar Rabe, Director of Defence Information, according to a Channels Television report, last night, confirmed the incident.

Details of the accident, the report said, were sketchy.

The governor stated this, yesterday, while speaking at the 23rd and 24th Convocation ceremonies of the Olabisi Onabanjo University, OOU, Ago-Iwoye, Ogun State.

“Undoubtedly, you will agree with me that, affordable, qualitative education takes a focal point in the 5-Cardinal programme of our mission to

rebuild Ogun State,” Governor Amosun said.

He added that his administration’scommitment towards rebuilding Ogun State has started yielding positive results even at the Olabisi Onabanjo University.

“For this great citadel of learning, I am proud to reiterate that there has been improved service delivery to both members of staff and students alike.

Buhari sacks aide Ben Agande, Abuja

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R E S I D E N T Muhammadu Buhari has sacked his Presidential Liaison Officer, Nura Rimi, five months after he was appointed into the post.

No reason was given for the president’s decision which has also not been officially announced.

According to Sunday Vanguard sources, Rimi, who

served as former President Goodluck Jonathan’s Chief Protocol Officer, was posted to Nigeria Embassy in Abu Dhabi shortly before the presidential election but was recalled by Buhari who appointed him as his PLO ahead of his inauguration.

His removal was effected last week, though no reason was given for his sudden disengagement from the Presidential Villa.

PAGE 6 — SUNDAY VANGUARD, OCTOBER 11, 2015

Alams, ex-Bayelsa gov, dies at 62 •Dickson, Ijaw pay tributes

By Samuel Oyandogha, Yenagoa

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HE pioneer civil ian governor of Bayelsa State, Chief Diepreye Solomon Peter Alamieye-seigha, is dead.

Fondly called DSP and Governor General of Ijaw Nation, when he held sway at Creek Haven, the Bayelsa seat of power, Alamieyeseigha was reported to have died after a brief illness at the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital.

According to family sources, the former governor, though diabetic, developed an unexplained ailment at his hometown, Amassoma, in Southern Ijaw council area of Bayelsa State, and was rushed to the teaching hospital where he was on life support machine but lost the will to live between 4.30 and 5pm yesterday.

While some said he died

of kidney related ailment, others blamed his death on cardiac arrest.

Aged 62, Alamieyeseigha was granted presidential pardon by his erstwhile deputy, former President Goodluck, over his conviction for corrupt practices as governor of Bayelsa.

A family source, who spoke anonymously, told Sunday Vanguard the alleged recent request for his extradition by the UK may have triggered blood pressure believed to be the cause of death.

His remains, according to the source, had been deposited at the morgue of the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital.

The alleged request by the UK for his extradition has been a subject debate in recent times with many Ijaw groups describing it as a political vendetta by the President Muhammadu Buhari administration.

The former governor has been a strong advocate of

Governor Seriake Dickson second term aspiration.

Bayelsa State government, last night, confirmed Alamieyeseigha’s death.

The State Commissioner for Information, Esueme Dan-Kikile, said a full statement would be issued later on the demise.

Meanwhile, a source at the Bayelsa State Government House said the death was a personal loss to Dickson.

Reacting to the death, the National Coordinator, Ijaw Monitoring Group and former Publicity Secretary of the Ijaw National Congress, Comrade Joseph Evah, said the Ijaw nation would never forget the former governor, particularly his commitment to the Ijaw struggle. “He was the spirit of the Ijaw struggle and a true Ijaw man to the core. Chief Alamieyeseigha laid the foundation for the growth of Bayelsa State. He was loved by the Ijaws for his boldness and patriotism. We are aware that he was misled in some areas when he was our governor”, Evah said.

He continued: “Nobody is perfect and Alamco, as we fondly called him, was not exceptional, but as a person, Alamieyseigha loved his people and was prepared to make any sacrifice for them.

The Ijaw nation will give him a befitting burial as our fallen hero”.

Also reacting, the founder of the Ijaw Council for Human Rights ICHR, Patterson Ogon, said: “Chief DSP Alamieyeseigha’s death is very unfortunate and saddening. He was a man who saw it all.

Good and bad times, his humility and large heart, his ability to see the frailties of the human heart and forgive even his most detestable adversaries marks him out.

“He is one person the Ijaw nation will find and not see in a long time. The Ijaw Council for Human Rights ICHR had several engagements with him when he was Governor.

He was one who would listen and be swayed by the logic of your argument. His passion in what he believes is demonstrated in good measure. We the ICHR mourn a man of many traditions.” A former National Youth Leader of the Alliance Congress of Nigeria ACN, Comrade Ebikibina Miriki, described the demise of Alamieyeseigha as a big blow to the Ijaw nation.

He said, “The death of Chief Alamieyeseigha at this critical moment of building a virile and Restoration state is sad, painful and a great loss not only to the state, people and communities in the Southern ljaw LGA, but to the Niger Delta region and Nigeria as a nation.

“No doubt, late Alamieyeseigha, is a truly a proud ljaw man, who stood for the truth, defend the rights of his people and the down trodden, fearless, down to earth and have a lion heart to accommodate all, despite the conspiracy

and betrayal of many who conspired with the federal might, to silence his rising political profile. Bayelsa had lost a rare gem and a true ljaw son.”

The death of Chief DSP Alamieyeseigha is a great blow to the Ijaw people particularly the youths.

Speaking on the death, President of the Ijaw Youths Development Association, IYDA, Comrade Fiyebi Eperetei., said with the death the former governor, the Ijaw nation had lost the soul of its struggle. “Ijaw youths will hold the government of Nigeria and the United Kingdom, (UK) responsible for the death of Alamieyeseigha. It is obvious that Nigeria and the UK that plotted an extradition of the Ijaw leader that aggravated his illness and led to his sudden death. This death is a colossal disaster to our nation”, Eperetei said

•

Alamieyeseigha

....HIS LAST INTERVIEW

‘Sometimes I ask why I am still alive!’ *Says he forgave Obasanjo on his impeachment

By Soni Daniel The late Diepreye Solomon Peter Alamieyeseigha spoke on former Presidents Olusegun Obasanjo and Goodluck Jonathan in his last interview with Vanguard.

Excerpts: et’s start by asking what informed your choice of former President Jonathan as your deputy governor in 1999.

One is that I came from Southern Ijaw Local Government, the largest in the Bayelsa State and may be in the whole country. My political calculation was to pick somebody from the Ogbia axis, that is the Eastern part of the state to balance the political equation.

So, I needed Ogbia votes.

Number two, I wanted a deputy governor who had high level of intelligence and stable character like Jonathan.

I also needed an establishment person and somebody who was not too ambitious that if I was out, he could stand in for me and could run the state. I needed somebody, who would not attempt to cause trouble if I travelled out of the state so that I could sleep well. It was a combination of these factors that made me to choose Jonathan as my deputy then. I set out an objective criteria on the qualities I needed and when the late Chief judge of Bayelsa State recommended him, (I did not know him before), I readily accepted him. In fact, I had to drive in my car to his residence and asked him to resign from the then OMPADEC, where he was working at the time.

Within the period Jonathan worked under you, did you at any point imagine that he would one day become a vice president or president and what

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were those leadership qualities you identified in him?

Leadership comes from above. No matter how you try, if God almighty does not destine you to lead, you will not be a leader. For Goodluck, I knew that he was going to be vice president of Nigeria as far back as August 25, 2005.

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo had once told me that since his former vice, Atiku Abubakar and I wanted to take his job that it would be over his dead body and that unless he died, Atiku would not be president of Nigeria. He told me that since Atiku had picked me as his running mate, he would disgrace us. He said that he was going to use my deputy to rubbish me before everybody. So, I knew.

But some say, like Balarabe Musa observed recently, that Jonathan was not prepared for leadership and that accounted for the loss of power by the South.

It is not right because Jonathan is more experienced than any president that has ruled this country in the past. How can you say that somebody who has been in office for 16 years is not qualified? If I may ask, which former president of this country was in power for 16 years? He was in office as deputy governor and was overseeing administration of local governments and was very conversant with the administration of local governments at that level. He was also performing the role of a deputy governor. He became a governor and is also familiar with governance at that level. He became a vice president and later acting president and a president. Which Nigerian has that pedigree?

None. So, Balarabe Musa goofed. I am not aware of any special school that people go to become presi-

dent. Academically, he is more qualified than any of them, and in our local environment at the University of Port Harcourt, he has street knowledge because he is locally bred.

Not everybody will like his style but I can tell you that if you sit down and catalogue what he has done for this country, no other president has done that. But it is his life style; he is a very quiet man, unassuming but with very high intellectual content. If Goodluck believes in something, the house can collapse but he will do what he believes in. He has a very strong character. It depends on who is looking at him and from which angle. From the beginning, people’s mindset were fixed for him to fail and to manage that perception was another problem. But he did well. All these things that the APC is claiming to have done in 100 days are just claims; you cannot fix the refinery in three months. Somebody must have done very serious work before. To do turnaround maintenance takes 18 months and not three months.

Some argue that Jonathan’s defeat in the election and the role played by the elite may create bad blood in Nigerian politics. Do you agree and what do you see in the future for Nigeria?

I have very radical views about that and I do not want to share them now. We are watching out what will play out at the national level. Will Nigeria or the ruling party still take us as part of Nigeria? Of course, they know that we are still feeding this nation. So, I think that they are conscious of that and they should also know that even the British could not conquer the Ijaw people.

Continues on page 15

SUNDAY VANGUARD, OCTOBER 11, 2015, PAGE 7

FIN ANCIAL ENGINEERING IN LA GOS FINANCIAL LAGOS OSUN SUMMIT:

How we saved N3billion monthly — Ambode •Defies rain to render stewardship at town hall meeting

BY OLASUNKANMI AKONI

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mid heavy rainfall, residents of Alimosho filed out in their large numbers to listen to Lagos State governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, to render his account of stewardship at the maiden edition of his quarterly town hall meeting.

The event, which took place at Abesan Mini Stadium, Lagos, Abesan Housing Estate, Ipaja, saw Ambode revealing that efforts to stabilise the finances of the state had helped to save about N3billion monthly.

In attendance at the occasion were the state deputy governor, Dr. Idiat Adebule; Senator Oluremi Tinubu, representing Lagos Central District; Senator Solomon Olamilekan, representing Lagos West; All Progressives Congress APC) Chairman, Lagos Chapter, Chief Henry Ajomale; members of the state House of Assembly; Oba Rilwanu Akiolu I; Chief Kemi Nelson, APC Women Leader, Lagos Chapter; Permanent Secretaries; traditional chiefs; as well as leaders of market women and men.

The event revealed that a template for budget appropriations will be determined by the outcome of town hall meetings, considering the requests and response of Ambode in Abesan.

Several observations, demands as well as lapses in government were made by residents before the governor who promised to addres s all concerns raised in next year’s budget.

Addressing the enthusiastic crowd, Ambode said his administration embarked on financial re-engineering and reviewed the revenue and expenditure framework of the state, saying the efforts, coupled with the realignment of Ministries, Departments and Agencies, have saved government almost N3 billion every month.

“This has provided us with more funds to inject into capital projects and the initial funds to establish the Employment Trust Fund which we promised our youths”, he said..

The governor who reiterated his vision to make Lagos globally competitive in all sectors, said his administration had mapped out long-term programmes that will lead the state on the path to becoming a truly competitive city-

•Gov Ambode state.

Ambode explained that the forum was in fulfilment of his promise in his inaugural speech, on May 29th, to operate a government of inclusion where he, as governor, would have regular interactions with the people to discuss plans, programmes and progress of his administration as well as rub minds on issues bordering on the development of the state.

According to him, he decided to change from the traditional “100 Days Address” to an interactive quarterly report as one of the many platforms designed to bring government closer to the people.

Achievements Highlighting his administration’s strides in the last four months, the governor said that, apart from using the period to set up an institutional framework to pilot the programmes and policies of government, remarkable interventions and reforms were made in the areas of road rehabilitation, health care, security, service delivery, transportation and education.

Road infrastructure Ambode revealed that about N1.3billion had been spent on construction and rehabilitation of ov er 190 roads across the state, most of which were not catered for in the 2015 budget.

He listed the roads to include Agege Motor Road, Herbert Macaulay Way, Yaba, Murtala Muhammed Way, Isolo, Ahmadu Bello Way, Victoria Island, Dopemu Road, Agege, Akowonjo Road, Akowonjo, Obalende Bridge, Obalende, Isaac John Road, GRA and Apapa Road, Ebute Meta.

Other roads include Apapa-

Ambode said his administration embarked on financial reengineering and reviewed the revenue and expenditure framework of the state, saying the efforts, coupled with the realignment of Ministries, Departments and Agencies, have saved government almost N3 billion every month Oshodi Expressway, ToyotaCharity Axis, Olufemi Street, Shomolu, Billy Street, Epe, Aswani Road, Isolo, Yekini Street, Shogunle, Oshodi, Isawo Road, Ikorodu, some of which are federal roads.

“As I speak, work has commenced on the Ago Palace Way-Okota Road. The state, in conjunction with your local governments and local council development area, is coming to your neighborhood soon”, the

governor said.

“The Ejigbo–Ikotun Road, Okota-Cele Road, Metalbox Road and Acme Road in Ikeja are currently being rehabilitated, while work has started on Brown Street, Oshodi, Ladipo Street as well as Mushin Road.

“Till date, we have committed N1.386billion to road construction and rehabilitation. We will pump more funds into road infrastructure in this present quarter ”.

Ambode said he was determined to be accountable for every revenue and expenditure of the state.

Security Speaking on security, he said his government is aware of pockets of violence and robberies that have occurred in different parts of the state, saying investigations were on the occurrences by the security agencies.

“We have established an integrated Security and Emergency control platform, all of which are aimed at strengthening the security apparatus in the state. The safety and security of every Lagosian is non-negotiable”, the governor said.

“We will leave no stone unturned in our drive to ensure a crime-free state.

Equipment and vehicles of various needs were donated to all our security agencies to boost their efforts in combating crime in the state”.

The governor expressed appreciation to members of the Organised Private Sector (OPS) for their support towards the State Security Trust Fund; even as he said the fund-raising of almost N1billion from the Organised Private Sector is a strong indication of your confidence in our administration to tackle security in the state.

Transportation Ambode, who noted that transportation was one of the biggest challenges facing residents, lamented that, in recent weeks, the menace of trucks on the roads had caused government untold hardships and loss of man-hours and revenue.

He stressed that the Apapa traffic gridlock was the most worrisome, saying, “Today, this traffic is affecting other parts of the state and slowing down businesses. We have met with various stakeholders to find solutions to this problem. We have also appealed to the Federal Government to mobilize the contractor awarded the construction of Apapa Trailer Park and road networks to immediately return to site.

“We are looking at long term solutions to traffic challenges that our people face daily. We have identified some of the causes of the traffic among which are poor design of junctions, bad location of bus stops, movement of heavy vehicles, bad roads and bad driving behavior. We have

started implementing solutions already. In the meantime, we appeal to the tanker drivers and other road users that the Lagos State Traffic Law is still in force and would be applied on any offender.”

Health On the health sector, Ambode said his government had provided 20 Mobile Intensive Care Unit ambulances at a cost of N145.240 million deployed in all the state’s ambulance points, bringing it to a total of 36 Mobile Intensive Care Unit ambulances.

“We have also provided additional 26 transport ambulances at the cost of N257.4 million deployed across all our General Hospitals. We have created Ambulance Points across the state for easy access to our people. The ambulance service can be reached by calling the Toll-Free Line 112”, the governor said.

According to him, contract for the abandoned Ayinke House Project, which is like government’s baby factory for pregnant women had been reawarded and the contractor is on site to finish and deliver the project within 3-6months.

Education Speaking on interventions in the education sector, Ambode said his administration had identified areas needing quick interventions, just as he assured that the challenges in the sector will be addressed accordingly.

He said that, in the first quarter, the inauguration of Governing Councils for tertiary institutions, ongoing recruitment of 1300 primary school teachers, procurement of desk and chairs are part of the solutions towards revamping the sector.

Projecting into the second quarter, the governor promised to plough more resources to sectors needing attention, enjoining residents of the state to support and cooperate with government by paying their taxes.

Earlier in his welcome address, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Information and Strategy, Mr Fola Adeyemi, said the town hall meeting, the first of its kind in the state, was in line with Ambode’s electioneering campaign to involve the masses in governance.

Residents’ speak Most of the requests made by representatives of community development associations, residents and stakeholders at the event bordered on the need for infrastructural renewal as well as establishment of more Millennium Schools in Lagos West Senatorial District.

All concerns raised, Ambode promised to put in the budget which elicited applause from the crowd.

The next town hall parley is slated to hold in Lagos Central Senatorial District.

Page 8 — SUNDAY Vanguard, OCTOBER 11, 2015

VIEWPOINT

By Titus Adeagbo

VIEWPOINT IN BRIEF

Wrong labelling of Nigerians

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N Nigeria, a politician is assumed to be corrupt until he proves otherwise. As a result of this prejudice, politicians will certainly continue to fall into this broad classification and labelled corrupt even when they are not.

However, the idea of bringing bringing judicial officers into this state of anomie is worrisome. Can we rightly say that a judge, like mere mortals, is corrupt until he proves otherwise?

By that arrangement, our judges are to be divided into two broad categoriesof ‘saints’ and ‘sinners’. The saints will handle corruption matters while the ‘sinner’ judges will handle less important matters such as labour issues, assaults, rape murder, drug trafficking, smuggling, contract cases, land disputes, election petitions, libel, terrorism, etc.

When we tell the whole world that over 70% of our judges are corrupt, what message are we sending out? How does this advance our cause and positively improve our standing on theglobal corruption perception index? Do we have to paint every Nigerian corrupt in the bid to win the war against corruption?

I am yet to see a country where everybody is a saint. The United States is the number one country today in the world, judging by its economic and military prowess.

The US government is so influential that it allegedly helped to install the current Nigerian government, as vaguely acknowledged by President Buhariduring his recent visit to Washington. Back in Africa, South Africa is obviously the most industrialised with a relatively very large economy which makes it a

VIEWPOINT

By Macaulay Amadi

VIEWPOINT IN BRIEF

The rule of law should not be subverted

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N February, the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Mahmoud Mohammed, swore in 242 members and Chairmen of the Election Petition Tribunals for the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory. At the swearing-in, Mohammed said: “You must shun acts such as the acceptance of gifts or favours from counsel and politicians, and the exchange of illicit communications with parties, which acts will erode the integrity of the tribunal irretrievably.”

Perhaps, not in his wildest imagination would the CJN have contemplated that security agencies could in fact become critical factors in the obstruction of justice at election tribunals.

But the 2015 general elections and the proceedings at some of the election petition tribunals have thrown up a new but dangerously abnormal experience of security agencies descending into the arena of electoral dispute resolution.

This has been so especially with the election tribunals hearing the petitions concerning the governorship elections in Akwa Ibom, Rivers, and Abia states,

Judges as saints and sinners model nationin Africa. Same for the United Arab Emirate.

Hundreds of Nigerians who swarm to Dubai daily, see it is another Mecca of sorts; a modern city that provides answers to their economic and social needs.

We all know that although these countries are making tremendous progress, they are not crime free.

But has anyone seen or heard government officials from any of these countries openly castigate their countries abroad? They will never do that because it will amount to destroying their countries.

While still in power, former President Jonathan, quoting a former Chief Justice of Nigeria, noted that most of the corruption cases were actually cases of stealing and were supposed to be so identified, and treated with dispatch, instead of lumping them together with the allegations of corruption. That simple statement of fact was unfortunately politicized, with some people even calling for Jonathan’s head. Such people maliciously interpreted his message to mean that stealing was too minor a misdemeanor to be treated as corruption. At no time did Jonathan or the CJN he quoted claim that stealing was good or should go unpunished. In fact, the former President went ahead to cite what used to happen in the villages where common thieves were summarily dealt with and sometimes banished from their communities. I believe the point they made was that if all criminal offences are tagged as corruption, then most of the countries we think have very low corruption rating today, will no longer have the challenge of crime fighting in their societies. Those who fault Jonathan’s stand fail to realize that even Transparency International broadly defines corruption as “the

abuse of entrusted power for private gain.”

However, the classification of people as corrupt or not corrupt in Nigeria appears to be taking a particular pattern, especially as with the sacred cows routinely being spared.

For instance, the governor of Edo State , Adams Oshiomhole, recently, accused the Nigerian Ports Authority of mismanaging N160 billion revenue. But the same man who was the head of the agency at that time has just been restored to his position after he was removed by the previous administration.

Similarly, in the Nigerian Maritime Safety Agency, the Director General was sacked and all the smaller officers who were seen to have been close to him, especially those from a particular part of the country, are currently being investigated, harassed and detained. Surprisingly the man who approved all the expenses is still sitting on his chair with not even a query to answer. He and the MD of NPA are of course saints because they come from the right part of Nigeria. Afterall, we were told that Abacha was also not

However, the classification of people as corrupt or not corrupt in Nigeria appears to be taking a particular pattern, especially as with the sacred cows routinely being spared

corrupt.

Under this administration, we have been noticing too many unpalatable manifestations of unusual governance style. We all know and few grumble about the fact that Buhari has appointed his kitchen cabinet and most other top government officials from the North Even then, the voice of the naysayers are increasingly being drowned by those who blindly see him as doing the right thing.

Since he came in the saddle, it appears nepotism and tribalism are no longer manifestations of corruption in Nigeria. And Prof.

Sagay is strangely eager to legitimize these infractions on our norms and laws, since his committee does not see anything wrong. There is no doubt that this is the time we miss the likes of Gani Fawehinmi. If he were to be alive, there was no way he would have taken this as acceptable?

Unfortunately, today’s leaders of the civil society no longer speak out on behalf of the people, as they are busy lobbying to be appointed into political offices, including the office of the Attorneys General of the Federation.

From what we have seen so far about the pattern of prosecution and body language of those in charge, it is increasingly becoming obvious that the war against corruption is designed to serve other interests beyond that of the people. For instance, we were told that the former National Security Adviser Col. Sambo Dasuki led the team that arrested Buhari during the palace coup that ousted his military administration. For that reason he has been having a running battle with the authorities, since the new Sheriff came to town. It is quite telling that he is being prosecuted by the State Security Service without clear charges.

Again, the father of Senate President Bukola Saraki, while serving as as Leader of the Senate between 1979 and 1983, headed a committee which investigated Buhari over alleged missing $2.8billion. Although there are no direct links, we are hearing that the isolated prosecution of Bukola, the son, is the Senate President’s way of paying for his political sins as well as those of his father.

Recently the list of the ministers was unveiled. It took Buhari four months to search for these ‘angels’ with out even producing a complete list.

It is also important to point out that the constant demarketing of the country is worrisome. We were again told that Government officials stole $150 billion and kept it in foreign banks.

Oshiomhole alleged that one minister alone stole $6 billion. We were also told that government officials were stealing one million barrels of crude oil per day. The good thing is that we have been assured that all those monies will be recovered in three months. We are hopeful that very soon the country will get the money back.

Only recently, the APC governor of Kaduna State, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, raised the alarm on how the Jonathan administration spent N64 billion to celebrate the National Day over a period of five years. However, the statement from the former Minister of National Planning gave a figure of N332.6 million only as money spent between 2012 and 2014 for the celebrations.

If the former Planning Minister is correct, then one will ask if ElRufai and Oshiomhole are helping this country. The fact that the international community will be constantly given the impression that all of us are thieves and corrupt is to say, the least, a disservice to this nation.

*Adeagbo is resident in Akure, Ondo State.

Obstruction of justice at election tribunals which were won by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the former ruling party at the national level, but which was ousted in the presidential poll of March 28.

When stakeholders first raised an alarm over the relocation of the tribunals from Uyo (capital of Akwa Ibom) and Port Harcourt (capital of Rivers) to Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory, nobody, including the CJN, paid sufficient

Perhaps, not in his wildest imagination would the CJN have contemplated that security agencies could in fact become critical factors in the obstruction of justice at election tribunals

heed. The specious ground for the relocation was “security”, even at a time when neither Akwa Ibom nor Rivers was under siege.

On July 24, 2015, a civil society group, Public Interest Lawyers League, issued a statement titled, “EMERGING SCENARIOS IN ELECTION PETITIONS TRIBUNALS: INTIMIDATION, COERCION, AND COMPROMISE OF VITAL WITNESSES IN RIVERS STATE GOVERNORSHIP ELECTION PETITION”. The League drew attention to what it called a “rash of gestapo measures” being adopted by the Department of State Services (DSS) that amounted to interference and “witness tampering”. Witnesses, including the Resident Electoral Commissioner of Rivers State and other officials in the election petition, were invited from Port Harcourt to Abuja, even when the tribunal had not issued any warrant of arrest.

But the League was not the only one to raise the red flag. In early August, the PDP National Assembly caucus issued a statement decrying DSS interference in election tribunals, condemning in particular the arrest, detention, and interrogation of INEC officials in Akwa Ibom, Rivers, and Abia

states. A few weeks later, all 16 senators and members of the House of Representatives from Rivers petitioned President Muhammadu Buhari, complaining about the worrisome role of the security agencies in the election tribunals.

Not unsurprisingly, the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has been dismissive of the allegations, even acting at some point as spokespersons for the DSS. It is possible that President Muhammadu Buhari is unaware of the full extent of the strong-arm tactics being deployed by the security agencies, which have invaded the judicial space, creating a new spectre of fear and intimidation intended to overawe the election tribunals, and thereby obstruct and defeat the ends of justice. It is possible that the planners and executors of this new strategy of manipulating the outcome of elections are overzealous agents and hirelings who clearly misunderstand the import and responsibility of being in government and in power. If their shenanigans prevail, president Buhari should be ready to carry the can. This is because, chroniclers of our electoral history will not fail to record that it was during Buhari’s time that the

security agencies began invading election tribunals, in order to wangle justice for the powers and party that be. That is the hallmark of dictatorial regimes.

Buhari must think about this, and act fast: his government cannot be prosecuting an anticorruption war, supported by most Nigerians and influential foreign leaders, and yet, agents of the government are subverting the rule of law through the violent obstruction of justice. What is democracy without the rule of law?

And what is the rule of law without an unfettered judiciary that truly dispenses justices in all circumstances? However, if those subversive agents were to succeed, it would be pyrrhic victory only. You cannot capture electoral seats— whether governorship or legislature—by force of state arms at the tribunal, and yet expect peace in the constituencies which have been denied their true choices.

Boko Haram, kidnapping, and armed robbery are enough crimes already; adding social unrest via election heist at the intimidated tribunals will only make more volatile an already combustible situation.

•Amadi contributed this piece from Sun City, Abuja.

SUNDAY Vanguard, OCTOBER 11, 2015, Page

9

Delta school fees controversy: Gov. Okowa sets the record straight VIEWPOINT

BY AMAECHI UDEMBA

VIEWPOINT IN BRIEF

Clearing the air on the alleged introduction of school fees

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HE truth is more prosaic when it juxtaposes with falsehood.

The rumour making the rounds that the Delta State Governor, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa, had re-introduced School fees in public Schools didn’t come as a rude shock to many. In Delta State, as in elsewhere, rumour mongering is perhaps one of the most striving industry and could as Goebbels once observed, “ get a semblance of truth “, if not confronted headlong.

That is exactly what played out on Monday September 21st 2015 during the swearing in of the Chairmen and members of the Post Primary Education Board , State Universal Basic Education and Direct Labour Agency at the expansive Unity hall Government

VIEWPOINT

By Emeka Odikpo

VIEWPOINT IN BRIEF

A ministerial nominee with solid credentials

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ABATUNDE Raji Fashola (SAN) was the governor of Lagos State from 2007 to 2015.

There was an opportunity to evaluate his performance by residents of the state in the 2011 general election. The Peoples Democratic Party’s nomination of an opponent for him for the election turned into a non-event. This was because no heavy weight in the party wanted the nomination; neither the popular Musiliu Obanikoro nor the ebullient Jimi Agbaje was initially interested in the race, because they knew that the performance of the then incumbent governor, Fashola was very high and as such any contest against him in the state was bound to fail.

Fashola’s impact on Lagos despite all attempts by revanchist to change history has been phenomenal. In evaluating

VIEWPOINT

By Ignatius Okpanachi

VIEWPOINT IN BRIEF

Protecting the interest of Christians

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HERE is controversy over the claim that the Presidency is contemplating the relocation of the State House Chapel built by former President Obasanjo at Aso Rock.

Whether this is true or not is yet to be sufficiently established.

Obasanjo in his own wisdom located the chapel in the President’s direct compound, probably because a mosque was already there.

When the late President Yar’Adua took over, there were no issues but since Buhari entered the Villa, concerns have continued to surface about the location of the worship places.

We read in the papers that some Sundays, Christian worshippers were locked out for hours. Finally, we are told, there is a plan for the relocation of the chapel, but no

enough fund to buy textbooks and other educational materials for their kids.

As a government, the sustenance of the policy of non payment of school fees at the Primary and Secondary level is part of the palliatives urgently needed to correct the flabby state of that level of education considered as the foundation of our educational system. For the Governor, the policy is not only brilliant, but competent and farsighted in dealing with the morass bedevilling the educational sector.

In the same breath, the Technical and Vocational sector is being touched in clime with present reality that employment prospect is skill driven . Today, three Technical Schools is being revamped for our youths to acquire technical skills. The technical schools in Ofagbe, Sapele and Agbor are poised to take off with state- of-the-arts equipment in Carpentry, Welding, Tailoring, Tiles making, and other

technical knowledge that will propel the youths to be self employed and in the near future becomes employers of labour.

In other climes, such innovative approach to restoring the quality of education to what it used to be in years past would have elicited commendation rather than spreading alter falsehood that payment of School fees have been re-introduced by this administration.

Consequent upon the above, the rumour mongers in our mist should desist from their nefarious activities by joining hands with the State Government to prepare our youths for a more prosperous future as envisaged through the SMART programme.

As a people destined for greatness, rumour s will not help us. Because like everything that is associated with rumours, it will always be a pyrrhic victory for the perpetrators.

Fashola takes the Lagos impact to the centre

like other Nigerian leaders, he chooses to endure Lagos traffic with his fellow citizens. Also Fashola reads economic theory for fun. On his bedside table are books by development economists who see potential in poverty, people like C.K. Prahalad of the University of Michigan or Hernanado de Soto of Institute of Liberty and Democracy (ILD) in Lima.”

One can hardly evaluate Fashola’s uncanny ability in a better perspective than Alex Perry. But I must add that Lagos improved significantly because Fashola was the governor for eight years, during which he and his team continued the construction works in the state as planned. This helped in resolving serious problems, particularly those that bother on transportation. Similarly, if given the opportunity to serve at national level, he will definitely help improve a lot in the country, especially in the ministry he will be assigned to.

House Asaba by Governor Ifeanyi Okowa.

Not known for fulsome flattery, Governor Okowa had in the course of presenting his speech vied off to clear the air on the issue of reintroduction of school fees in the State Public Schools. Hear him: “ the rumour going round that we have introduce Schools fees is not true. If you have everyone collecting fees report to me or any Security Agent. We have not introduce fees and we do not have the intention to do so”.

For the generality of Deltans and indeed the 4 man board for the Post Primary Education( PPEB ) and State Universal Basic Education ( SUBEB ), the import of the Governor’s admonition was not lost. In Delta State, everything is politics. Even the truth albeit temporary can be submerged all in the name of politics.

That said, the economic reality in the country has made it difficult for most pupils to go to School particularly in the rural communities and even in semi

Fashola’s performance in the state, you do not discuss tarring of roads, because he tarred in thousands of kilometers across the state. Rather, you discuss projects like the reinvention of the multi modal means of transportation in Lagos or the reality of the Mass Transit Light Rail Lines steadily emerging and innumerable flyovers that are being constructed from Okokomaiko area of the state to CMS has been the defining issue for experts on modern city reconstruction. The construction of the first Cable Stayed Bridge in West Africa from Ikoyi to Lekki brought a refreshing dimension to the idea of government’s vision and the delivery of beautiful and well designed projects. The reinvention of water-ways transportation of Lagos clearly showed the trappings of counter-intuitive thinking. The sudden change of Lagos from a city of dirty city to a clean city with beautiful gardens was as a result of proper planning and executing of

urban areas where children of School age are seen hawking during School hours as was the case in the past.

But with worthwhile policies like this, the sight of children of School age roving the streets have completely disappeared in Delta State. This is owing to the fact that the huge burden of School fees have been taken off the parents . With that, they now have

But with worthwhile policies like this, the sight of children of School age roving the streets have completely disappeared in Delta State

such plans. The construction work going on at the Eko Atlantic City, which has created several jobs in the construction industry remains legendary.

It would be extremely difficult to capture in a single write up, all the significant works done by by Fashola-led administration.

Therefore, I will suspend the discourse for another day. The actual poser here is how similar impacts can be duplicated at national level if he scales through screening at the Senate and becomes a minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Then shall the onus rest squarely on President Buhari to assign to him a ministry that will provide the enabling environment for him to showcase at national level, his talent as a creative leader. More importantly is the need for Mr President to give him the opportunity to use his creative skills in the discharging his duties as anything short of this will affect his performance. Most of

the problems we have in Nigeria emanate from our leaders’ inability to think properly. Every leader, even the most ridiculed, actually had an ambition to be hugely successful.

The issue here is that leaders without thinking faculty are easily overwhelmed by the problems they ought to solve with their initiatives.

They succumb to such problems, branding them as “Nigerian Factor”. Great Leaders on the other hand realize that there is no such thing as the ‘Nigerian Factor’ and that iron will surely melt at the right temperature. That is exactly where a man like Fashola will be very useful to Nigeria. His unique ability to see solutions, where others see problems has made him one of the most successful governors in the nation’s history. Time Magazine op-ed writer, Alex Perry on May 2, 2011 aptly described him thus: “Fashola is not your usual politician. Rather than barging through his way across town with sirens blaring and lights flashing

•Udemba is Media Aide to Gov Okowa.

•Odikpo is a Lagos based legal practitioner

The Villa Chapel relocation saga and other matters mention of relocating the mosque.

In any case, if the relocation is carried out, it will not be proper for the Christian community to blame Buhari. I believe the peopleto hold accountable are Obasanjo and Vice President Prof.

Yemi Osinbajo who is also pastor.

Buhari’s disposition and posture on matters of religion are well known to all Nigerians,except those below 30 years of age. How

If Christians continue to present Christianity as a fake religion where anything goes, then they should not expect Buhari to take them serious

can any Christian then blame him if he says he doesn’t want church where he lives? It will be recalled that during the campaigns leading to the 2015 elections, Osinbajo in Kaduna told a group of Christians that Buhari was going to protect the interest of Christians, better than the former President Goodluck Jonathan. Church services were hurriedly arranged for Buhari where he joined in singing the hymns afterwhich copies of the Holy Bible were presented to him as pet gifts by some men of God or gods of men.

Many of us then asked if any imam would present the Koran to any Christian politician on a campaign trail? Was any presented to Obasanjo in his eight years as President or in any of his campaigns? Will Nigeria Muslims accept if any imam attempts to do that with they Koran?

For Christians, they joyfully danced round Buhari and praised

the pastors who arranged the meeting with thunderous chorus of ‘praise the Lord.’

It is a sacrilege of the highest magnitude for a holy book to be used as a pet gift to a person of other faith for politics. It is also a fact that Osinbajo has continued to show contempt for the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN).

Reports accused him of appointing only his kinsmen as signatories to the Aso Chapel account, thereby shutting out other clerics from other parts of the country as a way of paying them back for their closeness to the past administration.

If Christians continue to present Christianity as a fake religion where anything goes, then they should not expect Buhari to take them serious.

How do you explain the fact that the likes of Rev. Chris Okotie of the Household of God openly rile against Bishop Mathew Kukah

over his comments on the wrongheaded anti-corruption fight?

I won’t be surprised if some pastors are the positioning for ministerial appointments. We are also aware that some people who contested the presidential election and were rejected by Nigerians are now lobbying for ministerial jobs and granting media interviews to advertise themselves. We wish them luck. If they succeed, they will be among the bunch of noise makers in Buhari’s cabinet.

The great reggae artist jimmy Cliff in one of his songs warned us to be wary of hypocrites. On our behalf, he admonished them thus: “Hypocrites, you are all hypocrites, you gonna pay the price some day.” Surely, on the harvest day, as we Christians believe, we will all reap the fruits of our hypocrisy.

•Okpanachi is a Makurdi, Benue State based public affairs commentator

PAGE 10—SUNDAY Vanguard, OCTOBER 11, 2015 thought and actions. It was probably not surprising that while Dad idolized Zik, the son deified Awo. On the few occasions my brother came home, the two papers, TRIBUNE and PILOT landed in the house. And invariably a heated argument was bound to follow.

On the same issue, the journalists and columnists

Zombie press and national interest “When all think alike, no one thinks very much.”

Walter Lippmann, 18891974. (VAGUARD BOOK OF QUOTATIONS p 245).

“Zombie O! Zombie! ..Left turn Zombie! Right turn, Zombie!! Fela Anikulapo Kuti, the original Abami Eda of Nigeria. wo of our Founding fathers, Obafemi Awolowo and Nnamdi Azikiwe, started the Zombie Press in Nigeria.

Awolowo established the NIGERIAN TRIBUNE and Azikiwe countered with the West African Pilot. I was highly privileged to understand, at a tender age, what a “Zombie Press” house is all about. It is established and funded purely to promote the political ambition of its owner. In the middle 1950s, the two papers arrived

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unfailingly, in our house everyday. My late father was a die-hard Zikist; and he would probably have considered sacrificing one of his three sons – if Dr Azikiwe had asked him to do so. My eldest brother, and the first to attend a tertiary institution in Zaria, was just as fanatical a follower of Awolowo.

Without meaning to bore my readers with repetition, he and late Chief Bola Ige started and finished secondary school at Ibadan Grammar School.

While Bola Ige was known as the Kaduna Boy among their classmates my brother late Chief Sanu Sobowale, was called the Zaria Boy. Then, as now, youths attending tertiary institutions soon develop certain attitudes – especially independence of

rexmarinus@hotmail.com

Buhari: “My people are useless, my people are senseless, my people are indiscipline”

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wise man once told me: “Nigerians are mules, everyone who can, kicks at them.” The thing is, the more things change, the more they feel the same. In 1984, MajorGeneral Muhamadu Buhari as military tyrant diagnosed “indiscipline” as Nigeria’s national malaise. The sexy power word in those days was “summarily.”

Buhari promised that the military government of which he was head would “summarily ” deal with any Nigerian who was found wanting in “discipline.” He quickly launched a “War Against Indiscipline.” It caught on fire.

Nigerians were pressed to “behave.” They began to queue for buses and other services in places like Lagos, notorious for jumping queues. That was the greatest achievement of WAI: Nigerians learnt to queue.

Military governors sometimes arrived the gates of government secretariats very early, and waited for government workers who arrived late. Late-coming civil servants were humiliated, made to kneel down irrespective of their office or positions, or age, and frog-jumped

as punishment for coming late to work. In some cases, they were “summarily dismissed.”

Buhari’s government authorized armed soldiers to raid warehouses, and seize the goods of traders accused of “hoarding essential commodities.” That was in a period, of course, when “ESSENCO”was very scarce. Buhari’s War Against Indiscipline, stemmed from his genuine convictions that Nigerians were an undisciplined lot, and had to be forced to obey the simple laws of the land, and of courtesy.

Recent evidence suggests that Buhari continues to believe this as a fundamental problem with the Nigerian character. Last week, our friends, Dr. Barry and Claire Mauer had us all over for a party for Claire’s birthday at their College Park, Orlando, home. We were all going at it, with a little wine and sherry, and that good stuff, when Shanti, another friend of ours said, “I hear your president say all you Nigerians are unruly, and you need to stop being unruly!” I too had heard that the previous day on the BBC. It was big news for the BBC that president Buhari’s Independence Day message

Several newspapers in Nigeria today typify MAM. Owned by politicians, or their proxies, they have raised “Zombie Press” to new levels.

Irrespective of the issue at stake, all the reader needs to know is where the interest of the owner lies writing for the two papers would inevitably take different positions – each claiming to write the “truth” and promoting the “national interest”. As a youngster, under twelve, to Nigerians was that Nigerians were “unruly.” It triggered their fancy so much that they made such an event of it. They brought a Nigerian, whose name I do not now recall, and Ghana’s Elizabeth Ohene, to talk about the “unruliness” of Nigerians as claimed by a president who increasingly seems really disconnected from the Nigerian reality. In the symbolic moment of Nigeria’s 55th anniversary as an Independent nation, more sober considerations should have been made regarding the trajectory of Nigeria’s journey, the transitions that have been made, and the true reasons for the failures of Nigeria.

We should rather celebrate the hardiness and resilience of Nigerians in the face of a terribly confused administration as Buhari’s is turning out to be.Ordinary Nigerians must not be made to carry the can for failed political leadership this past fifty-five years, of which Buhari has been a distinct part. The President had not much to say to Nigerians except that Nigerians are unruly and discourteous, and must change, in order to achieve development.

Actually, this is the worst Independence Day speech I have heard of any Nigerian president. It had no concrete facts. It simply was high on the weed of self-indulgence.

On such a symbolic day, President Buhari should have celebrated Nigeria, and offered it hope.

There are ordinary Nigerians laboring heroically to turn the disadvantages of being Nigerian into something hopeful, and meaningful.

Nigerians are not unruly.

The Nigerian child I know is taught, right from the home, to be courteous, and respectful of people, especially, older people.

Nigerians know to “throway salute” when they meet you.

who was a captive audience in these debates, it didn’t take me too long to understand that “national interest” as canvassed by the media people in any newspaper ultimately meant what was in the interest of the publisher – if he is a professional politician. Thus, right from an early age, I developed an abhorrence for media practitioners (editors, columnists, commentators, government spokespersons etc) writing for any “Zombie Press” house. While it lasted, no criticism of Azikiwe was ever published in the PILOT; and nothing said or done by him could be faulted.

Similarly, nothing Awolowo said or did was faulted by the TRIBUNE; he was (and is still) infallible. The “Zombie Press” houses of the 1950s elevated mere mortals to the status of gods who could do no wrong. Given the low level of literacy in those days, one could perhaps pardon the “journalists” of the era.

Unfortunately, the disease, which for lack of any other term, I can only called “Mutually Agreed Madness”, MAM, is still very much with us – even in 2015.

Several newspapers in Nigeria today typify MAM. Owned by politicians, or their proxies, they have raised “Zombie Press” to new levels.

Irrespective of the issue at stake, all the reader needs to know is where the interest of the owner lies and he can virtually write all the columns, editorials,

comments, letters to the editor that would appear in that paper.

Saraki’s emergence as Senate President is a case in point. Once the news of his selection was released, I jotted down that all the “journalists” writing for two “Zombie Papers” would all take the same positions – one for and the other against. Bearing in mind that some of these writers are Professors (including Emeritus Professors), other holders of advanced degrees, I was still confident that the media practitioners would take the same position. They never failed me.

Another example was the debate about the speed of progress under Buhari. Those who tagged Yar ’Adua as “Baba Go Slow” in 2007 are now unanimous in asking Nigerians to allow Buhari to operate at his own pace.

Meanwhile, the other paper which supported Yar ’Adua in 2007 has been carpeting Buhari for being too slow. In each case, the editors operate as if the only view that counts is that of those who agree with their publisher.

In fact they are so predictable that one must ask: whatever happened to self-respect? Is it possible that twenty educated and intelligent adults could agree on every important issue –

unless “none thinks very much”?..

IDEAS FOR DEVELOPMENT – 3 This is the third part of the engaging work by Obong Victor Attah, former Governor of Akwa Ibom State and a professional town planner. In addition to securing a separate state called Akwa Ibom, he was also the promoter of what became Bayelsa state today. Please read on regarding his ideas on new towns.

“Abuja has, ever since, remained the only new town, not based on any comprehensive policy, but on a specific need to move the seat of the Federal Government. Nigeria is, therefore, not only due for a comprehensive policy on new towns, but, there is an urgent need for other new towns to be developed in the country.

Today the situation in the Niger Delta is considerably worse than Europe’s after the war. We must not forget that the ire of these young people, who have turned themselves into militants, was drawn when, during the ill-intentioned twomillion man march of Daniel Kanu, under Gen. Sani Abacha, they were brought out of the creeks to see how the oil money had been used to transform an area, much more rural than theirs, into a beautiful city like Abuja.

They say, “Afternoon, sir!”

“Enlee ma!” “I boola chi e!” and so on. Nigerians are not, by their very nature, or even by acculturation, unruly or discourteous. Our political leaders have been unruly and discourteous. Those are the real culprits and makers of our national malaise. They have very little regard or respect for the civil and economic rights of Nigerians. Anyone who suddenly arrives at political

congested traffic. It is unruly to shield political power holders behind the barricade of high walls inside government buildings, while the rest of Nigerians are left to the vagaries of crime. I think President Buhari must first, look inward.

As president, propriety demands that he be accompanied by no more than his police orderly in public, while the secret service organize his security with unseen and invisible agents, who mingle with the crowd, without harassing Nigerians with an overwhelming image of armed power. It is the image of overwhelming force, especially modeled by the military that has created the psychological crisis that has reduced Nigerians to its current social miasma. Nigerians, subjected to force rather than governance, since 1966, are suffering from the trauma of social violence, and are reproducing that violence.

They know nothing else but the unruliness modeled by the makers of the public system: the government, and political leadership. It will not do merely to preach order, curtsey in society, when the conditions in which Nigerians live make it possible.

If there was a wellorganized public transport system, Nigerians would have no need to “rush.” But in a city like Lagos, with a population over fifteen million, to have only one means of moving that population is madness in itself. It is nightmarish, and the social pressure of moving about in Lagos which ought to, like cities even half its size, have an underground system, a surface metro system, a

water transport system, as well as well-kept roads that do not clog up movement, makes courtesy difficult, and unruliness only a means of survival.

A man who has no access to clean public toilets, must defecate, and if he cannot find any will be forced to the indignity of relieving himself in public. To prevent that, it is incumbent on governments to provide clean public toilets in strategic places, to prevent such unruliness. The government itself must model the meaning of courtesy, by treating the public with the highest respect in public. A government officer, like a policeman or soldier or tax collector, who harasses any member of the public is modeling unruliness; a government who keeps armed soldiers and police on the highways and streets where they harass Nigerians, is an unruly administration, and will reproduce an unruly nation.

A government that offers, not work, but whips to Nigerians, will create the kind of social pressure that will make civilized conduct impossible. So, President Buhari should for a moment, get off the back of Nigerians.

Nigerians did not elect him merely to preach, they elected him to act. So, to make Nigerians more courteous, the government should begin a work program, strengthen internal regulations and enforcement codes in the public service, provide public infrastructure, enough to make an aggressive search for it redundant. That will reduce the kind of social pressures that make Nigerians unruly.

Our political leaders have been unruly and discourteous. Those are the real culprits and makers of our national malaise. They have very little regard or respect for the civil and economic rights of Nigerians

office, begins immediately to see the rest Nigerians as adversaries and enemies; people who must be contained and repressed, and garrisoned.

Nigerians are constantly infantilized in the minds of the men and women who arrive at power. That is the true meaning of unruliness: to ride rough-shod on your county men because you have the privilege of the protections of public office. It is unruly of public office holders to capture the road on a hot, uncomfortable, tropical day, with sirens and a long convoy, and horse-whip people to the sideways, and travel freely while the rest must deal with

SUNDAY VANGUARD, OCTOBER 11, 2015, PAGE 11 treating public matters as secret considering how we have just handled the nomination of ministers.

There was the funny makebelief that apart from the President no one else knew how the process started and ended until the names were unveiled in the Senate.

Culture of secrecy in governance is stale

D

uring colonial rule, the British evolved a convention that Nigerian public servants were expected to be seen but not heard. The convention facilitated the inclusion in the General Orders and later the Public Service Rules (PSR), the requirement for public servants to take oaths of secrecy not to disclose any information obtained in the course of their duties. The pioneer civil servants imbibed the convention and handed down to posterity, the culture of secrecy for official business in Nigeria.

To give legal backing to the scheme, the Official Secrets Act and the Protection of Public Officers Act were put in place to scare anyone away from breaching the convention. The result was that in an attempt not to run fowl of the law, the term ‘secret’ was stamped in the sub consciousness of government officials . Other

former colonies suffered and are still suffering the same fate. In Kenya, the International Advisory Commission of the Human Rights Initiative found in 2003, that “a file full of nothing more than newspaper cuttings was marked as ‘ very confidential’ and access to it was denied without the permission of the Permanent Secretary”. Indeed, several public service documents in Nigeria still carry bold inscriptions such as ‘official’, ‘private’, ‘top secret’, ‘confidential’ etc. when in reality; some of them contain only cosmetic subjects such as a list of approved public holidays!

Interestingly, the Europeans who introduced the concept of secrecy in governance have since abandoned the idea because it negates a free society. In Nigeria however, it may not be easy to overcome the culture of PhD,Depar tment of Philosophy, University of Lagos 08116759758 opuruiche2000@yahoo.com

Facts, fancies and fallacies (4)

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ome of the acts of misconduct and corruption levelled against Saraki took place in 2003 when he was governor of Kwara state.

Therefore, if it is proper to deal with a case of alleged corruption that occurred over twelve years ago, why should "time constraints" deter a leader keen on change and eradication of authority stealing from investigating corruption perpetrated between 1985 and 2009? Why is President Buhari acting as if it is an abomination to investigate retired military heads of state and their close associates? Of course, it is virtually impossible for Buhari's government (or any administration for that matter) to deal with all corruption cases simultaneously - the war against graft must begin from somewhere.

Nevertheless, it is counterproductive for the President and his cabal, using official instruments of law enforcement, to single out only opponents of government or "enemies" of, and rebels within, the ruling APC for probe and subsequent prosecution: such selectiveness would, as time goes on, erode public trust and confidence in the sincerity of government to tackle corruption headlong.

Allegations of false asset declaration against Saraki are very weighty indeed.

Many Nigerians, including this writer, earnestly wish that the Senate President or any other high-ranking official of government must be severely punished according to law for serious misconduct, especially corruption. Yet, some lawyers maintain that due process was not followed in the Saraki case: that before Saraki was brought to the tribunal, he ought to have been given the opportunity to explain anomalies discovered in his assets declaration forms, and that approval of the AttorneyGeneral of the federation was needed as well. Now, a large number of high profile corruption cases have been bungled by the EFCC, the police and other agencies of government due to inattention to legal technicalities, poor investigative skills, and slipshod prosecution.

Without a doubt, corruption in the judiciary, together with obsolete and faulty laws, has also hampered efforts to deal with corruption in high places.

Meanwhile, President Buhari and several hypocritical APC kingpins with stinking reputation for corruption are propping up a caricature of what genuine war against corruption ought to be. As Chinweizu perceptively remarked, they are deploying all sorts of Machiavellian tactics, including sacrificing some

The fact that the document containing the list of ministers was typed by someone and probably proof-read by someone else and perhaps sealed by yet another person punctures the secrecy story There is even the story that those nominated got to know about it only when the names were made public!

One of the nominees, Dr, Kayode Fayemi, a former Governor of Ekiti State told newsmen at the National Headquarters of the All Progressives Congress in Abuja last Tuesday, that notwithstanding his closeness to President Muhammadu Buhari, the President never gave him a hint about his plans on the of their very own, to create the illusion of fighting corruption when, in reality, their overarching concern is to use the 1999 constitution as a tool for preserving the geopolitical and economic status quo which favours selected members of the Northern establishment and the Caliphate generally.

Therefore, those expecting a radical difference now in the war against corruption are likely to be disappointed because the current APC government is genetically incapable of dealing with the root of corruption in Nigeria, namely, the unitarist 1999 constitution and the geopolitical economy flowing from it.

APC leaders have not been honest and straightforward with Nigerians. A case in point is the public announcement by Garba Shehu, one of the media aides of President Buhari, of the so-called assets declared by the President and VicePresident, Yemi Osinbajo. It is remarkable that some public commentators hailed the announcement as if what Buhari and Osinbajo did was unprecedented in Nigerian political history.

But the late President, Umar Musa Yar'Adua, not only publicly declared his assets shortly after assuming office, his declaration was more detailed and concise; moreover he declared his liabilities as well. From the information released to the media by Garba Shehu, neither Buhari nor Osinbajo (who is a Professor of law anyway) fulfilled the constitutional requirement in the Fifth Schedule, which stipulates that the declaration must include all their properties, assets, and liabilities and those of their unmarried children under the age of eighteen.

Assuming that both men do not have unmarried children

issue. In Fayemi’s words, “to the extent that I was not told by the President that I was going to be on his list; yes, it came as a surprise.

The president is a surprise master; let me put it that way. He did not tell anyone to the best of my knowledge and I would have thought that I was in a vantage position to know more than others. I was with him for five days before then. I was with him in New York at the United Nations General Assembly, and he never uttered a word about his list to me nor to anyone else.”

As part of the convention of secrecy, the list which was to be made public on September 30 as promised by government was ready and was dispatched to the senate but it could not be immediately disclosed because the Senate had adjourned before the secret document reportedly got to it. As if not to break the chain of secrecy, Senate President Saraki ensured that no one saw its contents until 10.45 am on Tuesday October 05, 2015 when the full Senate was in session.

Hmmm! An analyst who may have monitored the process is likely to doubt the authenticity of the scenes of the entire drama episode.

To start with, our people say a subject known to more than one person cannot be regarded as a secret. The fact that the document containing the list of ministers was typed by

someone and probably proof-read by someone else and perhaps sealed by yet another person punctures the secrecy story. In actual fact, the level of bad press which some of the nominees got so as to keep them off the list shows that the episode was an open secret.

In Port Harcourt, the Rivers State Government hurriedly organized a probe panel to expose Amaechi’s alleged ills. At the same time, strong supporters of the government’s standpoint used advertisements and documentaries to organize media trial of what the panel was supposedly probing.

In the case of Fashola, those against his ministerial nomination found their way into the state government’s website to announce his perceived corrupt practices. In addition, a group-the ‘Coalition Against Corrupt Leaders’ sent a petition to the Senate before the list was made public asking it not to confirm Fashola “should his name pop-up as a ministerial nominee.”

In the petition, the group urged the senators to visit Lagos, as governed by Fashola, before screening and confirming him for any appointment as a minister.

Meanwhile, to some people including this writer, that Fashola did quite well as Governor of Lagos State is a notorious fact. If those

who maligned Rotimi Amaechi and Babatunde Fashola ostensibly to spoil their chances merely suspected that they might be made ministers, it is instructive that their suspicion was accurate. So, whither secrecy?

Again, it could not have been a mere coincidence that when the list was eventually released what it contained was not different from the one the social media released and copiously analysed before the list was made public.

Thus, people in authority who often suffocate the public media should note that whatever they keep away from the media they control is available on the internet. What this suggests, is that the culture of secrecy bequeathed by the colonial administration to Nigeria is stale and should be done away with. Indeed, Nigeria having since 2011, joined those countries that have legislated unhindered access to public information has no business holding-on to secrecy as a framework of governance. Rather, what is begging to be done now is for the country to quickly institutionalize the modalities for open government by ensuring that any information of public interest is not shrouded in secrecy. It is the most obvious way for government to be accountable to its people.

below eighteen years, why were the liabilities omitted?

Why the ringing silence concerning the exact worth of shares and properties owned by Buhari and his deputy? In my view, President Buhari, in his attempt to portray himself

declared by any public official in the period stipulated by the constitution and genuine efforts to punish offenders notwithstanding their position or social status, the entire assets declaration exercise is a meaningless waste of time and scarce resources.

Now, after months of keeping a broad section of Nigerians in suspense, President Buhari has finally sent the first batch of twentyone ministerial nominees to the National Assembly for screening. According to media reports, the President had met the leadership of the National Assembly, although Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, was absent at the meeting.

The unfolding scenario brings into prominent relief the President's lack of political sagacity and naivety when he declared that he was uninterested in the leadership of the National assembly, that he is prepared to work with anyone at that level. That is another unnecessary mistake by the President. His I-will-not-interfere-stance is analogous to that of the chief medical director of a general hospital who claims he does not care about the quality of nurses posted to his hospital because he is willing to work with any nurse! Buhari seems not to fully appreciate the fact that, given the significant oversight functions of the federal legislature on the executive branch of government, he must be keenly interested in the selection of principal officers of the senate and house of representatives and, as much as possible, use whatever resources he could muster to influence legislators' choice on the matter. Buhari wasted the opportunity to do so in a futile effort to convince

gullible Nigerians that he is "Mr. Clean" who respects the [principle of separation of powers. Every political theorist knows that the principle of separation of power is a theoretical construct which does not exist in reality. That is why even in the United States, no President can ever dream of alienating himself completely from the leadership calculus in the legislature, because it is important to have a legislature whose leadership largely shares the same vision as the President.

As we already noted, Bukola Saraki, the Senate President, is being prosecuted for serious misconduct at the Code of Conduct Tribunal. Some Nigerians, including Saraki himself, believe strongly that his travails are politically motivated, that some cabal in APC wants to punish him for defying the party by conniving with PDP senators to become President of the senate.

Perhaps, Saraki might use the ministerial screening exercise by the senate to cut his own pound of flesh from Buhari and the APC by surreptitiously mobilising his colleagues to scuttle approval of the list sent by the President. He could even play to the gallery, as his party often does, by creating the impression of seriousness and thoroughness in the screening exercise through instigating his colleagues to adopt stringent criteria which only few ministerial nominees can meet. The eventual outcome what is happening now depends largely on the dialectical interplay between contending affiliation, whereas the skewed system that breeds corruption is left relatively intact and untouched, it means that the more things change in Nigeria under APC, the ethnicity and party

A leader genuinely interested in real change cannot pick and choose the extent to which he can act in accordance with the law or mislead people by pretending to set a new standard when actually he has not even met the one already set by any of his predecessors as a moral messiah, created unnecessary problem for himself by making promises he knew would be hard for him to fulfil. A leader genuinely interested in real change cannot pick and choose the extent to which he can act in accordance with the law or mislead people by pretending to set a new standard when actually he has not even met the one already set by any of his predecessors. Accordingly, if the information from Shehu accurately represents what both men declared to the Code of Conduct Bureau, it means that expectations of greater transparency and accountability by Nigerians from the APC government is an illusion that has no basis in reality. On a general note, without thorough forensic investigations to ascertain the veracity of what was

PAGE 12—SUNDAY Vanguard, OCTOBER 11, 2015 florescent bulbs as it was in my last trip through the Murtala Muhammed International Airport.

The air in the hall was suffocating as none of the air conditioning systems was in operation. I have never felt the need for a "dose" of fresh air so I ignored the creaking elevator

DIASPORA MATTERS

Of change and the Nigeria Blues (2)

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s the pilot announced our arrival in the Nigerian space, I had this sinking feeling in my tummy. I could not really place what it was for, but I found myself smiling at the gentleman seated next to me.

He looked me in the eye and with a distant smile, nodded, turned away and continued with his struggle to get a SIM card into his mobile phone.

I imagined the thoughts of this stranger whom up till that moment I did not exchange a glance with throughout the journey. At this time I just felt like a conversation with anybody to ease the "butterfly" in my tummy. Moreover, his mobile phone, I thought might be a great asset for me to make contact with the "outside world" for ease of transportation from the airport.

The aircraft touched down and there was loud clapping and shouts of "hallelujah" from not a few of the passengers. Momentarily I thought I was in my church mid week service. But I was brought back to reality by my new found friend. He nudged me and said "Nigerians with their religion." I smiled in agreement, as I thought of the

flamboyant religious expression of my fellow citizens. I have been on many flights but none had been as dramatic as this touch down in Lagos. Sensing my bewilderment, my fellow passenger informed me that what happened was child's play when compared with local flights.

Anyway, I switched my mind off the "hallelujah" chorus to what changes I would experience in the "new" Nigeria. As the plane taxied to a halt, the reality of touch down on the Nigerian soil hit me big time. All of a sudden the advises and suggestions freely offered before embarking on the journey came rushing to memory.

Particularly recurring in my mind were the ones given by my non-Nigerian friends.

When I broke the news that my father passed away to these set of friends, they were more concerned with my going "home" than the fact that I had lost a precious one.

Many could not hide their fears and openly asked me if it would really be out of place if I did not attend the ceremonies. I had to educate them that in Nigeria, indeed Africa, it is eternal shame if

Unacceptable options

T

his week, we are continuing with our penultimate week’s article, not necessarily because one wants to over flog the issue but because of certain developments which produced unpleasant consequences and, more importantly, to keep faith alive.

Penultimate week, there was a news report that a couple was arrested for illegally purchasing a baby.

According to the report, the couple had been childless for about six years.

The report claimed the couple wanted to adopt and sought the assistance of a medical doctor who gave them a baby that they took home.

Their landlord reported to the police that the couple had come in with a baby .

The police came in and it turned out that the doctor had given to the couple another person’s child, claiming that he would formalize the adoption for them by obtaining the necessary papers at Alausa; the seat of the Lagos government.

It turned out to be false as the biological parents of the child showed up to say

they had given the child to the doctor for care.

Now, there are gaps in this story but, for us, the lesson is, stay away from shady deals.

Adoption is legal but must be done properly.

Those seeking to adopt must consult the appropriate ministry .

Stop weepingWaiting on the Lord is built of faith and trust in the Lord Almighty , the Creator of Heaven and Earth. Weeping and turning yourself into a walking corpse is the not the solution.

When you weep , you are submitting to the delay.

If tears must drop from your eyes , it should be when you are praying.

Pray intensely and be assured that God will answer you.

The time God will answer you is not for you to decide. That belongs to God. Keep your marriage aliveThat you are waiting on the Lord does not mean you should make your marriage boring.

Plan with your

for any reason you do not attend your parents' funeral ceremonies. What excuse would you offer?

I do not blame them as their cultures are quite different from ours. Moreover, their views and advises were shaped by the news of Nigeria they watch and read in the foreign media. To an average foreigner, the terrorist group, Boko Haram operates like an opposition "pressure"'group in Nigeria. In any discussion about the country, the issue of Boko Haram cannot be avoided.

How many intending investors ever realise that the "works" of these evil group actually take place in the north eastern part of the country?

Anyway, back to reality as I stepped off the plane to the warm embrace of the Lagos weather. Gingerly making my way through the dimly lit gangway of the aircraft, I could not but notice the tattered carpet I was walking on. A serious vacuuming and shampooing would do it a great makeover. It was a different scenario, stepping into the building and I almost felt guilty of hasty judgement as I can see improved flooring, railings and less burnt out husband to have a quiet time possibly outside your home where both of you can discuss possible solutions .

If you desire to have IVF, both of you must agree.

If it is adoption, both of you must equally agree; where there is a disagreement, please don’t let it degenerate into a quarrel. Pray about it.

Be open and truthful to each other. Did I hear you say ‘aren’t couples supposed to be open and truthful to each other?’

Yes, they ought to but many are not.

Why is this important?

I will share with you the story of a couple that has been waiting on the Lord for about 10 years.

They visited a popular fertility doctor in Lagos.

He saw them, had his diagnosis and told them the wife had 50-50 chance of becoming a mother.

The couple left holding on to the belief that with God all things are possible.

A few days after, the doctor called the man and asked him if he could not try another woman.

Now, can you imagine this?! Is this the role of a doctor? I don’t think so.

Anyway, the man declined and the specialist doctor asked the man if he had taken an oath with the wife.

The couple held on to God and continued to pray until God led them to the right man of God and the yoke was broken.

The woman gave birth to a baby boy.

When the doctor was informed, he was not excited.

Why am I saying this?

Do not allow

While the government is fighting corruption in high places, the common men do not see themselves as corrupt, but smart.

Will this bring about the change we dream of in the country? I doubt

and took the flight of stairs in my haste to get outside the building. But it was still a long way to go. The immigration "passage" was uneventful as stone faced officers dutifully stamped the travelling documents of Nigerians. In one corner, an overzealous supervisor took his job too seriously as he "queries" passengers with foreign passports: "Why did you to come to Nigeria?"

Apart from this the officers in their nicely starched, sweatsoaked khaki uniforms, anyone under any circumstance put a wedge between you and your spouse .

This particular doctor is not genuinely interested in assisting the couple; all he wanted was money.

Today, to the glory of God, the woman that was given 50-50 chance is a mother of four, including a set of twins.

Don’t threaten divorceThreatening each other with divorce isn’t the solution. Remember, when a marriage fails, it is both of you that failed.

Threatening each other with divorce isn’t the solution.

Remember, when a marriage fails, it is both of you that failed

Keep in mind the words of Pastor Samson Ajetunmobi: “Take care of your wife.

Only weak men use divorce as weapons.

Any man who threatens his wife with divorce is a boy- husband”.

Pastor Ajetunmobi added, “Real men keep marriage.

Value the choice you have made”, but he also advised women, “Stop being bold enough to insult your

appeared different from the ones encountered a few years ago, who were practically begging passengers for handouts.

Times have indeed changed, as we filed past the officers and into the luggage claim area.

At the luggage hall it was commotion as the conveyor was obviously struggling with the number of bags rolling down it. Many times the belt jammed while the officer who was "employed" to put the bags in queue was on his mobile phone, while the bags were on free fall, some off the belt.

In the corner of my eye, I sighted my luggage and with great relief, I grabbed them and ran towards the exit where smiling Customs Officers welcomed me to Nigeria. They were courteous, without the usual demands of "what have you brought for us?"

From there I was released into the hands of "Hawks" parading as Taxi Drivers, black market operators, mobile phone company agents, trolley "directors" etc who all crowded round me trying to make sales. One impressive thing about these men and women was that they all had official identifications tags that they displayed openly to confirm their legitimacy. But I was not going to be fleeced of my hard earned money by any smart fella whose claim to legitimacy is his presence in the airport arrival hall and an ID, the source I cannot confirm. In my mind I tagged them "official touts".

The arrival hall was the busiest I had seen in

international airports. This I attributed to the little space and the numerous shops. The number of black market operators walking leisurely all over the hall was more than the passengers arriving.

Welcome to Nigeria, I said to myself.

In my interaction with a few of these marketers I noticed a clear difference between them and the officials of Customs or the Immigrations. The desperation to take advantage of arriving passengers was so glaring. A phone kiosk operator "tried" the idea of me paying a tidy sum to register a new SIM card. The trick failed as I walked away from her.

I marvel when people accuse government officials of corruption while in their own corners they play fast dirty ones on fellow countrymen all because they are not regulated. I needed a taxi as my contact was held up in the Lagos traffic and would have taken ages for him to get to me. I got quotes ranging from five to ten thousand Naira from three different taxi operators from the airport to Adeniyi Jones Avenue.

Thinking I had driven a hard bargain, I took a five thousand Naira drive, only to be alarmed by my hosts' reaction when I told them the charge.

husband”.

the solution challenge.

A breakthrough is possibleFaith and total trust in God will make your breakthrough possible.

You may have been praying for years and nothing has happened; keep praying.

God will direct your steps and give you a breakthrough.

As usual, I will share with you the testimony of Mrs. G. Oguntade at the Redemption Camp of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG).

She had been waiting on the Lord for 20 years .

Doctors told her and her husband to go and adopt.

In other words, medically, they were not supposed to be biological parents.

According to her, she was even told that her womb couldn’t carry a child.

The bad news wasn’t for her alone. Her husband too was told he could not impregnate a woman.

However, they met the UNLIMITED GOD when God directed her steps to a programme led by the General Overseer of the RCCG, Pastor Enoch Adeboye.

She was in a prayer session, the result of which was the arrival of her testimony.

The woman, who had been without children for 20 years, gave birth to a set of twins: a boy and a girl.

Now, I am not saying you should go looking out for a particular man of God but don’t be hooked to church.

Find time to attend prayer meetings that have

Get under the right anointing.

Remember the words of Pastor J.T. Kalejaiye of RCCG: “There is nothing any man of God can do without the God of man”.

Focus on the God of man. Don’t get tired of praying.

Don’t let worship songs cease from your mouth.

God appreciates worship.

Sacrifice part of your hours of sleep to call on the Almighty God in the lonely hours of the night.

He will surely answer you.

As women , we have a duty to make the home attractive to our spouses no matter what is happening now.

I like to dedicate this edition to my son, Samuel, who turned five penultimate week. I had Samuel after 22 years of waiting. Glory be to God. How long have you been waiting?

Don’t lose hope. Rather, it is time to demonstrate your total faith in God by worshipping him and serving him.

I bring this edition of Joyful Homes to an end with this prayer point given by Pastor Sunday Awe”: “Whatever is sustaining delay in my child bearing life, today I destroy it in the name of Jesus”.

The lesson I learnt from this experience and which eventually guided my stay in Nigeria was that everybody would try a fast one on you.

While the government is fighting corruption in high places, the common men do not see themselves as corrupt, but smart. Will this bring about the change we dream of in the country? I doubt. to

your

Keep your faith alive, your Samuel or Deborah is on the way in Jesus name.

SUND AY SUNDA

Vanguard, OCTOBER 11, 2015P PAGE — 13

...All about the North

By Victoria Ojeme, Abuja

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OKO Haram’s insurgency in Nigeria has left more than 15,000 dead since 2010. Some years back, nobody believed terrorists’ attacks will become a regular occurrence in Nigeria.

Insurgency was viewed as a menace peculiar to the Middle East. It was therefore a huge surprise when suicide bombings as well as other terrorists’ attacks became a daily occurrence in Nigeria. Since then, wanton killings and destruction of property by Boko Haram have continued unabated.

And government seemed overwhelmed and many victims abandoned to their fate. Where government offered assistance to them, it didn’t go far to give succour.

Most of the victims nursing what doctors described as third degree burns have been bombarded with drug prescriptions their families cannot afford.

One of them is Agbor Gabriel Obe who was at the wrong place at the wrong time, December 31, 2010 when a bomb detonated inside Abacha Barracks, Abuja.

Dozens were killed, many more injured. Agbor then was 15 years old.

“On 31 December, 2010, my senior brother sent me on errand to Abacha Barracks. As I was about to deliver the message, the thing (bomb) happened. I was taken to Asokoro General Hospital”, he narrated to Sunday Vanguard on the heels of the Nyanya and Kuje, Abuja penultimate week bombings which left many dead and several others injured.“The victim said he lost consciousness immediately after the blast, only to find himself in hospital with a shattered leg. After four months and two weeks, and with the affected leg amputated, Agbor joined the list of victims recommended for further treatment abroad.“On October 30, 2011, ten months after, he was flown to South Africa in the company of one doctor from Asokoro General Hospital.“But Agbor, who came back with prosthesis on his right leg, said he went on the trip without support for sundry needs, including feeding.“According to him, he literally became a beggar to avoid starvation, while undergoing treatment.““We were told we would be given allowance to take care of feeding and other sundry needs, but the doctor who accompanied us did not give me any allowance; so I had to resort to begging in South Africa , while in hospital, to be able to feed”, the amputee lamented.““That was how I came in contact with a kindhearted Nigerian army officer, who gave me some money to take care of my feeding”.“After two months and two weeks, he returned to Nigeria on December 1, 2011, alleging that the doctor dumped him at the Abuja airport, with no relative or any arrangement for that matter to take him from the airport to his home.““I returned to Nigeria in the company of the doctor, but he dumped me at

ABUJA BOMB BLAST VICTIM'S TRAVAILS

‘Five years after being scarred, I am still begging gov govtt for attention!' the person came down, the blast occurred”, she stated.

“The UN evacuated us to National Hospital and, after two days, evacuated me to United Kingdom in an air ambulance”.

On her impression of emergency care at the National Hospital, Member could not remember much in those two days when she hovered between life and death.

If Member was lucky to receive adequate treatment that restored her health, there are many other blast victims like Agbor still nursing their wounds. Last year, many of the victims of bomb explosions, which took place in Abuja and environs, protested alleged negligence by the Federal Government.

The victims, who converged on the Millennium Park Fountain, venue of the #Bring BackourGirls demonstrations, claimed they were abandoned in hospital.

Among the incidents that affected them are the dual bomb blasts at Nyanya of April, 2014, and others in Suleja, Niger State, as well as Emab Plaza in Wuse Zone II, Abuja.

Meanwhile, the Nigeria

the airport, telling me to find my way home. With no money on me, I had to start begging again to get out of the airport and find my way home”.“Agbor ’s new concern that prompted him to cry out, he told Sunday Vanguard, is that the prosthesis or artificial leg that was made for him while in South Africa has since developed problems and his efforts to get further medical help yielded no result.“He said, “The artificial leg is now torn and rubs against my bone, when I walk with it. It is very painful when that happens. I spoke to the doctor who accompanied me to South Africa and one of his colleagues, a Benue man, but they said ‘ you should even thank God that they gave you the artificial leg instead of complaining’. I told them that the artificial leg has problems. My bone is rubbing against the prosthesis.“““I reminded them of what the South African hospital authorities said; that I should change the artificial leg, every two years. Even if they didn’t give me the artificial leg, I don’t care because, right now, I am feeling serious pains and I would like treatment that can stop the pains”.““The blast victim alleged further that when he went back to Asokoro General Hospital for treatment to ease

the pains on the amputated leg, the hospital demanded money from him. “I went there for treatment, they told me to pay and I told them that I didn’t have money; they didn’t treat me”.

If Agbor is unlucky with his treatment, another victim, Member Feese, appears not.

On August 26, 2011, Member was at the United Nations (UN) building when an insurgent drove a bombladen car into the building.

The blast claimed two lives while causing injuries to 106 persons, some of whom were treated in Nigeria – they include 64 UN staff members and 50 non-staff.

17 seriously injured victims of the blast were evacuated to South Africa – 12 UN staff and five non-staff – for specialist treatment.

After several months abroad receiving care, Member came back to the country.

The victim, who got caught in the blast when she visited the UN building to source materials for her master's degree thesis in a United Kingdom school, told Sunday Vanguard her story.

“I went to the UN building on August 26, 2011to carry out research for my master's thesis and the person I was meeting said I should stay at the reception and he will come down and meet me but, before

Foundation for the Support of Victims of Terrorism, last week, disbursed N12million to victims of the nation's capital bomb blasts.

The Chairman of the Foundation, General Theophilus Danjuma, presented the money.

He explained the money had brought to N500 million funds spent on bomb blast victims in the country.

He explained that the foundation's primary concern was to support victims to enable them have full recovery.

In a related development, President Muhammadu Buhari has assured victims of recent Nyanya and Kuje, Abuja bomb blasts that Federal Government would take full responsibility of settling their medical bills.

The blast victim alleged further that when he went back to Asokoro General Hospital for treatment to ease the pains on the amputated leg, the hospital demanded money from him

•Member... hovered between life and death for two days

PAGE 14— SUND AY SUNDA

Vanguard, OCTOBER 11, 2015

...All about the North

HEART RENDING STORIES IN BENUE

How kidnappers snatched one-yr-old from mother's back, 29 other children

By Peter Duru, Makurdi

B

enue State security agencies are faced with the challenge of unravelling a syndicate stealing children from parents.“In the last seven weeks, the syndicate, according to security sources, has made away with over 30 children, aged one to seven. At press time, it was learnt that none of the children had been found. “The development has forced many parents to take measures to keep their wards safe especially at schools and places of worship in the state.“Though the police claimed they were on top of the situation and were making efforts to nab the masterminds of the crime, mothers of some of the snatched children felt otherwise.“The mothers kept lamenting that the police had not done enough to rescue the children and apprehend the masterminds to stem the wave.“The aggrieved mothers took their case to journalists on Thursday, in Makurdi, the state capital, where they told stories of how their children went missing without trace.“One of the women, Mrs. Ngodoo Amiaser, 30, a mother of three, said her son, Tersoo Paul Amiaser, a four-year-old pupil of Joel Model School, Gboko Road, Makurdi, went missing since August 29.“Ngodoo, a cassava floor and raw 'akpu' seller at Wurukum market, Makurdi, told her heart-rending story.“She recalled that on the

fateful day, her son had gone with her to the market and that while she was attending to customers, he went to play nearby with his age mates and got missing.“"My son went to play within the market with his mates, which was his routine whenever i took him to the market.

They dragged the baby from the woman who was going to church with her child and sped off before anyone could realize what was happening

However, on that day, he left my shop at about 4pm, but, by 5pm when he usually returns, I didn't see him.“"I went looking for him. In the process, a young girl said she saw him with a woman who she could not identify and asked where the woman was going with the boy but the woman told the girl she was my sister and that I had asked her to go and buy juice for my son.“"The matter was reported to the police who have been investigating the issue but, till date, I've not seen Tersoo. I don't know where they've taken him to. I'm begging whoever took my son to return him. He is too innocent for anyone to harm him”.“The stories of Mrs. Wandoo Hemkya, Mrs. Charity Otumala and Doosuur Aer are not different. Their children were also taken away by strange persons at different locations in Benue.“Hemkya, who broke down and wept profusely while speaking with newsmen, said she left her son, Shaaondo, with her sister to attend a burial programme in the village but, on getting back, she was told that somebody, who introduced himself as an 'uncle', took him away, claiming he was going to buy sweet for him.“"My neigbours said the man, who took Shaaondo, pretended to be a close relative and just deceived them and took my son away in broad day light”, she narrated.“"Up till today, there is no news as to his whereabouts or as to those who took him away and for

what reason. I'm urging the police to redouble their efforts in the search for my son. The pain of him being taken away in the manner they did is too much for me to bear".“On their part, Otumala and Doosuur, who claimed they lived within the same neighborhood in Wadata area of Makurdi, lost their sons, aged four and six, same day after an unidentified person took them away from where they were playing.“The women, whose husbands were mostly commercial bus drivers, said they had reported the matter to the police and appealed to members of the public to pray along with them and avail the police information on how they could find the children.“"We are neigbours in Wadata and our children are always playing together until few days back when unknown persons picked them and took them away from where they usually played”, they stated.“"Since the incident, we have been combing the neighbourhood for them but we could not see any trace of them; we have also not known peace and we have never had good sleep since their sudden disappearance.“"The matter was reported to the police but nothing has come out of their investigations but we are hopeful that the police will find our children and return them back to us in good health".“Sunday Vanguard also learned that a one-year-old baby was in the early hours of last Sunday snatched from the back of her mother while on her way to worship at Saint Peter's Catholic Church, Wurukum, Makurdi.“According to an eyewitness, who craved anonymity, the baby was snatched from the mother at the gate of the church by two men on motorbike, who dragged the baby from the back of the mother.“'They dragged the baby from the woman who was going to church with her child and sped off before anyone could realize what was happening", the eye witness said.“"The truth is that child snatchers are on the prowl in Benue and the earlier the police take proactive steps to tackle it the better for everyone because as everyone is scared; even when you drop off your children in school, you are not at peace until you pick them."“Benue State Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, Deputy Police Superintendent, DSP, Austin Ezeani, stated that the police were aware of the development and was doing everything possible to track down the syndicate behind the crime.“"We are not resting, until all those behind the crime are arrested and the abducted children recovered and returned to their parents", he stated.“Speaking on the issue, Governor Samuel Ortom acknowledged that he had received information about syndicates that abduct children in the state.“Ortom said, "It is a strange development in this part of the country, it is highly condemnable and unacceptable for anyone to resort to stealing children.“"We will not allow such highly reprehensible activity in this state, we will collaborate with security agencies to ensure that the menace is tackled and all those behind it brought to justice.

SUNDAY VANGUARD, OCTOBER 11, 2015, PAGE 15

Respite, as Ugwuanyi’s stroke disarms traffic

warden/revenue collectors •House moves against hawkers, beggars

BY FRANCIS IGATA

M

otorists in Enugu State have heaved a sigh of relief over the disbandment of traffic wardens/revenue collectors who imposed N25,000 penalty on traffic offenders.

Inaugurated by the immediate past administration in the state, the suspended revenue collectors conducted their activities in a manner that brought sorrow to residents, especially motorists.

But Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, who got visibly worried following persistent complaints from the people, has outlawed the penalty, promising to give the initiative a human face when reconstituted.

“I was constrained to convene this meeting today to enable us address an issue that is becoming worrisome to the people of the state and to us as a government. It pertains to the rising concerns over the activities of some people purported to be working as traffic wardens cum revenue collectors for the State Ministry of Transport and the Enugu Capital Territory Development Authority as well as three local government councils in the state,”Ugwuanyi said while speaking on the activities of the outfit.

“When I assumed office as governor, I did promise to provide good governance to our people and to do all I could within

the powers of my office to make their lives better. As a responsible government therefore, we cannot fold our hands and watch individuals subject our people, as well as visitors to the state, to extortion and all manners of oppression in the guise of enforcement of traffic laws.

“It indeed challenges our efforts to sustain the peaceful and serene environment that Enugu has come to be associated with.

“As we do know, this is a civil service state and a situation where for example, a civil servant, who may be earning about N25,000 a month, is asked to pay the same amount as punishment for a traffic offence, is totally unacceptable.

“There are also questions as to what really constitutes a traffic offence, who is legally authorised to fix or collect fines for such offences and where is the money thus collected usually deposited?

“In order for us to address the foregoing issues properly and to save our people from further unnecessary hardship, I hereby order the immediate suspension of the collection of fines for traffic offences in Enugu metropolis, for a period of one month.

“Within this period, traffic offenders will still be apprehended but instead of being asked to pay fines, they will be educated on the use of traffic lights and on other extant traffic laws of the state, after which they will be allowed to move on. This is

•Beggars and hawkers consistent with my belief that punishment for such offences be should more educative rather than excessive.

“I must however make it clear, that this measure is temporary and is not in any way, intended to encourage road users to disobey traffic rules and regulations.

Rather, it is aimed at giving us time and opportunity to streamline the activities of law enforcement agents traffic laws in the state and also enable our people to be properly educated on what constitutes traffic offences and what they should do to avoid committing them.”

Meanwhile, hawkers and beggars, selling in their wares and begging for arms respectively, appear to have taken over traffic in the Enugu metropolis. The hawkers, mostly male, aged between 1540-years-old, swarm on motorists, selling all sorts of items ranging from apple to slippers,walking sticks, snacks, wipers,fire extinguishers,eye glasses,belts, among others, The beggars,clutching plastic plates to receive alms from the public, thrust the plates through vehicle windows, in a desperate bid to get alms from motorists

and commuters. Most times,they hit at window glasses to attract attention.

Sunday Vanguard investigations revealed that some of the youths were returnees from the North-East where Boko-Haram terrorists make life difficult, forcing parents and their children, especially easterners, to flee.

The hawkers and beggars operate around traffic lights located on Bisala Road,Liberty Estate Junction, ESBS,Ebeano Tunnel/Artisan, ESCET/ Shoprite, Abakpa junction among others.

Meanwhile, Enugu State House of Assembly, last Tuesday, passed a motion, urging the state Ministry of Environment to clean up the environment. Mr. Paul Nnajiofor, who moved the motion and supported by 13 others,also charged the Ministry of Gender Affairs and its Poverty Alleviation counterpart to remove the destitute,hawkers,beggars from bus stops,traffic lights envirous and streets in Enugu metropolis.

The legislators also wanted the Ministry of Gender Affairs to monitor bus stops and prosecute offenders.

Respit e, as Ugwuan yi’s sstr tr ok espite, Ugwuanyi’s trok okee disarms tr af ar den/re venue collect or traf afffic w war arden/re den/revenue collector orss

Rock crushes mother, two children, grandchild in Ogun

BY DAUD OLATUNJI, ABEOKUTA

F

OUR

persons,

in

cluding a mother and her two children, were crushed by a large rock after it rammed into a room and parlour apartment at Oke-Ola Street, Ibere-kodo, Abeokuta, Ogun State capital.

Sunday Vanguard gathered that the woman’s grandchild was also killed dur-

ing the incident which occurred Friday night. Meanwhile, the father, Ismail Lawal, and a daughter, Rafia, also reportedly in the building, survived.

According to eye witnesses, the mother, identified as Silifat Lawal, her two children, Rasheedat, 15, Semia ,4, and a grandchild, Sukurat, had their dinner and went to bed.

It was gathered that at about 9pm, a huge rock, some distance to the building, tumbled off its base as a result of soft

ground occasioned by a downpour and headed for the room of the Lawals and crushed them. One of the neighbours, Khadijat Adegoke, said the sound of the impact was overwhelming the heavy rain that fell that night also wreaked havoc on property around the area. Adegoke explained that neighbours got to know about the incident when the husband of the deceased woman, Ismail, rushed out and shouted for help.

According to her, neighbours rushed to the scene but could do nothing as the victims had been crushed. When our correspondent visited the scene, yesterday morning, sympathisers were everywhere.

Men were seen digging four graves for the deceased. Lawal and his surviving daughter Rafia were taken to a nearly house for close observation. The father, a driver described as an easy going person, was too distraught to speak to our correspondent

‘Sometimes I ask why I am still alive!’

Continued from page 6 We have the capacity to defend what belongs to us. So far, so good, the appointments that they have made, none has come to Bayelsa. The Special Adviser to the President on the Amnesty Programme, Brig-Gen. Boroh, is just coordinating the programme and I do not consider that as an appointment. Is that what we deserve?

The Amnesty programme, we do not know whether it will end in December. We are watching.

Let’s take you to former President Obasanjo under whose leadership you were impeached as governor. Have you have forgiven him?

Let me make it clear here that I have forgiven all the people who worked against me. It is not only Obasanjo but everybody. This is because everything that happened, who did what, I know? I cannot be living in the past because it does not help. It pains quite well but again, if it was not permitted by God, it would not have happened. And for me to be alive, I thank God. Sometimes when I reflect on where I am coming from, I even at times ask why I am still alive, having passed through what I have passed through. It reminds me of Psalm 23, somebody passC M Y K

ing through the valley of the shadow of death. I passed through it several times.

For me to be alive, I do not need to have anything in mind.

Have you interacted with Obasanjo since that saga and what was the closest you have been with him since then?

I have been at a very close quarters with Obasanjo twice. The first encounter was at the Katsina Airport during the wedding of the daughter of late President Yar’Adua.

I did not even know that he was in the VIP lounge. I wanted to use the rest room and here was Obasanjo directly sitting inside.

I was even scared because he almost passed out.

I held his hand and he said DSP what have I done to deserve a handshake from you? There were other people; Kenny Martins and one of his political friends present. I said I was shaking him for two reasons. One was because of the Almighty God who created us. Number two is that tradition demands that we should welcome our visitors. Then Kenny got up and said, great leader, great leader and he came to hug me. The second encounter was when I was going to Dubai and if Obasanjo had known that I was in that aircraft, he would not have entered but I was already seated. We were very few in

the aircraft. Because of fear, Obasanjo saw me and hysterically called me Fayose, Fayose and I told him that I was not Fayose. I said former president, Olusegun Matheew Kikiola Aremu Obasanjo, you are a devil incarnate. I said when we were small, our lesson teachers always talked about this devil and this devil and I never knew that the devil is a human being. I told him that you are a direct descendant of the devil. I told him that if you talk, I will throw you out of this aircraft.

I knew of truth that he did not sleep throughout the flight. The only thing he said was DSP, is it only you that entered prison. I too entered prison. He said you entered prison and I entered prison. He kept quiet and I left. But I have forgiven him and I can even go to Otta. He is an elder. One thing I know of Obasanjo is that you can say anything against Obasanjo but he is a leader. If he says he is going to do this, he will do it. You can call Obasanjo any time of the day or night and he will pick the phone himself. He will be ready to sit down with you to solve any problem even though he will not allow you to talk. He has invited you to seek your opinion on how to solve the problem but he would not allow you to talk

and at the end of the day, you begin to wonder why he called you when he already had the solution to the issue. That is the type of character that he is.

I know him. For me to say he is devil incarnate, he is.

What do you think that Jonathan did well and did not do well?

Well, I was not in government and cannot say what he did well and didn’t do well. As far as I am concerned I didn’t lift oil, I did not have oil wells and I didn’t get any contract from anybody.

But you must have received some presidential gifts like cash and other tangible things more valuable than contracts and oil blocks?

Yes, I had unlimited access to Jonathan and I used to have free access to his home. If I met him eating, I would join him and so on. Jonathan has no money.

So, if Buhari is looking to extract money from him, he won’t find.

What if the money is hidden somewhere offshore?

That cannot happen anymore in this world.

Are you saying he is a poor man?

No, he is a quiet and highly contented Nigerian but not a rich man.

PAGE 16—SUNDAY VANGUARD, OCTOBER 11, 2015

I

f you were appointed as Minister of Finance in Buhari’s new cabinet, would you steal? It all depends what kingdom you belong to. If you belong to the kingdom of this world, you would be a fool not to steal. No matter the anti-corruption noises being made right now, you would know you cannot be in that post forever. In fact, you can be removed at a moment’s notice.

Therefore, you need to seize the day and siphon as much money as you can as soon as you can. The only imperative today is that you will need to steal with a lot more finesse than has been exhibited by past looters. You have to make sure you cover your tracks very well. In any case, the possibility of capture and the threat of imprisonment has yet to discourage daylight robbery in the kingdoms of men.

H o w e v e r, put Christians who claim they belong to the kingdom of God in the same office, and what do you find? They would also steal. But why would Christians who profess the righteousness of God also do that? Jesus provides a cryptic answer.

He says Christians would steal because, in general, we are not as smart as unbelievers: “The children of this world are, in their own generation, wiser than the children of the light.”

(Luke 16:8).

Foolish Christians In short, unbelievers steal because they are smart: while Christians steal because we are foolish. Unbelievers are wise because, by pocketing

BUHARI’S NEW MINISTERS: TO STEAL OR NOT TO STEAL? government funds, they prepare for their future, which is on earth.

However, Christians are foolish because, by stealing, we fail to prepare for our future, which is not on earth but in heaven.

Unbelievers only have this world; heaven is not their portion. Therefore, they are wise to steal and thereby secure their future in this world. However, this world does not belong to believers. We are only strangers and pilgrims here. Since heaven is our future home, it is foolish to disqualify ourselves from it by seeking to secure our past in this world through thievery.

Therefore, Jesus warns: “Whoever desires to save his life shall lose it, and whoever desires to lose his life for my sake shall find i t . ” (Matthew 16:25).

Paul also counsels: “Set your mind on the things that are above, not on the things that are on the earth. For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.” (Colossians 3:2-3).

Purpose that is purposed Why would God allow a child of light to become a Minister of Finance in a world of darkness? Why

Out of his twelve disciples, Jesus decided to make the thief, Judas, his “Minister of Finance.” would God “promote” a member of his kingdom with a high-ranking job in the kingdom of this world?

The answer lies in the understanding of kingdom dynamics.

There is a reason for everything that happens in the life of a man. There is a reason for every situation, for every affliction, for every triumph, and for every failure. There is a reason because God leaves nothing to chance.

Why were Christians born and why was it necessary for us to be born (again) a second time spiritually? Was it so we can prosper materially in this world and make a name for ourselves? Was it so we can make a lot of money, build a lot of houses, and reach the pinnacle of our careers?

Or were we born again to actualise the purpose of God in your lives, even if this involves suffering shame for Christ’s name?

The Father’s business Jesus went with his parents on a pilgrimage to Jerusalem. On their way

back, they suddenly discovered he was not with them. They searched for him frantically for three days and finally found him in the temple discussing with the teachers of the law.

When they told him how distressed they had been looking everywhere for him, the twelve-year old Jesus wondered why.

“Didn’t you know,” he asked, “that I must be about my Father ’s business?” (Luke 2:49).

What precisely is the Father ’s business, and to what extent have we been going about it? Jesus says to his disciples: “You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask the Father in my name he may give you.” (John 15:16).

We were chosen for a purpose. Peter spells out that purpose: “You are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, (God’s) own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of

Adeboye dedicates City of David Youth Church

BY LAMIDI BAMIDELE

G

ENERAL Overseer of The Redeemed Christian Church of God, Pastor Enoch Adeboye, on Sunday, dedicated the City of David (Youth Church) at Orimerumun, Mowe in Ogun State.

The Youth church building was one of the three youth churches in the Ogun Province 8 and Youth Affairs under Region 12 dedicated that day.

Speaking during the special church service, Pastor Adeboye, who described the church as beautiful which attracted a resounding applause, congratulated members of the church.

According to him, “ when something is good and small we say it is cute, this is very beautiful and cute.”

The man of God, accompanied by his wife, Pastor (Mrs.) Folu Adeboye, who came in from a 55th Independence anniversary service organised by RCCG headquarter church in Ebutte Metta, Lagos, said he did not plan to visit the church, adding that his visit may be to give someone an opportunity to have the last

chance of listening to him.

According to him, “my being here is not in my plan but may be because it is a last opportunity for someone to hear the last word from me. I was at the Headquarter cel ebrating Nigerian independence. I don’t usually dress like this to go and preach;” (referring to the dress he wore).

Drawing inspiration from Psalm 24:7-10, the General Overseer stressed the need for people to allow the King of Glory into their lives.

“As powerful as He is, He will not force himself into your life. Because He made you in His own image, He gave you free will. Whenever He wants to come into your life, He will take permission otherwise,

him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.” (1 Peter 2:9).

How does a believer proclaim the praises of God? We do this by who we are and not by what we have. If you believe it is by what you have, then if you become a minister in Buhari’s government you would be determined to acquire as much wealth as possible. But if you believe it is by who you are, then you would use your position to serve others and would be a pillar of integrity.

True riches Jesus says one of the reasons why believers are still in the world is to determine if we can be entrusted with the true riches: “If you have not been faithful in what is another man’s, who will give you what is your own? No servant can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon.” (Luke 16:12-13).

Thus, out of his twelve disciples, Jesus decided to make the thief, Judas, his “Minister of Finance.”

Judas must have thought Jesus is a fool, no matter how spiritual he might be.

there will not be any need to preach the gospel. If you want God to come in to your life, you must open the door for Him.” Pastor John Tosin Oludoyi, the provisional youth pastor for Province 8, in his welcome address, said: “We greatly appreciate the Almighty God for blessing us with the presence of our Daddy and Mummy, Pastor Enoch Adeboye and Pastor (Mrs) Folu Adeboye and our

Therefore, he stole regularly from the common purse. So doing, he failed a simple integrity test. The man who steals is disqualified from the true riches of God’s kingdom and condemned to the counterfeit riches of this world. True riches endure: counterfeit riches ultimately grow wings and fly away.

Jesus says money does not belong to the believer: it belongs to someone else.

What then belongs to the believer? God himself! As God proclaimed concerning the priests and the Levites of the Old Testament: “It shall be, in regard to their inheritance, that I am their inheritance. You shall give them no possession in Israel, for I am their possession.” (Ezekiel 44:28).

Believers are not called to showcase the glories of this world. We are called to show forth the glories of God’s kingdom, which are chronically absent in the world. While the world is rich in money, it is poor in mercy. The world is lacking in righteousness, in justice and in equity. It is deficient in love, joy and peace. The world is starved of the ornaments of the kingdom of God. Look around you.

There are people in your neighbourhood in need of kindness. There are people next door in need of compassion. People need truth. They need the goodness of God. Jesus says: “Let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works and glorify your Father who is in Heaven.”

(Matthew 5:16).

profound thanks for accepting to personally dedicate the sanctuary.”

Earlier, Pastor Peter Amenikhienan, the Special Assistant to the General Overseer on Youth Affairs had dedicated the RCCG King’s Court, Adesan, Mowe while Pastor Gbadebo Lawal, Pastorin-Charge of Region 12 dedicated Covenant of Grace Chapel Church, Orimerumun, Mowe, Ogun State.

Pastor Ituah Ighodalo honours selfless Nigerians

BY BOSE ADELAJA n January 23, 2015, tragedy struck in the Christendom when a young vibrant missionary, Pastor Joshua Okpanachi Adah was gruesomely murdered by some Hausa\Fulani herdsmen on his way to a mission field. Though he was not the first pastor to have died in a very pathetic circumstance, the most touching aspect of his death is that it happened a few days to his 40th birthday.

Not only this, his sudden exit has created a vacuum too difficult to fill as no fewer than 300 students from the northern part of Nigeria are presently benefiting from his free education scheme but with the demise of their benefactor, only God knows the fate of these children who have been lamenting the tragic death of this missionary.

O

Born on January 9, 1975, Pastor Adah became a full time missionary immediately after completing the one year mandatory National Youth Service Corps NYSC. During his service year, he was exposed to rural evangelism through the Nigeria Christian Corpers’ Fellowship NCCF, where he served as a Drama Director.

This native of Ankpa, Kogi State also founded God’s Own Evangelistic Discipleship Ministry, GOEDM, with the focus to reach the unreached people especially the Kona, Mumuye, Fulani, Wurukum and Igala tribes, a ministry which gradually grew springing into 10 local churches in those regions.

In 2007, the school arm of GOEDM (Trinity Christian Academy, TRICA,) was inaugurated to provide quality education to the orphans and vulnerable children

with full boarding facility at no cost.

Presently, the school can boast of 300 pupils and students from Nursery one to senior Secondary School, SSS 1 from over 25 villages within and outside Taraba State.

He was on a mission field when he ran into his assailants, a situation which is already taking its toll on the ministry.

Based on this selfless service, the late missionary was among few hard working Nigerians who were honoured last Sunday by Pastor Ituah Ighodalo of Trinity House, Zion Centre, Victoria Island. Other awardees included the Deputy Lay President of Synod of the Anglican Diocese of Ondo, Chief (Dr) Olu Akinkugbe and one time Minister for Commerce, Chief (Dr) Arthur Mbanefo among others.

Speaking at the occasion, Pastor Ighodalo said the annual event,

“Trinity House Honour Nigeria Awards” was to recognize those who have contributed to our national development and acknowledge them as role models for present and future generations.

The awards, according to him, were in the areas of professionalism, entrepreneurship, leadership, and contribution to our society.

The late missionary was represented by his wife, their three children and two representatives from the ministry who lamented the gruesome murder of the deceased cleric.

In her response, the widow praised the good works of Pastor Ighodalo whom God has used to offer respite to the ministry.

“I never knew Pastor Ighodalo from Adam but he heard about my husband’s death and sent representatives to console us. Not

SUNDAY Vanguard, OCTOBER 11, 2015, PAGE 17

CRASHED MARRIAGE BLUES: Is Toyin Aimakhu on revenge mission?

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HEN Yoruba actress Toyin Aimakhu of the Alakada fame and heart-throb Adeniyi Johnson started out on their matrimonial journey, there was so much joy in the air, that at least, this is a couple that would weather the storm of uncertainties as they were perceived as being very much in love with each other. It was a fairy-tale marriage made in love and to last forever. How wrong we all were.

In less than a year, cracks began to appear in the made-in-heaven union of love as the wife ran out of her matrimonial home, alleging that her husband was a serial womanizer. But before the news of the separation could truly take hold, the couple were back

in each other’s arms, professing love to each other anew. In fact Toyin Aimakhu later posted on her Instagram ‘I love my husband, no matter what’ and Adeniyi reciprocated in like manner with various posts of love. And what more, they shut people up with more several pictures of themselves on social media, kissing as amorously as legal couples would.

To the outside world, it was a marriage that would survive any eventuality or challenges, but we were wrong again. Immediately they celebrated two years of marriage, another bubble bust!

This time around the wife was almost in hysteria, venting her anger on various social media

that her husband is a chronic flirt.

She went as far as saying she actually caught her husband in the act. She was crushed and she didn’t hide it.

To the husband, Adeniyi Johnson, he knew he has been caught pantsdown and did a daring thing a contrived heart would do- he openly wrote to his wife to forgive him and begged her to come back. Toyin however would not take the cheap bait. She’s a woman scorned!

Whether they would come back together is a long shot and the body language from both quarters are far from encouraging.

Toyin particularly has been living her life like a single girl, posting pictures a marriage woman wouldn’t dare.

Recently, she posted various pictures

•Toyin Aimakhu and Kelvin Ikedugba of herself and another Nollywood actor, Kelvin Ikedugba in sensually suggestive poses. In one, she seems to be giving the actor a lap dance and in another, she appears to be cuddling in bed

with him.

Though evidence has proved these are scenes from a movie but people have been wondering what Toyin’s motives are, posting these online, with what appears to be in venomous glee.

Mixed reactions greet Lepacious Bose’s weight loss wonder

T

OP female comedienne, Bose Ogunboye known as Lepacious Bose caused a big buzz on Wednesday when she posted a picture of herself on Instagram, showing her new figure, which was a far cry from her huge obese former self. Bose was so happy about her new figure that we could deduce the humour merchant was never at home with her former self even though she used it to strike gold as a comedienne because most of her jokes were centred around overweight people.

“These days I just love taking pictures, it’s amazing how far I have come from acting like I love the camera, and actually loving it. The journey of a thousand miles starts with one step, make a choice, start today, a little walk, a little exercise, a conscious healthier eating habit….it all comes together slowly but surely, you too can loose that weight, let’s enjoy this journey together.

Why I am not seen everywhere — Mandy

By KEHINDE AJOSE

M

andy Uzonitsha is not a rookie when it comes to the business of comedy. The veteran comedienne who ranks among the individuals who have contributed to the growth of the Nigerian comedy industry reveals to Potpourri reasons why she is not seen at every show like her other colleagues.

“I go to where I am needed. I am a mother and there are some people who have a lot of free time in their hands. They might get to an event and start begging at the back of the stage saying: “Let me just perform”. I attend events because they are paying events, events that will put food on the table for me. So most of the corporate jobs I do, you might not know about it. Most of the parties I do, you might not know about it. The fact that you don’t see me in popular shows doesn’t mean am not a comedian. I am not bothered about visibility; I am only bothered about my bank account.”

Almost 2yrs on this journey and I can’t stop smiling. #lovinglife” she gleefully posted.

No doubt, it is a great success story that would inspire many to get up from where they are to where they want to get to, but how will this new transformation help Bose in her career? Many have wondered if she will still go with the same name ‘Lepacious Bose’ or what?

“Hmmn.

I remember one of her joke-prayers when she performed in my church some years back: `may God bless you according to your

size’, can she say a loud ‘Amen’ to that now? Jokes apart, this is an amazing transformation and I congratulate her for this feat.

Shows she has self discipline” one fan observes.

“This may not be good for her bank balance though. I remember 99% of her jokes were centered on her weight. Now, she’ll have to find new (real) jokes. It’s now we’ll know if she’s a real comedian or a self abuser who simply cashed in on her disability”another commented Such were the worries that are running through the minds of her fans and some that know her. Above all this, there are those who believed she might have been on some weight-loss drugs.” She used fabslimtox” says a comment. Another opined, “Big fat lie... Na today?

E Don tey wey nyash dey for back......even a blind man will notice the vast difference between the two women”. “ Lie of the millennium” says another. “ Like seriously? “Please, what product did she use?”another wants to know. But one of her fans rebuked all her naysayers and claimed to have seen the comedienne recently before the pictures were posted. “ It’s not impossible. I saw her recently and it motivated me to work on myself which has worked well for me now. When I am through working out people will doubt if it’s me. Just eat right and light” says the fan.

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, OCTOBER 11, 2015

‘Koni Koni Love’ changed my life — Klever Jay

I use my energy to cover up my shyness — Mz Kiss

By TOFARATI IGE

By KEHINDE AJOSE

S

even years after the release of the hit-track ‘Koni Koni Love,’ the singer, Klever Jay is still counting the blessings the song brought his way.

In a recent chat with Potpourri, the Agege, Lagos-born singer confessed, ‘I won’t lie to you, ‘Koni Koni Love’ remains my most memorable song. The track was a turning point in my life; it turned everything around for me, and till date, I can proudly say that the song did a lot for me.’

On what he has been up to recently, Klever Jay said, ‘I’ve been working underground. And I’ve been able to drop some couple of videos this year like ‘Peperempe,’ feat May D, ‘No Go There Rmx’ featuring Dammy Krane, and I just dropped another tune titled, ‘Baba No Regret,’ coming from the stables of Orange Records.’

He also debunked reports that he has fallen out with his one-time buddy, Danny Young. In his words, ‘No, there’s nothing like that. Danny Young is my real G, and we’ll always be friends. He’s one of those dudes that really helped me when I came into the music industry. I met him in the game, and I always give him that respect. He believed in me from the onset, and he used to take me around then; I gained a whole lot from him.

And till today, I still thank him for giving me that opportunity.

It’s always a privilege to roll w i t h him.’

O

wo meta crooner, Mz Kiss, is known for being a passionate and energetic rapper. What many people hardly know about her is that the beautiful Capital Hill artiste is shy when she is not in the glare of the public. In a chat with Potpourri, she reveals the inspiration behind her buzzing new song, Stoopid and the one thing people hardly know about her.

“My producer, Young D created a beat and it got my attention. I have always loved a beat I can be flexible on. I got into the vocal booth and decided to get stupid. While I was recording, I thought of an indigenous rapper I can feature on the song and Falz came to mind.

The one thing people hardly know about me is that I am shy, but I use my energy on stage to cover it up”

Singing in my local dialect makes me unique — Temmy T

By KEHINDE AJOSE

N

Glo unleashes top comedians on Ibadan’s Lafta Fest, today C

OMEDIANS Julius Agwu, Bovi, Seyi Law, Funny Bone, Odogwu, Acapella, Still Ringing and Bow Joint will perform at the latest edition of Lafta Fest with Godwin exponent, Korede Bello and Fuji king, Saheed Osupa providing musical support.

The show will hold at the Jogor Centre, Harvester’s Way, Moshood Abiola Road in Ibadan today.

Globacom said in a press statement that subscribers who wish to attend the Laffta Fest show should use up to N3,000 worth of airtime before the show and send ‘LOL IBADAN’ to 33001.

Meanwhile in the city of Lagos, the ultimate musical show, Slide n’ Bounce took place at Eagle Club Marquee, Surulere, yesterday.

Artistes that performed at the Slide ‘n’ Bounce concert included Glo ambassadors and Africa’s most popular musical twins, P Square; two Supreme Mavin Dynasty C M Y K

protégé, Korede Bello, rising female singer, Di Ja and Welu Welu crooner, Sammie Okposo.

The two flagship entertainment shows are from Nigeria’s foremost indigenous telecoms network, Globacom.

Globacom said in a press statement that subscribers who wish to attend the Laffta Fest show should use up to N3,000 worth of airtime before the show and send ‘LOL IBADAN’ to 33001.

In the same vein, subscribers wishing to attend Slide & Bounce are advised to use up to N2,000 worth of airtime before the show and send ‘YES SURULERE’ to 30018".

The two shows were flagged off about a month ago and have been held in various locations across Nigeria.

igerian youngsters are beginning to embrace their local dialect as a means to sell their music. As a result of the acclaim the likes of Olamide enjoy, more youngsters are beginning to follow in this path. Odeleye Temitope known as Temmy T, is one of the artistes who believe that singing in the local dialect makes him unique. The budding artiste who recently unveiled his song, Jaiye is a talented artiste who has what it takes to make his mark in the music scene.

“Leveraging on my local dialect makes me unique. I think many artistes need to communicate more in their local dialects. Young artistes will achieve more when they focus on using our culture as a medium to do great music. It worked for King Sunny Ade and Fela. It can work for us too”

SUNDAY Vanguard, OCTOBER 11, 2015, PAGE 19 Onikoyi68@gmail.com

British-Nigerian actor Bolanle Ninalowo in mesh of Nollywood romances

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•Ninalowo and Jegede

T appears there is a new hunk in town, ruffling the wood of our Nollywood with our damsels falling over themselves to get on the ground-floor with him. Not much is known about this actor whom, we simply know, is a Britishreturnee. His name is Bolanle Ninalowo and he’s cute as much as a man is allowed.

There have been rumours about him and African Queen fame maker, Yvonne Jegede, getting rather too close for comfort even though they have been on several locations together.

They have also been seen arriving and leaving events together , oftentimes holding hands, and smiling at each other like they know a secret none of us has a clue about.

Potpourri reached Jegede to find out what’s going on between the duo, but the usually jovial actress

stonewalled and almost turned ugly about it.

Now, that’s one in the hair of the actor. As the Jegede romance was stirring things up, another gist about this actor and actress Shirley Igwe cropped up. Though their picture which made the big buzz was soon said to be from set of a flick ‘Neighbours’ but not until many have labelled them as ‘perfect couple’ just as they did with many of his with Yvonne Jegede.

As if two women aren’t enough to make a man dizzy, a picture of Bolanle with another actress materialised out of no where. No one really knows the actress but she appears to be in ‘good company’ with Bolanle. Or is it another ‘perfect couple’ thing? But the big question is, who is this new hunk and who is really sleeping in his bed? Trust Potpourri to unravel the truth.

•Ninalowo with Shirley

•Ninalowo with another actress

Elvis Chuks returns with ‘Royal Castle’

P

OPULAR actor and movie maker, Elvis Chucks premiered his new TV series ‘Royal Castle‘ yesterday, at Raddison Blu Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos.

Royal Castle which is produced by Diamond Groove Pictures, is the story of the Nigerian class system, following the lives of everyday people, from the rich and famous to those at the lowest rung of the ladder. The show builds on storylines of betrayal, deception, corruption in high places, and love that unites all.

It is designed to bring together families of all tribes, races and religions in understanding the common challenges faced by families regardless of their status or background.

Royal Castle stars the best of Nigerian acting talent including Victor Olaotan, Chris Attoh, Yul Edochie, Gloria Young and others.

According to Elvis Chucks, the producer and director, Royal Castle will bring refreshing time to TV viewing. ‘We already have antecedent of good movie and TV series at Diamond Groove, but Royal Castle is way ahead of our past works. We invested heavily from the pre-production to the post-production. If you look at the quality of our cast, it says a lot about our intention. This is a TV series like no other’ he said.

The TV will be showing on major stations across the country from October 10. Elvis Chucks is an award-winning actor and movie producer. His production works include but not limited to the following, Secret Scandal, Hustlers, Playing Safe, A Wish, True Citizens and lot’s more.

C M Y K

Darey shares adorable photo of wife, kids R

&B superstar Dare Art Alade has taken to his Instagram page to express his love for his beautiful wife Deola and their two children, Femi and Tinuke.

Commenting on his post he wrote, “When asked the question, “What makes you happy?” my response is simply “family”. I am thankful to have them in my life and I wake up each day looking forward to being the best husband and dad to my family – more than family, they are my biggest fans! #Naked #DareyNaked #FamilyFirst.”

Former Lagos SSG, Princess Adenrele, becomes Owu Chief E

VERYONE who witnessed the classic turbaning of Chief (Mrs) Princess Adenrele Adeniran-Ogunsanya, former Secretary to the Lagos State Government , under former Governor Babatunde Raji Fashola as a Chief with the honour of ‘Omowonuade’ title, in the Owu Kingdom in Abeokuta, last week, Friday, October 2, 2015, by the paramount ruler of the kingdom, Oba of Owu, Kabiyesi (Dr) Olusanya Adegboyega Dosunmu (Amororo II) will, but agree, it was a well deserved one considering the

outpouring of encomium showered on the Princess.

The event which attracted business and political bigwigs in the society was held inside the palace of the monarch, in Abeokuta, Ogun State, as part of activities to mark this year’s Owu Day festival. The annual Owu Day festival tradition started in 1999 and has attracted participants from several Owu indigenes and people from around the world.

On October 9, 2010, the Olowu of Owu, Oba Dosunmu, publicly declared the second weekend of the month of October as Owu’s public

celebration of the goodness of the Almighty God. This declaration was made to usher in the new Omo Olowu festival which is to henceforth replace the previous Owu Day festival.

According to the Oba, the special Chieftancy title is given to Princes or Princesses, and it means the honouree will now bear the appellation of ‘Omowonuade’. “Many do not know she’s also our daughter here, I have been all over her to accept the title for long but she has been reluctant. I thank God she accepted it today. Everybody will agree with me it’s purely on merit’” the monarch said.

PAGE 20, SUNDAY Vanguard, OCTOBER 11, 2015 Onikoyi68@gmail.com

DAVIDO

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e is the son of a very wealthy businessman and philanthropist, and from the onset, David Adeleka, aka Davido, was never pretentious about it. He even sang a song, ‘Dami Duro’ to clear any doubts from people’s minds that he comes from a well-to-do family.

Shortly after his break-out hit, Davido began swimming in pools of controversy like an Olympic-grade athlete.

He was reported to have fought with bouncers and security men at a show he was invited to. Weeks after that, he allegedly beat up a taxi-driver who committed the ‘offence’ of bringing his girlfriend to a hotel when he was already there with another girl. All these happened in Lagos, but he took the drama to the Federal Capital Territory when he was beaten blueblack by a team of mobile policemen for his perceived rudeness and arrogance.

His incessant skirmishes hurt his public profile, and this perhaps explains why his former young manager, Asa Asika, was sacked at the instance of his father.

Davido has grown considerably calmer, as we haven’t read much scandal about him lately, except that he recently welcomed a baby with his lover, while another girl is waiting in the wings, claiming that she’s also carrying his baby.

WIZKID

W

izkid came into the industry as a very young boy. In a way, he was like the industry’s baby, and the world attached so much innocence to him.

But years down the line, it seems the talented singer is hell-bent on creating an opposite impression in the

Most troublesome Nigerian entertainers(1) Celebrities are always in the news. It’s ideally supposed to be about their exploits in their different spheres of human endeavour, be it acting, music, or comedy. However, we have a lot of entertainers who grace the front-page of magazines, gossip columms in newspapers and TV screens because of their penchant for flirting with, and courting controversy.

In this piece, we bring to you some of Nigeria’s most troublesome celebrities, who have adopted scandals as their second nature. Enjoy...

By TOFARATI IGE minds of people.

He has ‘fought’ with many of the people he came up with, such as Samklef, Banky W, and Skales. He also once threatened to beat up a female artiste, Saeon, who featured him on a track.

As if that’s not enough, he also has a bad record with his fans. He was reported to have poured his drink in the face of a fan who wanted to greet him in a club. This is just as he allegedly asked a female fan to bare her boobs before he would grant her request for an autograph. In addition, he has been involved in countless spats with fans on social media, even as some show promoters accused him of collecting money for a show, and refusing to show up.

TONTO DIKEH

T

onto Dikeh is an actress, but she is more popular for her controversies

and scandals than any role she has ever played.

She has allegedly fought with many of her colleagues including Van Vicker, Halima Abubakar, Mercy Johnson, among others.

She is known not to suffer fools gladly, and she doesn’t tolerate any form of criticism, whether constructive or otherwise. When she released two songs in 2012 and many of her fans expressed displeasure about the poor standard of the songs, she took time to reply every one of them with insults and even threats.

Her Twitter handle is the destination of choice of many journalists because she never fails to generate one drama or the other. For Tonto Dikeh, controversy is like air which she can’t do without.

JIM IYKE

S

elf-acclaimed bad boy of Nigerian movie industry, James Ikechukwu Esomugha, aka, Jim Iyke, is an alleged karate expert, and he never hesitates to display his skills.

He has reportedly gotten into spats with so many colleagues in the industry such as Emeka Ike, AY the comedian, Uti Nwachukwu and countless others.

Jim has also had issues with journalists on several occasions.

He has been in the news for beating up the women he dates. This is even as he is trailed by allegations of defrauding his lovers, both emotionally and financially.

The internet and several other media are replete with stories of Jim’s escapades both in Nigeria and other African countries.

EMEKA IKE

C

ontroversial actor, Emeka Ike was a regular staple in home videos some years ago when he was usually cast as a lover-boy, but these days, he is more popular for his battles with the Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN).

He went to court against the election that brought in Ibinabo Fiberesima in, as president of the guild, and his prayers were finally answered in March 2015 when a Federal High Court sitting in Lagos nullified the election.

Before that, Emeka got into trouble with the owners of the building in which his St. Nicholas College was sited, who went to court to kick him out. He was accused of not paying for the property, not taking care of the school building, and also owing his largely unqualified teachers a backlog of salaries.

This is in addition to the fight between him and his wife, who reportedly went to court to file for divorce from the actor on the allegations that he had willy-nilly turned her into a punching bag.

DAVIDO

EMEKA IKE

JIM IYKE

WIZKID

TONTO DIKE

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

SUNDAY Vanguard, OCTOBER 11, 2015, PAGE 21

“If only” are two very dangerous words

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BY ONOZURE DANIA

consider “IF ONLY” to be two very dangerous words because they actually distract us from the real cause of our unhappiness.

“IF ONLY” has us looking for answers outside ourselves, forever trying to change how others behave in order to feel better about our own lives.

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would have the energy to go to the gym and eat better, and take better care of our health.

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PAGE 22— SUNDAY Vanguard, OCTOBER 11, 2015

015 GSMA MOBILE 360 SERIES AFRICA:

Enabling digit al, ffinancial inancial inclusion ffor or digital, under -ser ved in African continent under-ser -served

security and convenience to the unbanked.

Connected women:

While accelerating women’s digital and financial inclusion, she was still access gap among women and men in developing nations.

Key findings of the Connected Women 2015 project according to her are that over

1.7 million females in low and middle income countries do not own mobile phones.

Even when women own mobile phones, she said based on the report, there was a significant gender gap in mobile phone usage preventing them from reaping the full benefits mobile phone ownership.

Push for $20 3G enabled smartphone

From left; Sonal Shah, Executive Director, Beek Centre for Social Impact and Innovation, Ayo Stuffman, Chief Executive Officer, Vas2Nets and Algy Williams, Chief Executive Officer, Every Mobile Limited after a panel discussion on Power to innovate: Growing start-up ecosystem and cultivating entrepreneurship at the just concluded 2015 GSMA Mobile 360 Africa series held in Cape town, south Africa. Photo by Emeka Aginam.

BY EMEKA AGINAM, IN CAPE TOWN, SOUTH AFRICA

A

lthough mobile con nectivity is playing a key role in enabling the inclusion of underserved in the socio-economic development of many African countries, the journey to achieving full digital, social and financial inclusion in the region may be still far as a result of many challenges.

But with the current effort of GSMA, governments, mobile operators and international development organization, there are positive signals that these challenges would be addressed.

The GSMA represents interest of mobile operators and related companies around the world. The group is devoted to supporting the standardizing, deployment and promotion of the GSM mobile telephone system Just last week at the just concluded GSMA Mobile 360 Series African conference, GSMA had reported in its latest sturdy that mobile industry in the region has contributed over $100 billion to the region’s economy in 2014.

The figure is an indication that the African region is heading towards the right direction, especially with the current mobile for development strategic focus of the GSMA and its partners.

Through keynotes, panel sessions, and case studies, the event with the theme, ‘Accelerating Social and Economic Empowerment’ explored the power of mobile to drive digital, financial and social inclusion with sessions such as, ‘The power to connect: Providing access for all’, ‘The power to browse, save and spend: Building the mobile financial ecosystem, and ‘The power to innovate: Growing start-ups ecosystem and cultivation entrepreneurship, among oth-

ers.

Hurdles ahead

For the majority of speakers at the event, unless issues around network , infrastructure, government poli-

Connectivity has been a major hurdle for digital inclusion in majority of the African countries cy , taxation, locally relevant content, cost of devices, among others were resolved urgently, digital inclusion may be slowed.

Earlier in his welcome address, Alex Sinclair, Acting Director General and Chief Executive Officer, GSMA told the gathering that Africa has the capacity to achieve digital, financial and social inclusion if all stakeholders including government worked together.

GSMA direction:

Meanwhile, the chairman of the GSMA, Jon Fredrik Baksass, while unfolding the direction of the GSMA for the developing markets before international audience during the event said that the group would focus its efforts on three key enablers including connectivity, mobile money and identity for the unregistered.

“The mobile industry remains a key driver of economic growth and employment in Sub-Saharan Africa, making a vital contribution given the population growth and high unemployment levels seen in many countries in the region,” Alex Sinclair, Acting Director General and Chief

Technology Officer at the GSMA, said.

A key element of the new strategy, according to M. Yasmina Mccarty, Head of Mobile for Development in an interview with Vanguard was to bring together mobile operator members, the wider mobile industry and the development community to drive commercial mobile services for underserved people in emerging markets.

Connectivity:

Connectivity has been a major hurdle for digital inclusion in majority of the African countries. Working on this, she said that GSMA Mobile for Development support emerging market operators address barriers to network coverage, affordability, locally relevant content and digital skills to help link the next two billion to the mobile internet.

With optimism, she said that this is possible with political will of African governments and the operators in the region.

Digital identity:

With the porous security situation in most African countries, she assured that the umbrella body for mobile operators will work with operators, governments and humanitarian organizations to leverage mobile to identify citizens without identity.

In doing so, she said that issues around identity theft, advanced fee fraud, cybercrime would be solved to the barest minimum.

Mobile Money:

The Mobile Money programme works with mobile operators and the financial industry to accelerate the availability of affordable financial services that provide safety,

To achieve more mobile connectivity in the sub-Saharan Africa, two giant service providers, MTN and Etisalat have said that cost of 3G enabled smart phones was still a key barrier to connectivity.

Speaking during a keynote session on ‘The power to connect: Providing Access for during the event, the Executive Director, Group President and Chief Executive Officer of the MTN Group, Sifisco Dabengwa told the gathering that there was need to still bring down the retail price of cheapest devices from fifty dollars to twenty dollars to achieve connectivity.

According to him, there are many 3G enabled devices in the market but noted that affordability was still a challenge to many people in the region.

To further address the connectivity challenge, the MTN boss added that there was need for clear regulatory framework.

Also speaking, the Deputy Chairman, GSMA, Group Chief Executive Officer, Etisalat Group, Ahmed Abdulkarim Julfar also said that cost of smart phones must be reduced for digital inclusion.

“There is need for the vendors to bring down cost of 3G enabled devices in the region. Device price is a challenge in the region. There is also need for infrastructure sharing, government support and alternative technologies in the region to drive connectivity” he said.

For Chidi Okpala, Director and Head, Airtel Money – Africa, regulatory framework was limiting mobile money take off in Nigeria. According to him, mobile operators should be allowed to play leading role in mobile money business in Nigeria just like some countries in Africa.

Nigeria to attract global business at GITEX tech expo

W

ith the planned showcase of not less twenty innova tive companies at the country’s pavilion next week

at GITEX technology exhibition, Nigeria is expected to attract global business audience .

GITEX, a global event that draws participation from about 150 countries had last year attracted over 145, 000 trade visitors with more than 13, 000 companies participating.

With NITDA promoting local technology startups with a view to attract offshore partnerships and investment to these ‘techoprenuers, Nigerian has themed its 2015 GITEX exposure on promotion of technology startups.

Some members of the Nigerian official delegation are already to feature in the high profile GITEX Leaders Summits that are part of the five day events.

The country’s official as delegation to GITEX 2015 will provide the rallying front for Nigeria’s engagement of public and private sector’s entities assembled at the global ICT event.

The delegation includes the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Communications Technology, Dr Tunji Olaopa, the Director General of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Mr. Peter Jack and the Executive Secretary/Chief Executive of Nigeria Investment Promotion Council (NIPC), Mrs. Uju Aisha Hassan-Baba.

Apart from featuring in the high profile summits, the leaders are already confirmed to have investment meetings with government and top business players of other countries notably from the Middle East, Europe and Asia.

The Majlis is GITEX premium business and investment meeting arena. It is designed for only top business leaders and decision makers in the public and private sectors.

Also on the list of the Nigerian official delegation are leaders and CEOs of private sector Nigeria ICT companies including Precise Financial System, Sasware, Sidmach, SKtel.

Public regulatory institutions and enterprise inside the pavilion are the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) and Nigcomsat Limited, the country’s satellite communication company with footprints across Africa, parts of Europe and Asia.

The startup companies are: Hutbay, which has developed a real estate solution to help consumers make smart real estate decisions; Verge, which has developed a software as a service (SaaS) retail management solution for multi-store retailers; and Medrep.ng, an e-Commerce and logistics solutions provider for pharmacies and hospitals.

SUNDAY VANGUARD, OCTOBER 11, 2015, PAGE 23

How low can you sink just because you’re in love?

F

ROM time to time, readers of this column have texted to find out if some stories are ‘ really true’.

Riyike’s story is a stranger-than-fiction type which sent me, a selfconfessed seen-it-all, reeling with indignation at how stupid some people would stoop to keep a love they are obsessed with. According to Riyike, when she met Ben five years ago, he was on the rebound. His girlfriend of three years suddenly threw him over for a man she confessed she was in love with. “It was obvious that Ben was still hurting from the humiliation of rejection,” said Riyike. “I had gone to the accounting firm ‘he worked with for my one-year attachment programme from the polytechnic I attended and he was more or less my direct boss. He was happy to show me the ropes and we went to the office canteen together often.

“He talked a lot about his ex, how much he loved her, how much time and money he’d lavished on her; and how she had no guts to tell him about her new find until someone sent him a text

anonymously, that she was virtually sleeping in his ‘house! Armed with an address from the text, be laid siege at the man’s house and it didn’t take time for both of them to walk in together. She didn’t come out all the four hours he waited for her to do so. When she visited the next day and he confronted her, she was really angry that ‘he’d been ‘spying’ on her. Now that ‘he’d found out, what did he intend to do? Beat her up? Have her arrested?

She then flounced off in a huff. He tried to win her back, ‘but she said she was happy with her new love.

“When you see someone long enough, they sort of grow on you and it didn’t take time for both of us to become an item. We went to parties together and visited each other once in a while. Inevitably, we started a relationship and he confessed it was over with Kadijat, his ex.

I eventually moved in with him against my mother ’s wish. My dad passed away a few years ago, otherwise I wouldn’t have dared

spend the night with any man, let alone move in with him. Then, out of the blues, Kadijat came back. She just walked in one evening, gave me a casual glance and demanded to speak with Ben in private. Later, Ben came to tell me she wanted somewhere to stay for a while as she’d just been kicked out by her Mr. Wonderful. He’d told her I was now-living with him, but that she could sleep on the couch until she found her feet.

I was livid. I wanted to pack my bag there and then, but I loved Ben and if I left, Kadijat would move in. So, 1 shrugged

The Leg Pull

T

he Leg Pull is one of the yoga exercises that help you reduce weight, firm thighs and the buttocks. A must for ladies with the problem of cellulite.

The Leg Pull, jausirasana in sanskait, is done this w a y. ‘ S i t w i t h l e g s stretched out before.

Now place the sole of the left foot against the

upper inside of the right thigh. Raise both arms overhead. Lean backward as far as possible and coming forward grab hold of whatever part of the right leg you can with both hands. Be careful not to over strain.

'Bend your elbows and pull the trunk slowly downward and at the same time turn the right shoulder downward and the left shoulder upward. Breath slowly and deeply.

after my protests fell on deaf ears. She moved in and treated me as the odd one out.

“A couple of days later, Kadijat complained of being disturbed by rats and mosquitoes in the living room - and Ben suggested, she could sleep with us in the bed!

1 was really stunned. In my head I knew it wasn’t a good idea, but I would do ‘ anything to ‘keep Ben away from Kadijat, so 1 agreed, Ben slept on the outside of the bed with me in the middle, his arm around me. One night, as if in a trance, 1 realised Ben’s hand had

reached furtively towards Kadfjat’s face and he was actually stroking her cheek! What on earth did he think he was doing?

Yet I let him carry on instead of kicking him out of the bed. I could have left too. But I had read about this sort of thing in some smutty books and magazines and had discussed it with friends.

But to think I would ever find myself involved in a three-in-a-bed-romp!

What would my mum think of this type of behaviour? The next morning, I felt so ashamed, but Ben was happier than I’d ever seen him - he was actually humming and whistling.

He’d obviously-had too much of a good thing. ‘How are you?’, he wanted to know.

But I told rum I wasn’t myself. ‘Let’s give what happened last night a try,’ he begged. That way, we can all stay together,’ The mild threat was in his words - take it or leave.

So I stayed.

“We soon got into the routine of the three of us sleeping together but I gradually realised I was the odd one out. Most evenings, Ben and Kadijat would sit on the

couch; sipping stout. I never touched alcohol, so 1 would sit in a chair until Ben would urge me to have an early night if I felt like it. They would continue boozing, laughing and whispering long into the night and of course having it off on the couch. It then dawned on me that if I had any shred of dignity left, 1 would ‘have to leave.

“Thank goodness my one-year attachment was over, I packed everything I had and moved back to the campus. Ben begged me to leave a few things, but I told him I could always visit with whatever I’d need but never went back to that sinful flat.

He begged and pleaded for me to come back, even promised to kick out Kadijat. But the respect I had for him had gone. You can’t love anyone, and bring home an ex who once humiliated you, for regular romps on the same bed. I couldn’t tell anyone how low I sank when I didn’t even realise the madness that came over me. One thing I’m sure of is that I’ll never sink that low again.”

'After a comfortable while, release hold and gently straighten up.

Pe r f o r m similar movements with the left leg. Go over from right to left legs three times in all.'

Apart, from the ‘self-massaging’ effect of this posture to deal with cellulite and tension, fatigue are also relieved throughout the legs.

The Leg Pull

Yoga Classes STARTED C M Y K

Physical Therapy Centre @ 32 Adetokumbo Ademola, Victoria Island Lagos.

9.00am — 10.00am

The Leg Pull C M Y K

on Saturdays

P AGE 24 — SUND AY Vanguard , OCTOBER 11 , 2015 SUNDA

bunmsof@yahoo.co.uk 08056180152, SMS only

How could any father expect his children to welcome his second wife

T

he horror of divorce, once dubbed the modem epidemic, are nothing compared with the nightmare of constantly living with the evidence that the parents who’d painstakingly drummed moral values into you are afterall not infallible.

Divorce, though painful is at least cut and dried.

The end of the marriage is imminent, children, thank heavens, are resilient and adaptable to change. After the initial blow of divorce, provided the parents behave in a civilized manner and don’t fight for their children’s affection or grumble about each other, there can be some very satisfying compromise. Not so with polygamy. Polygamy in the sense that you initially give your wife and children the false impression of a monogamous marriage, then spring polygamy on them. Even the law of the land is very straightforward as to the legal rights of polygamous wives.

The husband is to start as he means to go on. If you want a polygamous marriage, the first and subsequent wives are to be married under the native law and custom.

An initial court marriage makes the addition of more wives, illegal. But of course, we know all this is hot air. Backed by the impotence of our judicial system when matrimony is concerned, a lot of men please themselves forcing their wives to live under the most impossible condition, after they’ve brought in other wives.

Admittedly, such wives stay for one reason or the other. But what about the children

of such an alliance?

After living with a set of parents for 15, 20 years, how do they react to the entrance of second and third wives all staying under the same roof?

And sharing all the amenities in the home?

Fadake, an I8-year-old undergraduate said her parents had been married for 14 years when she started noticing that things were no longer the same at home with their parents.

“It started with constant muffled quarrels in their bedroom”, related Fadake. “But they both usually come out pretending that we children, four in all, didn’t know what was going on.

I guess they imagined they could cover up their rows and frictions by putting on false smiles and forcing us kids to accept all the unlikely excuses they gave us for their odd behaviour.

“Shortly after this bickering, my father got promoted to a post that went with a company house and other fringe benefits. We had a gardener, a cook, a steward and the news

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"

The School called marriage

Marriage is the only school where you get the Certificate before you start. It's also a school where you will never graduate.

that knocked us out cold - someone was expecting a baby for my father, and horror of horrors, she was moving into the house too. I couldn’t believe it. Couldn’t believe the fact that a father who’d been ruthlessly strict with us would dare to flaunt his shortcomings in our presence. But that was exactly what he did. This woman was then installed in the guest chalet. All of a sudden, we were made to live with this horrid looking woman with a bulging stomach. My mother was positively embarrassed; ashamed is the right word. 1 promptly discouraged my friends from visiting the house and all the affection I had for my father flew out of the window. Our youngest, who was ten at the time was bewildered and hostile.

She was positively nasty to the new wife, and when she thought nobody was looking, would sneak up to her and snarl: “Go away, I hate you!’

“It was my mother 1 felt sorry for. She too stopped encouraging her friends

to drop by to stop them gloating over her ridiculous status. That happened about two years ago. I was before then foolishly hanging on to my virginity, but that was quickly remedied, thanks to my father. If he could stray, so could I. I know the importance of good education and that is what I am going to get. Even now, I still can’t get over the fact that my father could be so callous, so unfeeling in the way he treated his family for that thing he called a second wife. 1 used to love him, you know. But now, I don’t give a damn if 1 never saw him again ... ‘ Apinke came from a polygamous home. At 34, she was already the mother of an eight-yearsold from a marriage that hit the rock barely a year after she tied the knot. A personal assistant to the managing director of a pharmaceutical company, she met a lot of men in her job. Not all of them wanted a permanent commitment until she met Supo, a 45-year old owner of a very flourishing electronics company. He was already

It's a school without a break or a free period.

It's a school where no one is allowed to drop out.

It's a school you will have to attend every day of your life.

It's a school where there is no sick leave or holidays.

It's a school founded by God: 1.On the foundation of love.

2.The walls are made out of trust.

3.The door made out of acceptance.

4.The windows made out of understanding 5.The furniture made out of blessings 6.The roof made out of faith.

Be reminded that you are just a student not the principal. God is the only Principal.

Even in times of storms, don't be unwise and run outside. Keep in mind that, this school is the safest place to be.

Never go to sleep before completing your assignments for the day. Never forget the Cword....Communicate to your classmate and to the Principal if you find out something in your classmate (spouse) that you do not appreciate. Remember your classmate is also just a student not a graduate, God

married with six children, and six months after Apinke met him, she was pregnant. She wanted more children of course, and since she lived in a very comfortable flat, she thought her lover would just take over the responsibilities of a husband and let her stay where she was.

“I was wrong”, saidApinke. “He wanted a second wife and was determined that I should live with his family with My my daughter. daughter was horror stricken when I told her.

She wept that she didn’t want to live with anybody else, but my man was not moved. In the end, we married under native law and custom and I moved into a flat in his house. His first child, who was about 16 at the time, was very hostile to me. She treated me as something unpleasant the dog dragged in. His five other children simply ignored me and my poor daughter was more miserable than ever.

“My friends, seeing the unhealthy atmosphere under which we lived; simply stopped coming. His first wife always had a cynical know-it-all-look whenever she saw my friends and had referred to them as prostitutes on several occasions. My husband wasn’t always around and whenever I dared to complain, he always told me to be more tolerant. He had changed too. Now that I was safely in his net, he didn’t care as he once used to. I had two boys for him then I left. His first daughter ’s hatred for me was worse than her mother ’s jealousy.

Whenever she had friends around, she

insulted me indirectly through them. She refused to acknowledge my presence anywhere and regarded me with contempt. It was a reliefwhen I finally decided to pack my bags and leave. My daughter was overjoyed. You know, even now, wherever I run into my husband’s daughter (my stepdaughter really, though I could never see her that way) she would look at me mockingly and make rude faces at me!

“Some men could be quite insensitive about throwing two warring wives together.

“No one really likes a live-in-rival but in their anxiety that all their children should live under the same roof, a lot of men stoke the fire of bitterness and resentment within the family they are trying to keep together. When a man married the first time, that’s love”, someone once said.

“When he marries a second time, that’s courage.” And Lord knows you need a lot of courage to cope with two or more women under the same roof!

Wife past her sell-by date? (Humours A man goes to his doctor and admits that he has a sexual problem. “I just can’t get it up for my wife any more,” he says.

“Don’t worry, Mr. Williams”, says the doctor. “Bring your wife in and I’ll see what I can do.”.

The couple come in the next day and the doctor asks the wife to remove her clothes. Then he asks her to turn around and jump up and down. He turns to the man. “You’re fine,” he says. “She didn’t give me an erection either”.

is not finished with him/her yet. So take it as a challenge and work on it together.

Do not forget to study the Holy Book (the main textbook of this school).

Start each day with a sacred assembly and end it the same way. Sometimes you will feel like not attending classes, yet you have to.

When tempted to quit find courage and continue.

Some tests and exams may be tough but remember the Principal knows how much you can bear and yet it's a school better than any other.

It's one of the best schools on earth; joy, peace and happiness accompany each lesson of the day.

Different subjects are offered in this school, yet love is the major subject.

After all the years of theorizing about it, now you have a chance to practice it.

To be loved is a good thing, but to love is the greatest privilege of them all.

Marriage is a place of love, so love your spouse.

More grace from God. Chris Onunaku 08032988826/08184844015.

SUNDAY Vanguard, OCTOBER 11, 2015, PAGE 25

KOGI/BAYELSA POLLS UNDER THREAT

Court judgment says INEC composition is illegal *Proposed elections run against 1999 Constitution *’Not less than five Commissioners is quorum’

BY JIDE AJANI

I

N the very likely event that the pro posed gubernatorial elections, slated for Kogi and Bayelsa States, are challenged in court on the basis that the quorum for the effective functioning of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has been violated by President Muhammadu Buhari with the present composition of the electoral body, the elections may not hold, and, if they hold and are challenged in court, may be annulled. This is because there is a subsisting Federal High Court judgment of 2010 which ruled that the quorum for the election management body shall be five. Therefore, the present dramatization in the face of the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria, as amended, whereby only ‘two persons’ are set to conduct the Kogi governorship election, next month, may only lead to an unmitigated waste of C M Y K

public funds because the election would be deemed to have been conducted by persons who are incompetent, in the face of the law, to so do. This report will show why.

LACK OF INSTITUTIONAL MEMORY Lack of institutional memory, or total disregard for the contributions of other arms of government, made worse by a disdain for existing records, judgments of courts, time-honoured practice and procedure that should act as guides to successive leadership, has been the bane of our country.“Thus, going by a subsisting judgment of a Federal High Court, the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, politicians preparing for the Kogi and Bayelsa gubernatorial elections are in real danger of wasting very scarce funds as this subsisting court ruling, may render their efforts a fool’s errand.

INEC is fully aware of the court judgment because it was the defen-

dant in the case and the judgment was against it.

It did not appeal.

Suit No FHC/OS/CS/36/ 2009, in the case between the defunct Action Congress (AC) versus six others, had, unequivocally, declared previously that the board of INEC,

Then how come that, in the 11th year (NOW 16th YEAR) of the country’s journey into constitutional governance, we do not have an electoral body with its full complements of members; we continue to pretend that all was well with our electoral system. It is not.

that was then four members including a substant i v e C h a i r m a n , Pr o f.

Maurice lwu, was less than the constitutional quorum of five National Commissioners and, therefore, could not hold a valid meeting to fix a date and plan the conduct of election – it was a mere senatorial election.

Today, INEC has only two legal members – Ambassador Lawrence Nwuruku and Madam Amina Zakari (and this is with prejudice to the debatable status of Zakari whom President Muhammadu Buhari has imposed illegally as Acting Chairman).

Her tenure ended since 21st of July but has been asked by the Head of Service of the Federation to occupy that office in an "acting capacity", a title or designation many lawyers say is unknown to the Constitution as no person could occupy that position without consultation with the National Council of State, made up of past Presidents/ governors of the 36 states

of the federation and Senate confirmation in accordance with Section 154 of the Constitution.

QUORUM: WHERE FOUR IS ILLEGAL, ONE OR EVEN TWO CAN NEVER BE OKAY In the suit against what was similar to but worse than what we have today in INEC, in terms of depletion of members, the Federal High Court, on the 4th of February 2010, before Justice A. M Liman, in granting the prayers of the plaintiff, who is, today, a senator, declared that INEC, the 6th defendant, with four National Commissioners, was incompetent to organize and conduct a re-run election in Osun East Senatorial District; that the defendants (1st-4th), namely, Professor Maurice Iwu, then a substantive Chairman of INEC; Mr. Phillip Umaedi (National Commissioner), Mr. Victor Chukwuani (National Commissioner); Mr. A Soyebi (NaContinues on page 26

PAGE 26— SUNDAY Vanguard, OCTOBER 11, 2015

KOGI/BAYELSA POLLS UNDER THREAT

Court judgment says INEC composition is illegal

Buhari Continued from page 25

tional Commissioner), were pronounced as incapable of organising and conducting a senatorial election since they were not up to five members as required in Section 159 of the Constitution.

It is this common sense realism that the present situation has refused to acknowledge. “It should be noted that a senatorial election is one third of the jurisdiction in all states.

Therefore, it is a mute fact that incapacity to conduct an election in a smaller jurisdiction, makes it even more unconstitutional and illegal to do so when you have just only one legal member (and assuming for the sake of argument that the controversial Madam Zakari, whose tenure ended since July, though handing around, is added to make two), INEC cannot also form a quorum of meeting to sit and plan the conduct of elections even for a senatoriC M Y K

Amina

al election, how much more Kogi and Bayelsa governorship elections, respectively.

More i m p o r t a n t l y, though tragic for the lack of institutional memory in the governance of public affairs, is the fact that when this situation occurred, the then INEC had four National Commissioners whereas the present Commission has only one legal Commissioner.

Again, and more importantly, at that time when Justice Liman gave his ruling, INEC had a substantive National Chairman that did not carry the excess baggage of familial controversy or one that creates a discount for her status.

Without reckoning with the moral damage created by the revelations of elder statesman, Alhaji Ta n ko Ya k a s s a i , t h a t Madam Zakari is a sister-in-law to President Buhari, whose elder sister married Zakari's father and that they all lived together in the same home, the position

of the law in this matter is meant to serve a public good.

WA S T E O F P U B L I C FUNDS The concern for possi-

While the membership continued to drop from 13 down to four (AND NOW ONE OR TWO), we remain complacent as if all is well. I think something is wrong somewhere and the earlier both the executive and legislative departments of the government acted to reverse this shameful trend the better for the people of this country”.

ble waste of public funds, if these elections slated for the two states are challenged in court and why this situation should not have been allowed to get to this dangerous point could be gleaned from Justice Liman, who declared at pages 20 and 24 of the judgment thus: “The only appropriate question before this court will be whether or not, under the Constitution the 1st-4th defendants (Professor Maurice Iwu, substantive Chairman o f I N E C , M r. Phillip Umaedi (National Commissioner), Mr. Victor Chukwuani (National Commissioner), Mr. A Soyebi (National Commissioner)) can act through the 6th defendant (INEC) to conduct the election in issue or any other election, when the membership of the 6th defendant falls below the quorum as required

by Section 159(1) of the Constitution”(P,20).

“The issue of due constitution of the 6th defendant is not based on whether or not there was a meeting; far from that,

I think it has to do with the provision of Paragraph 14 of part II of the Third Schedule to the Constitution read together with Section 159 of the Constitution. Undoubtedly, if the two Sections are read together, it will become clear that there is an inseparable link between the composition of the 6th defendant and its competence.

“This construction is supported by the proposition that the 6th defendant, being a corporate body, a legal personality can act through its alter ego and, in this case, the members specified in Paragraph 14 Part II of the Third Schedule to the Constitution. The jurisprudence on corporate personality of the company is ancient legal principle traceable to the case of SOLOMON VS SO LOMON & CO. LTD (AC) 22. In Nigeria, the law has taken on a statutory character in that it has constituted the basis on which our company laws Continues on page 27

SUNDAY Vanguard, OCTOBER 11, 2015, PAGE 27

KOGI/BAYELSA POLLS UNDER THREAT

Court judgment says INEC composition is illegal

Continued from page 26

are promulgated. Applying the principle of corporate personality to the 6th defendant in the performance of its function under Paragraph 15 Part 11 of the Third Schedule, in what way or manner could the 6th defendant take a decision? Specifically, how did the 6th defendant fix a date for the election which it was ordered to conduct by the Court of Appeal? The inescapable answer is that no such decision can be taken outside a meeting of the Commission and, for the meeting to be valid, a legal quorum must be formed. If, therefore, the membership of the 6th defendant has fallen short of the quorum, how could such a meeting be validly convened?” (p 24).

That is why the Kogi and Bayelsa elections may be a waste of time and money because it is illegal for INEC, as it is currently constituted, to hold a meeting, fix a date and attempt to conduct any election.

And whereas a spirited response for INEC, published last month by Nick Dazang, a Deputy Director of Publicity, that "the depletion will not change anyth ing b ec a use the electoral body has the constitutional power to C M Y K

f u n c t i o n e f f e c t i v e l y, pending the formation of a new Commission by the President who has the powers to do so", may serve the purpose of psychological masturbation, the judgment by Justice Liman is explicit and clear.

Continuing in defence of INEC, Dazang added: "There shouldn't be any cause for alarm; our activities are ongoing and we are working assiduously to conduct free, fair and credible elections in Kogi and Bayelsa States in November and December. Budgets have been approved for the two elections and departments have had their budgets harmonized."

These are mere patently misleading views of a civil servant that could bring about complacency

by Buhari to reconstitute the Board of INEC or the excitement over budgeted public funds they would spend and eventually waste.

W H AT JUSTICE LIMAN SAID The words of Justice Liman at pages 25, 26 and 27 of the judgment as if anticipating such a puerile position: “Section 27 of the Interpretation Act has provided the clearest answer to the controversy and, therefore, it is beyond doubt that a body established

These pronouncements in this judgment in 2010 (Nigeria’s 11th year of democracy) subsists. Pray, why, in 2015, after 16 years, is such a travesty of having either one or two members of INEC carrying out the functions of 13 members and, in the case of its quorum, five members?

by which comprises of certain number of members with a minimum number to constitute a quorum, where such a membership falls short of the quorum, it will lose

the legal competence to exercise its statutory function.

“The membership of the 6th defendant, which constitutionally comprises 13 members, but somehow has fallen to four members, made up of the Chairman and three other members. The question is, what is one third of 13? Learned counsel submitted that one third of 13 is 5. However, in arithmetical terms, the formula should be 13/3 =4.33333. It means, the answer is between 5 and 4.

“In this calculation; we are dealing with human beings and, therefore, the 5th person cannot be fractionalised; by applying the rule laid down by Niki Tobi, JSC, the quorum of 13 members should be five and not four as the 6th defendant is currently constituted”.

“These pronouncements in this judgment in 2010 (Nigeria’s 11th year of democracy) subsists.

Pray, why, in 2015, after 16 years, is such a travesty of having either one or two members of INEC carrying out the functions of 13 members and, in the case of its quorum, five members?

To consolidate on the gains of the 2015 general elections, Buhari should not stick to the embarrassing gun of doing things in his own way even when such flies in the face of constitutional democracy. H e would also need not to allow the suspicion that he is intransigent even in the face of reason.

To d a y, t h e c o u n t r y needs an electoral chief of Professor Jega's public acceptance (even where he or she will not be perfect), detached from any familial or partisan t i e s . We have such people who either have served in the system with high publicly acknowle d g e d i n t e g r i t y, f o rtrightness and competence or outside that Nigerians would generally applaud just as Nigerians, from all shades of opinions, already know those that would not command their confidence and trust of impartiality either as Chairman, National Commissioners or Resident Commissioners.

It is evident that any meetings or decisions arising therefrom, including fixing a date, organising or conducting an election for a state, by INEC, as it is presently constituted, is illegal, null and void.

Any contestation of the matter in court (and there is currently a matter before the court on the legality of the “acting chairperson” of INEC), prior to the election, will render any further actions by INEC, as presently constituted, a nullity. It may also lead to a situation where political parties may waste the funds spent on party agents at polling units and other such electoral expenses because they may have to repeat the exercise. It is, therefore, urgent for the President to follow the constitutionally laid-down, step-by-step procedure of reconstituting the Board of INEC, by way of heeding the final advice of Justice Liman in his judgment in 2010, wherein, he said: "Before I end this judgment, let me remark on a very sad note. The Independent National Electoral Commission constitutes the most important indispensable bedrock on which our democratic institutions are built. Its function is central to the smooth and enduring evolution of our political structures. It is not an understatement to say that without a functioning INEC, no election into any political office will be possible. Then how come that, in the 11th year (NOW 16th YEAR) of the country ’s journey into constitutional governance, we do not have an electoral body with its full complements of members; we continue to pretend that all was well with our electoral system while the membership continued to drop from 13 down to four (AND NOW ONE OR TWO); we remain complacent as if all is well. I think something is wrong somewhere and the earlier both the executive and legislative departments of the government acted to reverse this shameful trend the better for the people of this country ”.

PAGE 28—SUNDAY Vanguard, OCTOBER 11, 2015

Many former governors can’t walk the streets without security – Ex-Speaker Ohajuruka

BY UGOCHUKWU ALARIBE, ABA

C

hief Stanley Ohajuruka, a former Speaker, Abia State House of Assembly, speaks on the anti-corruption war of the Federal Government, the increasing defection of PDP members to the All Progressives Congress,APC, in Abia, among other issues.

What is your take on the anti-corruption war of the present administration at the centre.

President Buhari’s anti-corruption war is on course and has started bearing fruits. Everyone has fallen in line; it is no longer business as usual. I am not here to recommend people for jail. I am only interested in encouraging people who find themselves in governance to know that a day of reckoning must certainly come. You will always be assessed by your actions. If, in the course of your actions, you are found wanting, the law will take its course.

You will be called to account. This is why I encourage public office holders that they must be ready to give account of their actions. A situation where after your tenure, you go into hiding and cannot work freely imply that you are not clean. The test of good governance after your tenure is to walk the streets without army of security agents guarding you. Any governor, who wants to test his popularity whether he performed well or not, should walk the street without security. But many former governors can’t even go near their own villages without heavy security.

If you are a good man, people will be clapping and singing your praises. Some of our former governors can’t even walk freely in the local markets in their villages. If after governance, you are only praised while in office and when out of office, people no longer sing your praises, it means you should have a cause to worry that you have a case to answer. Unfortunately in Nigeria, most of our former governors cannot walk the streets freely without heavy security to stop people from stoning them.

The APC in Abia has been witnessing a deluge of defections of members of other political parties, particularly the PDP, into the party, what can you say accounts for this?

The truth is it shows that our people particularly in the South East have realized that being in the mainstream of Nigerian politics is the best thing that can happen to our people. Majority of Nigerians have embraced the change represented by the APC. We needed a change from the way things were done in the past.

We needed to ensure that there is probity and accountability in governance. There is no way people of the South East would be aloof about change. We strongly believe that if we don’t kill corruption, it will kill us. Thank God that some people in Abia are now seeing what we have seen over the past eight years in which state has been in comatose.

The last administration was the worst thing that happened to Abia since its creation. Our people were confused and misled with propaganda by the administration. In the administration, sycophancy and bootlicking were the booming industry in Abia. A few of us who had the temerity to challenge bad gov-

•Chief Stanley Ohajuruka ernance were hunted and cajoled and we know what we passed through. It is a good thing that majority of Abia people have realized the need for change and are now trooping into APC. We are advising progressive and like minded people to join APC and salvage our state and Nigeria. The progressives must come together to bring change because Abia won’t be an exception.

You can find some progressive elements in APGA, PDP and other parties, what they need are to come together with the APC. When progressive minded people coalesce together, they can make a lot of things better for the society. Birds of the same feather congregate in the same proximity; you have seen that in APC, we are already welcoming them with open arms. In APC, we don’t need the conservatives in PDP, those who wants the status quo to remain. With the quality of people in Abia APC, if an election is conducted today; it will be a landslide.

What do you make of the allegation that the PDP members who recently defected to the APC are aggrieved members of the party?

We have been receiving progressive minded PDP members into our party. This is not the first time. If you listened to Senator Chris Adighije, he said he is no longer contesting any election, but he has come to work with the APC to salvage the state and country. We all know him as a goal getter. Look at Senator Nkechi Nwaogu, she is a woman of substance who has served well as a political leader. Everybody in Nigeria knows Chief Tony Ukasanya’s political antecedents and how he has always delivered in any political party he finds himself.

Even if Ukasanya chose to belong to a zero party, he will deliver in any election. People know him for this record. There is also Senator Onyeka Okoroafor who was a member of NADECO and ex Information Commissioner, Eze Chikamnayo, among others. All these politicians who joined from the PDP have great followership. We are glad that these quality people joined the APC. I want to tell you that many other progressives from the PDP are set to join APC. They have been calling us and will soon join because nobody wants to be left behind in the emerging new order of decency in governance and rule of law in Nigeria.

The incumbent administration in Abia just marked 100 years in office, what are your impressions?

There is no impression. There are still vestiges of the immediate past administration around. The only time we will begin to assess Gov. Okezie Ikpeazu’s administration is

We should do all we can to de-emphasize ethnic politics. I was born in Zaria, Kaduna state. I believe that having been born in Zaria, nobody should stop me from enjoying the rights and privileges of a person born in Kaduna state when the vestiges of his predecessor have left him. During the last eight years, Abia was a definition of bad governance. In one of my interviews, I advised Ikpeazu to be his own man and think independently. I understand Gov. Ikpeazu is an intellectual. As a result of his status, he is not expected to be dependent on anybody. He has no reason to rely on his predecessor who has nothing to show for his eight year administration of the state. I m saying this because Abia people are still finding these vestiges of the former administration in him; if this continues, we will strive to ensure that it won’t be the voice of Jacob and the hand of Esau. Ikpeazu should avoid this as much as possible.

When you said Abia is a defini-

tion of bad governance in the last eight years, one can recall that the immediate past administration said it built legacy projects?

Let me correct an impression; there is no legacy project in Abia. Look at what we suffered in the last eight years; where are the legacy projects?

Abia is an example of rape on democracy. One doesn’t need to get a dictionary to check the meaning of misgovernance. The definition of misgovernance is written all over Abia. In the past eight years, what we had was mediocrity, sycophancy and bootlicking. In fact, the only industry in Abia prior to this period was sycophancy. This was the character of the last administration in Abia.

Tell me your friend and I will tell you who you are. Where are the so called legacy projects? Is there any well equipped hospital in Abia? Did the immediate past administration build any stadium in Abai? No. No. In agriculture, there was no improvement. I urge you to go to Bende; between Umuahia and Uzuakoli, you will see where the government reclaimed a rice farm with its natural terrain for a housing estate. Is this the character of a government interested in agriculture? Again, why will build a new government house when the topography where the current government house sits remain the best which can be found anywhere in Nigeria. The government should have expanded the present government house instead of building another. It should be developed and an edifice built, but they have aban-

doned it to build a new one because of clannishness.

What is your take on the disengagement of some civil servants under the pretext that they are non indigenes in Abia?

This is a wicked and discriminatory policy by the immediate past administration in the state. Tell me who is a non indigene? Nobody is a non indigene because we are all strangers here on earth. We all came into this world. When we leave Abia, are we not non indigenes somewhere else? Some of our daughters born in Abia were even sacked from service because they are married to people from other states. People were made refuges in their own states. I urge the United Nations to look this evil policy.

Ndigbo are yet to get their due in President Buhari’s administration?

We should do all we can to de-emphasize ethnic politics. I was born in Zaria, Kaduna state. I believe that having been born in Zaria, nobody should stop me from enjoying the rights and privileges of a person born in Kaduna state. We should look at merit in everything we do. Thank God, merit can be found everywhere; Igbo, Hausa, Yoruba, Kanuri, Ijaw, Efik, etc. As Ndigbo, we should not be beggarly. We have people who can lead this country. We shouldn’t feel or marginalized, but compete with others to go feel for it. You can’t succeed in any endeavour when you have personally relegated yourself. People will never know where you are until you make yourself visible.

Dec. Poll: Bayelsa people will vote for change – Ebisinte

BY INNOCENT ONOJA

S

outhern Ijaw Ward 3 All Pro gressives Congress (APC) stakeholder, Bayelsa State, Mr. Stephen L. Ebisinte, in this interview, expresses disappointment over the chaos that attended the governorship primary of the APC in the state.

What is your take on the APC primary in Bayelsa?

It was unfortunate, but I thank God that Chief Timipre Sylva emerged the winner at the end of the day. I thank our people for standing firm on that choice.

But there were problems during the primary.

That is why I said that what happened was unfortunate. First of all, Governor Oshiomole disappointed Bayelsans over his role in the exercise. Imagine a governor who should have made the party proud turning round to almost disrupt the exercise.

He alleged insecurity and hooliganism...

So, he is telling the whole world that there was no security on ground for the primary? He said to the whole world that he called the state Commissioner of Police to come and get him out of the venue where there were pregnant women, youths and many party faithful present to witness and participate in the exercise.

He called the Commissioner of Police to take him out, leaving the pregnant women, youths and others helpless. What kind of a governor is he?

So, what you are saying is that

• Mr. Stephen Ebisinte there was enough security on ground?

Why did he not tell the Commissioner of Police his challenges as the man overseeing the exercise to enable him beef up security? Or is he ridiculing the Nigeria Police and other security agencies that they could not withstand those he claimed were thugs at the primary?

INEC had announced Tuesday as the last day for the primary. Was Oshiomhole trying to draw the party back? He said he was going to eat when he was leaving the venue, can you imagine this coming out of a leader?

So, what do you have to say on the exercise?

We thank God that the primary was successfully conducted and a winner emerged and nobody can draw us back anymore. Bayelsans are poised for November 5 to elect their choice who has all it takes to

lead the state.

Do you think your candidate, Timipre Sylva is popular enough to win?

Chief Timipre Sylva is a known technocrat and Bayelsans believe that he is coming to rescue the State from the “as usual” politics where the dividends of democracy is enjoyed by a few to the detriment of the masses. Yes, he is popular enough to win, the people are yearning for change.

Has the APC put its house in order in the State?

The Party has always been in order, despite some family issues that are peculiar to all families, but we are now a hundred percent ready to bring good governance to Bayelsa, which is embedded in the Change gospel all over the nation. We will certainly not disappoint Bayelsans.

Do you think APC can win Bayelsa, a PDP stronghold and home state of immediate past President Jonathan?

Everybody knows that APC is very strong in this state and we are hopeful that Bayelsans will show that they need change on November 5.

The party is popular here and that is why very strong politicians as well as Bayelsa youths are standing strong to deliver Bayelsa. Also, we have a strong and hardworking candidate who is equal to the task of bringing the desired change to the state.

So, what are you telling Bayelsans in respect of the election?

They should vote wisely, they should vote for change because everybody needs change of attitude and way of doing things.

SUNDAY Vanguard, OCTOBER 11, 2015, PAGE 29

By CHARLES ADINGUPU

We are concerned about tomorrow. But then, we know also that Jonathan did not consult us. Although, he could have called one or two persons. Definitely, he would have called our national leader, Chief EK Clark, to tell him about his decision. And because he knew what was on ground, he knew the security reports that were coming in, so, whether it was EK Clark or any other leader, nobody will not ask him not to congratulate Buhari.

C

omrade Joseph Evah has remained a loud voice in the emancipation of the Niger Delta.

As Coordinator, Ijaw Monitoring Group (IMG) and Publicity Secretary, Ijaw National Congress (INC), Evah fought doggedly for resource control in the heat of the struggle in the oil-rich region. In this interview, he speaks on why Jonathan was outwitted in the last general elections.

Meanwhile, he believes former President broke the jinx that a Niger Delta indigene will not rule Nigeria.

Despite this feat, he thinks Jonathan failed his people because he concentrated virtually all his energies on developing the North to the detriment of the Niger Delta which he describes as the “feeding bottle” of the nation.

Excerpts: What is your response to how the Ijaw people reacted to Jonathan’s display of statesmanship by conceding defeat before the final result of the last presidential election was announced

by INEC? We, the Ijaw people were naturally angry when the President accepted defeat even before the final announcement. It is not done anywhere. It was like a football match in which your player will carry the ball and throw it into the net. You can imagine how the supporters of that football club would react.

We wanted him to follow due process. He did not follow due process. But along the line, we felt that Jonathan is our our leader, and he has made history in our generation. God used him to become the President of Nigeria in our lifetime.

Jonathan’s emergence, as far as the Ijaw people are concerned, has broken the jinx. Before Jonathan, people felt that, as minorities, we were not qualified to manage Nigeria, And so, there was that very singular disrespect for us that we cannot rule Nigeria. We are not entitled to rule but our resources are entitled to take care of the country. So, with Jonathan’s emergence, even if we did not get what we bargained for, that is development and empowerment, changing the Niger Delta to a glorious region; even if we failed to achieve that, we are happy with other aspects which Jonathan had done for us, breaking that curse that Niger Delta people cannot rule Nigeria. Jonathan broke that curse in our lifetime.

Beyond this thinking, were you expecting Jonathan to have waited until the result was finally announced; then you would have protested and fought vehemently?

No. We want peace for this country. We have the spirit of

C M Y K

•Comrade Joseph Evah

N-Deltans warned Jonathan against northern friends — Joseph Evah, INC leader •‘Ijaw’s lack of think-

tank worked against us’

•Says ex-President underrated Obasanjo

Isaac Boro. But this does not mean carrying guns to fight. It is resisting injustice. That act of accepting defeat even before the conclusion is just like somebody is afraid. I stopped the dredging of the River Niger. That is resistance.

Something that is against our interest. I felt that you want to dredge the River Niger without environmental impact assessment. You want to kill us? You want to destroy our environment? We know what the oil companies are

doing to our environment.

Yet, the Federal Government’s intention was to to dredge our river so that container ships will come from Britain, Japan and other parts of the world, pass through Warri. So, what we are saying is that Jonathan should have allowed the process to conclude itself, because, in Nigeria, tomorrow, they can use it again to insult us, that we surrendered even before the final whistle was blown.

They can say it to our children.

So, when the cabal within Jonathan’s Presidency started preventing people from seeing him– if you were not well to do, Jonathan said you could not have access to him

Do you people feel betrayed by his action?

No, we were not betrayed by his action. Jonathan was under pressure from different areas. You are aware that Jonathan signed two peace accords. After the United Nations and ECOWAS Peace Accords, there was even another by a group led by General Abdulsalami. These put our son, Jonathan, under serious pressure. And we, Ijaw, did not prepare our house; there was no network and co-ordination. We just folded our arms and allowed the President to do whatever he wanted to do, and we accepted him back to the village. You were in this country when Jonathan said he thought that the Ijaw people would stone him. It was his conscience that was disturbing him because he knew very well that the four or five years that he was there, there was no agenda from the Ijaw people.

And that was supposed to be the key person to give us the push . But then, we will not fight him in public and then give room for people to say we are already killing ourselves.

We have to be mindful of what the Nigerian people want to do. But the most important thing is that Jonathan has honoured us by becoming an elected president in our lifetime.

But in your thinking, from what happened in the latter part of the J o n a t h a n a d m i n i s t r a t i o n , especially on the elections, do you feel Jonathan was betrayed; maybe that was why the election swung to the other side?

Yes, Jonathan was betrayed, and he allowed it. Well, some people called me and said, ‘Joseph Evah, come and condemn the use of PVC (Permanent Voters Card)’.

Jonathan’s party, the PDP, was against PVC. I asked those inviting me to discussion on television that ‘who released the money for PVC?’ Jonathan released the money.

Who did he consult? You are using PVC for your own election? You don’t know the secret of PVC? So, when the cabal within Jonathan’s Presidency started preventing people from seeing him– if you were not well to do, Jonathan said you could not have access to him. You could not advise him – the only people who could advise him were businessmen, contractors.

Continues on page 30

PAGE 30 — SUNDAY Vanguard, OCTOBER 11, 2015

Continued from page 29 Niger Delta does not have a think-tank. Ijaw have no thinktank. All the leaders know.

People like Asari are aware. I confronted him (Asari) and asked: ‘Where is our thinktank?’ When Awolowo was the Vice Chairman in Gowon’s government, he was fully Federal Commissioner for Finance. He changed all the laws. Not only that, he said that all the revenue should come to the Federal Government before it was shared it out.

Awolowo, because of the think-tank around him, was able to develop Lagos after the civil war. The physical structures he built in Lagos and Western State were after the civil war.

He used sound people, not sycophants. But the reverse was in Jonathan’s case. We could have sent our best brains to INEC. If northerners sent their first eleven to INEC, where was the Niger Delta first eleven in INEC? Because somebody knew the President’s gardener, somebody knew the pepper soup seller, the persons will recommend people to represent us. Those are the people we assemble in sensitive areas.

I did everything to make sure that I worked for the president to win the election.

But not for me to now be talking without a think-tank that would direct our people.

You can imagine that Asiwaju Bola Tinubu’s think-tank produced VP Osinbajo. . Let us not pretend. Give honour to whom is due. In fact, 2011, when Jonathan marked 100 days in office, I organized a deliverance service for Aso Rock. What I did was to assemble more than 30 pastors from the ethnic groups in the Niger Delta. I paid over N1 million to the National Theatre. And a young man, Kenneth Keke, who is doing well in Ijaw land, donated over 5,000 Bibles for participants.

We mobilized about 5,000 people to carry out that prayer session for the President.

Why did you mobilize pastors to pray for the President? Was he in any kind of danger? And what was the prayer point?

That they should pray that Jonathan with his wife and family should safely stay in Aso Rock and come out alive.

Also that Jonathan would not forget where he came from.

So, are you now saying that the Ijaw did not really benefit from the J o n a t h a n administration?

Jonathan himself confessed it with his mouth, that he thought Bayelsans would boo him. It did not come from my mouth. The media reported it.

We thank God for his life, that God used him to break that curse that we, the providers of the feeding bottle for this country, would not be head of state, would not be in Aso Rock they used our money to build. Jonathan is like our integrity. We cannot continue feeding people who don’t have respect for us. Now, it will be possible for our children’s

‘Ijaw’s lack of think-tank worked against us’

•Evah...Jonathan was manipulated children to lead this country.

Nobody can stop our generation, from now to the end of the world, not to take leadership of this country, not to rule Nigeria. Before, they said it was a taboo for a Niger Delta person to rule this country. Now, Jonathan helped us break that jinx. After that, nothing.

So, is there any hope that another Niger Delta person might emerge in the future?

Yes, there is hope because our democracy is just 16 or 17 years. So, like America that has managed over two hundred years in democracy, a Niger Delta person can emerge based on the tragedy and all that. And what has happened to Jonathan has given us a very good lesson that any Niger Delta person who entered that Aso Rock again would make sure that he focuses on the development of his people. Look at what Jonathan did. He used all his strength to make northerners happy. Yet, they were not happy.

They were manipulating everything. And when you tell Jonathan that, ‘look, these people are just pretending; even if you give them your children and your wife, they would not be satisfied’, he will never listen to you. In fact, he believes you are his enemy. He will even be angry with you for telling him that. But now, anytime he sleeps and he is alone in his bedroom or toilet, he will remember whatever we had

been telling him. (Deep laughter.)

So, what did Jonathan fail to do for Niger Delta?

Jonathan failed to raise a think-tank that would ensure speedy development of the region. Jonathan was at war with the North. When people wanted to criticise him, I ignored them because when General Yakubu Gowon was head of state during the civil war, he did not perform. It was after the civil war that Gowon built all those laudable projects mainly in the SouthWest. We confronted our son so that whoever emerges as president of this country after

Look at what Jonathan did. He used all his strength to make northerners happy. Yet, they were not happy.

They were manipulating everything. And when you tell Jonathan that, ‘look, these people are just pretending; even if you give them your children and your wife, they would not be satisfied’, he will never listen to you

him would not abandon his area for any reason. Jonathan fought series of war: the North war via Boko Haram and the Niger Delta militants who he pacified to ensure that they didn’t pose a clog in the wheel of progress of his administration. Though we were angry that Jonathan, our son, failed to develop our area, it is obvious that he was handicapped because those he trusted with various portfolios to ensure the development of his area disappointed him. For example, what should stop Chevron and Agip from building a world class airport in Bayelsa State? Also, what will stop other oil firms operating in the Niger Delta from building lecture theatres in the universities in the area?

If you go to the University of Ibadan, you find many structures built by oil companies. Again, at the University of Lagos, you find a bank planting flowers at the entrance of the school. They are beautifying Unilag. These are realities which the Niger Delta has not enjoyed from oil firms. It is true that Jonathan did not perform in the Niger Delta. For example, if the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) was owed about four hundred billion naira, how will it perform its statutory functions as regards the development of the area?

I remember it was Governor James Ibori of Delta State who told oil firms in the region that the people could not continue using helicopter to visit their areas. And that gave birth to the airport at Osubi, near Warri, that people in the area, including management of the oil firms, are currently enjoying. There must be conscious efforts to industrialise the Niger Delta former. Everywhere you go in the area, you have rubber.

Niger Delta governors should consult Elenganza on how to build plastic companies that will produce plastic products since the region is home of rubber. The government and other firms cannot use our rubber and by-products from the Niger Delta to produce all these plastic products scattered all over the world, and we don’t have plastic industry in the Niger Delta.

What is the problem? Is it a demonic problem that the presidency or governors in the region cannot appreciate the enormity of the natural resources in the region?

But that was why Jonathan appointed Niger Delta natives as Minister of Petroleum and others to ensure the development of the region.

We need a think-tank that would be accepted by the President to direct how the network to oversee the development of the region would operate. The think-tank would be responsible for the

various committees raised to be in charge of development projects.

In fact, the committee would report operational hiccups encountered in the course of their operations. The Urhobo, Isoko, Ijaw and Itsekiri would raise a think tank with various committees that would ensure accelerated development in the region. Among others, the think tank would also see if the people of Niger Delta are being short-changed. For example, they will liaise with Federal Government parastatals to ensure that their share of projects to the region are not circumvented and located in other regions.

Why was it that elder statesmen like Chief Edwin Clark did not come up with the think-tank idea?

Chief E.K. Clark had been suggesting to the governors in the region and the President on what they should do to develop the region in the media but he had been ignored.

The President had that belief that if he had worked very well in his region, the Nigerian people would query him if he was a Niger Delta President.

That was how they blackmailed him. E.K. Clark had been shouting that there were deliberate attempts to make the President ignore his people in the Niger Delta. They blackmailed President Jonathan so that he will not pay attention to his people.

We do know that President Jonathan was manipulated despite the fact that he had been deputy governor, governor, Vice President and finally President.

But why was President Jonathan like that?

Perhaps, he under-rated the depth of political manipulations. We were surprised. Perhaps too, he thought Nigeria was Bayelsa because he came from Bayelsa as governor to the Presidency.

And that was why when Jonathan had problems with Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, I was not happy with the President.

Chief Obasanjo was the person who brought Jonathan as governor of Bayelsa to be the Vice President. Jonathan that time even told Chief Obasanjo to leave him alone, that he was comfortable as governor of Bayelsa. But Obasanjo insisted he was the one. We eventually advised President Jonathan to look at the background of those who were advising him to fight Obasanjo before taking a plunge even if Obasanjo was wrong.

Is it right to say Jonathan detachment from Obasanjo led to his electoral defeat?

Yes! People say Obasanjo was overbearing on Jonathan.

But what was wrong with that?

Give to Caesar what belongs to Caesar and to God what belongs to God. People forget that when somebody agrees to assist you to political victory of such magnitude, he will give some conditions which you must oblige. It will be a taboo to ignore the conditions under which the agreement was made mid course.

C M Y K

SUNDAY Vanguard, OCTOBER 11 , 2015, PAGE 31

My EFCC story, by Kuku, Jonathan’s former adviser •The concluding part of the interview with Hon. Kingsley Kuku, immediate past Special Adviser to President Goodluck Jonathan on Niger Delta and Chairman of the Presidential Amnesty Programme, PAP, in which he talks about his Economic and Financial Crimes (EFCC) story

BY SONI DANIEL,

W

Northern Region Editor

hen I therefore became the SA on Niger Delta and the second Chairman of the PAP, I was already on a familiar terrain. The key actors in the Niger Delta struggle knew me and I also knew them. It was easier for them to relate with me. They had nominated me before to represent them in government discussions on their behalf.

So, I was caught in between the government and my people. For the government, I played my role successfully by entrenching peace in the Niger Delta and stabilising the security situation in that oil production rose from 2.2 million barrels per day to over 2.7 million. That was the kind of result that the work of the Amnesty Programme produced for Nigeria under my watch.

But many Nigerians suspect that the Amnesty Programme has been used as a conduit pipe to siphon huge public funds?

That’s a very unfair assessment of what we have done there. I have seen a lot of prominent Nigerians make such statements, but what I have done to reply some of them, is not to insult them. In the past, Nigeria has been a country where, when agencies are set up, those managing the agencies just sit down and share money, without doing what the money was meant for. So, too many Nigerians don’t believe that the things that we’ve been able to do with the Amnesty Programme were possible.

But what I have done is to put together a compendium of what we’ve been able to do in the programme, with names of students and delegates in flight training schools in Oxford, England, in Lufthansa, Germany, those who were doing helicopter training in Italy. In the United Kingdom, over 800 students were deployed to over 72 universities. In the United States, under my watch, we brought over 300 students. You will find them in universities across the states. If you go to Malaysia, you will find them.

In Ghana, we went to the best schools.

For those who were not as bright as those who got scholarships to go abroad, or who didn’t want to travel, we took them to the best private schools in Nigeria. Today, you can find over 700 students, under my watch, at Igbinedion University in Okada. You can find over 400 students at the Benson Idahosa University in Benin. You can find them at the prestigious Afe Babalola University. It’s not a child’s play. At Novena University, we had over 156.

So, before I left office, I had successfully deployed some of my students that I put in Igbinedion University to the Nigerian Law School.

There are some of them who graduated with first class. In Nigerian universities alone, I was able to deploy about 2,000 students. Outside Nigeria, I deployed about 2,000 students. I challenge any political actor in Nigeria to come up

with any record that surpasses what I have done in PAP. I will publish the names of the people I deployed, with their emails, their courses, their schools, the grades they are graduating with, their age, their communities. So, if you take me to the court of public opinion, I am coming out clean. It’s not as if there won’t be errors, because it’s a novel programme.

As we are talking, we were able to train over 150 commercial licensed pilots. But for those of them who have moved beyond the commercial pilot licenses, in Lufthansa, I left behind 21.

They all got trained in South Africa, but we went into advanced training with Lufthansa and CAE Oxford. So, they’ve acquired the European licence, CPL; they’ve gone into ATPL – special training in Boeing 737. Three of them, before I left Nigeria for my surgery, had finished their programme, and they are back.

They’ve got their licenses, and done their conversion exams. One of them, Bassey, after his CPL, said he wasn’t going to fly, that he would love to be an instructor.

He’s training people in aviation now.

I have Moses, who has been employed and further trained by Air Peace Airline. I felt like crying when two of my former staff said they were flying to Lagos from Abuja, and by the time they were announcing those who were flying them, they heard Moses’ name, one of their students. By the time they landed in Lagos, they had to wait to see who truly Moses was. So, the success story is there. Moses is one of them. There is Clifford Wilson and David Abang, they’ve finished from CAE Oxford, they’ve finished from Gatwick. So, they are certified Boeing 737 airborne pilots.

But, they’ve not released their certificates, because, as of today, the Amnesty Office is owing some money.

Many Nigerians don’t seem to understand the rationale behind the huge sums you spent on foreign scholarship and training programmes given the fact that

As we are talking, we were able to train over 150 commercial licensed pilots. But for those of them who have moved beyond the commercial pilot licenses, in Lufthansa, I left behind 21

•Kuku... I left N5 billion for my successor such could have been done in the country at a lower cost and prevent capital flight.

Indeed, the foreign scholarship and vocational training programmes, including aviation, were some of the lofty initiatives we introduced. Apart from the fact that we could comfortably accommodate these programmes in our budget, the major consideration was the proper reintegration of these youths from the region. The template adopted for the programme was based on the global DDR model, which made the reorientation and rehabilitation of such non-state actors outside the environment they were used to, a key aspect of the process. We were committed to a process that would produce completely transformed individuals, who would no longer find attractive their former lifestyle in the creeks. Life in the creeks is actually very harsh. So, the new environment they are exposed to locally or overseas helps the reintegration process greatly. The plan is that by the time most of them return to the country, they would have been completely transformed. Of course, our country is better for it.

But talking about capital flight, we tried to check that through the approval of the National Assembly to build four stateof-the-art vocational training centres in the Niger Delta. Even though our mandate did not include capital projects, we saw the necessity for such centres .Before I left, the training

centres, sited in Bomadi in Delta, Agadagba-Obon in Ondo, Kaiama in Bayelsa and another in Rivers State, were nearing completion. These are specialised centres for training in oil and gas technology, power and electricity management as well as maritime studies.

How much in cash did you leave behind for your successor?

At the time I left office on May 29, 2015, the allocation for that month, worth over N5 billion, had been received and I left that intact in the Central Bank for my successor. That and some other funds in the account of the Amnesty Programme were available for my successor.

Would you say that the current clamour for amnesty in many states in the country is an indication of the success of your own model?

We need to thank the late Yar’Adua and former President Jonathan for their roles in bringing about the Amnesty Programme in Nigeria. We should also thank God for bringing Jonathan on board as Vice President at the time he did and when he became the President; he did his best to strengthen the Amnesty Programme that has brought sustained peace and stability to the Niger Delta.

This programme has become a world model and there is need for Nigerians to

Continues on page 32

PAGE 32, SUNDAY Vanguard, OCTOBER 11 , 2015

‘Jonathan’s Amnesty Programme gave N-Delta 150 pilots Continued from page 31 in the country is an indication of the success of your own model?

We need to thank the late Yar’Adua and former President Jonathan for their roles in bringing about the Amnesty Programme in Nigeria. We should also thank God for bringing Jonathan on board as Vice President at the time he did and when he became the President; he did his best to strengthen the Amnesty Programme that has brought sustained peace and stability to the Niger Delta. This programme has become a world model and there is need for Nigerians to understand what DDR- Disarmament, Demobilisation and Reintegrationmeans. It is one of the most sensitive and most difficult peace initiatives or platforms you can create. You can imagine someone who has been trading and using arms and drugs and other inimical things being asked to drop them for peace and nothing more.

You are telling the man to drop his arms and drugs for peace and you don’t give him or her money or any other good thing. Like in our model, the agitators were given a deadline to disarm or be crushed. In our own case, there was no foreign intervention but was entirely funded

by Nigeria. I came to the United States and I was asked if I needed financial support for the programme, and I said no. I only requested for technical support to enable our delegates get visa to study in some U.S universities. It was the same request I made to the United Kingdom. I was able to remove the embarrassing toga of ‘’ex-militants’’, which was not helping the delegates.

They were never militants but agitators.

Let me say clearly that we created the Nigerian DDR model without any foreign involvement because we knew ourselves. If the Nigerian government had brought a man from outside to manage it, he would have failed because he would be starting to look for intelligence on who the key actors, like Ateke Boyloaf, Tompolo, Henry Okah, Shoot-at-Sight, Ogunboss, Pastor Reuben, Ekperi Papa, Fara Dagogo were.

This could have taken many years, but I knew all these actors and they also knew me and we were able to work together and achieve results within a short time.

We agreed to meet and the template we adopted was accepted by all. We looked at the money that was available and we rejected the initial idea of artisan and menial training and went for professional training for the delegates so as to give them a dignified future. It is a model that is novel because, as we speak, the UN-funded DDR programmes have failed. As we speak, the UN-funded DDR in Liberia, the one in Sierra Leone and Rwanda are having issues. It is only the one we did in Nigeria and Burundi that are succeeding and they were put together and funded by the

Even if it is political, it is not created by the EFCC. The EFCC is only doing its job, based on petitions governments of those countries. Let me tell you something and you can check it on record, any time the United Nations or international organisations are involved in DDR programme, they would spend a fortune implementing such programmes. If you compare what we spent on our DDR to what the others are spending, you would see that we are doing very well and the results are showing. So, whatsoever is needed to consolidate peace, should be employed and I dare say that the Nigerian DDR should be emulated. We have been highly commended by foreign organisations for the success we have recorded and we are satisfied we did our best to salvage this country from economic stagnation and destruction. We exceeded expectations in what we have done. Many Nigerians would not have done what we have done. It was the very first of such programme in Nigeria. We set the record and it is left for others to look at what we did and compare with what obtains elsewhere before passing judgment. We are bound to make mistakes.

Let me say that even the United States Institute of Peace and the United Nations have, in various memos, said that the Nigerian

•Kuku...

Amnesty Programme cannot terminate in December

amnesty has surpassed its expectations.

So, I don’t know why outsiders and critical viewers can see success in what we have done and many Nigerians cannot. But I am not even worried because it is a human institution. Many Nigerians could not have done what we achieved under the programme. We are bound to make mistakes because we created the template and set the precedent. We make efforts which could be improved upon by our successors.

If you think and are convinced that the PAP under your watch was a success story, why do you think the EFCC is after you? Are you afraid?

First, I will never be scared, because I was a public officer and I remain a public figure. In running a programme that is so novel, without precedent, no template- and I created a template with my team, and we funded it, and have so many success stories all over- things like these are bound to come. EFCC does not work in a vacuum. People write petitions. I have seen some of the petitions, and so many of them are frivolous. For example, a group of exmilitants claim that I denied them the opportunity of being accommodated in the programme. That’s a petition before EFCC; and that they should force me to pay them N65,000 from 2010 when they disarmed. And they are 38 in number. So, that’s the crime I committed. I’m not the one who accommodated people. Before I came on board this programme, 20,192 were taking part. When I came, another 6,166 were documented. So, put together, over 26,000 people were already documented. I only came to advocate for over 3,000 people because I saw danger in what we were doing, as part of learning on the job.

There was a growing population of NigerDelta youths, women, young boys and girls, who didn’t believe that the Amnesty Programme was going to create pilots, marine officers, educational opportunities for so many

people. They thought even some of them were going to be captured by government and put in jail. So, they stayed away. So, I went into the records of DDR, and found out that the woman in the community, whose livelihood was affected by the negative operations of even the ex-agitators, and the Nigerian military, in maintaining law and order, was also due for compensation. The youths of that community, who were not ex-agitators, but suffered collaterally for the damages arising from the conflict, were also due for something. A lot of letters were coming to me. So, I ran to the President, and begged him to help the programme.

True, the United Nations has provisions for non ex-militants in the programme, so that we would not be seen as a country paying for violence alone. For that purpose, Mr. President approved the third phase of the Amnesty Programme. This was how we got this young boys and girls. Some of them had not even seen a gun before, but they were covered by what Mr. President defined as the violence-impacted communities slot. Most ex-agitators never wanted to leave Nigeria, that’s why most of them were involved in vocational training. Most of the people you are seeing outside are those affected by the violence. And this was given across ethnic nationalities in the NigerDelta. Everybody took advantage of this.

I am never scared of defending my stewardship. It was a trust from the taxpayers of our beloved country, Nigeria.

So, I’m ready to defend what I did in that office. Every public officer is open to scrutiny; I am no exception.

I’m not a saint. We made mistakes. We made errors. We corrected the ones we could see. So, those who succeed us must be able to review them and make the programme better. I’m human. But, consciously, I did not hurt my country. I committed the entirety of my life, the comfort of my life and family, to ensure that that the programme succeeded under my watch.

However, when such scrutiny is suspected to be laced with political undertones, witch-hunt, we would quickly seek protection under the law, against unnecessary harassment,

detention, media trial. But you still have to create that window of having the opportunity to defend yourself.

And that’s what I’m doing with the EFCC. I must be treated as innocent; and when those signs are threatened, the only option left for common men like us is to seek refuge under the law, while still opening the opportunity of defending our stewardship.

Do you suspect that your invitation by the EFCC could be politically-motivated?

Sometimes I think so. Sometimes, I take solace in the fact that it also gives me an opportunity to stand before Nigerians today and defend the beautiful job I have done for our beloved country, which is being misunderstood by too many now. They will definitely understand, in five, ten years from now, when the thousands of students we trained, graduate; when these students are in positions of authority; at that time, maybe in my old age, I would be able to hear people say ‘Kuku deserves national honours’. This will come; I’m confident.

Even if it is political, it is not created by the EFCC. The EFCC is only doing its job based on petitions.They don’t hate me. Since 2007, I’ve been serving, and they never invited me any for a single day. But when people started writing Continues on page 34

SUNDAY Vanguard, OCTOBER 11, 2015, PAGE 33

FEYISETAN: The soo thsa soothsa thsayyer er,, succour pr ovider in pro Ekiti Go vt Govt House

•Mrs Fayose

By Gbenga Aribiyi, Ado -Ekiti

T

he wife of Ekiti State governor,Mrs Feyisetan 0layemi Fayose, is seen from different perspectives, but, essentially, to those who are privileged to be close to her, she is a mother with a large heart and a philanthropist par excellence On religion front, Mrs Fayose is regarded by many as a lady evangelist or a prophet, mainly because she was said to have predicted the second coming of her

husband and it came to pass. It was learnt that she equally predicted that her husband would scale the hurdles set on the husband’s path by 16 former All Progressive Congress (APC)lawmakers in the state House of Assembly and the rest is history.

Meanwhile, Mrs Fayose does not believe she has to ascribe nickname to herself to justify the coming to pass of the predictions,but her conviction in the efficacy of prayers in solving human problems is not in doubt. Of course she is exploiting this

gift to assist her family. However, the First Lady is a blessing to the people of Ekiti as she believes that all human beings deserve special attention.

It is not surprising, therefore that this woman has the milk of human kindness flowing in her veins.

The humanitarian gestures of Mrs Fayose are giving succor to the less privileged. If she is not assisting the needy in one part, of the state ,she is in an hospital paying medical bills of indigent patients or in a children home,or special schools for the children.

On January 8 when the First Lady was celebrating her 51st birthday, she did it in a unique way, shunning all festivities usually associated with such a unique occasion by celebrating it with the children of Erelu Angela Adebayo Children Home ,Iyin Ekiti.

She was in the home with gifts and made a promise to build two blocks of classrooms to give room for the expansion of the children home.

Mrs Fayose equally visited specialist hospitals in Ikere, Ikole, Ijero; the Federal Teaching Hospital,Ido Ekiti and the University of Ado Ekiti Teaching Hospital, Ado Ekiti (EKSUTH) where she paid medical bills of some indigent patients.

The First Lady undertook another round of settlement of medical bills of about 91 indigent patients in different hospitals in the state,a

gesture that cost her office over three million naira. To show her kindness ,two run -away patients at EKSUTH ,Ado Ekiti , Monday Iseoluwa Ayobami and Ojo Sunday, would not forget in a hurry how Mrs Fayose saved them from embarrassment because they were unable to pay their medical bills This was confirmed by the Chief Medical Director (CMD)of the hospital,Dr Kolawole Ogundipe, who said: “Before now, the management of the teaching hospital had made several calls to the phones of the patients but they refused to pick their phones over the impression that they would be arrested by the police “We thank Her Excellency for this kind gesture. This is about three or four instances Her Excellency will be coming to offset the medical bills of some indigent patients”. The First Lady has also assisted some pregnant women in different parts of Ekiti by distributing no fewer than 500 kits to help them during delivery.

Mrs Fayose is not relenting on the stomach infrastructure programme of her husband as she personally distributed food items and gifts to people ,especially in Kajola village , A r a m o k o , A l a k e community,Ajebandele ,Oke Osun,Ile -Ona,Ajaye Oke,Ajaye Odo ,Erio community,Ido Ile ,Surulere and a host of others.

This gesture promises to be extended to other communities in Ekiti soon as Mrs Fayose is ever ready to touch the lives of the less privileged members of the society.

CLOSE SHAVE WITH DEATH

I ate poisoned food ! — Matseagharun, res ant oper at or resttaur aurant operat ator

By Ebun Sessou

O

kpemi Metseagharun is the proprietor of Nolays Fast Food in Ibeju-Lekki area of Lagos. The Delta State born young man says he ate food poison and hospitalized for three days. In this interview, he speaks on the need for young people to be courageous in starting up businesses. Excerpts: How did your idea on Nolays came about?

The idea came after I ate food poison in 2012. I visited a popular fast food restaurant in town and bought food. I couldn’t eat it, so, I took it home. As much as I patronize restaurants, I make sure I don’t eat there.

I hardly take ill but, on this fateful day, it was a different story. I ate the food; an hour thereafter, I realized that I had eaten food poison. Before I knew what was happening, I was hospitalized and I spent three days in the hospital.

But, something kept ringing in my mind. I was thinking of the healthy condition of the food I ate. The truth is most fast food restaurants give people poison because of the way their foods are prepared. Whereas, many families love to hang out on weekends in a beautiful environment to spend quality time with their loved ones in these restaurants.

Unfortunately, nobody dares find out how healthy are the restaurants.

How prepared are they in terms of hygiene? Do they ensure that they prepare their food in a healthy manner that would improve people’s C M Y K

lives?

That was how my inspiration on Nolays came about. I said to myself, ‘if the restaurant that gave me food poison had adhered to the rules of hygiene, I would not have had problem with food poison’.

The poison might have come from different means, either through food procurement, processing or serving.

So, I was inspired that, there is more to be done in giving people healthy food. There is no reason we should give people poisonous food in the name of operating a restaurant. It is not enough to eat well but to eat healthy. I was inspired to open a healthy restaurant that would cater for the needs of people.

Starting up?

I never wanted to rush into what I will not be able to sustain. So, I decided to embark on research that would help in the business. There is need to ensure that the food that comes to the people is in good condition and so, I spent the entire life on research. And when I was able to come up with a template that would sustain my business, then I set the ball rolling.

But the vision does not stop in setting up a restaurant. My vision is to get a total family package where family can come, eat healthy and relax. I want to entertain the family and make them comfortable.

Challenges?

I have not worked in a fast food outlet before but I have worked in a restaurant for three months.

My first job after the university was

but we couldn’t come up with a particular one. At that time, I had given my engineers instruction to design a template and they asked me what name to call it and I told them to call it any name.

Meanwhile, I have an existing digital company called Nolays Limited so, when I asked my engineer to give any name, they just went ahead and gave it Nolays. That was when it dawned on me that Nolays is nice. And I felt, it was nice for our name to make us a brand. People will know your name for what it produces and not because of what is attached to it.

•Metseagharun in a restaurant which I did for three months. It was at that place that I gathered idea on how restaurant operates. Nursing the idea was a huge challenge. There are serious challenges you are bound to face when planning for this type of business, especially when you are not using a template that belongs to someone else. Those fast food restaurants you are seeing around did not start in a day. It took a while for them to be established. Many started small and growed big with time.

But, for me, starting up and getting to the level where other are immediately was quite challenging. I had to engage the service of professionals who helped in putting the idea together.

After getting the template right for the business, my wife and I thought of the name to give to the fast food. We took time to brainstorm on the name

Looking at the present economy situation of the country, how do you intend to drive traffic to your business?

The fact that we must produce foods with high standard and hygiene means that we should not compromise. But, if we fail to consider quality because of pricing, then we will fall short of the standard.

Considering, the economy situation of the country, we decided to give the best of our service in terms of food.

There is need to get the best material at the best price. What we are doing now is offering people the best food service at the best price.

What type of food would Nolays be producing and why?

Nolays has two sections. The restaurant section and the fruit section. The fruit section will take care of the smoothies, juice, fresh fruits, fruit salad, vegetable salad while the restaurant will take care of the continental, African dishes.

PAGE 34—SUNDAY

Vanguard, OCTOBER 11, 2015

BY LEKAN BILESANMI

O

tunba Joseph Adedayo Ogunfuwa, the Babalaje of Remoland, celebrated his 75th birthday, penultimate Saturday. In an interview, shortly after the birthday lecture, Ogunfuwa said he is a devoted Christian, a member of the Anglican Communion and a strong member of the Reformed Ogboni Fraternity. This, he claimed, his church is aware.

What inspired your celebrating your birthday with a lecture?

I conceived the idea of a birthday lecture 15 years ago when I clocked 60 years because I thought I would die before 60. My late father died at 62 and, to me, when you clock 60 and die, it is not a premature death.

Initially, the birthday lecture was restricted to my immediate family and close friends. But when I clocked 65, people, mostly friends, advised me to extend the invitation beyond my immediate family so that it could be a legacy that will not only benefit my immediate family but should be passed on to generations because of my experiences on knotty issues like world peace, religion as well as other issues that will always give people food for thought.

I also want to say that none of the fraternities that I belong to is against any religion or government. They all affirm the supremacy of God and oppose discrimination of any kind.

The world needs peace and not insurgency and the battle for God among different religions must stop if the world must know peace.

So, this year, I changed the pattern of the lecture. I saw the need to invite knowledgeable persons to deliver it.

Professor Dayo Adekole talked about religion and fraternities and explored the notion of a conflict. Professor Rom Kalilu talked about religious intolerance –The Muslim point of view. I spoke on religion intolerance =The Christian view point and religion and world peace. The whole essence of this was to see how we can

My cchur hur are I’m member hurcch is aw aware of Ogboni Confr at ernity Confrat aternity —Ogunfuwa, 75-yr-old Remo chief

time to be convinced that I needed to stop the habit.

At 75, would you say you are fulfilled?

I have been a fulfilled man as far back as when I clocked 60. Death did not matter to me after that. People tend to associate fulfillment with wealth or monetary worth. It is whatever you set out to achieve in life that makes you fulfilled. I set out to be what I am, to be kind to people, to be generous to live according to my conscience. I listen to advice but I don’t take every piece of advice. I am not rich and I don’t have to be rich to be a fulfilled man. I have 14 children and 23 grandchildren. I have always told my children, ‘what I have done for you, go and improve on it yourselves’.

Being the Babalaje of Remoland, what are the factors that shaped you to make you who you are today?

I don’t know why they conferred the title of Babalaje on me because I told them I didn’t want it. Babalaje is given to people who are rich. I am not.

•Otunba Joseph Adedayo Ogunfuwa all bring about world peace. Without peace, nothing meaningful can be done, either as an individual or as a nation.

What exactly is your philosophy of life?

Do my best in all circumstances for everybody and without doing wrong to anybody.

Your dad died at 62. Did you envisage you will live this long?

Nobody knows how long he or she will live. People die through many causes. You cannot predict also what manner of death you will have. One can have the best of health and still die

young. When you live and abstain from what is not necessary, you can live long. For instance, I gave up smoking over 30 years ago, and I was a bad drinker. My elder sister kept warning me and weeping because of these habits because of the fear that I might die young. But, today, she is alive and I am also alive. I had to stop smoking because I had medical challenge. As a child, I was always ill.

My mother died of asthma at 32. The doctor advised me to stop smoking, but I didn’t stop immediately. I, however, gave up the habit when I realised that I was pushing myself to the grave. One does not need much education to know that smoking is dangerous to health.

And it is not right, but it took me long

What is that thing that your parents inculcated in you while growing up that you have also passed to your children?

That is a secret. When my father was about to die, he compelled me to love all my siblings because he was a polygamist. Today, I am successful and my siblings are also successful and my children too.

So when you die, how do you want to be buried?

I have given my children instructions on what to do when I die.

Not only that, I have consistently openly said it. Nobody should say after my death that I renounced any of the fraternities I belong to. I am a Christian of Anglican Communion; when I die, my fraternities’ members should come in their full regalia and, if the church will not permit that, let the fraternities bury me.

Kuku: My Amnesty Programme fears Continued from page 32 petitions, they have to invite me. If they don’t, people will say the EFCC is taking sides. However, even the political one might also be wrong. I’m a PDP stalwart in Ondo State, but it might be wrong to assume that the political witch-hunt is only coming from APC. It is possible that the PDP people in Ondo State or outside, who are threatened by the likelihood of a Kuku attempting to be a governor, might be the people fuelling it. So, the political angle to it is not restricted to a political party. You know Nigeria. Even APC people might not even care about you; but your own PDP people might come up to do these things.

I will honour the EFCC. When I got their invitation. I was already in London, on my way for the knee surgery. It came in the night. I told my lawyer, and we wrote them that by the 30th of September, I would honour the invitation. But what you plan could be different from God’s. I’ve been here recuperating, but till today, clearly, flying from here is going to be very hectic for me. So, I do want to honour them, but I have to see my doctor to see if it would be possible for me to do that between now and the 30th, then return. But if he says no, I will write to them. I love to honour the invitation, because the EFCC is our statutory institution. If we, public officials, do not honour our institutions, it would not strengthen our democracy. I must be

alive to honour their invite. So, giving me further extension is not going to be difficult for them.

With you now out of the PAP Office, what are your greatest fears about the programme?

I am a bit worried, leaving the programme at the time I did. I didn’t meet a soul in the university when I came on board, but I left behind over 4,000 students of Niger-Delta extraction in various schools, home and abroad. I didn’t meet any aviation trainee, I left behind over 150 commercial pilots, licensed and trained, over 30 ATPL holders, and 10 of those who have finished their programme.

But there were still some little things to make most of them employable. Today, I still remember people like Timothy who left Edo State and went to the School of Oceanography in Lagos, because he was so determined to do marine training.

Beyond that, we took them to the World Maritime Institute, in Poland.

Today, NLNG in Bonny engaged Timothy and put him on board a vessel for seatime. He called me from the Port of Spain, from the waters of Cape Town in South Africa. He called me from Barcelona.

He has called me from India. That’s a product of our collective effort in the Amnesty Programme. These guys are our hope in Nigeria.

My concern is that this academic revolution we had brought into the annals of Nigeria, whether they are Niger-Delta

people or not, the key point is that they are Nigerians. My concern is that their life ambitions are not going to be truncated.

Luckily, a few of them are graduating this year. I am sure over 300 of the people we took outside will graduate this year. Their tuition will be paid. I just pray for continuity.

I am worried.

Knowing President Muhammed Buhari, he is a lover of education; he’s a man who must believe in what you are explaining. If the opportunity is given to the right people to explain the Amnesty Programme to Mr. President and the NSA, I do believe that there will be continuity definitely beyond December. It is not going to be possible to take 17 and 16- year-olds to schools in the UK, and abandon their academic pursuit. This, Mr. President, will never do. But it needs direct and practical explanation on where they are from, and what they are doing in those countries.

And these formed part of my brief.

I’m also aware that there are steps to return the aviation students who left because of lack of payments. I hope they return. These are critical points that can really sadden me. Imagine that billions of naira have been invested in the education of these kids, and that they were returned as a result of non-continuity by the Nigeria government.

So, it is vital that that continuity happens.

If it does not happen, it would be a big blow to me. I put in five years of my life to make it happen. These kids are the hope of the Niger-Delta. They are the ones who

will come back and drive the economic development and political consciousness of the Niger-Delta. We cannot truncate this dream. This is vital. Most importantly, the Federal Government needs to know that the Amnesty Programme cannot be terminated in December. It cannot. While I was there, even under President Goodluck Jonathan, I wrote to him severally. When we planned, it was a five-year initial programme. At that time, it was about first phase. It had nothing to do with the second and third phases. Now, the five-year plan has been fulfilled. But because of incessant protests for inclusion and accommodation by those who didn’t believe in the process, and later saw that it was succeeding, why would government not listen? So, more people, about 10,000 to the original 20,000, were included. And this inclusion was not considered when the five- year plan was made. So, these 10,000 people, government still owes them. We owe them an obligation to get them rehabilitated and reintegrated into the society. We need to fully reform them.

They have fulfilled their own part of the contract by disarming and coming out. And government also gave a commitment. And that part, for the second and third phases, has not been fulfilled by government.

So, speaking from experience and what we were able to do within this period of four years, it would take nothing less than two to three years more to train and rehabiliate the remaining delegates of the programme.

SUNDAY Vanguard, OCTOBER 11, 2015, PAGE 35

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Oyo police burst fake bank alerts syndicate

Buhari recycles ‘the old brigade’ –Onuesoke

BY EPHRAIM OSEJI HE Special Project Director, T Office of Delta State Governor, Asaba, Chief Sunny Onuesoke, has

•7 suspects arrested

BY EBERE AHAM

T

he police in Oyo State recorded a breakthrough when they burst a syndicate stealing goods with fake bank alerts. Apart from moving from place to place searching for goods on display, the suspects, according to the state Commissioner of Police, Leye Oyebade, also defrauded through online shopping by posing as potential buyers to steal valuable property, ranging from posh cars to computers, electronic gadgets, cameras, etc.

Narrating the event that led to the bursting of the syndicate, Oyebade stated: “On the 15th of September, 2015, a member of the syndicate signified interest in buying a Toyota Corolla saloon car advertised on Cheki.com by one Segun Okeowo, an auto-mobile dealer in Ibadan.

After negotiation, the suspect sent a false credit alert of N1.4 million to the bank account of

the unsuspecting auto dealer who, thereafter, released and caused the car to be delivered to the supposed genuine buyer in Port Harcourt.

“When the owner of the car went to the bank for confirmation of the money, he was astonished to hear that no such money was paid. That was when it dawned on him that he had been defrauded.

He lodged a complaint with the police and the Command’s Special Monitoring Unit was directed to set the machinery in motion to arrest the culprits.

Our swift action paid off on the 25th of September, 2015, when two of the suspects swallowed the bait set by detectives, walked into the dragnet and were rounded up somewhere in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

The arrest and subsequent confession of the duo led to the arrest of other members of the gang who were picked up at different locations in Rivers and Abia States. During investigation, the Toyota

•The suspects Corolla saloon car stolen through this criminal act was recovered in the house of Uchenna Agba. The arrested suspects are Kingsley Thomas, 25, Ifeanyichukwu Nwaegerue ,30, Ikechukwu Egbere, 28, and Uchena Agba, 27.”

The commissioner explained that, in spite of efforts put in place to ensure that there was peace in Oyo, unrepentant criminal elements still took delight in reaping where they had not sown. “The thieving attitude of some criminals was not left unchecked as they were arrested: Through credible intelligence gathered from our strategic partners, the Command’s Special Antirobbery Squad, on Monday,

arrested one Shina Olafioye in connection with the vandalisation of communication masts of service providers in the state.

The suspect’s confession led to the arrest of other alleged members of the gang at their criminal hideouts. Further intensive investigation led to the recovery of five suspected stolen generators, a half engine and one small welding machine from the shop of one Ogunbiyi Sulaiman at Okebola area of Ibadan. The suspects, according to him, are Shina Olafioye, 25, Olowookere Seyi, 50, Ndubuisi Nwafor, 32, Adekunle Adeola, 53, Dauda Olaoye, 40, and Ogunbiyi Suleiman, 32.

Agbeyo, Media Concepts Chief, Bags ‘’Outstanding Philanthropic Achievement’’ Award

BY EMMANUEL AJIBULU

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EO of Cornfield Transnational Limited, Media Concept International and Botosoft Technologies parent company, Mr Tope Agbeyo, is among notable personalities to be honoured at the 10th anniversary of the National Association of Proprietors of Private Schools (NAPPS), South West Zone, scheduled for the Lead City University, Ibadan, Oyo State on October 14.

Agbeyo earned this unique award from NAPPS as a result of his outstanding contributions to the growth and development of education in Nigeria and also through his assistance to brilliant but indigent students. In a statement by NAPPS’s Public Relations Officer-South West Zone, Evang.

Joshua Owolabi; he said: ‘’Over the years, we have watched with keen interest your antecedence in the philanthropic activities that span through the areas of education, social scheme for underprivileged and have therefore come to the conclusion that your activities deserve some recognition and thus conferring on you the award, ‘Outstanding

Tope Agbeyo Philanthropic Achievement’.’’

Owolabi, while explaining the significance of NAPPS, said the association represents well over 60,000 proprietors of private schools in South West Nigeria alone. He also stated that the anniversary is also an

avenue where the association will unveil some of its projects such as the proposed secretariat building in Ibadan.

It would be recalled that Cornfield Transnational Limited innovated Candidates Identity Verification, Attendance, Malpractice and Post Examinations Management Systems (CIVAMPEMS), an ICTdriven device to checkmate exam malpractice. The company was also responsible for the production of National Examinations Council, NECO’s examination ethics which is on video compact disc; a production showing all

the rules and regulation that guides the conduct of the examination right from the point of registration till the release of results.

Also in 2009, the West African Examinations Council commissioned Media Concepts to produce its ebrochure on video compact discs for all candidates sitting for its examinations. Same year, the company introduced customized examination materials like the calculator to the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board. Millions of the materials were supplied

by Cornfield to the body within three months of its commissioning.

Why some marriages don’t last — Adesina

BY ABIODUN ALADE

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arriage counselling organization, Green Light Family Foundation, last weekend, held her Couples’s Hangout Seminar, under the theme, “Trust and Security in Marriage” The seminar , which took place at an event center in Yaba, Lagos, was hosted by the Chairman of the foundation, Rev. Femi Adesina.

In his teaching, Adesina stressed that no marriage can pass the test of time and challenges without the issue of trust being properly addressed. He explained that trust in marriage is the “ confidence that spouses have in the honesty and integrity of each other” The marriage counsellor also noted that most long distance relationships fail because “when trust is gradually being

eroded, suspicion will begin to set in and communication problem will come”.

The guest speaker, Mrs. Bukola Salami, stressed that couples must understand the basics of marriage because “ 80% of children from broken marriages end up as miscreants and now become children that have problems with the law, they get into problem and crime”

described some of President Muhammadu Buhari’s ministerial nominees as recycled ‘old brigade’ who have been in and out of government with nothing to show for it.

Nearly everybody on that list has been involved in government in one way or the other and at one level or the other since 1999, he said, adding that quite a few of them have serious allegations against them.

“I do not see anything that resembles change as far as the ministerial team is concerned.

Imagine bringing someone who served in the First Republic to serve as minister in 2015,” Onuesoke, who spoke to journalists in Abuja, noted.

Drawing a parallel between the ministerial list and the Super Eagles when the Coach refused to look at all the options open to him and picked the same old used up legs, Onuesoke argued, “This is where the ‘change’ myth is lost. I for one believed this administration was going to pick young, hungry, unknown technocrats to change this country but the reverse is the case.”

He said Nigerians should be convinced by now that Buhari is not different and that no change has taken place, pointing out that one had thought the President would not consider any of those believed to have destroyed our economy in the last 16 years.

“Six months after being elected President and rigorous search for ‘saints’ to pilot the great ship of ‘change’ Buhari, disappointingly, came up with a list of actors who participated in the plundering of our economy these years,”Onuesoke stated..

Prelate Uche warns against cultism in church

T

he Prelate, Methodist Church of Nigeria, Dr. Samuel Chukwuemeka – Uche, has called on Nigerians to join hands with government to move the nation forward.

The Prelate made the call at the nd 2 Choral Service held at the Methodist Church of Nigeria, Tinubu, Lagos.

Uche said, at the event, jointly organized by the Council of Knight and the Methodist Church of Nigeria, Trinity Council, advised Nigerian leaders not to disappoint the people. He charged men of God to justify the grace in them as this would facilitate improvement in the nation’s life and its citizens.

The Prelate warned the Trinity Council members against involvement in cult activities, stressing that any member that engages in cultism will be sanctioned. In his remark, the National Chairman of the Trinity Council, Sir Bola Ogunsanwo, urged his members to contribute meaningfully to the execution of the church’s projects. Earlier in his address, Lagos State Chapter Chairman of the Council, Sir Peter Olorunfemi, had called for support, stressing that attitudinal change was necessary for all members.

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Lagos church gives out N850,000 car for N35,000 •Allocates N1,000 per month flat

BY BASHIR ADEFAKA

E

ight units of the N1,000 per month each self-contained apartments promised by the founder and Spiritual Leader of Inri Evangelical and Spiritual Church (IESC), Primate Elijah Babatunde Ayodele, have been allocated to beneficiaries. The Primate had, recently, promised to build self-contained flats that would be let out to church members and other Lagosians at N1,000 per month each and that he would not take the rent in advance but on monthly basis.

The building comprising the eight flats stands besides the church headquarters at Primate Ayodele Crescent, Oke Afa, Isolo, Lagos.

The flats allocation was part of this year’s annual Family Day of Praise held at the Achievers’ Cathedral, headquarters of the church, last Sunday. Although the event was

meant to be a Family Day of Praise, songs and dance for God, the event inside the Achievers’ Cathedral, climaxed with a splash of favours of different categories on members of the church and well wishers.

In what was described as time out for the church to show appreciation to God by giving out to the needy, Ayodele presented N18,000 to a teenage boy, Yomi Akinyelu, for his SSCE, a gesture that was hugely supported by the Baba Ijo of the church and Managing Director of Quality Enterprises Limited, Mr. Gabriel Adewumi, with N100,000.

There were other packages including the donation of half plots and full plots of land worth between N500,000 and one million naira each to members and staff of the church.

The parcels of land, said to be in Ikorodu, were won Bose Bisiriyu, Dapo Bamisaye and Kola Ayodele, who were given full plot each, while Wale Oyewole, Sola

Ogungbe, Sekinat Anibaba, a widow, Musibau Sowami, Bukola Adeitan, Femi Adesanya, Kamor Ayinde and Munirat Anjorin smiled home with half plot each.

The event, which turned glamorous with the arrival of Nollywood star, Yomi Fash Lanso; Kabiyesi Owurolawa on LTV 8, Mr. Kabir Adeyinka Adewoye; a senior journalist, Femi Davies, and Comedy Kirikiri, witnessed the presentation of a tricycle, Keke Marwa, to one Gloria Daniel, described as hard working woman needing support.

The tricycle, said to cost over N700,000, was given to one Mrs Daniel for N425,000 and to be paid installmentally.

One of the outstanding favours was the N850,000 car that was given to Pastor Olatunde Gbadamosi for N35,000. Gbadamosi had earlier been given a prize of N100,000 cash for being a sincere member of the church.

Pilgrimages tickets for 2016 were

Turning Aba into the ‘Japan of Africa’

BY OKECHUKWU KESHI UKEGBU

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ba, before the advent of Gov. Okezie Ikpeazu’s administration, lay prostrateinfrastructure, especially road, was comatose, industrial and commerce spirit of the city collapsed.

But “a Daniel came to judgment” when Ikpeazu came in the saddle on May 29-there is a new lease of life now for the once neglected city that laid the golden egg.

On June 1,the governor commenced a massive roads reconstruction in the city, and the excitement that trailed the project was pervasive.

The Aba Urban Renewal Project was initiated to drive infrastructural renewal.

The essence was to ensure that Aba is transformed to a city of basic modern amenities; restore order and sanity in the building of shops, kiosks, offices and other structures; drive the park reform and general rehabilitation work with the goal of making Aba the SME capital of Nigeria.

The reconstruction of roads was accompanied by de-silting of drainages to ensure free-flow of storm water to flood the city; dredge the popular Aba River to accommodate more water.

The de-silting will be ongoing to ensure the drainages do not fall back to their former sorry state.

Efforts are on by the Ikpeazu administration to reclaim the Small and Medium Scale Enterprise status of Abia State, and Aba is the pivot, which will drive the economic agenda of the state in the days ahead.

Part of these efforts is the upgrade of markets in Aba. Before now, Aba was noted for exporting leather works, especially shoes to the

•Gov. Okezie Ikpeazu neighbouring West Af r i c a n countries. There are current efforts for artisans from Aba to produce and provide military and paramilitary outfits, and for the National Youth Serv i c e Corps, NYSC. This effort comes with the siting of leather and garment industrial cluster.

This cluster would be equipped with a resource centre to enable businessmen register their trademarks, do quality control and open them to markets beyond the shores on Nigeria.

The mindset of Gov. Ikpeazu is to conquer the Nigerian market first and make forays into West and Central Africa.

To ensure that this dream is actualised, the governor called on the Bank of Industry [BOI] and other development partners to partner with Aba shoe makers and industrialists in the city by funding their businesses.

The capacity of artisans in Aba to produce high quality products to help in the economic development of the nation is not in doubt. Ikpeazu told officials of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs

who visited him recently that there are about 10,000 shoemakers in Aba who can produce all the boots required by the nation’s Army, Immigration and Navy and the para-military personnel.

According to him, the leather workers have the capacity to produce high quality products, lamenting that funding has been a major challenge confronting them and other artisans. He said the shoe makers need assistance in the procurement of equipment required in quality finishing and mass production of their products.

One issue that rubbed-off negatively on the city was the refuse situation.

But the incumbent administration is tackling the issue headlong. For decades, refuse in Aba did not receive attention. This caused perennial road failure as the underground tunnels were blocked and the storm water found its way on the roads.

Waste management in the city would be unbundled into six operating zones, and one of the operational units will be at AbaPort-Harcourt expressway, and will receive special attention to address the huge output from Ariaria International Market.

Aba is an international brand which requires reinvention, and Ikpeazu, as the chief brand ambassador of ‘made in Aba goods’ has embarked on an aggressive promotion of Aba products. He is setting up Marketing and Standard Regulatory Board to ensure that the Aba entrepreneur is encouraged. All Abians should partake in this effort. *Ukegbu, a public affairs, analyst, lives in Umuahia, Abia State. Keshiafrica@yahoo.com; keshiafrica@gmail.com; 09052861355.

•One of the beneficiaries, Glory, receiving her tricicle key from Nollywood star, Yomi Fash Lanso, while Primate Ayodele watches from the altar. presented to two Muslims and four Christian members of the community just as the journalist support award for this year, Ayodele announced, went to Adewoye, who was presented a cheque of N250,000.

The event also witnessed presentation of cash to a member of the church who had suffered pains from amputation of one of his legs before he joined the church three months ago, to buy an artificial limb.

Speaking to journalists after the event, the Ikere-Ekiti born Primate said it was not by person’s capacity or will that he could decide to help people but that the will to help people was always a blessing from God. He added that those who choose to do favours would always get their reward from God in full recompense. He added that the church clinic was also ready awaiting commissioning.

Delta gov’s aide harps on peace

BY ABEL KOLAWOLE xecutive Assistant to E Delta State Governor on Security Matters and

Chairman of the state Peace and Security Committee, Hon. Reginald Dombraye, has charged the people of Okegborode in Okpe Local Government Area to eschew violence, stressing that the community stands a good chance of reaping from government in an atmosphere of peace.

Dombraye gave this charge during the inauguration of elected executive members of the Okegborode at Government House Annex, Edjeba, Warri.

Speaking during the ceremony, Dombraye emphasized the place of peace building in promoting

development while thanking the Orodje of Okpe Kingdom, Orhue 1, for his support and fatherly disposition to ensuring the return of peace to the community.

He tasked the new exco members to work in the interest of the people who gave them the mandate to be their leaders.

Those sworn-in are Engr Fidelis Evwojiah, Chairman; Demiel Okrimayo, Vice Chairman; Edah Clifford, Secretary; David Olose, Assistant Secretary and Mr Robinson Ukavwe, P.R.O. Others are Jeffery Waka, Organising Secretary; David Ikoyo, Assistant Organizing Assistant; Isaac Eyitemi, Treasurer; Felix Ekama, Financial Secretary; Friday Biokero, Auditor; Felix Ewelo, Welfare Officer and Josiah Eleko, Chief Whip.

The exco and guests during the swearing in of the Okegborode Community executive members at Government House Annex, Edjeba, Warri.

SUNDAY Vanguard, OCTOBER 11, 2015, PAGE 37 08116759757

Teenager jailed for stealing tricycle

By Kennedy Mbele

A

teenager has been sentenc ed to three

years imprisonment for stealing a tricycle, popularly known in Lagos State as Keke Maruwa. Investigation and subsequent trials stole the tricycle valued at N350, 000, property of one of one Ajigbotowo Matthew on September 11, 2015 at Owode

BY KENNEDY MBELE

A

N alleged thief of three motorcycles also known as Okada, Yusuf Hassan, who had admitted to the alleged crime during his plan on arraignment before an Ikeja

Magistrate Court that sat in Ogba, Ikeja Lagos, has denied committing the alleged crime on his second appearance slated for facts and sentence on the matter.

Entering the dock of the same court where he admitted the alleged crime, the suspect, 20, raised his right hand indicating that he wanted his plea retaken.

BY SIMEON NDAJI Vice Chairman of Marriage C o u n s e l l i n g Committee,Assemblies of God, Ikeja,Deacon Charles Madubuike, speaks on the problems in-laws cause in marriages.

Street, Abule Egba.

The teenager pleaded guilty to one-count charge before a Lagos State Magistrate Court sitting in Ogba, Agege on September 17.

The charge read: “That you (names withheld), on September 11, 2015, at about 09.30 hours, at Owode Street, Abule Egba in the Ikeja Magisterial District did steal a TVS Kings tricycle, with registration number

Serial Okada suspected thief re ver ses self af rever verses aftter pleading guilty The two-count charge was retaken. They read: “That you, Yusuf Hassan, on September 3, 2015, at about 11:30 hours at Ile- Iwe Bus Stop, Meiran, in Ikeja Magisterial District, did steal a Boxer motorcycle, with registration number KJA 615 QB, and valued at N33,000, property of Adelani Adeniyi, and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable

Marriages are consummated in love and happiness, but not too long after the wedding, the sweet relationship turns sour some due to the presence of in-laws. How can the anomaly be redressed?

Marriage is not for boys. Any man who is mature and poised to get married he must condition his mind to accept this norm that you are marrying not just your wife, but your in-laws as well as your family. And you must be willing to face problems, challenges and vicissitude of marriage. To proffer solutions to your marital and family problems is inevitable because that is what comes with marriage responsibilities. That is what really justifies the truism that marriage is not for boys.

Some single ladies aver that they would not marry any man whose mother is alive. Is this normal?

Single ladies who make such vows are simply saying they will not be alive when their sons and daughters will be getting married because the law of God must apply, that whatever you sow you must reap whether you like it or not. The same way prospective wives who prayed that mothersin-law won’t be alive to witness their marriage such prayers will C M Y K

under Section 285 (10) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, Nigeria, 2011.

“That you, Yusuf Hassan, at the same date, time and place in the aforementioned magisterial district, was unlawfully in possession of two unregistered Boxer motorcycles, suspected to be stolen; an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 327 of the Criminal Law, Vol. 44

said that the teenager could steal bigger vehicles, judging from his antecedents. He urged the court to administer justice accordingly because the convict had been accused of similar crimes in the past.

After the trial in the chamber of Magistrate K.O Ogundare, the convict was sent to Bordal Training Institution, Adigbe, Abeokuta, Ogun State, where he will spend three years, learning trades.

of Lagos State Nigeria, 2011”.

Police prosecutor, Supol Lugard Ahonle, told the court that the accused was a suspect who had appeared in court severally and, as such, should be treated in accordance with the provisions of the law. The suspect denied the alleged crime and insisted that the police produce the complainant and owners of the two unregistered motorcycles allegedly found in his possession.

He was granted bail in the sum of N50,000. The matter was adjourned to November 14 for trial.

Meddlesome in-laws,ailing economy cr ashing marriages —Madubuike,councillor crashing

S

ome spouses have cracks in their marriages caused by their in-laws; are they bound by African culture to live in pains with their in-laws?

The Bible is a road-map for marriage—it says a man should leave his father and mother and cling to his wife…and the duo shall be naked and not be ashamed.

Marriages all over the world expect unity of purpose and harmony between spouses. But one can’t rule out cultural differences when one set out to marry a woman; he should understand that he is marrying the whole family.

Y905LND, engine number OK 4CB1036947, chasis number MO 6M14PK14C18958, colour – yellow, valued at N350,000, property of one Ajigbotowo Matthew and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 285 of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State, Nigeria, 2011”.

Police prosecutor, Supol Lugard Ahonle, told the court that the convict, though young, specialized in such crimes. He

•Deacon Charles Madubuike be replicated to them, and they will not be alive when their children are getting married.

Should mothers-in-law control their married children?

Most mothers have very special intimate relationship with their children. Some mothers see some of their children especially sons as their pets, even after marriage, and they consider their wives sharing in the intimate relationships with sons as intruders. And some of these spouses do not have the liver to call their mother or mothers-inlaw to order.

This undue interference in the spouses’ relationship by mothersin-law can create cracks in the love and marital relationships which invariably could degenerate into relationship problem capable of destroying the home.

A senior prefect of the college l attended in the 70s who hails from Bende Local Government,Abia State, and incidentally from the same community with the writer wrecked his marriage as a result of being obedient to a fault to his mother. The young man popularly known as SP during our college days in the 70s is based in the United States of America. About two decades ago he came down to Aba to pick a spouse and apparently walked down the aisle in one of the pentecostal churches in Aba, and

blissfully went back to US shortly after. But the joy of the marriage short lived as a result of the presence of the mother-in-law who was on a visit to Atlanta Georgia, but refused go back home due to the elixir of life she experienced in God’s own country.

One year after, the couple had a serious problem sequel to unhealthy relationship between his wife and the mother-ln-iaw, and the strife degenerated to the spouse leaving her matrimonial home. After a couple of weeks she came back, but the marriage was already on the brink of collapse, and redeeming the relationship was a far cry… and the marriage never remained the same again.

From this story, is it right for a mother -ln-law to influence decisions of spouses?

Some mothers still perceive their sons as their own babies even after marriage.

But it ought not to be so. A motherln-law and other in-laws should not run spouses homes. They are not expected to be part of decision making of the spouses’ homes.

What crashed the marriage of your Senior Prefect was caused by over staying her welcome.

I know of a mother-ln-law who prefers her son to buy her the latest George (wrapper)to paying his

children’s school fees. Even Christian mothers who read the Bible still influence decisions in their children marriages, and it shouldn’t be so.

Can they advise their married children?

They can advise their children but a couple can only accept a plausible advice. No matter how good a mother-in-law and fatherin-law might be their roles can only be advisory—they should not run the marriages of others....

Are spouses under any obligation to carter for in-laws?

Yes. They can carter for motherin-law and father-in-law. But in some cases where the man is saddled with a lot of responsibilities it becomes a herculean task to cope with the responsibilities of in-laws.

Can government play any role to save troubled marriages from collapse?

About 80% of marriage crises is traceable to ailing economy. The bad economy is responsible for poor living standard, poor health care, high cost of living and hard times generally. lf government can fix the economy to be on a sound footing, it will go a long way to nip marriage crises vis-à-vis inlaws’ problems in families.

For attacking lady, man spends 19 months in prison

BY KENNEDY MBELE

A

LAGOS State Magistrate Court has

discharged and acquitted a 19year-old hawker after spending 19 months in prison custody, where he was awaiting trial for allegedly fighting and injuring a lady.

Annex Imeze had been in prison custody since February 6, 2014 for allegedly assaulting one Sharon Ibekwe at Computer Village, Ikeja.

Police prosecutor, Sergeant Joseph Achebe, told the court that none of the witnesses (complainant and the Investigation Police Officer, IPO) was in court. Counsel to the defendant, Chukwuma Nnaji Okeh, drew the attention of the court to the fact that his client had been in detention for 19 months. He added that the client’s parents were unable to meet the bail condition of N200,000, two sureties, among others, due to poverty in the family.

The counsel further disclosed that he came into the matter two weeks eearlier and that efforts to facilitate speedy trial of the case was being hindered by unreliable information available to him.

He cited lack of record of the boy’s plea and bail terms. The case was among those reportedly transferred from other courts.

Magistrate Mr. O A Komolafe called for the prosecutor’s file from where he observed that there was actually no record about the suspect’s plea and bail condition.

It was also said that the prosecutor inherited the matter from an undisclosed colleague.

Asked what he does for a living, the defendant told the court that he ‘hustles’; but his counsel interjected to explain that the suspect did not know the meaning of the word he used. He pleaded with the court to look into the boy’s condition, in view of the parents inability to meet with his bail condition. He emphasized that his client had been in prison custody since February 6, 2014, and pleaded with the court to consider his plight alongside that of his aging mother.

The court discharged and acquitted the defendant but advised the counsel to ensure that the boy found something tangible to do rather than gallivanting and fighting around in the state.

Navy raids illegal refineries, arrests two

BY EGUFE YAFUGBORHI

T

WO suspected operators of illegal oil refineries at Iteghele, Warri South local government area, Delta State,have been arrested by men of the Nigeria Navy, NNS, who raided their hideout, while others escaped.

The operation also resulted in the destruction of seven illicit

refineries along with six pumping machines which the suspects employ in refining petroleum products from a reservoir containing over four thousand metric tonnes of stolen crude oil estimated at millions of Naira.

Commodore Aliyu Sule, Commander, NNS Delta, told newsmen at the Warri Naval Base shortly after the operation that the suspects will be handed over to the appropriate authorities for

prosecution.

The younger of the apprehended suspects who confessed to have committed the offence, said, “I am still inexperience in the business. I joined only a month ago. I didn’t know it was that risky, everybody has ran away ”, just as his partner in crime pleaded to be pardoned and promised never to get involved again.

PAGE 38 - SUNDAY VANGUARD, OCTOBER 11, 2015

AYO ONIKOYI 08052201215

Concord Press reunion par ty party

S

ecretary to the Lagos State Government, Mr Tunji Bello and Mr Femi Adesina, Special Adviser, Media/Publicity to the President,were among about a score of personalities honoured at an event tagged ‘The Great Concord Press Family Reunion and Reception’.

Also honoured were newly appointed members.

Vemue was Lagos Airport Hotel, Ikeja.

Photos by Bunmi Azeez

.

From left: Dr. Doyin Abiola, former Editor/ Managing Director and Chairperson of occasion, Alh. Kola Abiola, Chairman, Concord Press, presenting award to Mr. Tunji Bello, Secretary to Lagos state government,

From left: Mr. Femi Babafemi, Mr. Ohi Alegbe, Mr. Stanley Ugochukwu, Dr. Doyin Abiola, Mr. Deji Abiola, Alh. Kola Abiola, Mr. Tunji Bello, Mr. Waheed Odusile, and Mallam Mohammed Sani Zorro.

From left: Mr. Deji Abiola, Managing Director, presenting an award to Mallam Mohammed Sani Zorro, Member, Federal House of Representatives.

From left: Mr. Stanley Ugochukwu, former Deputy Managing Director, Concord Press, presenting an award to Mr. Waheed Odusile, President, Nigeria Union of Journalists.

From right: Mr. Femi Babafemi, former spokesman for Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, receiving award on behalf of Mr. Femi Adesina, Special Adviser, Media and Publicity to President Muhammadu Buhari

Top unionists gather ffor or Issa Aremu’s mum burial

F

idau prayers for the late Alhaja H a f s a t Amoke Aremu, mother of the GeneralSecretary, National Union of Textile & Garment Tailoring Workers of Nigeria (NUTGTWN), Comrade Issa Aremu took place at the Ansarudeen Mosque,Ilorin, Kwara State recently. It was a gathering of top unionists across the country. Photos by Olu Ajayi

Comrade Issa Aremu and wife, Alhaja Hamdalat.

L-R: The Secretary of ANNI, Dr Garba Tentengi, The ANNI President, General Onoja, Comrade Issa Aremu and Alhaji Kehinde Gegele.

The Olojoku of Ojoku, Oba Abdulrazaq Afolabi (l) with Alhaji Abdullahi Aremu.

C M Y K

The Chief Imam, Imole-Ilorin, Alhaji Abdullahi Abdulhameed (l) with Comrade Issa Aremu.

Comrade Issa Aremu (l) and father of late Olaitan Abdulazeez Oyerinde.

SUNDAY Vanguard, OCTOBER 11, 2015, PAGE 39

PROLOGUE

MINISTERIAL NOMINEES Interrogating President Buhari’s mindset

BY JIDE AJANI

B

ECAUSE everyone cannot “have everything they wanted whenever they wanted it”, we have politics.

Therefore, a President, who believes that he will do things on his own terms and in his own way and have everything he wants whenever he wants, would merely embark on a fool’s errand – a wasted effort.

For Muhammadu Buhari, Nigeria’s providential President who rode to power on the back of the disdain for Goodluck Jonathan and his ways, he needs to leave Cloud Nine soonest lest the embarrassment that greeted the release of the names of his ministerial nominees may be a child’s play compared to what may befall him in future.

What manner of President would openly junk diplomatic candour in a foreign land and seek gate-crashers to his function?

What manner of President would consistently make appointments that require National Assembly’s clearance or confirmation but would insist his appointees must commence work immediately?

How would President Buhari convince his many ‘Change Ambassadors’ that insistence on zero-tolerance for corruption is real when his party, the All Progressives Congress, APC, is set to field two individuals with massive corruption cases against them as governorship candidates in Kogi and Bayelsa States?

What manner of President talks almost every week about what he plans to do?

But, really, there is a world of difference between a President who talks about what he plans to do and one who actually goes ahead to do what he needs to do.

And which now leads to the long-awaited ministerial list!

Nigerians were willing to give Buhari the benefit of the doubt regarding who would or who would not make the ministerial list.

In fact, many Nigerians defended him when, in a manner of speaking, it appeared that he was searching for and was actually almost finding the ‘saints’ he needed to assist him clear the Augean stable left behind by Jonathan.

Indeed, many pleaded on his behalf that he needed to be sure and make a clean break from the past.

In the end, Buhari could not have what he wanted when he wanted it.

That the same politicians, with whom he campaigned earlier in the year, the same set of politicians who put down huge sums of money for his presidential bid, the same people whom Nigerians see with him and who he sees every now and then, and with whom he has travelled to France, the United C M Y K

States of America to visit Barrack Obama, and with whom he recently traveled to the United Nations’ General Assembly - as recently as some 15days ago - are the ones who dominated the list of ‘saints’, says so much about the character and behavior of the Nigerian President.

What this says, in the first instance, is that you do not promise so much and deliver so little.

Worse still, some of those whom Buhari has nominated have embarrassing cases of corruption allegations hanging on their heads.

If truth be told, Buhari could have named over eighty percent of those on his list on May 29, 2015, after his inauguration.

So, why did he keep Nigerians waiting for four full months before releasing the names of those whom Nigerians have suspected all along he would nominate?

The simple answer is that try as he did, he could not dissociate himself from the politics of those who brought him to power.

Yes, Buhari’s body language may be creating a paradigm shift in attitudes.

Yes, some moves of his may have rekindled hope that things may get better after all.

But he has also opened himself to criticisms bordering on a myopic vision that he alone knows and sees more than other Nigerians – the list of recycled politicians he presented, penultimate week, comes with a sour taste because it was not worth the wait.

This does not mean some of these people do not possess what it takes to move Nigeria forward, but it is high time the regime of indulgence, which appears to be fostering a complacent leadership on Nigeria, needs to be broken and Buhari told the truth that the last four months of waiting cannot be regained; they are lost and lost forever.

Therefore, as the Senate grapples with the issue of clearing and confirming the nominees this week, Buhari had better wake up to lead and avoid wasting more time.

For instance, DOW, a conglomerate involved in virtually what humanity needs for daily survival but basically focused on water solutions, says 15% of global construction is presently going on in Dubai. Pray, if the leadership there takes the type of time Nigeria’s President takes to merely nominate ministers, or keeps talking about what it plans to do, that city would not be where it is today.

Dubai is just a city in the desert. Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, GBE, also known as Sheikh Mohammed, is the Vice President and Prime Minister of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), and Emir of Dubai. He does what he needs to do because that is what the people expect of him. Buhari can take a cue from him.

PAGE 40— SUNDAY Vanguard, OCTOBER 11, 2015

MINISTERIAL LIST: Storm over Buhari’s ‘saints’!

Udoma

Lai Mohammed

Fashola

Kachikwu

Ogbonnaya

Ogbeh

Jubrin

Fayemi

Dambazzau

Adamu

Ibeto

Amina Mohammed

BY CLIFFORD NDUJIHE, EMMAN OVUAKPORIE, DAPO AKINREFON & JOHNBOSCO AGBAKWURU

N

IGERIANS waited for four months for President Muhammadu Buhari to nominate his ministers. During the wait, the polity was suffused with claims, counterclaims and controversies over the necessity or otherwise of the delay.

Criticised, the Presidency, among others, said it was searching for credible people; there was need to be thorough and not rush the issue to the detriment of the polity; it got handover notes four days to its swearing-in on May 29 and hence needed time to study the notes and hammer out the way forward, etc. At a stage, the Presidency assured that the appointments would be made in September.

When it appeared that the September time-line might not be met, Buhari, on September 30, told Nigerians that he had forwarded names of the first batch of ministerial nominees to Senate President Bukola Saraki and that the second list would follow shortly.

He did not disclose the number of nominees on the list and their names, a develC M Y K

opment that left the door ajar for speculations. Saraki confirmed receiving the list on September 30, but insisted he would not open the letter until the plenary of the Senate the following Tuesday, October 6.

And when Saraki unveiled the 21 ministerial nominees as promised, the announcement appeared to have increased the controversies.

Nigerians were clearly divided over the issue leading many to wonder if the long wait was worth it given the calibre of people he nominated. The nominees were a mixture of very old politicians, retired military men, immediate past governors, technocrats, former political appointees and new faces.

The President also continued with the old ways of not attaching portfolios to the nominees to aid the lawmakers in their screening as is done in some advanced democracies like the United States of America.

The nomination of 21 persons from as many states meants the waiting game will continue in the remaining 15 states.

The nominees The nominees include Abubakar Malami (SAN), Kebbi; Abdurahman Bello Dambazzau, Kano; Aisha Jumai Al Hassan, Taraba; Alhaji Lai Mohammed, Kwara; Babatunde Raji Fashola, Lagos;

Adebayo Shittu, Oyo; Solomon Dalong, Plateau; Senator Chris Ngige, Anambra; Rotimi Amaechi, Rivers and Chief Audu Ogbeh, Benue.

The rest are Mrs. Amina Ibrahim; Dr. Osagie Ehaneri, Edo; Emmanuel Ibe Kachikwu, Delta; Dr. K ayode Fayemi, Ekiti; Engr. Suleiman Adamu, Jigawa; Mrs. Kemi Adeosun, Ogun; Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu, Abia; Hon. Ahmed Musa Bello Ibeto, Niger; Ibrahim Usman Jubrin, Nasarawa; Senator Hadi Serika, Katsina and Senator Udo Udoma, Akwa Ibom.

States awaiting nominees The states awaiting ministerial nominees are Abia, Ad-

And when Saraki unveiled the 21 ministerial nominees as promised, the announcement appeared to have increased the controversies

amawa, Bauchi, Bayelsa, Borno, Cross River, Enugu, Imo, Kogi, Nasarawa, Ondo, Osun, Sokoto, Yobe and Zamfara.

Sunday Vanguard sought the views of eminent Nigerians on the development and their opinions are mixed even though most of them pooh poohed the list as falling short of the standard Buhari promised Nigerians before he was elected.

It is not the best we have been waiting for – Ikokwu Second Republic politician and lawyer, Chief Guy Ikokwu, said the list fell short of expectations.

His words: ‘’The ministerial list does not reflect the best the nation has been waiting for these past months. Each zone ought to have at least three ministers in the list to have fairer spread. Some zones are presently short changed. There are those on the list sent to the Senate for proper screening and disqualification under their oversight functions. It will be business as usual and a negation of the change mantra if they just go and take the usual bow. ‘’There are very few women in the list where as there should be at least 12 in the cabinet, which is even less than their electoral participation. We need more technocrats in a government of change than old politicos

with hidden past agenda and misadventures under their carpets. ‘’Nigerians are watching and wondering aloud and praying for the mantra. The screening is now in the public domain and social media which is now scrutinising the list. The president is very watchful and wants also to be guided. We want a cabinet that will enthrone discipline, accountability, equit y, f a i r n e s s , e d u c a t i o n , health, diversification, devolution of powers, and restructuring so that the nation can move forward at at least nine per cent, which is a quantum growth rate for Africa’s biggest economy with production and reduced consumption of imports as a dumping ground.’’

It is a dream team – DPC The Democratic People’s Congress (DPC) commended Buhari for nominating patriotic, credible and dynamic Nigerians for ministerial positions.

DPC National Chairman, Rev. Olusegun Peters, said: ‘’We believe the ministerial nominees are the dream team that will actualize President Buhari’s transformation agenda and fast track the nation’s dwindling economy. It is statesmanship at its best.

Continues on page 41

SUNDAY Vanguard, OCTOBER 11, 2015, PAGE 41

MINISTERIAL LIST: Storm over Buhari’s ‘saints’!

Ngige

Amaechi

Continues from page 40 “Nigerians need men and women of integrity with exceptional passion to serve the fatherland and direct the ship of the Nigeria state to the part of rectitude, progress, development and advancement. Inept leadership has been the bane of the country’s socio-economic and political development.

President Buhari’s dream team is a giant step forward towards economic emancipation and political salvation of our long suffering compatriots.’’

Noting that the expectation of Nigerians and indeed the international community from the ministerial nominees is high, Peters urged the Senate to ‘’thoroughly screen the candidates to ensure none of them has any skeleton in his or her cupboard. President Buhari has zero tolerance for corruption and assured the nation that his ministers will be people of impeccable character. The Senate has the onerous task to ensure they are free of corruption to avoid unnecessary scandal that will distract the Buhari administration as their failure will bring the nation into disrepute.’’

The team can’t drive change – LP However, National Chairman of the Labour Party (LP), Alhaji Abdulkadir Abdulsalam, disagreed with the DPC, saying the team cannot drive Buhari’s avowed change.

“Buhari has succeeded in creating problems for the people in some states. For instance, in Niger state where I come from, the governor is from Kotangora and the person he has nominated is also from Kotangora.

In Plateau, the governor Lalong and Dalong are from the same local government.

In Oyo state, Barrister Shittu who has been rejected by all the APC people, he has included his name on this list. For us in Labour Party, we did not see anything like C M Y K

Aisha Alhassan

Kemi Adeosun

Ehanire

Shitu

Sen. Hadi

Malami

change here,”he stated.

Some nominees dent Buhari’s image – Re p Oghene Egor Also speaking, Rep Oghene Egor, PDP, Amuwo Odofin, Lagos, said the

President should be commended for keeping his promise of not exceeding September.

However, he picked holes in the credibility of some nominees, saying: ‘’Looking at the ministers’ list, I want to say that some of them dent the image of President Buhari because Buhari is somebody people respect, even we who are in PDP in the National Assembly we respect him. But for him to take people who have been accused of serious financial malpractices into the list reduces the integrity of the President. ‘’So what I think is that we need to give the people the benefit of doubt for them to prove whether they are corrupt or not because, as the law goes, you are not guilty until you are found guilty.

But because of the integrity of Buhari, the fact that he wanted the best and he said he has been spending all this time, over three months, looking for the best, for him to just come back and pick these people, speaks volume and I don’t think it is good for the President. ‘’Also, look at Audu Ogbeh. The father of present President of the Senate the (late Senator Olusola Saraki) considered him for ministerial position more than 35 five years ago. For him to come now come into the regime of Mr. President, I think Mr. President needs some young minds, some freshers. The President’s age is on the high side, let us say that is experience, which is good for the nation but he needs to complement it with young minds, young hands.

Also, look at Audu Ogbeh. The father of present President of the Senate the (late Senator Olusola Saraki) considered him for ministerial position more than 35 five years ago

Even the President himself confessed at a time that he wished he became President when he was much younger. ‘’So, what I thought he would have done will be to bring some younger people.

What we are seeing now is the same people who have been involved in politics at a time that he accused people of being fraudulent and corrupt. I would have

Bar. Dalong

thought he would have taken people from the private sector, taking more technocrats, people who have not been there before, people who have not been associated with governance.’’

It shows Buhari is not serious about fighting graft – Rep Nwonu To Rep Anayo Edwin Nwonu (PDP, Ezza-North/ Ishielu, Ebonyi), the pedigree of the nominees indicated that the President is not serious about fighting corruption.

He said: ‘’Nigerians have been complaining and have also complained to the National Assembly. With President Buhari, as somebody that said he wants to change the country, we are surprised that he appointed past governors that are very corrupt and some people who have held government positions and have been accused of corruption. They are not worthy to hold public office.

Somebody, who says he is fighting corruption, with such list, it shows he is not serious in the fight against corruption.’’

There is nothing special about the list – Oseasochie Also speaking, Rep Ogun Sergius Oseasochie (PDP, Esan North East/South East, Edo), said: ‘’There is nothing special about the ministerial list. These are the names we already know. Is it Rotimi Amaechi, Chris Ngige or Babatunde Fashola that we have known that should take him up to four months to nominate? There is no adequate representa-

Jibril

tion of women and even no youth on the ministerial list.

But I think we can give him the benefit of doubt.’’

Buhari came up with recycled materials – Pondi In like manner, Rep Julius Pondi (PDP, Burutu Federal Constituency, Delta State), said: ‘’As an individual and a Nigerian, President Buhari told us to wait as he wanted people that are corruption free only for him, after the long wait, to come out with the kind of characters he has nominated. He could have done that after inauguration but he just came out with recycled materials. What he came up with is not worth waiting for.’’

Buhari took time to block loopholes – Akpatason However, Rep Peter Akpatason (APC, Akoko-Edo, Edo State), said: ‘’To start with, there is nothing new on the list; they are old persons we know, people that have been around and familiar persons. The waiting is President Buhari’s personal decision as he is trying to understand the system and the ministers so that when they come on board, he would be able to know what they are doing. He took his time to have a grasp of the system so that he would be able to assess what they will do. He has taken this time to get information from the civil servants, the permanent secretaries so that he will be able to block all the loopholes the ministers may use to manipulate the system when they come on board.’’

PAGE 42— SUNDAY Vanguard, OCTOBER 11, 2015

MINISTERIAL LIST: ‘Lack of cabinet takes heavy toll on the economy’ The delay by President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration to make key appointments since assumption of office has continued to cause anxiety in the economy particularly with unprecedented decline in foreign and domestic investments. However, the government, after a long wait, has sent a 21-man list of ministerial nominees to the Senate for screening, maintaining that it set out to do things methodically to bring about probity in public financing. Mr. Johnson Chukwu is the Managing Director/CEO, Cowry Assets Management Limited, an investment bank and key player in the capital market with specialisation in oil and gas, bonds and equity and other financial instruments. In this interview, he speaks on the cost of the vacuum created by the absence of an economic team as well as the fundamental things to be done in order to rescue the economy from collapse. Excerpts:

By Akoma Chinweoke

H

OW do you assess the performance of the country’s economy so far under the leadership of President Muhammadu Buhari?

What I think is that Mr. President has been focusing more on the issue of corruption and insurgency and, if one has to fairly assess him, it has to be on these areas. We have seen some progress in the security situation in the North- East. On the anti-corruption fight, so far, we have seen some reduction in reckless impunity with people trying to avoid any fragrant action that could make them the first culprits of the anti-corruption war.

On the effectiveness of the anti-corruption fight, we are yet to see any effective prosecution. For the fight to be successful, we need a legal system that makes it difficult for corrupt people to walk away free. We also need to eliminate the avenues for corruption in our system which corrupt people exploit to achieve their nefarious acts.

On the economy, there is presently no economic clear cut economic policy. In the absence of defined policies, we have seen a lot of turns and twist in the economic space with several changes in Central Bank’s policies. The CBN has moved beyond monetary policies into the realm of fiscal policies because of the vacuum created by absence of a substantive Finance Minister and an economic management team Although some of the challenges in the economy are exogenous like the issue of falling price of crude oil but with an economic management team in place, they would probably have developed an appropriate response which could have stabilized the economy. The cost of this vacuum is already manifesting in our macroeconomic variables such as inflation rate which recorded an up-tick to 9.3 percent in August, GDP growth of 2.35percent which is one of the lowest in recent times. Although the exchange rate seem to have moderated, it was at a cost of fencing off a lot of legitimate demands. I believe that certain fundamental things need to be done such as defining the economic policy orientation of the government, eliminating unproductive subsidies, and selling off moribund government assets. We have heard sound bites of a socialist economic orientation. We heard the vice President talk about feeding of school children, which in itself is not bad but is basically a socialist policy. We have also heard that the government is not ready to remove subsidy, government wants to build new refineries, rebuild Nigerian Airways, etc. These are indicative of a socialist economic policy orientation.

What do you think about the introduction of the single treasury account system by this government particularly as some agencies are now jittery over its enforcement?

The Treasury Single Account is an efficient cash management tool that the government can use for effective management of its finances, banking and cash position. Prior to the implementation of the TSA what used to obtain was that different agencies of C M Y K

Mr. Johnson Chukwu government would have different balance, some may be positive and others negative.

While those with positive balancing were receiving peanuts as interest income, those with negative balancing were paying great cost in form of interest charge to the banks.

So, with the single treasury account, at the end of the day, It would be a very efficient way of managing the cash position of the government. Embedded in the efficient cash management is the additional benefit of reducing corruption tendencies in the management of government financial resources.

Many investors have continued to express serious concerns over JP Moran’s recent de-listing of Nigeria from its Government Bond Index Emerging Market, GBI-EM. How in your view would this impact on the country’s economy?

Well, it all depends on our policy response.

What JP Morgan has done was that they have de-listed Nigeria from the government bond emerging market which means they took Nigeria out from the list of Emerging market government bonds that they track. In effect, fund managers who use the JP Morgan GBIEM as criteria for inclusion of any particular government’s bond into their portfolio would no longer be interested in buying Nigerian government bonds. The economic implication is that the level of fund that are pursing Nigerian bond instruments will go down . That should have a direct impact on yield because if the demand is slows down while the supply is still on at the same time, the price would go down and the yield would go up. I however, believe that the exit has already being priced into the yield hence the 15 percent range. Such high yield may however not last for long as local fund managers, particularly the Pension Funds Administrators with their assets under management of about N4.6trillion would likely take up the oversold position left by foreign portfolio investors. The major impact of this exit would be on foreign exchange inflows as well as the constrain it will impose on the Monetary Policy’s ability to use yield

In the absence of defined policies, we have seen a lot of turns and twist in the economic space with several changes in Central Bank’s policies

on local currency debt instruments to stabilize the exchange rate.

Your company,Cowry Asset Management Limited paid N3bn in fulfilment of its underwriting commitment under the N7bn Zamfara State Government Bond. How did this happened?

Well, basically we underwrote Zamfara State Government to the tune of N3bn. As the underwriter, our obligations was to take up whatever investors fail to buy. So, what we did was basically to buy that portion of the bond that was not taken up by investors.

Fundamentally, we support any state government that wants to develop its state and if anybody approaches us with the intention of raising fund and we are convinced that it is for the development of that state, we would support that person to raise funds from the capital market particularly if the borrowing is for capital development . What the state government has done is to fast track development that would now catalyse economic growth in that state. If you look at what happened in Dubai, the government borrowed to build infrastructure and as the whole world is coming to invest in Dubai, they are now recovering the cost of their investment. They are also able to pay off the debt and at the same time create full employment for their citizens. So, that is the beauty of borrowing.

The key thing is that you should be able to borrow wisely and invest wisely particularly in those projects that would generate economic returns which would not only pay off the cost of borrowing but also help in

expanding economic space.

How best do you think the government can tackle the alarming rate of unemployment in the country?

I think one of the things the government must do is to give priority to employment creation. If that becomes the number one priority of the government, then issues of maintaining exchange rate stability and inflation will be secondary. So, if our objective is to grow the economy, then we need to bring down the interest rate. We need to review downwards the Monetary policy ratio and the cash reserve ratio to the extent that it would allow banks lend to invest in these sectors to the real sector of the economy. As the the sector begins to access funding, they would be able to go into productive activities. At the current cash reserve ratio for banks to recover their cost of funds, they must lend at above 20 percent interest rate but there are very few productive activities that would borrow at 20 percent and still be able to service the interest, make profit and pay back the loan. But if we have lower interest rates like other countries who are driving economic recovery such as USA which have maintained zero interest rate for almost ten years and with that they have been able to grow their economy. The American economy has been able to grow at more than 2.9 percent per annum and we are seeing a drop in unemployment by about 250,000 every month. I think that’s the direction the government should follow . Lets drop the cash reserve ratio and monetary policy, the inflationary impact would moderate as productivity improves.

Four months wait was an unfortunate period for Nigeria — Ajulo

By Dapo Akinrefon Dr Kayode Ajulo is the National Secretary of the Labour Party, LP. Ajulo, who reviews the list of ministerial nominees released by President Muhammadu Buhari, says the country is running around in circles in the name of ‘change’.

T

HE wait was an unfortunate period in the life of the nation. Imagine for four out of 48 months, the nation was in comatose, put in auto-cruise due to lack of what to do.

Whereas, the wait is not yet over.

The Federal Executive Council is yet to sit and take a single decision on the problems of Nigeria. It is sad and this constitutional violation must have its consequence for the violators.

It was quite baffling that the nation had been put through so much tension and high expectations only to have those expectations dashed by the announced list.

It is very painful that our nation is again running around in circles in the name of ‘change’ even though providence has granted us yet another opportunity to get it right. It is equally heartbreaking that the President has taken the citizens on a merry-go-round and a wild goose chase in the name of shopping for angels who will sanitize the nation.

Where are the angels that President Buhari promised? Where are the saints that he vowed to find and work with in his bid to bring ‘change’ home to Nigerians? A cursory glance at that list reveals that the much touted change is an urban legend- a myth sold to Nigerians by the APC to win the mandate.

It is laughable that President Buharia man perceived by some to be a staunch anti-corruption crusader- would actually opt, of his own free will, to work with some personalities whose name have been included in the list of the

Dr Kayode Ajulo nominees. These people belong to the old guard, they are the same ones who did the damage. It reeks of suspicion when the famed champion of anticorruption nominates people who are already burdened with accusations of malfeasance and flagrant mismanagement of public funds. Where then is the war against corruption? It is DOA- Dead on Arrival.

The list is riddled with spent forces who would find it a challenge to serve as federal ministers in modern-day Nigeria.

In my opinion, the President owes Nigerian youths an explanation. It is a mystery and a riddle, why he would be appointing men who should be on retirement to the arduous task that a ministerial appointment presents. There are many qualified and credible young persons who can deliver the goods to Nigerians.

These young men and women made his presidency possible. Why stick to ancient persons? It is tragic that even though the youths within 18-45 years old make up as much as 78% of the votes that saw Buhari emerge, the average age in the announced list and even in the appointments he has made so far is 61 years. Buhari has created a new class struggle, it is not about the rich or the poor but about the old and the young.

SUND AY SUNDA

Vanguard, OCTOBER 11, 2015, PAGE 43

CONTROVERSIAL CVs OF MINISTERIAL NOMINEES

The document that may spoil their chances •Their lives, education, interests •How Senate plans to screen them This is an exclusive presentation of a classified document on President Muhammadu Buhari’s ministerial nominees as prepared by the Senate. According to the document, some of the nominees are said to have corruption cases leveled against them. In the document, some of the corruption allegations range from illegal award of military and civilian contracts, as well as controversial statements made in times past.

Also, the judicial inquisition into the activities of some of them as well as how they performed in public office form part of the entries in the document. Now, without prejudice to the screening the Senate plans to commence this week, Sunday Vanguard has responsibly held back on the controversial entries pending the screening, some of which are very damaging and are based on the excess baggage of the nominees. In fact, Sunday Vanguard gathered that before the commencement of proceedings on Tuesday, each senator should have been given this document.

Senators would be guided on the questions and the issues to be raised with each nominee, using the information contained in the document to grill them. The screening is expected to be very transparent and each nominee answering for his actions or in actions while occupying public office in times past. After the screening, Sunday Vanguard plans to publish the withheld controversial entries against the name of each nominee.

ABDULRAHMAN BELLO DAMBAZAU

PUBLISHED WORKS

DATE & PLACE OF BIRTH 14 MARCH 1954

ZARIA, KADUNA STATE

RELIGION

MUSLIM

STATE OF ORIGIN

KANO STATE

EDUCATION

CAREER

INTERESTS & ACCOMPLISHMENTS

•BAREWA COLLEGE, KADUNA (SECONDARY SCHOOL, 1974) •NIGERIAN DEFENCE ACADEMY (COMMISSIONED AS A SECOND LIEUTENANT INTO THE ARMY, 1977) •US ARMY MILITARY POLICE SCHOOL, FORT MCCLELLAN (1979) •KENT STATE UNIVERSITY (BACHELORS DEGREE IN CRIMINAL JUSTICE, 1982) UNIVERSITY OF KEELE (PHD IN CRIMINOLOGY, 1989) •AIDE DE CAMP TO CHIEF OF ARMY STAF(1979) •COMMANDED MILITARY POLICE UNITS & SERVED AS SPECIAL INVESTIGATOR (1984 – 1985) •REGISTRAR, NIGERIAN DEFENCE ACADEMY (1993 – 1999) •CHIEF INSTRUCTOR, SUPPORT WEAPON WING OF THE INFANTRY CENTRE & SCHOOL (1999 – 2001) •DIRECTING STAFF AT NATIONAL WAR COLLEGE (2004 – 2006) •GENERAL ND OFFICER COMMANDING (GOC) 2 DIVISION, IBADAN (2007 – 2008) •CHIEF OF ARMY STAFF (2008 – 2010) •CHAIRMAN OF CPC SECURITY COMMITTEE (2011) •DIRECTOR IN CHARGE OF INTELLIGENCE & SECURITY OF THE APC PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGN (2015) •MEMBER, WORLD SOCIETY OF CRIMINOLOGY •MEMBER, WORLD SOCIETY OF VICTIMOLOGY •MEMBER, ACADEMY OF CRIMINAL JUSTICS SCIENCES •MEMBER, AMRICAN SOCIETY OF CRIMINOLOGY •MEMBER, BRITISH SOCIETY OF CRIMINOLOGY •MEMBER, INTERNATIONAL POLICE EXECUTIVE SYMPOSIUM •FOUNDER & CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES, NIGERIAN SOCIETY OF VICTIMOLOGY •FOUNDER & CHAIRMAN, FOUNDATION FOR THE VICTIMS OF CHILD ABUSE •FELLOW OF THE INSTITUTE OF PUBLIC RELATIONS •COMMANDER OF THE FEDERAL •REPUBLIC TITLE BY THE NIGERIAN GOVERNMENT

•MILITARY LAW TERMINOLOGIES (BOOK, 1991) •LAW & CRIMINALITY IN NIGERIA: AN ANALYTICAL DISCOURSE (BOOK, 1994) •CRIMINOLOGY & CRIMINAL JUSTICE (BOOK, 1999) •NIGERIA AND HER SECURITY CHALLENGES (ARTICLE IN HARVARD REVIEW, 2014)

CHIBUIKE ROTIMI AMAECHI FULL NAMES DOB

•Chibuike Rotimi AMAECHI th •27 May, 1965

RELIGION

•Christian Catholic

MARITAL STATUS

•Married to Judith and blessed with three Sons.

•Born in Ubima, Ikwerre LG of Rivers State

BACKGROUND

•Raised in Diobu neighbourhood of Port Harcourt.

EDUCATION

•Govt Secondary School, Okolobiri •B.A. Degree in English and Comparative Literature from Uniport 1987 •NYSC 1988

PERSONALITY/ INTERESTS PRIVATE SECTOR INVOLVEMENTS

•Democracy •Legislature •Staunch believer in the Rule of Law

PUBLIC SECTOR/

•Assistant at Pamo Clinic and Hospitals Limited

OFFICES HELD

•Active member of the National Union of Rivers State students NURSS and National Association of Nigerian Students NANS. •Secretary, Defunct Nigerian Republican Convention, IkwerreLG •State Caretaker Committee Secretary, Democratic Party of Nigeria.

•Special Assistant to then Rivers State Deputy Governor 1992 – 1994 •Speaker, Rivers State House of Assembly •Chairman, Conference of Speakers •Governor, Rivers State 2007 – 2015 •Chairman, Nigerian Governor’s Forum •Director General, All Progressives Congress Presidential Campaign Committee

ACHIEVEMENTS AND AWARDS

•Commander of the Order of the Niger CON •Knight of St. Johns Order

TREND SETTING

ORGANIZATIONS AND ASSOCIATIONS

•General Infrastructure development, st Construction of 21 Century Schools, Monorail, Roads, Power Plants and Bridges.

•He is widely seen as improving the general living conditions of the people of Rivers State while he served as Speaker and particularly as Governor.

•All Progressive Congress (APC) •UniPort Alumni

PAGE 44 —SUND AY —SUNDA

Vanguard, OCTOBER 11, 2015

KAYODE FAYEMI JOHN NAME DOB / POB

MARITAL STATUS

BACKGROUND EDUCATION

Kayode Fayemi John February 9, 1965 (50) / Isan-Ekiti Married to Bisi Adeyele-Fayemi Native of Isan -Ekiti in Oye Local Government of Ekiti State, Nigeria.

Attended Christ school, Ado-Ekiti Doctor of Philosophy in War Studies, King’s College, University of London, United Kingdom, Thesis Title:Threats, Military Expenditure and National Security: Trends in Post CivilWar Defense Planning in Nigeria, 1970 – 1990. - (1993) Master of Science in International Relations,University of Ife, Ile-Ife, (Now Obafemi Awolowo University), Nigeria (1987) Bachelor of Arts (Honours), History, University of Lagos, Nigeria (1985) Higher School Certificate, Federal School of Arts & Science, Ondo, Nigeria (1982) West African School Certificate; Christ’s School, Ado Ekiti, Nigeria - (1980) Democratization Constitutionalism Security Sector Governance Religion in the Global Context

INTERESTS

OTHER QUALIFICATIONS ACHIEVEMENT

Prominent leader of the Nigerian Opposition to rule in exile Specialist in Civil-military relations Former Director of the Centre Democracy & Development Responsible for the founding and management of the opposition radios Radio Freedom, Radio Democracy International and Radio Kudirat Plays a central role in the opposition's diplomatic engagements in exile

OCCUPATION

Politician

PUBLIC OFFICES HELD

Governor Of Ekiti State (15 October 2010 – 16 October 2014)

WORK HISTORY

AWARDS AND GRANTS

ADVISORY SERVICES

•1997- 2005 Director, Centre for Democracy & Development •1995- 1997 Secretary General, Media Empowerment for Africa (The Radio Foundation) •1993 -1995 Strategy Development Adviser, Deptford City Challenge, London, UK •1991 -1993 Research Officer, African Research and Information Bureau, London, UK. •1992 Tutorial Fellow, War Studies Department, King's College, London, UK •1987-1989 Research Officer, Development & Management Consultants, Ikeja. Lagos-Nigeria.

•1986 Reporter, The Guardian & City Tempo Newspapers, Lagos, Nigeria •1985- 1986 Tutor, Nigeria-Police Training College, Sokoto – Nigeria •2005 Democratic Control of the Armed Forces (DCAF), Geneva, Switzerland, Research Consultancy Grant to study “Donor Assistance in Security Sector Reform in Africa: A Recipients’ Perspective” •2004 Scholar-in-Residence Research Grant in African Studies, Northwestern University, Evanston, USA. 2004 Ford Foundation, USA Special Initiative on Africa, Research Grant to write a book on “Exile and the Struggle for Freedom and Democracy in Nigeria.”

•2004 Institute of International Education, New York, USA, Fellowship Grant to study “Regionalism in a Global Context – ECOWAS and the Challenge of Change.”

•2004 Democratic Control of the Armed Forces (DCAF), Geneva, Switzerland, Research Consultancy Grant to study “

OTHER CAREER

Security Sector Reconstruction in Post-Conflict States: Case Study of Liberia and Sierra Leone.”

•2004 Department of International Development (DFID-UK), Research Consultancy to write a research report on “Mainstreaming Conflict in Development Assistance in Nigeria.”

•2004 Department of International Development (DFID-UK) Research Consultancy on “Demanding Change Initiative.”

• 2003 Organization of Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) Research Consultancy Grant to survey the “Security Sector in Africa.”

•2003 Berghof Foundation for Conflict Resolution, Research Consultancy on “The Peace Process in SriLanka.”

•2003 Department for International Development,(DFID- UK), Research Consultancy to study “Post•1999 Developments in the Nigerian Military” for the Drivers of Change Initiative.

•2002 International Development and Research Council (IDRC) Canada, Research Grant to study “Security Sector Governance in Africa” •2002 Department of International Development (DFID-UK), Research Consultancy on “Democratization, Poverty and Security in Ghana”.

•2000 Georgetown University’s Edmund Walsh’s School of Foreign Service’s Global Leadership Fellowship •?2000 Ford Foundation, USA Research Consultancy on “Public Participation in Constitution-Making in Zimbabwe.

•1999 Global Coalition for Africa (World Bank) Research Grant on “Demilitarization and Security in Africa”.

•1999/2000 Department for International Development (DFIDUK), Research Consultancy on “Nigeria Country Strategy” •1991 John D & Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation Research Grant, King's College London •January 2004: Adviser to the Economic Commission for Africa on “Mutual Accountability between OECD and Page 9 of 11 African States”.

•June 2003: Adviser, Defense Review Process, Government of Uganda, Kampala, Uganda.

•October 2003 – present: Member, Management Culture Change Committee and Adviser to the Executive Secretary, ECOWAS Secretariat, Abuja, NIGERIA •June 2003 : Adviser & External Reviewer on the African Governance Report, Directorate on Policy Management and Development (DPMD), Economic Commission on Africa, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

•April 2003 – June 2003: Adviser, National Security Review Process, Government of Rwanda & DFID-UK •October 1999 – April 2002: Technical consultant and Special Adviser to the Human Rights Violations Investigations Commission in Nigeria: Investigation of comparative experience of transitional justice regimes; mobilization of resources, commissioning and management of zonal studies on human rights violations; commissioning and management of technical advisers to the final report.

•Team Leader, International IDEA’s Study on Democracy in Nigeria. Coordinated aspect of study on ‘Democracy, International Assistance and Nigeria’s Civil Society.’ Led a team of two researchers – (Alison Van Rooy & Antonia Simbine) to produce the first post-military assessment of Nigeria’s civil society and a critique of donor assistance programs. January – March 2000 •Team Leader, Ford Foundation Project on Evaluating Zimbabwe’s Constitution-Making Process, 2000-2001; process monitoring and evaluation, training and capacity building for Commissioners; observation of the referendum, September 2000March 2001.

•Team Leader, DFID Governance Study on Ghana. Led team of three researchers to conduct background research subsequently fed into the Country Assistance Plan for Ghana. August – November 2002 •Technical Expert to the ECOWAS Secretariat on the Evaluation of the Implementation of the Small Arms Moratorium, December 2002 •Team member, OECD-DAC Survey of the Security Sector in Africa, August 2002 – April 2003 •Specialist Consultant to the UNDP Human Development Report Office on the Human Development Report 2003 on ‘Democracy & Poverty in Nigeria’, December 2002 – January 2003.

•Technical Expert to the NEPAD Secretariat on developing the Peer Review Mechanism, October 2002 •Technical Expert to the African Union on Peace and Security Issues; worked with secretariat’s staff in producing the draft Peace and Security Council framework for discussion at the inaugural African Union’s summit in Durban, July 2002.

•Team Member, Expert Review of the Sri-Lankan Peace Process for the Berghof Foundation, Sri-Lanka & Germany, September 2003.

•Lead Writer, Section on The Military – DFID Nigeria Drivers of Change study, 2003 •2004 Scholar-in-Residence and Visiting Professor in African Studies, Northwestern University, USA •2003 - Member, ECOWAS Management Culture Change Committee & Adviser to ECOWAS Executive Secretariat on Peace and Security •2004 Member, Nigerian National Working Group on African Peer Review Mechanism, NEPAD in Nigeria. Body set up by President Obasanjo to advice on the NEPAD process •2005 Member, Presidential Implementation Committee on the National Action Plan on Conflict Reduction and Security Sector Reform.

SUND AY SUNDA

ACCOMPLS IHMENT

COMMUNITY AND PUBLIC SERVICE

TREND SETTING OCCUPATION ORGANZ IATO I NS AND ASSOCIATIONS

RELIGION

•2005. Member, Presidential Implementation Committee on Monitoring the Millennium Development Goals Plans in Nigeria Page 10 of 11 •2002 - Adviser, Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative, India •2003-4 Technical Adviser, the New Partnership for Africa’s Development’s Secretariat, SOUTH AFRICA •2003 - Technical Expert on Small Arms Moratorium, ECOWAS, Abuja, NIGERIA •2003 - Technical Expert, African Union Secretariat on Peace and Security Issues, Addis Ababa, ETHIOPIA •2000 – 2003 Chair, Commonwealth Expert Group on Constitution-Making in Commonwealth Africa.

•1996 – 2002 Adviser, (Africa Program) International Institute for Democracy & Electoral Assistance, Sweden, •1996-2002 •1999-2000 Adviser, Zimbabwean Constitution-Making Process.

•2001 - Member, Africa Policy Advisory Group (Ginger Group) of the British Foreign & Commonwealth Office, UK •2001 - Editor-in-Chief, Democracy & Development (Journal of West African Affairs) •2001 - Adjunct Professor, African Centre for Strategic Studies, National Defense University, Washington, USA 2003-2004 Research Consultant, OECD-DAC on Security Sector Governance •2003 Consultant, UNDP Human Development Report Office, New York, USA •2002 Member, Editorial Advisory Board, Journal of Security Sector Management, Canfield University, United Kingdom •2000 Consultant, John D & Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, Chicago, USA. •1999 - Consultant to Department for International Development (DfID), United Kingdom •?1994 – 1997 Adviser, British Parliamentary Human Rights Group •1995 – 1997 Adviser, Norwegian Council for Africa •1993-1996 Deputy Editor, Africa World Review (London) •1992 – 1996 Editor, Nigeria Now, London [Political briefing Newsletter on Nigeria] •Director, Policy, Strategy and Research Directorate, APC Presidential Campaign Council, 2015 •Chairman, APC’s Presidential Primaries Convention Committee, 2014 •Member, APC Strategy Committee, 2013-14 •Founding Chairman, Progressive Governors’ Forum, 2013.

•Policy Adviser, Ekiti State Government, 1999 – 2003 •Adviser, Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Transition Team, Lagos State, 1999 •Policy Adviser, Engineer Gbenga Daniel’s Transition Team, Ogun State, 2003 Member, Steering Committee, West African Civil Society Forum (www.wacsof.org) Board Member, Open Society Justice Initiative, New York, USA (www.justiceinitiative.org) •Member, International Advisory Board, Global Network on Security Sector Reform, UK (www.gfn-ssr.org) •Member, International Advisory Board, Commonwealth Policy Studies Unit, London, UK (www.cpsu.org) •Board Member, Baobab for Women’s Human Rights, Lagos, Nigeria (www.baobabforwomen.org) Board •Member, Centre for Constitutional Governance, Lagos, Nigeria •Member, Advisory Board, African Security Dialogue & Research, Accra, Ghana •Board Member & Secretary, Media Empowerment for Africa (MEFA) – 1995-97 •Chair, New Nigeria Forum – 1994 – 1997 •Overseas Representative, Campaign for Democracy, Nigeria 1992 – 1996 •Board Member, Lewisham Regeneration Challenge Board, UK – 1991 – 1992 •Secretary, Lagos Branch, Christ’s School, Ado Ekiti Old Students Association, • He became the first governor in this present political dispensation in Nigeria to openly declare his Seven Hundred and Fifty Million Naira assets, which included those of his wife, Bisi Adeyele-Fayemi Politician All Progressive Congress (APC) Member, Africa Policy Advisory Panel of the British Government African Studies Association, USA African Security Sector Network African Association of Political Science Association of Third World Studies British International Studies Association Royal African Society/African Studies Association, UK Royal Institute of International Affairs, UK International Institute of Strategic Studies, UK War Studies Society, UK Nigerian Political Science Association Council for the Development of Social Science Research in Africa Christian

Vanguard, OCTOBER 11, 2015, PAGE 45

SOLOMON DALUNG OCCUPATION Previous Occupations/ Public Office held:

Qualifications: Achievements; Quotable quotes; Trendsetting

BARRISTER •Dalung joined the Prisons Service as a Prison Assistant in 1982 and rose to the rank of Assistant Inspector of Prisons.

• Following his training as an attorney, he was moved to the Legal Department at Prisons Headquarters Abuja in year 2004 where he served as Legal Officer II in the prisons headquarters prior to retirement in December of that same year.

•Personal Assistant to Chief Solomon Lar,CON, when Lar was appointed as Adviser Emeritus to President Olusegun Obasanjo. This job lasted until 2003.

• In 2004, he took up an appointment with the Faculty of Law of the University of Jos as a lecturer. As a lecturer, he has had the opportunity of attending leadership trainings courtesy international Human Rights Organizations.

• In 2007, he was appointed the Chairman of Langtang South Local Government Area the same year. As Chairman of Langtang South, he also served as the Plateau State Deputy Chairman and later Chairman of the Association of Local Government Chairmen of Nigeria (ALGON). His tenure as the Chairman ended in may 2008.

• Member of the Northern Elders Forum (NEF) and also a member Members Of Buhari’s Transitional Commitee • He made an attempt at representing Langtang North and South at the National Assembly but lost.

•Dalung had his primary school education at Local Education Authority Primary School Sabon Gida town in Langtang South Local Government Area from 1971 to 1977. He then proceeded to Government College Keffi, currently in Nassarawa State, for his secondary school education.

• In 1991 while still in the Prisons Service, he enrolled to study Law at the Faculty of Law, University of Jos. The unpredictable academic calendar that characterized the Nigerian University atmosphere at that period saw him spending a whole nine years before bagging Bachelors of Laws, (LLB). He proceeded to the Nigerian Law School, Bwari, in Abuja, graduated in 2000 and was called to the Nigerian Bar in 2001.

• In 2005, he combined his job as a lecturer and study while pursuing a post graduate degree in Law. His Masters in Laws (LLM) program successfully ended in 2007.

• In Langtang South Dalung is referred to as “the man who brought coloured roofing sheets,”due to his massive transformation of public facilities during his tenure as Chairman.

•According to Dalung, “governance is a social responsibility and a democratic leader is equivalent to a human god, having the responsibility to determine the destiny of fellow human beings. He did not acquire power by conquest, strength or might but either by charisma, bureaucracy or law. There is an instrument that confers that power on him and is expected to exercise it within the parameter of the enabling authority.

ABDUR-RAHEEM ADEBAYO SHITTU March 23, 1953 Oyo State •Barr. Bayo Shittu was an Honourable Member of the Oyo State House of Assembly in the Second Republic and he was there between October 1979 and September, 1983 •Barr. Bayo Shittu was the Oyo State Commissioner for Information, Culture and Home Affairs (in the Olunloyo administration) Between October and December, 1983 •Barr. Bayo Shittu was the attorney General and Oyo State Commissioner for Justice (in the Ladoja government) •Barr. Bayo Shittu was a member of the National Political Reforms Conference in 2005 First degree in law(LL.B) at the University of Ife, now Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife Barrister Shittu participated in the writing of the policy papers, which became the guiding light for UPN governments in their various states of the South West when eventually they came to powerBarrister Shittu have written 13 books for the period of about 15 yearsBarr. Bayo Shittu contested and won election into the Oyo State House of Assembly. Thus, at the age of 26, he became the youngest Honourable Member of the Oyo State House of Assembly in the Second RepublicAs an honorable of the house of Assembly Barr. Shittu made quality representation as well as valuable contributions which made him a man to be reckoned with at the floor

TO BE CONTINUED TOMORROW

PAGE 46—SUNDAY VANGUARD, OCTOBER 11, 2015

2016 Budget: The road to the diversification of the economy – James, economist

BY UDEME CLEMENT Mr. Bassey James, an economist, is the Chief Executive Officer, Bascon Nigeria Limited, Telecom Master Limited and the founder, Southern Youths Development Forum. He speaks on the 2016 Budget being a tool for diversifying the economy, pay cut for senators, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) management of the Naira, the decision by President Muhammadu Buhari to head the petroleum ministry and what government can do to boost industrial development in Nigeria

B

uhari has declared that 2016 Budget will focus on diversifying the economy into non-oil export sectors. Do you see this working out well?

Buhari wants stability in all sectors of the economy. He is putting measures in place to enhance economic development, which prompted his visit to US and other countries to build bilateral relations that can pave the way for influx of Foreign Direct Investments (FDI) into Nigeria. He discussed with permanent secretaries of various ministries. This, I think will form part of his economic blue print for sustainable growth. For me, Buhari’s administration marks the new beginning for Nigeria.

Diversifying the economy with 2016 budget means Buhari wants to revamp the real sector to promote industrialisation. This is a good idea, but my appeal is for him to focus more on agriculture, entrepreneurship, human capital development, creating an enabling ambience for Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) to thrive, in order to create jobs. Let agriculture be revamped to be the mainstay of our economy like what obtained in the past. Before now cocoa, groundnut, palm oil and other commodities were produced in Nigeria and our economy recorded high level of growth.

We must not put so much emphasis on oil while other sectors capable of generating huge revenue for government are neglected. Government should develop other natural resources and put the right people in the right place for our country to move forward. The main issue is ability to sustain growth. A situation where states and local governments wait for oil money to pay salaries is not helping us as a nation. We need a vibrant economy like what obtains in advanced countries. We have natural resources in every part of the country. Let governors and local government chairmen go round their areas to see what they can produce to boost Internally Generated Revenue (IGR). Civil Servants must be productive to drive government policies and programmes. All the states must be productive and put something on the table, instead of waiting for federal allocation. A situation where people get rich over night from oil contracts must stop.

In the past, we had what was called River Basic projects, designed to develop agriculture, so, we can go back to that. For instance, about four local governments can come together

to open agricultural development centre, define what food crops they want to produce . Before you know it, we will have enough food, and there will be market for export commodities.

CBN said further devaluation of Naira will affect the economy.

What is your take on this?

Currently the exchange rate is high and devaluation is not the best option, as it will further weaken the local currency. The CBN should use monetary policies to shore up the economy.

Most importantly, government must give banks a standing order to finance agriculture, SMEs and entrepreneurship to boost the real sector for greater outputs optimisation.

At present, entrepreneurs are not assessing funds for investments, as many banks are not supporting them, while the few banks willing to give loan, give very stringent conditions.

Let the Federal Government order every state to issue Certificate of Occupancy (C -ofO) in not more than three months, because entrepreneurs find it difficult to get C-of- O after acquiring land legitimately. If as entrepreneur you have a project that can even create jobs, and tries to get loan from bank to finance it, the first thing bank will tell you to present is C-of-O. And without that, no bank will listen to you.

So, the delay in issuing C-of-O is indirectly hindering creation of jobs.

Government should collaborate with local entrepreneurs to promote industrial growth, like it is done in developed countries.

Introduction of Treasury Single Account (TSA) is still generating controversy in some departments of government and the banking industry. Do you think government’s supervisory role may relax after sometimes as many people are saying?

For me,TSA is one the best decisions that Buhari has taken, because aside from blocking leakages in the system, it will curtail misappropriation of public funds. TSA is the best thing that has ever happened in the history of Nigeria and I support it in all entirety. Now, banks will have to finance projects to make money and improve their margin, rather that keeping government’s money. Now is the time for banks to support SMEs for businesses to thrive across the country.

Apart from deposit banks, what is the role of Bank of Industry (BoI) in entrepreneurial growth?

BoI is doing something to boost SMEs sub-sector, but what they are doing is not enough. For more SMEs and Entrepreneurs to feel the impact, BoI should have offices in all the states where SMEs can easily have access to them. Also, all the in-coming ministers must have offices in strategic locations across the country and should get reports quarterly from the ministries to assess their level of performance.

What is your opinion on 50 percent pay cut for Senators?

It is a good idea, especially at the time our economy is experiencing shortage of revenue due to declining oil prices. Aside from salaries, allowances and travels should be reduced.

regions, where the people came out to secure their communities.

They did not carry guns, but they worked very well. I believe we can achieve much in security development if government works in synergy with the people.

For instance, when the World Trade Centre in US was attacked, the Americans came together to secure their country. The Americans are united in securing and developing their economy, Nigerians must do the same. We must look at Nigeria as one nation and jettison party politics, religious and ethnic sentiments. This is the time for us to be nationalistic in our thinking.

• Mr. Bassey James Nigeria is now experiencing capital flight due to health tourism, and this must be addressed.

What is your take on Buhari’s decision to head the petroleum ministry?

We should see Buhari as a gift to Nigeria. As the President, he has the constitutional right to take certain decisions for national development. Also, he was petroleum minister years back and understands how that sector functions. So, he wants to bring sanity into the system. In doing that, he should display fairness, equity and a nationalistic approach. Also, Nigerians must realise that politics is over and Buhari is now the President of Nigeria and not a sectional President. We must give him maximum support to rejuvenate our economy. I commend him on his ability to handle the security situation in the country, especially the Boko Haram insurgency. Few months in office, he has demonstrated that he has what it takes to tackle

There are still issues of explosion in some parts of the country, like the one in Abuja recently.

But if you look at the way he tackles insurgency this short period, you will see that he is not relenting in any way.

You are also a criminologist, who is vast in security issues.

What different approach will you advise government to adopt in tackling insurgency totally?

Collaborative security reengineering is imperative. I want to introduce what is called Civilian Joint Task Force for government. This method requires the masses be involved in securing the nation. The security agencies of government should work in partnership with local communities, because the people know everybody within their communities, and once they suspect any threat they can alert the authority. Let the agencies meet with the communities to discuss either weekly or monthly.

In doing this, traditional rulers

We should see Buhari as a gift to Nigeria. As the President, he has the constitutional right to take certain decisions for national development. Also, he was petroleum minister years back and understands how that sector functions insurgency.

With Buhari as President, can you say with all optimism that Nigeria will achieve the much talked about Vision 20:2020?

If Nigerians give Buhari their full support and stop politicising everything, we can achieve that Vision even before 2020, and in future our economy will be among the best in the world.

can secure the country through their subjects.

Such collaboration will support the efforts of government. The people must support those in authority instead of leaving everything for Buhari.

There must be effective communication between the people and government. Years back, we had what was called Community Guards in different

Akpabioism Centre for Leadership Development, opened some years ago in Akwa Ibom State, has trained thousands of youths on different skills, while others benefited from a scholarship scheme. As the Chancellor of the Centre, what measures are you putting in place to expand your programmes to other parts of the country, in line with government’s policy on human capital development?

Since the Centre was opened, Nigerians from different apart of the country have benefited from capacity building programmes on various segment of the economy. We had an economic summit in Lagos where thousands of entrepreneurs within and outside Nigeria came.

Some people came from China, Indonesia, Dubai and other places. In fact, the current governor of Akwa Ibom State, Udom Emmanuel attended the summit. He spoke extensively at our programmes held in Lagos and Abuja on investment opportunities in Akwa Ibom, even when he was not the chief executive of the state. We took the programme to Abuja for entrepreneurs from the northern part to benefit and it was well attended. We had foreign investors who came from out side Nigeria for that programme. We held similar programmes in Port Harcout and other parts of the country, in attempt to ensure that more Nigerians gain from it.

Can you tell us precisely what investment opportunities abound in Akwa Ibom now?

There are enormous opportunities. The state is strategically located to enhance investments inflow from Gulf of Guinea, Cameroon, Port Harcout, Abia, Cross River as well as other states within South East and South-South. We have an airport and Ibaka seaport, independent power plant, good roads and the people are receptive. Our governor has wealth of experience in economic and finance management. Now, Udom is working tirelessly to promote industrial growth in the state. He brought an auto company to the state. We also have a big cement industry in the area made possible through the effort of the governor. I am calling on all Akwa Ibom indigenes to support Udom, because he is the face of development we need. He has what it takes to turn the state around for greater prosperity.

SUNDAY VANGUARD, OCTOBER 11, 2015, PAGE 47

Federal, state govts can reap bountifully from the mining sector — Ekperigin

BY CHARLES KUMOLU

CHAIRMAN and Chief Executive Officer of Solid Mines Ltd, Mr. Frank Ekperigin, in this interview, wants Nigeria to see the present economic crisis as an opportunity to harness its potentials in the mining sector. To achieve that, he urges Nigerians to support President Buhari’s efforts at diversifying the economy.

He also speaks on how government at all levels can become self sufficient.

Over 400 minerals have been discovered in Nigeria, with about 40 of them available in commercial qualities. However, Nigeria currently mines, processes and markets only 13 out of these 40 solid minerals

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hat informed the decision to convene the African mining conference in Nigeria?

What we are doing is more or less like a service oriented project. President Buhari has made a pronouncement that there is going to be diversification from oil to non oil products. And we believe that such pronouncement deserves to be supported because we have always had our mind on mining. Today we believe that with

government’s intervention, there will be streamlining in that sector and things will become organised. As a matter of fact, we have technical partners who are interested in coming to Nigeria for the project. Once we have a leeway, they are ready to come over to Nigeria because most of the minerals in Nigeria are in high demand outside. Nigeria’s minerals are of good quality and people from outside are interested in having them explored for commercial purpose. Realising that the future of this country, depends on non oil products, we decided to provide a template for the country’s solid mineral deposits. It is because of the involvement of Mr. President in alternative sources of revenue that we got involved, although we already had a company called Solid Mines which is involved mining related activities.The conference will hold in Abuja on October 21, 2015.

Are you into any partnership with the Federal Ministry of Mines?

We are in partnership with the Federal Ministry of Mines and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. It is because it is an African project that we are involving the Ministry of External Affairs. We need them for the purpose of corporation and collaboration so that they will reach out to countries outside Nigeria. As it is, this is the first conference because it is going to be an annual thing. I believe that the second conference will follow suit next year. It will come as an annual African mining conference. We will do followups to it through publication of periodic magazines on the mining sector. It will among others, highlight the

•Mr. Frank Ekperigin possibilities inherent in the sector for miners and would be miners.

Do you intend to use the conference to address the challenges confronting the sector, which resulted in the sector contributing a mere 0.3 percent of Nigeria’s GDP? The issue of artisanal miners would be addressed. Where people engage in illegal mining at the expense of their health and the country ’s economy, such a situation should not be encouraged.

Such is happening in Zamfara State and other places as a result of the failure of the last administration at having a definite policy on mining. I think this administration will be strong enough to be able to create a road map for the sector and create a level playing field for people in the industry.

One of major problems confronting the sector is policy somersault. For instance, the administration of former President Olusegun was believed to have had a comprehensive policy on solid minerals. That was the time of Dr. Oby Ezekwesili was the Minister of Solid Minerals. But the excitement provoked among Nigerians at period is no more given that the sector is still comatose. Would the conference address such issue?

I am sure that the notable speakers, who will be in

attendance, will be addressing the issue. They understand the effect of policy somersault on the sector and the need to have a comprehensive and workable policy. I told you that it is our belief that Mr. President will be able to chart a proper cause for the mining industry that informed this conference. Whatever we come up with, we are sure that the government will meticulously follow it. With a robust mining sector, unemployment will be drastically reduced in the country because so many people will be absorbed in the system. By the time full scale mining starts across the country, our state governors will no longer worry about where their next meal will come from. They will now have every thing at their door step to tap. They will be among the major beneficiaries of this because what is derivable from this will be beyond estimation.

Rather than thinking about how to survive the present cash crunch and the collapse of oil prices, the governors should be supportive of efforts at reviving the sector.

A booming mining sector will make our states self sufficient.

Though the efforts of the present government at diversifying is at a teething level, do you see the sector being an important contributor to Nigeria’s GDP

in five years?

There are about 40 minerals spread all over the country.

But in spite of that Nigeria only accounts for an insignificant percentage to the GDP, which is extremely low in a country as endowed as ours. I can see us improving on that, it will not be over night. It will happen gradually through concerted efforts. What we need to do is to get serious with it through functional mining laws. The conference will dissect issues with particular references to artisanal mining, environmental impact of illegal mining and recognition of information and mobile technology as key tools in the sector. We believe that after the conference more Nigerians will be engaged in mining. State governments will also see it as an opportunity to rely less on oil.

Even those, who are already engaged in mining, will learn about new technologies in mining.

On how the potentialities in the sector can be harnessed Nigeria is endowed with vast reserves of solid minerals resources ranging from precious metals to various stones and industrial minerals. Some of the solid minerals found in Nigeria include gold, barite, bentonite, limestone, coal, bitumen, iron ore, tantalite, lead, zinc, gemstones, granite, marble, gypsum, talc, lead, lithium and silver just to mention a few. These minerals are located across the country and are usually associated with the major rock types that constitute the geology of the area they are

situated in. Though the number of solid minerals that exist in each state varies, there are at least eight minerals in each state. Over 400 minerals have been discovered in Nigeria, with about 40 of them available in commercial qualities.

However, Nigeria currently mines, processes and markets only 13 out of these 40 solid minerals. Solid minerals in Nigeria usually occur in five forms: iron and iron-alloy, metals, non-ferrous industrial metals, precious metals, metal fuel and industrial minerals. A large portion of Nigeria’s proven mineral reserves exist in either iron and iron-alloy metals or industrial mineral forms and they are highly concentrated in the South Eastern and North Western region of the country.

On decline of the mining sector The mining sector currently accounts for about 0.3 percent of Nigeria’s GDP, generating about $1.5 billion. This is very negligible when compared with other African countries such as South Africa, Democratic Republic of Congo and Botswana whose mining sector accounts for 18 percent, 25 percent and 40 percent of the country’s GDP and generate $63 billion, and $7.6 billion. The low contribution of the mining sector to the nation’s GDP has not always been the case as Nigeria once had a booming mining industry. Like the agricultural sector the discovery of oil resulted in the gradual neglect of the sector.

Before the oil boom, Nigeria’s economy was largely sustained by agriculture and exploration of solid minerals.

Coal was one of the solid minerals mined on a large scale, it was in high demand owing to its use in electricity generation, powering of rail way networks and demand from regional and international markets. Other solid minerals such as tin, lead, zinc and columbite were also sources of foreign exchange for the country in the late 1940s. During the period Nigeria was the largest producer of columbite and the 6th largest producer of tin.

It must be noted that although the mining sector declined after the discovery of oil. Poor management of state-owned enterprises, corruption and an incoherent exploitation of resources has also had a huge part to play in the decline of the sector. The civil war in the late 1960s also had an adverse effect on the mining sector as many of the expatriate mining experts working in Nigeria had to flee the country resulting in an overflow of technical knowhow required to develop the sector.

PAGE 48—SUNDAY VANGUARD, OCTOBER 11, 2015

How after sales service deepens brand growth—-Daikin President

BY EPHRAIM OSEJI

D

aikin Industries Limited, manufacturers of air conditioning solutions for residential, commercial and industrial applications, says after sales service has been responsible for brand growth in the market.

The company whose airconditioners operate on the inverter technology saves 30 percent energy. This explains the position of the company in the industrial air-conditioning, especially the central airconditioning unit for large and high rise buildings.

“The company’s rapid growth in the industry is based on three key corporate principles of “absolute credibility,” “enterprising management,” and “Harmonious personal relations which contributed to the growth of the company,” said President of Daikin, Sano Ryoji who was on a visit to Nigeria.

Technical Centres: Despite dominating various segments of the air-conditioning market in its short stay in Nigeria. Today, electronic manufacturers like Samsung, Sony, LG, Thermocool, Panasonic, Nexus and others into air-conditioner manufacturing, now indulge in after sales service, building technical centres to train Nigerians on how to repair their brands, while this remains a panacea to reducing technical hitches encountered by end-users.

However, following market agitation for the products for residential use, Daikin formerly launched into the residential segment with its range of split air-conditioners in November 2014. The brand is now poised to challenge and take over the market following its aggressive strategy to be deployed soon.

History: The history of Daikin is also a history of global air conditioning and delivering, countless new innovations for air comfort. With ninety years of history since its founding, Daikin has created global airconditioning history with new innovative technologies and products that have brought new steps to both the home country, Japan and the world.

Product of diverse climate: Ryoji revealed that Daikin is a product of the diverse climate and limited resources in Japan. Japan depended on other countries for energy supply, due to its limited resources. As a result, Japanese manufacturing has achieved high environmental performance by focusing on fuel consumption in automobiles and energy consumption in household electronics.

Lower energy consumption: The pursuit of lower energy consumption in household electronics led to energy saving through inverter technology. An inverter is an energy saving technology that eliminates wasteful operation in the air conditioning by efficiently controlling the motor speed.

When compared to non-inverter air conditioners, inverter air conditioners consume approximately 30 percent less energy. Some Daikin air conditioners in Nigeria operate on the inverter technology; meaning you have 30 percent saving in energy consumption.

For Nigerians energy consumption is very central in the choice of an air conditioner.

Closely related to the inverter advantage, is the fact that Daikin air conditioners have built –in protection against unstable power supply and blackout, said Ryoji.

Elimination of AV S : According to him, “this completely eliminates the need for an AVS device or stabilizer.

The built-in voltage protection makes it possible for Daikin to operate as low as 198V and as high as 264V, without compromising cooling comfort.

(Standard voltage operating range is 220V-240V).”

According to the company, Daikin in Nigeria has the after sales support from Panaserv Nigeria limited, present in major cities in Nigeria and still growing. From these centres, customers get quick and efficient after sales support for parts and consumables for all models.

Panaserv Nigeria limited, boasts of well trained technicians to ensure customers get the best out of Daikin air conditioners.

Growing complexities: However, due to growing

complexities in business-tobusiness products, the relationship between a seller and a buyer usually never ends after the purchase transaction.

Customers buy augmented products, expecting bundle of values that come with the product which will satisfy the buyer.

Thus, integrating services into the core offerings in manufacturing industries has taken crucial importance.

Especially, after-sales service is considered a tool for enhancing a valuable advantage for the customer as well as it is a business opportunity for the company. After-sales services have proven to be of importance, and a strategic after-sales framework.

In order words to become a successful global brand, companies need to be market driven, visible and locally relevant. For several years, consumer lifestyle solutions have improved the lives of consumers globally with after sales services.

Thus doing, companies get a

deeper insight to understanding customers in individual markets so it can provide products that meet their needs more closely than ever before.

Electronic manufacturers particularly are creating local solutions, while leveraging global scale with after sales solutions and location of experience centres to proximity which is helping companies develop tools, processes, and new ways of working to cater for the needs of customers and consumers in specific marketplace.

However, retail outlets around the world face a fiercely competitive loyalty and shrinking profit margins, thus aiming to break down all the barriers between its stores, internet and mobile sites, whilst leading brands focus their efforts on their channel strategies.

Invariably, adapting retail formats to accommodate the shift in consumer preferences is proving to be the key success for many manufacturers worldwide.

In today’s rapidly evolving global marketplace, retail brands

must be agile, flexible and responsive than ever before.

Winning retail brands will not only survive the continuous shift to digital retail, but will become more extraordinary because of it.

Daikin’s high reliability continues with its auto-restart function which essentially stores all operating settings in the event of a power failure. At the onset of power, the unit restarts operation based on previous set mode, temperature, fan speed and swing.

Outdoor air has many atmospheric and corrosive pollutants such as dust, humidity, rains etc, that damage the heat exchanger coils of air conditioners. To guard against damage to the heat exchanger coils, Daikin uses as standard, blue fin protection on the heat exchanger, with high anticorrosion properties. This ensures optimal cooling performance in any location.

The heart of any air conditioner is the compressor.

Daikin air conditioners come with highly durable compressors with operating range up to 54 degrees centigrade ambient.

Combination of highly resilient compressor and blue fin protection, means the cooling performance remain intact irrespective of the operating environment.

Toni Kan signs endorsement deal with Samsung Toni Kan, poet, writer and cofounder of popular website www.sabinews.com has signed an endorsement deal with Samsung Electronics West Africa to promote their newly launched Samsung Galaxy Note 5.

The former editor of Hints magazine, author of the critically acclaimed Nights of the Creaking Bed, PR executive, blogger and teacher was formally introduced at an interactive event which took place at Nike Art Center in Lekki, Lagos and was hosted by R&B artiste, Banky W. With the unveiling, Toni Kan becomes the first Nigerian writer to be so honoured in a country where musicians and actors as well as other players in the knowledge economy are routinely favoured over writers.

Speaking at the event, Brovo Kim, the Managing Director of Samsung Electronics West Africa who recommended the high end device to Nigerian creatives said “the Galaxy Note 5 is an enabler of Nigerian dreams…and guarantees you freedom to dream and bring your dream to life.”

Before introducing Toni Kan, Emmanoiul Revematas, Director of Information Technology and Mobile described Toni Kan as “one of Nigeria’s most prominent writers and author of the hugely popular and critically acclaimed “Nights of the Creaking Bed.” In his comments at the event, Toni Kan in endorsing the Note 5 said “With my Note 5, I can never lose an idea or train of thought.

It is my notepad, my recorder and my camera and the stylus works on the screen, even when I am running out of battery. This recognition from Samsung is endorsement for all Nigerian writers because it means that writers are finally getting recognition as bona-fide practitioners in the knowledge economy. Our work and our practice as writers lasts the longest unlike movies or music, musicians or actors yet we are usually treated as the poor cousins. This, hopefully, will

our times..Salute Tony Toni Kan.” Under the terms of the 6 month agreement, Toni Kan will provide noteworthy quotes and his image for Samsung’s use in promoting the high end product which the company believes is a critical tool for all creative people whether writers or artists, bloggers or architects.

chart a fresh path thanks to Samsung.”

The news generated massive buzz on facebook with almost 1,000 comments and likes and shares in under 5 hours and

comments from Nigerian and African writers. Binyavanga Wainana in his comment after sharing the news on his facebook wall wrote: “Most hard-working space-making freelance writer of

How to bridge 17m housing deficit – Oganla *

Firm plans $20m luxury flats

BY ABIODUN ALADE

T

he First Empire Group has urged government to partner real estate companies to develop housing schemes in the country to alleviate the suffering of the masses and address the over 17 million housing deficit.

The Group Head, Energy, Dimeji Oganla, said the company will infuse $20million into the sector by developing a 20-unit luxury flat and 20-unit terraces duplex with suspended swimming pool, a central gas system and a club house dubbed Alan Empire Palms at Isheri, Magodo, Lagos.

Oganla, who disclosed this in a press conference in Lagos, assured that the firm will deliver valueadded services that will make housing a pleasurable experience for residents, adding that the project was conceived to eradicate the challenges associated with housing in Nigeria through innovative means.

“Our main objective is to help

address the housing deficit in the country; we have in our own establishment a moving train; a train that would transport every willing Nigerian and friends to their destination at a very affordable cost,” he stressed.

Topnotch Italian Civil Engineer, Mr Alberto Fafuzzo, who is the Director of the project, said the cost of building an apartment does not necessarily translate to durability.

“I’ve been in Nigeria since 2009 and have done different hotel constructions. We see different buildings collapse but it is due to lack of proper investigation by professionals. The components must be at least 80% of the expected result and we are sure to deliver value and the best,” he said.

Other members of the Group present at the conference are Miss Folashade Afilaka, the Group Head, Tourism and Mr Odumuyiwa Babatunde, Group Head, Real Estate.

Promotional products practitioners form group

BY YINKA AJAYI

F

ollowing the proliferation of practitioners in the promotional products industry, stakeholders have launched Association of Promotional Products Specialists of Nigeria (APPSON) to enhance professionalism in the industry.

Speaking at the inauguration of the association, the President, Mrs. Ngozi Nzegwu, stated: “APPSON has finally brought relief for practitioners as history is being made. This is the very first time an industry as old as Nigeria is coming together without coercion because they have seen the reason of togetherness as an association.

“It is very fulfilling to see that this is happening because, when you consider the fact, that while in the same industry in the US, where Promotional Products Association Internation (PPAI) was formed in 1904 with about 12 members, we have close to 40 members within a very short time. It took them another 10 years to have a fair in Las Vegas and since then it has continued to be an annual event till date with over 10,000 members including myself. It is an idea whose time has come.”

SUNDAY VANGUARD, OCTOBER 11, 2015, PAGE 49

Kresta Laurel success story, by Gbenga Daniel

BY DAPO AKINREFON

A former governor of Ogun State and Chairman of Kresta Laurel, Otunba Gbenga Daniel, narrates the elevator company’s success story over the past 25 years.

Excerpts:

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hat makes Kresta Laurel stand out as one of the leading companies building elevators in the country?

It is not an all-comers business.

There are quite a few people who have tried in the last 20 to 30 years, but not many of them have been able to survive. Contrary to what people say, it is not a moneyspinning business. The satisfaction is not in the money, as the first thing is the professional satisfaction. Do we get fulfilled? Yes. Why? In my previous experience, which is part of the driving force of Kresta Laurel Company, we operate in an industry where Nigerians are not given any pride of play.

There is no respect and they don’t think we can do anything right. So, that is where we are coming from and that guided me when I was working with them.

If you contrast that to the culture of the Germans, for them, it is not about aesthetics. It is about efficiency. It is a taboo for something to fail in their own psyche. What we set out to prove was that that is not an exclusive preserve of the Germans or the Europeans.

The belief that given the right frame of mind and determination, we, also as black people, and Nigerians, can do it as equally good, if not better, then came in place. So that is really our driving force and the key ingredient of our company over the years.

It is not necessary that all the jobs that we take are economically beneficial.

Anything could happen on the job. So for us as a company, it is like a wrestling bout with the forces of you will not be able to do it, versus it shall be done. Once we get that the job, it becomes an ego thing. We must deliver, no matter what. It is not a matter of go and bring additional money before it could be done. I usually say that unlike what has happened to other companies, there is no single project that we have done that was not done well.

You left your company for eight years to govern Ogun State.

What did your company suffer while you were away?

I wouldn’t be able to say what we have lost, but I can say what we have gained, because what we have lost is in the conjecture and you can only imagine if you have lost something. But I think that if we measured the growth of the company even while I was not there, it was quite phenomenal.

The company has experienced growth, not decline. So in that regard, we must give kudos to the people who held forth while I was away and by the way, they are still holding forth, because I am not the operations person; I am the founding chairman.

Many people often complain

•Otunba Gbenga Daniel these days of how the government is not creating an enabling environment for private sectors to thrive. How would you react to that?

When I got into government, one of the things that I observed, probably because of my background in business, was that government is not organised and trained to run businesses. And that was what influenced some of the steps we took.

First, we decided that all those businesses that the government was involved in should be discontinued. And, if we are not able to get out of it completely for political reasons, let us then outsource it.

Although regrettably, some of the things we did while outsourcing is that a number of our people were not well informed. They looked at outsourcing as if we had sold them.

Without any doubt, the best hotel in Ogun State today is the Park Inn in Abeokuta. When I got into office in 2003, Ogun State was completely dilapidated. So, we started the struggle to see how we could turn it around on our own, by appointing administrators and other stakeholders. Unfortunately, things didn’t work.

The state of those things had become so dilapidated that nothing short of rebuilding and repackaging them could turn it around. A number of people did not also know the challenges we were facing. By 2003, Ogun State government had not completely paid the loan that was taken by the Onabanjo administration to fix the hotel. We were paying money every month for a hotel

I am just saying that the solution to our problem as a country is in our hands. With next to nothing, a lot of things can happen in this country. It baffles me that we now award contracts that Ogun State cannot sustain. We keep imitating Lagos, forgetting that Lagos’s IGR is more than what they get from the Federal Government in a month

that since its inception has not declared profit for one year, so it was running at a loss. Over the 20 years that it was established, government was still paying the loan. And, we were supposed to pump in money into it again, because that’s the language of the civil servants running the hotel at that time.

The question is where is the money to pump? That was what led to the process of outsourcing.

Rather than sell the hotel at that time, we were looking for people that we could concession the hotel to. We came to a conclusion that for us to be able to get the hotel to the standard we wanted, we needed to spend at least N2billion to N3billion.

If I had that kind of money as public fund, I would expend it on other projects in the state that were begging for attention. The business of government is not to run hotels. We were able to successfully concession the hotel out. I have been told that October 12, they want to formally commission what has become the best hotel in Ogun State. Now, Abeokuta can boast of a hotel that can host the most powerful President in the world. That was what I meant when I said government has no business in business, but it has a responsibility to facilitate business. What we have done is to facilitate business and we facilitated it through various ways.

Still on development and technology, as the President of Nigerian-Finland Business Council, how do you think Nigeria can gain from you to lift her technology?

Finland is a very lucky country with about five million people, and probably the richest nation in the world. Most people don’t know that the amount of the money they have is more than enough for their population. But Finland has something that is working for them; they are clinically efficient in everything they do.

There are not too many industries in Finland, but the few ones they have are the market leaders. When you talk of Nokia, you talk Finland. They have a very serious wood industry because they have an expanse of land, and there is no single person who doesn’t have a farm at home. Agriculture is very well developed and their engineering is superb. We must as a people see what we can learn and know that whatever we touch should be done efficiently.

The biggest problem in the Nigeria’s construction company today is that everybody wants to cut corners. Why can’t we develop that industry here? One day, a lady called Awosika came to Ogun State and advised that we could start a furniture village, instead of sending our woods abroad for furniture and processing.

I loved the idea and I asked her where she wanted the land that I would give her. She picked somewhere along the road, we gave her the land, and she even paid. And then somebody else came and said she should get out of the land. That was the end of the story. That is another story I don’t want to go into today. I am just saying that the solution to our problem as a country is in our hands. With next to nothing, a lot of things can happen in this country. It baffles me that we now award contracts that Ogun State cannot sustain. We keep imitating Lagos, forgetting that Lagos’s IGR is more than what they get from the Federal Government in a month.

What can the government do to stop incessant collapse of buildings in the country?

It is very simple and that is largely because of the lack of professionalism in the building industry. In other climes, if you submitted a plan that you want to build, it is not an easy process.

All the people in the industry must be certified. You cannot build without the certification of a Structural Engineer. You cannot wire a building without the certification of a certified electrical engineer. You can’t do your plumbing work without the stamp of a certified plumbing engineer. And these professionals will not allow themselves to be associated with failures because the consequence of failure is grave.

In the United Kingdom, if a building catches fire, it is not just about putting off the fire, there would be an investigation into the cause of the fire. If the cause is attributable to the carelessness of the electrical engineer, he doesn’t just lose his license to practice, he is prosecuted. And if there is a life that is lost, he is in the dock for murder. They will not even allow a substandard cable because there is no cable manufacturer that will not have correct certification. If by chance they now find out that it is the quality of that cable that is substandard, that manufacturer of that cable cannot escape justice.

So I believe it is about standard and adherence to do standard.

That is what we need.

PAGE 50—SUNDAY Vanguard, OCTOBER 11, 2015

God’s Not Dead: Call to Christian re-awakening

By ELIZABETH UWANDU FILM

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HAT happens when a 12 year old boy watches his christian mother dies of cancer? What happens when a graduate with good grade commits suicide after years of unemployment?, And, what happens when God decides to keep mute when you desperately seek his answer?

These are some of the issues that have forced millions, including Christians all over the world to ask over and over when faced with crises, “Does God Exist?

In trying to proffer answers to the above questions, the Vice President, Catholic Youths of Nigeria CYON, of St. Dominic ‘s Catholic Church, Yaba ,Mr Raphael showed the film, “ God’s Not Dead” Saturday last week at church premise.

The movie, an American Christian drama directed by Harold Cronk and produced in 2014 by Pure Felix Entertainment with the following casts, Shane Harper, Kevin Sorbo David A. R, White and Dean Cain tells the story of an evangelical Christian Josh Wheaton (( Shane Harper) whose faith is challenged by a philosophy JefferyRadisson (Kevin Sorbo), who informs his students that they will have to discard, in writing, the existence of God on their first

A scene from the film, Does God Exist day in class, or risk a failing grade.

An action that did not go down well with Josh who believes in God’s existence. So

The need to let people defend their belief in God and give a meaning to their faith inspired him

he sets up to challenge the professor with indepth study of the word of God and other books to the dismal of his girlfriend who gists him and having to face his disillusioned collegues who see him as an rebellious fellow.

GOD’S NOT DEAD cuts together multiple stories of faith, doubt and disbelief, culminating in a dramatic call to action. The film educate, entertain, and inspire christians to explore what they really believe about God, and also raise their faith in him. As the truth remains that God does exist, if only one will have trust, patience and faith in him, seek God’s word, spiritual counselling and prayers to

survive.

These above principles saw Josh Wheaton prove God’s existence after several trials of being a loner, and having to defend his believe in the presence of his coursemates and his atheist professor. His classmates got converted after his last defence, while his atheist professor gives his life to Christ on the verge of dieing.

Another lesson from the drama is that most people that become atheist do so as a result of circumstances they faced.

This was seen during the last of Wheaton defence of his faith, when he asked his professor,” What happened to you? And the Lecturer answers him,” What happens when all you loved

get striped from you? What happens when a 12 year old boy watches his christian mother who served God dies of cancer?

One also, gets to see the importance of study and knowing what one believes. In other words, many people who believe in God lack knowledge of who he truly is and this make them fall during trials. Wheaton through his research was able to know that God’s a mystery and everything he does has a reason. This Christian evangelist was able to counter the notion of God’s inexistence through his indepth anaysis and study of the word of God and other relevant books, Love as a theme was brought to bear. Love made the Profesor, after reading his late mother’s letter to him to recind on his stand and seek for God. Speaking on reason for showing the firm, CYON vice president,Raphael said, “The need to let people defend their belief in God and give a meaning to their faith inspired him”.

For Lazarus Okorie, who heard about the film when he came for morning mass said, “this film is awesome and wonderful. This is the kind of debate I like to engage in to go out and tell people that, this God actually exist. What touched me most is the word,”Believe” the need to hold on to our believe at any point in time.”

For preservation of Ukwuani values, Nursery Rhymes to the rescue

By PRISCA SAM-DURU REVIEW

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hen it comes to literature on Ukwuani, a community in Delta State, Ozah Michael Ozah, needs no introduction, for none other has exhibited so much commitment towards the preservation of the cultures and traditions of these people, than he has done.

Through titles such as “Proudly Ukwuani: A history and Culture”, “The Great Debate: Okpala-Uku Clan-head vs.

Monarchy ”, “My Ukwuaniness”, published within a period of five years and so many other publications, Ozah has indeed, established himself as a colossus in Ukwuani literary studies.

To add to his firm determination to revive and promote the dying cultures of his people, the trained lawyer and author has documented 50 songs and poems of yore for children titled, “Ukwuani Nursery Rhymes”. A mere glance at the titles of the songs and poems, gives any reader the strong impression that the author is in serious business of helping to preserve Ukwuani socio-culture and history.

The literary exposition under

review is therefore, an anthology of well constructed nursery rhymes which aside being an addition to Ozah’s modest contribution towards documenting for posterity, Ukwuani’s cultural values, is a commendable attempt to ensure that children are carried along in this all important cultural campaign.

It becomes more interesting when we learn that the rhymes and songs were “Captured from the lips ofUkwuani culture and translated into English with annotations, these poems illustrate the Ukwuani world view and philosophy from kiddies’ viewpoint.” Ozah’s claim that the compositions were by the children themselves which according to him, alludes to the creative intellect of the average Ukwuani child, only speaks eloquently of the fact that children can actually become major vehicle to reviving dying cultures of the different peoples of Nigeria.

The author’s newest offering encapsulates poems and songs notable among Ukwuani children until the mid 1980s when the influence of television ended moonlight tales. The poems in this epoch making

anthology, describe objects and situations culturally relevant to children with the view to helping them appreciate and enjoy the message or theme of each work. It is a good thing that the author took the pain of including the translation of each song or poem in addition to a glossary of new words and meanings, for easy assimilation by the children who may truly be reading literature done in their local dialect, for the very first time.

Titles such as Nne Mu Oma (My good mother), Onye Muni Nwa Na Kwa Ekwa (Who gave birth to the crying child), A Muo Mu Nwa Odu ( 1 had my first

A mere glance at the titles of the songs and poems, gives any reader the strong impression that the author is in serious business of helping to preserve Ukwuani culture and history

child; I had a boy), Ma Gwa Nne 1, (I will tell your mother), all echo family life, while Ndokwa Ba Ma Mma, Ukwuani Bu Ani Eze (Ukwuani is prime regalland),etc shower praises for Ukwuani as a land to be revered. Poems on school life

include; Okeli, Oge Elue (Its time), Wan, WaD Iji (One, pick a piece of yam from a pot). In general, most of the poems, teach lessons of truth, charity, kindness, obedience, etc.

Corroborating the author ’s stance on how imperative it has become to document the peoples’ values in print, Dr Ojieh Ojione of the Department of History & International Studies, Delta State University, Abraka, made reference to the Chinese proverb: “The faintest ink is more powerful than the strongest memory ”, noting that “Ukwuani Nursery Rhymes”, serves to actualise this proverb.

The book which encapsulates rich songs and poems, must be viewed beyond materials for children but according to Ojione, should be viewed as “Potential source materials for unlocking some of the constraints in constructing our Ukwuaniness”

should have been in colours as children’s interest are easily captured with colourful pictures.

This does not however, take anything away from delivering the author ’s intentions appropriately.

Due to its richness in the cultures of Ukwuani people, the book is recommended to every culture enthusiast, children, students and the reading public. This is indeed, a direct campaign to bring back our culture.

Perhaps the only flaw in the book is that as a book aiming to Ukwuani Nursery Rhymes; attract the attention of children, Ozah Michael Ozah, ; Proudly the pictures and illustrations Ukwuani Ventures, Lagos; 2015; PP. 82.

SUNDAY VANGUARD, OCTOBER 11, 2015, PAGE 51

Pipeline vandals, cultists: Lagos deploys security operatives to Ikorodu on 24-hour surveillance .Bans Okada, tricycle operations in the area

BY OLASUNKANMI AKONI

R

esidents of Ikorodu a rea of Lagos

State, yesterday, woke up to find heavy presence of security operatives in the area and environs.

In a swift reaction, the state government explained that the deployment of security operatives was part of the efforts to liberate residents from hoodlums, pipeline vandals and other undesirable elements who have continued to make the ancient town the base of their nefarious activities.

The state Commissioner of Police, Mr. Fatai Owoseni, who disclosed this after an emergency Security Council meeting, said government is committed to ensure that the hoodlums terrorising Ikorodu, disturbing the peace in the town and making life unbearable for residents, do not have a field day any longer.

Those at the meeting include the state Director, Department of State Security (DSS): Mr. Kunle Ajanaku; the Chief of Staff, Mr Samuel Olukunle Ojo; and Deputy Commissioner of Police, Operations, Mr. Johnson Kokumo.

Owoseni told journalists: “The security surveillance would be carried out 24 hours throughout the week, because the activities of these hoodlums and the criminal elements in the area have become unacceptable and uncontrollable, hence government cannot fold its arms, but take necessary actions by deploying security operatives to the area.

“Government will not

Miliatry operations in Ikorodu to forestall criminal activities in the area, yesterday.

allow criminal elements in the state and we want to say that the immunity for the vandals is over, the arbitrarily and uncontrollable rape, vandalism and harassment is over”.

The police boss appealed to residents not to panic as they may witness or hear sporadic gun shots, urging them to go on with their normal activities.

He, however, cautioned them to restrict their movements to areas where the operations are not intensive.

Okada, tricycles ban Owoseni continued: “I want to assure you that innocent citizens will not be harassed or molested during the operations. It has become necessary to restrict the operations of tricycles and motorcycles (Okada) throughout the period of the onslaught so as to prevent the fleeing hoodlums from using them as get-away transport.”

The police commissioner said the restrictions on Okada and tricycle operations in the area would be total, urging

residents to consider the inconvenience this may cause as a necessary sacrifice.

“Residents are advised to restrict their movement and be informed also that we are going to restrict the use of both motorcycle (Okada) and tricycles (Keke Marwa) in the area to ensure optimal and maximum performance for the operation”, Owoseni said.

“As government, we are concerned about the se-

curity situation in the state especially the activities of hoodlums and vandals in the area. We are assuring residents that the end of such activities is near and it won’t be business as usual in the area, they should not panic as we have directed security operatives in the area not to harm innocent civilians but make security of lives of the people their utmost concern”.

L-R: Senior Volunteer, Down Syndrome Foundation, Mr. Muyiwa Majekodunmi; Down Syndrome Foundation Administrator, Mrs. P.K. Peters; Group Corporate Director, PZ Cussons, Mrs. Yomi Ifaturoti; Managing Director, Nutricima, Mr. Eelco Weber; Marketing Director, Nutricima, Mr. Kalyan Bandyopadya with children from the Down Syndrome Foundation during a courtesy visit of the Foundation at the Nutricima Corporate Head Office to commemorate the Down Syndrome Awareness Week.

•Son of veteran journalist, Tonnie Iredia, Esohe, was joined in holy wedlock with his hearthrob, Uyiosa, yesterday. The couple at the occasion.

Arrmed robbers gain access into bank through roof

By Demola Akinyemi, Ilorin

I

T was a mystery of a sort as armed rob bers climbed the roof of the branch of a new generation bank along Unity Road,Ilorin, Friday morning, to gain access into the banking hall, causing pandemonium in the ever busy bank as they unleashed terror.

Sunday Vanguard gathered that, unknown to security officials at the bank,the armed robbers mingled with ATM customers and climbed the roof through the bank’s lobby, seeing that it was difficult to gain entrance through the doors.

Customers and bank officials, at about 10.30am scampered for safety as news filtered that armed robbers had gained entry into the bank through the roof.

The armed robbers, in a coordinated attempt, were already gathering money from customers and ordering bank officials around at gunpoint for keys to the vault when customers at the

ATM point, located at the entrance into the main hall, got wind of it,raised the alarm and the bandits fled.

There was pandemonium as customers scampered for safety and the armed robbers stormed the main road shooting into the air to scare away people so as to get away with their loot.

Sunday Vanguard gathered that officers of Special Anti Robbery Squad(SARS) at A Division Police Station around, who got wind of the development , raced to the bank to repel the armed robbers.

Sunday Vanguard sources said three of the robbers escaped while the fourth, trapped inside the banking hall, was caught by the officers of SARS. The suspect was said to be helping the police to track his other gang members who escaped.

Several calls to Kwara State Police Command spokesman, Ajayi Okasanmi, for his reaction on the incident failed as there was no response to several calls to his GSM lines.

Tinubu not on security watch —Presidency

BY LEVINUS NWABUGHIOGU

T

L-R: Head Research, Meristem Securities Ltd, Mr. Saheed Bashiru; Managing Director, Meristem Trustees Ltd, Mr. Yinka Adegbola; Managing Director, Meristem Stockbrockers Ltd, Mrs. Gbadunola Sokunbi; Guest Speaker & Director, FINSA Europe Ltd, Mr. Mathew Smith; Deputy Group Managing Director, Meristem Securities, Mr. Sulaiman Adedokun and Head, Meristem Wealth Management, Mrs. Damilola Hassan at the launch of Nigeria’s first Naira trading platform – MeriFX recently in Lagos.

he Presidency has refuted the report that the National Leader of All Progressives Congress, APC, Ashiwaju Bola Tinubu, was “under security watch over alleged plot against Buhari.”

A statement by the Senior Special Assistant, SSA, to President Mohammadu Buhari on Media and Pub-

licity, Mallam Garba Shehu, said the report was absolutely false.

Shehu urged members of the public to ignore the report, saying it was the handiwork of mischief makers to spill bad blood between the leaders of APC. The Presidency, he said, was not aware of any threat whatsoever by Tinubu, stressing that he was not of any interest to security agencies.

PAGE 52, SUNDAY Vanguard, OCTOBER 11, 2015

Guinea 2016: Falconets through to final round T

HE U-20 Women National Team, Falconets, have qualified for the final round of the African qualifying series for the 2016 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup, courtesy of a 4-1 aggregate defeat of their counterparts from the Democratic Republic of Congo.

2012 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup top goalscorer Chinwendu Ihezuo was the heroine of the two legs, scoring both goals in Abuja on Saturday, to add to her goal in Kinshasa two weeks ago, when Nigeria beat the hosts 2-1.

Ihezuo scored her first after only seven minutes at the National Stadium, Abuja, when she capitalized on a defensive mistake by the Congolese and raced unchallenged to slot the ball past goalkeeper Kashala Khonde.

The Congolese refused to be deterred, and played

impressively with the petite Salu Lengi, Monique Kipoy and Joelle Muadi showing good skills.

However, the game was all but over after only five minutes into the second half, when Ihezuo again capitalized on a defensive error by the Congolese off a long ball, and held on to secure her brace.

The Falconets, runner-up of the last edition of the competition, will now take on the winner of the fixture between South Africa and Zambia, for a place at the 2016 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup finals in Papua New Guinea.

FTER a dramatic debut season with a long list of talking points including the Chelsea jinx, the invincible form of Arsenal and the collaboration

L-R: Head, Demand and Supply Planning, Guinness Nigeria Plc, Oghonim Everest; One of the N100,000 winners, Uche Kingsley and National Distributor, Wholesale Director, Ojielo Chizoba, during the cheque presentation in the ongoing Guinness “Every Minute Made of Black” Football Promo in Lagos

Okugbe is dead

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L-R: Mr Ikeddy Isiquzo,Chairman Of Award Panel, Nigeria Sport Award; Mrs Falilat Ogunkoya, Award Panel member, Mr Kayode Idowu, Executive Director Unmissable Incentives Ltd. at the Unveilling of the top nominees for the 2015 Edition of the Awards in Lagos.PHOTO BY AKEEM SALAU

between AC Milan and Barcelona, STAR Lager has announced the return of Star Football Superfans, Nigeria’s biggest football platform. Season 2 of the record breaking football fans platform features an even more exciting format as host Mozez Praiz returns to oversee matchups between a larger pool of clubs following increasing interest from fans of clubs that were previously not represented on the show.

In addition to Manchester United, Chelsea, Barcelona, Real Madrid, AC Milan and Arsenal, the second season features appearances from popular Nigerian Premier League clubsides including Enyimba FC of Aba and Enugu Rangers amongst other popular clubs from around the world.

Commenting on the return of the hugely popular

TV show, Senior Marketing Manager Lager (Star/ Goldberg) & Export, Nigerian Breweries Plc, Tokunbo Adodo remarked.

“The game of football is one of those rare things that unites people of different ages and social categories under one single banner of love and STAR is eager to support anything that makes people come together and be happy. Star Football Superfans had a

display against DRC in Vise.

It was a disorganised Eagles against DRC last Thursday. They failed to create chances in front of goal and despite their better ball possession, they hardly threatened the goal of their opponents.

Oliseh has maintained these friendlies are meant for him to have a closer look at his call-ups as he begins rebuilding the national team.

Super Eagles midfielder, Ogenyi Onazi has said that they will win tonight’s encounter for their teeming fans back home. “The game against DR Congo is gone now, so the only thing we are thinking about is

Sunday ’s clash with Cameroon,” Onazi said.

“It is important for us to win the game and also put up a performance that our fans will appreciate.

“We are are going to approach the game with all seriousness even though it is just a friendly.

“We need a win to improve our confidence as a team and we will put in our best to make sure we beat Cameroon.”

NFF president Amaju Pinnick urged the Eagles to go for victory against Cameroon.

“I have no doubt in your ability to turn things around when we play Cameroon.

That means you need to put the to Congo defeat behind

very interesting and successful debut season, and this time around it will be even better. We are now seeing more fans from clubs outside of the traditionally popular UEFA Champions League clubs also staking their claim on the platform and in general the response is absolutely phenomenal.

We are very proud to power Nigeria’s leading football platform and Nigerian football in general.”

Glo Premier League season has been attributed to their pre-season tour of Europe.

One of the places the team went to was the three-star Mountain Hotel MYTHOS in Greece.

Erstwhile coordinator of Gabros International of Nnewi that metamorphosed to FC Ifeanyiuba, Olisa Onuchukwu has recommended the prestigious three-star hotel as training base to Glo-Premier League teams, ahead next season.

Onuchukwu who, before the start of the current season led Gabros to a preseason tour of the facility in Elatohori Pieria, Greece, some 70 kilometres from the city of Thessalonica said the training centre is a unique place for national teams and clubs to prepare their teams for next season.

“I was at the centre last year with Gabros and I can attest to the excellent facility at the hotel and I therefore recommend the place for the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) to camp the Super Eagles and any of the national teams before a major international competitions.

Shape in or ship out— Klopp tells Liverpool players HE new Liverpool Klopp, who left his T manager, Jurgen bundesliga side last Klopp, has fired his first summer said he’s is not one shot at his inherited players, saying they must be prepared to implement his high pressing game or face the exit doors.

Nigeria continued from B/P

HEAD of Sport, DAAR Communications and RAY Power Felix Okugbe is dead. He died yesterday, at the Lagos State Teaching Hospital after a protracted battle with Cancer. Until his death, he was the CEO of Mundial Sport International.

Investigations further revealed that he’s been hospitalized for a long time.

HE commanding manner FC Ifeanyi Uba T of Nnewi began the current

Enyimba, Rangers debut in Star Football SuperFans

A

Onuchukwu recommends Greek centre for Nigerian teams

you and focus hard on Sunday’s match,” Pinnick said.

Cameroon will line up top stars like skipper Stephane Mbia, Vincent Aboubakar as well as Tottenham Hotspur winger Clinton Njie, who all featured against KV Oostende earlier this week.

Both countries have met 19 times, with Nigeria winning eight times, Cameroon won four times, while seven games ended in draws.

First meeting of both teams was on 25th April, 1960 in a friendly match which ended goalless.

The last meeting between both countries on February 8, 2004, in an AFCON quarterfinal ended 2-1 in favour of Nigeria.

of those big-mouthed coaches who will promise you the moon at their unveiling, but assured the club and the players that his performance on the field will speak for him.

“I am not the guy who is going to go out and shout, ‘We are going to conquer the world’ or something like this,” Klopp said.

“But we will conquer the ball, each time. We will chase the ball. We will run more, fight more.”

Dortmund won two Bundesliga titles under

•Klopp Klopp, who also led them to the 2013 Champions League final, and the 42year-old said his pressing tactics were not a proposal, rather “a law” “You have to do it and you will. That is what we all have to learn, maybe,” he said.

Eagles continued from B/P four-time African champions.

“The most important thing (was) allowing the boys rest (after the game with DR Congo) and freshen up their minds.

“We have to take the positives from that defeat against Congo DR. “We desperately need cover for the central defence

position as the duo of Godfrey Oboa-bona and Kenneth Omeruo were badly missed in the defeat to Congo DR. “We are building and we are getting more and more players buy into our philosophy and the cohesion is getting better,” he said.

Oliseh has so far managed three games as Nigeria coach and has masterminded one win, one draw and one defeat.

SUNDAY Vanguard, OCTOBER 11, 2015, PAGE 53

I shall return — Enyeama Former Super Eagles captain, Vincent Enyeama has been in the news following his rift with Coach Sunday Oliseh. Enyeama announced his resignation from the national team via the social platform. In this interview with Galaxy Television, Enyeama however, the Akwa Ibom born goal tender is saying he wants to be part of the team to re-write the history of Nigeria football.

W

E have heard so much about your rift with Super Eagles coach, Sunday Oliseh. tell us, what has been going on?

First, of all, I want to thank Nigerians.

I appreciate the passion, the criticism, everything. I want to say a very big thank you.

On the issue on ground, I think this is not the best way to treat someone who has served the country with so much enthusiasm and so much passion, so much dedication, you know, commitment. I think I have honoured almost all the matches I have been invited to play for the Super Eagles.

So to be treated the way I was treated a couple of days ago, I personally don’t accept that.

What really happened in the camp between you and Oliseh? How were treated?

When I came to camp, I had no issues with my coach. The coach has been a big part of me. He is there for me. He fought for me when I had issues with the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF).

The coach defended me all the way. I have never had an issue with him.

He (Oliseh) doesn’t know me. I don’t know him. We have never played together. We have never shared a football field, together.

The first thing that happened when I first arrived at the camp was a meeting.

At the meeting, the coach addressed the players. The first thing he said was that he invited four goalkeepers to camp because he never expected me to come to the camp.

Secondly, he said that I was no more the captain of the team. That he had decided and he calls the shots. That was before dinner. He ended his speech with, “Enjoy your dinner”.

For me, it was a little bit shocking because I spoke with the NFF chairman (Amaju Pinnick) during the burial of my mother in Akwa Ibom. I was trying to excuse myself from coming to the camp because of the burial. He said, “No, Vincent, you have to be in camp”. He pushed me to be in camp. And because I really respect him (Pinnick), I told him I was going to leave everything, the thanksgiving service for my late mum. I told him, I was going to abandon it and come to the camp, which I did.

All the family meetings, everything we had to do with the people in the village, I abandoned all that and came to the camp.

So, for me to get my first welcome message of being stripped of captainship was a little bit not good for me. And after I had taken my food and ate, dinner had commenced. I am just telling you what played out.

I said, “Coach, please, I would like to say something.” He said, “No, you can’t talk”. I insisted that I wanted to talk. He insisted that I can’t talk. He then said that if I wanted to talk, he would order the team out and nobody would listen to me and I would sit there and talk alone or I would have to walk out if I insisted on talking.

I said, “Coach, I still want to say something.” And he said, “Vincent, get out!

You have to leave now. If you don’t leave, I’m going to call the cops, the security to throw you out of this hotel.” He used the word, “security”.

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He then got up, went to the door and opened it and commanded me to go out.

He said, “Go out, go out, Vincent! Or I am going to call the security.”

So that is how it played out.

So, for me to lose my mother, be invited to the camp, only to be stripped of captainship. Then out of argument, to be threatened to have the cops or security called for me, to me, I think it is the height of it.

I have heard all sorts of things that Neymar this and that. They never treated Thiago Silva that way. They never treated Mascherano that way. Some Nigerians can say whatever they want to say, but for me, I feel that’s not the right way to be treated.

I am still open for playing for Nigeria till the day I die. Till the day I can stop playing football. Till the day God gives me the grace to stop playing football or to keep playing football. As long as I can play football, I will play for my country. Even at the age of 100, if I can play football, I am still open to playing for Nigeria.

But, now, I just want to go home and be with my family.

Does this mean that after speaking with the NFF, you will seek official excuse to leave the camp?

Yesterday, the coach (Oliseh) came back to the bus and said he doesn’t know me, he doesn’t want to know me, he doesn’t care about me, and he doesn’t have anything to do with me.

That is a part of this issue that people don’t know because I haven’t said anything. I keep my mouth quiet, and I said nothing on that bus.

When he said this, you still trained with the team?

I am still with the team because Pinnick told me to wait till he comes (to Belgium). The president of the NFF told me to wait, that is why I am waiting. I am respecting him. That is why I am still in the camp.

The coach said he doesn’t need me, doesn’t want me, he doesn’t know me.

And he doesn’t want to know me. So, I shouldn’t be forced to play with such a coach.

I don’t have a problem with him (Oliseh). He is a great man. He is a a great guy. He is a nice guy. But, I tell you the truth, I just wanna go home and be with my family. This period, I am mourning my mum, I don’t want any more problems. Now, people are saying all kinds of things like, “Vincent is stubborn”.

I don’t know if there is anybody in this world who is treated that way that would not want to know why he is being stripped of the captainship.

I am not so concerned about being captain. I don’t have a problem with it (being removed as captain). But, I think I should be given an excuse, a reason why.

I have been playing for Nigeria for 13 years. So I feel if a decision is being taken on me, I think I deserve to know why.

And moreso, I was being invited. I did not come through the backdoor. I was invited.

In my club, in the European Club, if a coach doesn’t play you in a match, he comes to your room, or he calls you, or he invites you to his room. He tells you, “You’re not going to play today, because

•Enyeama I want to field another player”. It shows respect.

I have worked so hard for my country.

I was part of the success of Nigerian football, then I am being treated like that without being given a chance to express myself. Then, I think that is not fair.

I am feeling so sad. I am feeling really, really sad. Because I would have stopped playing football for Nigeria after the World Cup. But, then, I changed my mind because I love the country so much. I love Nigeria so much. I want her to return to glory. I want to be part of that glory. I want to be part of the pain. I want to be part of what happens in Nigerian football. It breaks my heart that Nigerian football is struggling. But, then, I want to be part of rewriting our story.

But, if the coach and the people don’t want me to be part of it, I believe there are better ways of taking me out. You can call me and talk to me. You can send me a message. You can do a phone call.

You don’t need to invite me to camp, to tell me in the presence of everyone. You don’t need to invite me to tell me that you’re going to call the cops for me.

I did nothing wrong. I am not an armed robber. I feel bad, I feel bad. I am telling you the truth. I feel really bad. I feel very sad.

In this trying moment, when you lost your mother, and are now dealing with this row with your coach, what can you say you have learnt from this episode.

What have you taken away from all this?

I have learnt a lot. Not to trust any man.

But to trust only God. Only God doesn’t disappoint. But this is so painful for me.

What do you think those young players will think? ‘Oh, if Vincent is being treated this way, what about me? I don’t have a future.’ It discourages people

from playing for their country. It discourages people from giving so much for this country. Imagine you were working so hard for your establishment and one day , your boss walks in and says,”You’re fired.” How would you feel?

Hmmmmm Answer me. In the presence of everybody in the meeting room, he says, “Mr. Peter, you’re fired! You are relieved of your duties.” I wonder what you would do?

I would summon up courage and ask why.

That is what I did. I asked, ‘Why?’ And he said, “Walk out or I’ll call the cops.”

There is a report that you entered into an altercation with Oliseh. Did you threaten to fight your coach at any point in time?

Never. Never. Never. God is my witness. God is the judge. I was prevented from speaking. I was never even given a chance to speak.

I have heard a lot of people say I should have sat down. I should have taken it easy.

For God’s sake, I have played for Nigeria for 13 years. Not one, not two (but 13 years).

So, if I am being treated like a player who is just coming into the camp for his debut game, then I don’t need to be here.

It’s a simple thing.

The coach says he doesn’t count on me. I don’t have a problem with that.

For me, I just want to respect my mum and walk home.

Note:

Enyeama was expected to return to Eagles camp in Belgium to meet with officials of the NFF yesterday.

PAGE 54 —SUNDAY

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Vanguard, OCTOBER 11, 2015

SUNDAY

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Vanguard, OCTOBER 11, 2015 — PAGE 55

SUNDAY Vanguard, OCTOBER 11, 2015

Eagles’ central defence worries Oliseh A

I shall return —Enyeama

3 5 .

—P

FTER a lacklustre performance against Congo DR last week, Super Eagles head coach Sunday Oliseh expects a quick response from his charges tonight as they take on the Indomitable Lions of Cameroon in an international friendly.

The Super Eagles were beaten 2-0 by Congo DR in their last friendly international on Thursday with Dieumerci Mbokani and Jordan Mkololo netting for the Leopards at Stade de la Cité de l’Oie, Visé.

Oliseh is now looking for a rapid response that will see his side bounce back against the

continues on page 52

•Oliseh

Shape in or ship out —Klopp tells Liverpool players

•Enyeama

Nigeria dares Cameroon in Brussels 7pm : f f o Kick

T

HE Super Eagles, who are still reeling from a 2-0 loss to DR Congo and the sensational retirement of erstwhile skipper, Vincent Enyeama will tonight face the Indomitable Lions of Cameroon in Brussels.

Cameroon defeated Belgian league leaders KV Oostende

•Mbia, Cameroon captain

3-1 in a friendly on Thursday also in Belgium as both the Indomitable Lions and Nigeria prepare

Fixtures

CROSS WORD PUZZLE ACROSS 1.Nobel-winning Archbishop (7-4) 5.Sailor (3) 7.Consumed (5) 8.Domesticates (5) 9.Ovum (3) 10.Electricity counting gadgets (6) 13.Highlander (4) 15.Poem (3) 17.One that contests (9) 20.Nigerian tribe (5) 22.Cereal (5) 24.Demoted (9) 27.Pig’s pen (3) 29.No one (4) 30.Sulks (6) 33.Away (3) 35.Presses (5) 36.Till (5) 37. Swine (3) 38. “The Man Who Saw Tomorrow” (11)

DOWN 1.Sleeping vision (5) 2.Possessor (5) 3.Tax (4) 4.Depressing (9) 5.Argentinian dance (5) 6.Wash lightly (5) 11.Greek letter (3) 12.Distress call (1-1-1) 14.English boy’s name (5) 16.Obstacle (3) 17.Bovine animal (3) 18.Mindfulness (9) 19.Alarm (5) 21.Help (3) 23.Village house (3) 25.Gnome (3) 26.Vast age (3) 27.Condescend (5) 28.Youthful (5) 31.Circular (5) 32.Trades (5) 34.Old Russian King (4)

GLO Premier League

•Musa

Guinea 2016: Falconets thrash Congo DR

—P.52 See solution on page 5

for 2018 World Cup qualifiers next month.

The Eagles are hard pressed for a result particularly after the disgraceful falling out between coach Sunday Oliseh and Enyeama as well as a shambolic continues on page 52

Lobi Stars v Pillars v Bayelsa v Enyimba v Taraba v IfeanyiUbahv Sharks v Rangers v Akwa Utd v Giwa v

Kwara United Sunshine Stars Nasarawa United Shooting Stars Heartland El-Kanemi Wikki W/ Wolves Abia Warriors Dolphin

Results W/Cup qualifiers C A Rep. Eritrea Chad

0 Madagascar 3 0 Botswana 2 1 Sierra Leone 0

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