Lamido cries from prison: I'm being persecuted because of 2019 presidency

PAGE 2, S UNDAY Vanguard SUNDAY Vanguard,, JULY 12 , 2015

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Vanguard, JULY 12, 2015, PPA AGE 3

PAGE 4 — SUNDAY VANGUARD, JULY 12, 2015

SUSPECTED CRIMINALS P ARADED B YO YO POLICE PARADED BY OY Photos by Dare Fasube

A suspect, Tope Oni, 36, alleged to have deceived a dealer with fake teller and eletronic transfer to buy a car, with Oyo State Commissioner of Police, Alhaji Muhammed Katsina.

Suspects arrested in connection with the snatching of a vehicle loaded with chemicals

Alleged Okada thieves

A cross section of suspects

The Okpella demand from Edo people

BY EMAMEH GABRIEL

T

he receipt and recognition of popular participation in governance, being elective or on the basis of appointment is the hallmark of true democracy and anything short of that could be best described as an attempt to dent the principle of natural justice in a democratic setting.

Almost four decades after we sent one of our own (Senator Franca Afegbua) to the Red Chamber to represent the old Bendel State of Nigeria (Bendel North Senatorial District) in the second republic (1979-1983), it was like soon after her service as the first Nigerian female Senator, an opportunity that would have catapulted Okpella to her political limelight, she went on break.

While this break lasted, we became the political tools to others and we remained contented in playing the second fiddle in the polity; they pull the strings and we dance. We pay the piper, they

call the shots; our talents, our resources and our possibilities are now the means to an end for other Etsako communities and beyond in the last decades.

Franca Afegbua, being the first female Senator in Nigeria, is not only a symbol of the participation of the Nigerian woman in partisan politics but also a symbolic characteristic representation of the place of Okpella in the Nigerian political platform as it were.

She displayed the typical of a true Okpellan going by how she set off her sojourn to the Senate while contesting under the opposition political party (NPN) against the ruling party (UPN) under the control of late Professor Ambrose Ali. She was, indeed, an archetypical and quintessential of the founding fathers of Okpella.

The end of the second republic and the emergence of the IBB’s SDP and NRC was the beginning of the sad political experience for Okpella in her political history. Things kept falling apart, and today lays in front

of our very eyes things that cannot be denied by any informed and intelligent individual who is very apt with the polity in Nigeria and Edo- that Okpella had almost been totally sidelined both on the social and political stratum in the last decades.

The fate of the Okpella community is entangled with uncertainty at the moment. A supposedly economy hub of Edo North, a community that plays host to Edo Cement, same cement company that currently engaged hundreds of workers from Etsako and other communities in the state and beyond.

The same factory that serves as one of the largest sources of internally revenue generation for Edo State based on the percentage modules of the shares accrued to it.

It is sixteen years after the return of democracy, available records have shown that Okpella has been severely short changed in the distribution of elective position and other political appointments both from local

government, state and at the federal level as well as the distribution of other democratic dividends. It is understood that the statistics from the last National Population Censor count which clearly placed Okpella as the third single largest community in Edo State has been snappishly ignored. The case of Okpella is a symbolic example of a people who pays the piper while others dictate the tune for them.

From records and statistics, we have observes with disappointment and unacceptability the fact that political leadership in the last 16 years has been advertently or inadvertently believed or claimed to be exclusive preserve for a few power blocks to the exclusion of the others whose political leaders are deemed or coerced into automatic followers and willing supporters ad-infinitum.

We appeal to all Okpellans and Edo communities who believe in equalitarianism and change to join hands to educating, mobilizing and

consolidating the political activities of the people in fulfilment of God’s given doctrines of natural justice, equality and good conscience which are embedded in the change slogan Nigerians have recently adopted for national development.

And finally, we will simply ask the people of Okpella to be ready to engage in a positive process of re-engineering and re-orienting the dynamics of the polity in the state and then let our participation define our zeal to be part of the next executive in Edo State Government House.

The progress of Okpella simply lies in the decisions we take today and the future of the next generation of Okpella is defined in our awakening to time and there is no other time than the one available to us ahead of the 2016 governorship election in the state. It may not be our rights but we deserve more than this.

It is not too much to ask for! *Gabriel is an Abuja based journalist.

SUNDAY VANGUARD, JULY 12, 2015, PAGE 5

CONFERENCE

Lamido cries out from prison: I’m being persecuted over 2019 Presidency Continued from page 1

Lamido, who spoke exclusively to Sunday Vanguard through his media aide, Umar Kyari, yesterday, drew the attention of Nigerians and the international community to the attempt being made by those he called “my political enemies” to silence him using the instrumentality of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

Lamido pointed out that it was clear from the outset that there was a grand design to put him away in prison for a long time under the guise of money laundering and sundry charges so as to pave the way for his political enemies to have their way.

The former governor, whose many supporters relocated to the Kano Central Prison where they kept vigil over him and his two sons, said he was determined to prove to Nigerians that he was innocent but was merely being witch-hunted by those who feel threatened by his rising political profile.

Lamido’s spokesman said: “This current effort to frame and denigrate the former governor of Jigawa State with a view to rubbishing his high performance in office will come to naught at the end of the day.

“Lamido remains nothing but a scion of accountability and integrity who has always fought on the side of the people, particularly the downtrodden and the vulnerable, since he came into the national political scene.

“He remains unshaken over the trumped-up charges slammed on him by the EFCC knowing

that he has not committed any offense to warrant being thrown into the prison over a bailable offense.

“But the refusal by his traducers to grant him and his sons bail when others charged same day and time for even more grievous offences were admitted to bail speaks volume of the intention and mindset of those who are after him.

“Nonetheless, Sule Lamido strongly believes that, after being imprisoned several times all in a bid to pave the way for sustained democracy in Nigeria, the current effort by the EFCC and others to humiliate him and his family over the so-called money laundering charges will not break his resolve to continue to fight on the side of the people.

“It is Lamido’s strong belief that having not committed any offense against the state to warrant being sent to prison, he and his two sons will be freed and vindicated against the wicked plot of their adversaries”.

Meanwhile, Lamido is said to have been overwhelmed by the large number of friends and well wishers from across Nigeria who have thronged the prison to show solidarity with him and his two sons.

A close source at the prison told Sunday Vanguard that Lamido was jolted by the show of love and solidarity that he shed what the source described as “tears of joy” on Friday.

The former governor reportedly came out on Friday afternoon in one of his best attires to the office of the prison controller with a view to getting close to all those

who had thronged the prison yard to see him.

Sunday Vanguard learnt last night that Lamido and sons were likely to be admitted to bail tomorrow (Monday) as a vacation judge was most likely to hear their bail application on that day.

A source said Lamido’s associates had already prepared in many ways to meet whatever conditions the judge might stipulate for their release from prison pending the hearing of the case in September.

Lamido and his two sons, according to the charge sheet of the EFCC after what the anti-graft agency described as a thorough investigation, alleged during the arraignment of the accused persons at a Federal High Court sitting in Kano, that they laundered N1.35 billion.

They were slammed with a 28-count charge bordering on criminal breach of trust.

The trial judge, Justice Evelyn Anyadike, adjourned the case till September 28 while ordering that the suspects be remanded in Kano Prison.

Anyadike, however, ruled that the case will be handed over to a vacation judge to listen to the accused persons bail application while the judiciary goes on vacation today.

From left: Mohammed Abu-el-magd, Anwar Khan, Bishop Sunday Onuoha, Adam Taylor and Rev. Gary Henderson at the Religion and Sustainable Development conference held in Washington D.C., USA.

•Executive Director of Nigerian Inter-faith Action Association, NIFAA, Bishop Sunday Onuoha (right) and the President, World Bank Group, Jim Yon Kim, at the conference.

2019 PRESIDENCY Govs Forum, NASS are new battlegrounds

By Olalekan Bilesanmi

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HE National Assembly and the Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF) appear to have emerged as the new battlegrounds for high profile politicians jostling for the 2019 presidential contest.

The politicians bid, Sunday Va n g u a rd learnt, is predicated on the assumption that P r e s i d e n t Muhammadu Buhari, on account of age (he is 72), may not run for second term at the next general elections.

Sources at the weekend linked the politicians ambition to the National Assembly leadership crisis.

The National Assembly came into the calculations because in the absence of a sitting

President who is interested in seeking reelection and a Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, who is a technocrat, leaders of the National Assembly are in vantage position to use their offices to mobilize support and gain political visibility.

The politicians, including governors, it was learnt, were, therefore, wary of allowing senators and Representatives with vast experience, huge resources, wide network and political visibility to emerge as Senate President, Speaker or occupy other principal offices.

The attacks launched by a N o r t h -We s t governor on the Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki, and M r.

Ya ku b u Dogara, Speaker of the House of Representatives, are

believed to be tied to the 2019 presidential race.

Analysts say the governor ’s fear is that Saraki and Dogara, who are both northerners, may use their offices to traverse the country and build political network that may encourage them to seek the office of the President in 2019.

The governor is said to be using his closeness to Buhari to unsettle the political system, including the sharp division he allegedly caused in the NGF and the Northern Governors Forum.

Apart from staying away from the meetings of the NGF, sources said he has also refused to recognise the group’s leadership of Governor Abdulaziz Ya r i Abubakar of Zamfara

State. In the same way, it was gathered that he has made it known that he has nothing to do with the Northern Governors Forum led by the Governor of Borno State, Alhaji Kashim Shettima.

Instead, the particular governor has reportedly encouraged the emergence of a group made up of himself and his counterparts in Katsina and Nasarawa States, Aminu Bello Masari and Umaru Ta n ko A l - M a ku r a respectively. The trio are said to have labelled themselves as Buhari’s favourite governors.

Meanwhile, sources said the governor has been openly boasting that he has Buhari’s word to help him with his presidential ambition in 2019.

PAGE 6 — SUNDAY VANGUARD, JULY 12, 2015

Gunmen kill monarch, 3 others in Enugu

By Francis Igata

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KEREFI in Nkanu East Local Government Area of Enugu State was, Friday night, thrown into mourning as gunmen struck, killing the traditional ruler of Isienu Amofu, Igwe Peter Onuoha, and three others. The other victims were identified as Ejike Udeme Uzor, Evelyn Udeme Uzor and Daniel Ogbu.

Several others shot by the suspected assassins, who invaded the community under the cover of darkness, were said to be receiving treatment at the Catholic C h u r c h - o w n e d Annunciation Specialists Hospital, Emene, Enugu.

Sunday Vanguard learnt that the incident threw the community into confusion following the sporadic shooting.

Those residing near the

palace of the royal father reportedly fled their homes on hearing the sound of gunshots but some unlucky ones were hit by stray bullets.

At the end of the shooting, the fleeing natives returned only to find that Igwe Onuoha, Ejike Udeme Uzor, Evelyn Udeme Uzor, Daniel Ogbu were dead.

The personal assistant to the monarch, identified as Vincent, was reportedly shot while fleeing the palace but he survived.

Enugu State Police Public Relations Officer, Mr. Ebere Amaraizu, confirmed the gun attack, saying the royal father and three others lost their lives in the bloody incident that occurred at Nkerefi.

According to Amaraizu,”the corpse of the royal father had been deposited at the Eastern Nigeria Medical Centre,

Enugu while three other corpses were deposited at Agbani Health Centre in Nkanu West local government area”.

The police spokesman said operatives from the state police command”are already on the matter to unravel the c i r c u m s t a n c e s surrounding the deaths but, from available information, there seems to be different accounts of the incident from the people of the community.”

•Excited passengers boarding a Med-View Airline plane during the Airline's Lagos-Abuja-Maiduguri inaugural flight on Friday. Photo Lamidi Bamidele

Family declares 70-yr-old Pa Danisa missing

By Bilesanmi Olalekan

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R Charles Olusola Danisa,70, is missing. Last month, precisely June 17, 2015, he left home unannounced.

According to Iyabo,42, his wife, Danisa had just returned from Badagry

General Hospital for an undisclosed ailment before his disappearance.

“He was recuperating in the house. Before going out in the morning, he came out and sat opposite the house saying the heat in the house was too much”, she started.

“Indeed, it was sunny that

We lost presidential election because Jonathan breached power shift pact — PDP •Describes bail out for states as illegal

By Henry Umoru

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HE national leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), yesterday, said it lost the March 28 presidential election to Muhammadu

Buhari of the All Progressives Congress, APC, because former President Goodluck Jonathan failed to honour the agreement that power should return to the North after eight years.

According to the PDP, Jonathan broke the power shift pact by succumbing to pressure from some governors, party leaders and stakeholders that he should contest the 2015 presidential election instead of allowing the North to contest and complete its traditional eight-year-tenure, adding that with the defeat, after 16 years in government, it has learnt a serious lesson of respecting zoning and agreements in line with the party’s constitution.

Speaking with journalists, yesterday, in Abuja, the PDP National Vice Chairman, South South, Dr. Cairo Ojougboh, explained that there was a ‘gentleman arrangement’ by the 34 ‘great’ men who formed the PDP that they would start with rotation of power after eight years between the South and the North, starting with the South where former President Olusegun Obasanjo emerged in 1999.

According to Ojougboh, the North rejected Jonathan and voted President Muhammadu Buhari, their son, into office against the backdrop that former President Jonathan went contrary to the initial gentleman agreement that he would govern for only four years and return power to the North.

He said: “So PDP had the first shot, everybody cooperated, Obasanjo became president. After eight years, it was the turn of the North to become president then problem started. Some people started

toying with the idea of third term. PDP said no, PDP members of the National Assembly and other parties said no it will not work; wonderful. The PDP had to produce a candidate and that is how Yar’adua came.

Unfortunately, Yar’adua did not survive so the North said look this presidency is our own, we have to utilise our allotted eight years and they were right.

Mr Charles Olusola Danisa

morning and it was on that basis that we agreed that he could be outside, to take fresh air. It was agreed that shortly after, he would return into the house, it was on that basis that I went out. By the time I returned, he was no where to be found.

Before then, he had always insisted he wanted to return to the East where his son resides. His son hired a medical doctor treating him, but the son

said he couldn’t come now because he was not ready. From our findings here in Badagry, those who saw him walking away said he told them that he was going to the East to meet his son whom we called but denied ever seeing him.

We have called all our relatives who he could possibly go to but nobody saw him.

“We have gone to police stations to lodge a report.

We went as far as the mortuary at the Badagry General Hospital, but I was not allowed inside because they claimed his name was not on their list.

I am using this medium to call on Nigerians, whoever sees him, because I know he is alive, they should please report to the nearest police station” Iyabo can be reached on phone number 08030762701.

Ugwuanyi moves against maternal, infant mortality

By Francis Igata

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OVERNOR Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State has expressed dissatisfaction with the high maternal and infant mortality rate in the country even when their causes are preventable.

The governor spoke on the occasion of the state flag-off of the 2015 First round of the Maternal Newborn and Child Health, MNCH, week and re-launch of the Free Maternal and Child Health.

He noted that the event coming one month after he took office as governor underscored his administration’s firm commitment to the improvement of quality health care service delivery in the state. He added that the event also explained the determination of the administration to fulfil the promise to the people

•Ugwuanyi, flagging-off the 2015 free maternal and child health care services. especially as it relates to health care exercises that will endanger preventive measures aimed at maternal and child healthcare.

He observed that the Free Maternal Child care programme initiated by the state government and implemented in partnership with local government areas is one of the laudable

components of reducing maternal and infant mortality rate in the state.

Undoubtedly,Ugwuanyi’s move to deepen the free maternal and child health care services initiated by his predecessor, former Governor Sullivan Chime, will reduce malaria during pregnancy,which reduces birth weight, a major determinant of infant mortality.

SUNDAY VANGUARD, JULY 12, 2015, PAGE 7

•From left: Former minister of information, Prince Tony Momoh; Director of School, Pace Setter Academy, Mrs Kate Omansuangbon; the Chairman/Proprietor of Pace Setter Academy, Dr. Kenneth Imansuangbon; and former Governor of Abia State, Chief Ogbonaya Onu, during the graduation/speech and price-giving-day celebration of Pace Setter Academy in Abuja, yesterday. Photo by Gbemiga Olamikan.

•Lotachukwu Ayogu Eze, second left, marks her graduation in Law from the University of Reading, United Kingdom. Left is her friend, Sunmayo Ayorinde and on her left is Senator Ayogu Eze and his wife, Nkechi.

B-R-I-E-F-S

Investors lose N271bn in five days •As lull in govt crashes stock market

By Emeka Anaeto, Economy Editor

A

combination of macroeconmic and political factors have forced the Nigerian stock market into massive slide as the market suffered its worst week losses since after the inauguration of the President Muhammadu Buhari’s government in May. Investors lost N271.7bn last week as market capitalization of the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) reduced to N10.8trillion.

The market had bounced into a frenzy of bullish run following the successful conduct of the presidential election resulting into massive gains driven by high expectations and positive sentiments.

But the market began flipflop swings week-on-week and, by June, the negative sentiments became predominant. The market did not record a single gain in the first 10 days of July

Lagos, firm partner on tree planting campaign

S

KIN Beauty Cosmetics Limited is to host/sponsor Lagos State government’s tree planting campaign for this year at its factory complex on Billings Way, Oregun, Ikeja.

According to Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency (L ASEPA), the event, slated for 11am on Tuesday, is expected to attract many top g o v e r n m e n t functionaries and industry gurus.

The theme this year is TREES … LUNGS OF THE EARTH. Mr. Lanre Ogunlesi, Managing Director of Skin Beauty, has promised a grand event.

2015.

According to investment analysts, the sharp decline in the market performance and the attendant huge losses to investors were due to the overwhelming influence of the difficult macroeconomic environment which dampened investors’ sentiments. ‘’There has been a general weakness in investors’ sentiments arising from the general macroeconomic conditions that have worsened the profitability of quoted companies at the stock exchange’’, Afrinvest Group, a Lagos-based investment banking group, said last weekend.

They had linked the weak sentiment to lack of clear economic policy direction almost two months into the new government. Investors’ sentiments were also said to be dampened with the announcement that ministerial list would not be ready until September, a development which confirmed the earlier position of Renaissance Capital, a world leader in international finance, that 2015 would be a lost year for

the Nigerian economy.

Many investment advisers are of the view that risk in an operating environment is better than uncertainty, describing the current operating environment in Nigeria as dangerously uncertain and unpredictable.

At a parley between Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) in Lagos, last week, one of the discussants said: ‘’President was ushered into power over a month ago amidst a frenzy of optimism and hope. Unfortunately, all we have seen is a deafening silence on the economy that has got potential investors glued to their cash. The president and his team are yet to provide a visible economic direction for the country leaving potential investors with no choice but to stay out of the market.

Some who had shares consider his muteness a bad sign and have also decided to sell-off. Investors hate uncertainty’’.

A cursory look at the movements in the individual sectoral indices

showed that the only month-on-month gain was recorded in the NSE Industrial Index with a gain of 1.99 per cent, as some stocks in the Index continue to offer upward potential in their prices. All other sectoral indices recorded month-onmonth losses. The highest month-on-month loss was recorded in the NSE Banking Index with a loss of 6.03 per cent, followed by the Insurance Index with a loss of 3.51 per cent.

Analysts at FSDH Merchant Bank Ltd., who also agreed that the operating environment is very unhealthy, said the outlook for July is not going to be better. ‘’We don’t expect a major improvement in the earnings of the quoted companies in second quarter of 2015 (which would have driven a market recovery)’’, one of the analysts said. In fact, the analysts forecast that the market may drop further this month, adding that the policy direction of the Buhari administration may set the path that the equity market would follow in the short term.

Itsekiri in Edo deny marginalisation claim

By May Lawrence

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HE Itsekiris in Ikpba-Okha Local Government Area of Edo State have denied any alleged marginalisation of the tribe by the state government saying they have benefited tremendously from projects executed by the state government.

Rising from a meeting held at Ikaye Atar … palace hall in Ologbo, the people wind that those who authored a publication alleging marginalisation of communities in the oil producing area did not have their consent and as such impersonated their leaders.

The six communities, Ajoki, Ajaminogha, Ajatiton, Ikara, Kolokolo and Ologbo said that the publication was misleading, provocative and a misrepresentation of facts.

According to communique issued after the meeting, the community said that they have benefited tremendously and are still benefitting from project executed by the state government and its services”.

The communities listed some of the projects executed by Edo State Oil and Gas Producing Areas and Development C o m m i s s i o n (EDSOGPADEC) to

include block of classrooms and NP Toilets in the six communities.

“The appointment of an indigene of Kolokolo, Barrister Promise Aduni Akpeto, as a member of the board of EDSOPADEC as the Representative of Edo South Senatorial District who is from Kolokolo in Ikpboba Okha Local Government Area of Edo State among others”.

The community said that they would remain eternally grateful to the government of Governor Adams Oshiomhole “for all he is doing”and promised to continually stand ,behind him and support his government.

APC Diaspora lauds Buhari over bailout for states

By Olufemi Ajasa

A

LL Progressives Congress (APC), Scandinavia chapter has commended President Muhammad Buhari on his approval of a package to end the crisis of unpaid workers’ salaries in the country.

According to a statement by the National Coordinator, APC Scandinavia Chapter, Mr. Lawal Ayoola, the package will enable the three tiers of government to pay the salaries owed.

“The package will not only go a long way in ameliorating the suffering of workers across the nation, who have without monthly payment of their salaries for several months, it will also

alleviate the psychological pain associated with working without the ability to meet basic needs,”the statement said.

“Similarly, the debt relief program, designed by the Debt Management Office, will help states restructure their commercial loans currently put at over N660 Billion, and extend the lifespan of such loans while reducing their debtservicing expenditures.”

“We in APC Scandinavia are very proud and delighted that President Muhammad is showing Nigerians and the international community that he is a man of his words and a clear pointer that Nigerians made the right choice of voting the right party to govern them”.

President urged to consider North East for SGF

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ATIONAL Mandate Group has urged President Muhammadu Buhari to appoint his Secretary to the Government of the Federation from the NorthEast.

The group, in an open letter by Otunba Doyin Adeniyi and Alhaji Ibrahim Modibbo to Buhari, asked him to consider the contribution of the zone to

his emergence as the winner of the March 28 poll.

The group recommended Alhaji Gambo Mogaji, a former BOT Chairman of the defunct ANPP, saying he is a reputable person who the President can work with from the North East being a retired Federal Permanent Secretary with great understanding of the political situation of the country.

Group seeks better treatment of elderly citizens

By Christopher Njoku

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ENTER for Happy Elderly People (CHEP), a nongovernmental organisation has decried the abuses suffered by the elderly citizens, advocating the need for government at all levels to provide an association for the elderly.

Mrs. Jiringho Adenoritsewo, the Coordinator of CHEP, this appeal at the World Elderly Abuse Awareness Day (WEAAD), which took place at CHEP home, Phase 1, Jakande Estate, Lagos.

Speaking at the event, Adenoritsewo said that most of the elderly have been abused in several ways, even

by their relatives or people around them, saying this affects their health.

Stressing that government at all levels must create an avenue, where those who are victims of abuse can reach, she said: “The older citizens need care, our prayer is for government to show adequate concern to them.

In Canada when I visited the old peoples home recently, I noticed that government and people within the community pay much attention to elderly persons, that is how we want it to be here in Nigeria. Government and community members should form a body that will take care of the elderly, so as to reduce the abuses they face, as we will all grow old one day, and also need care”.

PAGE 8 — SUNDAY VANGUARD, JULY 12, 2015

Ekweremadu: Group cautions APC leadership

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WEDDING: Ogun State governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun (2nd right), groom’s father, Dr. Adetunji Oredipe (left), bride’s mother, Yeye Gbemisola Oredipe (right), groom,Oluwabunmi Daniju (2nd left), and bride, former Miss Adebola Adedayo Oredipe (middle), during Adebola and Bunmi’s wedding ceremony, held at First Baptist Church, Ijari- Ijebu.

digbo Youths Organization (NYO) has cautioned the leadership of All Progressives Congress (APC) over what it described as the efforts to muscle Senator Ike Ekweremadu, Deputy President of the Senate, out of office. The group, in a release by its Secretary General, Comrade Patrick Afuberah, said,

Military destroys three Boko Haram vehicles •Scores feared dead in attacks

BY NDAHI MARAMA, MAIDUGURI

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CORES of sus pected terrorists were feared dead when they clashed with troops newly deployed to the troubled Borno State, along Damaturu-Maiduguri Road yesterday.

The incident, according to sources, took place in Ngamdu-MainokJakana villages.

The source said the terrorists in a convoy of three vehicles barricaded the road where they blocked two motorists including a truck which they suspected were conveying foodstuff to Maiduguri; but ran out of luck as troops with support from Jakana village swung into action and killed some of the terrorists, dislodged most of them before they set ablaze the three vehicles.

“I can confidently tell you that the busy Maiduguri-Damaturu road had a deadly attack between insurgents and troops, which I believe many of the terrorists were killed with destruction of three of their vehicles”, the source said A police officer stationed in one of the villages on the said highway informed our reporter that travelers were asked to make a u-

turn as the terrorists had taken over the road between Benisheik (a town 85kms from Maiduguri) and Ngamdu (35kms from Damaturu.

In a related development, the Borno State Police Command said that two suspected Boko Haram suicide bombers operating on a tricycle yesterday attacked the Borno Express Terminus Motor Park by detonating

T

HE Forum of Nigeria Polytech nics Alumni Associations has called for the establishment of the National Polytechnics Commission.

National Chairman of the forum, Chief Emmanuel Ojo, in a statement in Akure, also expressed concern over the discrimination between first degree graduates and higher national diploma holders.

Ojo said the commission would be saddled with the responsibility of supervising polytechnic education in the coun-

for identification, before release for burial.

Confirming yesterday’s incident, the Police Commissioner, Mr. Aderemi Opadukun, in a text message to Sunday Vanguard, said: “There was an IED explosion at about 0700 hrs today by the Welcome to Maiduguri Gate; and near the office of the State Department of Security Services (SSS) and El-Kanemi Theological College, Maiduguri.”

Niger imposes curfew

BY WOLE MOSADOMI

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he Niger State government has imposed a curfew on Paiko to forestall further breakdown of law and order which had earlier claimed four lives over leadership control of the township central mosque.

The curfew was declared to forestall further hostilities between the natives

(Gwaris) and the Hausa which started on Wednesday.

A cold war between the the natives of the town who are the Gwaris and the Hausas over who becomes the new Chief Imam of the town had been going on for a while and it had constantly led to a break down of law and order in the past weeks.

Trouble started when

Alumni seeks polytechnics commission

By Dayo Johnson, Akure

their Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs), and killed two passersby, while three others were injured at about 7.15am.

The injured ones, according to police authorities, have been evacuated by National E m e r g e n c y Management Agency (NEMA) and other rescue teams to hospital for treatment, while the bodies of the dead were deposited at the morgue

try, and appealed to the Federal Government to upgrade some polytechnics to degreeawarding. He lamented that only two of the nation’s 80 polytechnics, Yaba College of Technology and Kaduna Polytechnic, have so far been upgraded.

He said “We call on the relevant authorities to establish National P o l y t e c h n i c s Commission to supervise polytechnics in Nigeria. Adequate funding of polytechnic education is also advocated as this is the bedrock of the country ’s technological develop-

ment .

The forum also appealed to the Federal Government to consider only candidates with polytechnic background for appointment as rectors of polytechnics, saying “the ‘golden goose ‘ should not die, and in the interest of the technological development of this country. “ It pleaded with the National Assembly to expedite action on the Bill on disparity between first degree and higher national diploma which has passed the first reading at the Senate .

the deputy Chief Imam (Na’ibi) of the town died weeks ago and the natives demanded to fill the vacant office, a request which did not go down well with the Hausas who have been in firm control of the leadership of the mosque.

The natives also maintained that as long as they also have qualified people to fill the vacancy, they cannot therefore concede the office to the Hausas. It was this that eventually led to the breakdown of law and order in the town.

When the crisis was brought before the new Governor about two weeks ago, the matter was referred to the Emir of Minna, Alhaji Faruoq Bahago, for peaceful resolution but the move failed.

Last Wednesday, the warring groups went haywire and attacked each other which led to the death of two persons.

It was further gathered that the crisis took a new turn on Friday when some youths in the town challenged and demanded for total overhaul of the leadership of the mosque, rejecting the substantive Chief Imam who is also of Hausa extraction.

This led to another vio-

lent clash that claimed the life of a young man while eight others were injured.

The fourth person died yesterday morning from the injury he sustained.

The unfolding events in the town led the state government on Saturday to declare curfew in the town from 10pm to 4am until further notice.

The decision was contained in a statement by the Chief Press Secretary to the State governor, Ibraheem Dooba.

Government said its action was to keep the peace of the town and warned that anybody who violates the order would face appropriate consequences for their infraction.

The statement encourages the warring groups “to be law abiding, eschew violence and demonstrate the abiding peace for which Niger State is renowned”.

Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), ASP Baba Elkan, said all is now calm in the town as the Police is on top of the issue and called on the people to go about their duties without fear while calling on the people to alert the nearest police post of any attempt by anybody or group that tries to cause crisis.

Ike Ekweremadu was duly elected as other key officers of the National Assembly, adding that there was nothing unusual about his emergence to warrant the attacks unleashed on him by the APC leadership.

NYO, claiming to be saddled with the responsibility of fighting for the interest and welfare of the Igbo race, said it had watched with dismay and great disappointment the attacks and campaign of calumny against the Deputy Senate President.

“The calls from some APC senators and leaders for the resignation of Ekweremadu as Deputy Senate President is unacceptable to us and in fact an insult to the Igbo race. The fact that Senator Ike Ekweremadu was elected Deputy Senate President in a Senate that has majority of APC senators, speaks volumes of his leadership qualities and impeccable strength of character as a person. Consequently, we call on the InspectorGeneral of Police, Mr. Solomon Arase, not to allow himself be drawn into the politics of the National Assembly leadership, as we shall resist any attempt to ridicule our eader ”, the group added.

Delta Deputy Speaker on new DESOPADEC Bill

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eputy Speaker of Delta State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Friday Ossai Osanebi, has thrown his weight behind the proposed DESOPADEC 2006 Amendment Law before the House. Speaking to journalists after a church service to mark the 56th birthday of Governor Okowa at the Government House Chapel, Asaba, Osanebi noted that the restructuring of DESOPADEC has become necessary, considering the inefficiency in the system.

SUNDAY VANGUARD, JULY 12, 2015—PAGE 9

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HAT the Kogi State High Court judge, Justice Samuel Obayomi, kidnapped by gunmen on May 25, has been freed is no longer news, but the motive behind the abduction has continued to raised dust. While some people believe that the saga is one of the abductions that have became a regular feature of the state in recent times, others think it has community and duty connection.

The kidnapping of Obayomi of Ebogogo High Court in Adavi Local Government Area of Kogi State was so fast and professionally done.

He was attacked while going to office around 8: 45 am. The gunmen shot his orderly, Cpl. Usman Musa, dead on the spot.

The driver, Mr Ajayi Kolawole, who gave insight to the incident, said the gunmen, who did not wear masks but wore dark glasses and numbering about three, stopped the car in front of Executive Guest Villa, GRA, Okene.

Kolawole said, “The gunmen ordered the judge, the orderly and me to be face down. We complied but the hoodlums perhaps saw the armed orderly as a threat and opened fire on him, killing him on the spot.”

The judge was recuperating from a motor accident that left him hospitalised for three months and only resumed work a week before the kidnapping.

LAND AND CHEFTAINCY AFFAIRS Those who link the kidnapping to a community dispute said the kidnapping may have been a result of a land dispute between the judge’s kinsmen in Iluke and their neighbours in Ahara.

A source said Iluke and Ahara had been at logger heads over a land beside Okebukun area of Iluke. He said Ahara had accused Obayomi of being the defender of the Iluke as the encouraged his kinsmen to seek legal solution to the dispute. The source said: “These people (Ahara) have been laying claim to a potion of land very close to Okebukun Street in Iluke. Their land does not enter into Iluke. They have being going about saying that our victory at the lower court over the land was manipulated by Justice Obayomi who influenced his colleague to give us victory. Even when they have appeaedl the case, they keep saying they will deal with him. I won’t be surprised if the kidnapping saga is connected to the community threat.”

Another school of thought say for close to ten years, some people in Adavi Local Government have been displeased about the way Obayomi dispensed judgment at the Ebogogo High Court.

The judge is know for being a fearless judge who delivered judgment without considering whose ox is gored.

A family source said he handled a particular chieftaincy case some years back in which all efforts to stop him from delivering judgment was rebuffed by him. Obayomi was said to have stopped a particular family from laying claim to a chieftaincy title. The source said the family members of those whom the judgment was against vowed openly at the court premises to deal with him.

But will they wait for close to ten years before carrying out their vengeance?

N150m RANSOM Obayomi’s abductors stunned the people of the state when they demanded N150 million ransom to effect his release. The kidnappers were said to have contacted his family on the third day of abduction to demanding the ransom, promising to call back in two hours to tell the family how and when to

million cash reward to anyone who volunteered information that could lead to the arrest of the kidnappers.

Kogi State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Adeyemi Samuel Ogujemilusi also said the Inspector General of Police, IG, Solomon Arase, had deployed 350 police officers to the state to assist the effort to combat kidnappers.

•Justice Samuel Obayomi

FREEDOM AFTER 34 DAYS

Abductors treated me like a leper – Kogi High Court Justice Obayomi

By BOLUWAJI OBAHOPO, Lokoja deliver the money.

STRIKE While the judge was still at the kidnappers den, the Nigeria Bar Association, NBA, and the Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria, JUSUN, Kogi State chapter down tools to protest the kidnapping.

The bodies, in separate statements in Lokoja, protested what they termed “gagging” of justice.

The NBA announced the withdrawing of their services from the court across the state through a statement jointly signed by the chairmen of the four branches in Kogi, Amechi Obiechina, Chief Tunji Ologbonjo, Ibrahim Isiaka and J. Akubo . The quartet represent Okene, Kabba, Idah and Lokoja branches of the NBA respectively.

JUSUN, in its own

Obayomi has been quoted by a family source as saying the kidnappers treated him like a leper. The source said the kidnappers, aside the intimidation and harassment, were throwing food at him from the door

statement issued at the end of an emergency State Executive Council (SEC) meeting, and signed by its chairman, Daniel Adinoyi and secretary, Aminu, condemned the spate of kidnapping Kogi, saying similar event occurred in 2013 when Justice Moses Gwatana of the High Court, Ihima was attacked and shot at by unknown gunmen.

At a point, the kidnappers were said to have remained incommunicado with the family, or the Chief Judge of the state, Justice Nasir Ajanah, who was involved in the efforts to secure his release.

An unconfirmed report said the Chief Judge established contact with the kidnappers as the family negotiator, but on hearing his local language, the kidnappers switched off the phone and became incommunicado.

N5 MLLION BOUNTY Governor Wada Idris came into the matter when he offered N5

FREEDOM AFTER 34 DAYS It was not until Saturday, June 27, that Obayomi could breath the air of freedom. By then, he has spent 34 days in his abductors custody.

The state Commissioner for Police, Ogunjemilusi, who confirmed his release, said the judge was released in the night between 10:00 and 11:30.

He did not say where and how the judge was released or if any ransom was paid, but disclosed that he had been taken to a safe place even as he was yet to be released to his family.

The Chief Judge of Kogi State, Ajanah, while confirming Obayomi’s release, said, “We thank God for that but I cannot give you more information than you already have.”

An unconfirmed source said N30 million was paid as ransom.

The judge has not fully recovered apparently from the maltreatment he received in the hands of his abductors.

He is said to be on admission in a private hospital attached to the Government House. He is yet to be fully reunited with to his family. For now, the family only has limited access to him at the hospital. Their joy of seeing him has been cut short by the sickness he developed; a situation that explains why the police could not hand him over to the family.

Meanwhile, Obayomi has been quoted by a family source as saying the kidnappers treated him like a leper. The source said the kidnappers, aside the intimidation and harassment, were throwing food at him from the door. “He said sometimes the food will spill to the floor and they will still ask him to eat it”, the source narrated.

In a related development, the judge’s driver, Kolawole, is still languishing in police custody. Their (police) reason is simply because they cannot explain the rationale behind the kidnappers killing the orderly and leaving the driver. The driver’s family, which had thought that the abducted judge’s freedom will pave the way for his release has been dashed.

PAGE 10—SUNDAY Vanguard, JULY 12, 2015

What is wrong with hunting witches?

“To repay the civilities and little friendships of hospitality by robbing the house where you have received them, is to be the basest and meanest of thieves.”

Henry Fielding, 17071754, in TOM JONES. (VANGUARD BOOK OF QUOTATIONS p 244). uddenly, the possibility that we might be having probes conducted is already inducing many politicians and their associates from speaking from the two sides of their mouths at once. President Buhari, APC, announces that he will probe former government, PDP, and some people call it a witch-hunt. I partly agree if the probe instituted does not start from 1999.

From that era, we have $13-16 billion spent on power supply improvement which failed to occur. The newly-elected Governor Wike, PDP, of Rivers State, announced he will probe former Governor Amechi, APC, and somebody calls it witchhunt. The most bizarre

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one is from Ekiti State where Governor Fayose, PDP, said he would institute a probe concerning N4 billion allegedly embezzled by former Governor Fayemi, APC. Instead of Fayemi answering for himself, it was the APC, which will not be a party to the proceedings, which calls it a witch-hunt. The Fayemi I know is quite capable of defending himself and needs no busy-bodies to do it for him. I will be personally mortified if Fayemi’s tenure cannot withstand the severest scrutiny – if the inquiry is conducted openly and fairly.

That said; let me declare my support for witch-hunting if by witches we mean every single official who had made public funds to develop wings under cover of darkness cast on the people by not running transparent governments. Let’s hunt all the witches, whoever they may be and whatever their political affiliations might be.

Indeed, if there is one major reason the Federal

Home and Abroad “Begin, be bold, and venture to be wise.”

Horace hen terror visited London ten years ago, it started like any other day. Except it was anything but ordinary. Four suicide bombers struck in central London on Thursday 7 July killing 52 people and injuring more than 770. It was a coordinated attack that was to have maximum impact; hit the transport system during the morning rush hour, the suicide bombers detonated their bombs on the underground and on the buses.

Like everyone else in London, I was rushing to get to work. As one does; I was thinking about deadlines and planning the mundane things that we often think it is so important that can’t wait. Like any other day, the roads was busy and bustling and everyone going about their daily lives. Nothing unusual or out of the ordinary that day, that is,

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until the radio announced that there has been an explosion in London. Our side of the world stood still that day. Eerily, the whole place went cold; it became silent and the street, desolate. You do what comes to mind: you reach out to your loved ones, but the networks were down.

My whole being was to be with my family right there and then. But I could not.

The city that never slept was in lock down.

So I, along with thousand others, made our way down the roads, walking together with complete strangers but we were together in not knowing what to expect.

Yet, I felt lost and alone. I walked for miles while praying that all will be well.

I got a call from Nigeria; my brother-in-law has been watching the news and wanted to know if all is well.

So the outside world knew more than we did? This must be serious. I assured him, we were well. What do you say to someone thousands of miles away?

We were the lucky ones,

Government of Nigeria and most states of Nigeria are heavily indebted and cannot pay salaries and provide services to the people, it is because we had always allowed “witches” to devour us in more ways than we can count.

devoted to the atrocities committed by a former card-carrying PDP member now in APC, who now wants to probe his predecessor. Two more examples will do.

In 2013, when Femi Fani-Kayode was blasting former President Jonathan at will, he was embraced by the APC. If he had continued that way till today, he would be a “good guy” to APC and “bad guy” to PDP. His case pending with the EFCC would have been judged in advance accordingly – witch-hunt or deserved punishment.

Some would have pointed out that the offence was committed ten years ago; so why

Let me declare my support for witch-hunting if by witches we mean every single official who had made public funds to develop wings under cover of darkness cast on the people by not running transparent governments But, before that, let me make another point about the witches. Right in front of our eyes some individuals have transformed from “good guys” to “bad guys”, or “bad guys” to “good guys”, depending on the party label they now carry. Chapter 8 of my book, PDP: C O R R U P T I O N INCORPORATED was

continue? Some time around 2010, a former PDP Governor had the office of the ACN in Portharcourt closed. PDP applauded, ACN called it a rape of democracy.

Today, the Governor is a “good guy” to APC. If Wike closes the APC office now, he will be tyrant. Readers can easily see how our politicians expect us to

when I finally got home later that day, I got to hug my kids and we sat to reflect on the day of the attacks.

Our lives changed that day: I have learnt not to take anything for granted.

I have also learnt that love is better than hate. I appreciate that I live in a place where we live side by side regardless of our

blight lives around the globe. In London, the terror attack happened 10 years ago but we moved on and we cannot forget. Terror cannot be allowed to reign and fester. We cannot let these mindless zealots win; we will stand together and dispel the extremist ideology. Leading the 10year memorial of the

Nigeria is sleep walking and existing in a living nightmare and it is about time that decisive action was taken to eradicate the scourge of our society; they do not have a place in Nigeria differences. On that day terror had indeed visited the capital on 7/7 and 52 people died and countless injured and maimed while going about their daily lives.

Their lives extinguished, hope and future dimmed.

For those who survived, they live the horrors and carried the evidence of that day with them daily.

That day, I saw the best and the worst of humanity.

It is a lesson for us all that we can only win when we stand together. Only that way, we stay stronger than any merchants of terror and hatred and stronger.

Ten years on, more horrors and acts of terrorism continue to

bombing, the bishop of London, the Right Rev Richard Chartres led a pledge by leaders of faith communities, including Christian, Muslim, Jewish, Hindu and others: “We stand united in our determination to resist and overcome the evil of terrorism. We belong to different faiths and traditions but we share a common grief at the suffering which has been inflicted on so many of our fellowmen and women, here and abroad.”

Home so they say, charity begins at home. In Nigeria, we have become so desensitised to the death tolls and incessant terrorist attacks by Boko Haram.

alter our views about people depending on which party card they carry. The party card has become a powerful detergent which washes away all previous atrocities or a stain which sticks. That by itself is good reason why we must hunt all the witches. As the saying goes in America, you can’t cheat an honest man. No probe can establish that somebody stole a kobo if the books of account don’t say so.

At this point, please follow me down the history of Nigeria. Both Chief Obafemi Awolowo and Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe were the subjects of “witch-hunts” or probes – if you like. Zik was hammered first by the British because the NCNC, which he led, was a thorn in the flesh of the colonial masters.

The Foster Sutton Inquiry, looking into the financial affairs of the Eastern Region, where Zik was Premier, indicted his government for “mismanagement” of funds in the African Continental Bank, ACB. To NCNC members, including my father, who loved Zik next to God, it was a witch-hunt. To the Action Group members, it was a fair inquiry. The WEST AFRICAN PILOT owned by Zik and the TRIBUNE owned by Awolowo were obviously covering different events from the editorials they wrote when the report was released.

Years after, Awolowo was in jail for treason because Justice Sowemimo said “my hands are tied”. (We have again heard about hands being tied recently, proving that nothing really changes in Nigeria). With Awo in jail and his political antagonists in power in the Western Region and Federal, a Coker Inquiry was instituted into the affairs of the Western Regional Government under Awolowo. Even a dunce can guess the outcome of the probe.

Awo was indicted; but since he was already serving a life sentence, he could not be jailed again. Predictably, the NPC/NNA Alliance and their media houses called it a fair and impartial probe. The TRIBUNE called it (do you need me to tell you?) – a witchhunt; naturally.

Obviously, in Nigeria one is guilty or not, depending on the party affiliation of the person reacting to it. If beauty is universally only in the eye of the observer, then in Nigeria guilt is also in the mind of the person listening to the verdict.

So, we might as well have the “witch-hunts” of 2015 for us and posterity to argue about.

To be continued…..

NEXT WEEK: Apart from embezzlement of funds, how about lives snuffed out in political murders, since 1999, still unsolved?

Last week, a girl aged about 13 was killed when explosives strapped to her body went off near a major mosque in Kano.

Alarmingly, Boko Haram militants have increasingly used young girls and women as human bombs.

Time watched helplessly as the news roll in that Boko Haram continues to attack town and cities with impunity, kill, maim and abduct innocent people while they hold the whole country and neighbouring nations to ransom. So far, Boko Haram insurgents have killed around 200 people in the last one week.

And since 2002, Amnesty International puts the toll at 23,000 dead. Another 1.5 million people have been driven from their homes.

Boko Haram also launched a string of cross border raids, last week alone more than 200 people died in a string of attacks inside Nigeria. With the latest attack, more than 550 people have been killed since Buhari’s inauguration, and the president has vowed to crush the rebellion with the help of an 8,700-strong regional military force.

Nigeria is sleep walking and existing in a living nightmare and it is about time that decisive action was taken to eradicate the scourge of our society; they do not have a place in Nigeria. Time that Nigeria began to rebuild and start healing. In London, 52 people died in

7/7 but 52 was one too many and since then, the country has got itself together to ensure that the security measures are robust and the successive administration spent millions of pounds to reduce radicalisation in youths.

Most of all, peoples’ lives matter and in Nigeria, it needs to place value on human lives once more. We have become too aloof and disconnected about the incessant waste of lives. We can no longer do so, the denial of these tragedy has stopped us dealing with the problem head on but also it means that it allowed the perpetrators to continue to carry out their dastardly and atrocious activities with little or no resistance.

Terror feeds on fear and the time to be passive is long gone. I know that Buhari and his administration have pledged to act and we need to hold them to it.

People of Nigeria have suffered for far too long and we need to change our mind-set: this is not one people or one religion problem, the problem is everybody and the solution has to include all.

The latest is that Boko Haram is offering to hand over more than 200 girls kidnapped last year in exchange for the release of a number of militant leaders being held by the government. I do hope that the government refuse to negotiate with terrorists.

SUNDAY VANGUARD, JULY 12, 2015, PAGE 11

Bring Back Our Girls’ campaigners deserve a prize

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ast Wednesday, the ‘Bring Back Our Girls’ campaigners visited President Muhammadu Buhari, at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.

After watching the report on national television of how the team was personally received by President Buhari, what immediately went through my mind was the saying that everything that has a plus has its minus and vice versa.

I remembered vividly the attempt by the campaigners to pay a similar visit to President Goodluck Jonathan on May 14, 2014 and how two Nigerian groups; female ministers and security operatives, blocked them from seeing the then President. How come the campaigners were not stopped this time around? Could the saving grace be the absence of ministers that we have all been clamouring for? This question is relevant because of the tendency of people in government in Nigeria to, at all times, pose as though they love the President more than the public that voted him into power. Hence, the then female ministers

thought it was their place or were sent to counsel the campaigners thereby standing between them and Jonathan.

As this column argued

The nation owes the team a debt of gratitude for its selfless work. The women should never rest on their oars until the girls are rescued.

Incidentally, that is not likely to happen to such a group that is made up of women of impeccable integrity who cannot be blackmailed then in its reaction titled “Wanted in Nigeria: A new approach to street protests”, the ministers forgot that none of them would have become a minister if she was abducted as a young girl and was not rescued. The point was also made then that none of them would have been able to counsel any protester if any of the abducted girls was her daughter just as none of them would have been

PhD,Depar tment of Philosophy, University of Lagos 08116759758 opuruiche2000@yahoo.com

Perspectives on change (2)

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n this regard, APC is certainly not different from the PDP. The way I see it, given what is known about most prominent leaders of the new ruling party, those who believe it can deliver meaningful change nationwide should think seriously of the possibility that they might be mistaken.

Consider the President, Alhaji Muhammadu Buhari. Every competent psychologist knows that adaptability to change and willingness to put on a new thinking cap and do things differently diminishes with advancing age. Thus as a septuagenarian, the President's capacity to change his entrenched beliefs and attitudes to governance in line with changing circumstances is less than what it was when he was a forty-two year old military head of state. Perhaps that was why President Buhari, while speaking to Nigerians resident in South Africa, frankly acknowledged that there are limits to what he can accomplish in office because of his age. Apart from that, Buhari's core military background and disposition as a devout Muslim encourage conservative tendencies, which would severely restrict his willingness to try novel but effective strategies of effective leadership, especially if such approaches conflict with the command-and-obey military ethos and Islamic teachings.

Irrespective of the vituperations against critics

satisfied to see a minister instead of the President if she was a mother to any of the abducted girls. So, do we say thank God no intruding ministers now?

who point to the President Buhari's rigidity and decisions that refute exaggerated claims of his detribalised attitude, prominent members of the conservative Northern elite such as Ango Abdullahi, Ibrahim Commassie and Junaid Mohammed consider him as President for the North above everything else, whose preeminent duty is to protect the interests of that region.

Now, although one should avoid hasty generalisation at this stage, the notion that the President would likely promote a hegemonic Northern agenda is corroborated by his recent appointments, which heavily favour the North. Even, some Northern politicians are claiming that in the alliance that produced APC, defunct Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) hitherto dominant in the South West is the subaltern or junior partner to the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), the party that fielded Buhari as presidential candidate in 2011. The antecedents of other APC leaders, such as Alhaji Atiku Abubakar and Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, in my humble opinion, do not inspire confidence that positive change is about to happen because APC is now the ruling party. Atiku Abubakar's record as Vice President to Chief Olusegun Obasabjo was mediocre: for example, his role as overseer of the privatisation and

Are we in any way suggesting that there is no need for ministers? Of course not, after all, the wise drafters of our constitution had already underscored the importance of ministers to a government by providing for the position in section 147 of our highest law. That is not all; the same constitution also assigned weighty issues part of which is the determination of the continued stay in office of an ailing President to commercialisation programme of Obasanjo created some issues for both men at the end of the day with accusations and counter accusations flying about.

Bola Tinubu was governor of Lagos State for eight years.

According to his traducers, the former governor accumulated so much money to the extent that he is the dominant politician in Yorubaland. An objective assessment of the public service records of John Odigie Oyegun, Bukola Saraki, Yakubu Dogara and others would likely reveal a near total absence of achievements that might indicate capacity or potential for radical transformative social action.

Having said that, APC is largely a party of dyed in the wool conservatives who benefitted (and are still benefiting) tremendously from the status quo. Of course there are ideological differences between the parties that came together to form the APC. Yet, chieftains of these parties have an overarching interest in maintaining existing political and economic structures designed for optimum exploitation of the masses.

Those who naively believed the change shibboleths from APC's vuvuzelas did not reckon with the fact that Nigerian politicians tend to put aside differences in ethnicity, religion and party alleviations in order to protect and enhance their selfish interests. Based on what is known publicly about leading APC members, it would be easier for the proverbial camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for these politicians to eschew selfishness and work genuinely hard together to uplift the poor, the

ministers. What this suggests is that government appointees have a duty not just to the President but the society at large.

Accordingly, we expect our next set of minister to be ready to serve the nation.

Neither them nor other appointees especially security operatives are used to forcefully pushing off people from interacting with their President should not turn our President to a prisoner in officer as they did to Jonathan by preventing him from being the people’s President.

It will be recalled that during Jonathan’s administration, the President perhaps for security reasons failed to visit the Chibok c o m m u n i t y notwithstanding the high degree of international condemnation of the abduction of their girls.

Rather than focus on what mattered most-the release of the Chibok girls, sycophants sought to distract the nation from the issue by getting government to provide funds for rebuilding the schools destroyed as a result of insurgency in the community. Of course, the people were wise enough to reject such tokenism. Worse still, funds meant for the logistics of getting some Chibok citizens to Abuja and back were subjected to misapplication. Again, for security reasons, every independence anniversary was not only ‘low- keyed’, but moved from its traditional location-eagle

unemployed and the downtrodden. The PDP and the APC are like the duckrabbit image in gestalt psychology.

As we indicated last week, real social change is not a matter of sloganeering and making promises upon promises during political campaigns; it is not a question of excuses or complaining about how terrible previous administrations performed

Are Nigerians clamouring for change ready to drop their irrational attitudes, bad habits and unpatriotic behaviours?

while in office. Progressive change is a very difficult and demanding task. That is why, historically speaking, positive social transformation is a relatively rare phenomenon.

Genuine change-agents or paradigmatic individuals such as Mahatma Gandhi, Julius Nyerere and Nelson Mandela who were at the forefront of positive social change in their various countries transformed themselves intellectually and morally first through selfdiscipline and personal sacrifices before taking on the bigger challenge of societal transformation. I do not know whether APC leaders, as individuals, really spent time

square to the President’s bedroom where he celebrated “safely ” with only his party big wigs.

What joy did such an imprisoned president enjoy?

Against this backdrop, the continued pressure being brought on the issue of the abducted girls by the ‘Bring Back our girls’ campaign team ought to be seen by every Nigerian for what it is-a worthy cause. The nation owes the team a debt of gratitude for its selfless work. The women should never rest on their oars until the girls are rescued. Incidentally, that is not likely to happen to such a group that is made up of women of impeccable integrity who cannot be blackmailed.

In earnest, gone are the days of cheap blackmail when government officials accused anyone who drew attention to lapses in public affairs as agents of the opposition. For the Bring Back our girls’ campaign team, it is too late in the day to be dissuaded by such distraction. First, their concern is a matter of common interest to all Nigerians and second, they already have positive international recognition bearing in mind the encomiums they have so far gotten from the Secretary General of the United Nations. Luckily, Buhari can be said to be on the same page as the campaigners in view of the warm reception accorded the team last week and the undiluted assurances of the President that this government would face the

subject squarely. If for nothing else, at least this government empathises with its citizens who are victims of insurgency. Only the week before, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo visited internally displaced persons in parts of Borno and Adamawa States to get first hand information on the condition of the victims and the IDPs for action by the government

to think about the challenge of how to bring about positive changes in key areas of our national life. But one thing is clear from the few decisions taken thus far by the President, the childish bickering about leadership positions in the National Assembly, and ethnic-flavoured responses by some chieftains of APC to crisis in the party - the promised change might not materialise by 2019. There is hardly any concrete evidence that political office holders from APC are prepared for the kind of personal sacrifices required from them to bring about positive transformation. Tokenisms in the form of shallow reductions in salaries and allowances merely scratch the problem without addressing it from the root cause. It is unfortunate that the new ruling party is not interested in tackling one of the fundamental causes of our arrested development, namely, the skewed federal structure that has emasculated the states by making them appendages of a cake-sharing federal government. In fact, the present geopolitical arrangement codified in the 1999 constitution is worse than the structure stipulated by the Unification Decree of May 24, 1966. Unlike the situation now, the provinces created by Maj. Gen. J.T.U. Aguiyi-Ironsi were economically viable and not too firmly tied to the fiscal and economic apron strings of the central government. A plausible case can be made that APC's unwillingness to include restructuring in its agenda for change is informed by obdurate refusal of some key elements of the Northern establishment to allow greater autonomy to the geopolitical zones. The survivalist sentiment behind

the refusal is understandable, although its continuation is dangerous to the overall development of the country.

Because about eighty percent of federal revenue distributed to all the states is derived from sale of crude oil domiciled in Southern Nigeria, and because VIP Northerners have more oil blocks than their Southern compatriots, restructuring and fiscal federalism would be detrimental to the pecuniary interests of prominent Northerners benefiting from the system. But unless Nigeria is restructured along federalist lines that approximate the former regional structure of 1960 to 1966, no meaningful sustainable change would be achieved. I do not see how APC can keep its promise of change without reconstructing the geopolitical architectonic of the country.

Meanwhile, are Nigerians clamouring for change ready to drop their irrational attitudes, bad habits and unpatriotic behaviours? How many of those supporting President Buhari with religious fervour are prepared to be more realistic now that elections are over and recognise that APC might have hyperbolised Buhari's abilities for the sole purpose of securing victory? As I said earlier, it is too early to pass judgement on the new federal government. Nevertheless, if as my people the Igbo would say, the morning gives an indication of what the whole day would be like, there are good reasons to suspect that expectation of a better Nigeria with the emergence of APC in power might be a mirage. The countdown has begun already.

Concluded.

As for officials who often stand between the government and the people on the grounds of security, it is important to make the point again that the protection of any government official particularly the President which leads to a breach of any constitutionally guaranteed freedom can only make such a government unpopular.

Nigerians must be allowed to associate freely and their freedom of movement must always be guaranteed because we are in a democracy. Thus, while the majority and quite often too, the powerful insist on having their way, they are never to forget to allow the minority to have its say.

Indeed, the aggrieved must be allowed to ventilate their grievances without the government scheming to criminalize dissent. Most importantly, since our constitution provides that the welfare and security of the citizenry is the primary purpose of government, efforts must be made to guarantee that rather than harassing those who draw attention to it.

PAGE 12— SUNDAY VANGUARD,JULY 12, 2015

ABA: FROM DEATH TO RENEWAL

I

have not yet had the pleasure of meeting Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu, current governor of Abia state. I do not in fact know him, and we have not been introduced. However, three symbolic moves he’s made, since his tough election as the governor of Abia state has me cautiously optimistic, that finally, Abia state may have a cultured, enlightened, and focused administrator in the new governor. The three acts are yet symbolic: he has requested that he be addressed simply as Dr. Ikpeazu, and not “His Excellency;” he has also indicated that he does not want to be conferred with any symbolic honours or titles while still in office. I’m rather taken with those simple gestures. It might in the end be no more than straws.

The taste of the pudding, the English often say, is in the eating. But as far as symbolic gestures go, they articulate and capture the impression of a guy who is out to do some good in the world. In his declarations, Dr. Ikpeazu has given fair warning that he does not want to be distracted.

Another important declaration, which Dr. Ikpeazu has made, concerns his commitment to rebuilding the city of Aba. Now, that has got my attention. I shall keep tabs on the Abia governor, in my own role as a public commentator, on his fulfilment of this promise.

Aba has more than symbolic significance to the East. It is the epicenter of its industrial production and commercial life.

Developments at Aba will be at the heart of the economic renaissance, not only of the Eastern region, but of the entire corridor leading into its Central West African backyard, as far as Namibia and Angola. It is easy to link Aba to Walvis Bay and the Ports of Luanda, by dredging and expanding the corridor from Bonny through the Imo River at Asa, down to the in-land Port in Aba. It is important to stanch the hemorrhaging of human and material capital out of the East following the collapse of the city of Aba.Abia state has been governed by two men since 1999: Mr. Orji Uzo Kalu, and Mr. Theodore Ahamefule Orji, and under their watch, Aba had finally slid into the stoneage. It is today, an uninhabitable city. There are no roads in the city; the main city arteries and neighborhoods have become worse than the worst ghettoes in the world; the streets are impassable, filled with mountains of refuse; public infrastructure is nonexistent. In that city, the most eye catching architecture is the Church of the Latter Day Saints, built by the Mormons; it is not City Hall; it is not the public Library; it is not the

Aba General Hospital; it is not the Aba City Philharmonics; it is not the spires of banking and commercial halls; it is not the laboratories funded by public funds as well as by private trusts; nor the structures in any of its educational institutes;it is not the symbolic monuments commissioned and dedicated to a celebration of the city life of Aba; none of these currently exist in this city, once famous for its insouciance and cockiness; its capacity to generate spectacle that once earned it the sobriquet, “Aba-naAnya.”

Aba is a dead zone. Once a West African powerhouse, Aba has turned into decadent mud. Its slide began in fact in 1985 with military rule, and theeconomic policies that targeted and destroyed indigenous industries; forced all major banking activities towards Lagos, then the center of government, and pushed Aba businesses either to extinction, or in their search for survival, relocation.

The Aba of the Nnanna Kalus, the Anayehies, the Nwojos, the C-Moore Obiohas, the Kanus, the Ekennas, the Akwiwus, the Anumudus, and so on among the great city moguls of yore, is no more.

Their children pulled the carpet from Aba, and with them, the foundational capital of the city. Some have gone to waste. By Now,

Mike Merchandise, one of Nigeria’s first leading Electronic malls, would havehad its own manufacturing plants in Aba; the Ndafia Stories would have established various chainsnationally, just like Walmart in the US; Toonak, should by now have expanded into a transAfrican operations; the Rufus Obi Chemists, one of the earliest and biggest pharmaceutical outlets in Nigeria, based in Aba, would have become a Nigerian chain; where the late Nnanna Kalu was a

The failure of Aba is also the failure of its city elites – its key investors; it’s corporate and professional men and women, and its technical and artisan guild giant among men; one of the most quiet financiers of political action in the East, and a brilliant business mind and investor, his descendants, some with the best education in the world are Lilliputians, incapable of untying their great father’s sandals, who built a multibillion empire with only a standard six education.

The point I am making is that the failure of Aba is also the failure of its city elites –its key investors; it’s corporate and professional

men and women, and its technical and artisan guild.

Aba succumbed to the frenzy of kidnaps and robberies, and other forms of lawlessness because these people did not learn from their fathers before them who built a great city from nothing. Kidnapping in Aba would not have happened were the old generation still in play.

They would have met and closed it down. It is called social responsibility. A city is often the result of partnerships between its residents and its elected officials. Here therefore are my suggestions to Dr. Ikpeazu: to build Aba, he must think big, and not in small cosmetic gestures. He needs to help push a bill in the Abia State House to unify the three local governments that now make up what used to be Aba into an Aba City Council, to be run by an elected council and mayor or Chairman of the City of Aba. The atomization of the city is part of its great failure. There has to be a well-established Aba Urban Renewal Commission that must be broad-based; that must have representation from the Aba business and professional community as well as its citizens. He must invite leading indigenous Architects, Urban designers, Sociologists, Engineers, and artists, who must provide a ground to top redesign of the city, to include new neighborhoods, the Aba City Canal, a metro system that would serve the city; a central district designed to combine contemporary urban living, offering new condos, mixed income and luxury apartments, townhouses, galleries, cafes, bookshops, groceries, green areas, well-designed public parks and squares, with well-built business

offices and commercial property, for bankers, insurers, lawyers, etc.; Rebuilding of schools and other public facilities to meet with contemporary global standards is imperative. A city needs investors.

Investments seek people with special skills. People with special skills go to where there are facilities to support their lifestyles: beautiful and accessible homes; clean and wellbuilt streets, access to culture, recreation and entertainment; good schools; great health facilities, and access to pleasurable shopping. Aba has none of these. A city must be inviting. Aba is not; it is rather forbidding; a visit to Aba tries your soul and there is no incentive to return. As a result, Aba has died, and it is no longer a city of consequence. It wears the exact face of catastrophe – it is an example of where the absence of public investment has reduced the quality of human life and rendered it unlivable. A cautionary tale to those “high priests of capitalism and privatization.” No one can rebuild Aba. A new authority must clean what is left of it, and build an entirely new city based on a new public code and zoning laws. This is the challenge before the Ikpeazu-led government in Abia in its move to rebuild a once-great city. To rebuild Aba cannot be just a matter of putting a coat of paint, and sweeping dirt under its carpets. It requires the visioning for a new vibrant city, stretching from the bridge at Owerrinta, to the stalled development at Obuaku. I’d love one of these days, to have dinner with Dr. Ikpeazu, and share perspectives on Aba. It is a city that must be re-built in all our collective interests.

Going through the maze of research methodology

BY OKOFU UBAKA OMAMULI

B

agging a Carnegie fellowship award or other international honor of its kind does not come easy. Nduka Otiono must have foregone all the spree and frills of life to have achieved this feat. The latest plume on his cap by Carnegie Corporation of New York to travel to Nigeria and work with Delta State University, Abraka on graduate and post graduate students’ teaching, training and building capacities in research methods and project writing is auspicious.

The question of where in Nigeria must have tasked the mind of Otiono and his benefactor. Let me add here that Delta is home to Nduka Otiono who hails from Ogwashi-uku in Aniocha South LGA. The choice of Delta State University, Abraka may not have been arbitrary. Perhaps, it was influenced by the twin factor of the presence of Prof. G.G. Darah at the Department of English and Literary Studies, and possibly, Otiono’s desire to stay away from the rambunctious and chaotic city atmosphere of Lagos and Ibadan.

I need not emphasize the truism that research is a

continuum and a catalyst for national development. Yet, it comes with a price. Research demands absolute commitment, and, in most cases, huge financial burden.

In Nigeria, nay Africa, researchers are left alone to go through the rigours of this purely academic exercise with little or no support from government agencies and corporate donors.

Consequently, Nigeria, and indeed Africa as a continent has remained poorer and backward for it.

No doubt, research writing is tasking. Sometimes, it is frustrating. It has been observed that undue emphasis is placed on written examination at the graduate and post graduate levels of study in Nigeria and in most African countries, and resultantly leaving these categories of students less exposed to the rudiments and ingenuity of marrying ideas together which is what project writing is all about.

It is also on notice that abstract is one problem area in project writing that students are yet to surmount. More often than not, students find it absolutely difficult to figure out which aspect of their work is overriding, what should be accorded mere mentioning and those that

should be left out of the abstract completely. Students are in deeper trouble if an abstract is restricted by numbers of words. It is for many reasons that an abstract is crucial to project writing.

Significantly when an abstract is the gateway and cynosure to a project. It is often said that “first impression last longer”. In all, there is no shortcut to writing a standard abstract order than commitment, diligence, and above all, practice.

Not too many budding writers could be as fortunate as Nduka Otiono, Helon Habila, Ogaga Ifowodo, Toyin Adewale, Chimamanda Adichie and a host of other world class writers who left the shores of the country in pursuit of scholarship abroad under the auspices of Ford Foundation, Geothe Institute or Heinrich Boll Foundation in the 1990s. Yet, there is the urgent need for those of us who may want to go into scholarship to be atoned to global happenings irrespective of our discipline.

And more importantly, launch ourselves into the web of global connectivity.

As a fresh graduate attached to Synergy Educational to facilitate Ake Heritage Tour which was a build-up event to The Lagos Book Fair in 2000, Nduka Otiono was one

Dr. Awhefeada, HOD, English and Literary Studies, Abraka (left) and Prof. Joy Ogwu, Dean of Arts, at a reception for Nduka Otiono. among the regular faces at out all the places and ANA HOUSE Suru-Lere, persons that Prof. Soyinka in his which also accommodated mentioned Synergy Educational at that autobiography: Ake the Year time. My little stint at Synergy of Childhood .

Essentially, the tour was to Educational, particularly, the success of Ake tour was as a relish sites mentioned in result of my secret but bold Soyinka’s autobiography. admiration and aspiration to The tour was built around a travel this same academic train ride to Abeokuta in Ogun road as Richard Mammah, State. The collaboration Nduka Otiono, Helon Habila between Nigerian Railway and Dapo Adeniyi of Corporation and Synergy Glandora International Educational was primarily Magazine. I dare say that Ake because the Nigerian book was the greatest literary and the Nigerian Railway assignment I had executed till Corporation suffered a twin date. Working on Soyinka is fate of neglect. It was not what any graduate fascinating to behold St student would want to go Peter’s primary and Abeokuta through. Most times, I had to Grammar school (where relate with the office of Yemi Soyinka had his early Ogunbiyi who was Soyinka’s education), Itaoku cenotaph, Personal Assistant during the Egba palace, homes of the old time of my assignment. It took clock repairer and the me 67nights and days to map Anikulapos where Soyinka’s mum had her origin.

It is impossible to live in today’s Nigeria without appreciating Otiono’s poems, particularly “The Rising Sun” where the poet says Sons of a soil siddon with oil / But queuing for fuel at dry filling stations. Each time I queue up at the filling station, the images in “The Rising Sun” comes to me as sphinx. I am not alone in this, and dare say that should Otiono go to bed and wake up one million times in Nigeria- a country where good sleep is hardly guaranteed, I am sure he will cry ‘until a scarlet sun sets’ in his ‘eyes mocking this plague that rules the nation’. 18years after Otiono wrote Rising Sun, Nigeria is still grappling with the problems of corruption and leadership ineptitude.

Even though the poet is pessimistic that the Nigerian problem is curable a sickness which had lingered for 18 years might just consume the carrier. Why Nigeria is still limping with a protracted illness that, ordinarily, would have pronounced its ding dong is mystifying. * Omamuli is a postgraduate student at the Department of English and Literary Studies, Delsu, Abraka.

He is currently working on Itsekiri myth and historical plays.

SUND AY SUNDA

Vanguard, JULY 12, 2015, PPA AGE 13

BENUE:

i n a l u F e h t g n Endi e g e i s ’s n e m s d r hPeolice officer killed in crossfire •

BY PETER DURU, MAKURDI

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arts of Benue State have, in the last few years, come under bloody attacks allegedly carried out by Fulani herdsmen.

Areas worst hit in the attacks, which left hundreds dead and thousands of persons displaced, were Logo, Agatu, Guma, Gwer West and Makurdi local government areas of the state.

Though Benue has, in the last seven weeks, recorded very few of such incidents, concerted moves have been repeatedly made by the state government to stem the bloodbath that turned the affected communities into theatres of war.

Just when there seemed to be a lull, the crisis suddenly reared its ugly head at Ayilamo and Anyii in Logo local government area where herdsmen, on separate occasions, allegedly invaded some communities, killing over 80 persons, razing property and farm lands.

Thousands of residents were also forced to flee their homes to seek refuge in neighbouring communities.

Few days ago, residents of Adeke village, a suburb in Makurdi, the state capital, were forced to scamper for safety when suspected Fulani herdsmen besieged the community, shooting sporadically for over two hours.

Sunday Vanguard learned that the invaders stormed the village at about 10:30 pm Tuesday, firing gunshots as they marched through some streets in the area.

“The development forced many residents and parents to flee with their families, scampering through bush paths to safer areas in town”, a source said.

“Though calm returned to the community after police patrol vehicles moved

Few days ago, residents of Adeke village, a suburb in Makurdi, the state capital, were forced to scamper for safety when suspected Fulani herdsmen besieged the community, shooting sporadically for over two hours

there around 12midnight and still patrolling the area.”

When contacted, the state Police Commissioner, Hyacinth Dagala, said the squabble between the Tiv locals and some Fulani herdsmen in the community,Tuesday afternoon, could have led to the sporadic gunshots.

“You know there was a problem in that area between Fulanis and the Tivs yesterday (Tuesday).

The police even waded into the matter but it’s likely that the attack may be because of that incident”, Dagala said.

“For now, we don’t know who is responsible but my

men are already there to maintain peace and I can assure you that the place is calm now.”

Unfortunately, efforts to stem the protracted crisis between Benue farmers and the herdsmen also claimed the life of Assistant Superintendent of Police , ASP, Baba Ibrahim, who, until his death, was a member of the Task Force on Cattle Rustling and Kidnapping at the Force Headquarters, Abuja.

Ibrahim was killed by armed men in Katsina-Ala local government area of the state while on a special assignment in Benue.

Meanwhile, in a bid to end the persistent clashes, particularly in Logo local government area, Chief Terkura Suswam, under the auspices of the state government, last month, convened a peace meeting

between Tiv farmers and herdsmen in the area.

The meeting culminated in the signing of a peace treaty by the feuding parties who also held a commemorative football match to seal the deal.

However, Benue State governor, Dr. Samuel Ortom, recently vowed to intensify dialogue to resolve the worsening feud.

He made the pledge when he hosted the leadership of Miyyetti Allah Cattle Rearers Association of Nigeria, in Makurdi.

He assured that although he was personally affected by the crisis, he would not procure and supply arms to Benue people to retaliate the loss suffered by farmers in the crises but rather seek lasting solution by promoting dialogue between the parties.

According to the governor, ranches remained the best way to permanently tackle the challenge but noted that they were a long term measure.

P AGE 14—SUND AY PA 14—SUNDA

Vanguard, JULY 12, 2015

By Johnbosco Agbakwuru

N

IGERIANS on March 28 went to the poll to elect their representatives in the National Assembly. It was expected that the representatives will give good account of themselves and ensure that the dividends of democracy get down to the various constituencies in the country.

But the event on June 26 on the floor of the House of Representatives over the sharing formula of principal officers have left many confused wondering whether their representatives are really honourable men or brawlers.

The build-up to the inauguration of the 8th assembly as regards the election of the presiding officers of the two chambers was a pointer to the fact that the ruling All Progressives Congress, was somehow in a confused state.

Though, after bickering, intrigues, several manoeuvrings and the alleged failed plot to impose the presiding officers on the leadership of the Senate and the House of Representatives, the former has been able to reduce the tension within its fold by taking firm decisions devoid of external manipulations.

But the lower chamber appears to have been turned to a theatre of war where the gladiators comprising some party leaders and members are in a fierce battle over who controls the chamber. Although, some of the gladiators in the power struggle are behind the scene, their foot soldiers have taken extreme positions on the sharing formula of the principal officers positions.

As has been highlighted by many commentators in various opinions, the leadership of the APC either as a result of oversight or sinister motives contributed to the crisis that is threatening the party’s unity.

The party failed to zone all the positions based on the reality on ground after the general elections.

However, with the elections of the presiding officers being concluded, it is expected that the lawmakers should settle down for the real business for which they were elected, but the signal coming out especially from the House of Representatives indicates that the stage is not yet set for business as the bone of contention now is who make the list of principal officers. As the Speaker, Yakubu Dogara believes that the APC being a national party should adopt nationalistic approach in the distribution of positions, some party leaders appear to be comfortable with politics of exclusion where some parts or geopolitical zones are regarded as not being worthy to be included in the main stream of decision making.

The APC appears to place importance on the supremacy of the party irrespective of the consequence on the generality of the country. But the House leadership and some members of the party who had had their way during the election of the presiding officers, appears unshaken in their decision that all parts of the country and every geopolitical zone is included in respect of the principle of federal character in the sharing or distribution of positions.

The battle has divided the APC members into two camps with the Speaker said to be leading one camp and the former Minority Leader, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila who was the party’s preferred candidate for the speakership position but who lost to Dogara with the support of some party bigwigs and the leadership of the party leading another camp.

Gbajabiamila camp leading about 174 APC members who answer the Loyalists group in its meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari on July 1, complained that the Speaker and about 39 members with him have been holding the party in contempt by not obeying the choice of the party for both the speakership and principal officers positions.

The camp also told the President that the Party has chosen not to punish the 39 APC members including the elected Speaker and Deputy Speaker for theI alleged disobedience.

They complained that whereas the

•Hon. Gbajabiamila

• Dogara, Speaker

Reps and the war over Federal Character and party supremacy beneficiaries of the alleged disobedience are citing Federal Character Principle as the main reason for their action, instances abound that observation of federal character was jettisoned in the 6th assembly.

The Loyalists group led by Rep. Gbajabiamila said, “It should be noted that the Federal Character principle as embedded in chapter of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) is not justiciable and of no legal consequence. Its provision in S.14 of the Constitution is only applicable to appointments in Federal Ministries and Agencies.

“The House of Representatives is not an agency of the Federal Government and the principal officers positions are elective and not by appointment. If the Federal Character is applicable to the National Assembly, then both the Senate President and the Speaker cannot come from the North, one of them should be advised to step down.

“It is noteworthy that Mr. President and the Governors had strongly put their weight behind the party and had severally admonished the House to abide by the party’s position. The 39 APC members in the House continue to collude with the PDP to flagrantly disobey Mr. President, the governors and the party with a view to bringing the Party and Government to ridicule before Nigerians.

As the battle rages on, the party leadership after its National Executive Council meeting mandated the immediate past Speaker of the House and governor of Sokoto State, Aminu Tambuwal to mediate in the crisis.

Addressing journalists on the efforts of the Tambuwal Mediation Committee, spokesperson of the Speaker camp, Abdulmumuni Jibrin said that after stormy session, his camp agreed to concede the position of the leader to the Gbajabiamila camp but with a caveat that the position should not be occupied by anybody from South West and North East as they have the Deputy Speaker and Speaker respectively.

But in a quick reaction, the Gbajabiamila camp said that there was no such offer of House leader to his group. He also maintained that even if there should be such, the Loyalists camp cannot take anything outside what the party had proposed in complete obedience to the supremacy of the party.

The spokesperson of the camp Hon. Rufai Chachangi in a statement said, “We the 174 APC Loyalists group of the House are aware that there was a private discussion between Gov. Aminu Tambuwal and President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday evening at the State House .

“To the best of our knowledge, no counteroffer has been made to the APC Loyalists group after her first meeting with Tambuwal peace committee wherein the APC Loyalists clearly stated that in line with party supremacy resolution reached at last APC NEC meeting, the position of the party on Femi Gbajabiamila as the House Leader is non negotiable.

“We understand that the Dogara group is now playing the zoning card after same group had before the speakership election of June 9th, 2015 rejected the zoning formula of the party prior to the mock election.

“Interestingly the six geopolitical zones in the country are not recognised by the

It is clear from the positions of the two camps that the resolution of the leadership crisis will take long time before it can be resolved

constitution. But if they wish to play the zoning card then the Senate and House cannot be headed by the North.

“For avoidance of doubt, the issue of South East being denied a principal officer’s seat in the House is hogwash. We have respect for people of South East but we cannot hold brief for a zone that produced only two “new” APC members.

“The issue of exclusion of South East does not exist rather they are not qualified to be principal officers of the House. For emphasis and clarity the provision of standing rules of the House, Order 7 Rule 37 states that “Only members with cognate legislative experience as members of the national assembly shall be eligible for appointment as principal officers.

“We are also surprised that a group led by Speaker Dogara who is a lawyer is talking about a court action presumably instigated by him base on federal character, when a fresh law school graduate knows that the issue of federal character as enshrined in S.14 of the constitution is non justiciable and of no legal consequence.

It is clear from the positions of the two camps that the resolution of the leadership crisis will take long time before it can be resolved. Besides, it could be deduced that the party leadership because of the list submitted appears to have supported the exclusion of the South East and the North Central zones from occupying principal office positions.

Analysts are of the view that any form of imposition of principal officers on the leadership of the House will lead to more chaotic situation. It will be extremely difficult for strange bed fellows to be in the same boat. They also argued that succumbing to external influence would make the leadership a toothless bulldog and at the same time, make some powerful Chieftains of the APC to continue to dictate for the generality of members if the House is not allowed the leeway to make their choice.

The leadership of the House on the other hand is expected to submit to the party’s supremacy but within the constitutional provisions. Anything that should go contrary to the Constitution of the country should be avoided. After all they are the lawmakers and should not behave like law beakers.

SUND AY SUNDA

Vanguard, JULY 12, 2015, PPA AGE 15

The day Abuja villagers received their ‘healing’ •

Problematic pregnancy motivated exercise — Kennedy, Corps member

I

BY CALEB AYANSINA

N Kuchingoro, on the outskirts of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, poverty stares the villagers on the face.

Health facilities among other basic amenities are lacking in spite of the villagers closeness to the nation’s capital.

Succour came their way when over 1,000 of the villagers received free treatment from a team of doctors on diseases which had sent many to the grave.

The gesture came courtesy of a National Youth Service Corps member serving at the National Assembly Dental Clinic, Abuja, Dr Omanudhowho Kennedy (FCT/14B/ 4578).

Kennedy, a dental surgeon from the University of Benin, told Sunday Vanguard what ignited his interest in the provision of the medical service for the villagers.

His words: “While I was in school, I had the privilege to travel to one community in Bayelsa State that neither had clinic or health center. One of the cases I saw was a woman carrying six months pregnancy but had the problem of lump excision.

“I was disturbed, but I was not equipped enough to take care of her condition as a pregnant woman, she was in tears and I was touched. Since then, I vowed that anywhere I found myself, I should be able to locate a rural environment and try to help. That is the inspiration behind the project.

“The project is in two phases. On May 20, 2015, we gave 56 wheelchairs to physically challenged persons in the FCT. Now, we are doing the second phase which is one-week free treatment. We did 50 surgeries requiring anesthesia hernia repairs, appendectomy, fibroid, lump excision among others. I have some corps members from Jos, Benue, FCT and Edo assisting in the project .

“We also believe it should be a whole package. There are some people that don’t need drugs, all they need is counselling. Based on

One of the cases I saw was a woman carrying six months pregnancy but had the problem of lump excision

this, we have the counselling section to help them.”

On the challenges, Kennedy said: “The first phase was a bit easier because we had an international donor which provided the wheelchairs, but the second phase is a bit difficult. There is this mentality that a young person cannot do thing out of compassion and love; if you are embarking on this kind of project, some people will be saying he has ulterior motive.

“Getting fund was really difficult, but I thank God we were able to get some well-meaning Nigerians to help.

For the surgery, we are targeting 50, for other cases, we are targeting 1,000 for now.”

In his remarks, the

Director General of the NYSC, BrigGen. Johnson Olawumi, called on individuals and corporate bodies to identify with the scheme by sponsoring community development projects of corps members.

Olawumi said such support became imperative so that development could trickle down to rural dwellers, who are about 70 percent of the country’s population.

Represented by the NYSC Director of CDS and Special Projects, Mrs Bose Okakwu, the DG explained that NYSC community projects were geared towards improving the standard of living of Nigerians at the grassroots, and, therefore, must be supported.

Olawumi noted that attacks on corps members would not be taken lightly, calling on “host communities to provide security and welfare needs for corps members to enable them give their best.”

The NYSC FCT Coordinator, Pastor Alao Olanipekun, described the project as “a demonstration of the FCT NYSC capacity and availability as a tool to affect and effect change at the basic levels of the economy.”

PAGE 16 —SUNDAY VANGUARD, JULY 12, 2015

Inside the Centenary City

By Okey Ikechukwu

W

ITH Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar as Chairman, Centenary City Plc. is one national project that is doing everything possible to live up to the initial notion of it as a legacy project that came with the celebration of 100 years of the amalgamation of the Northern and Southern Protectorates of Nigeria.

This was conceived and unveiled in the Nigerian Centenary Document as a brand new City to be carved out of the Federal Capital Territory and developed on virgin land. The city is to be patterned after such modern ‘smart’ new Cities as Songdo- among others – with great economic impact on the countries where they are located. The strong parallels to be drawn here are the impact of cities like Dubai, Monaco, Shenzhen, Singapore and Songdo on the overall economic and cosmopolitan profile of the nations concerned.

The developer of the new city, Centenary City Plc., has fortunately been working with templates that guarantee both a seamless flow of activities leading to the final emergence of the city, as well as a compensation and resettlement programme for the landowners that will avoid the usual controversies often associated with compensation and relocations. The initial mischief, peddling of false information and the attempt to build a career out of spurious protests have all given way to a quiet and sustained engagement that all the parties concerned are looking at with confidence. The Centenary City is the official counterpoise to the Eko Atlantic City in Lagos. Both are the two special economic cities designated as free zones by NEPZA. As a major national project, it was all woven into the centenary celebrations and offered to Nigerians as a powerful catalyst to stimulate investment - with multilayered positive impact on the economy and the people.

Knowing the controversies that have consistently trailed practically all previous compensation programmes in the country, especially for the original inhabitants of Abuja, Centenary City Plc. deployed dialogue and patient consultations to avoid any hiccups. The clarification given early in the day by the Managing Director about the entire compensation package was difficult to fault or reject.

It showed a two-pronged drive that combined cash payment for the crops and resettlement of the displaced landowners in houses built for them

by Centenary City Plc. at its own cost.

The payment to the landowners covers the crops and economic trees on their land, while the resettlement

will provide adequate land for the buildings and other facilities to be developed by the Centenary City Plc. for their relocation to even better developed living conditions. Under the guidance of the FCDA, Centenary City Plc. will build adequate housing with infrastructure for the displaced landowners.

To ensure a scientifically verifiable basis for the deterring eligibility for compensation, the FCDA authorities did a biometric capture of all the affected communities, matching facial recognition and fingerprint scan of persons who are seven years of age and above. So far, most of the 671 beneficiaries identified for compensation have been settled. Some had no title Deed, no C of O, etc., while others had only letters of allocation and nothing more. Today, they have not only been paid, or are scheduled to be paid, for land they did not really own, but are among those to be resettled in new and better houses very soon.

The hope and concern of most observers is that Centenary City Plc. will maintain the trajectory it has so far established, keep its costs within reason and present a development model that many real estate investors can emulate in future. A comparative evaluation of its figures, against the ones supplied by officials at the FCT Ministry for major aspects of work in the City, shows very startling contrasts.

The cost of land acquisition at the resettlement site, which was put at nearly two hundred and fifty million Naira (231, 481, 481. 48) was sorted out at the cost of about sixty five million Naira (N65m). As against the five billion Naira (N5,000,000,000) demanded for the access road to the Resettlement Site, the City Management will spend about one hundred million Naira (N100,000,000). The costs for engineering infrastructure within the resettlement site and the housing units for the resettlement of the landowners were also reduced by over 50% by Centenary City Plc. If we take these projections as index of the cost profile of all projects executed by the Ministry, then the projections are alarming beyond words. Even the most expensive of the alternative evaluations from independent, and reputable, establishments for the same Centenary City project was less than 50% of the evaluation form the Ministery. Today the combined job, which the Ministry wanted to do at the cost of 16 billion Naira (16bn), is being carried out for less than six billion Naira; and with possibility of making some savings. It is confounding, for instance, that the cost of design of the resettlement scheme was put at over 700 million Naira (N700, 076, 173.50).

What percentage of the project cost

should anyone who is informed in the building industry expect of a project the design (alone) of which costs some three million Dollars?

Today everything seems to be on course. General Abubakar is Chairman of the Board, the legal standing of the body is not in doubt and the Statutory Audit Committee is in place, and Akintola Williams and Deloitte are involved. The first AGM set the tone for everything, going forward and matters have gone quite far on all core governance issues. There are no worries about possible legal issues arising today. It is a Free Trade Zone and any mischief from those who may want to refer to the Land Use Act have the ruling of Justice Yusuf Halilu of the FCT High Court to contend with. The ruling says the Act does not apply to the FCT. It vests all lands in a state on the state government to hold in trust for the people, while Section 49 of the Act specifically excludes the application of its provisions to title land held by the Federal Government.

Of course the Centenary City project has had its controversies. Within government, those who tried to ‘domesticate‘ it by taking violent possession of projects connected with it (which they hoped to execute at phenomenally high costs) were pitted against those who focused on delivering the modern, private sectordriven template on which it was conceived. With victories and losses now looming clearly for ll concerned

Today, the efforts of the City Management have paid off, as friendship and understanding have replaced suspicion and misdirected anger, among all stakeholders

parties, and as the project is now getting unto an even keel, a newspaper advert controverted everything good that Centenary City Plc. appeared to be saying about itself. The advertisement appeared on Tuesday, January 13, as well as January 14. Readers saw that the advert came under the platform of Anti-Corruption Network and was ‘signed‘ by its Chairman, Otunba Dino Melaiye.

But it was all a lie. The Director of Administration of Anti-Corruption Network promptly wrote to dissociate the Network from the publication. It was not authored, released or signed

by Melaiye or the organization. Since then, no one has come to revalidate the claims made in the publication, or taken Anti-Corruption Network to task on the advertisement. Post May 29, 2015, the rift between the winners and losers again found its way into the media. This time it came in the form of a supposedly informed, and even alarmed comment, about how the former Minister nearly lost his job because of the Centenary City.

Today, the efforts of the City Management have paid off, as friendship and understanding have replaced suspicion and misdirected anger, among all stakeholders. This is a commendable development, because the developers rejected the initial repeated advice of some those who felt that they should adopt a hardline, and legally correct, position by showing their papers and using force to deal with everyone. They took the wise step of calling everyone to sit round a table and present all their issues, as a hardline position would have showed both insensitivity and created more problems than it could have possibly solved. The truth of the assurances given by the Federal Government in December 2013, that the Centenary City project would not commence unless adequate compensation was paid to the original inhabitants and other property owners on the site, is a reality today.

One of the most critical resolution meetings at the time was held at the palace of the Sa’Peyi of Garki, Alhaji Usman Nga Kupi. It was at this meeting that many people discovered, to their consternation, that they were being misled by one man who was then working with a faction of the Original Inhabitants Development Association of Abuja (OIDA). Once the compensation package and all the issues around it were tabled and explained, the people became better informed. It was after this meeting that the Village Head of Baruwa Village, Monday Kogi, among others, apologised to the Sa’Peyi for: (1) complaining about the amount he received at the commencement of the compensation payments, (2) speaking to journalists without getting all the facts and (3) for going to the press without first bringing his complaints to the traditional ruler.

This particular meeting was a landmark one, as many who came expecting that ‘government people‘ will just talk down on them and tell when to vacate their places of abode were pleasantly surprised. They sat down with the FCDA, and the Managing Director of Centenary City Plc. as equal stakeholders to iron things out. No one was hurried for time and the meeting was able to resolve the harvest of complaints arising from the protest of villagers at the beginning of compensation by the FCDA and the Centenary City Plc. A handful of the landowners who came for this meeting with advertised protest, which a casual observer could read as indicating they had been ripped off by the authorities, now understood the intentions and actions of government, shredded their posters and relaxed.

It is curious, for instance, that some of the misguided land owners who initially complained that the amount being paid to them individually was not commensurate with what they expected, found out that they were totally mistaken. Taking the specific

case of Mr. Monday Kogi, this gentlemen complained about receiving less than N150,000, whereas he was expecting to be paid N1.5 million. Meanwhile, he was penciled down to be paid a total of N1.6 million as his entitlement, and not the N1.5 million he was expecting. One other thing that emerged from this encounter was that several issues were badly mixed up by trouble makers to fuel confusion among the landowners.

As the facts emerged, the people were sobered by the realisation that the FCDA had actually been very generous to the landowners in the compensation package offered.

It was over a year ago that that the Sa’Peyi urged his people to beware of troublemakers, as well as fake “farmers who come in through the window” to cause confusion. With the facts before everyone, he urged his people to accept their compensation payments and also asked the FCDA and the Managing Director of Centenary City Plc. to maintain good faith in all their subsequent dealings with the people; and to also review any genuine cases of underpayment in the interest of equity and justice.

Taking account of the military barracks, quarry sites, natural features, other private property and roads on the original site of 1,264 hectares, the estimated land for farming on the site is no more than 400 hectares. With the proposed compensation of N319 million, this comes to nearly N800,000 per hectare.

This is arguably one of the highest recorded such compensation per hectare in the FCDA. That is when you take into account the location, economic value and originally projected time for developing such and similar areas around Abuja.

It is easy to believe that the Centenary City Project will be a major national success story. Following the incorporation of the Special Purpose Company (SPC) that will promote and drive the investment in the city, a total of 19 companies subscribed to the company’s Articles and Memorandum of Understanding; having met the initial capital call (of not more than USD5 million and no less than USD250, 000). These 19 firms as such became its foundation shareholders. The Board of Directors of the company was inaugurated by President Goodluck Jonathan in October 2013 with the following members: General Abdulsalami Abubakar, (Chairman), Mr. Victor Udeh, Mr. Monabee Mitee, Dr. Pamela Obaze, Mr. Olatunde Ayeni, Mr. Adetokunbo Kayode (SAN), Mr. Ugochukwu Nkwocha, Mr. George Marks, Mr. Hani Tanois Saliba, representative of the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA), representative of the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade & Investment.

Jonathan’s words: “Were the Land Use Act meant to apply to the FCT, the original inhabitants would have been granted deemed grant to remain on their land”.

As an initiative of the Federal Government to commemorate the centenary celebration of Nigeria, the Centenary City covers a total of 1,200 hectares of land located on the Kuje side of the Umaru Yar ’Adua Expressway (Airport Road). Under the project, 20 percent of the plots are earmarked for residential houses while 80 percent is for mixed use and commercial purposes. The FCTA would maintain five percent equity share in the project. What needs to happen now is for all concerned parties to focus not just on the goals of the Centenary City Plc. but, even more importantly, on the fate and fortunes of those affected by its initial teething problems. With General Abubakar as Chairman and Buhari as President, it is unlikely that anything untoward would be allowed to thrive.

•Ikechukwu, mni, a leadership and communication consultant, is resident in Abuja.

SUNDAY Vanguard, JULY 12, 2015, PAGE 17

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Miss Nigeria Ezinne Akudo, friends launch ‘Break The Silence’ campaign

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HE current Miss Nigeria Ezinne Akudo has begun a viral weekly campaign against sexual violence tagged “Break the Silence”. The impacting campaign edit is motored through her NGO, The Eight Foundation.

The “Break the Silence” campaign has been put together to encourage survivors of domestic violence to SPEAK OUT. In a society where rape is not spoken

about, The Eight Organization encourages women and the society at large to speak out against the dastardly act.

This weekly campaign would last for a month with different participants expressing their thoughts about sexual violence in different quotes.

The Eight Organization has committed its staff and resources to protect survivors legally and rehabilitate them using experienced counselors.

Ezinne Akudo is being supported by a long list of celebrities and influencers who have taken photos to be shared globally in order to assist in ‘Breaking The Silence’ against rape and to properly educate people on how to seek help in an incident of rape or domestic violence. Most importantly the campaign is geared towards the trend in “suffering in silence” by being vocal about it and getting help!

I learnt a lot while working with Olamide — Sunkanmi

By KEHINDE AJOSE

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EAUTIFUL Sunkanmi is a talented Afro pop artiste who is doing her best to make waves in the music industry. The light skinned songstress, recently collaborated with Olamide on a song titled, For body. The song is a groovy highlife tune that will thrill music lovers.

Explaining what her experience was like, working with Olamide,she says, “Olamide is a big talent. I learnt a lot while working with him. He is the kind of artiste that doesn’t use pen and paper to write. Once Olamide hears a beat, he does a freestyle on it. His freestyles are usually good. We just have to commend him for that” When asked about the inspiration behind

•Ezinne Akudo

the song, she says: “I just wanted to do a feel-good song. A song people can connect with and dance to.”

For anyone wondering why Sunkanmi chose that name for her music career,she says the name projects her authenticity,since her name is rich in meaning.

“I chose the name Sunkanmi because I intend to come into the industry with total authenticity. I want people to know there is power behind the name your parents christened you.”

Sunkanmi

AGN/PMAN tackle piracy with novelty match

By Juliet Ebirim

L

AST Saturday,July 4, 2015, at the Astro Turf, National Stadium, Lagos, Performing Musicians Association of Nigeria (PMAN) joined forces with the Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN) in a novelty football match against the Crime Reporters Association of Nigeria in another move to combat piracy and crime.

Speaking on the significance of the football match, the president of the Actors’ Guild of Nigeria (AGN), Comrade Emeka Ike said it was a way of creating a formidable team to fight piracy. “This match is aimed at kicking against piracy.

We decided to come together to form a formidable team to tackle this menace. Piracy is a cankerworm that has eaten

deep into the entertainment industry and it is depriving us of the fruits of our labour. We are saying ‘Enough is enough’, we can no longer be sidelined and that’s why we (AGN/ PMAN) and the media (crime

reporters) are playing this match”.

According to the Chairman of the Lagos State Chapter of the AGN, Don Pedro Aganbi, the novelty match tagged ‘Kick against piracy and crime’ is

aimed at kicking out piracy and crime. “The idea, basically is our own way of contributing to the development of our society. We are saying enough to piracy because it is killing our industry and piracy is a crime”.

President of PMAN, Pretty Okafor who led musicians Sunny Neji, Ruggedman, Zaaki Adzay, Solidstar amongst others to the pitch, said PMAN is not relenting on its fight against piracy. “We are working with the AGN, the media and other organisations to fight piracy.

We won’t stop until we’ve been able to eradicate it”.

The Novelty match saw

Emeka Ike,Pretty Okafor, Tony Akposheri, Ruggedman, Don Pedro Aganbi, Sunny Neji, Zaaki Adzay, Solid Star and others slugging it out, trading tackles and displaying their soccer skills.

Stars who turned out to lend support to the cause include Hakeem Rahman, Felix Duke, Charles Billion, Mimi Orjiekwe amongst others. The Lagos State Commissioner of Police was represented by CSP Akinola Adamu.

The PMAN/AGN team was in the lead with a lone goal in the first half, but the Crime Reporters equalized in the second half. The match ended with a penalty shootout which saw Ruggedman who played so well all through the match losing the goal that cost his team the victory. The media team was made up of crime reporters from various media houses.The event was sponsored by Airtel, Union Bank and Heritage Bank.

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, JULY 12, 2015 Onikoyi68@gmail.com

Yvonne Jegede premieres her first film ‘3 is company’

By Juliet Ebirim

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EAUTIFUL Nollywood actress and 2Face’s ‘African Queen’ video vixen, Yvonne Jegede, recently joined the league of Nigerian movie producers with the launch of her first movie ‘3 is Company.’ The event which took place penultimate Friday, at Terra Kulture, Victoria Island, Lagos, had lots of talented showbiz stars in attendance.

Top celebrities who came out to support the actress include, IK Ogbonna, Mary Lazarus, Yaw, Sound Sultan. Tamara Eteimo, Iyabo Ojo, Olisa Adibua, AY Makun. Also spotted are Laura Ikeji, Yomi Makun, Adunni Ade, Seun Oluketuyi, Bolanle Ninalowo, Lydia Clems, amongst others.

‘3 is a Company’ is a romantic comedy starring OC Ukeje, Yvonne Jegede, Wole Ojo, and Peggy Ovire and was directed by Ernest Obi.

Yvonne starred as the lead female actor along with OC Ukeje, Wole Ojo, Peggy Ovire and others in the movie.

Speaking at the event, the elated actress said she decided to go into production in order to fully express herself. “I decided to go into production because I felt people might not be able to get my storyline. I’m more of a comic person and so even if it’s an action film, I want it to be funny. So, I felt if I shared the idea with people, they might not understand where I’m coming from.

I want people to laugh and I wrote the story myself.” “ ‘3 is Company’ is a romantic comedy woven around three friends.

One of them fell in love with a lady and the girl among the three didn’t want her because they were enemies at work. It’s a real life story because it happens everyday. For no reason, you hate people, I just wanted to let people know that life is easy and isn’t worth all the stress”, she added.

Continuing, she said, “I was blessed with a fantastic cast and crew. I liked O.C, he was very calm and Wole was wonderful. Everyone on the set was really nice. I love the way my director, Ernest Obi played it out.”

Ayefele dazzles fans in Paris

BY EBUN SESSOU

I

•Yinka Ayefele

T was all fun at the African Business Summit which took place in Paris as maverick musician, Yinka Ayefele, stunned fans with his style of music.

Apart from his style of music, the proprietor of the recentlylicensed Fresh Radio, also thrilled his fans with an outstanding speech on the prospects of entertainment industry in Nigeria.

Ayefele who is known as a classical musician took his fan through the other side of him as he delivered a speech at the summit.

The organiser of the African Business Summit, the Bamanga Tukur-led African Business Roundtable had invited the Ipoti Ekiti born minstrel for an award but was later told that he’d be

•Yvonne Jegede

giving a speech on the prospects of the entertainment industry in Nigeria.

He did not only stun the audience which had numerous French businessmen in attendance and the immediate past Governor of Kano State, Senator Musa Kwankwaso, his delivery was appreciated with a standing ovation and instantly drew the sympathy of some French businessmen who approached him for advice on a possible business set up in the industry.

The three-day event held at the UNESCO building in Paris, climaxed with an award of excellence bestowed on some deserving members of the public in entertainment, business, humanity and entrepreneurship.

Leading the list of awardees from Nigeria are, Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, Dr. Yinka Ayefele, MON, Prince Ayodeji Abass-Aleshinloye, Dr. Mohamedou Mouctar Diagne, among others.

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

SUNDAY Vanguard, JULY 12, 2015, PAGE 19 Onikoyi68@gmail.com

Blackman Akeeb Kareem returns on stage with Beautiful Nubia

Real story behind Cossy, Saraphina boobs tango

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ince Potpourri broke the story of Cossy meeting bigger boobs in Saraphina Amaechi on set of a yet-to-be released movie, ‘Ara Saraphina’, blogging hounds have been feeding off it like it was a feast of some sort. But all of them have been clueless as to the real story behind the tango. Some went with the flow that the boobs contest took place in the film, ‘Ara Saraphina’, but none could proffer the real story.

The film, ‘Ara Saraphina’, is about a young girl, ‘Saraphina Amaechi’, blessed with humongous boobs. She becomes cynosure of all eyes wherever she goes because of this. At one time, a bad boy, named Morocco (Zubi Michaels), fell in love with her because he was smitten by the boobs. But because of the attention Saraphina gets wherever she goes, Morocco was unable to keep her all to himself because many men also want her.

Then, an American returnee, Mathew (Chibuzor Emelu Simon) appeared on the scene and wanted Saraphina too. But this was

something Morocco would not have and the duo found themselves in a series of faceoffs which led to Morocco killing Mathew. Morocco was thereafter sentenced to death by firing squad. Later, he confessed he was under the spell of Ara Saraphina’s boobs and advised young men to desist from getting infatuated with girls.

While the story centres around Saraphina Amaechi, Zubi Michaels and Chibuzor Emelu Simon, there are side attractions from Ebube Nwagbo and Cossy Orjiakor.

Ebube Nwagbo was the girl who was always intimated by Saraphina’s boobs, and so wanted humongous boobs of her own. She decided to have breast enlargement surgery which eventually killed her. For Cossy, hers was a cameo appearance that pitched her boobs and against Saraphina’s in a boobs contest, which she won.

Nollywood actress, Collete Orji set to wed July 25

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•Saraphina

•Blackman Akeeb

Sexy Nollywood actress, Collete Orji, is set for marriage. According to invites sent to close friends (Potpourri included) her wedding comes up on July 25, 2015 in Enugu at Hyacinth Catholic Church followed by reception at Ufuma, Anambra State.

•Stephanie Linus

Stephanie Linus’ ‘Dry’ premieres August 2nd

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•Collete Orji

fter more than 30 years out of the limelight, Blackman Akeeb Kareem, returns to the stage with Beautiful Nubia and the Roots Renaissance Band at a special concert which will hold on Sunday, July 26 at EniObanke Arts Centre, in GRA Ikeja.

This will be Blackman Akeeb Kareem’s first live performance in Nigeria in more than 30 years. Foremost music critic Benson Idonije had much to say recently about this great artist: “Blackman Akeeb Kareem made considerable impact as a singer, composer, guitarist and band leader from the 60s to the 80s. Long before the wind of change from the imitation of foreign music to authenticity began to blow across Africa in the late ’60s, Akeeb Kareem was there, making his influence felt. As a matter of fact, before such Afro-inspired sounds as “Allah Wakaba” by Ofo the Black Company led by the late Larry Ifediorama and “Jeun Koku” from the Afrobeat legend, Fela Anikulapo Kuti, adopted authenticity in terms of the Africanisation of their music, Akeeb Kareem was already recording Afro-Pop fusions for Decca West Africa.

So consistent and committed was Kareem that his mode of dressing and that of his entire band was in the true African fashion. Needless to say that his compositions, most of which were written in Yoruba language, were meaningful and replete with inventiveness.

The era of Akeeb Kareem was that of Johnny Haastrup of Monomono, Segun Bucknor and Revolution, Fred Fisher and his Ogiza Band, among others, who all created their different styles of fusion within varying sound identities.

Akeeb was perhaps the most successful, not because of his musicianship but because of record sales arising from popular acceptance. He identified with the grassroots in terms of compositional themes and live shows.

op Nollywood actress, Stephanie Linus, is set to premiere her award-winning movie ‘Dry’ in Lagos, come August 2nd at the Silverbird cinemas in Lagos. Prior to its screening abroad the movie won a film award at the Geena Davis and ARC Entertainment’s inaugural Bentonville Film Festival (BFF) in Arkansas, U.S. for “Best Protagonists”.

The film’s theme focuses on Vesicovaginal fistula condition and underaged marriage among young women, narrating the story of

a thirteen-year-old girl, Halima (Zubaida Ibrahim Fagge), whose poor uneducated parents marries her off to Sani (Tijjani Faraga), a 60 year old man, who constantly rapes her. Halima gets pregnant and suffers Vesicovaginal Fistula (VVF) after child delivery; she’s consequently abandoned by her husband and discriminated against in the society. Zara (Stephanie Okereke), a medical doctor who also suffered a horrific childhood meets Halima; she tries to help her get through her situation and also save other young women under such circumstance.

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

PAGE 20 , SUNDAY Vanguard, JULY 12, 2015 Onikoyi68@gmail.com

Abuja’s nightlife will soon overtake Lagos’ — Mallam Yankee K

EHINDE Adegbite, popularly known as Mallam Yankee, is the Chairman, Bank Club, Abuja and CEO, Yankee Entertainment. Speaking with Vanguard’s Entertainment Editor, Ayo Onikoyi on the state of showbiz and nightlife in Abuja, Mallam Yankee opined that the seat of government was drawing very close to the zenith, especially with the growing awareness among the public who now watch out for attractive events to ease off their stress. Yankee said entertainment in Abuja was drawing close to equal that of Lagos or possibly take over from Lagos.

The CEO, Yankee entertainment with several successful events to his credit, said there was a growing awareness among show lovers that entertainment events are like therapy that momentarily or permanently proffer solution to

either physical or psychological stress.

He said, ‘’When you visit us on Friday, you will know what we are saying. I think we are almost there. All we need is to sharpen ourselves to totally transform entertainment in Abuja”.

On his contribution to the ongoing transformation, Yankee said,” We have been in this game for long. We started when people felt Abuja was not a place for entertainment, shows or nightlife. Many of our friends that started with us got discouraged, and gave up along the way. But we held on, and see where we are today. We will get there. ‘’ Speaking further, he said that consistency and passion were the two things that have worked for him.

Speaking on his past successful show, Yankee named Iyanya’s Album launch as one of his

greatest shows. He also put 2face album launch as his second best show, followed by Charly Boy show-life.

He debunked insinuation that economic downturn has negative impact on showbiz and entertainment in Abuja.

He said, ‘’Not at all. We are doing just fine. I tell you that once there is passion, and you are consistent, things will turn out positively. We have no regrets being here.”

Giving a hint on his next event, Yankee disclosed that the next show will literally “shake Abuja to its foundation” He said, ‘’Imagine having the new generation and the old generation coming together to enjoy the sweet moment of the night at the July edition of 2face Eargasm where we will have 2face and Victor Uwaifo. Imagine having other old and fresh artistes complimenting the two on a live band performance. Eargasm is music at its peak. We will also have Sir Shina Peters at the event.”

Mallam Yankee urged government to invest in entertainment, pleading with the President as well as the FCT administration to encourage nightlife in Abuja and the entire country.

I got motivation from my late grandfather – Emeka Favour, 11-year-old saxophonist

By TOFARATI IGE

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t an age when many of her peers are only worried about teddy bears and ice cream, little Emeka Favour Omolara is already charting a meaningful course for her life and exploring her God-given gifts.

The talented saxophone player is just 11 years old and in JSS2, but she has her eyes set on achieving bigger things. In this chat with Potpourri, she speaks on her career, motivation, and how she combines her school work with music. Excerpts…

Tell us a bit about yourself…

I hail from Amoji in Abia State. I’m the second child out of three wonderful children. The names of my

parents are Mr. and Mrs. Emeka and Remi Nduagu.

What is your motivation for doing music?

I got motivation from my late grandfather, late Mr. T.A. Olawore, who was an instrumentalist. After his death, my uncle (Mr. Akintunde Olawore) took over from him and also my brother, Emeka Victor.

Each time they play the keyboard, I get inspired so I decided to do something unique by playing the saxophone.

Tell us about some of the songs you’ve released, artistes and producers you’ve worked with?

I have done ministration in churches and on special occasions. I just released my first album titled “Oba (King)” and VC Perez produced the song.

Akin Alabi directed the video while Emeka Victor Boluwatife

was the executive producer.

What’s the biggest challenge facing your career?

It has to be combining my education with my rehearsals.

How do you get your inspiration?

I get inspiration from God, and from Church when the pastor is ministering.

What do you sing about?

I do strictly Gospel, Praise and Worship, to be precise.

Which artistes will you like to work with in future?

Frank Edward, Flo, Tope Alabi and Lara George.

Where do you see yourself in the next five years?

By the special grace of God, I see myself going to places, and ministering all over the world.

What next should we be expecting from you?

By God’s grace, expect a hearttouching album from me.

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

SUNDAY Vanguard, JULY 12, 2015, PAGE 21

Fear eeping yyou ou fr om ffinding inding true lo earss kkeeping from lovve

BY ONOZURE DANIA

F

ear is a funny thing, when you’re in a scary situation say you’re confronted by a bear it’s easy to know what you’re feeling.

You are afraid. And you know that what’s causing the fear is a very definite threat to your physical well-being.

Fear has a purpose. It is meant to keep you safe. You want to get the heck away from that bear as fast as

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possible. And, fear compels you to take action.

When it comes to relationships, fear is a bit harder to identify. You’re not exactly sweating bullets and fearing for your life.

You probably don’t have such a strong visceral response.

But the fear is just as valid.

We’ve found that relationship based fears some call it “fear of intimacy” tend to come in two flavours.

And both serve the same purpose: to keep you safe.

Unfortunately, they also keep you from having a close, loving relationship.

Let’s take a close look at this and how it happens.

Fear of being abandoned, this one is familiar to most people, being in a committed, loving relationship involves taking risks. To fully know another and create intimacy, you need to be vulnerable. The minute you commit to being with someone and being loved, you also open up the

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possibility of being left.

It’s a very scary premise, that you can let someone into your heart only to have the relationship not work out.

The threat here is clear: it’s the pain of heartbreak. This threat is especially terrifying if you’ve been looking for the “real deal” for a long time and can’t bear the thought of another relationship not working out.

This is fear’s way of keeping you safe, if you don’t get too close, there’s nothing to fear or so we tell ourselves.

Fear of being smothered, as much as you may genuinely want a lasting, loving relationship, part of you might be afraid that having such a

relationship is going to take away your freedom. The half ” common “other mentality actually leads to fears about getting into a relationship, by suggesting that we are each somehow incomplete until we find a partner, we might feel that we have to compromise a great deal.

Being single comes with a lot of freedom; you get to decide what to do with your time and what your priorities are.

The prospective of a close relationship presents another kind of threat: the potential loss of individuality, autonomy, and personal space.

serious and God fearing lady, who is ready to settle down for marriage. 09038464804 •A man, 55, a businessman and resides in Abia state, needs an enchanting lady, aged 30-40 for marriage.

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•Paul, 42, from Agbarho, in

Delta state, needs a sexy, romantic, busty and financiallyok lady, distance and age is not a barrier.07086206653 • Dj Manna, 24, light in complexion, average height, educated, well behaved, calm, honest, God fearing and resides in Lagos, needs a God fearing lady that will equip him in pursuit of his Dj career, age is not a barrier.

07032773418 • Dominic, 23, dark in complexion, handsome a graduate and a musician, needs a lady, aged 30-50.

08092800445 Sugar Cares Searching Female •Patience, a student in Delta state, needs a sugar daddy who can take care of her.

08120006966, 08037899801 •Sonia, from Benin, needs a rich sugar daddy that can take care of her financially, aged 36- 50. 07063649241 •Treasure, 22, average height, chocolate in complexion and resides in Benin, needs a rich sugar daddy who will take care her.07059412356

Searching Male

•Darlington, 35, Igbo, by tribe and resides in Lagos, needs a sexy and romantic sugar mummy in Lagos, Abuja or Port Harcourt.

08120952584,08137164152 •Tony, 29, cute and strong, needs a sugar mummy in Port Harcourt and Abuja.

0 8 1 6 6 8 7 7 7 4 1 , 0 7 0 5 9 2 9 7 1 6 6 •Charles, 29, 6.8ft tall and handsome, needs a good and wealthy sugar mummy, aged 30-50, for a relationship. 08186158332 •Mena,25, tall, dark in complexion and handsome, from Delta state, needs a sugar mummy ,who is rich for a sexual relationship.

07033157607,07057913165 •Philip, 31, a graduate and resides in Lagos, needs a sugar mummy, for a relationship. 07035798369 •Chuks, 35, needs a nice sugar mummy.08173207250 •Kale, 5.9ft tall, needs a sugar mummy, aged 38-40, for a serious relationship.

08132705334

Page 22---SUNDAY Vanguard, JULY 12, 2015

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

The Igbo under Buhari's administration Dear Sir,

“A child who has suffered no ill always live his life thinking that ill is never intended, but his father who is a victim of several ills thinks otherwise.” ince the result of the MARCH 28 general election was released, a lot has been said about the fate of the Igbo in the next four years of President Muhammadu Buhari's administration. Some had gone to the extent of saying that the Igbo made a fatal mistake, to have placed all their eggs in one basket.

Some called it a pure political gamble. Some said that the Igbo will not benefit from the present administration.

If the above assertion is anything to go by then it simply shows how underdeveloped our democracy is. The beauty of democracy is better appreciated when there is a stiff and sincere opposition that leads to competition. It is this competition that leads to fulfilment of campaign promises and commitment by the politicians.

President Buhari will thus be making a fatal mistake should his government decide to neglect the Igboland by stopping some of the major projects that had been initiated by the past administration, just because they gave near total support to former president, Dr. Goodluck

S

Jonathan.

Igbo nation had contributed overwhelmingly in the growth and development of Nigeria.

Therefore, one of the first steps to show that President Buhari is serious about positive transformation of Nigeria, is for him not to neglect the

South east.

Mere appointment of the Igbo in his cabinet does not per se answer these calls. He should ensure the completion of some of the major projects already started by the past administration as well as initiate new ones.

Finally, as for appointment, let Mr President ensure the best minds in Igboland are appointed to his cabinet. If the president heeds to the above call it will truly show that indeed he meant well for Nigeria and by far also prove most Igbo people wrong. Because the

massive support given to Dr Jonathan was as a result of the past experience the region had before the coming of Dr. Jonathan.

It is my opinion that he acts like a good father who tries to win the confidence of his children irrespective of their ideo-

logical differences, not because he may lose being the father of the children but for the sake of peace in his household.

Chinyeaka Chikelue Fidelis, Igbollo Villa, Eungwu Agidi Anambra State 08066212285

2016: A bright future awaits Bayelsa with Ikisikpo Dear Sir,

W

riting from a sick bed is intriguing I must confess, though I relish the experience. With the eleventh drip on my vein slowly performing its function and the twenty-ninth injection making my butt yearn for reprieve, I have come to truly understand the dilemma of Bayelsans. Lying on the sick bed feeling so weak and angry for being cut off from active involvement in activities and my daily routine, has greatly unsettled my mind. In spite of the harsh reality, a new perspective enveloped my consciousness with questions trailing sporadically.

Like me, Bayelsa is sick.

Her experience since the coming of the present Governor in 2012 is calamitous. Never in her history has Bayelsans been this frustrated, marginalized, strangulated, oppressed, subjugated and cocooned.

In the entire South-South geo-political zone, Bayelsa is still scratching the zero mark developmentally. This stark picture is in spite of the whopping N440 billion that was allegedly made available to the

present Governor by the former Chief of Staff, Diekievie Ikiogha.

As mentioned earlier, my entire biological formation is under pressure as I must get well. The doctors and nurses have subjected me to the unpalatable task of eleven drips, twenty nine injections and different drugs. I haven't seen or heard the names of some of these medication but the essence is my speedy recovery. To God's glory, I have attendance from my doctor and nurses round the clock.

Unfortunately, same does not apply to Bayelsa—no doctor and nurse for her which invariably connotes absence of drips, drugs and injections. Thus, the political health of Bayelsa is in a state of flux and her future endangered. Bayelsa's future, interest and collective aspiration is in shackles and manacles. Her ancestors are wailing, the inhabitants are in grief and the next generation is hopeless because of the wasteful approach to governance which is the hallmark of the Dickson Seriake-led administration.

Fortunately, Sen. Clever Marcus Ikisikpo is a sure political doctor that can

administer the right political prescription after proper diagnosis aimed at alleviating the pitiable political condition Bayelsa State has found herself and restore her back to political el-dorado. The big question is: Are Bayelsans ready to give themselves to the political doctor they truly deserve? Sen. Clever Ikisikpo is surely the best, most experienced and qualified political doctor with untainted antecedents and pedigree to perform a successful political surgery on Bayelsa's failing political health and salvage her from the doldrums. Sometimes, when the sick is rushed to the hospital, after thorough examination the doctors could do a referral or bring in other doctors for proper medical attention. The doctors’ action does not amount to incompetence but professionalism. In same vein, Bayelsa's socio-economic cum political fortunes will hurriedly assume an egalitarian status if other political doctors vying for the Governorship will display high level of professionalism by queuing behind the indefatigable Sen. Clever Ikisikpo from Kolo town in

Ogbia Local Government Area. Some might ask, another Ogbia Governor again? For me, that shouldn't be an issue. Emphasis ought to be on competence and preparedness to govern productively.

Like Senators Ifeanyi Okowa and Ben Ayade of Delta and Cross River respectively, I am confident that Sen. Ikisikpo can address the debilitating predicament of Bayelsa State and restore Bayelsans’ faith in their land.

My love, respect and belief in Senator Ikisikpo was rekindled on the 25th March, 2014 at the floor of the Senate. On that fateful day, a one time Governor of Kano State and Ministerial nominee, Mal. Ibrahim Shekarau was to be screened. The then Senate President, Sen. David Mark was so thrilled by Sen. Ikisikpo's questions that he had to caution the former Kano State Governor saying, "Sen. Ikisikpo is a former teacher like you, his penchant for scientific philosophy is well known in this red chamber". This clearly indicates that Ikis possesses the requisite intellectual sum-mum bonum to govern the agrarian

component unit called Bayelsa State. Distinguished Sen. Clever Marcus Ikisikpo as a thorough bred legislator has the basic legislative know-how needed to fast track the developmental pace of Bayelsa and make it the pride of all. The former Federal House of Reps member will send people-oriented bills to the State House of Assembly for the economic well-being of his people.

The experience Clever has garnered as a member of Bayelsa House of Assembly, two term member, Federal House of Reps and one term Senator will propel Bayelsa to greatness in a jiffy.

For approximately 14 years, he worked closely with so many federal government parastatals, agencies and ministries thus he is equipped with the executive-legislature technicalities needed to make Bayelsa a Cosmopolitan Metropolis. The renowned advocate of good governance is known for his humility, calm disposition, accessible traits and flare for openness.

Comrade Afoke L. Okporua, writes from Warri in Delta State.

SUNDAY VANGUARD, JULY 12, 2015, PAGE 23

Hell hath no furry like a man scorned!

Y

ears back, a certain celebrity with too much money to burn had this reputation of picking his women virtually from the gutter and turning them into respectable companions. One step out of line and such women were dragged down to where they came from – stripped of everything decent he had bought with his own money. Thank goodness more of today’s women can boast of a few kobos of their own. The poser then is, if you’re richer than your man, how does he seek revenge when you unceremoniously show him the door?

Tinu was a divorced mother of two when she met Wale through her mechanic. “I’d just bough a car of my dream and left word I wanted to sell the old one”, she said. “My mechanic brought Wale to inspect the car and he fell in love with it.

Unfortunately, the car was a bit out of his price range. He haggled and pleaded but there was no way I was selling it cheaper than it was worth.

He was an interior decorator and it was decided he would renovate the showroom of my business to cover the outstanding amount. That

was how he more or less warmed his way into my affection and we became a couple. He was a great lover and in time, moved into my house. He only went home for a change of clothing and to supervise his two siblings that still lived there.

“After I had his son, he became complacent. He loved hanging out with his friends and he loved his drinks, but if I went out with my friends, he’d rant that I was cheating.

“Things got to a point where our lovemaking was almost non-existent.

I was no longer in love with him so I advised him to stop coming to my house. He was stunned when I took his things back to his flat. “You’ll never meet anyone like me, bitch!”, he snarled.

But who cared? I was free! Whenever he came to see his son, he would throw angry jibes at me, wanting to know who I was sleeping with, but I simply ignored him.

“Some weeks later however, I ran into Kanbi, a mate he usually came to my showroom with to give him a hand when he was renovating the place.

I hadn’t seen him in a couple of years and he was looking really dishy.

He told me his wife had

passed on and I was really sorry he’d gone through so much pain. He asked if he could call on me now Wale was history. I told him if Wale discovered I’d started seeing another man, let alone his mate, he’d go mad.

Kanbi said he would be careful as he really fancied me and wasn’t that much of a friend of Wale’s.

So he came round secretly and his love making was superb. He’d awakened me sexually and I started wearing sexy undies once more.

“A few months later, my new found happiness became threatened when Wale texted: I, know about you and Kanbi, you slut!

How could he find out, we were so careful! Kanbi came round and I showed him the text, telling him I would deny it. But he showed me a text from Wale war ning him to always watch his back whenever he was out. And he’d replied, telling Wale we’d never wanted to hurt him. He was furious. A few days later, my housemaid rang me at work that I should come home immediately as Wale was in my bedroom. By the time I got home, he’d left.

I was shocked to find all my designer sun glasses crumpled on the bedroom floor.

“My expensive shirts and blouses had their arms

ripped off. My expensive knickers and silk negligees were all torn to shreds. A lot of cash was missing too. Kanbi came over the instant I called him. He was as shocked as I was.

Was this Wale’s idea of revenge? Destroying everything that made me feel feminine and sexy?

Kanbi went to the police to lodge a complaint and brought some policemen over. I cringed as they looked through the evidence – my shredded undies and blouses. Wale was ordered to report at the Police Station and when he did, he told them arrogantly that it was a domestic affair. That because I as a rich woman, I treated him badly after I’d finished using him,and didn’t even allow him to see his son, which wasn’t true. As for the cash he took, he said I owed him some money and that was the only way he could get his money back. He then told them the sub story about he friend he personally brought to the house, stabbing him in the back and stealing his wife from him.

“Wasn’t there a limit to the man’s shame? The police were obviously on his side. I was chided for giving the impression I was robbed when it was my

husband with a key to the house that had come into a house he’d always been free to visit. They classed my case as a domestic affair they seldom interfere in as both parties tend to overdramatize the issue. Did I want the father of my child to be charged to court? For what? As if that wasn’t enough, everyone in our neighbourhood knew every detail of my tangled love life. `How awful about your sexy knickers!” Neighbours would ask, a dirty smile on their faces.

“I didn’t do anything wrong and I have nothing to be ashamed of. So I found love with a wonderful man, is that anybody ’s business?

Wale had really done it this time and I insisted the police sh ould bond him over and keep him away from my premises.

If he wants to see his son, the driver would bring him. He really did us a favour though. Now that our secret is out, Kanbi and I can openly date and I have met a few of his friends. Thank goodness I can breathe freely again without looking behind my back all the time.”

organs are held in place by muscles. When your muscles are well-toned, they provide better support thereby assisting the functioning of all vital organs.

improved posture means you move with a lot more grace and ease. Here is a ‘hump’ and ‘dip’ exercise for the small of the back.

Kneel down with the hand on the floor without moving the body forward or backward, breathe in dipping the waist till the small of the back is hollow and at the same time raise your head.

Breathing out raise the waist drawing in the stomach and dropping the head. Repeat consecutively 4 to 5 times.

While you sit on the heels lean forward and support the head on the fists, placed one on the other.

Never you neglect the condition of your spine.

Keep it supple and flexible - always.

Winding down after work

*Exercise for the small of the back

E

VEN the journey home has contributed its share in the overall tiredness of the work day.

What with all the anxiety over the slow-moving traffic.

Once home you probably go straight to the kitchen for a snack or collapse into a chair for some television viewing. You are just too tired.

Now, just as there is the need to start off the day with energy-releasing exercises so there is the need to wind down after work.

A fruit to assuage hunger while dinner gets ready is okay. What will not do is a poor combination of food groups which will only put even more stress on your back and exhaust you even more. Another thing, C M Y K

digestion is not helped when eating is done while one is nervous or excited. We must always try to induce a feeling of calmness in ourselves before settling down for a meal.

For some people a little vigorous exercise does the good job of dispelling work-time worries and providing a new burst of energy. For those not in the mood for energetic work-outs, some stretches like the plough pose, the head-to-knee pose which rely mainly on the forces of gravity - such that all you do is assume the posture, take it easy and breathe. No one is asking you to be a Jumping Jack Flash for fifteen minutes.

A little mercy on your fatigued body.

But I tell you what. You will be sweetly surprised to find out that simple mild stretching exercises like those mentioned are improving the way you look and feel. And the practice of the dead man’s pose, for say fifteen minutes after these exercises will spell astonishing re-

pose of body and mind.

The practice of proper winding down will even set up the body for a good night’s sleep. Or you will find you are not too tired to tango as the case may be!

What stretching does for you * Stress relief: In a difficult situation your body resorts to the ‘fight of flight’ response, contracting muscles in readiness. The situation gets over but you forget to relax the muscles.

Gradually, this tenseness to stress becomes the norm so that you do not even notice that you are tense. With tension there is a restriction in movement and a loss of youthful agility. * More energy: In contraction muscles cost you a lot of energy. Once you learn to replace contraction with relaxation of your muscles you save energy for better things. * Improve your digestion: Your internal

* Better your body tone: Muscles work in antagonistic pains, when one is contracted the other is relaxed. When a muscle is always tensed the antagonist becomes flaccid and bulgy resulting in undesirable physical distortions such as a bulging belly and thighs and sagging bottom. Relax tensed muscles and the flaccid ones will have a chance to tone-up and your overall body tone will improve. * Return of youth grace: With a toning up of weak muscles and getting rid of extraneous muscle tension there is an improvement in the alignment of your skeletal system.

This

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

9.00am — 10.00am on Saturdays

P AGE 24 — SUND AY Vanguard , JUL Y 12 , 2015 SUNDA JULY

bunmsof@yahoo.co.uk 08056180152, SMS only

Is your self-respect worth sacrificing for an old flame?

A

bi is one of my few older friends whose company I find quite relaxing. When I called on him a few months back, he was in very high spirits. He’d just hooped up with an old girlfriend who he last saw some 40 years ago when they both left secondary school!

“It was one of those olden days’ romance when you just got together and wrote love letters”, he gushed.

“Though I was quite smitten by her good looks, sex was never on the cards. We went our separate ways after our secondary school certificate exams. She got married and settled abroad with her husband and I’ve tried a couple of marriages myself! Now she’s back. Her marriage has hit a bad patch and she’s back in the country to re-assess her priority.

You should have knocked me down with a feather when I picked up the phone and it was her!

She’d tracked me down through a mutual friend and we decided to meet up for dinner. I’m quite looking forward to this.

What a stroke of good fortune now that I’m single again!

“When did her marriage crumble?” I wanted to know. “A few months ago”, he explained. `In fact, she’s not thinking of divorce – the couple just agreed on separation to think things through. Her poor husband had an affair, he was caught and she found it difficult to forgive him. You know how these whites readily confess to affairs and ask for forgiveness”.

“So, now she wants an affair of her own to get even?”. I prodded. He looked a bit startled. He obviously wasn’t thinking along a revenge affair.

Calmly, I

reminded him the poor woman’s husband still lived in the family house with the children of the marriage. As a matter of fact, her things were in her matrimonial home and she was constantly in touch with her in-laws who were pleading for reconciliation.

I warned him not to pin any hope on the dinner. |this old girlfriend insisted on anonymity and hinted any trust would be on her own turf.

The post-dinner report was bleak but not unexpected. “She was even lovelier than I imagined”, Abi continued, “and her taste was really sophisticated.

The wine was ordered was one of the best and most expensive on the list but I’d come prepared for all that.

When the bill was brought, she discretely reached out for it and insisted on paying. The

dinner was her idea she said, and when next we had an outing, I could pay. You were right in your assessment you know. We talked more about the pain of her husband’s affair and the fact that she missed her children.

“I listened glumly as she painted a glowing report of her parents-inlaw. How they had no racist blood in their veins and never saw the temporary split as a way of getting rid of her. She didn’t even say anything about my coming to the flat where she was putting up. She simply told me she was going back in a few days time but promised to be back”.

She’s not been back since and she hasn’t even phoned! And a lot have been said about retrodating. Given the opportunity, a lot of people have admitted they would get in touch

with their first love with a view to re-kindling the flame of passion they once shared. It could be a good idea or it could turn out to be a nightmare. |As it did for Toyo when she ran into an old flame abroad.

We’d all been thick as thieves in the good old days and Toyo and Gbenga were the first to team up. The romance was really sizzling with so much sex. It wasn’t any wonder that it fizzled out in months – when Toyo found her ‘soul mate’.

For months Gbenga really suffered a broken heart. They both went on to marry different partners. Nine years later, and a few kids between them, hey ran into each other. Toyo was divorced and fancy free and wasn’t looking for husband-material.

Gbenga was separated and had a bed-sit and he

I want to be with you

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"

Baby... You know I do miss you, I want to be close to you, I love you, my heart beats for you. I think of you, I want to take hold of you and kiss you passionately. You know I want to caress your impeccable and sexy body. I really want to look into your eyes and tell you how beautiful and lovely you look. I only want to be your only man. I will always worship the ground you walk on, you know you made me to be more emotional and romantic. You changed my world. How i wish you are in my arms to keep me company, how i wish you are close to me for us to act little of Romeo and Juliet. I miss you dearly.... Please come back soon my love...

James N Okonkwo (Freesoul)

happily asked Toyo to stay a night or two. “It’s quite safe”, he assured her. “I have a girlfriend”.

In spite of my warning not to do anything foolish, Toyo happily packed a weekend case.

It was no surprise when I saw her early the next morning looking really plum.

“Now I know why I ditched that bastard,” she fumed as she walked through the door.

“He’s still as vicious and self-centred as ever.

I was first put off by the oily dinner of boiled rice and dodo he plunked on the dinner table.

Couldn’t he have splashed out on a romantic take-away?

“Before dinner was over, his girlfriend showed up, playing the perfect hostess and pouring us all glasses of wine. It was obvious she knew who I was as she cuddled up to Gbenga, snuggling up to him as we steadily got drunk.

“Much later, Gbenga said I could have the only bedroom in the flat, he would sleep on the camp-bed with his girlfriend. No problem there – I wasn’t in love with him, so it made no difference whatsoever to me. Only, I couldn’t believe my ears when they started making love. The bed was too close to the4 bedroom for me not to notice. Then the bed started banging against the wall as his girlfriend’s moan grew louder. Then it hit me – Gbenga was having his revenge.

My punishment for ditching him all those years back was to listen to him make love to another woman!

How petty can you get?

“The next day his girlfriend looked triumphant – she was obviously delighted with the previous night’s

performance and was all over Gbenga. He looked cocky too – maybe he felt like a stud who’d just delivered.

I merely laughed with derision. I wasn’t in love with him and was too confident to feel crushed by his childish pranks. “`So, I just smiled and packed my bag. I took his offer of a lift but refused to see him again. If he thought his performance of the previous night would set my passion off the roof he had another think coming. The last laugh was on me”.

If you can’t get what you like … (Humour) A new commanding officer was sent off to run a desert outpost, situated miles from civilisation. All went well for a couple of months but then the C.O. Started to crave female company. He called in his second in command. “I say Jenkins, what do you do for sex round here?”

“We use he camels sir ”, came the reply.

The C.O. was utterly dismayed at the suggestion and tried even harder to keep his feelings in check.

However, after another month had passed, he gave in to weakness and headed over to the camel enclosure. He put a ladder up the back of one of the female camels, climbed up and started thrashing away. All of a sudden, his second in command appear and exclaimed in a s t o n i s h m e n t .

“Commander, Sir, what are you doing?”. “Well, you told me to use one of the camels if I wanted sex”, replied the C.O. “Yes, that’s true”, said the officer, ‘but I meant we use the camels to travel to the nearest village. It’s forty miles away in that direction”.

ngesinaj@gmail.com +2348138055800 +2348066043380

WHAT IS LOVE

Love is mystery, you go extra miles before getting what true love is all about. Love is like weather you can't predict what we come out of it for the day and also is like a coaching job,whenever you draft a positive strategy for a match, you get a good outcome.

Having a boyfriend or girlfriend is not love, but having someone in your life on whom you have blind faith that even if you hurt them to the extreme, they will still hold.your hands and say I WAS, I AM, I WILL ALWAYS BE YOURS. Love is not all about sex, fashion, money and flirt.

CHARLES CHIDUBEM OGBONNA. 08169186581

SUNDAY Vanguard, JULY 12, 2015, PAGE 25

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•Mr.Aloysius Osigwe

•Anthony Ezenwafor

•Mr.Chukwuemika Ezeofor

THE GHOS GHOSTTS OF ‘THE LADIPO 4’ RETURN

For 14 years, the police seized our sons’ corpses after killing them extra -judicially —Families •80-yr-old dependant, others petition President Buhari, seek justice

By Esther Onyegbula

1

4 years after waiting for justice to be done for their murdered brothers and friends, the Ekwulobia Imeobi Youths Association (EIYA) has taken its cry for justice to President Muhammadu Buhari, following a petition written to the President by the association.

Four young Ladipo traders, who were indigenes of Ekwulobia, Anambra State, Anthony Ezenwafor, Chukwuemeka Ezeofor, Izuchukwu Ezeama and Aloysius Osigwe, were allegedly shot by some police officers attached to Area ‘C’ Police Command, Surulere, on July 1, 2001, following a robbery incident. They were shot on the grounds that they were armed robbers allegedly working for one Chief Jude Okoli. The deceased were living in a two-bedroom apartment in the boys’ quarters at 48, Olaitan Oduralu Street, Kilo Bus Stop, Surulere, Lagos.

While three of the deceased were said to have been shot by the police while attempting to arrest them, the police, after realizing that there was C M Y K

nothing incriminating them as armed robbers, allegedly shot and killed the fourth deceased person, Osigwu, to cover up the dastardly act. The remains of the slain youths, it was learnt, were allegedly hurriedly buried by the police.

According to the leader of EIYA, the police did not prosecute Okoli till his death in an auto crash in 2006, a situation it believes confirms he was innocent, including the four deceased who were bread winners of their families. “Not only did Chief Jude Okoli, before his death, in 2006, identify the deceased as legitimate traders at Ladipo Market and not armed robbers as claimed by the police, the leadership of Ladipo Main Market, Mushin also identified the deceased as their genuine members and not criminals as alleged”, the group stated.

The families of the deceased traders have waited for years in vain to receive the remains of their sons.

Over the years, efforts by the families to get justice have proved abortive as the court action instituted against the government and the police

was thrown out.

Their matter was taken before Justice Oyindamola Ogala of the Lagos State High Court, Igbosere, by Akaraka Chinweike Ezeonara, Chris Okpara, Remiguis Ezenwanne and Ifeanyi Okoye, all traders at the Ladipo Market, as 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th applicants respectively, on behalf of the slain youths

I am 80 years old and finding it difficult to live now because his siblings are not doing well financially, he was the only one we relied on

against the Inspector General of Police, the Attorney General of the Federation, the Attorney General of Lagos State, a former Commissioner of Police, Lagos State, Chief Marvellous Akpoyibo (then of Area ‘C’ Police Command, Surulere) and the Divisional Police Officer, Aguda Police Station, as the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th and 6th respondents respectively.

The matter dragged on for years with the applicants demanding for the enforcement of the fundamental human rights of their murdered colleagues under the Fundamental Human Rights Rules, 2009, which give right to life, liberty and dignity as guaranteed by Sections 33, 34 and 35 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999.

The youths were represented

by Osas Justy Erhabor, a former Vice President of the Nigerian Bar Association, and Abioye Akerele.

Justice Ogala struck out their case in a ruling.

Delivering her ruling, Ogala raised query as to the competence of the application under the fundamental rights procedure.

The court ruled that the matter could only be brought under writ of summon and not fundamental rights.

Following the decision of the court, and no funds to further pursue the matter at the Appeal Court, the youths decided to write a petition to President Muhammadu Buhari. In between petitions had been written to the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) under the then president, Mr Okey Wali, the Senate under Senate President David Mark, Civil Liberties Organisation, the then Inspector General of Police, Ogbonnaya Onovo, a former Attorney General of the Federation (AGF), Mohammed Adoke Bello (SAN), National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) and Committee for the Defence of Human Rights (CDHR).

In the latest petition to the President signed by Akaraka Chnweike Ezeonara, on behalf of EIYA, titled, ‘Application to genuinely order institutions of authorities to do justice in the case of four innocent youths of Ekwulobia murdered in cold blood by trigger happy police in Lagos, ’ the youths are demanding full investigation into the incident and the release of the remains of the youths to their families for proper burial.

The petition read: “It is now a decade and four years in this case of the Ekwulobia four innocent youths murdered. Over the years, we have remained in the wilderness of jungle justice in spite of our efforts from one institutions of government to another including the court of law. Though we accept disappointment, we cannot lose hope. Not that we didn’t know there are higher courts to appeal but we don’t have money to continue.”

The youths expressed disappointment with the Lagos State Commissioner for Justice, the Inspector General of Police, Commissioner of Police, Lagos State, Deputy Commissioner of Police, Panti, Lagos State, O/C, Panti, the National Assembly, as well as civil society organisations on the incident,

saying they failed to help. “We urge you to kindly order the current IGP, Solomon Arase, to do the needful according to our Constitution, because he was Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) in Panti, when the incident took place. With ‘Change’ as your mantra, we humbly demand the remains of our innocent murdered brothers from the police authorities, adequate compensations as well as retributive justice on their murderers. We want to count it among changes of your first hundred days in office,” the petition stated.

Speaking with Sunday Vanguard, the father of one of the deceased traders, Aloysius Osigwe, Chief Sebastine Osigwe, said the family was yet to come terms with the death of their son.

The man, 80, who said he could no longer see due to lack of financial assistance which he was enjoying from his son when he was alive, claimed the deceased’s mother had been bed-ridden for the past 13years as a result of the grief of losing his son. He said until perpetrators of the dastardly act are brought to book and the remains of his son released to the family for burial, he would not relent on his efforts to ensure justice was done.

“My child was killed in cold blood in 2001. My boy and his friends were killed by the police but their remains have not been released to us. I want government to give us justice. He was murdered for no cause but there must be justice. He was the one helping the family financially when he was alive”, the octogenarian said.

“Because of his death, his mother has been bed-ridden and I also can no longer see. I am 80 years old and finding it difficult to live now because his siblings are not doing well financially, he was the only one we relied on. The loss has made us to be in want, we cannot forget him,” he lamented.

The elder brother of Anthony Ezenwafor, Pastor Azubuike Ezenwafor, also lamented the ‘I don’t care attitude’ of government to bring those behind the murder of his brother to book. “This is something we are trying to forget because the situation has put our aged mother in a poor health condition. It is not something to be remembered all the time and that is why we handed the matter to Akaraka to pursue for us. Government has not done anything for the family, not even compensation.

The whole town was pursuing

the matter when it first happened, travelling from Enugu to Abuja and Lagos looking for justice but nothing has been done,” he stated.

“The worst thing is that we didn’t see their corpses as police failed to release them to us. At that time, one of the policemen in charge of the case bragged that if we pursued the case too far, they would make sure we did not see the boys’ corpses and that is what they have done”.

Akaraka said with the latest petition, the family was optimistic of getting justice.

PAGE 26 —

SUNDAY Vanguard, JULY 12, 2015

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RESIDENCY CARD

Ondo Ondo breaks breaks ne new w gr ground ound

By Femi Adepoju

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his is part of planning.

Mimiko has taken us back to the Awolowo school of leadership, that leadership is not by permutation but good planning for the welfare of the people" .“That was how human rights activist, Yinka Odumakin, summarized the Residency Card initiated by Ondo State Governor Olusegun Mimiko at the flag-off ceremony of its utilization phase.

“On his part, a former Statistician General of the Federation, Prof.

Doyin Akinyosoye, recommended the Residency Card, otherwise known as Kaadi Igbe Ayo, to the National Economic Council (NEC) for effective planning in Nigeria.“He said the card, which captures the data of each resident, if adopted nationally, will be useful as a platform for effective planning for the citizens, and consequently enhance the development of the country.“Perhaps,the usefulness of the multi-purpose smart card was better exposed to the audience at the launch by the Resident Electoral Commissioner in Ondo State, Mr Segun Agbaje, who represented the Independent National Electoral Commission boss, Amina Zakari, who promised to recommend the scheme to the electoral body.“According to him, the scheme would be recommended to the Federal Government for adoption by the electoral body since the card would enable the owner vote in any part of the country, irrespective of place of residence without the risk of duplication of votes.“Chairman of Globalcom, Mike Adenuga Jnr, said a number of states have tried to adopt the smart card initiative without success. Represented at

Governor Olusegun Mimiko (middle); Deputy Governor,“Alhaji Lasisi Oluboyo (4th right); his wife, Alhaja Fatimat (3rd“right); the Olugbo of Ugbo, Oba Frederick Akinruntan (2nd right); among “others, during the launch of the utilisation phase of the Residency Card the event by Mr Olushola Ajayi, the Globalcom Chairman said: “We are part of the scheme because we are part of the Abiye project which has been used to successfully demonstrate the workability of the Residency Card." He thus implored other states to emulate Ondo and adopt the initiative.“Describing Mimiko as a trailblazer, the Secretary of the Yoruba delegates to the National Confab, Dr.Kunle Olajide, who noted that no state can succeed without proper planning, maintained that the Kaadi IgbeAyo project is key in that regard and described the introduction of the scheme as a history making process. “"This is history making process. It is a clear planning process. You are a trailblazer in the country. You

Grace High School Graduates 52 Students

5

2 students graduated from Grace High School, Gbagada, Lagos at the end of 2014/2015 session. The graduation featured award presentation to eminent Nigerians and brilliant graduands, key note address by the Guest Speaker, Professor Aloy Ejiogu of the faculty of Education, University of Lagos, and dance presentation by

students.“Ejiogu asked the graduands to manage their future.

He said managing the future can be a complexity to people who see the future as largely unknown, saying for those who realize that the future begins from the present, it is easier to understand how to manage it. The don said what he meant by managing the future include using today very

Dignitaries at the graduation ceremony

Over 70% of beneficiaries of the state's free healthcare are nonresidents well so that tomorrow can give one joy.“The principal, Mr Ronald Cilliers, urged the graduands to be good ambassadors of the college“Mr Oluwemimo Ogunde, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Mrs Bolanle Ambode and Professor Lirong Jiang, co-Director, Confucius Institute, University of Lagos, received award for distinguished service to humanity.

Brilliant graduands also receive award. The Valedictorian of the set is Abimbola Ezekiel Oluwade.“The record of his academic achievements in the school include best in mathematics in JSS2 in 2010, Bronze medalist in Science Olympic in SS1, 2012, 2nd position in Lagos Cowbell Mathematics Competition in SS2, 2013 and 5th position in the national MAN mathematics Olympic in SS3. “The star of the set is Aina Oluwademilade. She joined Grace High School in 2009/ 2010 session. She sat for Cambridge O-level in 2014 and came out with 4As and 2Bs in the subjects she sat for. She wants to study pediatrics because of her love for children The Administrator, Grace Schools, Mrs Tokunbo Edun, in an interview with journalists after the ceremony, described the graduating students as a set with the best brains who will go places.

have made the Yoruba proud, other states should come and learn from you. I am proud to be part of this," he submitted.“If the disclosure of the Ondo governor concerning the initiative coming into being is anything to go by, the smart card idea came as a result of his deep thought on how to make the difference in governance and give the people value for their mandate.“Speaking at the launch, he said, "You would recall that at the inception of this administration in 2009, a12- point programme, tagged ‘A CARING HEART’, was rolled out as a guiding paradigm of our peopleoriented administration. This underlying philosophy formed the platform for our mission to mobilize the people of Ondo State to harness all God-given resources, create and use wealth for the collective fulfilment,individual happiness, and peaceful co-habitation in an environment of transparent and honest leadership’’.“As a means of transmuting this mission into

reality therefore, Mimiko said the government introduced the Residency Card to facilitate the identification of all residents of Ondo so as to deliver to them, directly, the inherent social and welfare programmes contained in the 12 –point programme.“Declaring that the card will be the prerequisite for all residents of the state to access government facilities, the governor listed the facilities to include Abiye Safe Motherhood programme, the micro-credit and economic empowerment project, the highly-subsidized agric input and supplies and free education. “He explained that Kaadi Igbe Ayo will not just be a new lexicon in the vocabulary but an integral part of life in the Sunshine State.“"Kaadi Igbe Ayo is a state-wide, dynamic, chipbased multi-purpose transaction card that contains the basic bio data as well as socio-economic data of holders and the state welfare package solutions and applications. “"It is a smart card that serves as an interface between the state government and all residents. It is the instrument of access to all democratic dividends of the present administration", Mimiko submitted.“He thus urged the people of the state to ensure prompt payment of their tax in order to help government execute and maintain the projects and other social facilities.“Following the successful take off of the scheme, government has embarked on its full implementation with initial focus on the health sector.“The choice of the sector for the enforcement may not be far-fetched considering that over 70% of beneficiaries of the state's free healthcare are non-residents.“The Commissioner for Health, Dr Dayo Adeyanju, during a visit to inspect health facilities in the capital city, Akure, as part of the measures to ensure the usage of the smart card, warned that any pregnant woman who does not have her Residency Card may not have access to free healthcare programme of the Ondo government as it was determined to ensurethat the multitude that flock to the state from other states to enjoy its healthservices pay for the services.“According to him, the essence of the visit was to ensure that peoplecomplied with the directive that everybody in the state should have ‘Kaadi Igbe Ayo’.

Calabar Carnival right goes tto o Okhma

By Princewill Ekwujuru

A

fter a series of presentations by several marketing companies seeking to handle Calabar Carnival account, Cross River State Carnival Commission, the agency responsible for overseeing the annual event, has announced Lagos-based Okhma Global Limited as the lead marketing company for the carnival.

Their responsibilities, according to the agency, include: to increase the fund drive by more than 80 percent of current revenue accruable from marketing and also provide marketing and PR consultancy/advisory, strategy implementation, media content creation, production, advertising and sponsorship/ partnership acquisitions.

Calabar Carnival, tagged "Africa's Biggest Street Party", was created as part of the vision of making Cross River State the number one tourist destination for Nigerians and tourists all over the world. The carnival, which begins on December 1, every year, and lasts till December 31, has boosted the cultural mosaic of `the Nigerian people while entertaining millions of spectators within and outside the state, and boosting industry for all stakeholders.

This year marks the eleventh edition of the multi-event carnival that has garnered the reputation and multiple awards of Nigeria’s biggest and best-organized tourism event. The 2015 edition coincide with the commencement of the new administration of Governor Ben Ayade.

SUNDAY Vanguard, JULY 12, 2015, PAGE 27 08116759757

My husband, prostitute connived to send me out of my matrimonial home —Housewife A

BY DAMILOLA IGBEDION

housewife is seeking divorce on the grounds that her husband put her life in danger. Mrs. Amaka Otuonyeandinma told Ojo Customary Court Grade A that the husband, George, whom she had shown so much love was claiming she was a bad wife.

She told the court: “My life is in danger. George fights me frequently, he threatens my life.

There is no more love in this relationship”. She added that all

efforts to resolve the issues have proved abortive.

“All peace initiatives, particularly from his kinsmen, were not successful because he said he had more valuable things to do than settling the misunderstanding between us”, the housewife said.

Responding, George said he was shocked to receive the court summons as efforts were on to resolve the issues by his kinsmen.

Before adjourning the matter to August 3, 2015, court president, Chief Joseph Ogumola, lectured the couple on the dangers in divorce,

asking them to find ways to resolve their differences before the adjourned date.

Meanwhile, a 27-year-old artisan, Scot Emmanuel, pleaded with the court not to dissolve his 10-year old marriage to his wife, Caroline.

The wife had filed for divorce claiming abandonment. Scot said he was not ready for the divorce, adding that he would rather ask for reconciliation. "I do not want the marriage of over 10 years that has produced two children to scatter. I want to settle any quarrels with her.

I am ready to provide accommodation for her and my

children,"he said.

The husband promised to provide the accommodation and N2,000 weekly allowance as agreed tothe last hearing of the case. "My wife should take it easy with me as things are hard and I do not get regular borehole jobs any more”, the respondent pleaded. He asked the court to help him appeal to the wife for forgiveness.

Reacting, the wife said: "He brought in a prostitute, who connived with him, to send me away with my second pregnancy.

Meanwhile, my seven-year-old daughter has never attended school due to lack of money”.

Court president, Ogunmola, advised the husband to work hard to impress his wife so that she could change her mind for the future of their children. "If you want to change her mind, you must find the way to do so. We are bothered about the future of the children”, Ogunmola said.

Speaking to Caroline, the court president said: "You are extremely too young to have two homes, you need to endure with your current man because you do not know how the next husband would turn out".

He appealed to the couple to go back and involve family members to resolve their disputes.

er orm Ilaje ffor or adolescents' sak e caregiver erss st storm sake Health caregiv

BY GRACE UDOFIA Zion Pepe, a community in Ilaje Local Government Area of Ondo State, fits into the description of a town set on river bank that sleeps early due to the fact that development is yet to permeate its length and breath, giving room for early childhood diseases, adolescent-related vices and substance abuse.

Although lacking in the basic amenities of life, Zion Pepe is blessed with the Community Grammar School with a large population of students, who need education in order to excel in life. The community can only boast of a single asphalt road which is about 10 minutes’ walk to where the school is located. Members of the school community, students and teachers alike must trek this long distance as the swampy nature of the soil does not allow automobiles access.

It was in recognition of the peculiar situation of the community school that the Sephamid Bridge Foundation (SBF), a group dedicated to the promotion of adolescent health, launched a health talk for the students in order to veer them off the path of delinquency and prepare them for a better future ahead, according to Olumide Olorunfemi, co-founder, SBF. He said the choice of the community school was strategic as teenage pregnancy is prevalent. Statistics show that almost every young girl in similar areas becomes a mother before her 20th birthday and is forced to drop out of school.

Beyond that, violence behaviours, induced by substance use and abuse among boys, have become normal way of life evident by high rate of potential violence in the riverine communities and risky sexually behaviours resulting in the high rate of HIV/AIDS. But on the day the SBF team took its campaign to the school there, there was a robust relationship between the students and the team and a seminar tagged - Adolescents, Their

•SBF facilitators with the youths ... shun premarital sex

Health and Future, focusing on how to lead a successful adolescent life, was held by the SBF. Addressing the students, the facilitator of the programme and co-founder of SBF, Dr. Tunde Olasakinju, pointed out the dangers associated with pre-marital sex and the abuse of drugs, which often lead to dire consequences among adolescents and asked them to stay off such substances.

Olasakinju told the students that abstinence was the best approach to ensuring a better future, pointing out that about 750,000 teens get pregnant

monthly thus terminating their educational.

Another facilitator, Dr. Kenneth Okolie, pleaded with the students to always stay focused and avoid what he called ‘sexual play’ and ‘unfriendly touch’ to prevent early pregnancy.

The medical practitioner particularly warned girls not to allow men to take advantage of their silence to plunge them into unwanted pregnancies.

The highlight of the event was the formation of the School Health Club (SHC).

The SBF distributed exercise books with adolescents’ health tips to the enthusiastic students.

Hon. Oyintilo es Community Owner ship of Public ffacilities acilities Oyintiloyye Advocat Advocates Ownership he House of Assembly member representing T Obokun constituency in Osun

State, Honourable Olatunbosun Oyintiloye, says community ownership, protection and maintenance of public facilities will promote and sustain development.

He spoke at the commissioning and handing over of a borehole, donated to Ibokun community by Egbe Omo Obokun of Ijesaland in Batimore/Washington, USA, saying such gesture would automatically lead to bottom to top development, which is community-driven.

According to him, to achieve this objective, the people must revert to the old African cultural mjode of developing communities through collective effort to achieve more results.

He stressed that the people must imbibe the culture of community spirit, community service and community development, adding, “We need to live out our cultural value of building and modernising our communities”.

The parliamentarian, who charged the people to take ownership of every public structure in their domain, either governmentdonated, community-delivered or individually donated, said this would propel the people to imbibe maintenance culture.

Recalling that the present administration in the state, under Governor Rauf Aregbesola, has also constructed hundreds of boreholes within the last few

years, the lawmaker regretted that many them were not being maintained due to negligence of the beneficiary communities.

He charged community leaders to spearhead the renewed attention

for repair and maintenance of those public facilities through collective efforts such as appointment of local ad-hoc committee for their care.

Receiving the borehole on behalf

of the community, Oba’bokun of Ibokun, Oba Festus Awogboro, appealed to well-meaning indigenes of the town to complement government effort to develop the town.

CEPEJ ttasks asks Buhari on heads of Niger Delt tr Deltaa Minis Ministr tryy, Amnes ty Of Amnesty Offfice

A

Non-governmental organization, Center for Peace and Environmental Justice (CEPEJ), has advised President Muhammadu Buhari to appoint credible persons from the Niger Delta to head the Niger Delta Ministry and Amnesty Program.

According to a statement signed by the Coordinator of CEPEJ, Comrade Sherriff Mulade, the NGO is aware of the pressure on the President by vested interests to appoint their “candidates” into the two offices. He should not succumb to such overtures.

CEPEJ believes that appointing grassroots persons into the Amnesty Office and the Niger Delta ministry would bring the much needed impact and dividends to the communities, saying if such positions are given to ex-militants and political jobbers, it may provoke others to take on arms. On the December deadline set by the Federal Government to phase out the programme, CEPEJ wants the President to carefully study its modus operandi with a view to

adopting effective and more pragmatic methods in discharging its functions. “We suggest that the ex-militants should be involved in

mechanized farming, rather than dishing out stipends to them at end of every month without doing anything”, it advised.

Why Okowa should jettison DESOPADEC amendment bill — Irimisose

L

eaders and stakeholders of Host communities pro ducing oil and gas in Delta State, have advised Governor Ifeanyi Okowa to drop the proposed amendment of the law establishing the Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission, DESOPADEC. Chief Moses Irimisose, who spoke on behalf of the leaders and host communities yesterday, said " there was nothing wrong with the present structure of DESOPADEC, therefore, Governor Okowa and the members of Delta State House of Assembly should be more concerned to ensure that the commission gets its complete 50% of the 13% derivation" According to the leaders, the right thing to do now is for Okowa

to dissolve the present scanty and expired board of DESOPADEC and immediately send names of nominees to the House for reconstitution of a new board. " A wise and listening governor like Okowa should understand by now that the proposed DESOPADEC amendment bill has been rejected by the host communities, who voted him into office, because such bill may likely affect the progress of the present administration".

Irimisose said, in as much Okowa has promised prosperity for Deltans, he must ensure that funds meant to develop host communities were not diverted to develop non oil producing communities as the proposed amendment bill is to short-change the host communities.

PAGE 28—SUNDAY VANGUARD, JULY 12, 2015

Celebrating Soyinka in a recession Issues as a great playwright is celebrated

By Soyombo Opeyemi

T

here is intellectual recession in Nigeria. It is high time we conducted an intellectual audit of tutors in our higher institutions of learning.

Is it refutable, as someone recently argued, that ‘halfbaked’ graduates are produced by ‘half-baked’ lecturers; that a mango seed can only produce a mango fruit, certainly not an orange? When you have a system where a lecturer appears at the beginning of a semester, dumps the scheme of work or course outline on the class and reappears about a week or two to the semester examination to give ‘areas of concentration’ to the students or allow cash and sex to determine their grades, then you are bound to have ‘half-baked’ graduates.

Should the practice of intellectual tyranny - where the teacher plays God or determines who should or should not graduate - continue or should the students themselves be involved in the assessment of their lecturers, as it is the case abroad and in some private institutions in Nigeria? How do we end the current intellectual sterility and circle of substandard learning, even when the limited funds deployed to these institutions and their internally generated revenues (IGRs) are generally mismanaged? What salary structure is appropriate for our academics so that we can end the yearly ritual of going on strike for months and then coming back to collect salaries for the period of the industrial action?

Should the government, in the Nigerian context, continue to superintend public tertiary institutions of learning or should we turn them over to private hands in order to extirpate these endemic and systemic cultures?

Is it time we converted the polytechnics to universities, like Britain did? Since the majority of those who go to polytechnics are as good as their counterparts in the universities, should we convert all polytechnics to universities or turn them to satellites of contiguous universities in order to accommodate majority of our teeming youths seeking varsity education every year? And how much destruction has the takeover of public schools in the 1970s by governments done to our educational system?

The Sunday Post of October 29, 1967 carried a press release

by Anthony Enahoro, the Federal Commissioner for Information, announcing the detention of Soyinka by the Federal Military Government.

The very first paragraph of that

release is intriguing: “A famous Nigerian playwright, Head of Drama and Lecturer in English of the Lagos University, Mr Wole Soyinka, has been detained...”

What exactly made a lecturer with seven or nine years of experience famous? How could a man with only a bachelor’s degree become the Head of Department of English, Head of Drama, in less than seven years of taking up a university appointment? I believe the answer would be located, mostly, in the fact that Soyinka is both a teacher and practitioner - or is more of a practitioner than a teacher, to underscore the point here.

Even as a fresh graduate, his play, ‘The Invention’, was premiered at Royal Court Theatre, London, where he worked for two years before returning to Nigeria. While in school, his presentation on ‘Tipping’ won an oratory contest. He told stories on BBC and staged a play at the Students’ Drama Festival - all a rare feat for a Nigerian at that time.

The way a theatre practitioner will impart knowledge to students will be different from the way a mere teacher of theatre will do. In the same way, a practising lawyer will affect the students better than a mere textbook teacher of law.

A civil engineer with many years of field experience will achieve better results with his wards than a classroom civil engineer. What we have in our tertiary schools are essentially classroom teachers, not practitioners. No matter how good you are as a professor of mass communication, a ‘media practitioner ’ of the same number of years or less, who can also teach, will affect the students far better than you do.

Sure, a practising agriculture lecturer will know so much through experience and achieve far better results with learners than a textbook lecturer.

Y

es, I’m aware of the industrial attachment scheme for students, sabbatical for lecturers, etc.; these are not enough to produce wellrounded graduates, especially in this age. So what is the kernel of the argument here?

Archetypal lecturer

I know a few lecturers who are practitioners of what they teach (despite the limitation of time). They attest to the huge impact of the practical experience on their fields of study, and consequently, on their charges. What we need on our campuses now are more of trainers than classroom teachers. There is need to make our education functional - a tool for national development. Our

because of their richness and the diversity of subjects treated” (TELL, April 21, 2014) C’don Adinuba, by virtue of the depth and breadth of his public offerings, has no business being completely outside the academic milieu.

Students under the tutelage of his likes in journalism, political science, English studies, etc. cannot but come out as wellgrounded graduates. C’don had to abandon his postgraduate studies because he was not getting any value for the time and money. If he were to apply today for a teaching appointment, he would be asked if he had a Ph.D, yet he ought to be training Ph.D students! Thank God our erudite scholar, the trainer of trainers and teacher of teachers, Prof. Soyinka, neither has an MA nor a Ph.D! I am here putting convention on trial. I expect witnesses just as I anticipate a robust defence.

•Soyinka...Icon, teacher, intellectual avatar academics should no longer live in ivory towers. The essence of knowledge is its use to advance human cause. Knowledge that has no utilitarian application outside the school system is of no value. In the context of the marriage between the ‘Town’ and the ‘Gown’, Soyinka is the archetypal lecturer needed for our tertiary education. What a huge impact have his works, in print and on stage, made on our society. Prof. Barth Nnaji is on the same pedestal with Soyinka in this regard. His theoretical as well as practical works in the field of power speak

Knowledge that has no utilitarian application outside the school system is of no value. In the context of the marriage between the ‘Town’ and the ‘Gown’, Soyinka is the archetypal lecturer needed for our tertiary education

volumes.

While encouraging our dons to practice, there is need to draw teachers (instructors or trainers) from outside the college or school system and evolve a system where students will have 35 per cent of their classes (scheme of work) with the practitioners, who have the ability to teach, while teachers within the school system retain 65 per cent contact. In other words, the practitioners will be employed to teach on a part-time basis while the school teachers are, of course, on full-time. This should constitute a major concept of the marriage between the ‘Town’ and the ‘Gown’.

I

observe this in the academic community in Nigeria. Rather than ask about your work, the question is usually, “What did you study?” It is always about certificate, not necessarily what you can do or your track record. If Bill Gates had applied to teach a course in Computer Studies in any tertiary institution in Nigeria, he would have been asked how many degrees he secured in Computer Studies!

The rule, of course, is that you must teach what you studied in the college. But there are always exceptions. The academic community in Nigeria is closed and stuck in a time warp. This is to its own disadvantage. Imagine a hypothetical case of a Chuka Momah being turned down from taking a course in journalism or physical education just because he studied microbiology! The two books unveiled in 2014 by Momah, according to Anthony Akaeze, “have been hailed by many critics as invaluable works that sportsmen, sport education instructors... will find useful

Academic dead-woods

Yes, government must take the ultimate responsibility for the recession but everything is not about government. Prof.

Babatunde Munir Ogunsanwo once spoke about “academic ‘dead-woods’ who remain in the system for decades without self-improvement” and those who indulge in attending to their lectures “a week or two before the commencement of an examination.”

Prof.

Ogunsanwo spoke then in 2009 during his inaugural lecture at the Olabisi Onabanjo University (OOU), Ago-Iwoye.

With the reforms and innovations going on now at OOU, which have resulted in the institution emerging the best state university in Nigeria within a short space of three years (2012 - 2015), perhaps the solution to revamping our educational system does not necessarily lie in turning them over to private hands. These reforms should now spread to other public higher institutions in Nigeria. The President, state governors and other stakeholders in the education sector must insist on cast-iron discipline and accountability on our campuses. There must be efficiency and excellence. A system should also be put in place to distinguish and reward the academics and support staff that labour day and night to nurture a great future for Nigeria.

These are among the issues that should engage our attention as we celebrate our literary icon, the teacher and trainer, my intellectual avatar, Wole Soyinka, now in the early evening of his life...!

•Soyombo, author and public affairs commentator, sent this piece via densityshow@yahoo.com.

SUNDAY VANGUARD, JULY 12, 2015, PAGE 29

Okowa: A Pragmatic Leader at 56

By Olorogu Okiemute Oviri Okwagbe

W

ITH an unalloyed and total commitment to serving his people spanning over decades through his highly esteem position of honour and responsibility without blemish, as well as maintaining high record of integrity, and untainted rectitude, the Delta State Governor Senator Ifeanyi Arthur Okowa, a trained medical Doctor and astute politician, no doubt, has demonstrated true spirit of leadership to the people of Delta State.

Governor Okowa has contributed its own quota to nation building.

From the time he was elected into Ika local government area as a Chairman, Okowa, did not leave any one in doubt that he was ready for the challenges of a statesman. With an amazing humble disposition, Okowa, served in the Chief James Onanefe Ibori’s government as the Honourable Commissioner for Health. Because of his strong passion for helping people, Okowa, unknowingly, warmed his way into the heart and the consciousness of the people due to his all embracing and pragmatic leadership approach. He built strong bond and bridges of friendship across the ethnic divides which culminated in the strong support he got from the Urhobo people and other ethnic group in the race to succeed governor Ibori at the twilight of his government. Of course, we all knew what happened at Ogwashi-Uku, when delegates threw away tribal sentiments to support the Ekweme of the universe.

•Governor Okowa

But the leadership of that time had made up their minds and so it was that he was to wait for another day.

The rest as they say is now history.

Again, it was the element of humility in him that compelled him to serve as the Secretary to the Delta State government under the regime of Dr Emmanuel Eweta Uduaghan, a professional colleague and the man many believed he defeated at the Ogwachi-uku primary.

As the Secretary to the Delta State government Okowa was selfless in his service to fatherland. His commitment to service blended with strong passion for result and unenviable humility further endeared Okowa to Deltans and cemented his place in history. After serving one full tenure with Uduaghan as SSG where he distinguished himself Governor

Of course, what do we expect from a governor divinely call to service? It is progress and the rapid development of the state.

But we must realise that the governor cannot do it alone

The governor Delta has been waiting for

By Michael Tidi

I

T was President Barrack Obama while campaigning for his first term, who told his supporters: “We are the ones we have been waiting for; we are the change we seek!” In many ways, Delta State Governo Ifeanyi Arthur Okowa can be validly situated within the context of a long awaited leader of pan-Deltan credentials and transgenerational appeal; in other words, the sort of chief executive the state yearned for.

Exceedingly humble, unassuming, forthright, modest, reliable and dependable, Governor Okowa’s political career is a comprehensive yet coherent lesson in consistency. This particular configuration of the Governor is widely attested to not merely by word of mouth by his supporters and associates but more importantly by the unprecedented level of loyalty with which they keyed into his gubernatorial ambition in spite of overwhelming and overbearing inducement to turncoat and jump ship. As a politician, myself, I would consider Governor Okowa as simply put, the politicians envy.

It is truly remarkable that so many Deltans across every ethnic nationality remained firm and focused in the realization of his ambition in what panned out as a de-

termined effort to stand by a true friend and dependable leader their consciences simply would not let them turn against. Yet in many ways, nothing ever comes from nothing in politics and coming to terms with Governor Okowa’s towering profile necessitates situating his appeal within the context of a man who having given so much was reciprocally rewarded with goodwill by his teaming support base.

For many Deltans across the state’s senatorial districts and local government areas, Okowa’s final emergence as Chief Executive

For many Deltans across the state’s senatorial districts and local government areas, Okowa’s final emergence as Chief Executive of Delta was long anticipated and indeed long overdue

of Delta was long anticipated and indeed long overdue. Given his eminent qualification for the task and the enthusiasm with which Deltans had awaited his mounting the saddle of executive leadership in the state, it was not at all a surprise except that it was still pleasantly surprising that against all the odds, he eventually made it into Government House to the candid delight of citizens all across the state and Deltans resident elsewhere.

It is of course too early in the day to assess the Governor’s performance given the young age of the administration. Nevertheless, one thing Okowa cannot possibly be accused of is starting slowly or not hitting the ground running.

Okowa obviously came prepared with a clear grasp of his mandate and an impressive familiarity with what Deltans expect of him. Rather than grope in the dark or retreat behind excuses, the governor from day one took charge, displaying firm leadership and embarking on his duties with exceeding maturity that can only be borne from experience.

Thus in an era in which it is seemingly becoming fashionable to owe workers’ salaries, Governor Okowa had paid within his first few days on the job in what later panned out as a truly remarkable first thirty days in office. Within

this period, the Governor had reiterated his pan-Deltan mandate by demonstrating his sterling detribalized credentials with a clear cut determination to develop the entire state while carrying absolutely all Deltans along regardless of class, gender, ethnicity and even political leanings.

By virtue of his background in medicine, Governor Okowa would appear to be professionally programmed to be cautious, painstaking, detailed and meticulous. He does not merely look it but actually exemplifies these indispensable qualities of real leadership capable of delivering genuine dividends of democracy to all Deltans.

While what we have seen so far from him already shout decibels for his SMART Agenda, we must all remain prayerful that the good fortune that has come our way as a state with the emergence of a listening Governor must not be undone by the forces of ethnic hatred and politics of bitterness that have long been our undoing. As our preferred Governor marks his 56th anniversary, it is with utmost confidence in the destiny of our state under his leadership that I most heartily wish him Happy Birthday as one voice in concert with a thunderous ovation from a cross-section of fellow Deltans.

•Tidi wrote from Warri.

Okowa felt the need to taste action at the federal level, this time not at his usual terrain of executive service but at the national assembly as a policy maker. And so Okowa turned his energy and administrative sagacity into making important laws for the people of Nigeria at the Senate.

Governor Okowa is a man of principle. His integrity, he will not compromise for anything.

He has said, he will fight corruption, the cankerworm that has eaten deep the fabric of our nation and destroyed its root for growth. We know he will do this with professional excellent and operational efficiency. He will show leadership when it is required but will not neglect his oath of office and betrayed the confidence of the people of Delta State that he has sworn to serve. Okowa is a man of the people, deeply love by many. His fan base cut across ethnic divide. This was evidence in the 2015 gubernatorial election in Delta State, where despite the fielding of very strong Urhobo candidates, a segment of Urhobo political elite said never again as they turned their votes to support those of Aniomas, Ikas, Ijaws, Isokos, Ndokwas, and host of other ethnic group to give Okowa, a deserving victory both at the primary and the general election. And since his election and subsequent swearing in, Okowa, has never disappointed in character and official conduct.

His policy trust reflected the passion of the man for ethical altruism. His appointments into key executive office were perfect and that has eroded the fear of domination and oppression entertained by the other ethnic groups in the state.

Governor Okowa will surely leave an indelible imprint when he would leave office after serving his two terms of 4 years each. The power, purpose, focus, drive and speed with which the governor conduct his official duties is a reflection of a character ready to do all he can at meeting the huge expectation of Deltans. Of course, what do we expect from a governor divinely call to service? It is progress and the rapid development of the state. But we must realise that the governor cannot do it alone. We all must be involved in the course of growing the Delta economy, promote our cultural identity, sacrifice for the state and support the governor at all time. Our amiable governor does not need distraction. He needs one hundred percent concentration and Deltans should be ready to give this support. As we gather from different work of life to celebrate our iconic political leader and the father of our state at 56, it is my fervent prayer that God in his infinite mercy will continue to shower his blessing on our dear governor. God will give our leader the wisdom of Solomon to lead the state .In my humble disposition I say happy birthday and many happy returns to our amiable governor, political leader and oga wen sabi. I also want to use this opportunity to appreciate our dear mother Chief (Mrs.) Edith Okowa who stood behind our political leader like a solid rock doing all the prayers behind and lending all the psychological support to motivate our oga to the top.

• Okwagbe is the Esama of Ukpedi Kingdom and a chieftain of the PDP in Delta State.

PAGE 30, SUNDAY, Vanguard, JULY 12, 2015

community,, family Ex otic w edding of Nkiruk a Amadi & TTon on hael UI community Exo wedding Nkiruka onyy Mic Michael Indies for a husband, celebrate Babalola @ 60 Nkiruka Amadi, daughter of Chief Vincent Amadi, the Eze MinikweOnyinyechi Oba 1 of Isiokpo, Rivers State reached out all the way to the West in Carl Anthony Michael, t was a mixture of the members of the from San-Fenando, .

Trinidad and Tobago, West Indies. The couple had the first leg of the nuptial at the compound of Chief Amadi’s residence in Isiokpo, Kelga, Rivers State for the traditional marriage on Friday, June 26, 2015, followed by the second and final leg in Lagos on July 4, at the Anglican Church of the Ascension, Opebi, Ikeja.

Both occasions were filled with glamour and glitz.

Ifamily University of Ibadan (UI) community, members and friends who gathered

to celebrate Dr (Mrs) Lydia Adeola Babalola (nee Ladipo), a senior lecturer in horticulture at UI Department of Agronomy, on Saturday, July 2. The occasion was a celebration of a distinguished academician, a chorister par excellence, ordained evangelist and a staunch member of the Women Fellowship of the Abundant Life Church, Ibadan where her husband, Prof. J.O. Babalola, is a reverend.

Photos by Shola Oyelese

L-R: Chief Vincent Amadi, bride's father, Mrs Antoinette Beckles, groom's mother, the couple, Mr and Mrs Carl Anthony Beckles, Mrs Grace Amadi , bride’s mother and Mr Carlyle Beckles, groom ‘s father .

Celebrant (m) with family, friends and colleagues

Mr & Mrs Samuel Okoinemen and others. L-R: Mr Yomi Opameye, Mr Kola Lanlehin, Mr Wale Adepitan, Mr Leye Kupoluyi and Mr Kole Ademulegun at the church

L-R:Dr Amos Akingba, former NADECO Chieftaincy and Chairman of the occassion, Chief and Mrs Vincent Amadi, bride's parents with Miss Abiodun Araba at the wedding reception.

*Dr. Babalola, flanked by brother and wife, and her pastor and wife.

R-L: Mr Felix Frontin with Mr and Mrs Martin and Kathrine Wiatt at the traditional marriage ceremony.

The couple with both parents during the traditional marriage ceremony between Onyinyechi Nkiru Amadi and Michael Carl at Chief Vincent Amadi's compound in Isiokpo, Ikwerre Local Govt Area, Rivers State.

R-L: HRM King Blessing Wogor Wagidi 40th, Nyenwe Ali Isiokpo; Prof Godwin Tasie, Chairman of the Occassion and Chief Wobodo Amadi during the traditional marriage ceremony.

C M Y K

The celebrant with children

The couple, Onyinyechi Nkiru Amadi and Michael Carl at Chief Vincent Amadi's compound in Isiokpo, Rivers State.

Family members and friends.

SUNDAY VANGUARD, JULY 12, 2015, PAGE 31

Glowing moments of Oludewa Thorpe @ 60

T

he family and friends of Mrs Oludewa Thorpe rolled out drums, penultimate Saturday, to celebrate her as she turns 60 years.

From one friend to another family member, the guests were full of praises to extol the virtues of the celebrant, whom many described as a dutiful wife, caring mother and industrious woman. Thanksgiving in her honour held at Catholic Church of the Holy Spirit, Ikeja followed by a reception at Zen Garden Chinese Restaurant. Photos by Diran Oshe

Mrs. Oludewa Thorpe with husband, Mr George Thorpe and children

Mrs. Oludewa Thorpe with husband, Mr George Thorpe L- R: Mrs A. Kuboye with Mr & Mrs L. A. Nedd

Mr. Wale Olaleye, chairman at the ceremony with wife.

Mr & Mrs Dave Oroye Mr & Mrs Gbenga X- Adebija.

Mr & Mrs Nornah Awoh and Mrs Justina Lewa

F ormer edit or giv es editor gives daughter in marriage

T

he former Community Concord Editor, Chief Abiodun Ogunbiyi, gave out her daughter in marriage to Mr. Olawale Opeyemi Obayomi in Abeokuta on Saturday, June 20th. The wedding was attended by high profile personalities. Photos

by Wumi Akinola

L-R: Alhaji Sarafa Tunji Ishola, former Mines & Steel Minister, Dimeji Bankole, former Speaker, House of Reps and Chief Abiodun Ogunbiyi.

Both families from left; Chief Abiodun Obayomi, groom's father, Mrs. Aina Ogunbiyi, mother of the bride, the couple, Chief Abiodun Ogunbiyi, bride's father and Mrs A. Obayomi groom's mother.

C M Y K

Chief Abiodun Ogunbiyi (m) introducing former Speaker Dimeji Bankole (l) to Chief Wole Jolaoso, chairman of occasion (r)

The couple; Mr. & Mrs. Opeyemi Obayomi cutting their wedding cake.

PAGE 32—SUNDAY Vanguard, JULY 12, 2015

We warned Tinubu ahead of National Assembly crisis — Dele Momodu •Sa ations fr om Buhari are lik •Sayys Nigerians’ expect expectations from likee Jesus rraising aising Lazarus fr om the dead from

BY OLALEKAN BILESANMI Mr Dele Momodu, the publisher of the Qvation magazine, was the presidential candidate of the National Commission Party (NCP) in the 2011 general elections. In this interview, Momodu speaks on the Buhari administration, the elections of the leaders of the two chambers of the National Assembly and his relationship with the National Leader of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Ashiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, as well as the late politician, Chief MKO Abiola, among other issues.

You were, before the general elections, one of the unofficial spokespersons for President Muhammadu Buhari, who was then the APC presidential candidate. But of recent, your thoughts about the president appears to be changing?

I am surprised at your comment because I have never changed. I am the biggest supporter of President Muhammadu Buhari today. All I have done is to tell the president what people are saying outside, that is my job. We don’t tell our leaders the truth. I told former president, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, the truth throughout his tenure. This is detailed in my forthcoming book, titled, ‘’Pendulum, a book of prophesy’’.

Everything I told President Jonathan happened. I owe that to our president too today. Once you become the president in Nigeria, people stop telling you the truth.

C M Y K

They only tell you what you want to hear. I am a stakeholder in this government. I wonder what would have happened to me if the PDP had returned to power. I was already under constant threat. I received threat messages. I had to name all the numbers anonymous because they were all attacking me for supporting Buhari. I didn’t support the president because I wanted anything from him.

I supported him because I believed at this time of our lives, we need a fatherfigure, what I called the Mandelaoption in Nigeria. And I thought Buhari, as a man of integrity, of impeccable character, fits that bill.

But, three months after the election, Nigerians are getting impatient because most of them cannot wait for even one second. I was the first to write an article titled, ‘’In Search Of Patience’’, telling the people to exercise patience with the man. But being patient does not mean we should fold our arms indefinitely. There are things that can still be done. I found a proverb some where which says ‘’the meat of antelope tastes very good, but while it is cooking, we can still make do with groundnut’’. While we are waiting for that big action, some things must keep us going, whether pop corn, ice cream or something. If the National Assembly, within some minutes, approved about 15 Special Advisers; so, what is stopping us from picking our National Security Adviser, if we have to change the one there now.

How about the Chief of Staff, the Principal Secretary, the Secretary to the Federal Government. The longer it takes, the longer the tension, and also the longer the pressure on Mr President. I want the president to know that if they begin to put pressure on

While we are waiting for that big action, some things must keep us going, whether pop corn, ice cream or something. If the National Assembly, within some minutes, approved about 15 Special Advisers, so, what is stopping us from picking our National Security Adviser, if we have to change the one there now

him, things may begin to fall apart.

Had it been some things are already in place, I am sure the tension would have reduced.

But things have rotten so much so that many people support the president taking his time before making any appointments.

No. I was once a presidential candidate. Before a man says he wants to be president, he must have his plans and blue print of things that he saw not working properly. As such, he thought he had solution to them. Yes, you might not have 100% solution to the problems, but you have a fair idea of what needed to be done urgently.

And you said you have the answer to them before you offered yourself to serve. And there is nobody more experienced than President Muhammadu Buhari. He was there over 30 years ago. He also acted in other capacities before now. So, I expect him to be able to know what he wants to do. Your principal staff, you will know who they are, and you will appoint them. Even the ministers, by now, there is no law that says all the ministers must be ready at the same time. The problems we have in Nigeria are so big that one second is like eternity. I pleaded with people few weeks back to be patient, but I am telling you that the public outcry is no longer favourable to our cause. And I don’t want us to lose that moment to the concerns of the people. It is like a plane that is about to take off.

The outcry, some have said, is genuine but that people are not well informed about the enormity of the problems at hand?

No one is crying foul. Don’t let us misuse language. They are only asking

for action. They have the right to that. Their expectation was that of a magician. That was what I wrote in my article. What the Nigerians expect of you is like that of Jesus Christ turning water into wine, raising Lazarus from the dead. I wrote another article, ‘’Buhari and the burden of expectations’’. To whom is given, much is expected.

Nigerians saw him as magician.

They believe he has talismanic powers to transform Nigeria from penury to prosperity. You can't blame them. Nobody is blaming Buhari, we are just saying 'please sir, time is not on your side'. I am not one of those who will rush him.

I am just reflecting the mood of the nation. I am a journalist. I gave him hints of what people expect him to do. I am not one of those who write abstract nonsense. I write constructively as a patriotic citizen. I joined the struggle since my days at University of Ife in 1978. I have never stopped since then. I also a country my children can live in and live in peace. I want a country where no girl would vanish into thin air for two years without any trace. I want a country where young school leavers would get jobs. I want a country where I will not spend all my money to generate electricity. I want a country where the infrastructure meets international standard like other oil producing countries. I want a country where our people will not be too distant from their leaders.

Talking about sudden change, you were known to be a friend and admirer of the APC National Leader, Ashiwaju Ahmed Tinubu, but suddenly you started supporting the Senate President, Senator Bukola Saraki, against his party?

Continues on page 33

SUND AY SUNDA

’Nigerians’ expect ations fr om Buhari are expectations from lik aising Lazarus fr om the dead’ likee Jesus rraising from Continued from Page 32 There is nothing sudden in that.

From day one, I supported Saraki for various reasons. I will say that, boldly, any where. And I stand by it. I supported him based on empirical facts of what I know.

One of it.....

(Cuts in)But you are not a member of the party?

Yes, that is the beauty of it all.

So how come you are saying authoritatively that ‘’from what I know’’?

I interact with people. At my level, a 55-year-old man, I have friends everywhere. I have contacts. I say this with every sense of responsibility. I don’t know of anybody who worked harder than Saraki, Amaechi and the rest of them for Buhari. Yes, so many people worked for Buhari, but I am telling you that from my own stand point, from my interactions, these people mentioned almost worked themselves to death for Buhari. As a matter of fact, at a time, some people were saying it was better to have consensus candidate for the party so that there won't be rancour after the primaries; but some people refused, saying they were not ready to step down for Buhari.

Saraki was one of the first people who declared total and unflinching support for Buhari.

Amaechi adores Kwankwaso. I know that for a fact. Ameachi loves Kwankwaso to death. But because of Buhari, Amaechi refused to support Kwankwaso. I don’t know if Kwankwaso will forgive him for that. But, he was honest enough to tell Kwankwaso that ‘’I have given my word to Buhari, I cannot turn back’’. Same thing with Saraki. I know for a fact that Saraki worships Tinubu. Quote me.

Maybe our Oga (Tinubu)does not know it. You know, sometimes, you don’t know those who love you if you have a lot of crowd around you.

But I am saying it to you that Saraki, the Senate President, worships Tinubu.

Then or till now?

I am sure till today. Saraki was one of Tinubu disciples. In fact, when some people were saying Tinubu wanted to hijack the party by installing his men, Saraki and Amaechi were among those who said 'no, we must give our leader whatever he wants; we must not humiliate our leader', because they(new PDP) had the power at that time to install their own candidate and they would have won, because the new PDP that joined APC at that time was formidable enough. But, they insisted they must defer to Tinubu.

It is what I know, not that they told me.

There are people who may go behind and tell the leaders lies, but I love Tinubu to the extent that I will never tell him a lie. I will tell him only what I know. So, among those who worked so hard day and night, gathered those who could support the campaign, Saraki was one of them. Amaeachi risked his entire life for that campaign. In an association of five or more political parties, I expected that immediately after victory, all of you would have come together to decide which of the parties in the association takes what. That was not the case. My advice to those of us who are close to Ashiwaju Tinubu is that people should prevail on him not to oppose Saraki because he is one of his men.

If you have children and you show one that he is the preferred child above other ones, they will be angry.

C M Y K

Momodu...Saraki was Tinubu’s disciple I think Saraki felt betrayed. If I were Ashiwaju, I would have done what the president did. I can almost bet my life that the President Buhari had a preferred candidate even though we didn’t know who the person was, but he said he would not interfere. It will get to a stage in life where two of your children are fighting for something, you stand back and let them go to the field and whoever wins, you support him, not that you tie the arms of one against the other. You have not even told us why you are supporting one against the other. I have not read it anywhere. The only thing I have so far read was that Senator Lawan is a ranking member, beyond that, what else? Beyond that, nobody sold Lawan to us.

But the elections in both chambers appear to be polarising the party?

Yes. That is what it will come to if you supported one child against the other. I predicted it. Go and read my article, titled, ‘’Let's honour our heroes’’, in which I canvassed that we must honour those people who worked for the party. I saw this coming because whoever knew a little bit of the rudiment of politics would have predicted same. Don’t forget that the generation of today is different, the temperament is different. The man’s(Saraki) life ambition was to be Senate President, to, at least, go beyond what his father achieved of being any open bias against him? I am the Senate Leader. That is the speaking facts, I am not taking dream of everybody in life, to sides. I am one million times surpass your father's glory. That is closer to Tinubu than Saraki. But why you had a W. Bush, and then, a I will always support the under George Bush Jr. and then a Jeb Bush dog. That is me. When General coming, if it happens. You must Buhari was going to speak at know that a Saraki who had that Chatham House in London, kind of ambition, you could not contrary to what the Fayose and discourage him. If you are not going co were saying that it never took to support him, don’t discourage place and that the man was in air him. That was my position. I am ambulance.... I was in contact not saying Tinubu had no right to with Amaechi and Saraki. He was support Lawan or anybody for that going to speak on Thursday, I left matter. But I know from my London via Madrid on a Tuesday interactions with the senators for Ghana. I got to Accra in the particularly from South- West, many evening. On Wednesday, Saraki of them were secretly supporting contacted me and said Buhari Saraki but for the fear of Tinubu was going to speak at Chatham and the backlash, they didn’t come House. I told him that I just got to out in the open. And when this was Accra last night. He pleaded that about to happen, I sent people close whatever I could do, media wise, to Ashiwaju to tell him that this was to make the day successful, I what was happening. Whenever I should do. So, I contacted an met those South-West senators, they international photographer and would say, E ba ore yin soro(please asked him to meet up with talk to your friend), but I can no Amaechi while I took the next longer do that, those days are gone. available flight back to London.

Today, if you go to Ashiwaju’s house, Saraki was shocked and excited it is like a market place. And in a that I could return to London the market place, all human beings will following day for the event. So, I be there, and, most of them, for one knew the efforts of Saraki and purpose or the other. The reality is Amaechi. And when you talk that has Tinubu accepted Saraki as about party supremacy, yes, the one of his children and did not show

And when this was about to happen, I sent people close to Ashiwaju to tell him that this was what was happening

Vanguard, JULY 12, 2015, PAGE 33

party is always supreme but not party dictatorship. Yes, the party will advise you, but you too will have a say. The party is made up of human beings. Even a father cannot be absolute. This is democracy. Why did the Senate South-East caucus reject Lawan?

Was it Saraki that rejected him?

The party can make recommendation but everybody must be carried along. It would have been impossible to win that (Senate) election without carrying PDP along. What I expected from our leaders from the South-West was to have accepted the voice of God, whether it was controversial or not. Aminu Tambuwal emerged as Speaker from the PDP, it was controversial. And he remained Speaker till May 29, PDP didn’t kill him for that, neither was he called names. Tinubu is a father-figure to all of them, I think that is the role he should be playing.

Are you Tinubu’s boy?

Tinubu is my mentor. And I won't join those who mislead our master.

There is nothing wrong in being anybody ’s boy. If you humble yourself, God will lift you up. I will always respect Tinubu. He is older than me, minimum of 10 years. So, if I cannot call him my father, anybody who wants to disrespect his own father can go ahead, he is free.

You said the late Abiola has more than 70% influence on you, it is like you are fanatical about this man?

Yes. I worked briefly in one of his companies, Concord, from 1988 to 1990. Because of my visibility in five of the titles on the Concord stable, coupled with my assistance in getting Shina Peters to play in his house for a party he hosted for the Super Eagles at that time, I became known to him and, from there, we became bonded. While a lot of people were following him because of money, I was always going to see him, mainly for mentorship. I was a disciple of Abiola, I later became an apostle.

I could almost tell you how Abiola would react to any situation. There are two people today in my life that affected me: Abiola and the other one who I call a spirit you don’t see but you feel. That is Dr. Mike Adenuga Jr. He is just incredible. I have learnt a lot from these two men. You cannot be great if you don’t recognise greatness in others.

That is why I say that about 70% of what I have learnt today is from the late Abiola.

Ovation is 364 pages, from less than 100 pages. Is that not too voluminous?

The idea is to make every issue of Ovation a collector's item.

Something you cannot throw away or use to sell groundnut. Ovation is a lifestyle magazine. You have to aspire to be there. There was a woman who called some years back from Ilorin, Kwara State. She had been dreaming for 10 years about two things, that is when her daughter is getting married, Ovation to cover the wedding, and having Sikiru Ayinde Barrister to perform, even if he was going to come on wheel chair. She fulfilled the two dreams. Barrister played for her before he passed away. It is not like any or every other magazine. It is very spiritual in nature in its birth, conception, sustainability.

Some say you are trying to scare your competitors away?

There is nothing wrong with that.

In anything you do, if you are not strong enough, your competitors will come and kick you away. I leant that from Mike Adenuga who puts everything in his business to make a difference. So, we have to put everything we have back into

the magazine and that was why we have the French version of the magazine which has been running since 2006, because we do French covers. We have done cover in Hausa language before. We are experimental. That is why the fun has been on for close to 20 years now. We will be 20 next year April.

We are also presently having the television version of it, now airing on Silverbird and Ben TV in London.

Which of these editions would you say is most outstanding for you?

Every copy of ovation, as I said, is a collector's item. Every copy of ovation is a work of art and science.

We go to the very extreme to give our readers the best value for money. That is why it is probably the most expensive magazine in the whole of Africa. Even at that, you cannot cover the cost, because every copy is like a hand-woven work of art. We have been with the same printer in London for the past 15 years. I am proud that in Africa, a company fully controlled by an African can think about quality; that, I think, is the greatest secret of ovation. Those who buy it do so because of its quality. When President Jonathan’s daughter got married, Ovation was the magazine of choice, it was the official magazine, and that was despite my opposition to the PDP. I am a professional to the core. The magazine is for everybody.

Whether you are in PDP, APC, APGA, any party at all. When the Queen of England was coming to Nigeria, Ovation was chosen by Buckingham Palace as the official magazine for Her Majesty’s visit.

When Dubai was going to be marketed to Africa, the British trade partners invited us to London to go to Dubai to take pictures all over Dubai and produced an edition which we called ‘See Dubai and Die’. Of course, that changed how people perceived Dubai because, before then, it used be only traders who went to Dubai.

So, I cannot say a particular edition is the best. I can give you some of the memorable ones.

Dr.Dehinde Fernadez Island in New York, to me, that is epic. Then going to Maiduguri, Borno State, to photographe Alhaji Muhammed Indimi’s house called House of Gold, I have never seen anything like it. It is an incredible monument. I flew in Collin Ramsay, the father of all photographers, in his late 70s, from London. The man who had taken world celebrities photographs including Imelda Marcos. That was the level that we took photography to. Some said when we first started that within six months, it was going to perish, but here we are, 19 years after, still standing.

You said you are not rich, even with the success of Ovation?

Wealth, I believe, is relative.

People in Africa, especially in Nigeria, tend to assess achievement in terms of money. I don’t. My biggest achievement today is creating a global brand; a brand that anywhere I am, and I have been on all the continents in the world, I have both brand and name recognition. I have been able to build a double brand.

That is one of the most difficult things to do as an entrepreneur.

When you mention Microsoft, your mind naturally goes to Bill Gates. You mention Apple and your mind goes to Steve Jobs. You mention Virgin and your mind goes to Richard Branson. You mention Ovation, your mind must go to Dele Momodu. that is my greatest achievement. Every other thing, God will take care of it.

PAGE 34, SUNDAY

Vanguard, JULY 12, 2015

With ‘ocean economy’, Bayelsa has no reason to be broke – Siloko Siasia

BY ABIODUN ALADE 35-year-old Moses Siloko Siasia is the Chairman of Mosilo Group, a multi-billion naira business empire, with investments in engineering, real estate, oil and gas, agro processing and project management.

The group is wholly indigenous company with strategic partnership with some of the world’s leading technical companies.

Mosilo Group has employed a critical mass of young people and continues to up the ante in human capacity development locally.

In 2014, Siasia was among leading African business men listed by Choiseul Institute for International Politics and Geo-economics in its ranking of the top 200 young economic leaders of Africa.

Siasia is aiming to lead his state, Bayelsa, to prosperity as disclosed in this interview.

Background saw poverty but I told myself I wasn’t going to give myself to crime. I lived in an environment where we had no food, no toilet. I almost lost my life but God intervened.

I looked after myself. 17 years ago, I was in the streets of Port Harcourt hawking oranges and selling Ice block but, at that time, I told myself I wasn’t going to be subservient to my situation; I was going to work hard because I believed there is a deposit of potentials in me. And that was how I started from that humble background- I washed rugs, planted flowers.

Today, the story is different. I have built a business of a group of companies, we have interest in various sectors, and I have employed many persons, mostly youths.

Mosilo Group is a leading name in energy services, real estate, agriculture, marine services among others.

We started what is called the Nigeria Young Professional Group and, in two years, we are in 15 countries; we are the only youth group in Nigeria that is registered in the United States of America and United Kingdom and we are about finalising our registrations with the United Nations.

I founded the group to give voice to the youths. Some of the elite are not interested in the youth. They would not give the younger generation the chance to lead.

They would continue to come up with strategies that would further undermine us and ensure that the youths do not speak with one voice.

The state of Bayelsa Bayelsa is less than one million people in population and, from 1999 till date, we have received over two trillion Naira but the state is in a sorry situation because there is no concrete work on ground.

Our educational system is in a state of decay, our women do not have that sense of belonging again because they cannot sell. Our people cannot fish because of oil spillage. The leadership has not been fair to our people.

Do you know that there are a good number of Bayelsa students abroad who are stranded and cannot pay their fees? They are frustrated. The females are into prostitution and government keeps saying there is no money, but when the money comes, they share it among themselves, it doesn’t trickle down to the people.

Government is the major employer of labour in Bayelsa because there is no critical investment to employ the masses, yet, successive governments have placed embargo on employment. Now, you need a leader that can think outside the box, a leader that is innovative and creative to bring about the investment required in Bayelsa.

I have been in the private sector, I have partners and I have the will to do that.

I

C M Y K

•

Moses Siloko Siasia

You cannot give what you do not have. I have employed people. I have grown a business from the scratch to where it is today and I have helped people in my community.

I have people who have not paid for education for two years, all their needs are on my bill. I have eight children in my community studying abroad on my sponsorship. Let all those who have ruled Bayelsa come out and tell the world what they were able to achieve before they got to government.

Youths The lowest funded ministry in the history of democracy in Nigeria is the ministry of youth development. Meanwhile, we gave them the mandate. When I was younger, I used to see government development craft centres, skill acquisition centres, sport development institutions, but they are no more today. The level of our education sector is poor and puts the future of the state in jeopardy. When you canvass for the inclusion of young people in governance, they would say what level of experience do you have? So we have found ourselves in a state of dashed hope.

I have so much belief in the younger generation; that is why I am offering myself to liberate my people from the suffering and hardship that they are going through. This is the first time in Nigeria democracy that someone of my age group would come out for a position like this.

When elected as governor, a position will make me a member of the Council of State, I am going to represent the interest of the youth. This is my will and I will never disappoint the people.

We must put an end to political imposition and create a sustainable future for our people. My heart bleeds whenever I am asked ‘ where are you from?’ Sometimes my friends say they want to come to my state and I wonder what they would see there. Meanwhile, Bayelsa has a huge tourism potential. We have 75 per cent of Nigeria’s gas reserve.

I am not going to the State House to rule but to serve my people. If I have been able to achieve what I have achieved in the private sector, then I can bring the much needed development when in the public sector to our people.

Getting the support of the elders There are some elders that are positive minded, while some wouldn’t love to let go because that is where they get their pay from but we must convince them that it is time to uplift the living standard of

The lowest funded ministry in the history of democracy in Nigeria is the ministry of youth development.

Meanwhile, we gave them the mandate

our people. I will appeal to them and I believe that God will give us the grace to champion this cause to the next level.

Debt management If you do not take up the challenge you will continue to allow people to accumulate debt in the state. My will is to put a stop to the act of borrowing by the government. We must create investments that would boost the state’s internal generated revenue. The state’s monthly IGR is currently less than one billion. We are going to diversify the economy and face sectors like tourism and agriculture. I would increase investment and create environment to attract investors by making it a destination for investors and tourists.

Bayelsa is where oil was first discovered in Nigeria, we would create a museum, a city out of Oloibiri. We will also create a beach in Akassa for relaxation and fun.

The environment in Akassa in Bayelsa is better than Miami in the USA; my government will create the serenity to make it a destination. If you sit in Brass at night, you can see Guinea; Bayelsa is central to the Gulf of Guinea, you can get to Equatorial Guinea under one hour by boat from Brass. Hence, we can build partnership, build sea port. We can use the opportunities to create wealth for the people.

I am not going to run a debt owing state, there won’t be need to borrow to execute any project, some of my partners are currently supporting some states in building infrastructures, and we would also team up with them to invest in Bayelsa. There a lot of my partners who are looking for real business environment to invest, we can create that. The current administration created Bayelsa Development Centres in the United Kingdom and South Africa but not too much investment have come to the state through this means.

In one year, we can bring about 500 companies to Bayelsa, we can create

massive employment under one year, in fact about 50,000 jobs, viable jobs, not street sweeping jobs; we are going to create jobs that will give security. Wealth to me is not about how much I have in my account but how many lives I have been able to touch.

Bayelsa should key into the ocean economy, a strategic framework on how to create massive employment using the waterways, a country like Netherlands is using that. It will not only create jobs for many but also generate revenue for government.

My businesses are not in debt. You must take loan to do massive projects, not pay salary or buy luxury items for government officials. The strategy we have used to run our businesses is to build partnership and that would be adopted too. A state is not so different from running a business.

Some state governors were able to leave office with good reserves and without debt. What stops Bayelsa from doing same?

What we have is enough to sustain the state. For instance, many investors have it in their business plan that they are going to get gas from Bayelsa, and this makes the state strategic; we are going to build investment around this with the support of the Federal Government to ensure that we create massive wealth for our people. Our aim is to transform Bayelsa to a point that everyone would become proud of it.

Militancy I do not see them as militants; rather, I see some of them as professionals. For example, on the high seas someone uses speed boat to kidnap somebody and still uses the boat to escape with his victim; this requires some technicality to do. We would ensure that they channel their energy into productive venture. We would show them the light to enable them use their potentials rightly and this will further strengthen the state. That is human capacity development.

Infrastructure and security for investors We would use Bayelsa as example for modern facilities in the country - facilities that will ensure greater investment and be a delight to investors. There would be access to internet from any where you are in addition to good road network among others. There are companies that are willing to come and do this and thankfully people are beginning to key into this.

On security, I believe that once the people have a sense of belonging, the state becomes secured; this strategy was used in Bonny and it is working.

Chances against heavyweights It is not about me, it is not Moses Siasia; it is a movement. The people’s will is more important in politics; this was evident in the general elections. Power is going back to the people and this will happen in Bayelsa too.

Godfatherism People’s perception of godfatherism in politics really worries me. I understand that there is need to get the support of the heavyweights. I will consult the former president. I know he is open to the voice of the youth as seen in his works while in office and this is the time for him to show again that he believes in the youth.

Ethnicity and zoning formula I strongly believe in professionalism; so I don’t discuss ethnicity and zoning formula. The incumbent governor is from my part of the state; he will use four years and I will also use four years. The choice is there for the people to make and they would make it rightly. I believe we do not have to buy votes because the people are wiser now.

SUNDAY

Vanguard, JULY 12, 2015, PAGE 35

Senate: Moving on to Economic Issue

BY YUSUPH OLANIYONU

T

HOUGH the institution is on recess due to the suspension of its plenary on June 25 for about a month, the Senate has however lived up to the promise made by its President, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki, that the members will continue to carry out different assignments and that plenary will resume anytime there is an urgent issue of national importance.

In the last one week or so, the Senate has focused on gathering necessary facts and figures aimed at preparing members to deal with issues bordering on how to revive the nation’s ailing economy. In groups of 15 to 20 members, Senator Saraki had gathered his colleagues to sit down with managers of the economy and the leadership of one of the anti-corruption agency to review the situation of the nation’s economy, present efforts being made to save the country from the external and internal forces which struggle to keep the economy prostrate and discussing areas of possible legislative intervention to further solidify the plans.

First to brief the Senators last week on July 2 was the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), an agency assigned the responsibility of collecting taxes, duties and levies on behalf of the Federal Government. Led by its chairman, Mr. Samuel Odugbesan, the agency congratulated Saraki on his success at the general election and his subsequent emergence as Primus inter pares in the Senate. Odugbesan further said that the price of oil which is the nation’s main income earner has been on the downward slide.

He said: “Oil and gas which is key to the economy has not been doing too well and this is as a result of many factors which are completely out of our control. The price of oil in the international market we all know has continued on the downward slide. Although in the last three months, it started gathering some momentum.

As at today, I think it is average $59 and $62 but the average we have computed is about $59 and that is what is obtainable today.”

According to him, what is within the purview of the Agency is to intervene to shore up the receipts from the nonoil sector. “As at the end of June, we have not actually got the total figures for June yet. It just ended yesterday and JP Morgan that is assisting the Federal Government to collect foreign components of our collection will still be giving us a report even a week after the closure of the month. But so far, we will say that Petroleum Profit Tax has given us N697.07bn for the first six months, that could go up a little bit. For the non-oil component, you have conflicting contracts which has brought in N778bn between January and June and Valued Added Tax N376billion”, Odugbesan said.

The essence of the briefing by the FIRS chief is to provide the Senate a detailed explanation on why the revenue receipts into the federation account is falling. Again, the Senate had the opportunity to cross-fertilise ideas with the agency and decide on what the legislature need to do in support of efforts to block the loophole and shore up the revenue.

Saraki in his address advocated for greater focus on tax collection to boost the nation’s revenue in view of the C M Y K

“It is important for us to meet with you, to let you appreciate where we stand on the issue of corruption and to also listen to you for us to know some of the issues that are challenging to you because the ICPC, EFCC and Code of Conduct Bureau remain the most vital institutions in the fight that we are waging against corruption today. We want to make the anti-graft war a priority for the Senate because we believe that it has got to a stage where it is truly endangering the entire system and some of the symptoms that we are seeing in the areas where it is affecting our national development is becoming more and more clearer to all of us.

• Senator Saraki dwindling receipt from oil. He added that an efficient tax collection system in the country is sine qua non to the much needed economic revival at this time. The Senate President said an effective tax regime will not only help revive the economy but will help the government to fund its various development programmes and redistribute wealth among the various strata of the society.

The Senate President said the FIRS should come up with proposed laws and recommendations that would help to boost their operation in the area of adequate and efficient tax collection.

“The FIRS is one of the agencies that have requested to interact with the Senate and to show the importance that the 8th Senate places on performance. We decided to meet you as quickly as possible because we know that our country’s dependence on oil as a large source of revenue is very fragile and it cannot be a way forward for a country like us. You have seen it even by your own presentation. The way forward for our country is really to look at the area of our taxes, because it is more stable, reliable and not dependent on other issues outside the country.

The Senate President said the National Assembly would henceforth carry out stringent oversight on the tax agency aside from partnering with the FIRS to deliver on increased revenue.

He said: “For us in the 8th Senate, this is an agency we want to work very closely with and we want to be very stringent on our oversights because honestly if we do not get it right in the area of taxation, I don’t believe we are going to get it right going forward. If you look at all the challenges before us, if the price of oil is good, we can execute our development policies and programmes but the fluctuation in the prices does not allow us to plan. Our non-oil revenue has to be stable enough to be able to address those issues and I think that is the area we need to work”.

The next agency to be received by the Senate leadership was the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC). The sequence of the visits suggested that after being briefed by a revenue collection agency, the Senate in its determination to also

block leakages that seem to drain the revenue and prevent it from being channelled into projects, policies and programmes that will improve the standard of living of the general populace shifted attention to the anti-graft agency.

ICPC boss, Mr. Ekpo Nta in his submission to the Senate President and the other Senators said tackling corruption requires that the substructures that support corruption in the system be addressed before going after the “symptoms of corruption.”

He said the Eighth Senate which he is leading was totally committed to the zero tolerance for corruption position of the Buhari administration and that he and his colleagues would do everything to make the job of the antigraft agencies easy and successful.

The Senate President also said most of the present problems confronting the country were a direct fall-out of the monumental corruption in the system. He added that corruption in the land has almost reached a crisis point hence the need for better collaboration by all national institutions to reduce it to the barest minimum, if not totally eradicate it.

The Senate President said the National Assembly would henceforth carry out stringent oversight on the tax agency aside from partnering with the FIRS to deliver on increased revenue

“For the 8th Senate, making corruption a priority is a must and we are committed to that and our goal is to work with you, the EFCC and the Code of Conduct Tribunal to reduce significantly the level of corruption in our system. When a government gets to a stage that it cannot meet its obligations, then we know we are getting into a crisis and that crisis also requires drastic actions. If we are pussy-footing before, it is now time for us to be serious”, he said Then the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) took its turn with the Upper Chamber of the legislative house. Its Governor, Mr. Godwin Emefiele told the Senate that the CBN has continued to initiate measures to strengthen the economy and reposition the country for the next phase of growth and development. While outlining the measures taken so far, he said notwithstanding the shocks the global economy has witnessed, the nation’s economic fundamentals remain strong.

“Let me reiterate that with inflation at single digit, exchange rate relatively stable and our reserves gradually rising from blocked leakages, our economic fundamentals remain strong.

Going forward, the CBN will continue to be vigilant in the market to ensure that there is zero tolerance for speculators and rent seekers.

Saraki in his response directed the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to ensure the urgent recovery of the N30billion which was the cost of waivers illegally granted to some category of importers, particularly those who trade in rice, chicken, palm oil, palm kernel, vegetable oil, poultry products, fish, tomatoes and textiles.

To create a political cushion for the fast drive of the Senate to settle down and deal with serious economic issues, the Senate President also found time to receive the Northern Re-awakening Forum led by Hon. Muhammed Kumalia to which he preached national unity, while also soliciting the support of the National Assembly Commission led by the Clerk of the National Assembly, Alhaji Salisu Maikasuwa, in the Senate’ s plan to effect positive change in the lives of the people. The Senate President had last Friday, received Chairmen of the state chapters of his party, the All Progressives Congress ( APC) from across country who came to show solidarity with him The signal therefore from the Senate and Its leader, Saraki, is that there will be no quiet moment. No time to relax. There is so much to be done and the earlier the senior legislators settle down to the onerous task for which they are elected, the better for our country.

PAGE 36—SUNDAY VANGUARD, JULY 12, 2015

BUHARI, ZAKARI & INEC CHAIRMANSHIP

The uncomfortable truths!

BY JIDE AJANI

W

hen Sunday Vanguard published that some emirs were piling pressure on President Muhammadu Buhari to appoint his alleged goddaughter, Hajia Amina Bala Zakari, as replacement for Attahiru Jega, the then outgoing Chairman, Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, it sounded like a fairy tale.

But Tuesday, June 30, the action of Buhari, overruling the handover to Ambassador Wali and, instead, replacing him with Zakari, confirmed what many saw as a plot on how the North plans to have a strangle-hold on Nigeria’s electoral process as well as compensation for a loyal ‘daughter’.

INSIDER DEALINGS AT INEC Midway through the collation of results for the 2011 presidential election, something strange - very

strange - and unknown to law, happened. The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, suspended the collation of results. The Commission was acting on a petition from the Congress for Progressive Change, CPC. Rightly, and in the estimation of CPC, there appeared to be grounds to suspect that the election was not as free as most Nigerians were led to believe - and this formed part of the case built by the party against Goodluck Jonathan’s Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, when CPC challenged the outcome of that year’s presidential election which had Muhammadu Buhari as its candidate.

Whereas results were trickling in (and there was always an interlude between the announcements of batches of results), INEC, purporting to be acting on the petition from CPC, allegedly technically suspended the process.

The provisions of the Electoral Act never granted

Under a democracy with a written Constitution, unlike the British parliamentary system where the Constitution is unwritten, the power exercisable by any elected or appointed state official like Mr. President must derive from the Constitution; otherwise it is null and void

powers to INEC to suspend or keep in abeyance the announcement of results of an election that had held or even the contemplation of canceling such an election, but, instead, bestowed such powers on the law courts.

But what most Nigerians did not know was that part of the reasons for the delay in the announcement of the results was the petition from CPC. Indeed, insiders in the electoral body alleged at that time, and also insinuated the now controversial Mrs. Amina Zakari, known to be very close to Buhari, into what was going on.

In the event of no act of document tampering because of the controversy that her appointment by the President has generated, the petition by the CPC, which the Commission was purportedly acting on, would still be domiciled at INEC. For President Buhari, who rode on the back of the vigor and determination of

Nigerians to engage change, it is not only curious but strangely indecipherable why INEC, which, notwithstanding the mild imperfection but largely reformative actions of Attahiru Jega, should be thrown into this cesspit of controversy.

MR. PRESIDENT, OBEY THE LAW Under a democracy with a written Constitution, unlike the British parliamentary system where the Constitution is unwritten, the power exercisable by any elected or appointed state official like Mr. President must derive from the Constitution; otherwise it is null and void.

That is why Section 1 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) declares unambiguously: “This Constitution is supreme and its provisions shall have binding force on all authorities and persons

Continues on page 37

SUNDAY VANGUARD, JULY 12 2015, PAGE 37

The illegal tenure termination legal anathema that must be corrected urgently because every passing day that she sits as Chairman of INEC constitutes a grave violation of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria which Buhari has sworn to uphold?

Continued from page 36 (including Mr. President) throughout the Federal Republic of Nigeria” INEC is established under Section 153 of the Constitution.

The mode of appointment of the Chairman and members is provided for under Section 154(1) and (2) of the Constitution only. The President, in exercising his power to appoint the Chairman or members of INEC, the Constitution mandatorily, says “the president shall consult the council of state” and such appointment again “shall be subject to confirmation by the Senate.

Now, in writing a letter (which in all ramifications is unconstitutional), through the Head of Service purporting to appoint Amina Zakari in an “acting capacity” as Chairman of INEC, a position that is unknown to the Constitution Mr. President swore to uphold and defend, did the President act according to the above provisions of the Constitution with respect to the National Council of State, made up of former Heads of State and Governors of the 36 states, as well as a Senate confirmation? The direct answer is NO. TERMINATION OF TENURE BY FIAT IS ILLEGAL The duration of office of both National and Resident Commissioners is five years under Section 155(1)(c) of the Constitution.

The tenure of Amina Zakari ends on July 21, 2015, and must vacate office except re-appointed in consultation with the Council of State and subject to Senate confirmation.

The removal from office before the expiration of five years can only be done in accordance with Section 157(1) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria; and not through an unconstitutional letter that her tenure ended with Jega on June 30, 2015 having not been appointed at the same time.

The condition precedent for termination of tenure is the inability of the member to discharge his or her functions. The mode of removal is by the President acting on an address supported by 2/3 of the majority of the Senate.

Mrs. Zakari has not been known to law or administrative perception to have erred and, therefore, the funny (yes, funny) letter that stated that her tenure

should be deemed as completed with those of Jega and others whereas her tenure comes to an end on July 21, is unconstitutional, null, void and of no effect.

From the foregoing, every step with respect to the appointment of the Chairman and members of INEC is constitutionally provided for in mandatory terms involving critical stakeholders like the Council of State and the Senate. The Constitution does not give room for any form of discretion perhaps because of the sensitive nature of the role of INEC in the sustenance of the country’s democracy.

UNCOMFORTABLE LEGAL TRUTHS Therefore, the following legal truths are manifest: Firstly, there is no provision for the position of INEC chairmanship in “acting capacity’’ under the Constitution exercisable by the President.

What exists is the power to appoint a substantive Chairman and members of INEC. The Constitution, and no other statute, has covered the field on issues relating to the appointment and removal from office of INEC members.

So, the error of omission on the part of The Presidency to monitor the tenure of appointees should not be papered over by what is becoming an embarrassing rule of the thumb to terminate such appointee’s tenure unconstitutionally. It is the paradigm of ‘go-slow’ that

Firstly, there is no provision for the position of INEC chairmanship in “acting capacity’’ under the Constitution exercisable by the President

appears to be creeping-in that should be blamed for this presidential tardiness.

Stemming from the first issue on the sacrosanctity of the Constitution, the letter written to Zakari, requesting her to consider her term of office to have come to an end, is written in violation of Section 157(1) of the Constitution.

There is no implied removal from or elongation of term of office under the Constitution; that letter purporting to terminate her tenure is no more than a flagrant and gratuitous abuse of power.

Therefore, when the term of office of the aberrant acting INEC Chairman constitutionally lapses on July 21; she automatically ceases to be a member of the electoral body and as such ceases to occupy the hitherto unconstitutional office of “acting Chairman” because she cannot be acting in that capacity from outside the body.

If the acting Chairman is to be reappointed, the constitutionally recognised modes in Section 154(1) should be resorted to all over again.

The position of the government whereby the acting INEC Chairman was asked to consider her tenure ended on June 30, and yet to hold office as the acting Chairman of the body is utterly contradictory and unconstitutional.

This is because the “acting Chairman” has not been reappointed and she cannot be conducting the affairs of INEC as a non-member of the body. The situation is a

ACTING CAPACITY The issue of “Acting Chairman” is a routine administrative procedure within such independence executive bodies like INEC wherein the Chairman would request any of his colleagues to stand in for him whenever he travels or even when he is within jurisdiction but indisposed.

It does not constitute an “appointment” contrary to the claim of The Presidency as the only authority who truly can make such appointment. What happened on Tuesday, June 30, when Jega handed over to Wali is purely an internal administrative process as an independent body until a substantive Chairman is appointed.

Sunday Vanguard was made to understand that for the five years that Jega spent in INEC, he must have handed-over to a number of his colleagues, National Commissioners, whenever he would be absent without recourse to The Presidency and at no time did The Presidency interfere by appointing an “Acting Chairman” in those instances which is not different from what happened on June 30.

The power of the President to make a substantive appointment of the Chairman and other members of the commission is not at large but rather circumscribed by the Constitution. Section 154 (1) and (2) specifically states that the President, in exercising the power to appoint the Chairman and other members of INEC, “shall” consult the Council of State and “shall” subject such appointment to Senate confirmation.

In this so-called appointment of an “Acting Chairman” unknown to the power of the President, at what time did the President carry out the mandatory “consultation with the Council of State” and “confirmation by Senate” as required by the Constitution for a valid appointment?

If in five years, according to a Director in INEC who pleaded anonymity (except there is any proof of information to the contrary), Jega asked other National Commissioners to act as

Continues on page 38

PAGE 38—SUNDAY VANGUARD, JULY 12, 2015

Continued from page 37

The woman, Amina Zakari

Chairman whenever he travelled outside Abuja and may never have appointed Amina Zakari. Does that not suggest that there could be a reason(s) for not allowing her to act all through the five years ?

WHAT GOES AROUND COMES AROUND Because of the conflict of interests based on ethnic, social, religious and political considerations, Nigerians largely disregard the law but prefer sentiments.

When in 2010, there was a clamour for the removal of Professor Maurice Iwu as National Chairman of INEC, Sunday Vanguard openly opposed the proposition because it was not constitutional. Iwu was removed anyway.

But interestingly, this same section of the polity, which forced the unconstitutional sacking of Iwu via a terminal leave, refused to allow same for Jega when it was obvious that the election he claimed he could organize on February 14, 2015 had no logistical or organizational basis as it was clear that Jega’s INEC was not ready.

Even the March 28 date – some six weeks from February 14 – had to be passed on because of the looming constitutional crisis that any other postponement would have generated.

But because what is beginning to emerge in Nigeria is that what is right or legal or constitutional today must be contingent on the whims of the people whose interests would be satisfied, the country is gradually sliding.

ZAKARI’S NEW INEC Funny enough, the ink of the letter purporting to make Zakari acting INEC Chairman has not even dried before she began her mis-steps.

For instance, the committees she packaged last week make a mockery of the need for effective management.

She set up 14 standing committees viz: 1.Appointment, Promotion and Disciplinary Committees (APDC): Hon. Amb. Lawrence Nwuruku, Chairman; Hon. Amb M.A. Wali, member; Hon. Dr. Chris O. Iyimoga, member. 2.

Planning, Monitoring and Strategy Committee (PM&SC): Hon. Dr. Chris O. Iyimoga, Chairman; Hon. Prof. M.A. Salau, member;

BY HENRY UMORU

F

•The electorate...what's going on at INEC?

INEC chief: The missteps

Because of the conflict of interests based on ethnic, social, religious and political considerations, Nigerians largely disregard the law but prefer sentiments.

When in 2010, there was a clamour for the removal of Professor Maurice Iwu as National Chairman of INEC, Sunday Vanguard openly opposed the proposition because it was not constitutional. Iwu was removed anyway

Hon. Amb. M.A. Wali. 3.

Information and Voter Education/Outreach and Partnership Committee: Hon. Dr. Chris O. Iyimoga, Chairman; Hon. Amb. M.A. Wali, member; Hon. Amb. Lawrence Nwuruku, member.

4. Health and Welfare Committee: Hon Dr. S. Abdulkadir Oniyangi, Chairman; Hon. Amb. M.A. Wali; Hon. Prof. M.A. Salau, member. 5. Operations and Logistics Committee: Hon. Dr. Chris O. Iyimoga, Chairman; Hon. Amb. Lawrence Nwuruku, member; Hon. Amb. M.A. Wali. 6. Estate, Works and Transport Committee: Hon. Amb. M.A. Wali, Chairman; Hon. Amb. Lawrence Nwuruku, member, Hon. Dr. Chris O. Iyimoga. 7.

Election and Party Monitoring Committee: Hon. Amb. M.A. Wali, Chairman; Hon. Dr. Chris O. Iyimoga, Hon. Prof.

M.A. Salau, member. 8.

Board of Survey and Technical Equipment Acquisition Committee: Hon. Amb. Lawrence Nwuruku, Chairman; Hon. Prof. M.A. Salau, member Hon. Amb M.A. Wali, member. 9.

Tenders Board Committee: Hon. Amb. M.A. Wali, Chairman; Hon. Amb. Lawrence Nwuruku, member, Hon. Dr. Chris O. Iyimoga.

10. Legal Services Clearance Committee: Hon. Dr. Abdulkadir Oniyangi, Chairman; Hon. Amb. M.A. Wali; Hon. Amb. Lawrence

Nwuruku, member. 11. Board of Electoral Institute Committee: Hon. Amb. Lawrence Nwuruku, Chairman; Hon. Dr. Abdulkadir Oniyangi, member; Hon. Dr. Chris O. Iyimoga, member. 12.

Information Technology and Voter Registry: Hon. Amina Bala Zakari, Chairman; Hon. Amb. M.A. Wali, member; Hon. Amb. Lawrence Nwuruku, member, Hon. Dr. Chris O. Iyimoga, member; Hon Dr. Abdulkadir Oniyangi, member; Hon. Prof. M.A. Salau, member. 13. Finance and General Purpose Committee: Hon. Amina Bala Zakari, Chairman; Hon. Amb. M.A. Wali, member; Hon. Amb. Lawrence Nwuruku, member, Hon. Dr. Chris O. Iyimoga, member; Hon. Dr. Abdulkadir Oniyangi, member; Hon. Prof. M.A. Salau, member. 14. Security Committee: Hon. Amina Bala Zakari, Chairman; Hon. Amb. M.A. Wali, member; Hon. Amb. Lawrence Nwuruku, member, Hon. Dr. Chris O. Iyimoga, member; Hon. Dr. Abdulkadir Oniyangi, member; Hon. Prof. M.A. Salau, member.

How many commissioners are left in INEC? A close observation of the committees would show that names were merely recycled and the acting chairman simply chose to chair committees where she can have a grip on the commission.

OLLOWING the expiration of the tenure of Professor Attahiru Jega as Chairman, Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, President Muhammadu Buhari announced the appointment of Hajia Amina Bala Zakari as Acting Chairman of the Commission.

The appointment would remain in force pending the appointment of a substantive Chairman for the Commission by the President with the approval of the Senate.

Zakari, who hails from Jigawa State, is a pharmacist.

She completed her secondary education from Queen’s College, Yaba, Lagos and later graduated with a bachelor of science (B.Sc) degree in pharmacy with Second Class Upper (Best Graduating Student) in 1980 from the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria.

After completing the National Youth Service Corps, she worked as a pharmacist in various hospitals from 1983 – 1996. She then moved into consultancy to serve in various capacities including under Afri-Projects Consortium which handled some of the then PTF projects, from 1997 up till her appointment as National Commissioner, INEC. Prior to her appointment as INEC Commissioner, Zakari served as a Special Assistant to former President Olusegun Obasanjo and was posted to the Federal Capital Territory Administration.

At the FCTA, she served under the former Minister and present governor of Kaduna State, Mallam Nasir Ahmed El- Rufai.

Her first assignment during the tenure of El- Rufai was as Secretary, Social Development, later Agriculture and Rural Development Mandate Secretariat and, lastly, as Secretary, Health and Human Services and these appointments were from 2004 – 2007.

Zakari is a member, Pharmacists Society of Nigeria as well as member of Nigeria Institute of Management (MNIM).

SUNDAY Vanguard, JULY 12, 2015, PAGE 39

Share the problem; get solution “A problem shared is half solved”. his is a popular statement, but does it bring immediate solution?

Not really, but at least a discussion can generate new ideas that could solve a problem.

Today’s article is about the essence of dialogue or consultation.

Couples waiting on the Lord must discuss the issue.

It is only while discussing it that you can get the true emotional state of your partner.

It also provides an opportunity for both of you to mutually agree on the steps to be taken.

Such a discussion must take place in a cordial atmosphere.

Avoid discussing it when either of you is tensed up.

Apart from your spouse, you may also discuss it with people who have had similar experiences.

However, be careful who you discuss with because it is your private life.

Having done that, take necessary steps. Be united in taking these steps.

T

Avoid distractions.

Women who are pestered by in-laws could tactically avoid any forum where they are likely to meet such people.

In doing this, the husband has a role to play. He has a duty to protect his wife from such people.

The man should never encourage such discussion outside his home or in the absence of the wife.

Let me share an experience.

A couple had been married for some years without children.

The husband gave in to ungodly advice from his relations and went on to father two children by another woman.

Of course what the relations promised him would be a family secret blew open when the same relations when to taunt the wife.

The result was lack of trust and bitterness.

As if that betrayal wasn’t enough, the wife suggested and was ready to pay for IVF. The man bluntly refused.

Unknown to the man,

his other woman had been having an affair with a relation of his. As a result, the paternity of the children was in dispute.

The woman and the said relation kept the affair a secret. It remained a secret but they carried the guilt in their hearts. Women should avoid taking such steps. It is not only ungodly, it also has serious implications for the family and the relationship between the husband and wife.

More importantly, such secret often becomes public knowledge. Someday, something is bound to happen and the secret will blow open. When it does, the man’s life is likely going to be threatened because his relation and the other woman cannot afford to bear the shame.

Your guess is as good as mine.

The point must be made, however, that it is true that kids make our homes joyful, but in our "toothless bulldog" makes so much noise in effecting arrests but loses its voice in the court.

We cannot be too hard on ourselves as citizens if we forget easily the atrocities

Who short-changed our expectations?

I

read on an online blog last week that Nigerians are patient and tolerant people.

To be honest I do not understand how the writer came to this conclusion as he did not give evidence of a study or research to support this. However, I took pleasure in the story just as I did a few years ago when a report classified Nigerians as the happiest people on the planet.

I cannot place these seemingly 'strange' virtues, but on second thought one can reason that if not for “patience and tolerance”, many of the so called leaders gallivanting about on the Nigerian political scene today would be cooling their feet in various dingy jails across the country.

According to the writer, we are not only patient and tolerant, we are also forgiving. I tend to believe that what he intended to write was 'forgetful' and not forgiving. I reasoned that if not forgetfulness, many Nigerian politicians, rather than being tolerated, would have been stoned to death C M Y K

for atrocities committed against humanity and the nation.

These atrocities range from corruption to mismanagement and assisting the "rape" of the once prosperous country called Nigeria. If not for forgetfulness how can many of the present day political players still be around despite the numerous legendary arrests of some of them by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). We easily forget the major newspapers' headlines in the past "celebrating" these arrests for stealing and funds misappropriation in states or parastatals under their watch.

Simply put, we are not forgiving, but plain forgetful. This forgetfulness is not only limited to individuals, but also institutions within the country. The police can easily be "forgetful." But there has been no agency that distinctly displays this trait as the EFCC. It has a reputation of "suddenly forgetting" the basis of arrests of some of these politicians. This

of these politicians. If there had been conclusive prosecutions of some of them by the anti-corruption agency (agencies), they would have been taken out of circulation for a long time. Yet, they still roam the streets in their expensive cars, live in their mansions, spend the stolen money to oppress their fellow citizens and also buy their votes. And without any speck of shame we celebrate them as heroes and messiahs.

The confidence of these men and women is so high based on the fact that they are deemed innocent until proven otherwise. They know delivering a guilty verdict on them may never happen as long as they continue to "position" themselves "properly" in whatever government is in power.

Unfortunately, in this process, the EFCC conveniently "forgets" what the initial charges against them were.

Nigerians are patient. We are patient as long as the action in question do not directly affect our daily breads. Are we really patient? I will call it the art of being unconcerned with

Men of God recommend that women believing God for children need to sow seeds.

Don’t get fed up with giving.

Sow into the lives of children and God will answer your prayers too.

Live your life to the fullest and have faith in God for whom nothing is impossible

desire to have children, we must draw a line. The couple must jointly agree on the steps to take.

A reputable man of God once described bearing children as “ joy unspeakable”.

Indeed that is what it is. However, we need to ask, why do couples with children still divorce?

I was at the Lagos High Court sometime last year and I saw a pretty woman , nicely dressed, good spoken English and you will conclude she was doing well with her career.

She had sued for what is happening "around" us but not directly "to" us.

But do not make the mistake that a "tolerant" or "patient" Nigerian is an idiot.

Of course we lose our cool when you "corner" us to the walls and there seems no way “out". Anything short of this, we are patriotic, patient and tolerant. You can see this trait in the workers of the state of Osun who despite being owed eight months wages still dutifully report to work on empty

We are beginning to question our sanity while wondering how we believed, wholesale, the CHANGE sound bite of the then opposition party, All Progressives Congress (APC)

stomach.

But do not let us push this too far. In recent times, there seems to be a slight change in our body languages. After the “mass”

divorce. The husband . I once met a medical was not in court. The doctor in England who judge asked her if they told me that he had been had children.

She treating a Nigerian answered in the woman, who was about 50 years old, for anteaffirmative.

The judged asked for natal. He said the woman the ages of the children wanted to have a and it turned out that two biological child but he of them were already told her that since she was over 40 , she would not teenagers.

So, what went wrong? be allowed to have an IVF She made a number of in England.

He said the woman went allegations that bordered on betrayal, lack of faith to Ukraine, had her IVF and returned to him in in the marriage, etc.

Can such a home be England for ante- natal described as joyful? care.

She must have had her Definitely not.

Perhaps if the couple baby now.

I have seen a number of had found time to discuss issues with the women who have given one at fault admitting his birth to children after the or her fault and making medical age of menopause.

With God all things are amends, probably they would have saved possible.

Don’t be discouraged. Be themselves and their children the trauma of relaxed. Demonstrate your faith in God by remaining divorce.

Although the case is steadfast in prayer. Once still on, there was no you believe that it is God indication that either of that gives children and you the parties was ready for continue to serve him diligently, you will be amicable settlement.

There is no law rewarded.

Men of God recommend compelling anyone to get married but it is the that women believing God for children need to sow wish of God for us.

Genesis 1 vs 28 says “ seeds. Don’t get fed up Be fruitful and multiply with giving.

Sow into the lives of , replenish the earth and children and God will subdue it”.

Those who choose to answer your prayers too.

Live your life to the fullest get married must be prepared to deal with the and have faith in God for nothing is challenges which may whom impossible. include delay in having A delay, as commonly children.

Couples must learn to said, is not necessarily a denial. Besides, God is keep anxiety away.

It gives room to never late. unnecessary tension which could have effects … Send your letters to on the hormonal system joyfulhomes2015@gmail.com demand for change and the inauguration of the government of President Muhammad Buhari, we are showing our impatient sides. We are getting really restless and frustrated as we think the "change" light at the end of the tunnel is fast disappearing.

We are beginning to question our sanity while wondering how we believed, wholesale, the CHANGE sound bite of the then opposition party, All Progressives Congress (APC). We are asking too many questions than we used to before. We are asking when is the APC-led government going to hit the ground running as promised during the electioneering campaign. We are complaining that four weeks into the government, no major policy announcement has been made. Rather than amuse ourselves with the intra-party fightings and the show of shame in the National Assemblies, we are deeply concerned about the future.

Now we are reflecting on the cautious words of analysts we had shouted down before the elections. These analysts had advised in their wisdom that no change will come to the polity until the present crop of leaders are “ retired” from governance. But we did not listen as we "shouted" CHANGE. We refused to accept that merely “mouthing” change does not mean it will happen.

We were sucked in by the sweet-talking politicians who promised heaven in Nigeria. We are regretting "secretly" now that we did

not demand for a blueprint for the implementation of the so called change. Instead, we believed the hype and the propaganda that once the “evil” Goodluck Jonathan was out of the way, the change in Nigeria is automatic.

There were many questions we wished to ask but dared not for the fear of being labelled anti-progressives. There were doubts on our minds on the modalities of the "new change" but we could not put them into words.

Nigerians now have idea of what change will be. We have seen the "colour" of the change as we struggle to accept that in this dispensation the players will fight, kick, bite, back stab and cut the limbs of "friends" who stand in their paths to power. They have shown that they belong to nobody but themselves. And we have realised that the APC is not a saintly party after all. We see the cracks widening everyday as these strange bedfellows are bringing out their knives and stabbing each other in the back.

We have seen the vulnerability of APC in government.

Nigerians thought they voted for a party that would be a model for other ruling African political parties.

What they have now is a party that has been thrown into confusion from the start. Is this the beginning of the end of the change revolution?

Or simply put, has Nigerians been short changed? Only time would tell.

PAGE 40—SUNDAY Vanguard, JULY 12, 2015

By JAPHET ALAKAM READING

R

ecent developments have revealed that the reading culture among Nigerians, particularly the youth and students, has waned significantly.

The rate of failure recorded by students in the WAEC, NECO and other examinations are clear indications to that. How then do we improve the reading culture?

This mission was what led Ovuomarhoma, Godfrey Ejovwo, a writer, trainer, youth consultant, and Education Philanthropist to initiate Restore Hope for Nigerian Youths Foundation (RHNYF).

The young graduate of Economics who has tried his hand in teaching job for years said that his experiences as a teacher exposed him to the dangers of poor reading skills, hence the need to use every available opportunity to promote it. In this interview, he bares his mind on a wide range of issues about the NGO and others.

Excerpts.

Improving reading culture in Nigeria is our target —Ovuomarhoma Godfrey, CEO of RHNYF

Participants receiving certificate from the facilitator during a workshop What is RHNYF? Restore Hope for Nigerian organised by Restore Hope.

Youths Foundation (RHNYF) is an NGO committed to the students of public and private Internally Displaced Person(s) promotion of better education secondary schools across three (IDPs). The above agenda when philosophy and restoration of selected Local Government properly funded will help to reading culture as a way to Areas of Abeokuta North, eradicate child labor and eradicate the menace of Abeokuta South, and Odeda in promote a peaceful environment for our society. examination malpractices in our Ogun state. schools. With headquarters at We also organised Inter-school We will partner withUNESCO, Soetan Crescent, Asero Estate, essay writing competition and educational Stakeholders, State Abeokuta, Ogun State, the fast debate, cum workshop training Government, Local Government growing NGO has within its short where prizes were given to many Chairmen, Private Investors, Administrators and Principals of span affected many lives through participated schools.

Schools, Community leaders, its projects.

We are equally running a regular Churches, Corporate campaign programs under which Organizations’, etc. to achieve our Your main target is restoring the we donate free books to students. reading culture, how do you Apart from that we are looking goal. intend to carry out this all forward to donate food and cash We really commend the effort of the Administration of Senator important issue? to indigent students across the Ibikunle Amosun through the You know I studied Economics in country whichis willto also extend to Commissioner for Education, The aim the University and it is a social Olusegun Odubela who has sensitize the Nigeria Barr. science subject that deals with strong passion for reading and human behavior and gave us an approval for the public on how our strategically sourcing for ways to Foundation to contribute its handle basic problems. Having collective effort can quota to the restoration of reading that at the back of my mind, we among students in Ogun organise trainings and assist to compliment culture State. workshops for students. RHNYF the government to has organized series of programs You read economics, how come on reading culture, eradicate you are into the project of entrepreneurship training, reading culture? employment counseling, Parentsexamination My growing up in the slum rural Teachers training, and child community where I faced malpractices, development workshops across problem of poor reading culture Cross River, Delta, and Ogun stemmed that. Even when a child promote reading states. is ready to read, there is no For example, recently we hosted culture encouragement because of

Clogs R eloaded bac k on stage July 1 7 Reloaded back 17

B

Y popular demand and in order to continue to rev up the spirit of political change blowing across the country, SNAPSHOTS Productions, a Covenant Christian Centre drama group, will bring on stage again its science fiction Clogs Reloaded, with the subtitle Nigeria 2060 –Back from the Future. Venue is Covenant Christian Centre adjoining National Theatre, Iganmu, Lagos. It’s written by Omotunde Akiode, and directed by Mr. Duka Kachi.

A red carpet reception starts at 3pm, with a futuristic photo exhibition of some of Nigerian cities seen some 50 years from now in 2060. Play performance starts 4pm in the church’s main

•Ovuomarhoma Godfrey, CEO of Restore Hope environmental factor.

Apart from that, I have been a classroom teacher most part of my life where I saw high level of poor reading culture among students. I believe a student do not need to read streneously before he can earn a good grade in examinations.

I am equally privileged to lecture in one of the prestigious private universities with modern library facilities equipped with books that promotes reading culture and research but students are carried away with Facebook, Whatsapp, Twitter, and other social media platforms that distracts them.

Some students of influential parents believes that even when they don’t read to have a good grades, jobs awaits them after graduation.

I discovered that many students, parents, teachers, schools, and even the society do not realize the benefits of reading. All these factors made me to look for how I can contribute my own quota, hence the formation of the NGO. Are there plans to take the operations of the Foundation to other states?

Yes, there’s work in progress, our next point of call is Delta State.

We chose the state to organize a reading culture and literacy campaign to sensitize the masses so that the problem of examination malpractice can be eradicated.

We propose to have an open campaign holding in Warri, Delta State on September 8 2015 with the theme “Our Students are genius: Say no to examination malpractices” where we will discuss the role of stakeholders investing to eradicate examination malpractices in Nigeria.

The aim is to sensitize the Nigeria public on how our collective effort can assist to compliment the government to eradicate examination malpractices, promote reading culture and as we mark the World Literacy Day Campaign, 2015. It will be open to both public, private secondary schools and general public.

What are the challenges and how do you plan to meet up?

The major challenge we are facing his funding because we are yet to establish strong relationship and trust with donors.

Apart from the that, many donors are scared of false NGOs who collect money dubiously and don’t utilise it for genueine purpose.

But despite that, RHNYF is optimistic with some donors who have shown interest to support our laudable course such as Indomie Food Noodle, and Peak-Olam suite Abeokuta. Apart from the few donors, volunteers and our own effort, we will use this medium to seek donation from well meaning Nigerians, corporate organizations that believe in our dream to come to our aid.

Looking at the NGO, where will you be in the next 5 years.

RHNYF is looking forward to establish libraries across different states of Nigeria, promote standard Reading Clubs in rural Schools, have a publishing firm to print books and distribute to Nigerian students for free and also hope to operate Youth Television Studio for educational purpose and reading culture.

Fred A gebe al ffor or MUSON Agebe gebeyyegbe @ 80 carniv carnival

auditorium.

Clogs Reloaded is a powerful multimedia stage performance that sets agenda for Nigerians on the country they should aspire to have rather than the current one that is bogged down by ineptitude, inefficiency and corruption. It’s a “live theatre projection of the Nigeria of our dreams,” according to the artistic director, Kachi.

When Clogs was last staged on May 29th, Nigeria’s democracy day, as has become •Fred Agbeyegbe the tradition with Covenant Christian Centre, as a means of charting new direction for s playwright, lawyer and Nigerians in attaining a desirable the grand living legend of country majority believe they deserve, but which is truncated by Nigerian theatre, Mr. Fred what man refer to as organised Agbeyegbe turns 80, all is now political madness.

A

set for what is tagged a carnival celebration in his honour holding from July 19 to 25, 2015. The aim is to celebrate the essence of his intervention in the narrative of Nigeria’s theatre development through the Ajo Productions 1983 to 1986.

There will be a conference, presentation of Fred Agbeyegbe’s plays, and a host of other events at Shell Hall MUSON Centre, Lagos.

The actual birthday is on Wednesday, July 22, and the day has a three-pronged programme outline. A colloquium tagged Drama and the Niger Delta Struggle, a presentation of drama, a keynote addresses

among others, and a dinner, ‘An Evening With Fred Agbeyegbe @ 80’.

Arts and culture dignitaries expected to attend the events are Prof. Femi Osofisan, who will chair the event; guests of honour include Mr. Bayo Oduneye, Profs. Duro Oni and Akin Oyebode, Mrs. Hairat Balogun, Admiral Ndubuisi Kanu, Chief Ayo Opadokun, among others.

There will also be paper presentations on ‘The SocioCultural Relevance of Fred Agbeyegbe’s Plays in Itsekiri World-view’ by Prof. Tony Afejuku, and ‘Gender Representation in Fred Agbeyegbe’s Plays’ by Prof.

Mabel Evwierhoma.

SUNDAY Vanguard, JULY 12, 2015, PAGE 41

Dance, drama, essay mark children’s festival

The perception of the children can be changed by the parents since they are the ones that can help to mould and guide them into living out their dreams

By DAMILOLA ADEMAKINWA FESTIVAL

T

he air was filled with the booming and buzzing of the excited voices and faces of students, most of who were adorned in their traditional attires as people gathered for the annual children festival. It was fun watching the happy looking children expressing themselves in divers creative ways through singing, dancing, drama, motivational talks, presentation of awards, essay competition, African king and queen pageant, etc.

The occasion was the annual children festival which held recently at National Stadium,

Surulere Lagos. The event which featured an essay and series of competitions with judges, students and teachers in attendance was directed by the executive director at Click Global Limited, Mensah Paul.

The Day of the African Child was held in commemoration of the African heritage through culture, beliefs and values of the African child. The day which was set aside to awaken the lost culture th of Africans dates back to 16 June 1991 when it was first initiated by the Organisation of the African Unity (now African

A scene from last year’s edition of Children Creative command performance Union). In 1976 some students of Soweto, South Africa marched to fight for their rights to retain their culture and be taught in their own language, in the process some were killed. So, this day was set aside to celebrate all those that were killed. It is also a medium for children from different schools to interact with each other and learn from each other.

The theme of this year’s festival was “Accelerating our collective efforts to end child marriage in

Africa”. Schools present were Princeton College, Abraham Children’s School, Bimstar College, Fountain of life, Unique Comprehensive College, Tonie International College and many m o r e .

Speaking during the festival, one of the judges Mr Nweke said he believed the festival had the capability to eradicate child marriage in the country, adding that with the dramas acted, “The children were able to portray the

dangers of early marriage. The perception of the children can be changed by the parents since they are the ones that can help mould the children and guide them into living out their dreams”. He advised parents to educate, inform and expose their kids to opportunities that will help them acquire useful k n o w l e d g e .

On what the day and the theme meant to them, Amarachi Orie of Tonie International College said ‘’The celebration was about bringing children from different schools to exhibit culture and moral standards.”

CBAA C boss, Anikw e emerges ne w President of P ACC CBAAC Anikwe new PA

By BARTHLOMEW MADUKWE CULTURE

T

he Pan-African Cultural Congress (PACC) in collaboration with the government of the South Africa has appointed the Director General of Centre for Black Arts and African Civilisation CBAAC, Sir Ferdinand Ikechukwu Anikwe as new president of the association.

Anikwe’s appointment was sanctioned at the grand finale of the congress of the association, organised by the African Union Commission (AUC), held at Santon Convention Centre South Africa in collaboration with the government of the Republic of South Africa, Department of Arts and Culture (DAC).

The event was organised to create a platform for cultural experts and practitioners to dialogue and make recommendations on policy issues pertaining to the culture and arts sectors in the c o n t i n e n t .

This year edition was themed: “Unity in Cultural Diversity for African’s Development,” with intention to promote local arts and cultural festivals in Africa.

In a paper delivered at the event entitled: “Multiculturalism, A Critical Perspective,” Sir Anikwe noted that cultural diversity should be a source of economic transformation among member states.

He said member countries must use the opportunity to explore huge potentials of diverse African culture and translate to boost the economy of member states for the benefit of the people of the c o n t i n e n t .

“Cultural diversity is the quality of diverse of different cultures, as opposed to monoculture. This cultural

• Sir Ferdinand Anikwe, CBAAC DG diversity can also be referring to having different cultures respect each other ’s differences. Hence, there is need to promote cultural

diversity. There is need to expand and promote local arts and cultural festivals, and to invite participants from other countries to foster integration and tolerance between cultures.

“We must ensure that we put an end to the suppression s of one group by another. Member states media platforms to foster understanding, appreciation and tolerance and to enrich the debate about development and peace,” Anikwe said.

On his tenure billed to end in 2018, Anikwe said he will use the time to form cultural collaboration among member states for promotion of peace and economic development in the continent.

He further said he will use the period to lay a solid foundation for the African Union Agenda 2063 framework for unity, prosperity and development of the continent culture for the next 50 years.

“The member state should have at the back of their minds that I will use my tenure to form synergy among member states and explore huge potentials of diverse African cultures and translate it to wealth to boost economy of the region. I will look forward for the support of member states in his quest to turn around the fortune of the organisation. We must

National Troupe set for 6th Children’s Creative Station

By FAVOUR EFUGHI DRAMA

T

he Management of the National Troupe of Nigeria has concluded plans to host the 6th edition of its annual Creative Station Workshop for Children and T e e n s .

A statement by the Artistic Director and Chief Executive officer of the National Troupe Mr. Akin Adejuwon disclosed that this year ’s edition would hold between July 27 th and August 30, 2015 at the National Theatre, Iganmu Lagos. ‘’Like the other editions, this edition is planned to hold during the long vacation/summer break and we consider this one of our flag ship programmes because it is in line with the Troupe’s objective of encouraging the development of Children Theatre and primarily, as a way of engaging the children creatively during their long holiday ” he said.

Coordinated by the Director in charge of Drama of the National Troupe Ms Josephine Igberaese, the Creative Station workshop, which will close with a command performance on

August 30, 2015 is also designed to prepare the children for a future career in the theatre by exposing them to storytelling, creative writing, singing, dancing, acting, voice training, puppetry, creative writing, pantomime and improvisational skills.

Ms Igberaese who explained that the fee-paying workshop is for children between the ages of 6 and 18, further stated that the workshop was the troupe’s own intervention in terms of productively engaging the children creatively during the long h o l i d a y .

On entry requirement, Igberaese explained that participants will be expected to pay N15, 000 naira

while entry forms can be obtained from the National Theatre Iganmu Lagos or on the NTN website. ‘’Parents can walk into our offices at the National Theatre and pay and get the forms or they can download the forms on our website” she said.

In a related development, the National Troupe has moved forward its planned tour to Ghana to a later date. The tour, which was originally scheduled to hold this July, was postponed because of the delay in the release of funds. The Artistic Director has however assured that the Troupe will embark on the tour as soon as funds are r e l e a s e d .

A performance from last years edition

work together and do holistic compilation of all festivals among member states.

Delegates should use their experience in this year conference for the benefit of member states,” he said.

Leading Ladies Africa hosts talk series

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n a bid to create a platform where more women connect, engage and learn from one another, Leading Ladies Africa is set to hold the inaugural edition of its Power Talk Series tagged “Leveraging on the Power of Online Media Confirmed speakers at the event holding at the Social Place, Victoria Island, Lagos included: Liz Awoliyi, Online Editor, Genevieve Magazine, Subomi Plumptre, Head, Corporate and Social Media Practice, Alder Consulting, Chude Jideonwo, Managing Partner, Red Media Africa, Tosin Ajibade, Founder www.Olorisupergal.com, and Convener New Media Conference, Yagazie Emezi, Visual Curator & YouTuber and Ifeoma Areh, CEO Wildflower PR and Convener Digital Entertainment Conference Speaking on the forthcoming event, Francesca Uriri, Founder of Leading Ladies Africa, and event convener said: The media has moved from being static and predictable to become something that is dynamic, influential, and sometimes unconventional. It has changed the way business is done, it has impacted global politics and it has shaped the way people live. I believe it is doubly important for women especially to learn how to leverage on the advantages that online media brings, and integrate same into their daily lives and businesses.”

The Power Talk Series is a quarterly event hosted by Leading Ladies Africa, where women from different backgrounds have the opportunity to learn, be inspired, and connect with one another.

PAGE 42—SUNDAY VANGUARD, JULY 12, 2015 sam.eyoboka@gmail.com

08023145567 (sms only)

How I overcame breast cancer in church— Nurse

By Sam Eyoboka

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AST Sunday’s stunning healing testimony of 43year old Ifeyinwa Okafor who claimed to have been miraculously delivered from the scourge of breast cancer has reenacted the debate over whether faith healing which is based on beliefs should be integrated into science-based medicine.

Despite loud allegations of some clerics financially inducing people to give fake testimonies, people still claim that they have been healed of cancer and other debilitating ailments and terminal diseases. Not too long ago, there were reports of a mini revival at Ketu Bus Stop in Lagos when an unidentified pastor allegedly delivered a mentally unstable man from the spirit of insanity.

On Sunday at a two-day crusade of the Lord’s Chosen Charismatic Revival Church, there were several testimonies— the hallmark of its services. But by far the most intriguing of them all was the one given by an Anambra-born middle-aged woman who claimed to have been miraculously healed of a life-threatening breast cancer which she discovered in June 2013. It is yet to undergo any empirical examination though.

Ifeyinwa Okafor, a native of Onitsha in Anambra State and a mother of two---aged 12 and 9--is a trained nurse working at the Generl Hospital, Kubwa in Abuja and is aware that breast cancer is responsible for the death of one in every 25 Nigerian women yearly.

Her story: “I woke up around 9:30 a.m. one morning and noticed a lump on my left breast.”

After initial preliminary investigations she had to approach a consultant who began by asking several questions apparently bewildered by her story.

“I explained to him how it happened but because of the way he was talking, I left him and went to another consultant at the National Hospital, Abuja, who eventually diagnosed that it was breast cancer which has spread.

He asked me to go and do a mammography and prepare for a surgery," she narrated.

Armed with the 50-50 chance verdict by the consultant, Ms Okafor decided against surgery since there was no assurance of survival and opted for the alternative remedy.

After the payment of payment of N70,000 the alternative treatment commenced but when it became obvious that "my condition was getting worse I decided to seek spiritual help.

Pastors started praying for me with some taking me to the different mountains.”

At a point, according to her narration, her condition deteriorated to the extent that awful odour was emanating from her body as her kidneys, liver and indeed, the whole organs had been damaged. Her

*IFEYINWA OKAFOR: I slept for nine good hours after the healing. legs were swollen and she was no longer passing urine.

To eat was difficult; it also came with excruciating pains "despite the pain relieving drugs."

Several pastors conducted deliverance sessions, claiming the disease was demonic but instead of it getting better the

Her kidney, liver, the whole organs had been damaged. Her legs were swollen and she was no longer passing urine.

Every member of my family had given up on me, but God intervened.

pain was growing worse by the day. The National Hospital, Abuja then requested to take a tissue for further analysis. “The cancer was spreading very fast and has affected my system, I couldn’t hear nor talk and was very weak.

“My condition was very bad that I had to be admitted when the doctors felt I might die anytime.

Before the admission, pastors from the Lord’s Chosen were coming to pray for me. The doctor requested that I be given two to three pints of blood because I looked pale, but a laboratory test revealed that I had much blood. That was when I knew the prayers were working and the doctor encouraged by that, suggested they start chemotherapy immediately.

“Every member of my family had given up on me, but God intervened. On April 5, I was watching a live programme on Chosen TV, when a similar case was healed and I claimed the healing for myself. I informed my sister to arrange to take me to Lagos. They wondered how I would be able to travel when I cannot seat up nor walk because of the fluid in my heart.

“Wondering what would happen to my children if I died; my sister started crying. But on April 8, my brother and sister booked a flight for me and my sister.

While waiting for them to take me to the airport, I saw two men who claimed to have come from Lagos. As they introduced themselves, they began to clean my wounds and told me how to take care of the wounds. As soon as my twin sister entered, the two men left. I asked her if she saw the two men that were discussing with me and she replied ‘No’.

“That morning we boarded a flight from Abuja to Lagos to see the Chosen General Overseer, Pastor Lazarus Muoka. As soon as the airport taxi arrived the Chosen auditorium, urine started pouring from my body. I messed up myself because I couldn’t control it until people took me to the toilet to clean me up.

“A woman later informed me that Pastor Muoka would be passing by, and that there was no way he would see me without praying for me. I was crying until the G.O. asked the people to bring me to him. When I got to him, after asking me what was wrong with me, he just declared: 'You cancer I curse you and you kidney be healed.'

“That was the beginning of my miracle. I never felt anything, but I noticed that my body was light and people around asked me to stand up. That was it!

Immediately I stood up and shortly began to run. My sister was surprised at what happened, seeing me run—a person who could not lift up herself. But now I could walk, to her it was a mystery. The pain had disappeared instantly.

“After the miracle, I slept for nine good hours and my breathing was okay,” she narrated, saying that all the cancerous growths in her body had since dried up.

“I have gone back to work, since I received my healing. For me coming back to life was the greatest thing that has ever happened to me,” she joyfully stated.

When asked, if she had done medical check up to ascertain her current state of health, she replied that the National Hospital, Abuja has been on strike and she was yet to book an appointment, promising that as soon as she got back to Abuja, she would go for the test to confirm her healing.

Overjoyed Lady Okafor confirmed that there is no known treatment for cancer, adding that it is a slow killer.

Her brother, Mr. Thomas Ekele, who has been taking care of her throughout the trying period, confirmed that at a point they even wished that she died to relieve her of the excruciating pain.

According to him, as soon as they landed from the Lagos airport, she fainted. “It's that bad that even when mosquitoes bite her she could not move a hand to kill them. But today she is alive.”

RCCG takes gospel to downtrodden ... urges youth to remember God early

By CALEB AYANSINA

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BUJA – THE Pastor-incharge of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Nasarawa Province 1, Pastor Titus Adedoyin had admonished Nigerian youth to remember the Lord when they are young for their days to be blessed.

Adedoyin gave the admonition at a gospel feast for about 1,000 ‘Okada Riders’ organised by the RCCG The Lord’s Royal Parish with the theme: “Life is Precious”, in Mararaba, Nasarawa State.

Speaking at the occasion, where safety items were distributed for about 100 okada riders, the provincial pastor said there was no regret for those who live like Christ at the early stage of their lives.

The assistant pastor in charge of CSR, in the province, Pastor Francis Onuabu explained the significance of the programme, saying it was to let the okada riders know that their lives are extremely precious and to give them a kind of reorientation on how to operate on the highways.

Interswitch partners CSN on easy payment of donations

By GRACE UDOFIA

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NTERSWITCH has an nounced plans to partner with the Catholic Secretariat of Nigeria, CSN, to aid easy payment by friends of the organisation.

Speaking at the launch, Mr. Paul Ohakim in charge of the group said, "for some time now we have been in partnership with the CSN," explaining that the platform allows for dioceses to make payments across Nigeria, specifically the Friends of the CSN. Explaining that they have put up that particular item on their platform so people can go to any bank across the country to make donations to the CSN and also go online to "quick teller.com" or mobile an ATM to make donations too.

The interesting thing, according to him, is that as you make donations the CSN is immediately notified of the transaction through their mobile number.

Speaking further, Mr. Ohakim said "it's a long lasting partnership, that is why we have decided to be here during the launch. So beyond helping them handle the collections we are also giving them some advisory tips."

Since the collection cuts across the entire nation, Interswitch will apply a clear cut strategy to ensure it is successful.

Mr. Ohahim noted that, "today is the official launch and they are expected to go to other dioceses to do similar launching and as the Secretariat goes, we will also be joining them everywhere they go as we hope for the best".

SUNDAY VANGUARD, JULY 12, 2015, PAGE 43

“WHEN Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, ‘It is finished!’ And bowing his head, he gave up his spirit.”

(John 19:30).

It is finished with what?

What exactly did Jesus achieve in three years of ministry? How many people were saved? How many were healed? Jesus’ entire ministry did not go beyond a 200-mile radius. Jesus never came to Africa or to the Americas or to Australia. At the end of his ministry, many remained sick. Many remained untouched. Most rejected his gospel. The Jews remained Jewish. The Romans crucified him.

John the Baptist proclaimed Jesus as: “the Lamb who takes away the sin of the world.” (John 1:29). However, at the end of his ministry, the world remained mired in sin. Murderers continued to kill; liars continued to tell lies; armed robbers continued to pillage; “pen robbers” continued to defraud. Clearly, Jesus’ ministry can be labelled a failure simplistically because his right-hand man betrayed him, all his disciples deserted him, and the Jews, the very people he came for, asked for him to be crucified.

So what did Jesus mean by saying: “it is finished?”

Kingdom dynamics Something happened and I became very excited about God. I entered into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise. I was thankful unto him, and blessed his holy name. Then the Holy Spirit seemingly tapped me on the shoulder. "Femi," he asked, "what have I done that has made you this excited?

IT IS FINISHED What have I done that makes you praise me with such fervour and to thank me with such passion?"

It was as if the Lord poured cold water on my fire. The point he was making is that we are often thrilled about mundane things, while we overlook our salvation: the most important thing of all.

This brings to mind the excitement of the disciples that demons obeyed their commands. Jesus was quick to correct them: “Do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rather rejoice because your names are written in heaven.” (Luke 10:20).

Accordingly, if you want to see a man who is truly blessed, or if you want to see a woman who God loves, don’t look for someone of “timber and calibre.” Don’t look for someone with worldly wealth. Don’t look for someone well-established in society. Look for someone who has received the mercy of God and who has the keys of the kingdom of heaven.

Look for that person who has received from God the forgiveness of sins.

David says: “Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered.

With Jesus, it is finished with God’s goodness. With Jesus, we have received the fullness of God Blessed is the man to whom the LORD does not impute iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no deceit.” (Psalm 32:1-2).

Believers in Christ need to understand how blessed we are because we don’t seem to know it. We presume a man is blessed by what he has. But Jesus insists: “A man’s life does not consist in the abundance of the things that he possesses.” (Luke 12:15).

Neither are we blessed because of what God is going to do for us. We are blessed because of what he has already done. We are blessed because God gave us Jesus.

We are blessed because we are sons of God. We are blessed because our names are written in the book of life. That is enough cause for lifelong celebration and gratitude.

Be of good cheer When a bed-ridden paralytic was brought to

Jesus, he said to him: “Son, be of good cheer; your sins are forgiven you.” (Matthew 9:2). “Be of good cheer, not because I am going to heal your paralysis, but because I have forgiven you your sins.

If I heal you and you are still covered in your sins there is no ultimate advantage in that.” It is a contradiction in terms for God to be good to someone and the person still ends up estranged from God. The goodness of God is for one purpose: to lead us back to God. When God decided to be really good to us, he gave us Jesus Christ: “But when the kindness and the love of God our Saviour toward man appeared, not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour, that having been justified by his

Rule with fear of God, Cleric urges leaders

By OLAYINKA LATONA

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INISTER in charge of St. Joseph's Chosen Church of God, SJCCG, Kirikiri Town, Lagos, Staff Evangelist David Igimoh, has advised political leaders in the country to rule with the fear of God in order to deliver dividends of democracy to the people.

Speaking during a recent church thanksgiving service in Lagos, Igimoh argued that any ruler who administers his/her domain with the fear of God is guaranteed to succeed and enjoy the support of the people.

He warned that everyone that God places in positions of authority on earth would eventually give an account of

Baptist Church holds Mount Zion anniversary

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HE annual Mount Zion anniversary of Emmanuel Baptist Church, Amje, Lagos State holds from today till next Sunday.

Theme: 'King of Glory'.

Host pastor, Rev. Steve Ayowale Olafimihan said the programme is aimed at empowering people and will serve as an annual avenue to obtain divine intervention in their endeavours in life.

According to him, Rev. Segun Aigoro and Rev. Paul Oladosu are expected as guest ministers

his/her stewardship before God on the day of judgment.

The cleric maintained that the advice had become imperative for unity and lasting peace among the diverse ethnic, religious and political groups in the country.

“Our role is to preach peace and unity and to advise Nigerians to tolerate one another and live in peace irrespective of ethnic, religious and political affiliations. No society can develop in an atmosphere of rancour and confusion” he said.

He therefore appealed to political leaders to lead the nation righteously and with the fear of God in the interest of peace and national development.

"If those in leadership positions lead with the fear of God, it would go a long way toward uniting Nigerians as well as taking the country to greater height.”

According to him, if the new administration leads Nigeria with the fear of God, it will foster the much desired unity

grace we should become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.” (Titus 3:4-7).

This means God cannot be any better to us than he has already been. He cannot do anything more for us than he has already done. Jesus Christ is the full expression of the goodness of God. We should not expect anything more. If Jesus is not enough for us, then God is not enough. With Jesus, it is finished with God’s goodness. Jesus is the unspeakable gift of God. With Jesus, we have received the fullness of God. (John 1:16).

Spiritual blessings Therefore, although as believers we may be down in the dumps physically and materially, spiritually we are seated together with Christ in the heavenly places, at the right hand of God. We are far above all principality and power and might and dominion and every name that is named; not only in this world, but also in that which is to come. (Ephesians 1:21).

Indeed, all things are under our feet.

Therefore, it is finished with problems. It is finished with

and peace and promote socioeconomic development.

Igimoh urged Nigerian leaders to live exemplary lives and shun evil acts. He also called on Nigerians to intensify prayers for the new administration for them to be succeed in their war against corruption, poverty, unemployment and other social vices.

The cleric blamed the level of corruption in Nigeria on lack of fear of God on the part of our leaders, adding that the issue of corruption had always been a challenge in the nation’s history and that it can only be tackled if those in authority would rule with the fear of God.

Bishop tasks Buhari on fuel subsidy

By DAYO JOHNSON, Akure

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HE Bishop of Akure Diocese of the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion), Rt. Revd Simeon Oluwole Borokini has asked the Federal Government to take a definite stand on the issue of fuel subsidy to save Nigerians from agonies due to persistent fuel scarcity.

Speaking at the 3rd session of the Eleventh Synod at the St Peter's Church, Ijare, Ondo State on a theme; "Called to be chosen for God", Borokini said: "Government should not only make a pronouncement on? subsidy removal but also put in place appropriate machinery to prevent further corrupt practices currently prevalent in the oil industry where tax payers' monies are embezzled or paid for services not rendered.

"The government should ensure

effective management of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, by reviewing the composition of the Board of Directors of the corporation," he stated, stressing that the board should be headed by professionals and not politicians.

According to the bishop, the current wastage needs to be checked so as to improve accountability and optimize the economy, noting "Government should swing into action fast so as to meet the aspirations of Nigerians who voted them into power."

Lamenting the state of affairs at the power sector, the clergyman said the erratic and epileptic electricity supply should be properly addressed by government as it is central to economic development of any nation.

Borokini who threw his support for true federalism, urged the Buhari administration to take more proactive steps to secure the

lives of Nigerians in all parts of the country and safeguard our fundamental human and constitutional rights to freedom of religion.

"Each state of the federation should be allowed to have a say in the management of the natural resources available in its area while the Federal Government acts as the umpire. Policies that will instill discipline and ensure order in every facet of Nigerian society must be formulated and enforced; there should be no sacred cows.

"It is our hope that government policies will ensure freedom of worship and that all terrorist attacks and kidnappings, will be dealt with to curtail further destruction of lives and property.

We should pursue all things that promote peace and unity among each other at the national, state, local and community levels," Borokini said.

difficulties. It is finished with sin. It is finished with sickness.

It is finished with death.

But if that is the case, why are believers still dying? Why are we still in pain? Why is there still sickness and suffering in our midst? Why is sin and evil and anguish still the order of the day? The answer is so straightforward; it is amazing why we have missed it for so long. Jesus told Pilate: “My kingdom is not of this world.” (John 18:36). God addressed the problems of this world not by reforming its kingdoms, but by translating believers from the power of darkness to the kingdom of God. (Colossians 1:13).

Because the kingdom of God is a spiritual kingdom, this solution is accomplished spiritually and not physically.

Therefore, the message of the cross is that the problems of this world are no longer major issues for the believer, even though we are still physically in the world. The sufferings, the afflictions, and the tribulations of man are problems only for those who are of the world; whose hope is in the world.

Accordingly, Jesus says: “I have told you this, so that you might have peace in your hearts because of me. While you are in the world, you will have to suffer. But cheer up! I have overcome the world.”

(John 16:33). The more bleak things are in the world: the more snug we should feel in Christ. The darker the night: the brighter the day. Whatever happens, we know joy comes in the morning. The believer is now merely a sojourner in the world. But our citizenship and hope is in heaven.

SAME SEX MARRIAGE:

Practitioners are hell bound--Catholic knights

By Egufe Yafugborhi

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ARRI - THE Catholic mission in Nigeria has expressed disgust at the celebration of recent Supreme Court law allowing same sex marriage across the United States, saying the development is an anathema to the Catholic Church.

Knights of the St. John International, Benin Grand Commandery and Ladies Auxiliary expressed the concern at the 17th meeting of its Grand Board of Trustees (GBOT) at St. Michael Catholic Church, DSC, Orhuwhorun, Udu Local Government Area, Delta state.

Brig. Gen. Anthony Ihenyen, grand president of the Benin GBOT said; "We think this gay law will never come through in Nigeria. And for us Catholics in Nigeria, the development is an anathema to humanity."

Sen. Roland Owie who is being elevated to third degree in the ranks of inductees on the St. John knighthood at the meeting said those rejoicing over the matter are already doomed.

Condemning the law, the senator said: "God created man and woman and said go and multiply. How can you go against God? The way I see it, the promoters of gay law are on their way to perdition. With this gay marriage approved, they are heading to hell, there is no way out of it."

PAGE 44— SUNDAY VANGUARD, JUNE 12, 2015

E-learning: Babcock University deploys TCR technologies

We will train 20,000 African youths in software code -- SAP President, EMEA

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Frank Cohen is the President of SAP for Europe, Middle East and Africa. He was in Nigeria recently to evangelize potentials of SAP African Code Week aimed to train kids on software coding.

According to him, SAP in the initiative will train 20,000 youths across eleven countries in Africa by the end of the programme.

African Code Week: frican Code week is a big initiative of SAP launched for for Africa and SAP as an organization realized early that there is skill shortage in Africa and that for children to be able to compete in future global economy, they need to have a basic knowledge of computing, because anywhere you look now, you have codes.

Target age: Those we are targeting are between the ages of 9 and 24 because we want to catch them young and provide them with basic life skills.

Currently, the population of African youths between the ages of 15 and 25 is 200 million and this will double to 400 million by 2045. Africa has the largest youth population in the whole world.

We realized this and decided to tackle it headlong. This prompted us to launch the African Code Week to train kids on coding, which is the main objective of the African Code Week. We want to train 20,000 youths across 11 countries in Africa by the end of the programme. The pilot program was in South Africa.

Equipping schools with Computer Lab This is just the beginning. I will say to you on a note of caution that it is practically impossible for SAP to be able to provide laptops for every student in Nigeria. We are only evangelists. We saw that there was a gap and saw a need to plug that gap, and we expect other well-meaning organisations to join in the movement. This is just the beginning, we will also expect the government to see this initiative as a ground breaking one that point to a gap that needs to be filled.

Investment in African Code week It is a lot of money. The pilot in South Africa was massive and to put this together as you see it here is a lot of money. We are catering for the kids, we are giving them resources, we are creating an open platform for them to use, and we will train the teachers and the kids. We have done so much and a lot of

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•Frank Cohen

money has gone into this. Also, SAP employees have volunteered their time for this code week. So, we are using our resources to drive this programme.

Number of schools in Nigeria to benefit What we will be doing after the pilot is to scale out. On sustenance, we have created an online course free of charge for teachers and kids. Everybody and anybody can go online and do the course free of charge.

This is a lot of investment on behalf of SAP. Effect of digital revolution in Africa I think there is no doubt that this world is becoming digital.

Every day, we see news that cars will not need drivers anymore by 2025. I think it is absolutely great that Africa is participating in this digital

Training kids on software coding is the main objective of the African Code Week

revolution because this is where the world is going.

The current situation is that people with technical know how are coming from other continent to take jobs in Africa, while we have Africans who are jobless. We don’t need to ask people from Europe or India to come and do the job. So Code Week is a very nice thing.

Our estimation is that 5 years from now, we will need additional 35,000 centres in Africa just to do the work effectively.

Lessons from pilot programme in South Africa The pilot in South Africa was well-embraced. With coding, you don’t lose anything, you gain everything. In South Africa, they embraced the programme. If the pilot wasn’t successful, we won’t be here today.

Where do you go from here?

Where we go from here is that the main event happens first in 10th October,2015 And secondly, we have already created an online platform where you can log on to get coding skills. In October, we will roll this programme across 11 countries.

SAP’s strategic directions for Africa Our SME development programme is a key pillar, the code week is another pillar. Even as we do our business, we are also recruiting Nigerian organizations to be our partners.

Microsoft, Konga to reward five consumers with paid trip to UK

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ICROSOFT Lumia in partnership with Konga.com will to reward consumers who purchase the Lumia 540 Dual SIM or the Lumia 640 XL Dual SIM or any Lumia from Konga.com.

Additionally, consumers who buy the Lumia 540 Dual SIM or the Lumia 640 XL Dual SIM from Konga.com, will receive a free Power Bank.

According to Microsoft Lumia and Konga.com, this competition is open to consumers who make purchase from June 26th to August 31st, 2015.

The Vice President, Marketing at Konga, Gabriel Gab-Umoden, while speaking on the new development said that the partnership with Microsoft Lumia would build on their successful Found On Konga campaign, whilst rewarding our customers who have unique stories on their Lumia purchases on Konga.com.

ABCOCK University, Ogun State has raised the bar in education technology by embracing Total Classroom Revolution (TCR) that will wirelessly connect all undergraduates, post graduates and certificate students, lecturers, school administrators to classrooms, chapel, halls of residence, library, and cafeteria in a campus-wide platform.

When completed, the project will help to accelerate students learning, research and social collaboration using a combination of the latest and best- in- class advanced education technologies that can only be found among top universities in Europe, Asia and America.

Vice chancellor of Babcock University, Professor Kayode Makinde said the technologies will connect lecturers and students in real-time collaboration, learning and problem solving, ensure through the use of a special tool for content creation, authoring and publishing capacities for lecturers.

Besides, parents are integrated into the world of real- live education development of their wards.

Makinde said the institution is working with a consortium of six companies from Canada, Israel, Germany, USA, France and India backed by two topmost Nigerian banks to deploy 12,000 customised Babcock Learning Tablets (BLT) for students with 32 Gigabit android powered 10.1 inch tablets.

Makinde said the total classroom revolution is evidence of the school’s management unwavering commitment towards the continuous achievement of academic excellence that Babcock is known •Makinde for since its inception According to the IVETEC WiniGroup project manager, Mr. Akin Akintayo, the company coordinating the six consortium of companies, also to be implemented is Advanced Learning Management System (ALMS) allowing seamless recording of video and audio lectures delivered by lecturers and archiving of same to make it easier for students to review.

Standard Bank CIO visits CWG

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he Group Chief Information Officer of Standard Bank, Plc , Klaas Kruger and his team recently visited Computer Warehouse Group (CWG Plc) headquarters in Lagos.

The visit was aimed at strategic discussion on technology solutions that CWG Plc offers and the value it can add to the bank’s operation.

In his presentation, the Chief Executive Officer of CWG Plc, Mr. Austin Okere used the key ring concept to explain the company’s solutions offering.

The concept denotes the company’s ability to handhold an institution’s entire IT needs end-to-end to assure the customer of a single responsibility partner across the IT solution stack and thereby significantly minimizing risk.

According to Okere, CWG Plc has world class IT facilities and capabilities as well asstrong relationships with global technology brands and esteemed clientelespanning over twodecades, and is poised to replicate the unique value PanAfrican wide to meet the growing requirements of her global customers, who want a consistent service level across their Africa operations.

“These three factors facility, capability and relationship have given us an edge in providing IT services and support in various industries in our countries of operation especially Telecom, Oil & Gas and Banking. About 50% of Mobile calls in Nigeria are routed through enterprise servers and storage managed and supported by us while 40% of Telecoms Information Systems Managed Services are also provided

by CWG. “Same applies to the banking industry, about 30% of Automated Teller Machines’(ATMs) transaction pass through CWG’s Wincor-Nixdorf ATMs while about35% of ATMs installed base in Nigeria are supplied and supported by CWG” Okere explained.

Similarly, the Chief Technology Officer of CWG Plc, Mr. James Agada added that, “60% of banking transactions in Nigeria happen on our Finacle Core Banking system, installed in 10 of the 21 Nigerian banks, and about 20% of bank branch transactions on data links are carried out

SUND AY SUNDA

Vanguard, JULY 12, 2015, PAGE 45

PROLOGUE

TERRORISM: THE WAR WITHIN

The wages of conspiracy of silence

BY JIDE AJANI

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444 DEATHS IN 39 DAYS

he promises were decidedly highfalutin – to sustain the momentum for change.

Hopelessly unrealistic, though, were the expectations.

But the reality today is disturbing, very disturbing.

Many have tried to ridicule President Muhammadu Buhari because he is seen as being too slow for the engagement of change that Nigeria requires.

Some have said he hit the ground and refused to run; others have said he hit the ground and just sat there. To be fair, the reality is that many Nigerians still underrate the quantum of challenges that awaited him while the campaigns lasted Buhari is himself guilty of this because he did not have a panoramic view of the challenges he was plunging into when he kept making promises during the desperate campaigns to become President and Commander-inChief.

To be fair, a country that had been run for 16 years and has just been handed over to a new political party would need some time to adjust and come to terms with the challenges of governance. This is made worse

Continues on page 50

444 DEATHS IN 39 DAYS

Boko Boko Haram, Haram, more more daring, daring, 45 more more heartless heartless

Time line of killings since May 29 47

INSURGENCY: Buhari didn’t promise to do magic —Hon. Babatunde 51

PAGE 46 —SUND AY —SUNDA

Vanguard, JULY 12, 2015

444 DEATHS IN 39 DAYS

Boko Haram,

more daring, more heartless

A

BY LUKA BINNIYAT

part from the documented 444 murdered victims, hundreds of wounded persons and thousands newly displaced, all from a surprising fresh onslaught by Boko Haram on scores of communities and towns in at least six northern states of Nigeria, the questions on the lips of Nigerians monitoring the carnage would all meet at some point. Was the inaugural speech of President Muhammadu Buhari on May 29, 2015 in which he promised to stamp out Boko Haram shortly, just a brilliant prose with no work plan for execution?

Was his diatribe on the terrorists and his renewed pledge to route the insurgents mere bravado; a politicallyright outing to woo everyone as the messiah, while knowing deep inside him he had no such capability?

Many of the residents who may have been inspired by the president’s speech to return to the war ravaged village of the North-East, especially in Borno State, only to narrowly escape renewed violence may be wondering if Buhari spoke in good faith.

But those who still have faith in the president are wont to argue that it is too early to expect the man to wipe out a sixyear-old orgy of murder in less than two months. They are likely also going to argue that those in opposition to the ruling APC are using the tragedy for political advantage.

Ironically, it was the inability of the last government to cage Continues on page 47

SUND AY SUNDA

Vanguard, JULY 12, 2015, PAGE 47

TIME LINE OF KILLINGS SINCE MAY 29 DATE 30th May 31st M a y 2nd June 3rd June 4th June 5th June 7th June 11th June 15th June 17th June 22nd June 27th June 30th June 1st July 2nd July 3rd July 5th July 5th July 6th July 7th July 7th July

MANNER ANDPLACE OF ATTACK

DEATHS

A mosque attacked with concealed explosives in Maiduguri Gamboru Market, Maiduguri attacked by two female suicide bombers An explosion in an abattoir in Maiduguri Baga Road Mechanic workshop in Maiduguri attacked Military checkpoint in Maiduguri attacked by two female bombers Jimeta, Adamawa State experiences first Boko Haram assault, its night market bombed Baga/Monguno highway bombed Invasion of six Borno villages Suicide bombers hit Potiskum Explosions in Monguno Baga fish market, Maiduguri attacked Molai General Hospital, Maiduguri hit when two female suicide bombers accidentally detonate explosives before reaching a crowded place Mussaram 1 and Mussaram II villages in Monguno, Borno attacked Masacre in Kukawa village, Borno, Malari along Bama/Konduga Highway bombed Mussa village in Askira Uba, Adamawa State invaded A mosque and restaurant bombed in Jos A church bombed in Bauchi Suicide bomber detonates bomb on self near a mosque in Kano Civil servants undergoing salary verification exercise bombed in Sabon Gari, Zaria, Kaduna State Two female suicide bombers attack military checkpoint in Damboa, Borno State

26 4 17 4 2 40 3 37 11 15 8 5 48 98 11 29 48 7 1 26 4 TOTAL = 444

Boko Haram, more daring, more heartless Continued from page 46

Boko Haram that helped to swing winning votes in favour of the former, the opposition APC. Meanwhile, there is no running from the fact that eradicating Boko Haram within the days that Buhari has been in power would be too ambitious a project in scope and content given what the President met on ground.

The most worrying factor, however, is that instead of ebbing, the deaths and destruction caused by Boko Haram seem to be galloping compared to the pre-May 29 era.

This is despite the moving of the military command to Maiduguri, Borno State capital and epicentre of the violence which has so far claimed estimated 100,000 lives since the move by Boko Haram to declare Nigeria an Islamic Caliphate started in 2009..

But, Boko Haram is not only the group causing blood and tears to flow, even though many thought the situation ought not to get worse, given the hope Buhari inspired in the suffering communities, especially in the Middle Belt, when he came on board.

From Benue to Nasarawa, Plateau and Kaduna, the tales of night marauders stalking sleeping communities and killing defenceless citizens remain a daily occurrence.

Senator Danjuma La’ah, representing Southern Kaduna at the Senate, penultimate week, addressed a press conference in Kafanchan, 180 km south of Kaduna metropolis, to register his displeasure with the state of security in

•Rescue workers evacuating remains of victims his zone. La’ah, the only senator on the platform of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, from the North-North-West Zone, said: “After several days of silence from the government of Kaduna State over the most recent killings of law abiding natives of Southern Kaduna, I have decided to make public my resentment over the development.

“On the 5th June, 2015, Ayagan village in Bajju Chiefdom in Zangon Kataf Local Government Area of Kaduna State was invaded by well armed men. Four people were killed and several others injured when the invaders fired into a crowd of mourners, unprovoked.

“Till date, no culprit has been caught, nor has the state government made any announcement in its effort, if any, at apprehending the killers.

“On the 11th June, 2015, one Tanko Nyam, 45, of

Kyari Daddu village in Jaba, LGA, was ambushed by yet another set of gunmen and killed leaving behind his wife and five kids.

“Then on the 17th of June, 2015, gunmen attacked the village of Katsak, Atakad Chiefdom, Kaura LGA, leaving behind nine dead bodies and 13 persons critically injured as early as 8am.

“This government was brought to power by a legitimate election from the electorate who are expecting a dramatic improvement on their security and general well-being. While, I acknowledge the fact that the government is still young on the seat, it cannot claim ignorance or destitute of ideas on what to do in circumstances like this”.

PAGE 48 —SUND AY —SUNDA

Vanguard, JULY 12, 2015

YOBE: Deaths in the church

BY BALA AJIYA

D

espite President Muhammadu Buhari’s vow that his “administration will fight and subdue Boko Haram militants”, attacks on villages and towns as well as suicide bombings among other dastardly acts continue unabated in Yobe State.

Shortly after the handing over of power to Buhari by the Jonathan administration, the Boko Haram terrorist group attacked Ngalda and Fika burning part of the local government secretariat, the magistrate court in the area as well as a church while food items and beverages were looted from shops in Ngalda. This was followed by another attack on the College of Administrative and Business

Studies (CABS), Potiskum where a suicide bomber attacked students. The attacker came as students and lecturers arrived for lectures and detonated his explosives, injuring seven students who were hospitalised at the Federal Medical Center, Azare, Bauchi State. One of the students died while receiving treatment. On the heels of that was the attack by two female suicide bombers at a motor park in Damaturu, the state capital, which killed ten people.

Three days after, security forces were reported to have launched an attack on insurgents in their hide-out around Sasawa and Mafa villages in Tarmuwa local government area of the state. The insurgents retaliated by attacking

Babangida, the headquarters of the local government. In the attack, the Divisional Police Station, the emir’s palace, among many other structures were touched. An attack on Nanawaji village in Gujba

local government area of the state came next. 20 persons were killed. The most recent attack in Yobe was the one unleashed by a suicide bomber on the Redeemed Christain Church in Jigawa area of Potiskum which

claimed six lives. In that attack, the bomber was reported to have attended the church service with worshippers before detonating his improvised explosive devices .

BORNO: The defiant insurgents BORNO:

BY NDAHI MARAMA, MAIDUGURI

S

ince the inauguration of President Muhammadu Buhari on May 29, Borno State, particularly, Maiduguri, the state capital, has witnessed sustained attacks by insurgents, suspected to be Boko Haram members.

The first attack that welcomed the already traumatized citizens of the state to the new era was the attempted invasion on May 30, at about 12:30am when residents were asleep.

The attackers, in a convoy of vehicles and motorcycles laden with Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs), rocket grenades and antiaircraft guns, attacked Malari village, killed 15 residents and injured 19 others in Bulunkutu Tsaleke, Gomari and Ajilari areas.

The killings, according to Ibrahim Yakubu of Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF), were caused by the insurgents’ sporadic gunshots and shelling in the three villages.

“We were terrified and shocked on how these areas were targeted by Boko Haram and killing innocent people

last night. Of the people killed, five were children while two were women sleeping in the open because of the heat in their houses”, Yakubu said.

He said the insurgents burst into Malari through the north-east flank of the Sambisa forest on a dirt road, before crossing River Ngadabul to launch their attacks on the communities.

Same day, a suicide bomber exploded bombs in a mosque along Ali Kotoko Road, near Maiduguri Monday Market, leaving 26 dead and 28 critically injured.

The incident took place at about 3:45pm when Muslim faithful were performing their La,asar prayers.

“A bomb exploded at the

Adam Kolo Central Mosque along Ali Kotoko Road of Maiduguri Monday Market (MMM) during an afternoon prayer, killed 26 people and left about 28 critically injured”, Mallam Abba Shukura, who was among those evacuating the victims, said.

On Sunday, May 31, a suspected Boko Haram sect member planted an IED at Gamboru market in Maiduguri, which exploded in the afternoon, injuring four people.

Eyewitnesses said that after the IED was planted, the suspect detonated it at the peak of market hours of 1.30pm.

On Monday, May 1, a suicide bomber, who

attempted to sneak into Biu, the second largest town in southern part of the state, was accosted by men of the Civilian JTF on routine check, but when the suicide bomber realized that he could be caught, he detonated the explosives he was carrying, killing himself. He was the only victim of the attack.

On Tuesday, June 2, some insurgents in a convoy of vehicles laden with IEDs, rapid propelled grenades (RPGs) and anticraft guns attacked Moronti village and killed five people, before soldiers repelled them.

Same day, a deadly attack was carried out when a suicide bomber who disguised as a herbalist/ traditional medicine seller sneaked into the Maiduguri abattoir at the Cattle Market (Kasuwan Shanu) killing over 30 people while injuring 28 others.

It was gathered that the bomber came into the market with a tape recorder playing President Buhari campaign jingles which attracted many, and when he realized that the jingles had attracted dozens, he detonated the explosives he was carrying.

On June 13, some militants

attempted to attack Babangia but soldiers repelled them and drove them towards Bayamari and into Sasawa forest, north-east of the council headquarters.

On June 15, an explosion, suspected to have been triggered by landmines planted by insurgents along Maiduguri - Damboa Road exploded, killing six people including policemen, a soldier and PHCN officials on their way to repair vandalized transmission lines which supply Maiduguri and some parts of Niger Republic electricity.

On June 16, at least 98 people, including members of Civilian JTF, were feared dead with scores injured when a bag filled with IEDs discovered by operatives of the Civilian JTF at a deserted camp of Boko Haram near Monguno village accidentally exploded. .

On June 22, a suicide bomber sneaked into Baga fish market, Maiduguri and detonated explosives, leaving dozens dead.

The incident took place at about 3:30pm when Muslim faithful in the market were observing their prayers.

SUND AY SUNDA

PLATEAU:

BY MARIE-THERESE NANLONG, JOS

After four months break, bombs are flying again

E

xplosions in Jos, the Plateau State capital are not strange to residents as they have one gory tale or the other to tell as a result of the recurring evil.

Following the ferocious manner bombs ravage the city, efforts have been intensified by government, security agencies, civil society organizations and individuals to check the trend.

The efforts seemed to pay off as the city did not experience bomb attacks after the one which occurred in February.

But at the time residents felt respite had come, the monster reared its head again as twin blasts ripped through a restaurant along Bauchi Road and a mosque at Dilimi (Yan Taya) area of Jos last Sunday.

Survivors are counting their losses while relatives of the dead are mourning their loved ones. Fear, again, has gripped residents who are wondering

Vanguard, JULY 12, 2015, PAGE 49

who will be the next victim.

A visit to the Plateau State Specialist Hospital, Bingham University Teaching Hospital, Our Lady of Apostle, OLA Hospital all in Jos, on Friday, saw relatives of the victims besieging the hospitals to see their loved ones on admission.

No fewer than 51 killed in the two attacks have been buried

while about 42 others injured are being treated. As survivors counted their losses, miscreants took advantage of the situation to raze two churches, the Cherubim and Seraphim, C&S and African Church, while also threatening to burn the nearby ECWA Goodnews Church.

A survivor, Mallam Audu

Maiwula, narrated how he narrowly escaped being killed in the Jos mosque attack, adding, “If your time never reach, nothing go take you.”

“I was in the mosque until about 8pm. Then I needed to get something from home; so I went to my house at Filin Sukwa. As I was coming back, I heard a loud sound from Bauchi Road area; so I waited.

Not quite long, gunshots rented the air before the second explosion came. I am sure I would have been affected as Alhaji Sani my friend that sat with me in the mosque died”, he told Sunday Vanguard.

Isa Rabiu, a 40-year-old driver was not as lucky as Maiwula as he lost his life in the incident, according to his nephew, Mohammed Rabiu, who identified the uncle’s corpse at a Jos hospital morgue. “It is a pity my uncle had to die this way,” Mohammed said.

Our case against Boko Haram suspects in Ndi Anambra prison – Gov Obiano’s adviser

BY EMMANUEL EDUKUGHO

T

he people of SouthEast are worried - that the geo-political zone, which was the epicenter of destruction and massive killings during the civil war will be at risk with the transfer of Boko Haram detainees to Ekwulobia Prison in Aguata Local Government Area of Anambra State. That worry may not be much ado about nothing.

The people of Ekwulobia, or Ndi Anambra, have reasons to feel insecure as this highly sensitive terrorist – prisoners transfer deal was made arbitrarily. When the news filtered out, it was difficult to believe at first, details later surfaced.

The transfer deal was said to have been sealed far back in 2012 under the administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan and former Anambra State Governor, Mr. Peter Obi, who became a close ally of the Jonathan presidency.

Implementation of the deal had to wait till the 2015 general elections not to harm the electoral chances which

The transfer deal was said to have been sealed far back in 2012 under the administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan the PDP eventually swept in the South-East except Imo. The job of implementation was done under Governor Willie Obiano who was never part of the transaction, with President Muhammadu Buhari in the saddle at the federal level, which has authority over prisons.

Meanwhile, the leadership of pan-Igbo socio-political and cultural body, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, has kicked against the transfer, saying it was not

acceptable to the Igbo people.

Chairman of Anambra State Ohaneze Ndigbo, Elder Chris Eluemuno, reacted furiously, saying: “Successive federal administration of Nigeria have always taken the Igbo for granted; nobody should push the Igbo to the wall to incur their wrath; the Federal Government should remove the suspects from Anambra State”. Several protests against the transfer had been carried our peacefully.

In a radio programme, the Senior Special Adviser on Media to Obiano, Mr. James Eze, said the transfer of the Boko Haram detainees to Ekwulobia posed concerns as insurgency was becoming a cancerous growth that has blighted Nigeria.

According to him, not the same attention was being given to the South-East in terms of infrastructural development, even as the region has high rate of crime, kidnapping, armed robbery in the last one year.

“Transfer of the detainees poses a threat to peace and economic growth, foreign investment in multi-million US dollar participation and

•Gov Obiano the development of human capital in Nigeria”, Eze stated. “ For most successful businessmen who were willing to come home back to the state to invest, it is no longer the fear of armed robbery or kidnapping, now it is the fear of terrorism, which strikes terror in the minds of the people.”

Experts say there are global standards in dealing with terrorism. Terror suspects in the US, for example, are kept away from the rest of the people. Ekwulobia is the fourth largest town in Anambra, unsuitable for terror detainees. For the U.S., there is Guantanamo Bay in Cuba where terror suspects are kept. There are special facilities, with special programmes. Terror suspects ought not to be moved to

“My uncle had a wife and five children, he had even started buying things gradually in preparation for the coming Sallah. We always went to the mosque together to listen to the ministrations, but I did not go that day because I travelled to Saminaka. “I came back immediately to see things for myself. This is not good because he was a father to all of us; with him gone, we are wondering what will happen to us, but Allah knows best.”

Lamenting the situation, the member representing Jos North/Bassa Federal Constituency, Hon. Suleiman Kwande, who lost 52 members of his constituency, said it was saddening.

Similarly, a former Secretary to Plateau State Government, Mr. Ezekiel Gomos, expressed sadness over the attacks in the state as well as others by gunmen.

where they will elicit fear and constitute threat to peace.

Government should look elsewhere to move them.

A public affairs analyst, Mr. Fidel Edeh, spoke on the transfer of the Boko Haram detainees, saying: “Our over 54 years of nationhood has showed our divisiveness rather than unity, throwing up politics and sentiments”.

While acknowledging that prison is on the exclusive list, he said the prison was congested already, as Ekwulobia was meant for 85 inmates, but now has 135, and not for high profile criminals, or detention of deadly terrorists. He decried a situation in which many prisons are now located in towns.

“Tension generated among the people such as this won’t end over night. The Federal Government has the right to transfer prisoners, but Ekwulobia prison is not a high maximum security prison to keep dangerous terrorists. It cannot handle jail break incidents, which could compound terrorism.

Facilities be developed for prisons that can handle jail breaks.

Other respondents in the radio programme acknowledged the authority of the Federal Government to transfer prisoners to any prison within the country, but suggested the building of special facilities like the Ita Oko Centre for the detention of terrorists. Special, maximum security facilities should be built.

PAGE 50 —SUND AY —SUNDA

Vanguard, JULY 12, 2015

Continued from page 45

when the country was almost run aground because of the sheer insensitivity, incompetence, lack of capacity and in some more bizarre instances the employment of vindictiveness as a directive principle of administrative policy.

In just 40days since taking over, President Buhari seems to be disappointing his ardent supporters who put their trust in him.

That said, some questions must be asked: What information did Buhari have in his possession when he made promises about ending terrorism in Nigeria in a matter of months?

What strategies were being worked on? How did he plan to execute his strategy of action against terrorism?

These are pertinent questions in the light of the escalation of acts of terror in the last 40 days.

Just last month, Sunday Vanguard published a twopart expose on the dirty war on terrorism in Nigeria.

If the rate at which the insurgents have showed their hands in the last 10days is anything to go by, then Nigeria is in for a long season of terrorist activities.

But what are the facts about Jama’atu AhlissSunnah Lidda’awati Wal Jihad, (Western education is evil), otherwise known as Boko Haram? How did this group of miscreants expand its frontier of terror? What does this band of criminals masquerading as fundamentalists feed on?

How does it get its funding? What are the first steps to engage with a view to stopping them from spreading terror far afield?

Is anyone still in doubt as to whether Nigeria is at war?

And, sincerely, what can President Buhari do?

If truth be told, the political class including but not limited to people like Goodluck Ebele Jonathan and incumbent President Buhari should be held in vicarious terms for what has become of Boko Haram – and then you can add the politicians across the political divide.

In the case of Jonathan, he was President when, at infancy, members of the group demanded government’s action against those who took part in the extra-judicial killing of their leader, Muhammed Yusuf.

As if Jama’atu AhlissSunnah Lidda’awati Wal Jihad did not exist, the group was totally ignored.

Jonathan and some leaders of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, were busy working out how to thwart their party’s zoning arrangement. It was not until December 2010 when

Terrorism: The War Within the group began its heavy bombing campaigns that government took partial note. Today, the rest, as they say, is history.

For President Buhari, he did not, going by his political stature and voice of conviction, openly and vigourously condemn in the strongest terms, the activities of members of the sect in the very early days.

The members of the sect also went after him and almost eliminated him. But some prominent Northern politicians who kept mute and sometimes celebrated the exploits of the group behaved as though it was a problem only for the Jonathan administration.

Meanwhile, terrorism knows no tribe, religion or political party.

Worse still, there are reports of how some Nigerians sponsored a report to the State Department in America, campaigning against an FTO (Foreign Terror Organisation) status for Boko Haram. Some 25 scholars wrote to Hillary Clinton, then Secretary of State, just as one Johnnie Carson, an Under Secretary of State for African Affairs, argued before a congressional committee along the same lines.

While some Nigerians saw the danger ahead, and pressed for an FTO status, even the Jonathan administration and some undiscerning Nigerians

An error on the part of Mr. President was the populist but unqualified decision to move the operational base of the military to the theatre of war in Borno. Whatever gains the relocation may have brought – if any really – the 444 number of casualties in the last 39days makes a mockery of the whole exercise because fighting terror is not the same as chasing armed robbers on a particular street

argued against such a status for Boko Haram.

All these allowed the group to gain ground. That is not all.

These same hidden sympathizers of Boko Haram were the people who travelled abroad, working hands in gloves with fifth columnists within the military, got some edited video clips of real life combat between Nigeria’s gallant military men and these Boko Haram criminals but deceived Western nations that the military was on a genocide campaign.

It was this convoluted reversal of context that Amnesty International (Al) partly based its report about Nigeria’s military on.

Yes, there may have been acts of rascality and overzealousness verging on the murderous by some officers, but to use the instrumentality of AI’s report to further damage Nigeria’s military institution is to open innocent military men to public scorn, an act which would dampen morale.

Those who ignorantly thought the problem was for the Jonathan administration alone are the same ones now making lame excuses on why the group has gone gaga.

But this is just the beginning except some urgent steps are taken.

Unintelligently, the PDP is attempting to pay back APC in its coin by creating the impression that the new

wave of bombings should be employed for political mileage.

This is irresponsible.

Buhari may have made promises. An error on the part of Mr. President was the populist but unqualified decision to move the operational base of the military to the theatre of war in Borno. Whatever gains the relocation may have brought – if any really – the 444 number of deaths in 39days of the new administration makes a mockery of the whole exercise because fighting terror is not the same as chasing armed robbers on a particular street.

But that does not mean Nigerians should continue to harangue Buhari.

Indeed, the number of casualties on the Christian and Muslim side may not balance out because there are no exact statistics of how many Muslims of Christians have been killed by the gangsters.

Check links for more exclusive details of Boko Haram winning strategy Boko Haram’s Winning Strategy (1) See.. http:// www.vanguardngr.com/ 2015/06/boko-haramswinning-strate Inside Nigeria’s dirty war on terror..See: http:// www.vanguardngr.com/ 2015/06/nside-nigeriasdirty-war-on-terror/

SUND AY SUNDA

Vanguard, JULY 12, 2015, PAGE 51

BOKO HARAM: Buhari didn’t promise —Hon. to do magic Babatunde

BY JOHNBOSCO AGBAKWURU

H

onourable Kolawole Gabriel Babatunde represents Akoko Southeast and Southwest in the House of Representatives. He is a member of the All Progressives Congress (APC). In this interview, he says for peace to return to the House, the warring factions should shift ground. He also believes the current Boko Haram onslaught will fizzle out with time as President Muhammadu Buhari puts in place measures to confront it even as he says the president did not promise to perform magic to get rid of the terror group.

It appears that the APC government is failing the masses as it cannot handle the security challenge in the country especially on Boko Haram. Is the government overwhelmed?

Nobody should say that APC has failed the country. One thing that we have not adjusted to is the spirit of patience. This is a new government, we just came on board, so all the problems cannot be solved just in a day. The problems on ground are so enormous. Mr. President is taking his time. If you rush into taking some actions, then you may make avoidable mistakes. Presently, there is need for us to build our image and I know he has been going round meeting with world leaders, discussing areas of collaboration. It is not a fight we can fight alone, we need the support of our neighbouring countries; even the international community, we need their support. And for us to get that, we must build that confidence and that is what Mr. President is doing right now. Recently, there is an order that the military command should be moved to Maiduguri. We know that in other countries, it is not done that way; actions can be taken from a central point, but here we don’t have what it takes, we don’t have the technology, we don’t have the wherewithal, we don’t have the enabling environment; so the military command has to be moved. This issue of insurgency has been there before now and you cannot get rid of it in a twinkle of an eye.

It is something that will take quite some time.

How long will Nigerians wait as the Boko Haram sect is killing people on daily basis?

That people are being killed does not mean that government is not doing anything, it is just a matter of time, I am very sure Mr. President is very focused and the issue of security of life and property is sacrosanct to this government. In due course, the issue of insecurity will be a thing of the past.

President Buhari promised that the issue of Boko Haram will fizzle out immediately he takes over government.

Has his magic failed him?

I was part of the campaign train as a stakeholder, but there was at no point I heard that he said a magic will be performed within weeks or months. But then if that had been said, I know Mr. President is not sitting down doing nothing at the moment. He is on his toes and that is what is important; he is already proffering solution, he is already consulting; he is meeting with world leaders;

he is already seeking collaboration with other nations and I think he should be commended for this.

What is the best way to tackle insurgency in the country?

Well, the issue of dialogue, the issue of negotiation, the issue of ensuring that there is equity in the distribution of our resources. The issue of corruption too which is a major problem confronting this nation. If these issues are addressed, especially corruption, I can assure you that insecurity would be reduced to the barest minimum.

How do you negotiate with a group that has taken arms against the nation, killing and maiming innocent people?

It is not as if that we are recommending negotiation with the terrorists; what we are saying is that it happened in the Niger Delta when militants were called and today they are repositioned and, whether you agree with me or not, you discover that youths restiveness and crisis in the Niger Delta has reduced. But I think there is a way you can just extend this hand of fellowship; even though they are faceless, I know they are humans beings and I know they have been getting back to us and to the government.

Meanwhile, if there is improvement in the present decay in infrastructure, high level of corruption, etc, it is not a mountain that cannot be in surmounted.

What is the relationship between a female suicide bomber and corruption?

A female suicide bomber did not wake up one day wanting to be a suicide bomber. Probably she was introduced to it by a male terrorist or a cabal. But I know that there are some people behind the scene fuelling the terrorism is happening.

The person you called female bomber did not metamorphose from somewhere. She was introduced to it, probably she was captured or worked on to become a suicide bomber. But when you look at the source, you look at the nitty gritty involved, you will discover that it still boils down to bad governance. Let’s trace it to the origin, when there is a particular problem, look at the foundation. When the foundation is weak, certainly the building will not stand. So, it is an all-encompassing thing, there is a way all these things link. So if you say corruption has no link with the terrorists attack, I will disagree with you.

Niger Delta people said their environment was being polluted because of oil exploration and nothing was done about it. What is the demand of Boko Haramt?

From the little understanding I have, suicide bombing has to do with religion. The sect is against Western education and they are promoting Islam. But then, I have seen Muslim clerics, I have seen the leaders of the Muslim community telling us that Boko Haram has nothing to do with Islam. That the religion is a religion of peace and it is a religion that believes that Nigerians should co-exist regardless of diverse backgrounds. I have never see them make any major demands that has to do with the development of that area, the North outside the issue of the Western education thing.

Leadership tussle in the House of

•Babatunde...APC has not failed the country

I was part of the campaign train as a stakeholder, but there was at no point I heard that he said a magic will be performed within weeks or months

Representatives has taken a frightening dimension since the inauguration of the 8th assembly. Why can’t members embrace peace for the sake of the country?

When we were inaugurated, we decided to hit the ground running, the aspirants started indicating interest to contest for the position of speakership and, in the course of doing this, many of our members, particularly the ranking members, came up to show interest in the speakership and, at he end of the day, two major contenders emerged: Hon. Yakubu Dogara and Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila.

I think one major thing that members were clamouring for then was the issue of independence. Members said they needed an independent Speaker, one that would ensure that every member in the House is given equal chance to express his views or push whatever issue that is needed to be addressed. The issue of welfare too was equally paramount to members. So, among other issues, these were the two that were mentioned. But the major issue was the independence of the very person that will emerge as Speaker. You also saw what happened on the floor of the House when voting was done, Honourable Dogara emerged and, in every contest, there must be a winner.

But what we are expecting in an ideal environment, especially in a democratic setting like this, it has happened before, now and we have seen this happening in the 8th assembly, we expect both sides to come together in the interest of the nation and see how we can move this country forward. I am an advocate of the fact that the masses that we have come here to represent are more important than the interest of any individual.

So, if we agree as members of this hallowed chamber that the interest of this country is important as the country has to develop, then we should put it at the front burner. But immediately after the election, so many issues started coming, individual interference and party interference from the beginning of the whole exercise, preferring particular candidates and this has actually caused a lot of problems in the House.

But I believe if at the end of the day, this 8th assembly, God forbid, is unable to deliver, they will be held responsible, the party will not be held responsible. My constituents will not listen to any excuse whatsoever that these are the reasons I have refused to deliver on the mandate.

If this is important, it simply means that both sides must shift grounds, they must come together as one indivisible body for the sake of this country, for the sake of Nigerians and even for the sake of the generations to come. Because whatever we do in this 8th assembly will be written against our names.

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SUND AY V anguard SUNDA Vanguard anguard,, JULY 12, 2015, PAGE 53

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Vanguard, JULY 12, 2015

A CATHOLIC KNIGHT'S STRANGE ENCOUNTER

‘My wife died 14 days after God told me He would take her away'

By Favour Nnabugwu

A

fter 44 years of marriage, Sir James Joseph Itapke, a knight of the Catholic Church, lost his wife and mother of his five children, Lady Angelina Itakpe, to a brief illness on October 1, 2014. He told Sunday Vanguard that 14 days before then, precisely September 17, that year, God informed him that He would take away what Itakpe loved most.

Itakpe retired as a Manager in Union Bank and hails from Afowoh in Etsako West Local Government Area of Edo State.

“I usually gather my family every morning and evening for prayers. On September 17, 2014, I told my wife to read the Bible and pray before we went for the activities of the day. My wife and I read the daily verses according to the Roman Catholic Church. We read Ezekiel in which God was talking to Ezekiel, sending a message to Israelites. We read the gospel and we did all normal prayers,”he started.

The knight continued: “But when we finished, she took her Bible and went into the room. She said l should expatiate more on what God was telling Ezekiel. All of a sudden, a paper appeared before me.

“The Lord said in that paper, ~Very soon, I am going to take the one you love most. I am going to kill your wife and, when that happens, do not mourn, do not cry, do not shave your hairs as mourners do'.

“I could not completely digest it; so I took the Bible and went into my room and I asked if it was me God was talking to or Ezekiel. And I said, ' No, it couldn’t have been me but Ezekiel'. I came out of my room and behold my wife was coming out of her room looking gaunt in her structure, weary and weak. I kept my gaze, I just shook my head and turned my face.

“On September 21, 2014, we had our annual harvest thanksgiving during which my wife danced to the altar, and we presented gifts with smile and everything..The following Sunday, September 24, she did her work as Church Warden in the parish.

During the Holy Communion, she caught a small girl in the parish with the Holy

C M Y K

Eucharist on her palm even as the church had ordered that only priests should serve the Eucharist because of the fear of Ebola.

“This little girl went to the altar, took the Eucharist and closed her hand without anybody seeing her and was going to her seat. Mumise, as my wife was fondly called, took the little girl to the priest after Holy Communion and opened her hand and the Eucharist was there. She asked her where she was going with it. The little girl replied that she was going home with it. The priest took her to the altar and told the congregation that girl had committed a sacrilege. The priest then took the little girl to his office and started interviewing her; more revelations came out after which we left.

“By September 27, 2014 midnight, my wife broke down. She said her stomach was cold, and I said we had to go and see a doctor. She agreed but said we would go in the morning as it was risky to go out that late. Efforts to persuade her failed and we waited till early morning of the 28th and phoned our doctor for an appointment and the doctor said he would be at the clinic by 5pm; we had to wait till 5pm to see the doctor.

“When we got to the hospital, the doctor was in the theatre, so we waited.

After the operation, around 6pm, the doctor came our and administered some drugs to calm her. While we were at it, Mumie started belching and wanting to vomit. I held a bowl by her mouth, she vomited in it. It was then that the doctor realised it was more serious than is he looked. She was admitted and given drip. She felt better and was subsequently discharged.

“On the way home, she started belching again, trying to vomit but nothing to vomit because she had not eaten.

By midnight of the 30th of September, the sickness got worse, Mumise became very restless. She advised against going out in the midnight.

She sat down and requested for water to drink. I gave her water but she vomited

I took her hands again and prayed. I laid her back on the bed, closed her eyes and put her hands on her body and then I walked out.

She was dead

Sir James

again. In the morning of October 1, we again went to hospital.

“As soon as we got to the hospital, she started breathing very heavily. All the doctors in the hospital, about five of them, and the nurses rushed out and they started calling out to Mumie because they all knew her very well.

They asked why l did not bring her in the midnight. I could not answer because I was dumb founded.

“They rushed her to the ward. By the time they got to the ward, Mumsie turned to me and said the Matron told her that l was crying; she asked why l was crying. I could not answer her.

“They brought in oxygen to stabilise her breathing. While they were on it, I could not bear it any longer and was going in and out of the ward.

I was just by the door of the ward when l heard a loud voice commanding me to go back to my wife. The voice was sharp and clear; so l went back to my wife and held her by the hand while I placed my right hand on her shoulder.

“All of a sudden, my wife turned with all the energy in her and looked at me straight in the eyes. I noticed that her eyes had changed. I gave her a peck on the cheek, I covered her eyes, I took her hands again and prayed. I laid her back on the bed, closed her eyes and put her hands on her body and then I walked out. She was dead.

“As I was going out, the Medical Director instructed some nurses to follow me, as though I looked strong, l was lost. I went to his office straight and sat down on a chair after which we discussed.

“At that point, the warning echoed again that l must not cry, mourn or shave my hair.

That encouraged me because Christ actually supported me very strongly.

He had told me what was going to happen; therefore, I was not moved to tears because I would be offending God if I did so. It is painful to me but God knows best.

“In my hometown, men can shave a little of their heads to show they are mourning or wear all black to show that you are really mourning a wife.”

Recounting how life is without his wife, Itakpe said, “She was a real companion who got to understand and accept me for what I am and tried to make the best of me and that is what I am missing. She was the one who would look at me and say ‘you’re wrong’ and I had to accept and bury my pride and I will say ‘sorry, you’re right’. That is the sort of counselling I am missing now.”

SUNDAY Vanguard, JULY 12, 2015, Page 55

VIEWPOINT

By Chike Okeke VIEWPOINT IN BRIEF Taking an action that negates the ideal

When a police officer oversteps his bounds two years grace period to the claimants to vacate the property.

The grace period expired on July 27, 2014.

Rather than giving up possession of the property at the expiry date, the tenant returned to court and

filed motions for stay of execution at both the Magistrate and High Courts. On May 5, 2015, the motion for stay of execution was struck out by the lower court while that at the High Court was struck out on May 13, 2015.

Okudoh then made necessary application to the police for assistance to enforce the judgment of the court.

The Assistant Inspector General of Police, Zone 2 Lagos did the needful and on June 19, 2015, the right to the landed property was given to Okudoh.

The Assistant Commissioner of Police, Area E Police Command, Okoro, was at the scene and satisfied that it was a lawful court judgment that was being executed.

Ifeanyi Owoh, the DPO of Festac Town, later visited the site and con-

firmed the orderliness in which the possession of the property was carried out.

Surprisingly, instead of Okoro to give effect to the execution of a court judgment he was a witness to as an officer of the law, he appears to be doing the opposite by arresting and detaining workers Okudoh sent to the site. The action has stalled work on the site and made Okudoh to incur heavy financial losses. The Area Commander is alleged to base his action on “preventing a likely breakdown of law and order”.

One finds this reasoning ridiculous as he is supposed to uphold the rule of law by providing security for Okudoh to develop his property.

•Okeke is a commentator on public affairs

Senate leadership saga: Between politics and morality

quorum formed, yet the 49 PDP senators, out of magnanimity, decided to honour an earlier pact, as widely reported in the media, to take the Deputy Senate President.

To conclude with the alleged doctoring of the Senate Standing Rules, I would like to posit that the APC has scored another first by externalising an internal matter that should have been left for the senators to resolve. I can understand the desperation of the other camp in the APC to vitiate, at all cost, the process that produced Saraki and Ekweremadu as Senate President and Deputy Senate President respectively. Its only strategy is to externalize the issue and seek to heap a moral burden on the Senate leadership. But the other camp should know that inequity cannot be fought with chicanery.

I will counsel Mahmood to be prepared to, in the months ahead, write a similar piece to criticise police involvement in an issue that could later affect those on his side of interest in the National Assembly. Yes, what goes around comes around. I hope when it eventually happens, he will not forget this current episode.

A

CTING Inspector General of Police Solomon Arase has, since assumption of office, shown that he is of the stuff system catalysts are made. There has been a massive turn around in the public perception of the Nigeria Police.

Recent exploits by the police in the arrest of the armed robbers who raided banks in Lagos State and their courage in confronting criminals in various parts of the country indicate that our police are truly living up to expectations. Officers and men of the Force should co-operate with Arase to ensure that truly the police are our friend.

When an officer takes action that negates the ideals of the new police leadership, every genuine

patriot should feel concerned and call attention of the High Command to this misdemeanor with a view to calling him to order.

The action of ACP Dan Okoro, Area Commander, Area E, Police Command Festac Town, Lagos, using men of the police to prevent a citizen from developing his land calls for serious questioning by the police leadership Maxwell Okudoh, the owner of the parcel of land, situate at plot 3, Water Front Plaza, 1st Avenue, Festac Town Lagos, which was subject of litigation for nine years, has not been allowed to develop the said land despite judicial pronouncements in his favor.

On July 27, 2012, Magistrate Ajibade delivered judgment in favor of Okudoh as the bonafide owner of the said property. However, in her discretion, she granted

When an officer takes action that negates the ideals of the new police leadership, every genuine patriot should feel concerned and call attention of the High Command to this misdemeanor with a view to calling him to order

ernment at the center, consolidated its gradual incursion into the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)led government through the former Speaker, House of Representatives, Aminu Tambuwal (now Governor of Sokoto State). A proxy of the minority party succeeded in presiding over the majority.

Another worrying aspect of the July 9, 2015 column was the subtle attack on the person of the Clerk to the National Assembly (CNA), Salisu Maikasuwa, who has remained impartial in the legislative enterprise of the federal lawmakers. The CNA is largely concerned with the administration of the NASS bureaucracy. The Clerk to the Senate and his counterpart in the House of Representatives tend to the legislators’ lawmaking business on the floor, including providing guidance on issues of legislative rules. It is important to make this point so that people like Mahmood will refocus when they try to point finger of guilt to quarters in the alleged alteration of standing rules.

Now, let us look at another perspective in the legislative saga: if Maikasuwa is so powerful to the extent that it was within his bureau-

cratic powers to shut out some lawmakers from the Senate chamber, can we then safely conclude that Maikasuwa colluded with the APC to allow Tambuwal to gain access into the Green Chamber, when a PDP-led government was against him (Tambuwal)? But here is a bureaucrat that understands how to rise above politics, partisanship and pettiness in the discharge of his duties, perhaps always guided by the Constitution as demonstrated on June 9.

From all indications, the modest measure of stability in the National Assembly is still due to the wisdom and good conscience of the CNA, who I will like to meet

From all indications, the modest measure of stability in the National Assembly is still due to the wisdom and good conscience of the CNA, who I will like to meet one day

one day. If Maikasuwa had allowed himself to be used for politics sans morality and refused to open the 8th Assembly for business after the President had conveyed his proclamation to him, possibly, NASS would have been caught in a serious disaster and worse situation; and, without any other corresponding letter from the President directing him to suspend or shift the date of the inauguration from 10am on June 9, 2015, the leadership of APC would have denied him and the whole world would have been asking for his head.

Maybe the PDP should even be blamed for having a rare opportunity to take the bigger apple; but had, instead, humbly elected to go for the smaller one in the 8th Assembly, to wit: Deputy Senate Presidency. Heaven would not have fallen if David Mark, for instance, had returned as the Senate President like some hawks in the PDP had wished and even advised. It would have been so easy for the PDP to have played a smart political coup d’état against Bukola Saraki on the floor of the Senate and beat him to it. Validation: the House was already convened and

Okowa staying S.M.A.R.T

the state.

A few days after that meeting with top functionaries, Okowa presented what he called “My Vision for Honest Leadership and Responsible Governance” to the state House of Assembly.

In his speech to the House, Okowa also outlined the parlous state of the economy but then he made a startling statement. “I am told that when written in Chinese, the word ‘crisis’ is composed of two characters – one represents danger and the other opportunity. I see more opportunities in our current economic predicament than the threats it poses.”

In that statement was a clear message – Okowa has a plan and is clearly the right man for the job.

A medical doctor by training, the governor comes to his new job with intimidating credentials which make him immensely qualified and ready to tackle the daunting problems facing his state.

Okowa was commissioner twice under former Governor James Ibori and served as Secretary to the State Government under his predecessor, Governor Emmanuel

Uduaghan (with whom he contested for the gubernatorial ticket of the PDP in 2007). Okowa then went on to run for the Senate. He won and served as chair of the Health Committee at the Senate.

What these mean is that Okowa was, before even resuming as governor, already conversant with how the ministries function, how the executive runs the affairs of state and how the legislative arm provides oversight over the executive. He is also at home with the process of proposing and passing bills which is remarkable because in the first one month of his administration, Okowa sent two bills to the House and had them passed expeditiously.

What this clearly points to is a man who has hit the ground running by proposing workable solutions to the problems on ground but these are very daunting problems which could so easily overwhelm even the best intentions.

Okowa seems to have come prepared. During his campaign, Okowa captured his executive agenda for the state under what he called S.M.A.R.T which is short

VIEWPOINT

By Ariyo Dare VIEWPOINT IN BRIEF Matters arising from the election of the upper chambre head

I

T is indeed heartwarming that partisan Abba Mahmood, in his recent article, titled: “Urine Cannot Clean Faeces”, decided to cite celestial factors- righteousness and justice- as the forces that will win the final political battle in the All Progressives Congress (APC).

The implication of this is that the writer fully understands the place of truth and fairness in the complex game of politics; meaning, we can x-ray and place what transpired before and on June 9, 2015 in the National Assembly on a moral pedestal.

But before looking at the intricacies surrounding all that led to the legislative leadership tussle in the APC, a simple check with recent history could have saved the writer the needless journey through the path of political religiousness.

Less than eight months ago, APC, which was in a hurry to grab gov-

VIEWPOINT

By Toni Kan

VIEWPOINT IN BRIEF

Delta State administration’s five pillars of governance

A

few days after Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa, Governor of Delta State, assumed office, he convened a town hall meeting of sorts with top government functionaries of the state.

At that meeting, Okowa spoke candidly about the financial position of the state and the fact that Delta owes banks about N98bn with contractual obligations coming to N538,601,962, 421.50.

According to the governor, the state government, with a workforce of 60,000 persons and a monthly personnel cost of N7,437,940,015.38, will run a monthly deficit of N2bn when its N5.40bn monthly revenue from FAAC allocation and IGR is taken into account.

A newspaper reported that after presenting these figures, a director stood up and said he pitied the governor.

Any chief executive taking over a company or state with such a huge financial problem, as is the case with Okowa, deserves to be pitied but, most importantly, he deserves the support of all and sundry to succeed in turning around

A medical doctor by training, the governor comes to his new job with intimidating credentials which make him immensely qualified and ready to tackle the daunting problems facing his state

•Dare, a public affairs commentator, lives in Ketu, Lagos.

hand for ‘Strategic wealth creation initiatives and provision of jobs for all; Meaningful peace building platforms aimed at political/social stability; Agricultural reforms and industrialisation; Relevant health and education policies; Transformed environment through massive urban renewal.

It is heartening to note that the first two bills sent to the House of Assembly were targeted at two of these areas. ‘The Technical and Vocational Education Board Bill, 2015’ is clearly targeted at helping in the realization of the first pillar; “Strategic wealth creation initiatives and provision of jobs for all” while the Delta State Capital Territory Development Agency Bill 2015 concerns the 5th pillar, “Transformed environment through massive urban renewal.”

A man who has set the scene for solving two key problems before he even settled in office has shown clearly that his four years would be very result-oriented and positively impactful.

•Kan, a commentator on public affairs, lives in Lagos.

Page 56 — SUNDAY Vanguard, JULY 12, 2015

VIEWPOINT

By Chukwudi Eke

VIEWPOINT IN BRIEF The change we need

F

IRST, let me confess: I did not vote for Alex Otti during the last governorship elections in Abia State. I didn’t give him a chance. I am a card carrying member of the PDP. But truth be told, Dr. Otti deserves to be addressed as a “General” because he did not only take on the behemoth called the PDP in the state, he also gave us a bloody nose. In 16 years, this was the first time this was happening in Abia.

When he left his job to join the race late last year, Otti was part of the long queue for the PDP ticket.

But he was swift to decamp to APGA, on sensing that PDP was not in the mood for internal democracy. But we were warned: A fellow party man from Imo State had cautioned us to be careful with Otti as, according to him, any man with his

Abia: The Alex Otti Phenomenon pedigree, sound education, contact and cash cannot be dismissed with a wave of the hand. We did not heed that advice and we paid dearly for it.

In spite of the “muscle” we applied, Otti’s APGA took almost half of the seats leaving PDP with the remaining half. As collation of

But any how you look at it, Otti changed the Abia landscape for good and politics in the state can never be the same again

the governorship election was going on in Umuahia, some of us were sweating. In 14 of the 17 local government areas, Otti was leading Okezie Ikpeazu with over 60,000 votes. It was not until the “magic” of Obingwa and Osisioma LGAs that the table turned. Just before we settled into the celebration, the Returning Officer did the unthinkable. He cancelled those LGA results, together with a third one, Isiala Ngwa North, was actually not one of the PDP ‘jokers’. Had the Returning Officer been stubborn and firm, the game would have been up for us in Abia.

But any how you look at it, Otti changed the Abia landscape for good and politics in the state can never be the same again. There are a few issues that made Otti’s intervention different in the state and I will examine some of them here.

Otti came at a time majority of

The Aba Urban Renewal Drive VIEWPOINT

By Godwin Adindu

VIEWPOINT IN BRIEF

The new face of a commercial hub

R

EMEMBER Aba? Have you wondered about these things: why did the great Ikemba Nnewi, Sir Odumegwu Ojukwu give instructions that his corpse must be hosted in Aba? why did Chief Ralph Uwazuruike, leader of the Movement for the Actualization of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOP), make his declaration of the new Biafra in Aba? why did women in the old Eastern Region, from the four provinces, choose Aba for their earth-shaking riot in 1929, that brought the colonial administration to its kneels?

You must continue to wonder:

why is it that every political leader from pre-independence era through the First Republic to date has shown an overt interest in capturing Aba? How come that every Igbo of repute has a story or a life that is somewhat connected to Aba? How come that Aba, more than any other eastern city, seems to capture the symbolism of the Igbo spirit of commerce, courage and creativity? How come that what happens in Aba or what concerns Aba concerns the world?

These are the puzzle Governor Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia State is trying to unravel through his Aba Urban renewal drive. The truth is that Aba has been a melting pot of human activities since 1903 when the District Colonial Office was moved from Akwete in today’s Ukwa East Local Council to the area called Aba. Then, in 1904, the colonial administration designat-

ed the place as a municipality to serve as a trading post for the old colonial companies. So from day one, Aba was constructed to be a city of commerce and trade, Nigeria’s own version of the ancient Italian cities of Venice and Florence. And so it has been to date.

For decades, Aba remained the symbol of the Igbo man’s sense of

As I write, bulldozers are at work. Ikpeazu is working to restore the original map and the original plan, and trying to lift Aba to the global status of modern cities

the people were looking for change. People were really sick and tired of the political domination of the Orjis. Besides, there seems to be a consensus of opinion even amongst PDP faithful that the administration failed in providing infrastructure and good governance. To make matters worse, Okezie Ikpeazu was literally imposed by both T.A. Orji and his son without consulting any other person in the party. Meanwhile, seeds of discord had been sown and some of our members were only too eager to work against the party.

For the choice of APGA candidates for various elective positions, Otti and his party fielded candidates who were not associated with the rot in Abia. This was helpful as people could easily buy the change message.

I cannot conclude this piece withcommunity and Nigeria’s idea of indigenous technology. Indeed, for many years, the city lived its dream; the people lived to their fulfillment in a destiny tied to trade, fun, sex and money. It was the home of all, where men of every hue and colour became united by one kindred spirit and one common humanity. There was the Aba Man, a cosmopolitan hybrid, characterized by a dogged survivalist spirit.

There was the Aba boy, a certain smart truant, not too puritanical but more clever in the things of the street than in the things of the classroom. There was also the Aba girl, a cultured bred who carried herself with so much respectability and walked as if she has put a price on herself.

Thank God a Daniel has come to judgment! Just a day after his inauguration, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu stepped foot in Aba and commenced a massive urban renewal drive that has become the selling point of his one-month-old admin-

The clamour for Dickson's re-election VIEWPOINT

By Daniel Iworiso-Markson

VIEWPOINT IN BRIEF Gov Seriake Dickson's uncommon leadership qualities

F

OUR more years! This is the rising crescendo as Bayelsans and friends of Bayelsa call on Honorable Henry Seriake Dickson to come out quickly to re-contest for the position of Governor of Bayelsa State after a first term of uncommon leadership and unprecedented development that is changing the state for good. Indeed undergirding this cry is a felt need to separate the men from the boys, the many who are making a play for leadership of the state whose credentials are still a work in progress but who in the context of our democracy are very much welcome to join the fray. Endorsement of candidates is taking a virtual hold on the political pendulum as various parties signify where their interest lies. With a clear understanding of the prevailing situation on both sides of the major political divide in the state, there is no longer any dull moment: all permutations and clever moves are geared towards the forthcoming governorship election which, as things stand today,

will pitch the incumbent governor, Hon. Henry Seriake Dickson, of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) with any candidate who emerges from the crisis-ridden and all-comers opposition party, All Progressives Congress (APC) in Bayelsa State.

Although Dickson has not formally declared to re-contest having hitherto told his associates and supporters to wait as he continued to consult, many are of the view that there is no longer doubt that the governor is now set to declare for his second term bid and going by a huge show of appreciation and solidarity which his supporters staged in Yenagoa, the state capital, last Tuesday, it is now a fait accompli. As a matter of fact, what was said to be a welcome reception for him after a short vacation turned out to be nothing short of a carnival, an indication of the shape of things to come. A gale of endorsements which has effectively challenged the governor to action, shows the way for what is expected to be the flag-off of his re-election campaign.

As early as 8am last Tuesday, the state capital, Yenagoa, was woken up to an unusual traffic and mass movement of people, particularly the youths. From the main major

road leading to the state capital and the adjoining roads from the other ends of the city, the drift of activities pointed to the popular Peace Park, a short distance from the Government House. And judging from the mood of the people and the numerous youths in their bright attires and group affiliations, their mission and intent were all too evident. Politics was literally in the air.

It was in this mood that Governor Seriake Dickson and his entourage sauntered into Peace Park amidst deafening ovation and jubilation among the people. The governor was moved to let down his usual studied guard and to be swept away by the mood of the occasion. He responded with exuberant gestures, saluting the crowd and intermittently raising his fingers in the victory sign. He joined

Endorsement of candidates is taking a virtual hold on the political pendulum as various parties signify where their interest lies

in the singing and dancing round the arena until he made his way to his seat.

In his address, Dickson said he was overwhelmed by the obviously spontaneous show of love and support from the people of the state which he described as highly gratifying. He thanked Bayelsans for their understanding and for maintaining the peace in spite of the trying times. He also called for more support to enable the Restoration Government he heads to consolidate on the gains it had so far recorded.

The governor urged the people to spread the gospel of restoration to every nook and cranny of the state. He assured the people that the state government would continue to partner with the Federal Government towards achieving greater peace, security and prosperity for the state and the country at large.

Acting chairman of the state chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party, Chief Serena Dokubo-Spiff, also expressed gratitude to Bayelsans for turning out in their numbers to receive Governor Dickson. According to him, the huge crowd at the event was a further confirmation that the PDP is the party to beat in the coming election in the state.

Dokubo-Spiff, however, cautioned

out letting PDP and its faithful know that what I have tried to do here is not to castigate our party but to give an honest and accurate account of my observations before, during and after the elections. This, I believe, will help us in due course to avoid some of the pitfalls witnessed within these periods. I do not expect that everyone will agree with me, but I believe that facts are sacred and until one owns up to facts, it may be difficult to make amends where one erred with a view to making progress. Finally, let me use this medium to salute Otti for his courage and resilience.

I pray that God will give us more Ottis who will have the temerity and effrontery to challenge things that need to be challenged and leave the society better than we met it.

For the sake of Abia, I also pray he gets justice at the election tribunal.

•Eke, a teacher and public opinion analyst, is based in Umuahia. istration. He immediately commissioned the construction of seven roads and established the Aba Urban Renewal Office. The office is a totally new creation with the mandate of reviewing the dream that is Aba, the mandate to regain the paradise lost. Under this platform, the government is set to bring Aba back to its old pride of place. It will be the driving force of the new administration.

As I write, bulldozers are at work.

Ikpeazu is working to restore the original map and the original plan, and trying to lift Aba to the global status of modern cities. The road construction is in progress alongside the desilting of drainages, gutters, storm water systems and flood channels. He has reiterated his stance not to compromise quality and charging the contractors to do quality jobs and to deliver on schedule or be blacklisted by the government.

•Adindu is the Chief Press Secretary to Governor Ikpeazu. the people to be careful about those he said were about to bring money into the state for distribution with the hope of influencing them, saying it was this kind of attitude which contributed in large measure to the under-development of the state until the incumbent governor came into the saddle of leadership in the state.( He recalled that the implication of money politics was the tendency to mortgage development for the selfish agenda of those he referred to as “ special interests” which, he noted, led to corruption and abysmal performance in government by Dickson’s predecessors.

He therefore called on the people to shun money politics but support those who are interested in the development of the state.

Earlier in his remarks, representative of the various groups, Prince Isiki, stated that though the governor had not officially declared his re-election bid, they had met and concluded that they will work for his re-election. He noted that while Dickson was not the first governor in Bayelsa State, he was the only one who had shown the most commitment to the common good by placing the interest of the people above all other considerations.

•Daniel Iworiso-Markson is Press Secretary to Governor Dickson.

SUNDAY VANGUARD, JULY 12, 2015, PAGE 57

States must not have N713 billion bailout money for free – NACCIMA boss

BY UDEME CLEMENT Mr. Billy Harry is the National Vice President, Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA). In this concluding part of the interview, he spoke on the N713billion bailout for states, government’s move to tax luxury items, the controversy surrounding the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) and multiple taxation in the economy. he Federal Government has approved N713billion as a bailout for states that are unable to pay salaries, against the suggestion by some experts that states that are not viable should be merged. What is your take on this?

The bailout is a good thing because the ultimate beneficiaries are Nigerians. This means we are beginning to focus on what happens to ordinary Nigerians on the streets.

However, we learnt that the money came from the Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG).

This is a surprise because we have never heard of money coming into our economy from that source before. We give kudos to President Muhammadu Buhari, for making us to know that there are other sources of revenue apart from crude oil.

Thus, when the statutory allocation is given to these states, the bailout money must be deducted, because that money given to them as intervention fund is meant for infrastructure development in the country.

States that are not able to pay salaries now should not be merged. Let us reflect on how Rivers State was in 1999, when it could not pay salaries of civil servants. So, would it have been right to say let Rivers be merged with Bayelsa State? Certainly not, today, look at the vibrant economic activities in Rivers. We need to find out the economic catchment activity of a particular state and encourage such a state to grow the economy of that area. An average state in Nigeria has two to three products, whether farming, extractive or agricultural products.

Government has also declared its intention to tax people on luxury items. Don’t you think this will discourage people from working hard to make more wealth?

The fact is that everywhere in the world, paying tax is part of the loyalty of the citizens and enterprises to government. In Nigeria, for instance, the people importing luxury goods are those in the rich class. Government imposing tax on such items is a welcome development because it will check capital flight from the local economy. Imposing tax on such goods is a way of discouraging excessive importation of such items. It will discourage people from stealing as well.

We have seen the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) waking up to the reality on how the agency ought to operate, to check financial crimes in the country, especially with the arrest and recovery of stolen funds even from top public officials. Our concern is that in the past, similar arrests were made and huge sums recovered, but Nigerians did not see the

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• Mr. Billy Harry

A situation where an Indian company walked into Nigeria and took over Eleme Petrol-chemical and is raking out all the economic benefits only tells us that we are lazy money and what happened to it thereafter. So, this time, we want to know the amount recovered, proper prosecution and appropriate punishment for financial crime.

So far, is our economy moving in the right direction, especially with the policies of the new government?

The current administration is trying and Nigerians should be patient with Buhari to put certain things in place. Currently, we don’t have supervisors in various departments of the economy, even in the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC).

Therefore, the President should appoint supervisors for these departments, especially in the petroleum sector and ministries.

Most importantly, members of the Organised Private Sector (OPS) should participate in the process of nominating supervisors into such important offices. For instance, if experienced entrepreneurs are appointed into the ministries, they will bring their experience to bear in developing the capacity of our economy.

As experienced entrepreneur, how do you think the much talked-about change can be achieved pragmatically?

Aside from the appointment of supervisors into different ministries, government should put measures in place to ensure that there is no scarcity of petroleum products in the country. To achieve the change we want, Buhari needs dependable,

experienced, committed, passionate and transparent technocrats to work with him.

You have just been elected as the National Vice President, oil and gas for NACCIMA. How will you bring your experience to bear in moving the organisation forward?

This position basically means that everything about oil and gas falls under my office and I have to be proactive to achieve position result. We must have a secretariat and the private sector players must be adequately informed about the activities of the sector.

Many entrepreneurs, in particular manufacturers are still lamenting about the issue of multiple taxation on Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs). How do you think the new government can tackle this problem?

In the Chamber of Commerce, we have condemned the issue of multiple taxation severally and I hope the policy makers in that direction are listening because so far, we have seen remarkable difference. Today, if you pay N33.000 to any local government in Abuja, you do not have to pay similar amount to another local government in Bayelsa, because it has been harmonised. I believe that this issue will soon be totally out of our economic space with the effort of the new government.

Some economic experts said Buhari should not focus on Foreign Direct Investments

(FDI), as many foreign investors often go into services and importation, instead of building new factories to create jobs for the local people. Do you share this opinion?

No. I think some foreign investments should come in because no business can be done without fresh capital injection of any size and kind, but what type of capital is coming in and the size must be clearly defined. A situation where an Indian company walked into Nigeria and took over Eleme Petrolchemical and is raking out all the economic benefits only tells us that we are lazy. It means that even the former management of the company did not know the capacity of what they had. So, it is only the capital injection from that foreign company that has given Eleme Petrol-chemical the capacity to be what it is now.

Instead of condemning FDI, we can say that in future such capital injection should work in specific ways to benefit the local economy at well. The capital injection should be clearly defined for Nigerians to benefit.

The Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) has being in the Senate since 2008, and just when the House of Representatives said it was passed, many people are calling on the new government to jettison the bill. What is your opinion on this?

It is clear that the bill is being mis-understood, because late President Musa Yar ’Adua brought the whole thing to limelight for the communities and stakeholders to benefit. So that issues of vandalism, criminality and feeling of

exclusion could be addressed, If after Yar ’Adua, successive government could not ensure the passage of the bill, then there was no seriousness on the part of government. Again, it was rushed by the lower house at the twilight of Jonathan’s administration, saying it was passed. What happened that in the past seven years it was not passed? You can see that it was not a thorough work and cannot reflect the desires of Nigerians to grow the capacity in oil and gas sector. Aside from PIB, I am advocating for Economic Industry Bill, that can impact on every aspect of our economy. So that no part of Nigeria should feel that when a particular bill is being passed, it is for the advantage of that catchment area, for example, oil in the South/South region. Infact, there should be industry bills for manufacturing and agriculture, and even, we should know that there is expectation on the level of performance by government that people want to see.

One of the key things that Buhari has done is accepting a multi-party National Assembly.

His position shows that he is indeed ready for change.

Ordinarily, given the antecedence of past Presidents, they would have started working on how to remove the deputy Senate President, but Buhari is not concerned about that, rather, he is thinking about how to work collectively with the new Senate that has multi-party leadership to move the country forward.

With that, we have to be patient with him.

Air tel, UNICEF par tner to empower Nigerian communities

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irtel Nigeria and United Nations Children Education Fund, UNICEF have entered an agreement to expand their collaboration across all 36 states and FCT in Nigeria. The partnership will increase access to social change related information and provide opportunities for participation whilst pushing forward U-Report, an innovative project supported

by UNICEF. The agreement allows UNICEF to tap into Airtel’s mobile services to make health, education, child protection and community-focused content availableto Airtel customers across the country. Through improved connectivity, more Nigerianswill have free access to mobile applications and services developed by UNICEF, such as U-Report.

U-Report, an innovative SMSbased platform, empowers Nigerians to participate and engage in policy-making and governance and to access real time information on key social issues. The platform, which was launched officially in Nigeria on 29April, 2015, has over 400,000 registered users, making Nigeria the leading U-Report platform globally, among 16 other countries that are running the same application.

Commenting on the initiative, Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director of Airtel

Nigeria, Segun Ogunsanya, said the company is committed to empowering Nigerians and is keen on supporting programmes that will enrich the lives of its various stakeholders. “At Airtel Nigeria, we constantly look for opportunities to excite, delight and empower our customers.

This innovative partnership with UNICEF offers Nigerians a golden opportunity to transform the country and we are glad to be part of the U-Report project,” he said.

Jean Gough, UNICEF Representative in Nigeria, said “UNICEFis committed to providing innovative solutions towards better delivery of services and social change. This partnership with Airtel has the potential to empower millions of Nigerians through access to information and with opportunities to help them transform their societies.”

About 15 million text messages were sent and received through the U-Report platform while the country battled Ebola in 2014,ahead of the official UReport launch this year. The awareness messages and real time responses via SMS and on the U-Report Social Media platforms sent out during the Ebola outbreak were able to combat rumours about mythical remediessuch as bathing with hot water and salt and taking bitter kola to cure the disease.

PAGE 58—SUNDAY VANGUARD, JULY 12, 2015

BUHARI CABINET

Why a manufacturer should head Industry Ministry – MAN

*Laments industrialists failure to access N620bn facility *Kwara/Kogi chapter lists multiple taxation, poor transport as disincentives

BY DEMOLA AKINYEMI, ILORIN

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or manufacturers in Kogi and Kwara states,under the aegis of Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN), these are not the best of times.

To them, the dilapidation of infrastructures in the two states and the unfriendly business environment have taken a big toll on their businesses.

Consequently, the industries that have not gone under are struggling to survive.

Determined to explore the possibility of the new administration’s promise to get the economy of the nation out of the woods,members of MAN in the two states gathered in Ilorin to brainstorm on the problems and proffer solution.

The Chairperson of MAN in the two states, Princess Omolola Olobayo, during a luncheon/ interactive session with her members, held at Gomola Hall, lamented how difficult it was to get the attendance adjudged unprecedented in the history of MAN in the states.

She said the non-challant attitude to attending interactive session was understandable following the terrible conditions under which surviving industries had been operating.

The representatives of companies in attendance at the parley included an Indian, V.B.S Niar, Factory Manager of Unifoam Nigeria Limited, Ilorin; Mr J.O Olaleye of PhusFlod Nigeria Ltd, Ilorin; Dr. H.Sambo of Mount Olive Limited, Ilorin; Alabiade Atilade of BPA Services Limited also in Ilorin; and Mr. Dele Faworaja of RajRab Limited, in Ilorin. Others were Adekunle A.T of Blackman Limited, Adegoke Adeyinka of Peace Standard and Alhaji Muritala Olaiya of Olaiya Metal Works.

Also present were Olaoye

Olayinka of Excel Steel and Wire Ltd,from Kogi,Amhanyunonsen M.A of Ambros Gas Limited,Obika Okechukwu of Godec Power Limited,Tola Durojaiye of International Tobacco Company Plc,and Bola Awojobi who represented KAMWIRE Industries.

Also at the interactive session were Offorjama Joseph of Forgo Battery Limited, Ilorin, Hassan Ibrahim Sani of Shelter Setters Limited,Chief Adediji. H.O of Padson Industries Limited, Mr. Durowojuola of Bioraj Limited, Amos Bolaji of 7up Bottling Company, Limited, Ayodele Ariyo of Quar ra Rice Limited and Mr Bambe Gbenga of Tuyil Pharmaceuticals.

Niar took time to explain the pains under which the company was surviving the harsh economic situation and ...lamenting the inability of the

company to engage more hands.

The Unifoam Factory Manager also bemoaned kidnapping and terrorism in the North-East which he said was adversely affecting sales in the area.

Durowojuola of Bioraj Pharmaceuticals lamented poor electricity supply, which was causing the company to spend huge sums of money to generate power to keep the company running.

He regretted that the company would lay off some workers because of the huge cost of running the company.

The MAN Chairperson, Olobayo, who, later addressed journalists on the outcome of the interaction, said the meeting became necessary in order to put the problems of the manufacturing sector on the front burner with a view to assisting the administration of

President Muhammadu Buhari find lasting solution.

Olobayo condemned the nation’s transportation system,particularly road, which, she said, was deteriorating by the day and called on Buhari to revamp the rail system to cushion the high cost of transporting their goods by road.

She decried multiple taxation which, according to her, was killing the industry, saying each member was paying 33 different taxes,just as she urged the new administration to resolve the protracted energy crisis because it would solve 40% of the problems in the sector.

Speaking on job creation,she said: “No sector can provide massive employment for the masses like the manufacturing sector. I am sure manufacturing can provide 1,000 direct jobs at a stretch, aside the indirect jobs. No

other sector could do that. so it’s necessary for President Buhari to give priority attention to solving these problems if they are sure about the change slogan of their party.

In the precarious situation we have found ourselves where members are struggling to survive,and we are being made to be pay 33 different taxes,how can we survive?This is too much.

The present administration should also summon the political will to solve this energy crisis once and for all; it will particularly pay off for th manufacturing sector because 40% of our problems would be solved with the energy crisis resolved”.

“Mr Jamodu is an industrialist par excellence. When he was appointed as minister,we felt the impact of his practical knowledge and experience in the industry. So,President Buhari should ensure that a core manufacturer is appointed to move the sector forward”.

The MAN boss disclosed that N620b has been left unassessed by members of MAN since April last year to improve their businesses because they were not aware.

Giving the break down,Olobayo, who said the Jonathan administration released N300b for the real sector while N320b was released for the small and medium enterprises (SMEs), said the amount could not be accessed because the potential beneficiaries thought it was a rumour.

While noting that the Federal Government should publicise such gesture next time in order to dispel rumour, she pointed out that assessing the fund has been difficult because the commercial banks were not co operating knowing well that no one would take their own loans, which interest rate is far higher.

Corner ance, FRSC on ‘Saf out hool’ Cornerss tone Insur Insurance, ‘Safee R Rout outee ttoo Sc School’

BY UDEME CLEMENT

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o stem road crashes and the attendant loss of lives and property, the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Zone RS2 has taken road safety awareness to schools in Lagos State. The programme, tagged ‘Safe Route to School’, is organised in collaboration with Cornerstone Insurance.

In a chat with Sunday Vanguard in Lagos, the Zonal Commanding Officer, Zone RS2, Assistant Corps Marshal, Nseobong Akpabio, explained that the programme is designed for young children in schools and colleges to educate them on appropriate road safety values.

He said, “The programme becomes necessary for the training of young ones who are future leaders to become better road users. Road Safety Education has been infused into the basic schools curriculum in the country by the Federal Government to enable young ones understand appropriate road safety measures, in order to

reduce road traffic crashes in the country. We appreciate the effort of Cornerstone Insurance and we are calling on corporate organisations in Nigeria and other stakeholders to support FRSC in the drive towards creating sustained road safety awareness in schools, homes and offices for national development.”

He went on, “The programme, which commenced in 2013 was initiated by FRSC for young Nigerians to be adequately equipped on good road safety values. Our findings revealed that many students often walk either backing or facing the traffic without following appropriate road safety roles, while some even jump across the roads carelessly.

So, our objective is to train them on safety values to prevent road crashes and loss of lives, which constitutes serious losses to the nation. Already, we have road safety clubs in schools and at the level of National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), but we do not want to stop at club level. The ‘Safe Route to School’ programme is meant to train students and

L-R: The Principal, Chrisland School, Mr. Erik Vander-Merwe, Zonal Commanding Officer, Zone RS2 FRSC, Corps Marshal Nseobong Akpabio, the Chief Operatng Officer, Cornerstone Insurance Mr. Ayo Osunbunmi with a top official of FRSC at the event. teachers on road traffic issues. To ensure the effectiveness of the programme, teachers were trained separately. We want these students and teachers to become advocate of good road safety values in our society. So far, students and teachers in 27 schools have been trained. Two teachers from each of the schools participated.These include Eko Akerele Senior Grammar school, Randle Avenue Surulere, Ifako International School, Iju Road, Agege, NAF

Primary School, Adeola Odejay Victoria Island, Government Senior College, Eric Moore, Agidingbi Senior Grammar shool, Chrisland School,Opebi, Command Children school, Bonny Camp, Queens College, Yaba,Babs Fafunwa Millennium Senior Grammar School, Boys Senior Academy, Lagos Island among others. Teachers were trained on various areas to make them coordinate FRSC road safety clubs effectively in the

selected schools. The next phase of the training will include 200 schools in Lagos and 92 schools in Ogun State. ” He continued, “The programme is in line with the directive of the United Nations Decade of Action for Road Safety, 2011 to 2020.

That Decade of Action is to enable all member countries to set the machinery to reduce road traffic crashes by 50 percent in 2020. This implies that whatever data you had before 2011, by 2020 you must achieve 50 per cent decline in road crashes. The UN’s decision was based on the number of road crashes all over the world estimated at about 1.3million annually. As such, training our youths now is imperative, so that when they become adults, they will be good road users, which will automatically reduce crashes on our roads.

We are calling on everyone to join hands with FRSC to fight against the menace of road crashes. Road accident is no respecter of anybody and we want all road users in the country including our children to be safety conscious at all times.”

SUNDAY VANGUARD, JULY 12, 2015, PAGE 59

Lawmakers jumbo pay aggravates inequality index — Onovo

BY AKOMA CHINWEOKE

Sunday Vanguard Business spoke with Chief Martin Onovo, a presidential aspirant of the National Conscience Party in the 2015 elections on the implication of jumbo pay for lawmakers for Nigeria’s cash strapped economy .

According to him, a situation where each senator earns over N200 million per annum is definitely sinful in a country where the minimum wage is only N18,000 per month (N216,000 per annum).

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he allegation that national lawmakers were going to receive N8.64 billion meaning N21.5 million per senator and N17.5 million per representative has been refuted by Engr.Elias Mbam, the Chairman of the Revenue Mobilization, Allocation and Fiscal Commission. Engr.

Mbam stated most authoritatively that wardrobe allowance for senators is 25 percent of annual basic salary (ABS). With the official (RMAFC) report that the ABS of a senator is only N2.026 million,then the wardrobe allowance per senator is N506,600 per annum.

However, his refutation does not and cannot close the issue of the unlawful, outrageous and sinful compensation of national lawmakers in Nigeria.

The following facts cannot be denied. We have 109 senators and 360 representatives making 469 members of the National Assembly. The 2013

It can be estimated based on the NASS budget and published reports that each senator earns over N200 million per annum. This is definitely sinful in a country where the minimum wage is only N18,000 per month budget of the National Assembly was about N150 billion. The 2014 budget was about N150 billion. The 2015 budget is about N120 billion due to the fall in crude oil prices. Arithmetically, it costs us averagely, N320 million per lawmaker in 2014.

Similarly, it will cost averagely, N255 million per lawmaker in 2015. Now a senator naturally costs more than a representative but these are gross averages per National Assembly member based on the NASS budget. It was alleged that in 2014, each senator got N45 million quarterly allowance. This amounts to N180 million per year per senator. Other reports indicate that senators get 200 percent ABS as housing allowance; 300 percent ABS furniture allowance; 800percent ABS, car loan and so many other allowances including leave, entertainment, newspaper,

Chief Martin Onovo staff, etc.

Consequently, it can be estimated based on the NASS budget and published reports that each senator earns over N200 million per annum. This is definitely sinful in a country where the minimum wage is only N18,000 per month (N216,000 per annum).

Comparing with the richest country in the world (United States of America), the President of the US earns $400,000 (N80 million) per annum and a US senator earns $174,000 (N34.8 million) per annum. It can be seen that a Nigerian senator not only earns six times more than a US senator but could be earning

two and half times more than the US President. This must be investigated and corrected immediately. This unlawful and sinful compensation of national lawmakers also aggravates the inequality index. In the US, minimum wage is about $10,000 per annum. Ipso facto, a US senator earns only 17.4 times the US minimum wage but in Nigeria, a senator earns almost 1,000 times minimum wage.

This sinful and unacceptable compensation of political office holders in Nigeria aggravates the inequality index and must not be tolerated further.

The National Conscience Party (NCP) had

proposed during the presidential campaigns to, ‘increase minimum wage by reducing the maximum wage’, to correct this outrageous anomaly.

The estimates we used here will not be necessary if we had transparency in the compensation of political office holders. We must ensure that the compensation of public office holders is published accurately. Some political parties had filed a suit in the past to compel the National Assembly to disclose the compensation of its members but they have not succeeded, yet.

According to HRH Lamido Sanusi (former CBN Governor), “The biggest problem in National Assembly, NASS, is not the salaries or allowances. It is a very big item in the NASS budget called overheads.

What they do is pack that item in the appropriation bill and then collapse it according to a pre-agreed formula. A certain percentage is shared among the leadership.

Another portion is given to the management to cover genuine overheads. The rest is shared among members”.

This allegation must also be investigated thoroughly, most urgently.We can then imagine what the President of Nigeria earns if he can allow lawmakers to continue to earn these unlawful, outrageous and sinful sums as compensation.

W/African Central banks embrace new monetary policy management techniques

BY UDEME CLEMENT

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articipants from Central Banks and Finance Ministries within the West African sub-region have been trained on modern skills needed to analyse macroeconomic models for effective management of monetary and fiscal policies to enhance greater productivity in the region. The participants who came from Nigeria, Ghana, Gambia, Sierra Leone and Liberia were also trained on computer applications in accounting, auditing and financial management.

Speaking at the opening ceremony on the courses titled, ‘Computable General Equilibrium (CGE), Dynamic Stochastic General Equilibrium (DSGE) and modelling, forecasting for policy analysis, organised by West African Monetary Institute (WAMI) in collaboration with the West African Institute for Financial and Economic Management (WAIFEM), the Director General of WAIFEM, Prof.

Akpan Ekpo, said that the major objective of the programme was to provide participants with modern skills needed to analyse macroeconomic models for effective management of

monetary and fiscal policies to stimulate tangible economic growth and development.

He said, “Financial management benefits from the preponderant power of information technology. The tasks of financial planning, working capital management, asset-based financing, investments, capital budgeting, mergers and acquisitions are now performed by means of a variety of relevant computer software and hardware. In organisations, information plays a vital role.

Organisations are cooperative systems with high level of information processing and a vast need for decision making at various levels. Therefore, information is a key resource for economic growth and development. By means of information, strategic and operational plans are formulated, competitive advantage is gained and change management is effectively implemented. For instance, in the 1990s, the discipline of knowledge management emerged as the organisational practice of harnessing insights and experiences embodied in management processes.”

He went on, “Economies in the region should embrace the

Computer Assisted Audit Techniques (CAATs), which is a growing field within the financial audit profession.

This field is concerned with the practice of using computers to automate or simplify the audit process. It enables the analysis of large volumes of data, which

previous traditional methods could not cope with due to time and cost constraints. The advantages of CAATs are that, they allow auditors to easily test for specific risks such as unwarranted payments, duplicate vendors or transactions, invalid data and

unexpected developments.

They also enable continuous monitoring and the creation of electronic work papers as well as data analysis report to achieve organisational objectives.

NPDC, host communities resolve dispute, signs deal over operations

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he Nigerian Petroleum Development Company, NPDC and the host communities of OMLs 30, 34 and 65, have resolved their dispute with a resolution signed by both parties, dated June 30, 2015 which led to the re-opening of shut down facilities.

It was signed by NPDC representatives, N.E Agwuncha, A. Dahiru, T. Modibbo and HOSTCOM representatives, Efe Okovwurie, Morrister Idibra and Chief David Edegware, respectively.

NPDC agreed to accommodate the interest of Urhobo and Isoko host communities when renewing the federal government pipeline surveillance/intelligence gathering contracts.

It also agreed to immediately pay all outstanding salaries for community based workers, contractors being owed for months and quickly resolved pending issues with host

communities.

Others include compulsory reviewing of OML34 GMoU and additional payment of N200m to

the OML30 GMoU Project Account on or before Friday, 3rd July, 2015 and as well training of CDB/CRC members.

The Executive Chairman, Ukwuani Local Govt, Delta State Benedicta Osakunih-Izuegbu (middle) commissioning some projects donated to Akoku Uno and Umutu communities by Platform Petroleum/Newcross Petroleum joimt venture.

PAGE 60, S UNDAY Vanguard SUNDAY Vanguard,, JULY 12 , 2015

Don’t blame Messi for Argentina’s woes — Suarez F

C Barcelona forward, Luis Suarez, believes Lionel Messi always gets the blame for Argentina’s failures at major tournaments.

Messi and Argentina lost out in the Copa America final to hosts Chile on penalties and the Barcelona superstar was the subject of criticism.

While, the Argentine national side were beaten 1-0 by Germany in the 2014 World Cup final.

There were also reports about Messi retiring from international football, following the latest loss but the former Liverpool strikers insists his Barcelona teammate wants to achieve great things with the national side.

“They’ll always blame him for everything,” Suarez told Uruguayan Fox Sports.

“I get blamed for Uruguay getting knocked out of the World Cup because of my mistake when there were 22 other players, just in the same

way that Messi is blamed for Argentina not winning the final”.

“I can assure you of that, both about him and those of his teammates that I know.

Every player representing his country wants to achieve great things.”

Messi’s grandfather, Antonio Cuccitini, criticised his grandson’s performances at the Copa America, describing him as lazy.

Messi only scored one goal in the tournament and that was a penalty so doesn’t really count, but was superb throughout - even when Carlos Tevez played and did his best to use up all the space Messi usually has.

“Some of him was there,” said Cuccitini, in an interview with Radio Casilda.

“Triumphs are the greatest Shackled and drawn... Lionel Messi sandwiched by Chile players José Manuel things there are. But the last Rojas left and Eduardo Jesús Vargas during final of the Copa America. Argentina three games he was bad. He lost out after a penalty shoot-out was lazy.”

Keep agents away from our national teams —Chukwuma G

ABRIEL Chukwuma (Gabros) has had his fair share of Nigerian football works. He was the sole financier/ proprietor of Gabros international FC of Nnewi now Ifaenyi Uba united. He has also served as the first vice chairman of the Nigeria football Association (NFA) now Nigeria football federation (NFF). He spoke to Eddie Akalonu on recent football issues.

So far, what is your assessment of NFF president Amaju Pinnick?

He is a good man. But so far he has performed below my expectation. The things our national team coaches used to do in the past are still happening even today. I thought the NFF president should have been able to stop them from collecting money from players.

That is, he should have been able to introduce the culture of merit to our football like it used to be in the days of late Emeka Omerua. Most of our coaches are cash and carry.

And they are player ’s agents.

This cannot help our football grow.

What is your view on Keshi’s sack?

Frankly speaking, the sack of Coach Stephen Keshi was long overdue. Keshi should have been sacked long ago, but my friend Pinnick was just afraid. You know the Coach was well connected and he was influential. He was always

applying for jobs in other countries even before the time he was sacked.

There is nothing Keshi would have done again. For now we do not have a national team. And there is nothing anybody can do .What we have in the name of coaches are player’s agents.

So, what is your advice for the NFF The coach must not be player ’s agent. And all football agents must be kept at bay.

Look at the game against Chad, Keshi dressed a player that in all sincerity had no business with the super Eagles. It was simply the handiwork of player’s agents.

What of the U-20 team that crashed out at the last World Cup? It is the same problem. The last time the team crashed out, I thought we should have learnt some lessons. For it to happen again there is no need asking questions, we have not changed. The coach of the U20 team that was star- studded needs to be sanctioned. In fact, coaches that fail dismally that way are supposed to be banned for at least ten years.

Our problem is that shortly after some of these coaches fail, you see them return to some of the teams. They keep coming and going in a circle that is why they don’t learn any lesson. Anybody that watched the U-20 team will agree with me completely.

•Gabriel Chukwuma From Gabros International FC to Ifeanyi Uba United. What actually happened?

The moment we returned to the premier league, I put together the amount that will be involved in the running of the team, the only person I was convinced that could do it was Ifeanyi Uba. He loves football and he has the means. I am not talking about experience.

With time he will acquire the experience. The most important thing is that he is capable. If there are ten Nigerians supporting Nigerian youths like Ifeanyi Uba, it would have been a lot better for the country.

He is currently building two stadia. On completion, they will be the best in the country.

I implore the Anambra State government to give him support. I will be giving my own support in my own way. This is important because he is building the facilities for Nigerian youths and Anambra

youths in particular.

So far he has been very wonderful. The team demanded for four vehicles, he provided eight. As it stands now, we are not in competition with any club in the premier league. I have watched all the clubs, I did not see any team that has the kind of players we have.

We have super players with age on their side. Even government approached me, but for me government will crash the team in no time, but for Ifeanyi Uba I have confidence that the team will go places.

The team merely suffered a setback some time but they are recovering.

What is your position in the team now?

I have retired. I now supervise and offer advice. I have run the club for close to twenty years and handed over to a younger person. People thought I was in football because of money, but today they have apologized to me haven seen actually what is involved, or what it takes to run a Football club.

What is your rating of the League Management Company (LMC) I will give them kudos in the area of officiating. Officiating has improved very well.

Where I disagree with them is on the amount of money that they give to clubs, for me, each club deserves at least Fifty Million Naira (N 50,000,000) in sponsorship. And for the first team, one Hundred Million Naira Only (N100, 000.000) is Ok. For the four teams that go on relegation at least (N20, 000.000) each to enable them reorganize and return to where they belong.

There is speculation that Aliko Dangote plans to investment in Arsenal FC of England. what is your advice to him?

It is a welcome development. But it would have been better if he first of all acquires a premier club in Nigeria.

Through the local club, Nigerian players can easily be moving to England to play for Arsenal and other premiership clubs. It will make a wonderful partnership.

National Sports Festival: NSC shops for funds

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ATIONAL Sports Com mission director-general Alhassan Yakmut, revealed Friday night that the National Sports Festival will have to wait till September when the All African Games must have been concluded.

Mr. Yakmut indicated that the NSC will be looking towards the private sector for funds as the Cross River State government is yet to respond

to letters requesting it to restate its commitments to host the festival, which was billed for December 2014.

He submitted that funding was a major problem that had stalled the event.

He said the commission was working towards a public-private partnership, as they await a positive response from the Cross River State Government.

S UNDAY Vanguard Vanguard,, JULY 12 , 2015, PAGE 61

Williams completes ‘Serena Slam’ S

ERENA Williams over came a slow start, eight double-faults and a nervy finish to beat Garbine Muguruza 6-4, 6-4 on Saturday for her sixth Wimbledon title, fourth Grand Slam championship in a row and 21st major overall.

The win means Williams holds all four Grand Slam titles at once — completing the second “Serena Slam” of her career. What’s more, she secured the third leg of a calendar-year Grand Slam and, if she wins the U.S. Open, will become the first player to sweep all four majors in the same season since Steffi Graf in 1988.

Williams, winning her 28th straight Grand Slam match, is now just one major title behind Graf on the Open era list and two behind all-time leader Margaret Court Smith.

At 33, Williams is also the oldest woman to win a Grand Slam title in the Open era.

She has now won seven major championships in her 30s.

From 4-2 down in the first set, Williams ran off five straight games to take the set and go up 1-0 in the second.

She pulled out to a 5-1 lead and twice served for the match but couldn’t convert.

Williams was broken at love for 5-2, and Muguruza saved a match point and converted on her fifth break point to draw within 5-4. But Williams then broke the 21-year-old Spaniard at love to close out the match, which finished with Muguruza hitting a forehand wide.

CHAMPIONS STUFF: Serena Williams makes a double handed return during the final

Wimbledon 2015: Federer battles Djokovic for top prize

F

IRST seed against second seed, reigning champion Novak Djokovic versus seventime winner Roger Federer, ensures a top-quality Wimbledon final for the purists, with plenty of intriguing subplots.

Djokovic (l) tests strength with Federer before a match

Given that they are the two form players of The Championships – and by some distance – then we should prepare for another epic battle, like last year’s which went five sets, and read 6-7, 6-4, 7-6, 5-7, 6-4.

Novak, who has eight grandslam titles to his name and is world No1, seems so far ahead of the curve right now. His allround game is incredible, his fitness superb, but I think his steely mental strength is what truly sets him above his peers.

In fact I think many people are defeated by him psychologically before they step on to the court.

Roger is chasing a record eighth Wimbledon crown, which will elevate him above Pete Sampras, and given that he will be 34 next month it would be an incredible achievement were he to defeat Novak, five years his junior.

E

MMANUEL Emenike said that he is not at Al Ain to copy the achievements of Asamoah Gyan at the Qatar club.

The Super Eagles striker was introduced to the media at the Khalifa International Stadium on Friday night having completed a one-year loan deal from Fenerbahce.

“Gyan is a very good player and I’m here to replace him, so I hope I do well,” Emenike said.

“Replacing him does not worry me. He has achieved a lot in his career, but I have also achieved a lot. I’ve won the African Cup of Nations.

“I’ve scored goals and I’ve won trophies in Turkey. Last season was not the best season for

Emenike: I’m not walking in Gyan’s shadow me, but I made a big impact in other ways, making assists, as well as scoring a few goals.

“I’m here to win more trophies.

Al Ain has a reputation as a winning club so I’m here to achieve good things and win more trophies in my career.”

Emenike, who has been awarded the No 9 shirt at Al Ain, becomes the Garden City club’s third foreign signing of the summer, following the acquisitions of Ryan Babel, Fellipe Bastos and Lee Myung-joo.

Mastercard extends sponsorship of Champions League

M

ASTERCARD has ex tended its sponsorship of the UEFA champions league by another three years. Mastercard said this was possible as a result of the long standing partnership with the European competition in close to 24 years.

The renewal, Mastercard said, includes; sponsorship of C M Y K

the UEFA super cup, UEFA Women’s champions league final and the UEFA youth league finals.

The agreement will also see Mastercard continue as the official provider of UEFA champions league player mascots.

The player mascots activity in particular gives children all

over the world the exclusive opportunity to enjoy a truly priceless experience by walking out onto the pitch with UEFA Champions League stars ahead of Group and Knock-out stage matches, including the Final, which will be held at the Stadio Giuseppe Meazza in Milan in Emenike is unveiled to the media by Al Ain club 2016. official

PAGE 62, S UNDAY Vanguard SUNDAY Vanguard,, JULY 12 , 2015

Transfer, Transfer, Transfer, Transfer, Transfer

Man. United capture German M captain

ILAN boss Sinisa Mihajlovic says he would welcome the arrival of Zlatan Ibrahimovic should PSG accept the Italian’s offer to buy him.

The Rossoneri have made no secret of their desire to bring the Sweden international back to Italy but have made little progress in their bid to sign last season’s third topscorer in Ligue 1.

The Parsians are eager to keep Ibrahimovic but the 33-year-old is said to be keeping his options open, despite still having a year left to run on his contract in the French capital.

Real Madrid have been mentioned in connection with Ibrahimovic lately, while there is said to be interest from sides in the MLS.

G

ERMANY captain Bastian Schweinsteiger brought the curtain downonhishugelysuccessful career at Bayern Munich on Saturday, as it was announced he is joining English Premier League giants Manchester United subject to passing a medical.

Bayern chairman KarlHeinz Rummenigge said Bayern and United have agreedanundisclosedtransfer fee for the 30-year-old defensive midfielder, who has made 536 appearances for Bayern since his senior debut in 2002.

Schweinsteiger informed the German champions on Friday he wanted a change of scenery and is expected to sign a three-year contract with the Red Devils.

“Bastian and I had a serious conversation on Friday.

He told me he has been thinkingabouthiscareerand wantstotrysomethingnew,” said Rummenigge. “He asked me to find a way and thingsbetweenManchester

United and Bayern Munich have been clarified, we have agreed on a fair transfer fee.

“We have taken into account that Bastian is a very deserving player. We tried to convince him to stay with Bayern Munich, but I completely understand that after 17 years with us, he wants to experience something new.

C

ARLOS Tevez has paid a heartfelt tribute to Juventus after the striker completed a move back to Boca Juniors - the club he began his professional career at.

The 31-year-old took to In-

J

ANCHESTER City have launched a £44m bid to sign Raheem Sterling.

City made contact with Liverpool on Friday and followed up with a formal written offer yesterday.

It is set to be £40m cash with add-ons which may still not be enough for Liverpool to accept as they are holding out for

£50m. The clubs have opened dialogue about Sterling and must try and resolve it in the next 24 hours.

But City will make it clear it is a final offer and gives Liverpool a huge dilemma before they fly out on Sunday for their pre-season tour to the Far East and Australia.

Milan are hopeful PSG will relent and eventually let Ibrahimovic go, and newly appointed coach Mi-

hajlovic has given him the encouragement to move by insisting he will be an important part of his squad.

stagram to pay tribute to the Serie A champions after two successful years in Turin, where he won two league titles and one Italian Cup. He wrote: ‘New chapter begins and I just want to say big thanks for my 2 fantastic years at Juventus, even all my fans who always supported me in good and bad times in.

‘Without you I would not be able to make 2 great seasons, you have been amazing to me and I appreciate it very much.

‘I also want to say thanks to all my teammates and coaching staff in Juve who helped me very much on and off the pitch.

‘You have teached me a lot, I’m very grateful!! I hope you keep up the good results’.

•Tevez

Delph sticks with Villa

A •Isco

STON Villa midfield er Fabian Delph has ruled out a move to Manchester City and insisted he will stay with Tim Sherwood’s side.

Delph did not fly out with the rest of the Villa squad for their training camp in Portugal on Thursday amid

City make final bid for Sterling

M

•Ibrahimovic

Tevez showers Juve with praises

Give me Isco now, Mourinho tells Chelsea board OSE Mourinho has reported ly told Chelsea bosses to complete the transfer of Real Madrid’s Isco.

The Portuguese boss wants the Spaniard to provide a creative spark to his midfield.

And he has instructed the Blues hierarchy to lure him to Stamford Bridge, according to Fichajes.net.

Isco is believed to have a market value of around £35million and Mourinho is willing to pay it.

Manchester City were supposedly interested but do not want to damage their relationship with the Spanish giants.

Mourinho is not one for caring about relationships with clubs, though, and could pursue this move.

Milan still expecting Ibra’s arrival

Liverpool responded by putting the want away Sterling on their list of players for the club’s preseason tour of the Far East and Australia. Sterling returned to training at Melwood on Friday after missing two days due to illness and is now set to fly to Thailand with his team-mates today.

•Delph

strong speculation that he was poised for an £8million move to the Etihad Stadium.

But Delph on Saturday released a statement via Villa’s website to dismiss the story.

“I’m aware there has been intense media speculation surrounding my future in the last 24 hours and I want to set the record straight,” Delph said.

“I’m not leaving. I’m staying at the football club and I can’t wait for the start of the season and captaining this great football club.”

Delph was on Manuel Pellegrini’s radar as City are keen to boost their home-grown quota following the loss of James Milner to Liverpool and Frank Lampard to New York City.

Newcastle finalise Wijnaldum deal

N

EWCASTLE United have completed the signing of Netherlands international midfielder Georginio Wijnaldum from PSV Eindhoven. The 24 year-old moves to St. James’ Park on a five-year deal to become the Magpies’ first signing under new head coach Steve McClaren.

The deal for Wijnaldum represents the third highest transfer fee in the Club’s history, after Michael Owen and Alan Shearer.

S UNDAY Vanguard Vanguard,, JULY 12 , 2015, PAGE 63

‘Keshi wasn’t on same page with NFF’ F

ORMER Super Eagles head coach Stephen Keshi was “not on the same page” with his employers, the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) vice president, Seyi Akinwumi, has revealed.

Akinwumi said that Keshi’s position became untenable because it looked unlikely he would achieve set objectives.

“We (NFF) are not very eager to open old wounds because this is a new era (where we are about to appoint a) new coach (for the national team).

“We looked at the whole scenario surrounding his appointment with us and we thought that we were not going in the same direction in terms of what we hoped in the short and long term.

“As a result, we took the option open to us to terminate his contract and that is the end of it,” Akinwumi said.

Keshi was fired on July 4 with an official statement of the NFF noting that the former Nigeria captain flouted several clauses in his contract.

“To this end and pursuant to the provisions of Clause 4.3 of the Employment Contract between Mr. Stephen Keshi and the NFF (the contract) and the various clauses therein, the Nigeria Football Federation has decided to exercise its option to summarily terminate the employment contract of Mr. Stephen Keshi with the Federation with immediate effect,” part of the statement read.

He was first appointed as Nigeria head coach in 2011 and led the country to Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) glory in 2013 in South Africa.

Keshi then guided the Super Eagles to a place in the round of 16 at the 2014 Fifa World Cup. Things then went downhill for the trainer as he failed to guide the Super Eagles to the finals of the 2015 Afcon in Equatorial Guinea.

His relationship with the NFF was never smooth-sailing as he was sacked and recalled by the present board led by Amaju Pinnick on October 16, 2014.

Africa set to celebrate Odili A

S part of highlights of the 14th African Bodybuilding and Fitness Championship, the 10-year anniversary of the conferement of “Ambassador of Fitness Award” on the former governor of Rivers State, Dr Peter Odili will be celebrated.

The highly-respected award of IFBB Gold Order as Fitness Ambassador was conferred on Dr Peter Odili by the International Federation of Bodybuilding and Fitness Federation in 2005. Other respected recipients of IFBB Gold Order award are former governor of the state of Carlifornia, Arnold Schawrzenegger and His Excellency, Abdullahi bin Abdulaziz(King of Saudi Arabia).

The dynamic rise and wide acceptance of Bodybuilding and Fitness,as a Sports discipline and

popular lifestyle regimen in Nigeria will be under international Spotlight in a few months.

Noteworthy of mention is the commendable performance of the Amateur Bodybuilding and Fitness Federation of Nigeria, through credible feats recorded at various international Championships.

This has earned Nigeria the right to host the 14th African Bodybuilding and Fitness Championship and Expo 2015.

This Championship, which has equally been endorsed by the National Sports Commission, NSC, is billed to hold in Portharcourt, Rivers State. President, Amateur Bodybuilding and Fitness Federation of Nigeria, SOYE, Elekima told Sportswriters that the continental event will

Nigerian athletes denied transit visas Continued from backpage 15 and end 19. However, as at yesterday the Athletics Federation of Nigeria officials were still hopeful of making the trip with the hope of finding an alternative transit point to Cali. The boys 100m and the 400m are the events holding on the first day of competition.

Meanwhile the third leg of the AFN golden league was concluded yesterday in Akure.

There wasn’t any outstanding performance except that of long jumper, Ese Brume who leapt 6.61m to relaunch her season. This is the second best jump of the season on the African continent, Blessing Okagbare’s 6.66m jump last week in Lausanne, Switzerland tops the list.

“I only managed one jump.

This is because I bruised my elbow and suffered a knock on my knee during training for

•Keshi

•Pinnick, NFF boss

the meet. Hopeful, I should do more than my personal best as we get closer to the world

championships and All Africa Games,” Brume said yesterday.

Adepoju sets agenda for Oliseh Continued from backpage midweek that it was in talks with the former Juventus of Italy star and should the negotiations go well, another exinternational, Mutiu Adepoju has said he would want to see Oliseh hit the ground running, “because there is no time’’.

Primary and most pressing for Mutiu is the task of qualifying Nigeria for the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations. “That should be his primary target.

Oliseh, or whoever succeeds Keshi should know that there is no time. I would like to see us consolidate our chances after the victory over Chad. The Eagles must be in Gabon and anything short of that will be

disastrous,” Adepoju told Sports Vanguard Thursday.

He noted that although “Keshi’s sack is not a palatable development, we must come to terms with what obtains and move forward.

“Apart from the Nations Cup qualifiers, the new coach must also realise that the 2018 World Cup qualifiers loom large. He must work and ensure the Super Eagles becomes more competitive. “He should build a team that will dominate African football again.

“The Super Eagles must not only dominate Africa but qualify for the World Cup, go there and go beyond the second round,” Adepoju said.

Dr Peter Odili (r), former Governor of Rivers State when the international bodybuilding and fitness federation made him fitness ambassador in 2005

put Port Harcourt on the map, and make the city an international African community during the event which is billed to hold from 14-18 October, 2015.

Delegates and athletes from over thirty African countries, including the officials of African Federation of Bodybuilding and Fitness AFBB and the International Federation of Bodybuilding and Fitness IFBB are expected to attend.

Eight World Champions are also expected as special guests at the event.

SOYE Elekima added that the forthcoming event will serve as qualifier for 69th World Bodybuilding Championship billed for Spain in November 2015, and Arnold Schwarzenegger Sports Classics,billed for Columbus,Ohio,USA in March 2016.

NSA: Organizers, SWAN set criteria for media category

I

N response to the yearnings and popular demand by Sports Journalists in Nigeria, the Award Panel for Nigerian Sports Award in collaboration with the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN) has outlined criteria for the Media category of the 2015 edition of the award.

The four categories set aside for the media in the Nigerian Sports Award are; Sports Journalist of the Year (Print), Photo Journalist of the Year, Radio Sports Journalist of the Year and Television Sports Journalist of

the Year.

According to the Chairman of the Award Panel, Mr. Ikeddy Isiguzo, the criteria for the media category of theaward became necessary due to popular opinion of the Journalists and to continue to uphold the integrity of the award. “ We have decided to yield to the call of Sports Journalists to set criteria for the media category of the Nigerian Sports Award to ensure more transparency in the process for selecting winners of the award” he said

SUNDAY Vanguard, JULY 12, 2015

Williams P.61 completes ‘Serena Slam’

Eagles job: Oliseh wants N60m per annum I

N-COMING Super Eagles coach, Sunday Oliseh has said he is comfortable to be paid the same salary N5million (more than $21,000) a month his predecessor Stephen Keshi earned.

Oliseh is due to fly into Abuja on Tuesday evening and hours later meet with the NFF technical committee headed

by Felix Anyansi-Agwu.

“Oliseh is ready to earn

the same pay Keshi was on. This again shows he is ready to serve his fatherland and money is not what is driving him.

This is another good sign with the decision to give him the job without much fanfare,” a top official said.

The NFF have confirmed Oliseh, 40, will replace Keshi and he will be handed a fiveyear contract.

IAAF World Youth Championships:

Nigerian athletes denied transit visas the Brazilian embassy

By Ben Efe

N

IGERIA’s partici pation in the IAAF World Youth Championships in Cali, Colombia has been dealt a blow by

in Lagos.

The eight athletes and three officials to represent Nigeria at the competition were denied transit visas by the Brazilians officials Friday as the delegation prepared to move for the championships billed to start on Continues on page 63

TRIUMPH: 33-year-old Serena Williams celebrates her victory on Centre Court after defeating her younger opponent, Garbine Muguruza 6-4, 6-4 yesterday.

Wimbledon 2015: Federer battles Djokovic for top prize P.61

•Oliseh

•Brume

CROSS WORD PUZZLE

Adepoju sets agenda for Oliseh

BY Jacob Ajom

F

ORMER Super Eagles cap tain, Sunday Ogochukwu Oliseh will step into the shoes of

NPFL

See solution on page 5

Wikki Heartland 3SC Nasarawa K/United Abia Warriors Warri Wolves Sunshine Stars Rangers Akwa Utd

v v v v v v v v v v

Stephen Okechukwu Keshi as the new Super Eagles coach.

The NFF confirmed Continues on page 63

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