Jega Dares Senate

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Vanguard, OCTOBER 12, 2014

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GEN. PATRICK AZIZA BURIAL CEREMONY IN WARRI The grand finale of the burial of the late Gen. Patrick Aziza, a former President of Urhobo Progress Union, UPU, was held in Warri at the weekend, with dignitaries from all walks of life paying their last respects to the Urhobo leader.

—Photos by A k p o k o n a Omafuaire

•A military salute for the late Gen.Patrick Aziza.

•Dr. Steve Oru, Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, the representative of President Goodluck Jonathan.

•The widow, Deaconess Felicia Aziza, clad in black, arriving with friends.

•Barr. Livinstone, Chief Austin Uloho, Chief Tuesday Onoge leading Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan with Chief Bernard Edewor following.

•A cross section of Gen.Patrick Aziza’s family members.

•A cross section of Gen.Patrick Aziza’s children.

•A cross section of UPU members in Diaspora led by Chief Paul Ighotemu Akpofure (2nd from left).

•A cross section of Okpe Council of Chiefs.

SUNDAY VANGUARD, OCTOBER 12, 2014 — PAGE 5

TERROR REIGNS IN EDO:

Armed men invade legislative quarters, lawmakers escape death! *PDP desperate for power-APC *We have no hand in invasion - PDP *Policemen take over quarters

By Simon Ebegbulem, Benin-City

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AJORITY Lead er of Edo State House of Assembly, Mr Philip Shaibu, and some All Progressives Congress (APC) lawmakers and their families escaped death, yesterday, at the legislative quarters, when armed thugs, numbering over 50, invaded the quarters.

The thugs, alleged to be loyal to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), stormed the quarters at about 6:30am shooting sporadically. It was learnt that they went straight to the quarters of Shaibu and those of other APC lawmakers such as Bright Osayande, Folly Ogedegbe, Sunny Aghedo and rained bullets on their homes and cars.

Some of the lawmakers were said to have helped their families to escape by scaling the perimeter fence before they returned to face the suspected thugs who, reportedly, disappeared before the lawmakers could mobilize. The reign of terror in the state started on Tuesday after a PDP lawmaker, Rasaq Momoh, whose seat was allegedly declared vacant last July by the House, was beaten up by suspected thugs.

He was beaten to a pulp and currently receiving treatment in, hospital. The PDP accused the Majority Leader of masterminding the attack which he denied.

However, Shaibu and four others were arraigned before a magistrate court on Friday on the issue but were granted bail.

The Speaker of the House, Uyi Igbe, who was equally invited by the police over the matter, said he was never detained or arrested by the police..

The crisis moved to the Benin Airport, on Friday morning, when President Goodluck Jonathan visited the state for the foundation laying ceremony of the Azura-Edo Power Plant.

Some youths, believed to be

One of the vehicles riddled with bullets during the attack on Edo State legislative quarters, Benin City, yesterday PDP members, allegtedly attacked some APC leaders including the state Publicity Secretary Godwin Erhahon, among others at the occasion. Soldiers had to be deployed to the place to restore order before the arrival of the President.

Over 50 policemen took over the assembly quarters after yesterday ’s attack which the APC described as a declaration of war on the people by the PDP. “Even after some of the leaders of our party were attacked at the airport by suspected PDP thugs, the hoodlums proceeded to the legislative quarters to attack our lawmakers and their families. Yet, in that moment of brutality, we pitied the thugs on how their so-called sponsors have reduced them to such an animalistic level as neither our children nor those of the leaders who sent them would allow themselves to be so used”, the Edo APC said in a statement, yesterday.

“When the President came recently for a PDP rally, APC leaders had no business being at the airport. And when he came today as the guest of APC-

controlled government, we did not expect PDP to see it as their show. We do not see why members

of APC and PDP cannot mix freely and peacefully in an event where leaders of both parties are featuring”.

4 DAYS TO GOV-ELECT’S INAUGURATION

Power struggle in Ekiti House

BY GBENGA ARIYIBI

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OUR days to the expi ration of the tenure of Governor Kayode Fayemi, members of Ekiti State House of Assembly are trying to change the leadership of the House The change may affect many leaders of the House including the Speaker, Hon. Adewale Omirin.

Sunday Vanguard gathered that last Friday’s session of the 26-member House, majority of whom are members of the ruling All Progressive Congress(APC), was turbulent, as the lawmakers made an attempt to remove the entire leadership.

Others to be removed in the new power game are the Deputy Speaker, Hon Taiwo Orisalade, the Majority leader, Hon Churchill Adedipe, and the Chief Whip, Hon Ade Ajayi.

25 of the 26 members of the House are members of the APC with only one, Hon. Oyedele Ajibola, belonging to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) following the defection of Hon. Bunmi Oriniowo to the APC shortly before the June 21 governorship election in the state.

A source in the House confided in our correspondent that the anti-Speaker lawmakers were majorly those representing constituencies in Ekiti North, comprising Ikole, Ilejemeje, Moba, Ido/ Osi and Oye Local Government Areas of the state.

It was gathered that the new move may not be unconnected with the imminent change of government in Ekiti as Fayemi’s tenure expires on Wednesday, to balance the political equation when the governor-elect, Mr Ayodele Fayose, is sworn-in.

The Speaker, Omirin, how-

ever, denied the power struggle in the House, saying the parliament remained strong and intact. Speaking through his Special Adviser on Media, Wole Olujobi, Omirin said the rumour was the figment of imagination of those peddling it, noting that the unity among members was something of pride to members and Ekiti people in general.

According to the source, the outgoing governor is from Ekiti North, his Deputy, Prof Modupe Adelabu, from the Central, while the Speaker is from the South.

The source said the equation may change with the emergence of Fayose, who is from the Central and his deputy, Dr Olusola Eleka, from the South, the same senatorial district with the Speaker, which forms part of the reasons to move for his ouster, coupled with external interference.

But reacting, the Publicity Secretary of the Edo PDP, Matthew Urhoghide, said, “Enough is enough. People are not happy with this rubbish because these are all Edo people. The governor should do something now.

We are not interested in who is PDP or APC. The governor should call that House to order. I am not aware that they (attackers) are PDP thugs, we don’t believe in violence”.

Edo State Police Commissioner, Foluso Adebanjo, condemned the legislative quarters attack. He told Sunday Vanguard, yesterday, “What we saw this morning must be condemned. We are investigating the matter and whoever is behind it will be brought to book. Meanwhile, we have stationed policemen to protect the quarters and I tell you we will deal ruthlessly with any bastard involved in such shooting”.

Meanwhile, the Speaker of the House, Igbe, has petitioned the state Police Commissioner, alleging that the mayhem was masterminded by PDP leaders. ‘’The assassins, in their hundreds, came brandishing rifles and shooting spo-

radically. They went on rampage destroying vehicles, buildings and assaulting some lawmakers and their families. Furthermore, after the exit of the hoodlums, a face cap was found in the premises with an inscription Final Push which is the slogan of a group believed to be sponsored by a PDP lawmaker’’, he said.

“Let me at this juncture remind the Commissioner that having heard the information of possible attack, yesterday, we expected that the security in and around the premises should have been beefed up to foil the attack. Also, the few police officers that were supposedly posted to the legislators quarters were absent at the time of the attack.

“This barbaric act lasted for an hour causing residents and neighbours to run for their dear lives. In addition, police response was very slow despite several calls put to the police through the available emergency numbers. I wish to request your speedy investigation on this matter with a view to bringing the perpetrators to book”.

Jega dares Senate Continued from page 1 allocation of additional Polling Units, PUs, it was expected that Professor Attahiru Jega, the Commission Chairman, would comply.

However, Sunday Vanguard has discovered that he plans to go ahead, especially in the light of the conference of heads of department of ICT across the 36 states, that he caused to hold and where participants equally pooh-poohed the allocation.

Yet, when, last year, Jega came up with the suspicious door-to-door manual registration of voters, even Sunday Vanguard did not see the scheme coming that it appeared to be part of a

grand agenda culminating in the allocation of PUs in the desert.

Interestingly, were Jega’s INEC to follow simple basic allocation based on common sense and logic, the North would, naturally, have more Polling Units than the South – see table by experts on how the allocation ought to be done.

Therefore, why Jega has persisted on this fools’ errand in the face of simple logic and cogent and verifiable indices, remains confounding.

In the report in STORY OF THE WEEK, at pages 25-27 you will be shocked the extent of the orchestrated attempt at all costs to compromise the 2015 elections.

TERRORISM: CAN declares Sunday as Day of National Repentance

BY SAM EYOBOKA

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ITH thousands of Christians killed and others displaced from their homes and their places of worship torched while some moles are sabotaging the efforts of the nation’s military to flush our terrorism from Nigeria’s shores, the umbrella body of Christians had declared three days of National Repentance and Prayers for Peace.

This is coming on the heels of a similar gesture by the US-based International Christian Concern which dedicated last Friday for prayers for the persecuted

Church across the globe.

A statement by the Secretary of Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, Rev. Musa Asake, said in view of the various challenges facing the nation and the Nigerian Church, “the National Executive Council of the Christian Association of Nigeria, led by the President of CAN, on Monday, September 29, 2014, called on all Christians in Nigeria to observe 3-day prayer and fasting both for the nation and for the Church.”

All Christian assemblies are encouraged to ensure that they participate in the programme scheduled for October 17-19. The only

sure defense of the Church in these troublous times is Jehovah, he said, adding that the programme is as follows: Friday 17th Oct: Prayers either from 6pm – 8pm or vigil, (for those willing to do a prayer vigil).

Saturday session should be devoted to praises in line with 2 Chronicles 20:1-24, stressing that praises and worship should be raised to God to thank Him for His manifold mercies upon Nigeria and the church.

Sunday is to be observed as a day of National Repentance and Nation

PAGE 6—SUNDAY VANGUARD, OCTOBER 12, 2014

Insecurity in the North no threat to 2015 polls —Inuwa

BY WOLE MOSADOMI

A former gubernatorial aspirant on the platform of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Niger State, Engineer Zakari Inuwa, says the crisis of insecurity in the North will not threaten the 2015 general elections in the country.

He said northerners were ready for the elections and have vowed to see to the success.

“I do not see any threat to the 2015 general elections

now and even in the future especially with what I saw in Zamfara State during the local government congresses of the PDP which I conducted recently,” he remarked.

Zakari, who was the Chairman of the Congress Appeal Panel which conducted the local government congresses of the PDP in Zamfara, also predicted victory for the party in the state in the 2015 elections.

Onuesoke condemns APC attack on Jonathan, others

D

e lta State governorship aspirant in the 2007 general elections, Chief Sunny Onuesoke, has condemned attacks by the All Progressives Congress (APC) on President Goodluck Jonathan and other individuals in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), using the media.

Onuesoke, in a statement, alleged that the APC had been using resources meant for the development of their states to castigate, discredit and ridicule the President and PDP officials.

He argued that instead of espousing viewpoints that would free its negative activities, the opposition party had resorted to diversionary

tactics of propaganda, blackmail and falsehood by using consultants to attack and insult individuals including the person of President Goodluck Jonathan.

“This wave of attacks is clearly part of APC’s method of destruction and inciting the people against individuals, especially government officials, in furtherance of the plot to undermine the system and balkanise the nation along ethnic and religious lines ahead of the 2015 general elections, an agenda which has already failed, “ Onuesoke said.

Osun APC challenges PDP over alleged sack of lawmakers

BY LEKAN BILESANMI Osun State All Progressives Congress (APC) has challenged the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state to produce a certified true copy (CTC) of the pronouncement of the Court of Appeal, which sat in Akure, on Friday, that stated that the elections of federal and state legislators, conducted by the state Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Rufus Akeju, in 2011, had been nullified. ‘’Until the PDP can produce that certified true copy of the Appeal Court’s pronouncement, Nigerians

and particularly the citizens of Osun should totally discountenance the PDP’s claim that the court has nullified the elections of their legislators,’’ the APC said in a statement, yesterday. ‘’There’s no such declaration by any court of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. What the PDP has fed the public with is not only a misinformation, it is also a blatant lie’’, the Osun APC said in a statement by its Director of Publicity, Research and Strategy, Barrister Kunle Oyatomi.

2015: Yero, Kaduna governor, picks forms for re-election, says no space for opposition

BY HENRY UMORU

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HEAD of February 2015 governorship election, Governor Mukhtar Ramalan Yero of Kaduna State, yesterday, stormed the National Secretariat of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, with hundreds of his supporters to purchase the Expression of Interest and Nomination Forms for his re- election into the Kassim Ibrahim House.

Speaking with journalists after he picked the forms for

N11 million, Yero, who noted that the people of the state had been on his neck for him to re- contest because of his achievements, however, boasted that there was no space for the opposition in the state, adding that in Kaduna State, the PDP family is a united one, with all what it takes to win the governorship, State Assembly, National Assembly, presidential and other elections in the state.

SUNDAY VANGUARD, OCTOBER 12, 2014, PAGE 7

Robbers kill ex-general’s daughter

By Egufe Yafugborhi & Perez Brisibe

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NVESTOR and Delta State governorship hopeful, Olorogun O’Tega Emerhor, has condemned insecurity in the country following Friday’s killing of Franca, daughter of Brig. Gen. Dominic Oneya (rtd) by armed robbers in Effurun in Uvwie Local Government Area of the state.

The former Kano and Plateau States military administrator’s daughter, a mother of four, was said to have been ambushed by gunmen who shot her dead at Ovie Palace Road after dispossessing her of about N200,000 she had withdrawn minutes earlier from a bank along PTI Road.

Sunday Vanguard gathered that the incident occurred at about 10.30am while Oneya, also onetime President of the Nigerian Football Association, was attending the funeral of Gen. Patrick Aziza, the late President General of the Urhobo Progress Union at Adagbrasa in Okpe Council Area.

A resident of Effurun recounted the incident: “It happened by KW Junction. Gunshots rented the air as residents and bystanders scrambled for cover. The shooters disappeared before we were

*Franca... shot dead able to reach the crime scene.

“A neighbor with whom we rushed in identified the dead victim in a pool

Ngillari: Presidency summons Fintiri over threat

By Soni Daniel

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PPARENTLY fear ing possible implosion within the ruling People’s Democratic Party(PDP) in the state, the Presidency has summoned the sacked acting

Pro-Fayose aspirant triggers crisis at PDP S-West election

By Ola Ajayi, Ibadan

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EOPLES Democrat ic Party (PDP) in the South-West was yesterday enmeshed in crisis as criticism trailed the election of its executive members in Ibadan, Oyo State capital.

Controversy arose as a result of fielding an aspirant, Chief Makanjuola Ogundipe, the incumbent Chairman of Ekiti State chapter of the party, as one of the two for the office of the zonal leader of the party after the expiration of screening of candidates for the zonal congress.

The new aspirant, Ogundipe, was allegedly not screened with others six months ago for the office of the National Vice Chairman, South-West only to be fielded 24 hours to the poll.

The governor-elect of Ekiti State, Mr. Ayo Fayose, as Sunday Vanguard gathered, sponsored the aspirant for the zonal congress.

While speaking with newsmen after submitting a petition to the Chairman of the congress committee, Senator Emmanuel Alozebe, Chief Ishola Filani, who claimed to be the only candidate screened for the position six months ago, said, “As at close of business on

of blood in the Honda Accord in which she was driving as the daughter of a notable politician who turned out to be

Gen. Oneya whose GRA residence is nearby. Apparently, the daughter was heading home from bank and the killers actually got away through Oneya Close”, the statement said.

In a chat with Sunday Vanguard, yesterday, O’Tega, who lost his son in a similar incident in Lagos years back, said, “I was with him (Oneya) last night! It is a horrible and devastating incident.

“And it highlights our state of insecurity. A vibrant young woman went to the bank and never returned alive. Our hearts bleed! Only God can console General Oneya. Our prayers are with the family.”

Delta State Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Celestina Kalu, confirmed the incident, vowing that the state command would ensure that the killers are apprehended.

Thursday, 9 October 2014, I was the only aspirant duly screened and cleared to contest in any zonal congress for the election of the National Chairman South-West.

“The purported clearance of any candidate in opposition to my sole candidacy for the office of National Vice Chairman South-West zone less than 24 hours to the zonal congress is void by law and morally unsupportable”.

According to him, bringing a candidate after the expiration of screening was in contravention of the clear guidelines of the party concerning the conduct of the proposed congress.

All chieftains of the PDP in Ogun, Oyo, Osun, Ondo, Ekiti, and Lagos were in attendance.

Meanwhile, 418 delegates made up of 79 from Osun,73 from Ogun,87 from Oyo, 62 from Lagos, 57 from Ondo and 60 from Ekiti were expected to vote in the new executives for the PDP SouthWest zone.

Chief Olusola Oke from Ondo State earlier moved a motion for the dissolution of the former executives whose members ,he said,had formally resigned.

Names of contestants were being announced at the time of this report.

governor of Adamawa State, Ahmadu Fintiri, and warned him not to confront the court-appointed governor of the state, Mr. Bala James Ngillari.

Fintiri had, shortly after being sacked, filed an appeal and a stay of execution of the judgement through his counsel, Bayo Ojo, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, SAN, against the ruling.

Sunday Vanguard gathered that Jonathan convened a meeting with Fintiri at the Presidential Villa on Friday during which he gave him a piece of his mind and that of the party regarding his decision to challenge his ouster.

According to informed sources, the President told Fintiri, not to press ahead with the appeal since it had the potential to further polarise the PDP in Adamawa and strengthen the chance of

the rival All Progressives Congress, APC, ahead of the 2015 polls.

Although the source at the meeting did not give details of what the two politicians discussed, it was learnt that Jonathan further drew the attention of Fintiri to the fact that the party was one and that he needed to work together with the new governor to ensure its success in the upcoming election.

The President, it was gathered, also impressed upon Fintiri to accept what happened to him last Wednesday in good faith and drop his threat to personally pursue the appeal against Ngillari, adding that something would be done to compensate him.

A top government official in Yola confirmed to Sunday Vanguard that the meeting between Jonathan and Fintiri on Friday was at the instance of the President, who sent for him.

‘5,000 mentally ill in Plateau’

By Marie-Therese Nanlong

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ORE than 5,000 persons have been diagnosed with new cases of mental health in Plateau State in the last one year, Dr. Taiwo Obindo, Head of the Psychiatric Department of the Jos University Teaching, JUTH, has revealed.

The psychiatrist disclosed this, yesterday, at Mangu during the World Mental Health Day, saying, “In the last one year, there are over 5,000 new cases of mental health in the State. The rate is very high and the fact is that the facility we have is not even enough to accommodate them.”

In his paper presentation at the event organized by the Psychiatric Department,

JUTH, in collaboration with the Nigeria Medical Association, NMA, and held under the theme: “Living with Schizoprenia”, he said people should get to know about the theme.

“Schizoprenia is one of the mental disorders, a condition in psychiatric where the individual has problems with his thinking, the way he interacts with people and that tends to affects him in his functioning,’’ Obindo said.

“Someone with schizoprenia tends to hear voices and see things, which others don’t. We have people that are vulnerable that need our attention and help. It is possible for someone with Schizoprenia to function well if we assist them to recover.”

LAST WEEK IN BRIEF

By Yemisi Oseni and Emem Akpan

Muazu, PDP, Mark, Daniel beg Obasanjo for forgiveness

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ATIONAL Chairman of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Alhaji Adamu Muazu, literally went on his knees, saying the party had offended former President Olusegun Obasanjo and asked him, as a father, to forgive the party. Speaking at Wadata Plaza, PDP National Secretariat, Abuja, when he received the former governor of Ogun State, Otunba Gbenga Daniel, back to the family of PDP, Muazu admitted that mistakes were made in the past and Obasanjo should come and lead the party, adding that President Goodluck Jonathan was also waiting eagerly for him to come back to the party.

Also Chairman, South West PDP Integration Committee and Senate President, Senator David Mark, and Otunba Gbenga Daniel took turns to apologise to the former Chairman, Board of Trustees of the party.

Mark, who hailed Obasanjo and tendered an unreserved apology to him, stressed that the PDP family needed him so much if the PDP must be strong especially in the zone and Nigeria in particular.

He, however, asked the party leadership to ensure that the principle of fairness and equality was applied to keep the enlarged PDP family intact, saying there must be a level-playing field for all aspirants across the country.

Bama: Military orders arrest of army general

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HERE were indications that the army high command has ordered the arrest and rddetention of a brigadier-general attached to the 3 Division (names withheld) over allegations of negligence that gave Boko Haram an opportunity to overrun some communities in Borno State. It was gathered that the senior officer, from one of the states in the South-west, was the officer coordinating the military onslaught to dislodge the terrorists group from Bama, Gwaza, Madagali, Michika and other communities in Borno and Adamawa States that later fell into the hands of the terrorists.

The general was accused of providing poor leadership and failed to instil confidence in his soldiers, resulting in several soldiers abandoning the fight against the terrorists while several of them lost their lives. The military high command was said to be furious that the insurgents, after taking over Bama and killing hundred civilians, ransacked the armoury with no soldiers offering resistance, leaving the insurgents to have a free day.

South Africa seizes another $5.7m from Nigeria

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IGERIA and South Africa headed towards a row following the announcement by South Africa authorities that another $5.7m belonging to Nigeria was seized despite the raging controversy which trailed the seizure of an earlier $9.3m from some Nigerians about three weeks ago. A South African newspaper stated that the money was seized when latest arms transaction, which was between Cerberus Risk Solution, an arms broker in Cape Town and Societe D’Equipments Internationaux, a Nigerian company based in Nigeria went sour. The paper added that South Africa Asset Forfeiture Unit subsequently obtained a court order in the South Gauteng High Court to seize the money, but an official of the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), Mr. Nathi Mncube, said the two transactions were not related.

Prisons boss confirms one dead in Kirikiri riot •Probe panel raised

By Emma Ujah, Abuja Bureau Chief

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HE Acting Comptroller General of Prisons, Aminu Suley, has set up a probe panel to investigate the riot in Kirikiri Medium Prison, Lagos on Friday.

The spokesperson of the Prison Service, Mr. Ope Fatiniku, said in an electronic mail, yesterday, that there was no jailbreak but admitted there was a riot.

“Indeed, there was a riot at the Medium Security Prison, Kkirikiri, Lagos, yesterday(Friday 10/10/

2014) at 1330hrs,” he said.

According to him, the situation was immediately put under control by the prison authorities and that no prisoner escaped.

However, the Prison Service spokesman confirmed that one person died while seven other inmates were injured.

According to him, three of the injured were treated and discharged from the Prison’s Clinic, while four were admitted in various hospitals.

He explained that the dead inmate was one of the four admitted in hospital.

PAGE 8—SUNDAY VANGUARD, OCTOBER 12, 2014

Panic in Yenagoa as gunmen kill electoral body’s boss

By Samuel Oyadongha & Emem Idio, Yenagoa

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XECUTIVE Secretary of the Bayelsa State Independent Electoral Commission, BYSIEC, Chief Simeon Akpeni, was, Friday night, gunned down at the Yenizue-Gene suburb of Yenagoa, the Bayelsa State capital, by armed men suspected to be assassins.

The incident, which triggered panic among residents, occurred along the popular Otiotio Road at about 9pm.

The victim was an indigene of Ofoni community in Sagbama local government area of the state.

Akpeni was said to have been accosted by three armed men in front of his house who shot him on the head at close range.

Sunday Vanguard learnt that the deceased, after

returning to Yenagoa from Mbiama where he and his brother had a business transaction, had attended a political meeting before going home.

It was further learnt that, shortly before he was killed, he got a call from someone who identified himself as an engineer and requested him to come for a meeting.

He was said to have left the house and called the number of the engineer repeatedly but when the number was not going through he returned home.

Akpeni was reportedly ambushed by three armed men who opened fire on him in front of his house as he alighted from his car killing him on the spot.

The sound of the gunshot was said to have attracted residents who rushed to the scene only to meet his lifeless body in his own pool of blood.

A family source, who

spoke anonymously, described the death as a big blow to their community.

The state Commissioner of Police, Mr Valentine Ntomchuckwu, was said to have visited the family on hearing about the incident.

The commissioner, in an interview, said he viewed the incident as an assassination from the circumstances of the death, especially since the assailants did not take anything away after shooting him.

He explained that the wife of the deceased narrated how he was shot in the head and how the assailants escaped through the other end of the street.

Bayelsa State Police Command spokesman, Alex Akhigbe, DSP, who also confirmed the incident, said the police had c o m m e n c e d investigation.

ACF on 2015: ‘Power will shift to the North’

By Isiaka Oyibo, Katsina

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former Inspector General of Police (IGP) and leader of Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF), Ibrahim Ahmadu Coomassie, says there is the possibility of power shifting to the North in 2015.

The ACF, which Coomassie leads, has been in the fore front of the agitation for power shift to the North..

Fielding question from newsmen in Katsina, Coomassie said the agitation for power shift to the North by 2015 was realizable, stressing that once there was cred-

ible election where people are allowed to freely choose who they want, power will shift from the South.

He said the fact that the North appears to be speaking with different voices notwithstanding; power may go to the North.

“The North has always appeared to be in disarray but it is not. When the time comes, things will sort themselves out and the correct thing will be done. Democracy allows people to express their views but, eventually, the majority will carry the day”, the ACF boss said.

“If people want real change, they can always put their heads together. If we present a credible candidate and there is honest, credible and transparent election, the North can still win.”

“But the important thing is that people should be allowed to cast their votes and let their votes count.

There should be no changing results to favour another candidate, let officials allow voting to take place as is done in civilized countries. If it is done, then we know the results will be credible and acceptable”.

180 DAYS OF ABDUCTION OF CHIBOK GIRLS: Why we must not give up – Grammy Award winner Alicia Keys •Vigil in Abuja

By Emmanuel Aziken

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MERICAN R & B singer and multiple Grammy Award winner, Alicia Keys, has charged all concerned not to give up in pressing for the release of the 219 Chibok school girls abducted by the Islamic extremist group,

Boko Haram.

Keys said she had taken it upon herself to project the fate of the girls lamenting as unbelievable the fact that the girls have stayed in the captivity of the group for more than six months.

She spoke just as the Bring Back Our Girls campaign group in Abuja, last

Georgewill dismisses claim of Wike’s endorsement

By Jimitota Onoyume

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governorship as pirant on the platform of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Rivers State, Mr Emmanuel Georgewill, has dismissed as untrue media reports that wife of President Goodluck Jonathan, Mrs Patience Jonathan, has endorsed the Minister of State for Education, Mr Nyesom Wike, as governorship candidate of the party.

The aspirant, who unveiled his program for the state at a press briefing in Port Harcourt,

said the PDP would follow democratic process in choosing its flag bearer for the 2015 election.

He said, when elected as governor, he would promote youth empowerment through job creation, adding that he would also tackle the problem of insecurity posed by cultists in some parts of the state.

He said he would also revive secondary school games with a view to creating opportunities for many in the area of sports.

night, held a candle light vigil to mark the 180th day of the abduction of the girls from Government Secondary School, Chibok, Borno State.

“Putting the spotlight on these girls is very, very important to me and I thought that it is my job to help shine the light on what is going on and show people: this is still happening and we must not forget and it is going on for six months,” she spoke in a television interview monitored on CNN. “Six months and nobody is back and the girls are just there because of the need of education and they are abducted? So that is why we must say that we are not allowing this to dissipate, no, we are going to continue to say we are not standing for this, it is not okay,” Keys, who has sold more than 35 million albums and 30 million singles and is ranked 10th

by Billboard Magazine among America’s most successful R&B singers in the last quarter century, said.

L-R: Samantha Bolton, communications officer, World Health Organisation (MHO); Benjamin Ohiaeri, GMD, First Consultant Medical Centre (1st CMC) Limited, and Simon Mardel, clinician, Manchester UK, during WHO’s visit/ press briefing by the management of 1st CMC on their encounter with the American-Liberian Patrick Sawyer who brought Ebola to Lagos Nigeria.

2015: Bickering may cost Delta President Jonathan told North ticket •What traditional rulers

By Lekan Ilesanmi

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HERE were strong indications at the weekend that Delta North Senatorial District may be walking a dangerous line with the manipulative scheming going on in the area and which may lead to its loss of the governorship ticket on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP. Indications to this came with revelations of a closed-door meeting between traditional rulers from the district and President Goodluck Jonathan.

One of the traditional rulers who attended the meeting expressed the fear that “should our people continue to bicker over who gets the ticket, the Central and Southern senatorial districts may be emboldened to come out forcefully to make a case for the ticket within the party”.

It was gathered that, at the meeting between the North District traditional rulers and Jonathan in August, the former presented the latter with a list of four short-listed nominees.

According to one of the traditional rulers in attendance at the meeting inside Aso Rock, “President Jonathan accorded

us, the traditional rulers, the appropriate respect but made us understand that we needed to work with our state governor.

“Although he never said we should go and cowtow before our state governor, he made us understand that we needed to engage in consensus building and the governor was better placed, working with us, to make that possible”.

It was further discovered that of the list of the short-listed aspirants, no member of the present State Executive Council was interviewed or screened by the traditional rulers.

This, it was learnt, did not make sense to Jonathan.

In fact, more revelations were to follow.

US varsity to honour Onwueme, Nigerian Prof

By Emem Akpan

T

HE University of Wisconsin, Eau Claire in the United States will, on Saturday, host the celebration of Archival Collection in honour of Professor Tess Onwueme, its eminent Professor of Global Letters and a Nigerian. In a statement by the Office of

Delta 2015: Group wants Clark to back Ijaw guber aspiration

By Egufe Yafugborhi

I

JAW leader, Chief Ed win Clark has been urged to support the quest by Ijaw to produce the next governor of Delta State.

A group, Ijaw for Governor Outreach Movement, in a statement in Warri, following a stakeholders meeting, said an Ijaw governorship has become imperative as Delta South Senatorial seat currently occupied by James Manager is under threat by widely canvassed Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan’s aspiration.

Leader of the group,

It was discovered that, in the last two weeks, stakeholders from the two other senatorial districts have stepped up consultations and strategies with a view to wresting the unwritten clause of allowing the North produce the next governor of Delta State.

At press time, it was gathered that should the bickering in the Northern District continue, the district may lose the ticket.

Already, the leaders in the North are also not resting on their oars.

Consultations are on to find a “common ground between what the traditional rulers desire, what the governor may counsel and what President Jonathan may settle for”, the traditional ruler stressed.

Comrade Fullpower Bussa, said “Uduaghan is reportedly eying the Senate which is the only elective position being occupied by the Ijaw in Delta. If Senator Manager cannot be considered the next Governor of the state, he should be allowed to remain in the senate.”

Amplifying Delta Ijaws' common pain that none of them had been governor and deputy since the creation of the state, Bussa urged Clark to rally other leading Delta Ijaw to champion the cause of producing the next governor of the state.

the Chancellor of the university, the event is in recognition of “her exceptional achievements and contributions to World Literature/Drama, the University of Wisconsin system, the Africana, and the world at large”.”To mark this historic event, international scholars, writers and speakers are expected to dialogue and participate in the celebration of the remarkable Archival Collection of the literary icon now being acquired by the University of Wisconsin, in addition to showcasing a production from Onwueme’s award-winning plays during the event.

The award-winning plays of this foremost African playwright include The Desert Encroaches (1985), Tell It to Women (1995), Shakara: DanceHall Queen (2001), Then She Said It (2003), Riot in Heaven (2006), No Vacancy (2005), Legacies (1989) The Reign of Wazobia (1988), Broken Calabash (1984) and The Missing Face (2002).

SUNDAY VANGUARD, OCTOBER 12, 2014, PAGE 9

PAGE 10 —SUNDAY Vanguard, OCTOBER 12, 2014

Christians, $9.3m and other matters –2

The man doth protest too much, methinks “If your conduct is determined solely by considerations of profit you will arouse great resentment.” -- Confucius

E

ID kabeer has come and gone; with it were all the goodwill and the wonderful sentiments. Reality bites and we have come crashing back down to earth. Back to the mundane and the ordinary.The business of living… Yes, Boko Haram is still with us; the girls are still missing,but we are so happy and relieved to know that we are Ebola free , we have the elections that threaten to deal with us. There is the Fayose problem that may implode Ekiti State.

I am not a betting person, but who is your money on: Kwankwaso or Tambuwal for president of APC? Buhari may be good(he does have a proven record) but he is too old; Atiku may be younger but has too many issues with many Nigerians.

Nigerians welcome back!

So the Big cheese, GEJ thinks Nigerians will turn

on him if we read that he is the 6th richest African leader does he? Really, would we think ill of the man that he is rolling in it when the average Nigerian has never had it so bad?

And that in the midst of grinding poverty, when the masses are faced more of the same; poor administration, bad roads, crumbling infrastructure, on-existent health care (he goes to Germany for his check-up) in a country where an alarmingly high rate of young people are out of work, not in education or training, a place that is riddled with corruption in all strata of society, high inflation and high crime levels, poor security and we are divided more than ever before.

Nigerians have never had it so bad and the politicians are robbing us blind and they do not give a damn what we think.

Well, unless, they want to be re-elected and then rob us some more.

The staple diet is of the rich of most Nigerians and yet all we see are these over blown and fatten

another black mark in the comity of nations on the eve of the 54th anniversary of our independence. It was not exactly the best anniversary present we needed – irrespective of the best “explanations” offered for the crimes involved.

However, before going

We all pray to be old. But, apparently, before we reach old age, we treat old people in our midst with the contempt they don’t deserve. What we do to pensioners is a scandal; never mind that most of them, while in service, treated others the same way

,

forward, let me draw attention to a previous article published on this page. When President Jonathan was shown at the Wailing Wall with Pastor Oritsejafor, while performing in Jerusalem, I had warned the CAN President about the closeness of that association. Pointing out

least eight aircraft in the Presidential fleet, the Pastor’s people should have known that a game “not quite cricket” is about to be played when they came for their own. Now, they are the people holding the bags containing the loot. Now they are stuck. Another prophecy? You decide.

God’s people should stay

politicians parading their ill-gotten wealth in full view of the majority and so tell me, in whose book is this okay?

This is immoral by any standards but then do they have any standard to compare their avariciousness? So let them protest their innocence. And I do hope that GEJ does not get the apology he is seeking and instead the paper calls his bluff and he can prove in court that he is not as rich as they printed he is.

In the said website, Jona is listed as one of Africa's 10 richest leaders. They put his net worth as about $100m (£62m).

His PR supremo has been hard at work to protest that the said list has "no factual

on our common wealth.

The fact is Nigeria is rich and the money is not been used to improve the lives ordinary Nigerians and the infrastructure and institutions, so where has all the money gone? We know that we have more billionaires and multimillionaires than ever before but the average Nigerian is far worse off than ever before.

It does not take a genius to work out where the money goes, do you know that our law makers are raking it in? Jona has never declared his personal assets publicly, so if he worries so much about his standing in our estimation then you would think,he will lay it bare for all to see. In the spirit of transparency, you would think that he would lead by example, wouldn’t you?

All the mouth piece would say is that Jona has had no personal income since 1999 other than his official remuneration” And what an official remuneration that it is !

In 2012, an official from the Nigerian watchdog body, the Code of Conduct Bureau, was quoted by Nigeria's Vanguard newspaper as saying that the president had declared his assets - but was not obliged by law to make the declaration public.

So, when the mouth piece declared that “the totally unwarranted inclusion of President Jonathan in the publication titled “Africa’s Richest Presidents 2014 is another attempt to unjustifiably portray the President as a corrupt

,

B

ACK in 1966, while taking a course in Sociology, I came across the observation by one of America’s greatest philosophers, Ralph Waldo Emerson, 18021882, which warned us that, “An institution is the lengthened shadow of one man.” (VANGUARD BOOK OF QUOTATIONS, VBQ, p 105. The lecturer used it to summarise the role of leadership in shaping the character of institutions, nations and societies. It struck me so forcefully that I went in search of other nuggets of wisdom which Emerson might have left behind. Let me provide three for now and move on. Of a visitor to dinner he had this to say. “The louder he talked of his honour the faster we

counted our spoons.”

(VBQ p94). And on heroes he anticipated current events in Nigeria. “Every hero becomes a bore at last.”

(VBQ p 90). He is also credited with saying, “The bigger they are the harder they fall.”

Fish, as we all know, rots from the head. So, when we take a close look at the church today, we can see clearly, unless we are among the fully deluded, that some of the “Houses of God” have been transformed into the “Devil’s Den” by “Men of God” – anointed or otherwise. At the moment, three scandals, with varying degrees of gravity stare all Christians in the face.

They all call for us to start with the teachings of our Lord, Jesus Christ, and then take our stands as we deem fit. This is not the time for fence-sitters, or for people to be compromised.

Let me start with the latest – the $9.3m which was illegally imported into South Africa and which is giving Nigeria

,

“Wherever God erects a house of prayer/The devil always builds a chapel/ and, ‘twill be found, upon examination/ The latter has the largest congregation.” Daniel Defoe, 1661-1731.

that, “If you work with glue, sooner or later you are bound to get stuck”, Leo Tolstoy, 1828-1910, (VBQ p 68), I was afraid that the official leader of Christians in Nigeria was getting dangerously close to selfdestruction. I am not a “man of God”, I am probably going to the devil.

But, I could foresee the danger ahead. My reward was a caustic rejoinder from one of the Pastor ’s worshippers, more or less, asking me to go to hell.

Now, it will appear that the leader has joined me there.

The question is: why the warning? I will briefly summarise in one sentence – taken from, where else, the VBQ. It says: ”Every government is run by liars and nothing they say should be believed”, I.F Stone, VBQ p 80. With at

Our young have been starved and relegated to the back; so how can they effect change and contribute to the fabric of our society?

,

basis" and was an attempt to portray him as corrupt.

Well, the man doth protest too much, methinks!

Corrupt? Nay, how can the cassava bread eating president and who was once bare footed when young be corrupt? No! Nigerian politicians have grown fat

clear of liars and looters!!!

STOP PRESS: RE CAN’S ADVERTORIAL I read with utter dismay the advert published by CAN Secretariat in defence of Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor, President of CAN – for three reasons. First, it was unnecessary. The plane involved was not on a CAN mission; it was not even on a Pentecostal Church mission. It was leased on a commercial transaction.

And, only God knows how many such trips it has made.

owner of the plane, have got out of this deal if it had not gone awry? And now South Africa has seized another $5.7m. Are we supposed to “rally round” if it turns out that another “Man Of God” was involved?

ELDERLY PEOPLE’S DAY; OCTOBER 21, 2014.

Just before writing this piece, I came across a report which demonstrates that Nigeria scores very low in the treatment of older people. We all pray to be old. But, apparently, before we reach old age, we treat old people in our midst with the contempt they don’t deserve. What we do to pensioners is a scandal; never mind that most of them, while in service, treated others the same way.

We need your assistance to make a start on October 21, 2014.

Send your donation to: Mrs Toun Giwa (nee Macaulay, granddaughter of the great man).

Second, because the business was TOTALLY commercial, it does not, and should not involve CAN and other Christians other than those who stand to benefit from it. Third, the position of the CAN Secretariat in this matter is suspicious. They have not even waited for the South African authorities to finish their investigations and they are trying to “rally” Christians around a deal whose real intentions are not known yet. Would they be holding the same position if the plane was carrying cocaine instead of cash of unknown origin?

And, is Christianity not a universal movement? How would Christians, world wide, regard us after this incident?

If CAN must know the truth, millions of Christians, like me, remain unconvinced. We are sick and tired of people trading in our name – for their own benefit only. What would anybody else, other than the

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leader and incite public disaffection against him”.

And that “As is well known, President Jonathan has never been a businessman or entrepreneur, but a lifelong public servant. The President has held public office since 1999 and has regularly declared his assets as required by Nigerian laws. He has had no personal income since 1999 other than his official remuneration as deputy governor, governor, vice president, acting president and president which are matters of public record”.

He has threatened to sue, “Otherwise, they should be prepared to substantiate their libellous claims against the President in courts of law within and outside Nigeria”. Well, there is more where that came from; the coffers of Nigeria!

What I expect our esteemed president to be concentrating his energy on instead, would be to put his money where his mouth is; fix the corruption, mismanagement and the internal terrorism .

His track record is appalling despite the fact that Nigeria is blessed with so much natural and diverse resources. Our country has been neglected for so long, we have underutilised these resources and in the midst of these we have the resentments of the stupendously rich grabbing more and leaving the country basically on its knees. Do I think he should be protesting and do we think he cares what we think of

him? I do not think so , he jolly well does what he wants like the rest of the people around him. Why should we settle for less and why should we put our children through this?

When I was growing up it was aspirational to strive to better your lot and prepare your children for a life better than yours.

I get letters and emails from some of my young readers usually about the very same matter, no job and no prospect. But I know that he is not the only one that feels like this and there are many young people up and down our country that feel helpless and hopeless; they feel that they have been pushed to the wall and they cannot go any farther. We look good on paper, but what we see and hear is that the young feel they have no future in a land where they are not given the chance to live and thrive. The old guards are still money and power grabbing to realise that the young shall inherit our land and we have robbed them off their inheritance. Our young have been starved and relegated to the back; so how can they effect change and contribute to the fabric of our society? Many young people risk their lives leaving the country because they believe that life outside Nigeria is better and they feel it is their only option. These are desperate times. What I know is, if you are not working, in education or training for a prolong period, you are more likely to be depressed.

GTB A/C 001-2163187.

All old people are invited at the United Nations Information Centre, Kingsway Road, Ikoyi. If you don’t die, you will grow old; in a better country -hopefully.

SUNDAY VANGUARD, OCTOBER 12, 2014, PAGE 11

electoral body for the purposes of an election to end up as a mere waste.

Are our politicians likely to learn lessons from the development? We can only answer this question in the negative considering the transparent high degree of greed in the polity - a feature which in the first instance drove the Adamawa legislators into a compromised and defective impeachment process. They operated like a group that had a deal to remove

,

T

HE swearing-in of the erstwhile Deputy Governor of Adamawa State, Bala James Ngilari as the new Governor of the State has in several ways changed the political climate in the State.

It has also illuminated the vagaries and fragility of political weather. The first and perhaps the most immediate consequence of the development was the cancellation of the governorship by-election scheduled for yesterday.

The plans, modalities, horse-trading, and intrigues evolved for the contest have all come to naught. Virtually everyone who was interested in the office must have lost a fortune. When we add the numerous aspirants of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) who lost out earlier in the convoluted primaries of their party, the list of losses becomes uncountable. Again, our politicians have once more allowed huge public resources deployed by the

Our politicians have once more allowed huge public resources deployed by the electoral body for the purposes of an election to end up as a mere waste

Governor Murtala Nyako at all cost, yet he was a leader they had praised to high heavens a few months earlier. At the same time, they envisaged that to

PhD, Department of Philosophy, University of Lagos,

Shibboleths and refutations (3) THE celebrated playwright declared, "In the process of our inquiries, we solicited the help of a foreign embassy whose government, we learnt, was actually on the same trail; thanks to its independent investigation into some money laundering that involved the Central Bank.

That name, we confidently learnt, has also been passed on to President Jonathan.

When he is ready to abandon his accommodating policy towards the implicated, even the criminalised...we shall gladly supply that name."

Now, my questions are, if the name of a top official of the CBN sponsoring Boko Haram has already been forwarded to Mr. President, what is the point in Soyinka saying that if Jonathan does so-and-so or refrains from this-and-that "we shall gladly supply that name"? Why is the otherwise bold Soyinka suddenly pusillanimous in naming publicly the top CBN official? If indeed some Boko Haram members revealed the identities of the sect's sponsors to Davis, as he claimed, did Prof. Soyinka crosscheck the information to ascertain its veracity, especially in the case of Lt. Gen. Azubuike Ihejirika, who actually fought very hard to subdue the sect while he was Chief of Army Staff? Within Boko Haram proper, what is the status of those members that

succeed in their quest to appropriate executive powers, it was necessary to also pull out his deputy. In that inordinate ambition for power, certain basic mistakes were inadvertently committed a fatal one being the acceptance of a booby letter of resignation that was routed straight to them in breach of the constitution.

Otherwise, if the deputy governor deserved to be impeached, how would resignation cure his purported crime? Of course, the goal had nothing to do with the public good of removing bad eggs from governance; the sole aim was to take

purportedly spoke with Davis, and could they have had access to the kind of information he allegedly received from them? Is it not possible that Davis' informants actually sold dummies or half-truths to him as a strategy to deflect attention from other real sponsors of Boko Haram?

Meanwhile, inasmuch as I agree with Prof. Soyinka that President Goodluck Jonathan's government has failed to confront decisively the security challenges facing the country right now, for someone who despises Boko Haram and would want it destroyed the practice of stipulating amphibolous conditions before giving vital information to Mr. President in that regard is, to put it mildly, disingenuous. Anyway if, as Soyinka stated, names of the sponsors of Boko Haram have been communicated to Jonathan, the renowned playwright can go further by mobilising his considerable national and international clout to pressurise Mr. President who, in turn, could galvanise relevant security agencies to investigate the matter thoroughly and prosecute the alleged sponsors in case there is good evidence linking them to the sect.

Prof.

Soyinka's description of President Jonathan's supporters who put up banners exhorting Nigerians to Bring Back Jonathan as a bunch of selfseeking morons and sycophants spurred by

,

over power.

Going by the wild jubilation which greeted the coming to power of Ngilari, it would appear that the people had much earlier electoral desperation ignores the fact that human beings, even in their loftiest acts of charity, are ultimately self-seeking, although there are qualitative differences in ends and the means used in achieving those ends.

There are excellent reasons for condemning the crude Machiavellism that motivated those behind the banners in question; but they are not moronic at all.

On the contrary, the people involved were hedging their bets in case President Jonathan decides to go for a second term next year and gets re-elected.

Certainly, this type of ingratiating survivalist calculus is not new. After all, some "highly respected" Nigerians, for selfish reasons, supported bloody coup d'états, brutal military dictators, and the callous annulment of June 12, 1993 presidential elections.

Again, Soyinka's claim concerning feeble-minded sycophants who "chose to plumb the abyss of selfdegradation and drag the nation to their level" is inaccurate: it presumes, wrongly, that the country is somehow on an elevated moral pedestal and Jonathan's overzealous supporters are dragging it down. The truth is that Nigeria, presently, is in a moral quagmire from top to bottom: she is experiencing a serious crisis of values, to the extent that religion and universities in the country, two institutions which ordinarily should serve as beacon of hope in a decadent society, have been severely compromised. In fact, every aspect of our national life is highly contaminated with moral leprosy. Therefore, in terms of self-degradation and ethical degeneration that Prof. Soyinka talked about, the country is in the abyss

people give a listening ear to members of their State House of Assembly who massively decamped to the PDP simply because their governor did same? Why should people anywhere in the nation tolerate those known to have frustrated the unalloyed principle of separation of powers?

What about our judiciary, how do we rate its score card? This was the topic of the debate one day after the assumption of office by Governor Ngilari. The venue of the debate was the Nnamdi Azikiwe Airport Abuja where it was humour, laughter and amazement when a group of passengers tried to kill the boredom created by the usual delayed flight syndrome of Nigerian airlines. Perhaps the most exciting of the viewpoints in the group was that of a man who attributed much of the blame of our political dilemma to the judiciary.

He argued that Nigeria can only progress if our judges can distance themselves from the ill-gotten materialism and murky waters of politics. The man refused to agree with the rest of us who praised the judge that ruled in favour of Ngilari. According to the man what we were all praising as judicial activism was done only because it tallied with the wish of the powers that be.

He then wondered if it was not in the same Adamawa State that a Chief Judge having ruled that the

impeachment process was flawed somersaulted without new facts to constitute a panel to investigate Nyako’s impeachment charges. The debate ended on a rather infuriating note when someone added that may be people should beat up judges as the Ekitis do.

From this reckless opinion, it became clear that thugs too can rationalize as we all parted ways without agreeing on whether Ngilari should be a governor or not. But since the man is already in office we can only remember that those who struggled to keep him out of fortune forgot that man proposes but God disposes. Consequently, politicians who play God whenever they are in power need to introspect and recognize that no one is the architect of another person’s destiny. In Taraba State, for instance a deputy governor was kicked out of office just to please the Oga at the top. Today, the man calling the shots there is neither the underdog that was impeached nor the acclaimed Oga. Similarly, time will tell concerning the outcome of the battle in many places like Enugu and Imo States where deputy governors were impeached only because they were maligned. For now, we can safely say that Bala James Ngilari is governor of Adamawa State because what will be, will always be.

already. What we are witnessing now and would continue to experience in the near future unless something drastic happens to wake us from profound moral and spiritual slumber are worsening manifestations of a society in an existential ethical cliffhanger.

Of course, not all Nigerians are depraved; there are morally cultivated Nigerians in different areas of human endeavour doing their best and contributing quietly to national development. The problem is that the dominant moral atmosphere in the country is polluted, especially because parents, guardians, teachers and almost everyone in positions of authority and influence do not lead by good example. As a result, indiscipline, dishonesty, getrich-quick mentality, violence and other symptoms of arrested psychosocial development have reached unprecedented

Surprisingly, there were few shibboleths this time around, probably because the address was brief and his speechwriters have improved their skills. The major lacuna in the President's speech is the ringing lack of commitment to personal sacrifice by the leaders for positive national transformation, beginning with himself. It is good that the President praised our soldiers for their gallant efforts against rampaging terrorists; it is appropriate that he used the occasion to appreciate contributions of the medical personnel who helped prevent the spread of Ebola virus disease. Yet, I did not read one sentence where President Jonathan stated unambiguously the sacrifice he would make as an example for Nigerians to emulate.

True leadership is not about fine speeches or living a life of bulimic materialism and revolting opulence rooted in

respective countries. The Uruguayan President does not have a doctorate degree like our President.

Still, there is a lot President Jonathan and other Nigerian political leaders can learn from the Uruguayan leader. The first one is modest lifestyle and disdain for materialism.

Unlike Jonathan who lives in a fortified mansion and travels in presidential jets, President Mujica lives contentedly in a small onebedroom farmhouse with his wife, and donates 90% of his salary to charity. Moreover, the Uruguayan leader is categorical in his condemnation of materialism, consumerism and unjust distribution of wealth in the society. Second, his philosophy of leadership is consistent with the thinking of some of the world's greatest leaders, including Mahatma Gandhi and Nelson Mandela.

President Mujica is not afraid to criticise the irrational pomposity associated with leadership.

For example, he believes that as soon as politicians start climbing up the ladder, they suddenly become kings.

The pomp of office is a relic from the feudal past.

Therefore, he says, "You need a palace, a red carpet, a lot of people behind you saying 'Yes sir.' I think all that is awful."

As already adumbrated, President Jonathan did not in his independence address promise to make personal sacrifice as a symbol of paradigm-shift in leadership style. He did not even say a word about the unnecessarily exorbitant cost of governance and measures to reduce it. That is in keeping with the reality that for members of the ruling elite Nigeria is George Orwell's Animal Farm writ large!

Concluded.

,

Adamawa: What will be, will be

seen through the entire shenanigan of the holier than thou legislators. While the joyous mood of the people throughout the state particularly the capital city of Yola, showed that what was done tallied with their yearnings, why the people did nothing to show their disdain until the power game changed remains a challenge to handlers of political education. It clearly points at the painful existence of a docile and dormant civil society. Put bluntly, why can’t our numerous nong o v e r n m e n t a l organizations (NGOs) mobilize our people to reject persons who do not perform well in office?

Do Nigerians know that they needn’t wait for four years to reject a drifting legislator? In other words, do our people know of the constitutional provision which spells out how to recall failed legislators?

Worse still, if such politicians managed to complete four years, should they be allowed to use whatever method to get another chance? In Edo State, for example, no meaningful legislation has taken place for the better part of this year as a result of factionalization which created two sets of legislators, one at the government house and the other at the ring road.

Should those involved be well received during the campaigns for 2015? In the case of Ondo State will the

Of course, not all Nigerians are depraved; there are morally cultivated Nigerians in different areas of human endeavour doing their best and contributing quietly to national development

levels. In our view, only a moral-spiritual revolution can bring about positive behavioural transformation the country sorely needs. But the billion-naira question is: who or what will ignite the revolution?

President Goodluck Jonathan's 2014 Independence Day anniversary broadcast provides an opportunity for harvesting shibboleths, since such speeches in the past were full of hot air.

,

corruption. It is about service, humility, contentment, and indefatigable determination to cater for all citizens, especially the weak, the poor and the vulnerable. Take the example of Jose Mujica, President of Uruguay in Latin America.

Like Jonathan, Mujica came from a poor background.

However, given the unpredictable nature of human existence, both men are at the pinnacle of political power in their

PAGE 12—SUNDAY VANGUARD, OCTOBER 12, 2014

APGA without

Obi

BY VINCENT UJUMADU

A

T long last, the rumour of former Governor Peter Obi’s defection from All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, to the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, became a reality. At Obi’s GRA residence in Onitsha on Tuesday, the who’s who in the South-East PDP gathered under one roof and their mission was to persuade the former Anambra governor to join their fold. However, PDP officials in the state, including the Chairman, Prince Kenneth Emeakayi and members of his executive council, were conspicuously absent.

The roll call at the gathering include the Deputy Senate President, Sen. Ike Ekwerumadu; Deputy Speaker of House of Representatives, Hon. Emeka Ihedioha; Secretary to the Government of the Federation, SGF, Sen. Pius Anyim Pius, and the Chairman of the South-East Governors’ Forum Governor Theodore Orji. Others were the chairman of the PDP Governors’ Forum and governor of Akwa-Ibom State, Dr. Godswill Akpabi ; former Governor Okwesilieze Nwodo, former Senate President Adolphus Wabara, Sen. Uche Chukwumerije, Senator Emma Anosike, Sen. Hope Uzodinma, Sen. Ben Obi, Sen. Igwe Paulinus and PDP Women Leader, Kema Chikwe.

The rest are House of Representative members, Ozongbachi, Offor Chukwuegbo, Uche Ekwunife, Chris Azobogu, Fort Dike, Jerry Alagboso, Toby Okechukwu, Kingsley Ebenyi, Onyechi Ezenwa, Ibechie, Eucharia Anazodo, Chuma Nzeribe, Princess Adaeze Oduah, Arua Arunsi, Egwuatu Cyril, Anayo Nebe, Col Akobundu, Ifeanyi Ubah, as well as members of the Federal Executive Council namely, Chief Emeka Wogu of labour ministry, Prof.

Chinedu Nebo of power ministry, Chief Osita Chidoka of aviation ministry

Peter Obi and ProfessorValarie Onwuliri of external affairs ministry. After so much pressure on Obi from the various speakers, the former governor finally succumbed.

He said: “I most sincerely appreciate this visit by people I consider as important political leaders from the South-East. I thank you for your continued belief and commitment to the welfare of our people and the progress of our country. I had in the past worked closely with all of you and you know my belief about our zone working together. I assure you that we will continue to work even closer as a team in the interest of our people.

“Regarding your visit, let me assure you that I heard your kind and passionate requests and that your journey would not be in vain but in the best interest of our people.

The issue of joining a national party was not about happenings in APGA, but because of the need to be a competitor and not a spectator in national affairs.”

Since that developmet, there had been reactions,

with some political watchers wondering what would become of the party (APGA) that has been serving as an Igbo identity.

Defection to PDP won’t affect APGA – Ogene

The member representing Ogbaru Federal Constituency of Anambra State in the House of Representatives, Mr. Victor Afam Ogene, dismissed the fear that the defection of Obi from APGA to PDP would affect the electoral fortunes of APGA, insisting that the party was still very much alive.

To the federal lawmaker, Obi had played his part admirably on the APGA stage and has the right to take the decision that suits him. He said: “The defection did not mean that the show was over. The only thing is that it has posed a challenge to Governor Willie Obiano and the national chairman of the party, Chief Victor Umeh, to steer the party to greater glory.

“Our party has undergone several shock moments in its history. Remember that its founding chairman, Chief Chekwas Okorie left amidst a strenuous legal tango

which lasted about eight years and the party survived.

Then our leader and personal symbol of our struggle as Ndigbo, Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu, transited and our people and party survived the tempest which followed.

We shall yet survive the current storm”.

Describing APGA as a mass movement, which represents the indomitable will of the Igbo, Ogene said that time had come for Governor Obiano to live the true essence of his traditional title, Akpokuedike

(warrior who is beckoned upon during trying times), and ensure that instead of silencing the cock, its crow should rather resonate far beyond the boundaries of Anambra, into adjoining states of Enugu, Delta, Ebonyi, Abia, Imo and beyond.

A former governor of Anambra State and current senator representing Anambra Central, Dr Chris Ngige, said he was dumbfounded when he heard that Obi had dumped APGA for PDP. Ngige said: “Those of us who played one role or

another in the formation of APGA in 2001 received the news with grief and sadness because they have finally destroyed that objective.

“I had always had the view that some people would one day trade off the party.

With all the bogey being peddled around that APC is a Yoruba party and APGA an Igbo party, this defection has proved them wrong. If Ikemba (late Chukwueme Odumegwu Ojukwu) had been around, this movement (defection) would still have occurred because an APGA chieftain once confided in me that they were using Ikemba’s name to win elections and nothing more.”

Chief Joe Martins Uzodilke, former Governor Obi’s information commissioner and currently political adviser to Governor Obiano however said the defection could be likened to the movement made by the late Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe from Biafra to Nigeria during the civil war, which, he said, later benefited the Biafrans.

He, however, said that members of APGA in Anambra State would not join Obi to PDP, especially when he did not consult anybody before he defected to the party.

According to him, the defection, rather than weaken APGA in the state, would make the party stronger, stressing that more that 80 percent of APGA do not even know that Obi has left as it did not mean anything to them.

One question agitating the minds of the people of Anambra State was whether Obi took the action merely because he wanted to work for President Goodluck Jonathan fully, or the defection was due to disagreement with some people in APGA. A reliable source said the former governor consulted top Church leaders in the state who, it was gathered, asked him to take any decision he felt could benefit Igbo.

The problem, however, our source said, was that he ought to have also consulted APGA leaders. The source explained: “The right thing would have been for him to use APGA platform to negotiate with PDP in a similar manner the defunct Nigeria Peoples Party, led by the late Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe, negotiated with the defunct National Party of Nigeria, NPN, during the second republic which made it possible for NPP to produce the speaker of the House of Representatives and some ministers in the Alhaji Shehu Shagari administration.

“As it stands, it could be interpreted to mean that the former Anambra governor wants APGA to die, not minding that it was the party that provided him the platform which made it possible for him to govern the state for eight years.”

SUNDAY VANGUARD, OCTOBER 12, 2014, PAGE 13

BY CHARLES KUMOLU

I

T was the immortal William Shakespeare who said: “When we are born, we cry that we have come to this great stage of fools.”

This scenario created by the English literary legend, played out in the family of Mr. George Obuh on January 27, 1957, when a male child was born.

Literally, the infant cried that he had come to the great stage of fools.

Naturally, there was joy and buzz that followed the arrival of the child, who was named Anthony—a popular saint in Catholic Church.

Instructively, the choice of the name, Anthony, signified the family’s depth in the Catholic faith—a characteristic that came to guide Chuks as he is also know till date.

Under the guidance of his parents, who appreciated the value of education, the young Obuh attended Saint John’s Primary School, Agbor and Saint Anthony’s Secondary School, UbuluUku for his early education.

To prepare him for greater challenges, it was not a surprise that he was admitted to study history/ political science in Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife. Since his aspiration had been to be involved in service to humanity, Obuh’s decision to join the civil service could not be described as accidental.

Therefore retiring, after 32 years of what has been adjudged as a meritorious career, was expected.

However, many were taken aback by the speculation that a man, who was expected to take a deserved rest from public service, having contributed enourmoulsy, had the intention of serving again. And in a more challenging capacity this time.

But Obuh is not bothered about the burden his new calling might place on him, as he said in a recent interview: “The aspiration to become a governor was the combination of wellthoughtout plans within me on how I think that the defects within governance can be addressed and I believe that I stand in a position to be able to address those defects because I know what are our advantages.”

For the fact that his presence had not been visible in the political scene before now, becoming a frontline aspirant only increased questions regarding his background.

OBUH: Sustaining the Delta Beyond Oil dream!

Tony Obuh

Since the advent of the fourth republic, Obuh has been part of the mainstream political family in Delta, as he used his various administrative positions to assist in policy execution Accordingly, the Delta gubernatorial aspirant had this as a response :” The name you may have seen in print has blood flowing in his body. It is not a fluke, I am not the creation of anybody’s imagination and I am not being coerced to contest in this election. As a full grown man of 57 years, a man that has seen 32 years in public service, I am of age to decide what is good for me and what is good for my people; what is right and what is wrong; what is doable and what is not doable;, and what aspirations can be actualised and that is why I am running as a candidate who has full belief that Delta can grow and grow well and grow strong as a united entity to be among the leading states in this federation.”

With many aspirants whose

profiles are intimidating, Obuh is not leaving any stone unturned in efforts towards succeeding Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan.

His growing popularity and acceptance has made the race interesting and intriguing since some contenders had, at different times, been assumed as favourites.

The aspirant, who has not hidden his desire to sustain the Delta Beyond Oil dream, has been adjudged by observers to have brought vigour and candour into the race.

This was evident from the door-to-door campaign he has done, covering all the nooks and crannies of the state.

Another distinguishing aspect of Obuh is the ability to position himself through the emergence of support

groups cutting across the 25 local government areas of Delta.

At the moment, elders across party lines in the state, are reportedly impressed by his background and vision.

Others also admire his grasp of grassroots issues—a product of his contributions to socioeconomic development of the state as a civil servant.

Since the advent of the fourth republic, Obuh has been part of the mainstream political family in Delta, as he used his various administrative positions to assist in policy execution.

For that reason, many of his supporters are of the opinion that his humble disposition, academic background, intellectual orientation, political philosophy, among others, are his selling points.

His knowledge of the needs of the state is unrivalled.

Displaying such knowledge recently, he said: “ I have full faith in the policy of Delta Beyond Oil. That is to say that what we have now as our greatest advantage and resource, that one day, we would no longer enjoy that status. We need to begin to address the various

sectors and segments of the lives of the people of Delta State. Our state has a lot of natural resources.

Agriculture is one basic area that we consider as a great asset for the people.

“We still continue to witness waste, loss arising from our inability to utilise our harvest. At harvest time if you visit some of our farming communities you will be sorry for our farmers because what they have used the whole year working for would have been lost just because they have been unable to process them or add value and get greater benefit out of them. That would be a major challenge I intend to confront because for us, we need to grow the lives of our people, the full value chain in agriculture, we intend to explore them and develop them for the benefit of our people.”

Indeed, this grasp of issues prompted the consensus that if capability and performance should be the benchmark for higher assignments, Deltans should not be left with any other option than to elect Obuh.

A look into his resume revealed that he rose from the position of Administrative Officer through being Assistant Secretary I and II to Senior Assistant Secretary from 1982 to 1991.

He honed his administrative sagacity when he was elevated from the position of Principal Assistant Personnel Officer to Director of Personnel Management in the Governor’s Office (Directorate of Administration) from 1992 to 1995. He was severally elevated in the Ministry of Finance through the position of Director of Investment and Loans; Director, Planning, Research and Statistics; Acting Chairman, Bendel Insurance Company Limited; Acting Chairman, UIDC and Alternate Director, PAMOL Industry Limited from 1995 to 1998. He also served briefly as Assistant Director in the Office of the Secretary to the State Government in 1999, and then moved to Delta Transport Service as Acting General Manager from 1999 to 2000.

Thereafter, he was re-posted to the Governor ’s Office as Director from 2000 to 2006.

He was also Director, Office of the Secretary to the State Government; Permanent Secretary, Office of the Secretary to the State Government, and Permanent Secretary, Directorate of Government House and Protocol.

PAGE 14—SUNDAY VANGUARD, OCTOBER 12, 2014

Lagos 2015 : I am the most qualified aspirant — Senator Ganiyu Solomon

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Senate Minority Whip, Senator Ganiyu Olanrewaju Solomon (GOS), is a front line gubernatorial aspirant of the All Progressive Congress (APC) in Lagos State. In his formal declaration statement entitled : LA-GOS CHOICE 2015 DECLARATION : My pact, my honour, Solomon explains why he wants to succeed Governor Babatunde Raji Fashola.

I will assemble a formidable team that will not only adequately maintain existing infrastructure, but provide new ones.

Lagosians will enjoy more road and sea infrastructure, hospitals, schools and renewal of the environment

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ith a population of over 18 million, Lagos State is not just the most important destination in Nigeria, its economy is bigger than the economies of many African nations. Lagos State as mini Nigeria is home to all ethnic groups and remains the economic capital of the nation. The status of Lagos as a mega city makes its constant improvement and regeneration of infrastructural facilities very important.

Lagos is the centre of excellence and the people of Lagos deserve the best possible.

To this end, since the inception of democratic governance in 1999, our party has produced administrations that have changed the face of Lagos and improved the quality of lives of our people.

Our distinguished leader and governor emeritus, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu laid the foundation for a new Lagos with the introduction of policies, programmes and projects, which set the state far ahead of its peers.

The incumbent administration, led by His Excellency, Mr. Babatunde Raji Fashola (SAN), has in almost eight years taken governance a notch higher and left no one in doubt that Lagos is a reference point in good governance.

Kudos to our great party and party leaders for providing the platform, the environment and the personnel for this enviable progress and development.

We have a duty to sustain these legacies of progressive politics of good governance and development. We have a duty to consolidate on the laudable achievements of the previous and incumbent administrations and improve on them. We have an unflinching commitment to take the baton and move Lagos to greater heights of excellence.

We have chosen to proclaim to Lagosians and Nigerians far and wide our desire to follow the footsteps of Asiwaju Bola Tinubu and Governor Babatunde Fashola, SAN, to make Lagos more secure, conducive and prosperous.

I am not new in this struggle.

That I am in this quest again is a testimony to my belief, commitment and determination towards a greater Lagos. I believe strongly that I have the knowledge, experience and commitment to deliver policies, programmes, projects and services that will enhance the quality of lives of Lagosians.

I started a business career after successfully completing my Bachelor of Science B.Sc degree in Political Science at the University of Lagos. The zeal to offer service later saw me contesting and winning a House of Assembly seat, closely followed by winning the Chairmanship of Mushin Local Government. I served in that capacity between 1999 and 2003.

Senator Ganiyu Solomon During my stewardship as local government chairman, I undertook many people-oriented projects and programmes. (some of them have already been listed in the handbook on my stewardship which soon be distributed across the state). I also contested and won the election as House of Representatives member for Mushin Federal Constituency 1 in 2003.

In 2007 I was elected to the Senate, representing Lagos West District and appointed to several committees, including Works, Sports, Rules & Business, Integration & Cooperation and Capital Markets, on which I served as chairman.

I sponsored bills on amendment of the National Directorate of Employment Act, Electronic Commerce, Whistleblowers Protection, Institute of Capital Market Registrars and Elderly Per-

sons Centre, as well as sponsored or co-sponsored many motions.

I was re-elected into the Senate and currently hold the position of Minority Whip.

I have been engaged in philanthropy using the platform of GOS Foundation, which I set up to provide assistance in skills acquisition, educational development, micro-credit, healthcare and poverty alleviation.

Many have raised questions on my political career and particularly the choice of Ikorodu as my base for the governorship contest.

Those who raise these questions are not informed about my Ikorodu ancestry. My father, Alhaji Rafiu Ishola Solomon popularly called R.I of blessed memory was born at Ipakodo in Ikorodu here to the family of Taiwo Solomon and Comfort Ogunsanya. Today, some may not also know that my father lived the early part of his

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adult life in Ikorodu where he became a successful businessman before he joined politics. His popularity here in this great town made him contest a councillorship seat, which he won, to represent Ebute Ikorodu at the Divisional Local Council in 1940s when he was still in his 20s on the platform of Action Group (AG).

It was to further the interest of this great political camp that R.I left Ikorodu to establish a formidable base in Mushin in 1949. He was twice a Councillor in Mushin town council. First as a nominated Councillor in 1972 during which he held the chairmanship position of the council’s market committee. He later became the de facto chairman of UPN in the state.

A close ally of the late sage, Chief Obafemi Awolowo and contemporary of former Lagos Governor, Alhaji Lateef Jakande, my

father held the position of the Deputy State Chairman of the defunct Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN) until the military takeover in December 1983.

Beyond the legacy of being the son of a politician, I am selfmade and my desire to become the Governor of Lagos is borne out of the belief and determination to make a positive change in the lives of our people. At the risk of sounding immodest, I wish to say that I stand as the most qualified among my colleagues also aspiring to the position of governor of Lagos, having contested and won elections into the local government, state Assembly, House of Representatives and Senate. I hold an unblemished record of service at every level and position that it has pleased God to place me.

What am I offering Lagos as governor? I will lead a government that will ensure improved security of lives and property.

I will assemble a formidable team that will not only adequately maintain existing infrastructure, but provide new ones. Lagosians will enjoy more road and sea infrastructure, hospitals, schools and renewal of the environment. I promise to reduce poverty, create new jobs and youth development programmes. I promise support for the organized private sector. I promise to accord the traditional institution, the elderly and vulnerable citizens of our state due recognition and support.

I intend to run a transparent and corruption-free government that will give all stakeholders: civil servants, public servants and residents of Lagos their dues and make everyone happy.

Jonathan’s transformation men and the opposition challenge

BY BILESANMI OLALEKAN

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HE Nigeria political landscape has been awash with advocacy groups with different interests, aspirations and mindsets.

So when the Transformation Ambassadors of Nigeria (TAN) entered the scene, many were of the opinion that the group was just another addition to the growing list.

But it was not long before TAN proved that it has come to blaze the trail in political advocacy by creating an unprecedented record in the subsector.

Evidently the primary aim of the group was to showcase the under-reported landmark developmental achievements by President Goodluck Jonathan through his novel transformation agenda.

The group immediately embarked on systematic sensitization of Nigerians about the policies and programs of the government of the day. They practically took over the airwaves for Jonathan through high tech advertisements and analytical presentations on

President Goodluck Jonathan radio and television stations as well as major newspapers.

Without being immodest, was agitated to ask the right questions and got the right answers. And since then my eyes have become opened in favour of the many good works of the President.

It was then not long before the group became a nightmare to the opponents of Jonathan that had all along been enjoying the lack lustre performance of the managers of the publicity for the administration and his PDP. Today, instead of hiding their faces deep in

shame, they are reported to be attacking TAN from every angle. All manner of studs have now been mobilized to frustrate TAN ranging from crooked moral questions to legal implication of the activities of the group.

But like a proverbial cat with nine lives, the Transfor-

mation Ambassadors of Nigeria has always risen to the occasion, surmounting all the challenges thrown its way by those who believe that by stifling the voice of TAN, they can then go ahead and mis-inform Nigerians employing all manner of antics and stunts ranging from propaganda, blackmail and outright lies, against the group.

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) that has become the greatest beneficiary of the activities of TAN has been railroaded, albeit unwittingly into becoming one of the oppo-

nents of their own Jonathan.

Because instead of directing their misgivings to the other political parties, they directed their venoms to the advocacy group. The All Progressives Congress (APC) became the losers because TAN, through its unique systematic sensitization methods, has frustrated the antics of the APC whose major approach to opposition has been to call every program and policies of Jonathan a bad name with the aim of misleading the populace. TAN changed all that.

When many other advocacy groups are busy looking for what they will get in return for their efforts, TAN has, since inception, continued to demonstrate an unusual large heartedness beginning from when it sponsored about 20 Nigerian football lovers to the last World Cup in Brazil to cheer the Super Eagles to victory.

TAN backed up that feat by freely distributing gift items in Nigeria’s national colors the cost of which was said to run

Continues on page 15

SUNDAY VANGUARD, OCTOBER 12, 2014, PAGE 15

Why I’m vying for Enugu governorship – Obetta our agricultural potentials and make the state the food-basket of not only the South-East but the country at large.

BY OLAYINKA AJAYI

Chidi Obetta is a chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Enugu State and probably the youngest among those who joined the gubernatorial race on the platform of the PDP in the state ahead the forthcoming general elections.

In this interview, he speaks on reasons he is contesting the seat, his vision for the state and other issues. Excerpts:

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Though the incumbent administration of Governor Chime has done very well in taking care of the welfare of the civil servants, my administration has a comprehensive package to transform the civil service by making it more efficient since the civil service is the engine room of any administration

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hat gives you the confidence that you can realize your ambition to be Enugu State governor, given the insinuation by some observers that you probably do not have any structure?

Let me first of all state that I am eminently qualified to be the governor of my state. Beyond that, my desire to serve the people of my state as their governor is essentially driven by my love for my state and my people. I want an opportunity to transform my state into a model for other states in the country.

Yes, that I have never contested any political election in all my life is a fact, not an insinuation. But I must state that, that doesn’t mean that I do not have the necessary structure to transform my burning desire to serve my people as their governor into a reality. Let me state this: Whatever God desires you should be at any point in time, no man, no circumstance can stop it. Having noted this, let me now answer your question as it concerns having the required structure to help transform my ambition into a reality. Let me assure you that I am not lacking the required struc-

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Chidi Obetta ture as you may think. One, I represent the youths in this race. It is people who know the potentials in me; people who know my track records that came to me and said, ‘Chidi, please come, avail yourself for the service of our state, we want you to be on the driving seat to consolidate what the present administration has achieved and to transform our state because we know that you have a special divine gift to transform anything you lay your hands on into gold’. And if you make your private investigations, you will discover that it is not just one group, or two groups that approached me to come and run.

nor of Enugu State?

What I intend to achieve if I become governor of my beloved state? I must admit that the answer or answers to this question underlies the essence of my ambition, and, indeed, that of any other person aspiring to this position. Let me point out that the incumbent governor, His Excellency, Barrister Sullivan Iheanacho Chime has made a great impact on the development needs of this state. Under his administration, he has created easy access to the various areas, including the urban and rural areas through massive road networks he has constructed in those areas.

In concrete terms what do you intend to achieve if you eventually become the gover-

Therefore, I will say that my administration will not only sustain that tempo of develop-

ment but will add more value through a development blueprint that will tackle all development needs of the state in all the sectors simultaneously. In this sense, while my administration will further undertake further road construction and rehabilitation in both the urban and rural areas, the education, health and agricultural sectors will be given priority attention, including job creation, particularly for the teeming youths while value re-orientation will be pursued.

We are going to transform our education sector to ensure that it provides adequate educational training to our children. We are going to establish more equipped health centres in all the local governments and properly harnessed

We also know that job creation and youth empowerment are critical to the development of any state. So, in addition to establishment of skill acquisition centres in all the local government areas of the state, we will provide training for our youths in various vocation after which the beneficiaries would be given the necessary support by government to set up his or her own business.

We shall identify real achievers and celebrate them so that they will become real role models for our upcoming generation. The sports sector will also receive priority attention.

Though the incumbent administration of Governor Chime has done very well in taking care of the welfare of the civil servants, my administration has a comprehensive package to transform the civil service by making it more efficient since the civil service is the engine room of any administration.

If you win the election, what is the plan of your administration to bring about industrial growth in the state?

Indeed, our commitment when elected will be to ensure that the governance of our dear state is essentially given to the people of the state while we shall only be functional as drivers on the steering. You see, for any society to grow in the real sense of growth, the industrial base has to be properly developed. When this is done investors, from within and outside the shores of the state will come in.

Jonathan’s transformation men and the opposition challenge into millions of naira. Their primary aim, the group explained, was their own patriotic way of supporting the President, his administration and the nation.

The group, not satisfied with just talking, shocked the advocacy world when it expressed its desire to empower over one million un-employed Nigerians with jobs across the six geo-political zones. This was surely a clear departure from the old order and TAN, with its solid personality and resource base, has gradually continued to fulfill its promises. The group, at a time, squealed on its plans to build what it tagged waste-towealth parks in each of the nation’s six geo-political zones. This format, according to the organization’s Director of Operations, Benchuks Nwosu, was to ensure that no part of the country was left out. “We are no politicians. We are simply desirous of a better im-

proved, secure and peaceful Nigerian society. We are involved in other lofty projects and programmes. We are a multi-sectoral non-governmental organization (NGO) working very hard for a better future for the nation...”, Nwosu emphasized.

Apart from giving physical succor to Nigerians, the Transformation Ambassadors of Nigeria, through its incisive analysis, is carrying out political education of the citizenry. It is also on record that the group’s unique and realistic approach to issues and policies, both at home and abroad, has made it the most positively reported and sought-after in the country today.

It has just introduced a new scientific and stress-free method of public engagement. The engagement moved all observing public’s perception of its aim from being seen as just an ordinary advocacy group, to a major pace-setter in the nation’s polity. It is such that some have

even forgotten that it is not a political party, but a mere nongovernmental organization, with penchant for excellence and love for hard work and

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Continued from page 14

every of their moves, language and conduct. But only time would tell if they would have the level-headed approach of TAN to stay off trouble, avoid

Apart from giving physical succor to Nigerians, the Transformation Ambassadors of Nigeria, through its incisive analysis, is carrying out political education of the citizenry

national unity.

Today, immodestly borrowing a leaf from its just concluded zonal rallies, many other group, including its band of bitter critics in APC, PDP, and even state governments are now employing and copying TAN’s mobilization strategies.

Some have, in fact, resorted to buying up the group’s tapes which they dedicatedly watch over and over again, studying

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name-dropping, name-calling, mudslinging and character assassination or curse words, irresponsible conducts/ utterances and thuggery.

TAN, through its efforts, has really fixed things for the PDP by making it easy for the party to separate chaff from the seed, while the acrimony that normally accompanies partyprimaries for presidential can-

didates has been totally eliminated. This is because the party, in dancing to the tune of TAN, which within few days raised more than 12million signatures of potential voters, named and endorsed Jonathan as its sole candidate for the 2015 presidential election.

While other advocacy groups must be thinking of winding up after the 2015 election, it is obvious that TAN has been structured to play active role in shaping the political, social and economic future of Nigeria beyond next year. It was structured to outlive the current players. In fact, the group has really come to stay and it is not out of place to commend the chairman of TAN, Dr Ifeanyi Uba, his team of directors and staff who get insulted, harassed and sometimes abused by those who see them as the attack dogs of Jonathan that have come to take away their meal ticket. The TAN family has indeed written its name in gold.

PAGE 16—SUNDAY VANGUARD, OCTOBER 12, 2014

2015 : Abia people understand Ukwa Ngwa case – Nkire

BY OLAYINKA AJAYI THEO Nkire, leader of UkwaNgwa Professionals, an organisation passionate about power shift in Abia State to Abia South Senatorial District, explains that the people of Abia understand the Ukwa-Ngwa case. He states, in this interview, that those opposed to power shift, though in the minority, highlight the beauty of democracy – the minority has a right to be heard. The first AttorneyGeneral of Abia State notes that Abians have a sense of equity, fairness and justice which they would apply to the Ukwa-Ngwa quest...

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Theo Nkire.....Zoning will reassure the people of Abia South that they truly belong; that they are not second class citizens these are very intelligent people.

As the days go by, we shall continue to plead with them and I am confident that before the party primaries, we shall all be singing with one voice again. Such is the beauty of democracy; you must respect those who disagree with you today for they may be your greatest supporters and allies tomorrow. All our people are coming together. We are not sleeping. We are working very hard to bring all dissenting voices back.

Senator Nkechi Nwaogu?

Beautiful woman. Beautiful in body and soul; and very intelligent, too. As far as I am concerned, she is an Ngwa woman in and out; anyday, anytime, anywhere. Nkechi is not from Abia South; she is from Abia Central; and there lies the problem but when the time comes, Nkechi will be the true Ngwa daughter that she is. No one loves Ngwaland the way she does. For her and for us, it is painful that we appear to be on different sides on the issue of Abia South; but that will soon be history. Trust me.

She is not just our daughter.

She is also our wife; married to Dr. Nwaogu, a highly respected Ngwa son, the first Igbo man to earn a PhD in Polymer Science.

Some argue that the division among Ngwa people on zoning would cost Ukwa-Ngwa the governorship No, it cannot. Ngwa people have never been as united as they are on the issue.

Why then is there confusion among Ngwa people about the zoning?

There is no confusion. It is not easy to build a consensus.

How can the Abia Charter of Equity which pre-dated creation of Abia State still be relevant to 2015?

The beauty of the Charter is that it is eternal; it is forever. It is founded on equity, justice and fairness.

So it can never grow old. This is because a cardinal principle of justice is fairness and as you know, equity follows the law.

Is the Charter still relevant?

It is; and so shall it remain for generations and generations to come. Fairness and justice are the guiding principles of all relationships; whether it is between spouses or friends, communities or nations what is fair is fair.

There are many interpretations of the Abia Charter of Equity, how does the Charter relate to the 2015 contest?

There may be a thousand interpretations of the Charter but only one can be correct and that is the interpretation that calls for equity in the distribution of government business equally be-

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HERE are concerns that the silence of UkwaNgwa Professionals on the positions of different groups on the Abia 2015 governorship race indicates challenges of realising the dream.

It is not true. There are no serious challenges to our realising the dream. Ukwa-Ngwa people are united in their quest for an Abia governor of Ukwa-Ngwa extraction in 2015. This is not to say there will not be dissenting voices. There surely will be. For example, there may be people to whom Ukwa-Ngwa interest is synonymous with self-interest.

Such people are for Ukwa-Ngwa governor in 2015 provided they are the candidate. If they are not the candidate, then no UkwaNgwa governor. Such people abound in every community and the Ukwa-Ngwa nation has her fair share of them. Luckily for us they constitute a very negligible minority; but even as we speak, we are still wooing them to our side. We have no reason to antagonise them. After all, this is a democracy and they are entitled to their opinion. As they say, the minority must have their say and the majority shall have their way.

Ukwa-Ngwa people are united; the few dissenting voices notwithstanding. We are doing all we can to win them over.

Have Ukwa-Ngwa Professionals given up on Abia South producing the governor of Abia State in 2015?

How can? Impossible. Except for the fear of appearing immodest, I can say that Ukwa-Ngwa Professionals are at the forefront of the movement for the actualisation of the dream. We lead the way even though a large majority of our members are from Abia Central. They agree that what is fair is fair. They understand it and they agree that power should shift to Abia South. Such is the nature of our struggle. We believe in fairness. We believe in justice. We believe in equity. We cannot give up.

Is the agitation for an Abia Governor of Ukwa-Ngwa origin still on course?

Yes, very much so; and it will remain on course until the battle is won, until an Ukwa-Ngwa son or daughter is Governor in 2015.

Why are so many Ngwa people opposed to the governorship being zoned to Abia South Senatorial District?

So many? It is not true. They are not many. They are very few; a negligible few. To be fair to them, quite a good number of those who at first were fizzled by the announcement are now back in our fold. They now understand that it is only fair for power to shift to Abia South. Do not forget that

motion, but little movement.

It will be stupid of me to say that my brothers from Isiala Ngwa who dispute the shift from Abia Central to Abia South are unreasonable. No, they are not being unreasonable. They are well within their rights to say so. They are not against the Charter. Their argument is that the Charter talks

There may be a thousand interpretations of the Charter but only one can be correct and that is the interpretation that calls for equity in the distribution of government business equally between Aba and Umuahia; between old Aba Division and old Bende Division. That is the only interpretation that is correct

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tween Aba and Umuahia; between old Aba Division and old Bende Division. That is the only interpretation that is correct. That is the only interpretation that works.

And how does the Charter work today?

Well, here is how. Abia State as we know it today is made up of three zones – Abia North, Abia Central and Abia South.

Power went to Abia North in 1999 and Oji Uzor took the slot. Eight years later in 2007 power shifted from Abia North to Abia Central and Ochendo took it. Now tell me; what is wrong with power shifting from Abia Central to Abia South in 2015? In all honesty, is this not the natural progression of things? Is this not how things work in real life? From NORTH to CENTRAL to SOUTH? Will a shift from Umuahia North (Ochendo’s local government area) in Abia Central to Isiala Ngwa North or Isiala Ngwa South or Osisioma also in Abia Central be power shift? I do not think so. To me, that would be so much

of two zones – Aba and Umuahia; not three – Abia North, Abia Central and Abia South. They argue it is the turn of Aba (Ukwa-Ngwa) and that they, being an integral part of Ukwa-Ngwa, should not be zoned out. Indeed, that they should take first; Isiala Ngwa being the first among Ngwa local governments. Great reasoning!

Unassailable pontification. And what is the argument on the other side?

We have come a long way from the days of Dr. Jaja Wachuku and his brother Michael Okpara. Abia may be made up of two peoples, the old Bende and the old Aba; but the reality on the ground is that there are three political zones in Abia today and that political offices are best distributed along those lines. It may be painful to my brothers from Abia Central to tell them that Ochendo has taken their slot; but that is the gospel truth.

The second point that must be made is that this is not an Ngwa affair. It is not even an UkwaNgwa affair. We are here talking about the office of Governor of Abia State. If it were an Ngwa af-

fair of course, Isiala-Ngwa would take first. Ngwa people are the offspring of a man called NGWA. Ngwa had three sons. The first was UKWU, the second was NWOHA and the third was AVOSI. History has it that upon arrival in the present Ngwaland, they first settled in Umuolike near Okpuala Ngwa. From there, they moved first north and then south to populate what is today known as Ngwaland. This is why Okpuala Ngwa is to this day the traditional headquarters of Ngwa people.

This is why many Ngwa people in the other five local governments of Aba North, Aba South, Obingwa, Osisioma and Ugwunagbo can still trace their roots to one or other of the three foremost sons of our great progenitor, the man called NGWA. So, ideally, Isiala Ngwa should take first, if the office of Governor was ours to give. That is what our tradition demands. That is what we would have done if we had the powers. Indeed, the office is beyond what we as Ngwa people can give. This is why we plead with our older brothers from Isiala Ngwa that they should show that magnanimity and candour that only first sons are blessed with to their younger brothers in Abia South. Abia South shall not forget. Abia South will always remember!

To answer you directly, the zoning to Abia South is in line with the Charter; though the zones may change, the principle of equity, fairness, justice remain inviolate!

Those opposed to zoning say it is unconstitutional, undemocratic. Is zoning of political offices peculiar to Abia State?

To answer the second question first, my answer is: certainly not.

Zoning is not peculiar to Abia.

The Office of Governor in 2015 has been zoned in Cross River, Akwa Ibom, Enugu, and Ebonyi, indeed, in almost all the States of the Federation. More recently, at a meeting with the President of Nigeria in Abuja, Adamawa PDP leaders reached an agreement and zoned the office of Governor in 2015 to Adamawa Central. That is why Fintiri, the Acting Governor and candidate for the October 2014 election will not be a candidate in 2015.

As for your first question, I have said it before and I will continue to say it, for as long as someone asks me, that intrinsic in the federal character provisions of the Nigerian Constitution Section 14(2)(c); 14(3) and (4)] is the principle of zoning.

Why is zoning important for the 2015 governorship race in Abia State?

Zoning is important because zoning is fair; zoning is just and zoning is equity. Zoning will reassure the people of Abia South that they truly belong; that they are not second class citizens. Abia North has been Governor. Abia Central has been Governor. Why not Abia South. Equality is equity!

What benefit would zoning of the race have for the generality of Abia people?

Zoning will bring harmony. Zoning will bring more understanding. Zoning will bring peace to Abia people.

Fears abound that zoning could deny the race quality candidates.

What a shame! Those who say so do not know the stuff of which Ukwa-Ngwa people are made.

SUNDAY Vanguard, OCTOBER 12, 2014, PAGE 17

bb pin: 20C37A25

Exploitation of Nollywood stars must stop now —Clarion Chukwurah

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geless beauty and veteran actress, Clarion Chukwura has seen just about everything there is to see in the movie industry. Because of her opinionated nature, she has weathered the storm of several controversies and more often than not, has come out on top. She is a ‘no holds barred’ personage who would rather speak her mind than give in to sentiments.

Last week she sent a write-up to Potpourri titled “A Wake up Call to Nollywood” to express her distaste at the way awards organisers are exploiting entertainers to their own selfish end.

Her words: The time has come for the Professional Guilds of Nollywood to take a unified and decisive action to stop the proliferation of award events that exploit the industry and do not add value to the practitioner/recipients” she wrote.

“From Nigeria to the United Kingdom, to the United States of America, Nollywood wannabes and smart-ass business men have jumped on the bandwagon train of exploiting inaction of the Guilds and the ignorant crave for publicity of practitioners to exploit Nollywood for the quick buck forming a different cabal of piracy.

Thirty years ago when I won the Best Actress Award at the All African Films Festival in Burkina Faso, it came with a certificate and $500. Nomination for the Golden Globe or the Oscar comes with a certain amount of money, that transforms you to an A-list actor and jerk up your fees, adding value to your career and your professional worth. With Nollywood, the award organizers walk away with the money while the nominees and awardees return home with worthless plaques that make no difference to the executive producers.

It is instructive to note that without the practitioners, there is no show, yet every arm of the event, from the venue, to the technicians, to the event managers and broadcast networks et-al, are paid but the established brands who are invited as nominees to walk the red carpet to endorse their own brands that are still in the making and other upcoming nominees, who are the show are simply used and paraded for free. This, despite the fact that sponsorship, organisers’ owned channel of advertisement and sale of the show is based on the product. The disregard for the value of the product/practitioner has deteriorated to e-mail and text message nomination notifications and invitation, or requirement to fly at personal expense to receive awards for which fans pay to attend to see the stars with no remuneration to the nominee and in some cases, the same award is sold for $10 in a New York store.

This blatant exploitation must stop. The Guilds have to move into action to streamline these award events down to those bodies who are serious about promoting the growth of the Industry and adding meaningful value to the career of practitioners.

It has become necessary to withhold guilds’ endorsements for these award events until stipulated requirements are met; such as obtaining a license from the conference of Nollywood guilds for a fee, proof of prize for award nominees and winners, and a verifiable document of agreement signed by the Guild of Producers, and the association of marketers endorsing the award. Such a process will help structure the industry against easy exploitation, promote focused growth and build industry collaboration with bodies having serious intent to promote and add value to the industry.

N

igeria’s National Telecommunications carrier made this year’s National Day a memorable one for its high net-worth subscribers. It was the day the company set aside to celebrate its premium subscribers and launch a reward scheme under a club christened Glo Prive. The colourful event held at the Expo Hall of Eko Hotel, Lagos.

The activities of the night were set in motion with a melodious rendition of the two stanzas of the Nigerian national anthem by the “nothing for you” crooner, Ego Ogbaru and sultry singer, Chee the Voice. Then Bez took over by wowing the high-profile audience with four of his hottest numbers.

What happened next was bringing back old memories of Hubert Ogunde, Duro Ladipo and a dance drama tagged ‘Full Circle’ presented by Bolanle Austin-Peters’ of Terra Kulture.

This kaleidoscopic exploration of music and dances across the years with matching costumes was greeted with applause and the drama gave vignettes of artistes like Osibisa with the Ipi Tombi rendition, Fela AnikulapoKuti, Kenny Rodgers and a reenactment of love scenes from “Grease” and “Saro, the musical”.

Guests had sumptuous dinner washed down with choice wines whilst this culinary interlude afforded velvety voiced Ego Ogbaru and Chee, the Voice the opportunity to serenade guests with delightful music.

But by far, the biggest surprise of the evening was the once-in-a-blue moon

C M Y K

Lagbaja, Ego reunite for National Day

performance of Ego Ogbaru with her former, leader, the masked one, Lagbaja through a duet on the popular “Always on my mind” song. It was as a surprise package engineered by the resourceful Gbenga Adeyinka,

who was the compere of the event which ended on the historic note of re-uniting Lagbaja with his voice, Ego, over five years after they separated on stage.

PAGE 18—SUNDAY Vanguard, OCTOBER 12, 2014 Onikoyi68@gmail.com

A long day with cast of Chioma Okoye’s movie

By DAMILOLA SHOLOLA

C

hioma Okoye’s movie production is currently in the works. The movie stars Harry B, veteran Nollywood actress Ebele Okaro, Juliet Ibrahim, Frederick Leonard, Daniel Lloyd, Nkiru Umeh and some other people. We met with the cast & crew on a location at Primrose Street, Lekki Area where they were filming. Here’s what they had to say

Frederick

Harry B

I learnt to pray by playing a movie role – Harry B What role did you play in the movie?

First of all, my name is Harry B, the man with the pedigree. I’m playing the character of ‘Fred’. Fred is the husband to a billionaire woman known as Helen How is it like working with the cast and crew?

It’s a wonderful and very interesting production. Everybody on this set is a professional, very friendly and we are having so much fun How many movies have you done so far?

Before coming to this set, I just rounded up my 102nd production in Markurdi.

This one is 103rd How do you view Nollywood?

Nollywood has come of age. You know like they say ‘The journey of a thousand miles begins with one step’. I know we are not where we want to be but it’s a gradual process. In no time, we will get there. If you look back 20 years ago and now, we are coming up with good stories and coming up with good casts and nice productions and that is how you are able to get some of this fascinating and interesting movies out there to entertain the people What has been your most challenging role so far in a movie?

I remember this production; they gave me a character of a pastor to play. That was like my most challenging role because I knew I could not pray. But the role kind of helped me somehow because after that production, I now knew the importance of prayer and how to pray. I went back and I told my wife what I went through and ever since then she has been my mentor and tutor as far as knowing how to pray is concerned.

Which one is your most controversial movie so far?

Lately, it seems like all they give me are those wicked roles where I am seen as an evil man who even at the end of the day kills his family members, either for rituals or for money. I guess giving me those kinds of roles has something to do with my face; the beards and all that. If you see me the first time and you don’t know who I am; my look depicts nothing but wickedness, meanness, but that’s not who I am, I’m just an actor.

C M Y K

There is a difference between acting and faking – Frederick Leonard What character did you play in this movie?

I played John. John is a young man who is in love with a woman truthfully and sincerely. I say truthfully and sincerely because we live in a time where a lot of people get married for wrong reasons; it’s either for the wealth or the fame or for contacts and positioning and stuff. But as much as John in this movie is married to a woman who has a very wealthy background, that wasn’t his focal point, he married her because he truly loved her. It’s also a lesson when you have a proper script; a proper script is what I call informative, educative and entertaining. And it also sheds light on marriage and how people get into marriage for wrong reasons and then when trying times come, they fail to deal with it. John is married to Ella who has a lot going for her in terms of investments and then the inner caucus of her family including her father and step-sister started plotting against her life, against her success unknown to John and unknown to Ella herself but John stuck with this woman all the way. I’m the good man in the movie Can you play bad guy role in a movie?

I’m an actor and I dare say I can play everything and anything. It’s about understanding why you’re playing a role and assuming that position. If you don’t understand why you’re playing a certain role, it would be very difficult to assume it, and you begin to fake it. There’s a difference between faking and acting. It’s only when you become the character that it becomes convincing and true to life How’s it like working with the cast and crew?

It’s a beautiful ensemble; we have a veteran actress aunty Ebele Okaro, we have Nkiru Umeh who is pretty fresh but awesome, we have Juliet Ibrahim, Daniel Lloyd, a couple of nice actors. It’s been good for one reason; I’m working with people that have been my friends over the years and people that even though we haven’t filmed together before, we’ve always wanted to work together. There is a great chemistry going on here.

SUNDAY Vanguard, OCTOBER 12, 2014, PAGE 19 Onikoyi68@gmail.com

A DAY LONG WITH CAST OF OKOYE’S MOVIE

I can do poolside nudity without going naked – Nkiru Umeh What character did you play in the movie?

The character name is Ella. She happens to be in the center of the whole thing in the movie.

She’s a girl that inherited her mom’s vast estate and companies which her stepfather is interested in. Ella is married too and expecting her first child with her husband and along the line she was attacked and she lost the pregnancy of which the baby in Nkiru Umeh question is supposed to be a clause to controlling her mom’s estate. She lost the pregnancy and from the attack, she lost her sight as well. Her stepfather comes up with the idea of taking her seat to run the company for her while she gets better and as time goes on, the whole truth comes out that it was actually her stepfather and her stepsister that planned the whole attack in order to take away her inheritance from her.

How many movies have you done so far?

A lot of them, I have Royal Maid, Mama Africa in cinemas, Kiss and the Bride, Pastor Lazarus, Egg Seller, Close To My Heart, lots of them.

Can you do nudity in a movie?

I really don’t have to; I don’t think I have to go that far to interprete my character. I know I can do necessary things to get my character interpreted well but I don’t have to go nude.

Can you wear a bikini?

Definitely, if I’m playing a poolside scene, of course I should be in my swimwear. It doesn’t have to be bikini; there are so many pool wears you can wear these days without going completely naked.

How is it like working with the crew of this film?

They’re wonderful people. I’ve worked with them before in ‘Lagos Men’, a drama series that is not out yet also produced by Chioma Okoye. I worked with this same crew and that time we worked well, it was a good experience and it’s still happening now. I feel like I’m working with a family, people I’ve known very well so we’ve been able to build that familiarity among us and it’s cool

Daniel Lloyd

y r t is m e h c d o o g e v a Ih with Juliet Ibrahim – Daniel Lloyd What role did you play in this movie?

I played the character Nosa. Nosa is the boyfriend to Gail played by Juliet Ibrahim When did you start acting in Nollywood?

Prior to when I became an actor, I was an artist manager, I was Timaya’s manager for over 4 years, we came to Port Harcourt together then I left because acting has always been my thing right from the start. So, I had to pitch my tent where I felt was better for me and acting for me was the thing I loved doing from way back How is it like working with the cast and crew of this movie?

It’s amazing working with professionals like Juliet Ibrahim, Frederick Leonard, aunty Ebele, Bellinda Effah and Nkiru; these are people that really know their onions and how to go about it . So, for me it was a smooth one working with people that know how to go about the entertainment thing What’s your view of Nollywood?

We are not where we want to be and we are not where we used to be either. So, it’s a work in progress and given the right time and the right people at the helm of affairs, we will get there Who do you have chemistry working with in Nollywood?

For now, I have a good chemistry working with Juliet Ibrahim because she’s not just talented, she’s sexy and sassy. A couple of other actresses, Monalisa Chinda, Ini Edo, Yvonne Jegede, the list is endless, they’re all great actresses.

C M Y K

PAGE 20—SUNDAY Vanguard, OCTOBER 12, 2014 502¾=0 ¤§.4)03�+¾4

By DAMILOLA SHOLOLA

J

uliet Ibrahim is recognised as one of the sexiest and prettiest actresses in Nollywood and Ghollywood. She has a radiance that captures your attention and a beauty that shines from inside out. She was recently seen on location of a movie produced

by Chioma Okoye starring Harry B, Ebele Okaro, Frederick Leonard, Daniel Lloyd, Nkiru Umeh and some other people. In this exclusive interview with Potpourri the Ghanaian beauty talks about her career, music and more‌ This movie you’re working on now, what is it about?

It is a movie about the lives of two sisters and how later on, one of them gets to find out that she’s a stepchild. She’s envious of her sister and goes through all kinds of things to try and get rid of her or make sure her sister is punished.

What role did you play in the movie?

I played the stepsister, the bad one.

How is it like working with the cast and crew?

It’s great; everybody is having fun on set. It’s my first time working with every one of them actually so it’s been fun so far, we click like we’ve been friends for long.

Are you doing any other movies soon?

My next project is my personal produced movie ‘Shattered Romance’ starring Bryan Okwara, Gbenro Ajibade, James Gardiner from Ghana and myself. That one is going to be in cinemas before the year ends; sometime in November.

How often do you come to Nigeria?

Very often, Ghana is 45 minutes away from Nigeria so I’m just like a phone call away. If any producer wants to use me, all they have to do is just call me and I fly in; so I’m always here.

What’s the difference between working on a Ghanaian set and a Nigerian set?

I don’t think there’s a difference but if I’m back home for my movies, I can get a lot of favours because I know a lot of people back home in Ghana. But here, I’ve not really shot a movie personally, so I can’t really say what is working for other people. Out here, it’s the same thing for me when I’m working in Ghana.

Have you ever had a crush on any actor you’ve worked with?

Not yet. I wouldn’t mind working with Chris Brown, that’s the only one I know I have a crush on.

What was your relationship like with I.K Ogbonna?

He’s just a colleague.

How do you feel being one of the prettiest actresses is Africa?

Who said so? I’m not the prettiest; there was some kind of nomination like that ‘Most Beautiful Woman in West Africa’. I woke up one morning and I saw that thing and I was happy about it, I was like “ah, so I’m the hottest and prettiest West African woman� It felt great that somebody could actually just sit down and among so many other women in Nollywood and Ghana movie industry, chose me as the prettiest. It’s not easy because I’m a mom as well. Keeping in shape has been hard.

It must go beyond the looks and my figure, I guess my soul, my humanitarian works and things I do made me beautiful in their eyes.

Which is your most successful movie so far?

Maybe the movie Foreplay Which actor do you have chemistry working with on set?

A lot of them; it depends on the person actually and the roles we’re playing. I have very good chemistry working with Majid Michel, also with Frederick who I just met on this set, we’ve been good together. Daniel C M Y K

AFTER BITTER DIVORCE

Marrying again is still in my plan —Juliet Ibrahim Lloyd, Bryan Okwara and Mofe Duncan are also on the list as well; there are lots of them. I’ve actually had very good chemistry working with Ramsey Nouah also and a couple of others.

in your ‘Final Rain’ movie?

It was a peck; Nikki is like my sister, we grew up together.

It

What attracts you to a man?

For me, it’s always personality; how he treats me, how he talks to me, and how he behaves around people. You can always tell how a man is going to treat you by how he behaves towards other people.

How would you describe yourself off camera?

I am just a down-to-earth girl, the simplest person you could ever meet. I’m like the clown on this set, when they’re frowning I go there to make them laugh.

You’ve left your husband now, are you still planning to marry again?

Definitely, someday probably, but right now I’m just focusing on my work and upbringing of my son.

Which do you love more, music or acting?

Music was my first love, that’s what I grew up doing in a choir in school. I used to sing and perform at talent shows but somewhere along the line, I went for an audition and happened to stumble on acting. Acting opened up the way for me to be able to do my music, that’s how I see it but it doesn’t mean I love one more than the other. Acting is sweet, music is also very sweet because you get to express yourself through music. I also write my own songs and stuff. I love them both How many songs have you done so far?

Right now, I have three singles out and two videos. The latest one out now with a video is Traffic Jam and the second is It’s Over Now’ featuring General Pype. The very first single that I released is called Celebrate featuring Jupiter, a Ghanaian dance hall artist Did you really kiss Nikki Samonas

was just a peck What more should people expect from you?

They should watch out for my personal movie productions, the next movie coming out Shattered Romance. I have another video and I’m also dropping a song called ‘Sholala’. My

movie Shattered Romance is going to be premiered in cinemas very soon

SUNDAY Vanguard, OCTOBER 12, 2014, PAGE 21

Protection: Are you doing it right?

T

HE condom is the most popular form of contraception. This is because it is the only contraception so far that combines the function of prevention of pregnancy with prevention of STDs at a go.

Almost everyone seems to know what condoms are and what they are used for.

However, not everyone who uses the condom knows how to do so properly and effectively, making nonsense of the whole process.

According to a research from Indiana university comprising 50 different studies on condom usage, spanning 16 years of data, they discovered a truck load of errors by many people who use them. Listed here are a couple of the top most frequently committed errors when using the condom.

Remember that HIV/AIDS is still pretty much around and raging on this side of the world. You will do yourself a huge favour by protecting yourself properly if you must have sex. * Many people do not take the decision to use condoms early enough. Most times, they would have started intercourse, then withdraw to apply the condom. This is a no brainer if you want to protect yourself against STDs. The studies showed that between 17 percent and 51.1 percent of people are guilty of this error.

*Between 2.1 percent and 25.3 percent of people admitted unrolling the condom completely before attempting to slide it on. This is near impossible, I believe. *Quite a number of people do not know that the tip of the condom is meant to collect the ejaculated semen at the end of

the wrong side up, they flipped it over and continued using it. *While it is true that common sense does sometimes vanish when hormones begin to rage, it is important that you seriously consider safety when you find yourself in the heat of passion.

No matter the type of relationship you are in, always try to be in control of your sexual health. It is your body, it is your life the show. Here, about 24.3 to 45.7 were discovered guilty of this error. *About 48.1 percent of women and 41.6 percent of men reported that they didn’t remember to squeeze the air from the tip of the condom before using. *If you are aiming to prevent pregnancy as well as STD, then you should not be doing this. Between 4 percent and 30.4 percent of participants in the studies, reported they began rolling the condom on inside out. On realising it was

Studies show that about 82.7 percent of women and 74.5 percent of men reported that they fail to check the condition of the condom before use. Keep your eyes open for damaged wrappings, expiry dates or visible imperfections while wearing the condom. *Using sharp objects, even teeth or nails, to open the condom is a no, no as it can damage the condom. Between 2.1 percent and 11.2 percent of people admitted opening condom packets with sharp

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About 3.2 percent of women and 4.7 percent of men reported using an oil-based lube with a latex condom. *You cannot over emphasise the importance of lubes in aiding friction during intercourse. If you are using condoms and are likely to be at it for a considerable length of time, it is advisable to apply adequate lube to the condom to avoid likely tear. In the studies, between 16 percent and 25.8 percent of people reported using condoms without lubrication. *Protection is not just about preventing the semen from contact with the female, it is about the whole sexual organ. about 11.2 percent of women and 8.8 percent of men admitted they had began intercourse before rolling the condom all the way up, while another 13.6 percent and 44.7 percent of the respondents reported removing the condom before intercourse was complete. This often happens for mischievous reasons too, especially were the partners are desperate or deceitful with each other. *A lot of guys prefer to keep the pistons buried in the valves

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DISCLAIMER!

long after the action is over.

However, this indulgence cannot be encouraged when using the condom as the penis will shrink and the condom will possibly unroll itself. About 31 percent of men and 27 percent of women admitted in the studies that after sex, they failed to promptly and properly withdraw after ejaculation. *Condoms must be properly stored away from direct sunlight and heat to keep them in optimum condition and avoid degradation of the latex. Between 3.3 percent and 19.1 percent of people in the studies admitted storing their condoms in conditions that did not comply with the recommendations on the package. Best to buy on need to use basis. better still, store in drawers or clothes closets. *Though this might sound a bit over the tops, quite a number of respondents, 1.4 percent and 3.3 percent admitted in the studies that they have reused a condom at least twice during a sexual encounter.

No matter the type of relationship you are in, always try to be in control of your sexual health. It is your body, it is your life. Do have a lovely Sunday!

For answers to your relationship questions or more information on issues discussed on this page, please contact Yetunde Arebi via email address: inthesunlovezone@yahoo.com

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PAGE 22—SUNDAY Vanguard, OCTOBER 12, 2014

Email: vanguardwoman@gmail.com

As a beauty freak, I love fashionable things

By FLORENCE AMAGIYA

S

tephanie Chijioke-Wabara, is a graduate of Business Management, Middlesex University, in the Emirates.This beauty queen, wife,actress and Business woman is a native of Imo state. She has carved a name for her self in the world of making women beautiful.In this interview, she compares the universities abroad to the one in Nigeria , she talks about marriage and how it ought to be, she talks about her beauty business in Port Harcourt, her acting career and how she has been able to cope with it all.

Excerpt It has been quite a while since we heard from you, what has been happening with you?

I returned to Nigeria after school and got married. For now, I am minding my home and business so I tend to stay out of the limelight. Outside that, nothing much has really happened.

What type of Business do you run and who are your target audience?

I have a beauty business, i have a beauty home in Port Harcourt,Rivers State where I sell different accessories like shoes, bags, weave-on, and I do that in Port Harcourt. I sell to a lot of people. Most of my clients are outside Port Harcourt. They go through my pictures which I place online. What ever products they are interested in; they call for it, place their orders and make their payments. I have other clients within Port Harcourt too.

How has your clientele been like and would you say doing business in Nigeria has been worth it, knowing you were outside the country at some point?

My clientele has been very good. Doing business in Nigeria has been worth it. A lot of people knew me from when i was schooling,so they still patronise me. My returning back to Nigeria made it very easy for me. I wasn’t coming into the business newly since I was

already at it.

You studied abroad, what was it like as compared to our way of education here in Nigeria?

Studying abroad was kind of difficult; it is not like in Nigeria where people get away with a lot. You have to read extensively to meet up. It is not like where you just pass to get to the next level and at the end you cannot defend what you went to study in school. Although it is difficult to study abroad, it has its benefits.

What is your advice to people who want to further their education, would you advice them to study abroad?

If they have the funds, yes, it is better if they study abroad but in the absence of that, they can do it in Nigeria. It all depends on what you have in mind and how much you have to do it. Studying abroad is quite expensive.

What edge does one who studied abroad have compared to a person that schooled in Nigeria?

If you study abroad, when looking for a job outside Nigeria, you have more opportunities than somebody who studied here. It also depends on the organization too. In that regards, you have more job opportunities open to you than when you obtain

•Stephanie Chijioke-Wabara

My clientele has been very good. Doing business in Nigeria has been worth it your degree in Nigeria.

How has it been like being married?

I have been married since last year, so far so good, my husband is my best friend.

Despite being a married couple, we are friends too.

For young single ladies out there, you have to be prepared. People would say that marriage is for matured minds. So they should know that marriage is not the boyfriend-girlfriend relationship. They are moving to another level of life. At that

stage, you need to see yourself as a wife and behave like one and not as a girlfriend. There are things you don’t see in your usual courtship that you see in marriage.

As a wife and a young woman, how do you cope with your business and other things you do, has it paid off?

My husband is a very understanding person; he goes to work in the morning and comes back in the evening. What I do is, I work around that time and make

sure I am back home on time before he comes back. During weekends, I try to stay at home so we would have that time to ourselves. Yes it has paid off.

We have been living well all this while.

Why did you go into the business of beautifying people?

As a beauty freak,I love fashionable things. I love beautiful things, the hair, make up, all the works and seeing people look good.

Sometimes people see me and say, your hair is fine, where did you buy it from. So I tell them I sell these things.

Where do we see you in five years time?

By then I should be on screen and my business ought to have expanded beyond what it is right now.

What do you think on most couples getting married and putting a hold to having children until later?

It depends on individuals. I would rather have my children immediately and look up to something else with time.

SUNDAY VANGUARD, OCTOBER 12, 2014, PAGE 23

08112662589

Why not be a good wife and another man’s bit-on-the-side?

A

bit bored out of her pants, a pampered wife picks up one of the glossies on the coffeetable and flicks through loads of rubbishy tips until this one catches her eyes: How to be a wife and a mistress!

According to these hot tips the wife is advised to throw on sexy clothes she can ill-afford and lure her husband into the bedroom. Hah! No mention of what to do with the squabbling kids and the housework!

All along, it was the husband who never wanted his wife to wear clothes that were too flashy or too revealing.

When they got married and she wore one of her clothes with a plunging neckline, the same type of gear that attracted him in the first place, he quickly admonished: “You’re a married woman now. You’re no longer in the market” or “you had better change that dress or pin the neckline, it is too obscene!”

The girlfriend on the other

hand, could walk the streets naked for all the notice he takes. After all, he can’t take her home or to gatherings where they might run into his married friends and their disapproving wives. Even if they do run into anybody, it is likely to be some of his friends in the same boat and most likely at the sleazy pepper soup joints he frequents.

Ironically, if anything upsets him at home, it is the mistress that he bears his soul to – not the wife. If he has a lousy day at the office, the mistress gets details of all his anger and frustration, and tries to soothe him the best she could, whilst the wife hovers on the fringe, waiting for him to burn out his hostility. So, how can a wife be the perfect mistress? Cook dinner with one hand and apply mascara with perfect strokes with the other; or does she quickly peel off her peestained dress and rush into something slinky whilst she keeps half an

ear open for the yell of the infant that might come any minute?

“The best thing to be here?” said a cheeky married mother of three, “is your husband’s wife on one hand, and someone else’s mistress on the other. Even when you make an effort for your husband, he looks at you suspiciously and wonders if you aren’t having an affair ”. She went on: “Just a couple of days ago, my flavour-

of-the-moment phoned to find out what I would like for lunch. His wife travelled and was considerate enough to package several stews and food in compact plastic bowls and stock them in the freezer.

Should he thaw the fresh fish stew and fried rice or would I rather grill the steak he’d already taken out to thaw?

“Now, that’s what I call living it up. Let someone else do the dirty work

while I rake in all benefits decked in my most seductive dress! I made sure my husband’s lunch-pack is always mouth-watering. Do I know who he shares it with everyday? Beter still, do I know if he gives it to his secretary and takes his mistress out?

Only last month, he came in late on Friday night as usual and I heard him clanking pots and plates in the kitchen. I always make sure to leave hot meals for him no matter

how late he comes in.

The following morning, I was surprised to find all the plates sparkling clean. His give-away was the trash can which looked unused. When I commended him on his thoughtfulness, he swelled with pride. I deflated his moment of glory by asking him where he put all the bones from the pieces of meat in his stew. He looked trapped for a minute, then quickly said he threw them in the main rubbish bin outside the house!

“Later in the day, the night guard brought a food basket and asked me to thank `oga’ for the food he gave him the previous night. I was livid. All the choice meat and food for a night guard?

When I challenged him, he said it was the leftovers, he gave the guard! With incidents like that occurring every time in a marriage, you’re often bristled with resentment just thinking of the cad to the bedroom for sex!

08052201867(Text Only)

Exercise helps longevity

P

ERSONS with the longest lives in the world are the Georgians of the Caucasus mountains in Southern Russia, the Hunzas of Kashmir and the Vilcabamba Indians of Ecuador.

These three, seem to share some common traits which must be the key to their longevity. On the whole their diet is frugal, low in salt, refined sugar, fat and high in fibre and hardly any frying in oil.

They consume a lot of fresh fruits and vegetables. The drinking water is high in mineral content from fresh mountain streams.

They practise holistic medicine, applying traditional herbs and medicines to forestall and cure diseases. They seldom drink or smoke.

They exercise regularly by way of their hard lives.

They don’t use preservatives and live at altitudes with little air pollution.

They respect their elders C M Y K

who are actively engaged in their 100s and harp on good human relations over the pursuit of riches.

They live in extended families from the cradle to the grave. They enjoy regular sex even at 100.

All these point to the fact that the healthiest life is the one with as much naturalness as possible. The further we go from nature, from what’s natural, the less healthy we become.

As regards activity, the more occupied we are the better it is for us.

That’s why the person whose job is sedentary must set me aside for regular exercise which need never be over the top.

With exercise there can be as much as 10 percent of improved physical function in the young. In the old it can make as much as a difference of 50 percent.

Exercise, performed on a regular basis can fulfil

the anti-ageing functions of regulating weight, joint mobility, flexibility, strengthening of the

Heels-to-Crotch Pose

skeletal system and strengthening of the heart.

Exercise improves the blood circulation and this in turn brings extra nutrients to the surface of the skin, increasing the collagen content to make

it thicker and more flexible.

Apart from the above, exercise also helps lower blood pressure, cuts down on the risk of heart attack, stroke, arthritis and depression.

I suppose if we all become very aware of how serious we need to include exercise in the life on account of the many serious conditions we can side-step if we practise, we should be abl;e to summon up the discipline to exercise consistently.

Below are some Yoga postures to practise.

DEEP KNEE BEND (Supine) Technique Sit down in between both heels. Lower the trunk down, first on one elbow then the other and gently ease the whole trunk flat down with the hands by the sides. Breathe normally. Stay in the posture for about 10 - 15 seconds. A variant of the posture is to keep the trunk erect.

Benefits:

Heels-to-Crotch Pose

The deep kneebend banishes stiffness in the hips, knes and ankles keeping those areas well lubricated.

HEELS TO CROTCH Technique: Sitting down with the feet extended in front of you, draw the knees and place the legs flat down on the floor with the feet touching each other and the heels as close to the crotch as can be. Form a ring around the big toes with the forefinger and thumb and then lower the trunk. A variant of the posture is to keep the trunk erect.

Benefits: The posture tones u p the muscles of the legs and it is also said to improve manly vigour.

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

9.00am — 10.00am on Saturdays

P AGE 24—SUND AY Vanguard , OCTOBER 12 , 2014 SUNDA

bunmsof@yahoo.co.uk

08056180152,

SMS only

One woman’s left-over is another woman’s banquet! “

L

AGOS life has never held that much excitement for me” , said Kike, a 38-year old mother of three. “ When I was admitted into a nursing school in Lagos after my secondary school, I was ecstatic. But I soon saw Lagos for what it was – a city with a frenzied lifestyle that I could never catch up with. I’d been born and bred in a fairly big town but to a protective parents. When I came to Lagos, I stayed with an uncle, my mum’s elder brotehr, and was amazed at the freedom he gae his children, including me.

My parents thought I would be safe staying with my uncle instead of the den of vice they thought the nurses’ hostel would be. But in six months, I’d lost my virginity to a man who said he loved me. The depth of his love become shallow as soon as he found another conquest.

After a few more sweetmouthed fickle men, I was thoroughly disillusioned and cynical about love.

“When I finished at the nursing school, I worked for close to a year in one of the teaching hospitals before I snapped up the offer of work with another uncle who just opened an ultra-modern practice in our town. I was glad to be back with my parents even though the hospital offered accommodation. The salary was good and I soon got together with lost friends. I was working nights some few months later when a man was brought in with a nasty gash on his leg.

He’d accidentally fallen into a ditch during the rainy season. I tended his wounds and he wanted to know if I could come to his house the next day to dress his wounds. He said he would make it worth my

“ Now that the children are not so young, I’m thinking of starting a business of my own to supplement the super market and he’s encouraged me to do that.

I pinch myself at times to believe my good luck.

Some of my friends are still struggling with their not-so-young husbands and a few are divorced.

The other woman? If this is what it’s all about, then I feel privileged and grateful to be one!”

while if I came. So I went.

He was much older of course, and a bit on the stocky side, but distinguished and sophisticated.

“When I looked at the card he gave me, I discovered that Gbade was his first name and the address was the impressive factory that had just been opened on the outskirts of town. The house address was one off the fancy houses that were recently sold by the state government at the town’s GRA. When I arrived, I was shown into a very posh living room, with leathe sofas, glasstop dinning table, impressive bar and other nick-knacks.

As I dressed his wounds, we chatted, but you could see he was trying to find out all about me. I told him of the nasty experiences I’d had with men an d that I was bidding my time in looking for a boyfriend.

He asked me to stay for lunch and the meal the cook prepared was like a feast. When I was ready

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"

I promise you....

I met you beside the Rriver Nile,I was about

to leave, he gave me an envelope for my ‘trouble’ and asked the driver to drop me at the hospital in one of his posh cars.

My eyes nearly popped when I checked the envelope and saw how generous he was. I went to dress his wounds a few more times and got to know him better. He taught me how to have wine with my meals and it was during one of my tipsy moments that we kissed and made love. Of course he’d told me that he was married and that he used this beautiful house as his ‘base’ four days a week. The rest of the week he spent with his wife and two daughters.

“Six months after I met him, I discovered I was pregnant. It wasn’t planned. He refused to use the condom because he said he couldn’t be bothered fiddling with the stuff at his age. My contraceptive must have failed and when I told him, he asked me to move into the house straight away. I was

aghast. What would my parents say? “I’ll deal with them”, he assured.

I was at work when he went to visit my parents.

My mum found time to call my mobile to tell me what to expect from my dad but she said he would come round mobile to tell me what to expect from my dad but she said he would come round in the end. When I got home, dad really tore into me. What example did I think I was setting for my siblings getting hitched to a married man? Was a second wife the best I could be? I wish I had the nerve to tell him the rotten treatment I’d been subjected to by former boyfriends, but my mum had warned me not to contradict him.

“He took his time in giving his consent for me to move into Gbade’s house and he didn’t visit until Gbade had done the traditional winecarrying. When he eventually visited, he admitted I’d really struck gold. Gbade’s wife never

crossing the flowing river when suddenly an astonishing wave brought you to my presence and beholding your impeccable beauty I can't help it, but to fall woefully in love with you. Baby, I promise, I will always care and cherish you till the end of time.

Cheers...

James N Okonkwo (Freesoul) ngesinaj@gmail.com +2348066043380

My undying love

My idea of an ideal one. If I am to live a million years, my undiluted love for you will still remain solid,vibrant and ever fresh in my heart. And nothing

came to the premises – I doubt if she knew of its existence as he had another flat at the factory.. Every weekday, his wife would call around 7.00p.m and that was it. Within eight years, I’d had three lovely boys. I have since left my nursing job to be a full-time housewife.

My husband sees to it that I want for nothing.

The kids are well taken care of and he’s rebuilt my parent’s house and given them a car. Just last year, on his 60th birthday, he transferred the ownership of the house to me and has been buying shares in the boys’ names. He’d told me he didn’t want any embarrassment with his wife when he eventually dies, that I wouldn’t need to fight his family over any inheritance and he is true to his words. Just last year, he opened an u l t r a - m o d e r n supermarket, the first of its kind in our town so I could have my own income for life.

A Bit Over The Top? (Humour) A man goes to the doctor complaining that since he has been taking Viagra, he always feels so tired. After examining him, the doctor remarks: “Well, I can’t find anything wrong with you, perhaps you’d better tell me how you spend your days.” “Okay ”, replied the man, “I usually wake up about 6.30, make love to the wife, doze off for a while, make love again and get up about 8 o’clock. Then after breakfast I usually make love to her again in the kitchen before going off to work.

“At one o’clock, I drive the four miles home, made love to the wife, have lunch then go back to work.. I get home at six, make love to the wife a couple of times, have supper, make love again, pop down the club for an hour then come back and make love on the sofa.

We go to bed about 11.30, have lots more love and then go to sleep. Quite often, we wake up a couple of times in the night and have more.”

The doctor was dumbfounded. “Well, I think I can tell you what’s wrong,” he said. “It’s too much shagging. It’s wearing you out.” “Oh really”, replied the man.

“For a while, I thought it might be all the wanking I do in the office.”

can change that, and nothing can take it away. If am to die and resurrect,I will still love you again, again and again.

Akachukwu Ferdinand.

08063819314

My love

Every moment spent with you is like a beautiful dream come true.

My favorite place to be is inside of your hugs where it's warm and loving.

I Love You!

Innocent Oliseholuku profprof2010@yahoo.com

SUND AY SUNDA

•Jega

Vanguard, OCTOBER 12, 2014, PAGE 25

•David Mark

30,000 NEW POLLING UNITS’ CRISIS AHEAD OF 2015

JEGA DARES SENATE *Insists on controversial PUs allocation *Affected Nigerians to re-register *How manual registration of voters by INEC was foiled last year *Why North must have more PUs but…

By JIDE AJANI OH PROF. JEGA! Fresh information available to Sunday Vanguard suggests that, barring any lastminute change of plans, the advisory by the Senate Committee on the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, that it should not proceed with the allocation of the new 30,000 Polling Units, PUs, for sundry reasons, may be ignored – and this is authoritative.

In fact, a source at the INEC headquarters, Abuja, disclosed that its National Chairman, Professor Attahiru Jega, summoned all 36 state heads of operation, and the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Abuja, to INEC headquarters for implementation briefing.

C M Y K

As part of the condiments for an elaborate culinary ablution for electoral wakkis, the attempt by Professor Attahiru Jega’s Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to conduct a house-to-house manual registration of voters, which was foiled by this medium, in retrospect, may have been the foundation for the controversial allocation of new 30,000 Polling Units across the country.

Indeed, the land mass of Northern Nigeria dictates that it should have more PUs. However, since PUs are meant to assist in properly sharing out prospective voters at between 350 and 500 per unit, numerical superiority must, as of necessity, be a factor. Frightening, however, is the discovery that even after the Senate Committee on INEC had admonished the Commission to apply the brakes on the PUs allocation, the electoral body may have put in place its own strategy of defiance with a view to going ahead with an agenda that has polarized Nigerians across ethno-sectional lines. This is a story of the dangerous web of deceit that would have compromised (and may still compromise) the 2015 general elections. Then the question: Why is Professor Jega risking his integrity and goodwill on a fools’ errand in the face of massive angst against this move?

It was learnt that the content of the letter of invitation of the operation staff exposed the deception in the earlier statement of the INEC chair as indicated by the title of the letter.

It would be recalled that while defending the Commission’s decision to unwisely allocate the new PUs in a lopsided manner across the country, Jega had suggested that INEC had not allocated PUs but was

merely preparing an advisory, a possible template that was yet to be agreed upon and, therefore, could not be accused of allocating PUs in a lopsided manner.

A MOVE TO DEFY SENATE Penultimate week, however, the selfsame INEC boss put a lie to his earlier statement when, in a letter for the meeting titled it ‘IMPLEMENTATION OF THE DECISION OF THE COMMISSION ON RE-LOCATION AND CREATION OF NEW POLLING UNITS NATIONWIDE’.

Sunday Vanguard was told by those in attendance that “even though the Chairman’s welcome address read by the Director of Operation Department suggested a review calling for a dispassionate approach to the issue of the controversial PUs, the entire proceedings were on how to go on to implement the decision”.

Worse still, the source went on, “Even the meeting of the Resident Electoral Commissioners, RECs, which ought to have held sometime last month, was shifted to October 2, and again postponed to October 15”.

It was discovered that there are efforts to carry on with the creation of the controversial PUs as evidenced by the invitation of all Heads of Department of Operation in the 36 states and the FCT for the threeday implementation meeting (Wednesday, September 24 – Friday, September 26).

Operationally, Sunday Vanguard was made to understand that “this meeting ought to have been convened long time ago to enable the HODs make

Continues on page 26

PAGE 26 — SUND AY SUNDA

Vanguard, OCTOBER 12, 2014

Continued from page 25

Jega Continued from page 25 inputs on how to create the polling units before the Electoral Operation Committee of INEC at its head office went ahead to create and announce the 30,000 polling units by it.

This meeting was never called to allow for inputs.

But at the penultimate week’s meeting, the HODs raised issues concerning implementation difficulties such as but not limited to the following: *Permanent Voter Cards, PVCs, already produced and being distributed nationwide bearing names and code of existing Pus, did not and has not taken cognizance of the new PUs scenario. *Problems of asking people who have registered in existing PU to apply for transfer to new PU when INEC is still contending with current inter/intra state transfer would further magnify the spectre of gloom that may attend next year’s elections.

That was not all.

Then, there was the very critical issue of time.

As pointed out by the Senate Committee Chairman, Andy Uba, time is already too short to begin to tinker with existing PUs for an election that would hold in less than four months.

Therefore, at that meeting, fears were raised over limited time to go through with the exercise and the possibility of hurried creation of PUs causing confusion that may affect smooth conduct of the 2015 elections.

A PROCESS COMPROMISED FROM SOURCE Sunday Vanguard has been informed that one of the possible plans underway is to withdraw already distributed PVCs from Nigerians who would fall in the proposed new PUs; this, in C M Y K

Typical election day...voters casting their ballot

JEGA DARES SENATE apparent response to one of the numerous questions being raised as to what INEC intends to do with the PVCs already distributed.

Stemming from this, there will be another re-registration of the category of Nigerians whose PVCs would be withdrawn for another registration in the new PUs even when the third phase of PVC/CVR in the remaining 12 states have not been conducted; and even when the outcome of those con-

Consequently, both in the North and the South where the new PUs would be created with non-specific and movable Card Readers, it opens those PUs to massive electoral manipulation.

Those areas that have more new Polling Units with Card Readers that can be moved and used freely would have an egregious upper hand in this free for all invitation for election rigging. Interestingly, after three days of meeting, the HODs were

The worst and most shocking defense by Jega, as pointed out earlier, was that lopsided polling units do not confer electoral advantage on any group. Perish the thought ducted in the first and second phases are yet to be concluded and PVC distributed to potential voters.

That is not all.

Whereas INEC had promised Nigerians that the Card Reader and PVC for the 2015 elections are to be configured and made Polling-Units-specific and not transferable (which is very commendable); however, in apparent desperation to create new PUs, the Card Readers for the additional new PUs would not be configured and specific to the units.

The danger in this is that it would be possible to move Card Readers about freely, thereby compromising gravely this otherwise laudable innovation to the electoral process.

told that the communique was not ready and would be sent to them with assurances that their views on the proposed additional PUs would be reflected and given to management. Typical of public civil servants who should be seen only and not heard, they departed from Abuja and may not hear again until further directive.

SETTING THE STAGE FOR ELECTORAL MANIPULATION Perhaps, the present scenario may have all been pre-arranged to fit a particular agenda.

Depending on how Jega handles the pre-2015 elections activities, he would either be vindicated or charged as alleged.

Sometime in the second

quarter of last year, Sunday Vanguard raised the alarm that The INEC boss, through a memo, was planning to carry out a comprehensive voter registration exercise.

A manual registration of voters comes with the capacity to over-bloat the register – and this is an indisputable fact. Therefore, when the alarm was raised pointing out the attendant implications as well as consequences, Jega and his INEC beat a retreat.

In the memo sent out by INEC’s Human Resources Department titled, APPROVED JOB DESCRIPTION OF REGISTRATION AREA OFFICERS (RAOs), which Sunday Vanguard sighted, the schedule of activities of the ROAs were well enumerated.

The Schedule of Duties, as enunciated by the memo, states: “1). To visit voters and prospective voters in their homes with a view to: “a) MANUALLY REGISTERING THOSE WHO REACH THE AGE OF 18, SIX MONTHS BEFORE ANY GENERAL ELECTION (REGISTRATION VOTERS) “b) Taking note of voters who died with a view to delisting their names from the voters roll “c) To process transfer of voters from one state to another “d) To identify and verify voters who lost their cards with a view to process replacement “e) TO COMPILE COMPREHENSIVE VOTERS LIST WITH A VIEW TO CAPTURE THEIR BIOMETRIC DATA AT THE APPROPRIATE TIME, AT LEAST TWICE A YEAR….”

This memo was underhandedly sent out between March and April last year to the RAOs. It was gathered that when some National Commissioners and RECs saw the memo, they were shocked.

“It was something unexpected”, a very senior official of the Commission told Sunday Vanguard.

“In fact”, the source continued, “ you would not believe that the National Chairman did not run this memo by the appropriate officers of the Commission”.

The ‘appropriate officers of the Commission’ are represented by National Commissioners and, to a larger extent, RECs. The source said that “just as Professor Jega constituted a kitchen cabinet, and subcabinet which usurped most of the functions of National Commissioners and some Heads of Department in the Commission”, leading to the shambolic April 2, 2011 episode, “the situation on ground today is not different. That is why a memo like that, directing RAOs to “MANUALLY REGISTER” and “COMPILE COMPREHENSIVE VOTERS LIST”, would be issued without the input of relevant officers of the Commission.”

According to our findings, there are grave implications for an engagement that seeks to “MANUALLY REGISTER” and “COMPILE COMPREHENSIVE VOTERS LIST”.

IMPLICATIONS OF HOUSE TO HOUSE MANUAL REGISTRATION There were many implications for such an exercise.

During the 2011 general elections, there were reports – and INEC acknowledged this - that the register, even with the use of biometrics data, had not been able to

Continues on page 27

SUND AY SUNDA

JEGA DARES SENATE Continued from page 26 eliminate the issue of underaged registration of voters.

Biometrics has not produced a very clean register. It is being proved globally that with technology, incidents of fraud can be checked and reduced maximally. The Direct Data Capture, DDC, system brought daylight into that fraud of voter register.

What has been achieved so far with biometric registration in 2010/2011, minimal as they were, were on their way to the gallows with that arrangement had Jega gone ahead with it!

One of the benefits of the biometric registration was the emergence of Lagos State as the state with the largest number of registered voters. It also shattered old myths about voting figures.

But with the memo issued last year to ROAs, they were expected to “MANUALLY REGISTER” and “COMPILE COMPREHENSIVE VOTERS LIST”.

Some commissioners and senior officers of INEC were shocked when they saw the memo as issued by the Human Resources Department on the orders of Jega.

The memo pointed out that the biometrics would be captured at an appropriate time.

What this suggested, at that time, was that another round of exercise where biometrics would be captured was going to be arranged.

How did the Commission intend to do that then?

How much personnel were to be required for the two rounds of compilation?

It would not have taken divination to see through it that the “visit (to) voters and

prospective voters in their homes” for the purpose of “MANUALLY REGISTERING THOSE WHO REACH THE AGE OF 18, SIX MONTHS BEFORE ANY GENERAL ELECTION” as well as “TO COMPILE COMPREHENSIVE VOTERS LIST WITH A VIEW TO CAPTURE THEIR BIOMETRIC DATA AT THE APPROPRIATE TIME, AT LEAST TWICE A YEAR” constituted a recipe for electoral fraud.

In retrospect, the question needs answering: Were INEC to have carried out its manual, house-to-house Northern Zones

North East

North Central

North West Total

the CVR figures in each state of the federation and divide by 500 (PBR + CVR =TOTAL VOTERS (based on the simple expectation that a maximum of 500 voters = 1PU) .

If this was done, even using its less credible PostAFIS figures, the proportion of PUs in each zone of the federation will be as shown in the table below and the disparity between North and South will be 81:52 excluding Abuja.

But this appears unsatisfactory to the powers-that-be at

Vanguard, OCTOBER 12, 2014, PPA AGE 27

Voting scenes on election day

favour of a section of the country?

The worst and most shocking defense by Jega, as pointed out earlier, was that lopsided polling units do not confer electoral advantage on any group. Perish the thought!

Can that be true and is this defense not tragic coming from an electoral umpire having regard to the pronouncement of the Supreme Court in Ajasin vs Omoboriowho’s case on January 8, 1984. In that judgment, the apex court as per Mohhammed Bello (JSC) declared that “polling

Approximate no of Polling Units required (post-AFIS) 10,447,510/500 =20,895.02 = 21,000

Southern Zones

Approximate No of Polling Units required (post-AFIS)

South-East

10,572,968/500 =21,145,94 = 22,000 18,616,499/500 = 37,232.99= 38,000 81,000

South-South

7,178,185/500 = 14,356,37= 15,000 9,946,783/500 = 19,893.57 = 20,000

registration of voters, wouldn’t the process have been compromised by the ROAs who could just as well have padded the register and fill the space for PUs that are now being created for areas without the population?

GENUINE POLLING UNITS DISTRIBUTION If INEC was sincere in trying to create PUs without sectional bias, the simple calculation will be to add the Post-Business Rule figure to

South West

INEC, hence they introduced the abracadabra of 85% proportion which has allowed 11 states in the North to benefit from over 1,000 new polling units each while five states in the South got virtually nothing.

The critical question is, where is the objectivity when states that are said to be having excess polling units are awarded 121 additional polling units each just to deceptively mask the predetermined subjective lopsided allocation of new PUs in

13,161,854/500 =26,323.71 =27,000 52,000 booths are the base of the pyramid which forms the electoral process under the provisions of the Electoral Act....the booths are the roots which nourish the whole electoral process...” for fidelity or infidelity.

The highest court in the land dwelt extensively on what it called the “manipulation” and “rigging” that PUs can be used for in determining the outcome of election. So, Jega’s statement that PUs do not confer electoral advantage needs to be further

interrogated whether it was a sincere statement borne out of ignorance of the Supreme Court pronouncement or a deliberate attempt to deceive Nigerians.

In fact, why defend it spending millions in just one day adverts in several newspapers instead of simply suspending it or review it ?

Technically, time is one of the most critical resources and major factor and constraint that plays significant consideration in election planning and implementation. In looking at the time left for INEC’s planning and execution of activities like the proposed new PUs and many other activities that the Commission has to implement, both months of October and February next year are out leaving INEC technically with only three months of November, December and January. What time then is left for INEC pursuing controversial new PUs creation that has polarised the entire country?

Despite public criticism and the Senate letter that INEC should suspended the creation of the lopsided proposed additional 30,000 P.Us of 21,000 North and 8,000 South, and, despite the Chairman’s press conference wherein he declared that, “for the avoidance of doubt, the additional PUs have not yet been created but approval of framework and guidelines to be used by the Resident Electoral Commissioners who would propose to the Commission the creation of new polling units before creation”, why is he going ahead?

That is a question only he, Jega, can answer.

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PAGE 28 —SUNDAY Vanguard, OCTOBER 12, 2014

Jonathan’s centenary, independence speeches:

The missing point

BY BASHIR ADEFAKA

P

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•Jonathan ... anniversary statements need more bite Nigeria’s problems seem unsolvable to lack of concern about using the opportunities afforded the leadership of the country to heal the wounds of the past.

“We had 50 years of independence anniversary.

That was golden jubilee. Do you know the meaning of that?

Year of relief! Year of recompensation! Was there any amnesty granted to any prisoner in Nigeria to mark the anniversary? They did it in Ghana and that was the turning point for that country. It was not the killing that was done all over Ghana. What changed the life of Ghana for better was the visit to prisons by government to do justice,”Ajayi told Sunday Vanguard in an interview.

“So many people were there for no just cause and the president said, ‘Okay, if you have been in prison for the past three years, you are free from today. If you come back, that is your own problem but you are free.’ Amnesty to all! We couldn’t do that in Nigeria.

People that had been wronged, Nigerian government failed to seize the opportunity of the golden jubilee to do justice and reconcile with them.”

He went on, “The basic problem is our perception of justice. There is no justice in Nigeria. I, myself, am a victim

of injustice! And so, we say, ‘Oh, forget about the past.’ But injury to a soul does not vanish easily. How can you move forward when you have not been able to come to terms with the past so that we can unchain the present and free the future?

We must come to terms with our past to unchain the present and free the future. If we do not do that we are going to remain like this. All we will be doing will be taking one step forward and many steps

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RESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan, in the last ten months, has made two major speeches that got Nigerians glued to television and radio sets hoping to be told new things. Speeches of Presidents and Heads of State, in the past, had one of such that either put smiles on the faces of the people or did otherwise.

Of particular reference was President Umar Musa Yar’Adua’s speech that cut fuel pump price from N70 to N65.

They are little, little things in a President’s speech but they matter to the common man.

Much as many people agreed with Jonathan that he actually won the war against the deadly Ebola Virus Disease, EVD, a source in Lagos, speaking to Sunday Vanguard anonymously, last week, said his centenary and 54th independence anniversary speeches fell short of expectation.

The respondent, who was asked about the missing point in the speeches, said, “One expected a statement in the speech which would lift our spirits as Nigerians like saying, ‘Fellow Nigerians, I put it to you today that the Minister who has been alleged to be responsible for so, so and so missing billions of dollars from our economy is hereby not only sacked but also has been handed over to the police with immediate effect.’.

“We had expected a presidential speech that would say, ‘My good people of Nigeria, it has come to my notice that kerosene that is the common means of cooking by the generality of Nigerian masses henceforth will not only be available unhindered but also it will be available at N50 per litre either at NNPC mega station or non-NNPC retail stations’ and that ‘all those who have been frustrating Nigerians’ ability to enjoy the subsidy on petrol have been apprehended and will be paraded for Nigerians to see who their enemies of progress are.” He explained that, that sort of presidential speech was one of hope that would to tell Nigerians why they should embrace unity and Boko Haram members should surrender.

This aspect, he said, is the missing point that needs to be addressed.

In a related development, a retired military officer, Colonel Gabriel Ajayi, linked the reason

others, as part of the activities to mark Nigeria’s 54th independence anniversary.

Jonathan had the opportunity to do same but did not.

Uduaghan, using his power of prerogative, in line with Section 212 of the 1999 Constitution, freed Umukoro alongside condemned 53-yearold Monday Tom and an unnamed adolescent, who was sentenced to death seven years ago.

Others pardoned by the Delta

We had expected a presidential speech that would say, ‘My good people of Nigeria, it has come to my notice that kerosene that is the common means of cooking by the generality of Nigerian masses henceforth will not only be available unhindered but also it will be available at N50 per litre'

backward.”

Such new thing is the creation of hope, assuaging of strained nerves which was said to be missing in both centenary and 54th anniversary speeches delivered by the President in the last 10 months.

It is not government at all levels that is guilty. Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan of Delta State, who is of the ruling People’s Democratic Party, PDP, led the way by granting state pardon to a 77-year-old man, Dickson Umukoro, among

,

State governor included Dele Mokwunye, Ufuoma Paul Eto, Moses Orakpor, Uche Dike, Jonathan Igbi, Chukwuemeka Igwebuike, Chijioke Edeh, Augustine Okoroh and Joshua Musa, all sentenced to varying prison terms. Umukoro and Tom were freed based on their good conduct. Edeh, Okoroh and Joshua Musa however had their death sentence commuted to life imprisonment, a development the state Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr.

Charles Ajuyah (SAN), commended as a kind and rare gesture from Uduaghan, pursuant to his power of prerogative of mercy and in the spirit of the celebration of Nigeria’s 54th independence anniversary.

Jonathan has a backlog of pardon on his hands which, if pronounced in any of the two speeches, would, by now, spell for him another reason Nigerians should love him the more. On March 12 2013, more than a year and a half ago, he made a pronouncement pardoning General Oladipo Diya’s group convicted in the 1997, a former governor of Bayelsa State, Chief Dieprieyie Alaimeseigha and few others.

Even as controversial as the list of the pardoned Diya’s group was, being that only three of the six involved were announced, the gazette authenticating that pardon remains hanging between the offices of the President and the AttorneyGeneral of the Federation.

And like the widow of the late General AbdulKarim Adisa, Rahmat, said, the Army Headquarters could only act to restore the status and payment of entitlements to those affected only when the gazette is published.

Things like this would have lifted the spirits of many Nigerians if Mr. President had touched it in his centenary or 54th independence anniversary of Nigeria hence the missing point that people talked about. And many eminent Nigerians like Afenifere chieftain, Ayo Adebanjo; legal luminary, Tunji Abayomi, SAN, and more had spoken about the need for Mr. President to do this pardon and pay entitlements of the officers, particularly of the Diya’s group, without any one left out.

The spirit of presidential pardon to political offenders is known to have paid off for Nigeria in the past and the story, many believe, cannot be different in the modern day life of the country. This reporter gathered that despite the fact that a former Head of State was implicated in the Lt. Col. Buka Suka Dimka-led coup that killed the then sitting Head of State, General Murtala Muhammed, in February 1976, the implicated former Nigeria leader was pardoned by the General Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida’s regime. He was not alone.

Ex-Biafran warlord, Odumegwu Ojukwu, who traumatized Nigeria with war for four years, was also pardoned and both men were restored into normal lives as they both separately contested to become civilian presidents of Nigeria and they were very useful for the country thereafter.

SUNDAY, Vanguard, OCTOBER 12, 2014, PAGE 29

Aimiuwu’s deluxe wedding for daughter

C

all it a parade of society’s mightiest, richest, most powerful and even most beautiful and you are not off the mark in describing the spectacle and the list of people that graced Lugard Aimiuwu’s daughter ’s wedding penultimate Saturday in Lagos.

The couple, Keisha Aimiuwu and Omorefe Ehigie took their vows before men of God at the Chapel of Christ The Light after Chief Lugard Aimiuwu, past president of the National Institute of Marketing of Nigeria and the Osayuwanoba of Benin Kingdom had walked the bride down the aisle. Photos by Sola .

Oyelese

Bishop Oluranti Odubogun, Anglican Bishop of Ife (C) flanked by Chief and Mrs Lugard Aimiuwu, bride’s parents (left) and Sir and Lady John Ehigie, groom’s parents.

The happy couple; Mr and Mrs Omorefe Ehigie

L-R: Chief (Mrs) Kemi Nelson, Chief (Mrs) Araola Fuwa and Princess Sarah Adebisi Sosan.

L-R: Prince and Mrs O.T. Adefolah with Group Capt and Mrs John Oparpoloh.

Mr Godwin Obaseki (left), with bride’s father, Chief Lugard Aimiuwu

L-R: Maj- Gen and Mrs M. Efeoubokhan and AVM and Mrs Joe Ehigie.

L-R: Mrs Hellen Lola Ebueku , Mrs Ladun Ogunbanwo and Mrs Dolapo Dawodu.

L-R: Dr Michael Omolayole with Sir Peter O Edeoghon, past president, NIMN.

Lady Yemisi Rufus Giwa (right), with Mrs Iyabo Ogunshola C M Y K

L-R: Mrs Rita, Mrs Bunmi Thomas and Prof. Funsho Akere, former Vice Chancellor , Adekunle Ajasin University

L-R: Mrs Stella Ketiku, Mrs Eki Ogbomo and Mrs Helen Lola Ebueku

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Vanguard, OCTOBER 12, 2014

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Vanguard, OCTOBER 12, 2014, PPA AGE 31

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PAGE 32 — SUND AY SUNDA

Vanguard, OCTOBER 12, 2014

Jonathan using extreme measures to destroy Nigeria — Oyegun

*Says APC presidential ticket open to every zone *On Ikimi’s defection: He exaggerated his political importance *On Ekiti: The judiciary is on trial

T

of

he National Chairman

the All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, in this interview, says the party’s presidential ticket is not zoned to any particular section of the country. While reacting to President Goodluck Jonathan’s boast of capturing Rivers and Edo states, he describes it as a huge joke, asserting that the APC will rather snatch more PDP states in the 2015 general elections. He states that Chief Tom Ikimi C M Y K

attaches so much influence he does not possess to himself, saying that the exit of the former APC leader was good riddance to bad rubbish.

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By Simon Ebegbulem, Benin-City

There is this fear among APC members that the issue of the party’s presidential candidate might tear the part apart. Do you also nurse such fear?

People always signal, at

We don’t believe in forced consensus. If tomorrow all our presidential aspirants come to me and say, ‘Mr National Chairman, we have all agreed that, out of four of us, this man is the preferred candidate, we will support him’, we will gladly accept

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every stage of our development, that there will be rancour. There may be disagreement but we will always overcome it. We have survived all the predictions so far, so none that is coming afresh will come to pass. We have insisted we are going to have a levelplaying field, we are going to provide all aspirants with equal opportunity, there is no anointed candidate to the best of my knowledge. We are issuing a code of conduct that will ensure that the run up to the primaries will be rancour free in terms of personal attacks. People will say why they are the

best but they must not say why somebody else should not get it, just tell us what you have for the party and for the nation. We are trying to have as wide an electorate as possible given the fact that our convention hold in one venue. Even though we would all have preferred direct primaries, it is so cumbersome, so expensive that we thought that, for now, the best thing to do, as our constitution provides and expand the electorate is to have primaries in one single venue and whoever comes out of that process becomes the person behind whom the entire party will unite.

The PDP seems to have zeroed on President Goodluck Jonathan as its consensus candidate. Why can’t the APC have a consensus candidate?

We don’t believe in forced consensus. If tomorrow all our presidential aspirants come to me and say, ‘Mr National Chairman, we have all agreed that, out of four of us, this man is the preferred candidate, we will support him’, we will gladly accept.

As at today, all those who

Continues on page 33

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Vanguard, OCTOBER 12, 2014, PAGE 33

to have contested to be governor of Ekiti? That is the issue. What I even expected the press to emphasize is the very unprecedented happening, the humiliation of the judiciary, thuggery in the sacred chambers of justice.

Has this country ever degenerated to that extent?

What does it portend for the nation, that somebody who we thought was going to be governor, will lead and Judges have said he physically led, they saw it eye ball to eye ball, a team that will manhandle judicial officers in those sacred chambers? It has never happened in this country before. That is where I expect the media to stand and help the system rebuild. I am waiting anxiously to see the outcome of this because the judiciary in this country is on trial. How will they react, who seriously will they react, will they get cowed again by the power structures of the nation or will they stand up for themselves and say ‘we cannot stand this>?’ I was truly traumatized.

Continued from page 32 have indicated interest in one form or the other in the presidency of the APC, each and every one of them is capable of beating whoever the PDP presents. They (PDP) said they have settled on President Jonathan, but all those who have indicated interest on our side can beat Jonathan. So we will have no problem if the candidates themselves decide that one of them can go. But barring that, we are going to proceed and do that democratic thing which is a free and fair primaries.

But you should know that winning Edo and Rivers is totally out of the question because we have very strong governors in those two states.

Edo of course has been APC, there have been one or two skirmishes here and that is all. APC is solidly on ground with a governor that is doing very well. For the Rivers governor to have survived the onslaught including major ones by security agencies with full backing of Aso Rock, for him to strived, for him not to have lost control of his Assembly, just tells you that he has something a little bit more than the ordinary. He is firmly in control of the politics of Rivers State. So anybody using the totality of the federal might and you cannot unseat him, with all the array of special policemen, array of ministers energized, yet he survived and you are saying that you are going to win that state from him when you cannot get more than five members of the House, that is a huge joke. The PDP will lose more states to the APC in the forthcoming elections.

President Jonathan recently boasted that the PDP will capture Rivers and Edo in 2015 and 2016?

What do you expect the President to say, that he is going to lose Edo and Rivers?

We are also going to win many places because we have the list of the areas we are going to win, even Bayelsa.

Exit of former governors of Kano and Borno States, Shakarau and Sheriff, respectively.

We lost former Sokoto governor, Bafarawa, we got (incumbent) Wamakko, do you think it is a plus or minus?. We lost Bafarawa who was just a party chieftain; we got a sitting

Oyegun...We are firmy in control of Edo and Rivers

‘APC presidential ticket open to every zone’ governor with the totality of the House of Assembly with other concomitant benefits; so what are we saying? In Kano, Shakarau, a brilliant man, nice man, but we lost him to PDP, but we gained a fantastic Kwankwaso, a former Minister of Defence, a very energized, hard working

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C M Y K

A former chieftain of the party, Chief Tom Ikimi, accused the APC leadership of imposing you and many other officials, saying it was part of the undemocratic actions by your party. What is your take on that?

The claim really is getting to be such as a bad joke. He has said what he wants to say, I do not know that at any stage, in any party he was of such overriding influence that he cooked the food for everybody else to eat. But again to put it very modest, it is an over exaggeration of his role in the party. Yes, the ACN then chose him as the leader of their team and the entire group made him the Chairman of the process; after the leaders of the various parties had agreed to come together, they just needed somebody to chairman the negotiation. So if that means he cooked the food, let him enjoy the accolade he is giving himself. I won’t want to deprive him of that personal crowning of himself.

What concerns us now is the future. No party wants to lose any body, but people who are not ideologically attuned to where the APC stands think it is best for the party that such people go where they are at home. That is where Ikimi belongs. We won’t miss such people. Just like we lose some, we are gaining some.

A few days ago, I was in Lokoja to welcome seven sitting members of the House of Assembly into the APC. That is addition that is immediately relevant, so that is the kind of quality addition that APC is getting all over the place and we are expecting more.

There is this allegation that the APC intends to frustrate Governor-elect Ayo Fayose’s swearing-in in Ekiti. How true is that?

APC has no plans to stop the swearing-in. It is a plan by the APC to get the judicial system to decide whether we

I could not just go and be receiving an award where the halls of justice of this country are being so terribly desecrated and there has been no forceful reaction from the Federal Government

leader. Soldier go soldier come. Sheriff did not win his senatorial seat, you remember. There is a governor there who is part of the APC, and as he (Sheriff) is going, then going coincided with the cresting of who is Boko Haram supporter and who is not. And immediately he left, the flood gate opened as to who is actually supporting Boko Haram or not. So God took him away just in time.

Imagine the embarrassment which we would have suffered if he was still a member of the APC. What we gained is more superior to what we lost.

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are a country of law and order or not, or whether the laws of the country still mean anything of whether impeachment has almost the same force as a criminal offence, whether it is an indictment because the forms you fill when you are running for any office, they will ask you, ‘have you ever been in prison?’ ‘Have you ever been indicted by any constituted judicial court of law?’ So it is for the judiciary to decide.

Stopping him or not is a matter of what the law of the nation says and we have gone to court to seek the interpretation of the laws of the nation. Is he a qualified and fit person to rule a state,

‘Why I did not appear for my CON Award’ I personally did not go to receive the National Award of CON because, at that stage, I just could not put myself together to say ‘no, this cannot happen in our country’. I could not just go and be receiving an award where the halls of justice of this country are being so terribly desecrated and there has been no forceful reaction from the Federal Government. The shock was a bit too much for me to go and wear agbada, smiling and shaking the hands of the President. No, I could not do that. I really will urge the media to stand firmly, to ensure that what happened is unravelled and exemplary punished meted out.

Otherwise I don’t know who else cannot be slapped, may be the President. We have this habit of gliding over issues and moving on to the next; meanwhile the nation is degenerating, the nation is heading towards the precipice.

‘PDP using religion to tear nation apart’ What do we have today in Nigeria, we have religious politics, ethnic politics, even at federal level we have religious tourism. We have our leaders now who go to Church and prostrate and pastors stand and put their hands on their heads; there is nothing we seem not to do just to get one extra vote.

Some of those photographs

Continues on page 34

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Vanguard, OCTOBER 12, 2014

Ekiti: The judiciary is on trial — Oyegun

Continued from page 33

‘Jonathan has failed woefully’ You talk of power that has become a cash cow of the PDP, from one leadership of the PDP to the other. We will be stupid to say we are going to continue with a party that has failed us for 16 years now because nothing has changed for the better. Security is down, education is down, health facilities. we are one of the worst places in the face of the earth. More women die

Oyegun...PDP is Poverty Developing Party here during child birth than in most other places of the world. More children die here than in most other places of the world. Yet it is a country where we have trillionnaires. It is only country where petroleum subsidy has turned another cash cow, it is the only country where a third of our crude oil is being stolen.

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have been totally embarrassing when the symbol of a whole nation, the symbol of our independence, the symbol of our pride, is there prostrating. The ethnic thing is very loud and clear; if not, why will anybody in his right senses say that APC is Boko Haram party. The party is led by a Christian, in fact a Catholic, one of the conservative of the Christendom. Why will anybody ever dream of calling the party such name and they kept drumming it in. And of course those of you in the media know that there are a few CDs circulating, which portray the most horrific extremes of these terrible Islamist group, and then they link it with politics in Nigeria and link it to the APC. Why would anybody in his right mind do a thing like that? The video said that the South West has been Islamized by jihadists, meanwhile all the Muslim governors in the South West are married to Christian wives. Their children are Christians and then some people stand up to politicize the whole thing. You see, we are reaching to a stage where you ask whether the people doing this are mentally stable, whether they know the cost of the cleavage they are creating in the society. These are people who want power so badly that it does not matter the bitterness, the enmity that they create within the country between ethnic groups and within religious groups. We are now polarized in a way that we have never been in this country. Even in the North, you see the polarization of Christians and Muslims all in the name of politics. In their desperation, they are using extreme measures and we just pity the PDP and we hope the country will just be wise enough to put us in office in February so that we can start addressing this very dangerous forces that have been unleashed on this nation.

to the North. Does it mean you don’t have qualified candidates from the South?

I am glad you raised that question. I want to challenge anybody when it was said that our candidate must come from the North.

We have interested persons from the southern part of this country, it is even the PDP that has decided where

We are now polarized in a way that we have never been in this country. Even in the North, you see the polarization of Christians and Muslims all in the name of politics

Peoples pension are being pocketed. People call PDP Pickin Deceive Pickin, to me it is Poverty Developing Party because the only thing they have succeeded in doing all over the nation is bringing misery to the people. Hope is the only thing that keeps all of us alive, nothing else. The suicide rate in this country today would have been hell of a lot more but for the churches that keep promising miracles; so all our wives and children are now members of one funny named church or the other.

Because it is the only way to be mentally stable, they are the only people giving people hope, not government. Not hope that they will find jobs tomorrow but that God will intervene.

We cannot just continue this way.

It seems the APC has zoned its presidential ticket

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its candidate must come from and barred virtually any other person from anywhere from raising his head to say he wants to be President. But, for us, it is an open field, whoever wants to be President is free to come into the race. In fact, I wish every state can have a presidential aspirant because they help mobilize.

The important thing is so long that they all appreciate that, at the end of the day, only one person will be the candidate, they will all unite with that one person that emerges. That is what the APC represents and that is what is going to happen.

You are one of the leaders of South-South Peoples Assembly, SSPA, who fought for a South-South President. Why have you abandoned the idea now?

I am a South-southerner. I was President of the SSPA

and, for a long time, we struggled to be of help to this Jonathan’s administration. As a matter of fact, during one of our conferences, somebody came up with a beautiful paper which we adopted and it was titled, “Mr President, Just get it done”. And this came from his own people from the South-South. We know what the problems are and we have the resources to address the issues, so why are we not addressing the issues? And the situation has continued to worsen; eventually I had to leave my position as National Chairman of the SSPA. Because you could not get to a point where with all the advice, ideas, where you can sit down with the President to say `we are glad you are the President, you are our son but things are not right please correct them’. We needed to sit down to say, `Look, things are not right, don’t let anybody deceive you’. A situation came when one said, `Well, one is just wasting time. The issue facing our nation today is that we are now saddled with a party and a President who has totally run out of steam, there is no doubt about that, run out of ideas. Vulgarity of campaigns that is going on today, all sorts of things give us that singular impression of a party that has reached the end of the road, knows that it has reached the end of the road, knows that it has nothing else to offer, knows that it has so much to hide and knows that it is only the retention of power that can make that possible; that it is possible to go to any length what so ever just to retain power. Not to bring hope to the people they are governing but to retain power because that is the only protection that they think they have. This country needs salvaging. We cannot survive another four years under the current environment and sometimes some of their goons will misinterpret that to mean that if APC does not win Nigeria will collapse.

That is not true. It is clear we are heading towards anarchy, there is no question about that. Thank God the security forces have woken up now. It is a shame that we are talking about the East West Road after we have our own man in office for six solid years. You make promises but there is no single promise that has been kept. You have to behave to

your people when you are in office.

Why were you unable to settle the crisis that led to the exit of Pastor Ize-Iyamu and others from the party?

At that point, the harm was already done. As a matter of fact, very early in the dispute, I knew the situation was irretrievable because you cannot give condition for settlement and, while the time you gave to effect settlement had not expired, you already had visited the President ahead of the other camp. The President is not there to be used as a bargaining chip, the minute that you have gone to that extent, then there is no sincerity, the game is over.

But the party has recovered from that temporary glitch and we have moved on. I hope they are happy where they are because reconciliation should not be at all cost, there are times you stand on what you believe and move on and that is what the party has done in Edo. We are not bothered at all, the APC in Edo, led by Oshiomhole, is marching in the right direction. God is doing everything for us.

There is this rumour about a disagreement between you and Governor Oshiomhole over the choice of candidates in Edo. How true is that?

I have enough trouble in Abuja not to talk of coming here to fight with the governor over nomination.

There is nothing like that. I am trying to get my acts together to pick a presidential ticket in Abuja, trying to put the party in fighting shape for the election and it is not to bother myself on who is senatorial candidate here or who is House of Reps candidate. There is absolutely no clash between me and the governor. In any case, I am going to lay down the conditions for primaries and I will urge that every stage the primaries will be free and fair and whosever the people want, that person will become the candidate. The people, the party must be given total freedom to make a choice. Let those interested go round the field, let them stop dropping names, let them go and do their work. And at the end of the day, the party will state its preference. In any case, this is all name-dropping. I am sure the governor has not come out to tell anybody about his preferred candidate because in politics there are no secrets.

C M Y K

SUNDAY VANGUARD, OCTOBER 12, 2014, PAGE 35

SHELTER DEFICIT

One million housing units underway

BY CHARLES KUMOLU

W

ITH a housing deficit of 17 million units, it was not a surprise that the Federal Government,FG, through its various agencies, has embarked on programmes geared towards providing one million houses annually.

An indication that the resolve by FG could not be considered a lip service emerged at a forum tagged: Presidential Stakeholders Retreat on Housing and Urban Development, where it pledged to revolutionalise the sector by translating the National Housing Policy and National Urban Development Policy into a road map for housing development.

To achieve this, Nigerians enthusiastically looked up to the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria,FMBN. That the FMBN became the focal point did not come a surprise since the agency was established in 1956 to play the role of developing a robust mortgage finance system for the country.

With a mandate that among others include promoting the growth of primary mortgage institutions to service the need of housing delivery; mobilizing both domestic and offshore funds into the housing sector; linking the capital market with the housing industry, establishing and operating a viable secondary mortgage market to support the primary mortgage market and collecting and administering the National Housing Fund in accordance with the provisions of the NHF Act, the FMBN has no option than to remain a key player in the transformation agenda.

To surmount the challenges in the sector particularly the housing deficit, the FMBN, it was gathered, has initiated projects like the delivery of about 53,000 houses through the National Housing Fund ,NHF, launching of housing scheme for the informal sector, Estate Development Guarantee (EDG) scheme, among others.

Investigations showed that these measures are yielding results, despite the constraints.

Particularly, the launching of a housing scheme for the informal sector and delivery of about 53,000 houses and the resolve to recapitalise as part of efforts to boost operations in the nation’s secondary mortgage market have received applause across the country.

Speaking in that regard, Mr. Gimba Ya’u Kumo, Managing Director of FMBN, said: ‘’The Informal Sector Cooperative Society Loan Scheme product would enable operators in the informal sector like farmers, traders, artisans to benefit from the National Housing Scheme like those in the formal sector. ‘’The mortgage industry in Nigeria is just starting. If you look

Housing policy and the national urban development .....Nigerians want implementaion

The launching of a housing scheme for the informal sector and delivery of about 53,000 houses and the resolve to recapitalise as part of efforts to boost operations in the nation’s secondary mortgage market have received applause across the country at the size of our contribution to the GDP it is less than one per cent, but my target before I leave here is that we should be able to contribute at least 15 per cent.

That is why we are putting a lot of issues on ground to be able to drive this process. And how do you do that? If you look at the National Housing Fund (NHF) that we are managing, out of the 170 million population, less than one per cent are the ones contributing. So, we said this is not good. How do we reach the other segments of the society that are not in formal employment?, he noted.

Expatiating on the cooperative loan scheme, Kumo explained thus: ‘’Those in the lowest strata of the society have not benefited from loans, because they have limited capacity to pay for houses as the income they generate is very small. This led to the introduction of the Cooperative Loan Scheme. It was brought about to extend the bank’s services to people who can be termed disadvantaged in the society because their income is low, irregular and difficult to

access under the NHF loan window. What the bank has now done is to use cooperative societies in the informal sector.

The services to people who can be termed disadvantaged in the society because their income is low, irregular and difficult to access under the NHF loan window. Since they do not get salaries on a monthly basis, what the bank has done is to look at ways to reach them so that they can contribute and also benefit by owning their own houses.’’ ‘’The loan enables a cooperative society that has acquired a plot of land to develop houses for allocation to its members. The parcel of land would have title in the name of the society which would act as facilitator on behalf of its members in the loan transaction and which would facilitate construction of the housing units. The root of the title of the estate land would be subleased to the beneficiaries.’’

While the various strides by the agency may not have met all the expectations of stakeholders, some are upbeat that the sector is now reposition for better

service delivery.

Isaiah Dualong, Managing Partner of Havillah Shelter told VanguardFeatures,VF, that if the policies initiated in this dispensation are executed overwhelmingly, the mortgage challenge would be surmounted to a large extent.

He said: ‘’It is quite promising that we have seen programmes, which if fully implemented, would provide answers to the various housing questions in Nigeria. I am not in doubt that they are not on the right path. All we demand for is for the FG to keep faith in FMBN. Policy somersaults would not be in the interest of the good policies that have been put in place in the sector.’’ ‘’I am aware that the FMBN, is working on mass housing schemes with a rent-to-own option for workers, to reduce the housing deficit in the country. If that is done, there will be mass housing scheme. It will also increase the number of completed mortgages from the current 20,000 housing units more than 200,000 units in three years. You can see that there are prospects in all these.’’

Similarly, Chief Chike Chiekwena, Managing Director, Chiekwena Homes, observed that there is a new direction for the bank and the nation’s mortgage sector, adding that there is need for a comprehensive database for generating statistics.

“Every responsible government does not joke with its mortgage sector. So we were relived when the federal exhibited seriousness about reinventing the sector. So far, there are prospects and they

are doing well. However, there has to be incentives and necessary legal and regulatory environment to attract publicprivate partnerships in mass housing development,’’ he added.

Despite the applause across the country, further checks revealed that inadequate funding, had militated against achieving the mandate of FMBN. Most industry experts told VF that re-capitalisation and cooperate governance, also constitute some the challenges the agency is grappling with.

That informed why Kumo urged the FG to increase the share capital of the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria from its present N5 billion to N200 billion.

“We would also urge the Federal Government to increase the share capital of the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria from its present N5 billion to N200 billion to enable the bank address the housing deficit in the country adding that addressing the over 17 housing deficit in the country would require aggressive injection of funds by the Federal Government,’’ he noted.

Continuing, he said: ‘’The bank presently has a share capital of N5 billion out of which the Federal Government has paid up its own share of N2.5 billion representing 50 per cent, while the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the National Social Insurance Trust Fund ( NSITF) have not paid up their 30 and 20 per cent share respectively. The bank as it is grossly undercapitalised, compared to other countries even in West Africa disclosing that the government is currently working on ways to improve its capitalisation.’’

PAGE 36—SUNDAY VANGUARD, OCTOBER 12, 2014

Port Harcourt airport loses N4.7b cargo revenue — Adewunmi

Port Harcourt International Airport (Inset: Mr. Femi Adewunmi, Chairman, PrimePort Logistics)

By LAWANI MIKAIRU

T

HE Chairman of PrimePort Logistics ,Mr Femi Adewunmi, has revealed that Port Harcourt International Airport, Port Harcourt, Rivers States, has been losing an annual cargo revenue of about 4.7 billion Naira due to underutilization by freight forwarders.

According to Adewunmi, out of the 25% of the cargo that is supposed to come to Port Harcourt and environs, only 2.5% currently come direct into Port Harcourt airport as the

rest is hauled by road.

He added that what PrimePort Logistics set out to do is to improve freight services and drive cargo volumes into Port Harcourt International Airport as 250million kilogramme of cargo comes into Nigeria annually . And the Port Harcourt airport must use its 25% volume of the 250million kilogramme.

Speaking with aviation reporters in his Port Harcourt airport cargo section office, Adewunmi said the Port Harcourt freight market is lucrative and mainly business freight .It is mostly oil & gas and some manufacturing. He also said the Port Harcourt market is strategically placed. It has easy access to neighboring markets like Calabar, Onitsha, Owerri, Warri, Bayelsa, Aba, Eket, Oil & Gas Free Zone, Uyo, Delta, etc.

But he contended that the market is currently seriously inefficiently managed despite its advantage over Lagos market. And, according to him, “Port Harcourt has increased clearing and delivery times to Port

Harcourt (7-10wkg days) compared to Lagos deliveries. Bad Lagos to Port Harcourt roads and infrastructure resulting to poor quality of trucks .

And also the Trucker ’s reputation and illiteracy which has resulted in low integrity and trust in the current process of transporting goods from Lagos to Port Harcourt.”

On ways to make Port Harcourt market viable, Adewunmi said agents can “Partner and work with professional well structure organizations like PrimePort Logistics who are changing the way the sector operates.”

He went ….have insisted that cargo for Port Harcourt and environs should come directly to Port Harcourt. 100% of PrimePorts’s cargo is diverted from Lagos or is new traffic”. He also said his company is fixing some of the Port Harcourt issues and making additional investments to make the place attractive. “ PrimePort’s success is by continually fixing the highlighted Port Harcourt issues and has also put aside N60m to offset the additional cost of freight.

Port Harcourt businesses must assist in the drive – ‘Insist on PH campaign’ PrimePort is planning to host a workshop to help initiate this and kick off the campaign”.

Adewunmi explained that Port Harcourt airport gets low patronage because most Lagos based cargo agents prefer doing business in Lagos metropolis and sending their staff to deliver cargo to Port Harcourt. He added that the process in Port Harcourt is faulty as the

stakeholders compete against each other instead of complementing each other.

Immigration, Customs officials, police, Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria Security, AVESEC, etc undermine each other and make clearing of goods cumbersome at the airport.

This has led to “lengthy decision process and bureaucracy at the airport and lack of structure at the cargo section of the airport and professionalism in cargo clearance has made the airport less attractive to freight forwarders”. He said it will be better for Port Harcourt clients to insist that their goods

should be routed directly to Port Harcourt airport as against their being routed to Lagos Airport and then transported to Port Harcourt by road.

According to him, Lagos based freight forwarders and agents render “upredictable service and operations especially when it conce rns Port

Harcourt consignments”.

Adewunmi stated: “They (Lagos forwarders) have erratic service levels (good today, bad tomorrow) and they are constantly ‘firefighting’ because of share volume of cargo to Lagos.

“True cost of goods from Lagos to Port Harcourt is very expensive. And since delivery to Port Harcourt has been

outsourced, there is no control and ownership of process and there is no guarantee that POD bill will be handled carefully. Added to this is the lean resources available to Lagos agents who already have plenty Lagos cargo to clear and so Port Harcourt cargo is additional burden.

“Port Harcourt end users of cargo are unknown to Lagos based agents and so no customer service. Most agents lack international standard .Most agencies are in ‘business’ to make money and not set organizational standard and their focus is too much focus on local companies . Use of technology and connectivity is strange to them”.

Economic transformation: Diaspora group calls for policy continuity

BY UDEME CLEMENT

A

Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO), under the umbrella of Great Transformation Support Initiative (GTSI), based in the United Kingdom, has called on well meaning Nigerians to support the policies and programmes of the Federal Government designed to promote economic growth and development, in order to enhance sustainability in the system.

The deputy coordinator of the group, Bright Sodje, made this known in a chat with Sunday Vanguard, stressing that Nigeria’s economy has recorded tremendous improvement in the last three years, especially in agrculture and petroleum industry.

He said, “We need stability as well as sustainable growth for our economy to develop like advanced countries. As a group, one of our main objectives is the constant appraisal and dvice on present and future transformation initiatives currently embarked upon by the present administration.

President Goodluck Jonathan, needs support from all Nigerians to move the economy forward. Despite some challenges that Nigeria is facing, Jonathan is regarded by members of the international community as a leader with the heart of transformation. Some of these attributes can be seen in the rapid transformation of major sectors of the economy notwithstanding the security

challenge confronting the nation.”

He added, “His endorsement by the Board of Trustees of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP), for 2015 election is a welcome development for the sake of continuity in transformation of Nigeria’s economy. Currently, the government is investing massively in agriculture and this must be sustained to pave for way for job creation for the citizens, especially the youths.

Other areas inlcude the National Mortgage Refinance Scheme, which the government launched recently with N50billion as take off grant, National Industrial Revolution Plan and the National Identity Card Project, among others.

SUNDAY VANGUARD, OCTOBER 12, 2014, PAGE 37

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The big ideas to transform Nigeria,

by Sam Nda-Isaiah •Speaks on his paradigm shift •‘Buhari is my boss but he can’t intimidate me’

By SONI DANIEL, Regional Editor, North

W

e never knew you as a politician and now you want to run for Nigeria’s Presidency. What is the motivation?

I am sure you know I have been involved in politics over the years. But if being a politician means running for public office, I have not done that one apart from the one I did in school. But if being a politician means working within the political parties, I have done that.

Don’t forget that I was the spokesman for Major General Muhammadu Buhari when he contested in 2003. I was with him in ANPP and was a member of CPC when it was formed and it eventually fused with other legacy parties to form the APC. So, I have been a card-carrying member of political parties since 2002 and became the pioneer Deputy Director General of Buhari Campaign Organisation when it was formed. I was in charge of the media at the time. Yes, I have been in politics for some time but I have never really done politics at any other level. But I want to say that I am into the race because of what I know I can do for this great country as it has C M Y K

•Sam Nda-Isaiah

S

am Nda-Isaiah, publisher, entrepreneur and politician, is one of the presidential hopeful on the platform of the All Progressives Congress, APC. He shares his thoughts on Nigeria and why he wants to be the President of Nigeria. become very clear to all that, indeed, Nigeria needs a new direction. It is obvious that we cannot continue the way things are going. We need an urgent change of direction for the country. That is why I am into the race.

Are you not scared that you are going to contest against one of your mentors, Buhari?

My mentor? No, Buhari is my role model. I don’t think I have a mentor apart from God that I have always trusted for everything. A mentor is a stronger word than a role model. He is my role model and we have shared the same views, we seem to exhibit the same tendencies and even now within the APC, you can see that we belong to the same tendency; if you have to assess all the candidates, we are the closest in terms of beliefs, ideas and pedigree. So, I don’t see anything wrong in contesting

with him. In any case, I joined the 2015 presidential race before him. I declared my intention to run since last year and made it open at the beginning of this year. As at that time, Buhari was not sure if he was going to contest. At that time, he had said that he would not contest again. But he has changed his mind and wants to contest. A man has the right to change his mind. I have no problem with Buhari. And I don’t see any problem at all. It is fine and my relationship with him is intact as we meet and discuss all the time.

Why didn’t you think of starting you real political practice with a shot at the Senate or the House of Representatives to really integrate yourself into the political mainstream since you have never really been there apart from helping other candidates to contest for the Presidency?

No, no, I have no need to do so. It is like saying why didn’t I go and contest as a councillor or a local government chairman? I don’t want to. I am not a career politician and I am in politics for just one reason-to make the difference.

I am a serial entrepreneur. I have businesses that I started from the scratch and have become institutions. So, it is like asking people that have been governors before or vice president why they didn’t go and start something from the scratch and then develop something to be qualified to come and run Nigeria, which is a bigger entity. In fact, Nigeria has failed largely because we don’t have people with entrepreneurial experience, those who have been able to create something out of nothing. There are those who believe that is our bane as a country. So, I don’t think that I need that kind of experience in order to contest for the Presidency, especially because, as we speak now and clearly, if Nigeria has come to where it is today, then you should know that those who gained the experience of the past have nothing to help this country. It is funny when people ask to be elected President because of experience. If I may ask, experience of what? Is it the experience Continues on page 38

PAGE 38 — SUNDAY VANGUARD, OCTOBER 12, 2014

(3) Continued from page 37 of the high level of corruption that has been committed in the country or the experience of the mess that Nigeria has been thrown into by its rulers? Most of those who are banking on past experience cannot face scrutiny. That is not the kind of experience that Nigeria needs.

In fact, what we need now is a leader with vision to take this country to the next level. We need somebody that will take Nigeria from a third world country to a first world country, somebody who believes that it is possible and not someone who will promise that he is coming to build roads and boreholes. That is not what we need. Ruling a nation is not a joke. That is why I talk about big ideas.

A

t what point did this idea of becoming Nigeria’s Presidency creep into your head. Is it a childhood ambition or have you just seen it in a dream?

To be frank, if the Presidency had been handed over to me some years ago, assuming that anyone had the power to offer it to me, I would not have accepted it because I have never thought about is as a job I would like to do. I mean, it is not an easy job because it takes the whole of someone. It means a lot to be the president of a country because even when things are normal, it takes the whole of you. It takes you away from everything. I am talking about countries where their presidents are doing things properly. See how rapidly they change in physique. Take a look at when Obama assumed office and look at him now barely seven years after. Look at his predecessors-Clinton and Bush- and you will know what it means to occupy the office of president. If am going to be president, I am not going to play. The urge to be president started from 2007 but became very serious after the 2011 election. The issues around the world are new and different and the experiences of the past cannot be a guide for the future.

And we have had some people that tried and even to win an election, there are certain strategies to be used. If you are going to contest election in Nigeria, the issues are different from when you are contesting election in Ghana or South Africa, Europe or America. You must understand those issues and if you think that I contested election in NPN before, you can always win, it will not work. The issues have since changed and the political environment is not the same. Even technology has changed significantly. Of course, when Jonathan came and the whole place became polluted and people became fed up with the way things are C M Y K

•Sam Nda-Isaiah... Soccer economies are large and provide jobs

Nda - Isaiah: I offer a paradigm shift going in this country, some friends began to say, ‘hey, Sam, why don’t you go into the presidential race and rescue this country from the brink?’

The disorder in the system made some people to ask me to get into the race. I am sure I am not the only one that got this kind of pressure. Initially, when they started, I thought it was a joke and l laughed over it. But when very serious people started urging me to get into the race, I began to think seriously about it. Some of those who spoke to me did it as if it was an instruction. Of course, I have prayed over it seriously. I intend to win and even if I win, that is when the real trouble will start. If you are doing this job well, after four years, you should leave because you should be able to do very serious things that people think are impossible. In sum, it is not what I would normally have sat down to think about and it is not also that in the past, the idea did not come to my head but I had always waved it off. It has come to me and I see some very things I can do for this country.

Whenever I go abroad, I see some things that I believe that Nigeria has what it takes to do

The nature of crime has changed; so you cannot be using 1960 methods to confront modern crime more. Look at Dubai, which we now envy, when they started their first Sheraton Hotel, they came to Lagos to hire some people to run the hotel. Today, the hotel is among the best.

Each time you go to Dubai after three weeks, you see one new thing or the other. That is how a country is built by visionary leader. But if all you want is to use your position to amass wealth and promote your tribe, you cannot go far. We have leaders who have divided this country, but Jonathan is most

guilty. I talk about big ideas. I need to unite this country behind me to implement those big ideas. Why do I need to divide people when it is my duty to bring them together for the purpose of achieving national goals?

B

ut are you not frightened by the avalanche of challenges facing this country?

Why do you want to leave your successful business to dabble into the murky water of politics?

Of course, the way things are going in this country, every normal human being should be frightened. It is normal for people to say ‘let me mind our business’ but have you not seen that it is getting increasingly difficult to face what we are doing? Now look at the kind of security we put around our offices. It used to be that when you start you own business, you will get your own NEPA and Water Board, but now you need to get a very strong security network to be able to secure your premises, staff and clients because the security apparatus in the country has collapsed.

It gets worse every day and it

is a thing that should frighten all of us. There are two ways to it: either you mind your personal business and do nothing about the deteriorating situation and then we get to the situation we now have in Somalia which nobody wants to do business with, or you get frightened and decide not to shy away from entering the contest because the lives of your children and their future are endangered. I just cannot sit down and wait. Knowing that it will not be easy but I have no choice but to get into the ring to effect change.

So what are you bringing to the table differently? YarÁdua came with his 7-Point Agenda but died before he could implement it. Jonathan is still struggling to implement the Transformation Agenda to give Nigerians a fresh air. So, what is Nda-Isaiah bringing new to Nigeria?

I have said this at many fora.

My programme stands on three legs and I want to do them simultaneously. The first thing I want to do is to unite the country as soon as possible. As a president, you don’t even need a budget to unite the country. You have to be fair and just to all. It is very easy to unite the country if you behave as a father to all your children. Only bad parents divide their families; I know that if you govern the country as a good father, there will be peace, unity and development. We intend to do that as quickly as possible through policies that can work for the people. The second leg of our programme is security, which is the responsibility of every government to the citizens. As we speak now, Nigeria is in chaos caused largely by not just incompetence but also the extreme corruption that this country has never seen beforethe kind that has deprived us of the capacity to even buy bullets to tackle simple crimes.

The nature of crime has changed; so you cannot be using 1960 methods to confront modern crime. Crimes today are defined by terrorism, technology and all that.

Unfortunately, there are equipment to help you achieve this but you need to train and retrain the personnel to be able to tackle insurgency. We must change our tactics. Jonathan may mean well for this country.

I have met him many times and interacted with him. The issues are bigger than him. He should not be president. He does not seem to know how to move Nigeria forward.

The third leg consists of big ideas. For instance, let me pick one that relates to the unity of this country. Do you know that we can create a soccer economy for Nigeria? Soccer economies

Continues on page 39

SUNDAY VANGUARD, OCTOBER 12, 2014, PAGE 39

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‘Buhari is my boss but he can’t intimidate me’ Continued from page 38 are large and provide jobs.

Most importantly, a soccer economy will provide unity for Nigeria because Nigerians love football. Why are we not taking advantage of it? Do you know that the stadia you see in Europe are owned by private companies and the clubs are run by investors? The same people are ready to come and do it here in Nigeria. For a country that has 48 million unemployed people, only big ideas can change it. Any country with such record of the unemployed should be frightened. Even government confirms that it has 34 million unemployed people which is more than the population of Ghana. We intend to create new jobs for 48 million people; we are creating an army of entrepreneurs, which means that you need to have policies that will foster the creation of small businesses. A small business creates between one and two jobs. Nigerians want a conducive atmosphere to create businesses for the economy to flourish. But if you want to steal N40 billion, it will never be possible. Why does the country want to give subsidy in cash instead of seedlings? There is no need to give people cash which can be stolen. Agriculture is the mainstay of most countries of the world and we need to promote it. Look at Brazil, which has now been classified as Agricultural Superpower.

We have so many things in common with that country. It is doing big business in meat, in sugar cane, in soya beans, cattle, pig and rice. Why do we continue to pay lip service to these things? If I become president, I would be more concerned with legacies when I am through with my tenure.

The day I am sworn in, I would also start thinking of the day I would leave office. That is the only thing that would make one to act with seriousness. I am not interested in becoming president so as to get something out of the office. It is cheap for people to steal as president, but I don’t know why people should steal as president. We are going to bring big ideas to Nigeria and change the way things are done. For instance in Nigeria today, we have 17 million housing deficit and the present

•Sam Nda-Isaiah... Nigerian soldiers good, but need the right support government is boasting that it has succeeded in building 2,000 houses in one year. That is their big idea which is unacceptable. The thing about building many houses in a country is that you are creating new jobs with them. We have to build millions of houses because of the value chain. For one million new houses you build, you are creating about 30 million new jobs because everybody will be involved: architects, engineers, mortgage providers , insurers, craft men, bankers, furniture sellers, food vendors, etc and that will create jobs.

S

o how would your administration tackle insurgency?

I have told you, it would be tackled as part of my security strategy. Don’t forget that, in the past, we had security challenges that these same security men in Nigeria effectively tackled. Don’t also forget that Nigeria was big and strong enough to send its soldiers and policemen to other countries to go and save them.

These same armed forces did it. Nigerians soldiers are good; they only need the right support to excel.

So what is limiting them?

Of course, corruption is limiting them. Go and find out as a media person, how much is budgeted for the armed forces and what actually gets to them. Now, the soldiers are even complaining that they are not well fed and are not

The decline of Nigeria started gradually, but I think it has reached the apogee under President Jonathan provided with bullets. Soldiers are proud fighters, willing and ready to fight but why are they running from the battle field? Why are they running away from Boko Haram into Cameroun? Find out. Nigerian soldiers are competent and proud people and they have always been. In those days of the civil war, we were hearing of big names like the Adekunles and the Murtalas.

Where are they now? Where are the Adekunles and the Murtalas of today? We need to be serious, our country and some things are beyond politics. Most of these things I am saying are very serious; even if I am not contesting, I would still say them as a Nigerian. I am quite worried about them. I have absolute confidence in the Nigerian soldiers and policemen. What we should ask now is why are they running away from the

enemy?

What is wrong with Nigeria, what is missing?

The decline of Nigeria started gradually, but I think it has reached the apogee under President Jonathan. For a long time, crimes have not been punished in Nigeria, even under Obasanjo. It was during Obasanjo’s time that an attorney general was killed and we were officially told that the case had been officially closed.

That is not how to run a country. Under Obasanjo, so many political assassinations took place and nobody was brought to book. There is no reason Jonathan should not have been impeached a long time ago. That is the essence of democracy. But when you want to impeach him, some hoodlums who are part of the system would remind you that you did not impeach Obasanjo when he was misbehaving.

They will remind you that you did not impeach Yar ’ Ádua when he was in the cooler and you want to impeach Jonathan because he is an Ijaw man.

These are the people who are trying to divide Nigeria. And we are going to prove them wrong. We are going to run a campaign that will unite the whole country. This decline started for some time and nobody was punished for it.

Under Obasanjo, subsidy corruption for one year stood at N245 billion but under Jonathan it came to over N2 trillion within a year. Even Obasanjo was alarmed. So it

is time to start punishing crimes no matter who commits it. Nigeria is a failed state and we are pretending. The luck we have is that because of its size and our resource base, it is not irreversible. We are not like Somalia and Sudan.

Fortunately, all the people who are stealing from our coffers have no access to so many things; they are just in a hurry to pack the ones they can see because it can end tomorrow.

So when we get responsible leaders and we face the resourcefulness of Nigerians and our natural resources Nigeria, shall rise again because what we have in this country is much. But don’t deceive yourself, Nigeria is a failed state. There was a time that Nigeria became the country with the highest number of deaths from terrorism. Every day you hear the large number of people killed by insurgents. To become the president of Nigeria, you not only need to know the seriousness of the problem but also the seriousness of the solutions.

The world now is in a flux. Look at what the ISIL is doing. You cannot afford a mediocre leadership in Nigeria at this time. People say it happened in Kenya and other places. But since it happened in Kenya, has it happened again? But in Abuja, Boko Haram struck twice within 14 days. We need competence, clear leadership and clear headedness. That is what is lacking in Nigeria.

Why did you choose APC and not any other party?

I have always been with the progressives. I was among the first set of people to ask for the parties to merge to defend Nigeria from the PDP since they had threatened to destroy the country by saying that they would rule Nigeria for 60 years. That is why I say that they have threatened to kill the rest of us. I have friends in PDP but it is not just my abode.

Where lies your primary support base, since your state is controlled by the PDP? I am not a local champion and I can say that Niger politics is progressive leaning. I am Kakaki Nupe and it translates to the ‘I am the voice of the people’. So, clearly, I have a base in the state and I have a base in Nigeria, which is my whole constituency. I was born in Minna, schooled in Kaduna and went to University of Ife and did my Youth Service in Ekiti State. I have always seen myself as a nationalist and I understand Nigeria very well.

I am not a guy whose base is limited. I understand this mischief of trying to divide the country; so I know what to do to unite this country. We are not yet a nation but a combination of quarrelsome people.

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PAGE 40—SUNDAY Vanguard, OCTOBER 12, 2014

*Men suffering from leprosy... early detection can help

BY WOLE MOSADOMI

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HEY felt isolated and al most forgotten by the so ciety. They were stigmatized and shunned by most people including close relatives.

Many people thought that having anything to do with them was an abomination. However, the thinking is changing because the disease is curable especially if it is detected early enough.

Many people still call the victims lepers but those infected are frowning at the tag. Their submission is that since those who are infected with other serious and deadly diseases like HIV/ AIDS, tuberculosis, cancer, malaria and others are not called by those names, their case should not be different. They now want to be referred to as “’ persons affected by leprosy’, instead of lepers. The last Eid-elKabir was a testimony to the complete neglect and isolation of the people affected by leprosy.

Their colony, at the outskirts of Minna, the Niger State capital, cannot easily be located. No sign board to link a visitor to the leprosanium. The area is covered by thick forest; the road leading to the referral centre is almost not motorable especially when there is a downpour while the buildings harboring the patients are dilapidated and the environment unkempt.

When our correspondent visited them at their colony the Saturday preceding Sallah, while Minna and environs were bubbling, the victims at the centre were completely caught off from the joy of the moment. That had always been their sad experience in the past years during various festivities. In the male ward, it was virtually an empty building with only five patients while the female ward had only three patients. It was gathered that two of the male patients literarily discharged themselves to celebrate the Sallah with members of their families after the prayers and to join other celebrants enjoy the festivity. In an interview with our correspondent, the male and female patients in the leprosanium said they had no alternative than to C M Y K

*An empty ward at the leprosanium

‘LEPERS’ DEMAND:

Give us back our dignity! *Solitary life inside leprosanium

Women... a life of neglect take their fate since they had no alternative of getting cure or better attention elsewhere. One of them, who is perhaps the longest staying patient at the centre, Lawal Umar, said he had been on admission at the centre for about 25 years receiving treatment. Married with one wife and blessed with three children (one male and two females), Umar said, though he is receiving drugs free of charge, one major problem being faced is lack of funds for the upkeep of his family. Speaking in Hausa, Umar said he was a farmer before he got infected with leprosy. According to him he could not go back to farming because of old age and because he had lost some of his fingers to the dreaded disease. Another patient, Muhammed Shuaibu, 58, said he had spent three months in the centre. He said his family including a wife and four children

were resident in Katsina, adding that by the time he was brought to the centre, he was almost paralyzed because of the severity of the disease.

“I thank Allah that with the treatment I have received so far and with the assistance of the crutches given to me, I can now walk gradually and feeling better more than before,” he said in Hausa language.

He also solicited for assistance from individuals, corporate organizations and even government.

Another patient, Alhaji Audi Umaru, who was referred to the centre from Babanrami village, Niger State, said he was a specialist in cow rearing before he was knocked down by leprosy virus.

Married with two wives and blessed with nine children, he said since he got to the centre a month ago, he had started feel-

ing better.

His major problem besides being a leprosy patient is that he is diabetic and needs to be placed on special diet for total cure.

One of the female patients, Hadiza Saleh, also, in an interview, said she had been on admission for the past three months.

She said at the time she was rushed to the centre, she was paralyzed as a result of the deadly virus which had eaten deep into her nerves.

Hadiza, beaming with smiles while picking her steps to demonstrate her improvement, commended the Leprosy Mission of Nigeria (TLM) for the supply of back slam sandals to facilitate her movement.

The patient said, though the inmates were not with members of their families to celebrate the Eid-el-Kabir, they were thankful to Allah that some Christian bodies and a former head of state, General Abdulsalami Abubakar, made their day with special meals and gifts brought to them for the Sallah.

For several years now, TLM had played significant roles in waging war against leprosy.

While the mission has been meeting its own statutory role of 70%, government has at its own level failed woefully to meet up with its own 30% contribution thereby making the situation worse.

National Director of TLM, Dr. Udo Sunday Odihiri, in an interview, said leprosy cases, instead of being on decline, has been on the increase in Nigeria, pointing out that 3,805 new cases were recorded across the country due to the neglect of those affected by the disease by government.

He said the statistics captured in 2012 showed 3,805 new cases recorded by the mission Nigeria out of which 332 were children while 26 were from Niger State.

Odihiri said all steps taken to seek the face of government at all levels to combat leprosy had not yielded much results.

“It is possible for government to get rid of leprosy in the country provided government at all levels give adequate attention to it as given to other diseases”, the TLM boss said.

According to him, besides the neglect by government, stigmatization of the people affected, even after being completely healed, has led to the reluctance of victims to come out until when their cases have become hopeless.

The TLM boss gave cheering news to those infected that treatment is free across the country and that leprosy is curable provided it is detected early.

He therefore called on those affected to seize the opportunity to come out early to be treated.

Meanwhile, the mission at a training workshop for journalists on reducing leprosy related stigma and discrimination called on participants to be mindful of the use of language while reporting on leprosy cases.

According to Odihiri, inappropriate language use can damage the credibility, undermine ones argument or alienate the audience.

“The language that people use reflects what they think and can influence how they deal with situations. When we speak or write, we can cause offence if we use the wrong words and so, we need to think about the language and terms that we use”, he stated.

SUNDAY Vanguard, OCTOBER 12, 2014, PAGE 41

the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Alhaji Yayale Ahmed.

We met the president and gave him assurance that Nigeria was now one; we were going to work with him to make sure that the whole Niger Delta became peaceful. Thereafter, the leader of the Niger Delta, Chief Edwin Clark, hosted us in his residence in Asokoro. He expressed appreciation to Tompolo and others present for their support in ensuring that peace returned to the Niger Delta.

It was at this point that we received a call that the then vice president, Goodluck Jonathan, was ready to receive us in his Akinola Aguda House.

So, I was part of the success story because I lived in Warri, and I

ensured that the process was a success because Tompolo is a good friend. We were all part of the whole crisis then because they are my brothers”.

Roles in Niger Delta Peter is also involved in the development of youths in the Niger Delta region, particularly in Warri and environs.

His company, Oceanwave Marine Oil and Gas, was the official sponsor of Warri Wolves Football Club.

“I took it upon myself because I believed that if you empower one youth, it has multiplier effect. I boosted the club with one hundred million naira in 2008/2009 and we

PRE-AMNESTY ERA IN N-DELTA

People drank from the river they defecated in – Peter Omoh Dania L

ife is not essentially about the wealth an individual has acquired. It does not matter at what age you were able to make it to the top. But what matters to most people with the heart of Christ is how many faces you were able to put smiles on their faces. One of such Nigerians with large heart is Peter Omoh Dunia, who recently clocked 42. For the Ogbona, Etsako Central Local Government Area, Edo State-born philanthropist, life is about making others feel belonged and important. This explains why Ogbona indigenes, home and abroad, friends and well-wishers, were full of praises for a man who has made a mark in the emancipation of the Niger Delta region at his 42nd birthday. Apart from his philanthropic gestures, Peter was one of the players behind the amnesty granted by the late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua to former Niger Delta warlords in 2009.He worked with Tanimu Yakubu Kurfi, former Chief Economic Adviser to the late Yar’Adua, Alhaji Mohammed Asibelua and Mr. Walter Watgbasoma, Chairman Ontario, to prevail on his brothers, the freedom fighters, to lay down their arms. Peter narrates his role in the struggle to grant amnesty for the former warlords.

BY CHIOMA OBINNA ‘How I convinced ex militants’ was in London then but I set up a platform due to the fact that nobody could reach Tompolo apart from me.

They wanted him to embrace the amnesty.

I played a major role by meeting

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the late President Yar’Adua first before I preceded that night to meet with the vice president who is now the president. We had a chat and assured him that Tompolo was going to embrace the amnesty programme. And it came to pass!

On the day Tompolo and the rest dropped their arms, which was the final day, October 3, 2009, precisely, I joined them to prove that hostilities had ended.

We met in Chief Anenih’s house in Asokoro. Present there wer Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan of Delta State, Tompolo, Kingsley Kuku, Dennis Otuaro, Dan Ekpedide, Ankkio Briggs and some other eminent Niger Deltans. We left Anenih’s house for the Villa to see the president.

We were welcomed by the president and the vice president,

made sure that we removed most of the boys from the streets by ensuring that they are gainfully employed through my company.

We employed some of them on our vessels”, he said.

Peter explained that his support was rooted in the belief that the resources belong to the Niger Delta region, yet there was nothing to show for it.

“Most of the support came from me from the beginning of the crisis because I felt the resources belong to us. We are the bird that lays the golden eggs, yet there was nothing to show for it until when I went to Oporoza and environs. I went to see my bosom friend, Tompolo. I arrived there in the afternoon. A boat sail from Warri to Oporoza is about one hour, thirty minutes.

“But prior to that time, I discovered that most of the communities didn’t have pipe borne water, they didn’t have hospitals, no schools and you see most of them coming out to defecate in the river and, at the same time, drink from the water.

It was a sorry sight. I took it upon

myself to provide them water. I met a lady who had boats and I told her that I had just travelled to her village to see a friend and what I discovered was not good.

I requested her to do me a favour. I told her I knew that sachet water was not expensive. It wasn’t that I had much then because I had just moved into Warri and trying to settle down. I told her to hire me her boats or do it for me. `Let me buy enough sachet water so that as you are going to offload your building materials, you can stop by one of the villages and give them water’. That was how we started. Every week, I would buy sachet water and put them in two to three Cotonou boats. They will sail to those areas and the water would be supplied to them. I did that for six months”.

It was at this point about 20 chiefs from the communities insisted that he (Peter) be the arbitrator between them and some companies they were about signing a Memorandum of Understandings, MoUs, with.

“So, that was how I integrated myself into community business. I signed MoUs on behalf of the communities as attorney so that they could benefit from Shell, Chevron and other companies.

That was how the relationship started and that was how I met Tompolo in 2003, and we became friends and he was part of the whole process to liberate the Niger Delta region from poverty, life of penury”.

He explained that even though they never wanted to agitate against government “You cannot stand when your own brother is being killed and you fold your hands.” Peter continued: “That was how the struggle started, but, today, we give God the glory that our own brother is the president. But that is not the end of it. Up till now, nothing is being done.

The place has not been developed, but we know that the president is doing his best.

But he should also refocus on the region because nothing has been done as far as I am concerned.

The issue of lack of hospitals is still

there, there are no coastal roads.

But we applaud his educational drive like the Maritime University in Gbaramatu Kingdom. We know what that would attract.”

Peter also extended his gesture to his community, Ogbona. He ensured that roads around his community were constructed.

Before then, the community had been neglected by successive governments.

Ogbona is one of the four villages that made up Avhainwu clan. Peter single-handedly asphalt tarred all the major roads and streets of about 15km in the community with proper drainages to go along.

The feeling among the Ogbona people as a result of the ingenuity and kind-heartedness of Peter shows in the way they love and address him each time he makes an appearance.

The commissioning of the roads, precisely on March 7, 2009, witnessed the presence of Governor Adams Oshiomhole; a former Chief of the General Staff, the late Vice Admiral Mike Akhigbe (rtd); the Catholic Bishop of Auchi Diocese, Most Revd Gabriel Ghiakhomo Dunia among others.

Peter, had during the ceremony, declared that the road project was embarked upon as part of Oceanwave’s corporate social responsibility.

With Peter’s noble venture, his name has been written in gold in the annals of Afenmai history, Edo State and the entire Niger Delta region.

PAGE 42—SUNDAY Vanguard, OCTOBER 12, 2014 japhdave@yahoo.com 08066625505

MUSON celebrates 2014 festival with Coming of Age

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By JAPHET ALAKAM FESTIVAL

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• From left- Mr Gboyega Banjo, GM of MUSON, Dr Femi Akinkugbe, Kitoye Ibare-Akinsan, Chairman planning committee, Sarah Boulos of SPAN, and Engr Sobowale at the event

year’s Festival programme. It will open on Sunday, October 19 and run until Wednesday, October 22. The event is organised in collaboration with the Visual Arts Society of Nigeria, VASON. Classical Concert comes up on October 19 featuring the MUSON Symphony Orchestra conducted by MUSON’s new Artistic Director, Composer,

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he artistic prowess of renowned composer, multi- instrumentalist and musician Tunde Jegede, who recently assumed office as the artistic director of MUSON will be put to test as the Musical Society of Nigeria MUSON holds its first MUSON festival under him.

As usual, it is going to be another 10 days of celebration of creativity, musical and dramatic performances as the 2014 MUSON Festival with the theme Coming of Age kicks off on October 16 at the centre.

Announcing this before the media, artists and others, the Chairman, 2014 Festival Planning Committee, Kitoyi Ibare-Akinsan who higlighted the performances of the body so far, disclosed that this year ’s Festival is designed to reflect the theme: MUSON, Coming of Age by showcasing the significant progress that the MUSON has made since it was founded in 1983. “After reviewing many developments in MUSON, the Festival Planning Committee decided that the 18th year of the MUSON Festival is an appropriate occasion to announce MUSON’s Coming of Age.’’ Kitoyi Ibare-Akinsan, said this year’s festival kicks off on October 16 with one of the Festival’s favourites: My Kind of Music, the personality programme where a select cast of eminent Nigerians, provide a rare glimpse of their persona to an invited audience. gainst the backdrop of their favourite music, they discuss their musical preferences and how they relate to aspects of their lives, personal beliefs, philosophies and more.

It will feature the former Secretary-General of the Commonwealth, Chief Emeka Anyaoku; scion of the Awolowo family and former Nigerian Ambassador, Dr. (Mrs.) Tokunbo AwolowoDosunmu; former ViceChancellor,University of Ibadan, Emeritus Prof. Ayo Banjo, and former Federal Minister of Housing, Lands and Urban Development, Chief (Mrs.) Mobolaji Osomo.

It will be followed by the Festival Drama on Saturday, October 18 which will feature Jagua Nana – the Musical, Cyprian Ekwensi’s famous novel produced and directed

by Nigeria’s intrepid drama producer, Wole Oguntokun.

Visual arts lovers would undoubtedly heived/ a sign of relief with the return of the Visual Arts Exhibition to this

SONTA 2015: NICO set to host Nigerian theatre artists

will follow at 6.00 p.m. on the same day.

It promises, according to SPAN, to be “an entertaining, innovative, and crafted production that will keep the audience smiling and applauding through the night.”

The grand finale of the MUSIQuest, the annual talent competition for Youths, will

After reviewing many developments in MUSON, the festival planning committee decided that the 18th year of the MUSON festival is an appropriate occasion to announce MUSON’s Coming of Age

Cellist and Kora player, Tunde Jegede.

MUSON Festival devotees will be treated to a new and exciting festival offering on Monday, October 20. The Society of the Performing Arts in Nigeria (SPAN) an esteemed partner of MUSON is contributing to this year’s Festival programme a dance workshop and concert.

The workshop, will take place at 2.00 p.m. on that day and it will focus on Ballet, Hip Hop, Jazz, Contemporary and Latin, while the dance concert which

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feature the best candidates from the earlier stages of the competition in a concert. The event is scheduled for Thursday, October 23.

This year ’s Jazz Night, which comes up on Friday, October 24, is designed to showcase two young promising Nigerian Jazz artistes. The opening act will feature a MUSON alumnus, Jazz Saxophonist, composer and arranger, Imoleayo Balogun. Balogun and his Big Band will perform Jazz music “blended with African

philosophy”.

The main act will feature Bez whose music has been described as an “unusual hybrid of Soul, Rock, Jazz and R&B music that sets him apart from mainstream Afro hip-hop movement”. This year ’s MUSON Day Concert and Cocktails come up on Saturday, October 25. To underline the Festival’s theme ‘MUSON, Coming of Age’, members of MUSON and their friends attending the event will be entertained to music provided by artistes who are all alumni of MUSON’s Diploma School. he Festival will close with the traditional Gala Choral Concert on Sunday, October 26. The Concert is in two parts. Part 1, described as “Pop Choral

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Music”, will feature the works of Andrew Lloyd Weber, E di Capuo, and Andre Van Der Merwe among others. Part 2, described as “Nigerian Choral Music”, will feature the works of Laz Ekwueme, Ayo Bankole, David Aina, among others.

Chur es cultural da Churcch celebrat celebrates dayy in style

By STANLEY IBGOANUGO CULTURE

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ulture can bring together a people or mar their unity. It is through avenues like this,where kolanuts are broken and prayers offered by different ethnic groups in their mother tongue, that ethnic tolerance is attained.” These were the words of Rev. Fr. Peter Makasa, SMA, a clergy with the All Souls Catholic Church, Baruwa Ipaja, Lagos, during the church’s 2014 cultural day celebrations.

The event which was held in the church premises featured performances from the most significant ethnic communities

•MUSON choir in action in the church.

Activities such as the breaking of kolanuts, cultural dances and songs in local dialects were some of the features of the cultural event.

The tribes were divided into 3 societies; holy family for the Igbo, St.Michael for Yoruba and St. John the baptist for South South. The musical

performances were rendered in Igbo, Yoruba, Hausa and Akwa Ibom languages. he church hall was filled to capacity with members who looked graceful in diverse cultural dresses.

Interestingly, there were diverse meals

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N a bid to add another feather to its cap of ‘excellent execution’ in the area of professional hosting and organization of national and international conferences and seminars, the Management of the National Institute for Cultural Orientation (NICO) has accepted to host the 2015 Annual International Conference of the Society of Nigerian Theatre Artists (SONTA).

This is coming on the hills of the request by SONTA, the assemblage of academics in Theatre Arts, requesting the Institute to host its Annual International Conference next year, SONTA 2015.

A press release signed by Caleb Nor, on behalf of the Executive Secretary, Dr. Barclays Foubiri Ayakoroma, stated that the Institute is ready to host the 28th edition of SONTA’s Annual International Conference and has already constituted a Local Organising Committee (LOC) under the chairmanship of Barr. Abayomi Oyelola, who is the Director, Administration and Human Resources of NICO, with the Executive Secretary serving as the Convener. ccording to the Executive Secretary, the hosting of SONTA 2015 presents a veritable platform to further bring the potentials of the Institute to the fore, and also proffers a platform that will draw reputable Thespians from across the globe where NICO staffers can key into the programme as they will be expected to serve in different sub-committees like finance, accommodation, entertainment, transport, plenary session amongst others.

The Management of NICO is optimistic that the outcome of the conference will serve as a benchmark for the body for subsequent conferences.

The Society of Nigerian Theatre Artists (SONTA), an umbrella body of theatre arts lecturers in higher institutions in Nigeria, has been in existence since 1982, with the mission of research, promotion of academics and robust practices in theatre, culture, media arts and film.

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representing some states in the country. peaking in his capacity as Chairman of the occasion, Mr. Chukwujekwu Ogochukwu, praised participants for keeping their cultures alive and enjoined them not to relent in their efforts to retain their local languages even in foreign lands. Missionary Childhood Association who were members of the Atilogwu dance, thrilled audience with their energetic steps and acrobatic displays, On his opinion concerning views among some Christian denominations that breaking of kolanuts is idolatrous, Rev. Peter Makasa explained that, “Those who say we can do without culture are unrealistic. To get people’s acceptance, support and interest, you have to bring together the good sides of their culture with Christianity.”

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SUNDAY Vanguard, OCTOBER 12, 2014, PAGE 43 japhdave@yahoo.com 08066625505

‘Nigerians don’t read due to poverty’

By PRISCA SAM DURU MOVIE

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• Pastor Kingsley Innocent

comes, I write them down.

Even when I am in a car, I have my writing materials and I do write them down when the inspiration comes. Later, I

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ccording to Francis Bacon, “Reading maketh a full man, conference a ready man and writing, an exact man.” As a lover of literature, Pastor Kingsley Innocent, who is not just a prolific writer, but an avid reader, strongly believes in the above statement.

The servant of God, who reads a lot of leadership books, describes himself as a“ leader and I have come to understand that the day you stop reading is the day you stop teaching. Reading is part of learning, so when you stop learning then you stop teaching. I find it difficult not to read a book a day. I read all manner of leadership or career books. I also read books that can tell me how I can do and expand various businesses.

I also read my own books and I get something to learn from it. I read my works and I am fulfilled and it is the propelling joy that makes me want to go ahead and do more. Presently, I am reading Mike Murdoch’s book entitled, The Leadership Tool and it has really helped me.”

Explaining how he merges religious work with writing, he said, “I do most of my writings at night. As from 3am, I am with my writing materials and begin to write as inspiration comes. When I am in the office, I have my writing materials with me and when inspiration

who believes that the importance of reading to the development of the psyche of individuals and nation cannot be overemphasised,

My interactions with people living in the Eastern part of the country, shows that people don’t read because of the level of poverty

compile all that I have written and put them together into a book. I don’t have any specific day to write but I write every other night and it has helped me over the years.”

With his 7th book titled, I Can Fulfil My Destiny which hit the market barely two weeks ago, Pastor Innocent

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explained that “his book educates people that every man has a destiny to fulfil.

He said, “Every man’s destiny differs and one’s destiny and fulfilment is not dependent on any man, background, godfather, academic acquisition of financial capacity but

dependent on God and yourself.

It is the individual that determines what his/her destiny should be.”

More publications by the author are in the waiting while those in the market include; My work with the Holy Ghost, Practical Encounter with God; God, My Help, What If?, Where are you coming from? and The Morning Dew. “In my books, I express my life experiences because I know who I am and I know where I am coming from. I am not in competition with anybody. I am myself and I am doing what I can do.

My inspiration comes from the Spirit of God to whom “I owe all gratitude. I am also inspired by my day-to-day experiences in life. I am inspired by what I see others go through and I share with people through my writings. n reading culture of Nigerians he stated that, “Nigerians do not read. We need to cultivate a sound reading culture. In some of my interactions with people living in the Eastern part of the country, I discovered that people don’t read because of the level of poverty. People don’t read because they are yet to comprehend its usefulness.

What will a petty trader, who trades on vegetables or pepper read books for? This nation needs help and I am looking forward to a situation where God will touch our leaders and make them know that the masses are

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suffering. Poverty has made it that if some people fail to go to market each day, then there will be no food for them to eat.”

He frowned at how meaningful projects like Adult Education are abandoned.

“For example, our leaders didn’t make Adult Education enticing for the elderly people to go to school. They felt that if they leave their petty trading for studies, they will come back home and have nothing to eat with their families.”

He suggested that, what Nigeria needs is to eradicate poverty. “It is in the hands of government, they should bring policies that will favour the poor. The reason it has favoured the Western world is because they have policies that protect the poor. But in Nigeria, the rich are becoming richer while the poor are becoming poorer because our policies favour only the rich.”

The servant of God who said his books help people to progress spiritually, mentally, physically, financially, materially and family wise stressed that “My target audience is every person that can read and write because my calling has to do with the destinies of people. The rich and poor have a destiny and they all need help to fulfill them because no matter how far that an individual has gone in life, there is still a place called the next level, so everyone needs to expand and progress.

Ogene dissects telephone Photography as new art movement

By CHRIS ONUOHA PHOTOGRAPHY

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orne of out curiosity on what camera can do with images and having a strong passion for creating distinct artworks with photographs, John Ogene, an Associate Professor of Art History and Graphic Design/ Assistant Dean, Faculty of Applied Arts, University of Benin demonstrated how this miniature device called telephone camera has become an evolving technology created to do the work normal photographic camera does in a complex but result oriented manner through his lecture tagged, “No Longer Anonymous”.

The workshop which was held at Omenka Art Gallery, Ikoyi was followed with a solo photography exhibition at the Art gallery, Yaba college of Technology Lagos.

The event attracted some art critics, professional photographers, amateurs and scholars, affording them the opportunity to tap into the rich knowledge of the scholar, the importance of the “low tech”

technology and its significance as a new art movement.

Prof. Ogene who described telephone photography during his lecture as something out of the regular trend, said, “I tried to follow the trend on the history of the art technology and by doing so; I became curious with regards to things that surround the art of photography. Having passion for photography, I work with pictures in a way stories can be told and how pictures affect humans and society as a whole.

Because of that, my curiosity went far that this device can be used further or can be used beyond its normal expected views.”

He stressed further, “that having carried out the 1st workshop in 2013, putting up this 2nd workshop will further sensitive people and draw attention to a new culture of making art with application of a new evolving technology which is telephone itself,” and progress into an annual event.

According to him, “people in the past argued that photography should not be recognized as art in conjunction with other art practices like sculpture, painting etc. But over the years, photography has gradually

•Prof John Ogene flanked by participants at the event struggled to be reckoned with as an art medium and has gained momentum, allowing it to exhibit alongside with other art works in galleries.”

Speaking further, he explained how difficult it was to record event that are momentous, escaping events that people cannot readily or easily capture which is made possible now with telephone camera, even right on spot and sharing similar information worldwide through social media. It’s unlike before where photographers are contacted first before

events are recorded. The advantage is the spontaneous presence of the gadget itself, the mobility and readiness state of the camera with such that if there’s an abrupt event now, it is easily captured, example is the America 9/11 bombing.

The beauty of the new trend is that it does not in any way, impede on the normal photography practice or put photographers out of job rather; they will be looking inward and investing to take advantage of the device. “For instance, I have very big and expensive, high resolution studio cameras that I use in combination with this, I believe that it will be novelty if somebody starts

creating or charting a part that will be specifically directing towards creating art which will be telephone and such people will be known for that.”

Phone camera started with low mega pixel but still increasing and it is just the same way the digital cameras started which he said that it is a commercial gimmicks by those who make them to delay people jumping to the frontline of the technology and to enable them sell what they have currently, otherwise, it is possible to put camera in telephone that are so sophisticated that you can zoom, do inter-changeable lenses with time that will be so compatible, so amenable with high creativity.

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PAGE 44— SUNDAY Vanguard Vanguard,, OCTOBER 12, 2014

DIASPORA

Nokia Lumia 930: Leveraging seamless experience across multiple devices

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ARELY four years of the introduction of Windows Phone into the smart phone ecosystem, the Lumia 930, also known as the Lumia Icon is a 5-inch first Windows Phone 8.1 smartphone launched since Microsoft’s buyout of Nokia’s mobile division.

Apparently, the entry of the Lumia 930 into the market has continued to fly the Windows Phone flagship flag as a result of one seamless experience across multiple devices advantage.

The product which is already giving tough competition to other giant mobile companies like Apple and Samsung as a result of innovative features, is arguably, the swan song of Microsoft..

Although there are other flagships in the Lumia family, Lumia 930 is the most complete Windows Phone to date as a result of state-of-the-art technology embedded in the device.

However, Lumia 930 which offers the most compelling case for Windows Phone devices to date strikes an impressive balance between work and play.

At first look, the phone is everything that has deepened competition in the market with a large 1080p display, quad-core Snapdragon processor, 2 GB of RAM, 32 GB of internal memory, a 20 MP main camera, and exclusive Dolby surround audio recording Well built Design The Lumia 930 is well built design, having a very professional and sleek look. The thickness is awesome and amazing as it fits in users pocket very easily.

Metallic rim Known as the first handset to employ the new SensorCore technology, the device based on user experience is the top-end smart phone of Microsoft, featuring a metal frame that covers its sides.

Accordingly,Microsoft has gone big and bright with Lumia 930 series, swapping the predominantly metal design as seen on the 925 for a metal frame and polycarbonate matte back that comes in bright orange and green.

Lumia 930 which appears to be the fastest Windows phone powered with Qualcomm MSM8974 Snapdragon 800 used the Metallic rim feature as a real selling point.

ClearBlack display Coming with in-built Wireless charging , one thing that is clearly noticeable in the Windows Phone 8.1-powered device is the much improved screen over other flagships.

C M Y K

The AMOLED ClearBlack display used on the Lumia 930 is amazing and brilliant.

The deep blacks, rich contrast and generally decent colour reproduction , t h e screen quality,

are a l l g o o d experiences while using the device.

The technology makes the live tilesr e ally stand out on the home screen, and combined with the smart phone maker's deep love for color, the whole effect is attractive.

Windows Phone 8.1 Apart from offering some access to one of the best voice assistants in a smartphone, the update to Windows Phone appears to be a key selling point of the Lumia 930.

With this, users will benefit from new elements like a notification area (Action Center), more options with the background wallpaper and more live tile options than ever before.

With the latest version of Microsoft’s mobile OS embedded in the device, one thing is certain.Lumia 930 can compete with the best Android phones and iPhones available in the market Pureview 20MP camera For many years now, it is obvious that Nokia’s high quality camera heritage has remained the mainstay of the mobile phone maker.

Microsoft, in the device has implemented a 20 megapixel image sensor integrating the PureView imaging technology and there are Carl Zeiss optics used to help it out.

With a 1/2.5-inch sensor, the camera offers f/2.4 aperture and focus range of 10 cm., Microsoft has

added Dual-LED flash to help out in dark environments. .With cutting edge design, OneDrive and free storage, customers can have the ability to access their docu ments, files and even games anywhere and anytime.

Cortana advantage Invoking Cortana on Windows Phone is an exciting experience.

With the ‘Lumia Denim’ firmware update, some Lumias including 930 now have the hands-free feature named ‘Hey Cortana.’

Cortana wakes up and takes your inquiry. Such a feature allows users to use Cortana without ever touching their phone, which is perfect if you are across the room, have your hands full, are driving or other situations where it is more convenient to go handsfree.

Insurance cover advantage However, a close monitoring of market activities in the Nigerian IT market at the weekend showed that Microsoft may have deepened competition in the smart phone market with the introduction of insurance cover in the device, a development that has continued to tickle customers.

Accordingly, the Insurance cover at the point of purchase from authorized Nokia Retail partners covers accidental damage to the screen and accidental liquid damage to the phone.

Verdict Although the product comes with 32 GB inbuilt memory with 2 GB RAM, which is enough in my opinion, one major missing link is lack of memory card slot.

Certainly, the Lumia 930 is one good piece of craftsmanship.

Etisalat Cliqfest returns to Ebonyi State University, set for UNILAG

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LIQFEST, Etisalat Nigeria’s student empowerment initiative is gradually getting to its peak as the programme which recently held in Ebonyi State University is set to climax at the University of Lagos this week.

Head, Youth Segment at Etisalat, Elvis Daniel, noted that the youth empowerment programme which has visited several tertiary institutions nationwide is aimed at motivating Nigerian youths to keep

pursuing their dreams.

“Etisalat Cliqfest is a festival of sports, entertainment and education designed to help Nigerian tertiary institutions produce balanced, confident students who are well equipped for the challenges of a rapidly evolving world,” Daniel said.

Accordingly, Laptops, mobile phones, and many other amazing prizes were won by students of the university during Cliqfest’s second billing.

THE STORY OF MP RECKLESS

This is how to defect (2) “Everything is changing. People are taking their comedians seriously and the politicians as a joke,” - Will Rogers CONTINUED FROM LAST WEEK

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uoyed by the ac ceptance of his new found friends, Reckless said: "We all know the problem of British politics. People feel disconnected from Westminster. But disconnected is too mild a word.

People feel ignored, taken for granted, overtaxed, over regulated, ripped off and lied to."

He said he promised voters in the last election that he could cut immigration, cut the deficit, decentralise power, have a more open and accountable politics and "above all to help get our country out of the European Union". He said those were promises he could not keep as a Conservative, but could as a member of UKIP. The former Tory MP could not have chosen a better time to switch allegiance than just a few days to the start of the pre-election year Tory conference. By this time he managed to make himself the focus of his former party's conference.

In a reaction to Reckless' defection, the UK Prime Minister and leader of the Conservative Party, David Cameron, described it as “unfortunate”. The Conservative leader said he had not been aware of Reckless' plans to quit the party but suggested he would not be missed so much in the party.

When the news of Mr Douglas Carswell broke a few weeks ago, my initial reaction was to relate it to Nigeria. I thought to myself that it seemed politicians all over the world are catching in on the Nigeria political “best” practices.

In recent times in the Nigerian political landscape there have been

,

BY EMEKA AGINAM

Unlike what is obtained in the recent political carpet crossing in the United Kingdom, as exemplified

by Reckless and Carswell defections, the Nigerian political defection is not ideology based

,

“heavyweight” defections from one political party to another. It is common in the Nigerian system when politicians cross carpet for every imaginable excuses, including failure to win party chairmanship, governorship, councillorship etc.

Sometimes defection in Nigeria's political system could be in sympathy with individuals, groups or affiliates.

Unlike what is obtained in the recent political carpet crossing in the United Kingdom, as exemplified

by Reckless and Carswell defections, the Nigerian political defection is not ideology based. In Nigeria, it is more of where an individual politician can strategically place himsefl or herself so as to “eat the spoils of war”. Various reasons have been thrown around for defecting from one party to another, but none has been for ideological differences.

A quick analysis of Reckless' or Carswell's defections to UKIP brings up certain ideology failings in the Tory party, all of which, according to them (former MPs) made them feel uncomfortable identifying with the Tories. It is instructive to note that neither of these former members of parliament defected because they could not get their party's nominations or appointments. No. Unlike what is obtained in the United Kingdom and other civilised countries of the world, an elected politician in Nigeria is comfortable with defecting to another party without resigning his post to call for a bye

election. In the cases of Reckless and Carswell, they both resigned their posts immediately they announced their defection, thereby forcing bye elections in their constituencies. When elected politicians defect in Nigeria, all they do is change their "business cards" to reflect the new political party to which they belong. This is why we still have sitting governors, senators or members of the House of Representatives who have “crossed carpet” carrying on as if nothing changed.

In a layman's analysis of the constitution, a politician who got elected on the platform of a political party should resign upon defection to another political party. It is a straight forward case.

In Nigeria, all that is needed for a defection is the “defector” and the receiving party. In my country a defecting politician does not go alone, he has to show his support base as a foundation for proper negotiation. At the welcome "party", his supporters must also make their presence felt. The more you bring to the table, the better your decision making stand in the new party.

And you say politicians are the same all over the world?

SUNDAY Vanguard, OCTOBER 12, 2014, PAGE 45

08116759757

Controver sy as ‘lethal injections kill three -month-old baby’

BY FAVOUR NNABUGWU

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ome patients have limited understanding of medicine, so it is difficult, if not impossible, for a doctor to confirm that a patient has given adequately informed consent.

It is almost self-evident that adherence to the doctrine of informed consent requires a doctor to disclose enough about the risks and benefits of proposed treatments that the patient becomes sufficiently informed to participate in shared decision making.

What happened on September 26, 2014 will remain in the memory of the parents of a three month-old girl, Wunmi, who was said to have died about 20 minutes after taking two injections at a hospital (names withheld) located in Masaka, Nasarawa State, on the prescription of a doctor for cough and catarrh.

The baby girl allegedly died on the way home after the injections were administered on her by the hospital’s matron.

The parent blamed the death on the injections. Yinka, mother of Wunmi, said she took the baby to the hospital for cough and catarrh which persisted after she had given the child Paracetamol and Vitamin C. The hospital, when contacted

The baby girl allegedly died on the way home after the injections were administered on her by the hospital’s matron

by Sunday Vanguard on the incident, declined to comment.

The mother, a teacher, said the cough and catarrh started mildly on Tuesday, September 23, 2014 and ran through Thursday, September 25 even after the drugs she had given her.

So she took permission from her place of work to take the baby to hospital on Friday, September 26 where she gave birth to her for medical attention.

On getting to the hospital, she approached the matron to inform her that the baby was sick but had no money to pay for the treatment immediately with a promise to pay afterwards.

The matron directed her to

speak with the doctor about the credit treatment which she did.

The doctor accepted her plea, having delivered her of the same baby on June 29, 2014.

The mother of the baby explained to the doctor that she had administered Paracetamol and Vitamin C on the child for the cough and catarrh.

The doctor examined the baby, made some prescriptions and also wrote the amount for the treatment on the same paper as N2, 500. The mother then went back to the matron for the drugs. Meanwhile, the matron picked up the baby’s file, totalled the bill on the same prescription paper in the file, N3, 500 (N1,000 for hospital card + N2,500 for treatment), and, after administering the two injections, the matron marked the injections as given on the same prescription paper. The mother then put the baby on her back afterwards and left the hospital to deliver a message to someone on her way home.

She said when she got to where she was to deliver the message; she removed the baby from her back only to find that she was dead. She raised the alarm that attracted people who grabbed the baby from the mother and took her to a hospital nearby where a doctor confirmed the baby was dead on arrival.

The death of the child shook

the mother throughout that Friday so much so that she didn’t remember to call the doctor who prescribed the injections administered on Wunmi to inform him about the turn of events. After the baby was buried on Saturday, the mother, however, visited the hospital to speak with the doctor to know the injections administered on the baby.

The following conversation between Wumi’s mother and the doctor ensued: Mother: What kind of injections did you give to my baby?

Doctor: She got PCM and chloroquine injections which you can see in her file; and they are for two days.

Mother: This is not the paper you wrote on when I came yesterday morning. Where is the one that the bill was written on and the matron marked on? This is not the paper in the baby’s file yesterday.

Doctor: This paper is just a summary, it is a rough work. We need to see the rough work before the summary. The rough one maybe is the one that had the calculations and balance, but this one is just a summary. I can’t lie to you, she is accusing me wrongly.

Mother: This is not the paper you wrote on yesterday.

Doctor: When someone says that, it means that I am lying.

Mother: The injections were for two days; yesterday and today.

Didn’t you write my balance inside the paper yesterday?

At this point, the mother of

the dead child insisted that the doctor invite the matron to his office so she could throw some questions on what he wrote on the missing paper.

Mother: What happened to the paper you wrote on yesterday?

Matron: It was inside the folder Mother: How much did you write there and how much was my balance?

Matron: The treatment is N2, 500 and the family card is N1, 000.

Mother: Did you not total the amount l owe the hospital?

Matron: Yes. I summed it up Mother: Did you not mark all you gave to my baby in the paper yesterday?

Matron: I gave your baby what the doctor said I should give her yesterday Mother: That is not what I asked you, you have not answered my question.

The doctor cuts in: What we gave to your baby was what we wrote Mother: I am not asking you doctor.

Matron: The ones prescribed for your baby, are the ones given to her Doctor cuts in again: We are both civilian, if you punch me I will punch you and we will both start fighting which is not mature; we have to resolve this issue amicably.

Mother: I won’t fight you because my baby has died and you people changed the file and are trying to deny it. The matron admitted that she totalled everything in the paper but what you are showing us now does not have the total and marked injections. Instead of you to apologise and admit you were wrong, you are lying.

Doctor: Why should I apologise, did I kill your baby?

Mother: If you didn’t kill my baby, why did you change the paper?

Mother: My baby had only cough and catarrh. You gave her injections and she died.

Doctor: If you want to make case with me, go ahead and make case. I am a qualified doctor and registered in Nigeria to practise medicine. You can’t come and talk to me anyhow. I know that you lost your baby but that is not a good reason for you to talk to me anyhow.

Go and do whatever you want to do, what rubbish are you talking about?

Mother: Doctor, are you human at all?

Doctor: I am not a human being? Do whatever you want to do; all of you get out of my office.

Mother: Why did you say we should get out of your office? I only said this is not the paper and I explained to you what was written on the other paper because this is definitely not what I saw yesterday.

Sunday Vanguard learnt that the doctor dragged the bereaved mother, her husband, elder sister and mother to the police station for struggling with the baby’s file with him. A sister of the baby’s mother, who appar-

Continues on page 46

PAGE 46—SUNDAY Vanguard, OCTOBER 12, 2014

EKITI: SANs drag Fayose, PDP to NHRC

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enior Advocates of Nigeria Quakers and M.J. Onigbanjo have dragged the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, and Ekiti State governorelect, Ayodele Fayose, to the National Human Rights Commission NHRC,over alleged violation of their right to practice as lawyers. This followed the September 22 and 25 attacks at the Ekiti High Court by suspected political thugs and alleged threats to their lives. Quaker and

Onigbanjo, who are lawyers to the litigants challenging Fayose’s eligibility to contest in the June 21 governorship election, addressed their petition to the Executive Secretary of the NHRO, Prof . Bem Angwe. The National Judicial Council (NJC) had, at its emergency meeting on Sept 16, asked the Inspector General of Police, Suleiman Abiah, to investigate the attack on the court and prosecute those behind it.

Oniro becomes Ogun Council of Obas member

BY PEACE ONYEUKWU

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From left: Prof. Rahmon A. Bello, Vice Chancellor, University of Lagos and Chairman of Council; Dr. A.B.C Orjiako, Chairman, Seplat Petroleum Development Company Plc, and guest speaker; and Dr. Sonny Kuku, President, University of Lagos Alumni Association, during the 15th Horatio Oritshejolomi Thomas & 52nd Founder’s Day Lecture, held at the weekend.

KADCCIMA workshop on post-harvest mgt, value chain financing

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he Kaduna Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and A g r i c u l t u r e (KADCCIMA), has concluded arrangements for the staging of second edition of National Exhibition/workshop on Po s t - H a r v e s t M a n a g e m e n t Technologies and Value Chain Financing. The exhibition workshop, according to a statement

by KADCCIMA Director General, Malam Usman G. Saulawa, is a joint collaboration between the Chamber and Raw Materials Research and Development Council (RMRDC) and holds st rd from 21 to 23 October at the Kaduna International Trade and Investment Centre, KM 4, Kaduna – Zaria Road, Regachikun, Kaduna.

The event is aimed at complementing the efforts, policies and programmes of all tiers of

government. The main objective, among others, is to bring together stakeholders in the p o s t — h a r v e s t management/technology and the financial sector, to fast tract the development of postharvest management and value chain financing and policy framework that will support the initiative.

Assistant Governor Kemi Popoola of Rotary Club of Omole Golden, District 9110 commissioning the ICT Laboratory donated to Oke-Ira Senior Grammar School located at Ogba Lagos.

Fashola, Prelate, others extol Methodist Knights

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he Prelate, Methodist Church Nigeria, Dr. Samuel Chukwuemeka Kanu Uche, Governor Raji Fashola of Lagos State, among others, have extolled the Council of Knights, Lagos State Chapter, Methodist Church Nigeria, for showcasing the beauty of Methodist songs and lyrics, at its Choral

Evening. In addition, they enjoined people with passion for singing to assist in propagating the songs and lyrics to resuscitate the musical evangelism needed for the growth of the Church.

These remarks were made at the maiden edition of Choral Evening and Fiesta, organised by the Council of Knights, Lagos State

Chapter, Methodist Church Nigeria, in conjunction with the Trinity Council, Tinubu, Lagos, and Archdiocese of Lagos, at the Hoare’s Memorial Methodist Church Cathedral, Sabo, Yaba, Lagos.

Fashola, represented by his Special Assistant on Christian Religious Affairs, Revd Samuel Ogedengbe, and the Prelate by Bishop,

Excitement in Burutu over constituency projects

A

Diocese of Lagos Mainland, Methodist Church Nigeria, Rt. Revd. Isaac Ayobami Olawuyi, urged Nigerians to continue in such zeal, since songs serve as a vehicle to express gratitude to God and remind all of the good old days and reminiscence of the founding fathers of Methodist Church Nigeria.

member of the P e o p l e s Democratic Party, PDP, representing Burutu Constituency ll at the Delta State House of Assembly, Hon. Kennedy Daubry, has been commended over

his constituency projects in the area.

While inspecting the constituency projects, Chief Edwin Clark’s political aide, Mr. Emmanuel Eyarefe Okorodudu, commended Daubry, adding that the

Continued from page 45

Controversy as ‘lethal injections kill three -month-old baby’

ently got annoyed on the discovery that the file was allegedly tampered with, made effort to get hold of the

file so as to scan it but the doctor was smarter to retrieve the baby’s file from her. Further

projects are landmarks that proved the lawmaker as a worthy servant and representative.

Among the projects he executed are a sixclassroom block in Keniyinbo Primary School with 500 KVA generating

findings revealed the doctor instigated the arrest of the bereaved parents and relatives

set, a five-classroom block with 500 KVA generating set for Founkoro Primary School and borehole project at Amanaidum quarter of Torugbene.

Others are a public library, health centre

over allegation of attempted theft of hospital document.

They were in the police

(maternity ward), staff quarters, NYSC Lodge, a six- classroom block at Gbessa Grammar School while in Tuomo community, he built a classroom block and solar street lights at Ekogbene town.

station till about 2am the following day, Sunday, before they were released.

overnor Ibikunle Amosun has assured the people of Iro in Obafemi/Owode Local Government Area of Ogun State of his readiness to transform the communities in the state. Amosun spoke while presenting the staff of office and instrument of appointment to Oba Najeem Alani Aromaye Eyiowuawi Adebari as Oniro of Iro land.

The governor, represented by Basorun Muyiwa Oladipo, the state Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, said his administration was committed to developing every sector of the state as the machinery has been put in place to extend the on~going construction of roads and provision of social amenities across the state.

He charged the new Oba to deploy his wealth of experience towards this rebuilding mission while urging him to be a good father to his subjects by promoting peaceful co~existence and uniting them for the socio~economic development of the community. Amosun said the Oniro has become the only first class Oba in the local government area and that by his appointment he has become a member of Egba Traditional Council and permanent member of Ogun State Council of Obas.

In his acceptance speech, Oba Adebari appreciated God and the support of the Amosun administration in making the day a reality.

He promised to work together with all for socio-economic development of Iro and contribute his quota to the promotion of culture and tradition of the town, as he called on the state administration to help turn around the living standard of the people who are predominantly fishermen with government presence.

SUNDAY VANGUARD, OCTOBER 12, 2014, PAGE 47

Ebola: The diaspora and contagion more fuel into the raging debate of what to do with Africa and African travelers coming to the United States as potential carriers of the disease. The media here have forced attention to Ebola as a fast moving contagion of an apocalyptic proportion, and you’d think with the sheer frenzy of reportage, that Ebola has killed millions, like the Black Deaths of 13 th century Europe, even though only about 1, 300 have so far died so far in West Africa for all that frenzy. Well, if the idea is to catch the

If Africans do not have the resources internally to contain this epidemic, the world must once again come to its rescue, not merely for the sake of Africa and Africans, but for the rest of the world too, given the reality of contemporary human intercourse

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irritation. Unfortunately I was having one of those days when rage becomes a seductive poison. Not long after, my landline rings and I pick up the phone to hear a voice I know pretend to be someone else.

My reply apparently sent fear down the caller ’s spine as I heard later but it was quite simple.

“Don’t try me today.

Not today, piss me off any other day but today” I had said before hanging up.

I actually hadn’t given the call much thought and went back to debating whether I should send a stinker of a reply to the sender of the text message that had come earlier when I realised I was getting myself into a state of rage. Normally I do a rain check when I find myself in a terrible mood and the first thing I did was investigate my belly.

My mood can most

,

too, given the reality of contemporary human intercourse. So then comes the United States of America with the first strategic response. America is the super power with a good heart. But there is also another dimension to it that fundamental historical linkage between the United States and Africa. The United States is home to a

times be improved greatly by a good meal and a great night’s sleep. A nagging headache that had defied 2 painkillers had cancelled the sleep of the night before, my left eye could barely open as my head was still aching and the worms in my belly were about devouring my intestines from hunger;

,

public’s attention about a fast traveling, uncontainable disease moving with a scythe in the Dark Continent, they ’ve got us, and we are paying attention.

There is hope mixed in hopelessness.There is fear of a global contagion spreading from Africa.

Ebola is disease sans frontiers. There is also

One sorry day!!

HERE are some days in the calendar that we should all be made to wear danger signals.

Days when we have moods as dark as the stormy clouds and are like bombs just waiting for the right trigger to go off. One of the greatest lessons I learnt from my mother is never to put things in writing when in a bad mood; she was of the opinion that whatever you can’t say to someone’s face should never be said at all. I have for that reason never written a “dear John letter ” (it’s a letter breaking off a relationship when you don’t have the courage to face the person) or sent anyone any venomous message.

On this particular day, I had received a rather rude text and was debating whether to answer in the throes of fury or do what I normally would have done and just ignored the

great discussion about the failure of Africans to build the kind of infrastructure that could help contain it. It is a worrying and disquieting truth that the African continent, always totally infantilized and discriminated against in the global media agenda continues to reproduce the truths of its own helplessness. If Africans do not have the resources internally to contain this epidemic, the world must once again come to its rescue, not merely for the sake of Africa and Africans, but for the rest of the world

,

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HE United States government was the first government in the world to respond with care and urgency to the Ebola crisis in West Africa.

There is once more that example here of the United States as a force for good in the world. American health workers, in the discharge of their humanitarian functions have also fallen victim to the disease.

The first two famous cases of Americans who came down with the Ebola disease, Dr. Kent Brantly and the missionary nurse, Nancy Writebol contracted it as volunteer health workers treating the disease in Liberia. They were quickly flown down to the United States and treated at Emory University Hospital, Atlanta, under close CDC watch. These two became cause celebre for Ebola as it brought the reality of this terrifying disease home for the first time to Americans and Diaspora Africans in the United States.

The first reported case of Ebola diagnosed in America, Thomas Eric Duncan in Dallas, Texas, the Sierra Leonean immigrant who reportedly came down with it after visiting his relatives in Sierra-Leone died in Texas this past Wednesday. His case threw

vast population of the African diaspora, so much so in fact, that given the nature of that Atlantic linkage, no other nation outside of Africa has a greater claim, or ought to have a greater claim with an African connection more than the United States of America. The continent of Africa is a natural ally and partner with the United States in all ramifications.

Her president has African roots, to start with. It was perhaps in recognition of America’s filial obligation to the African continent that the US president announced a series of interventions to contain Ebola.

This week, the United States government will deploy an entire military division to West Africa, particularly to the three epicenters of the Ebola epidemic – Sierra Leone, Liberia and Guinea. The soldiers will build field hospitals and laboratories; install equipment, and help deal with this terrifying health emergency before it spreads far more definitively beyond borders.These are soldiers for peace and not for war, we understand, carrying out the United States humanitarian missions to afflicted areas. Now, you would think folks will be gratified by this robust American response and intervention. Repeatedly, health care works report that one of the most serious impediments to containing the Ebola spread among the local population in affected areas has been resistance and fear expressed by the victims and their relations, and a certain depth of skepticism about the disease and its

origins.

While researchers are pinning down the origins of Ebola to West Africans eating fruit bats, Africans are whispering that it is a disease made in the laboratory for depopulation and control, and all kinds of nasty intentions. I have heard all kinds of conspiracy theories and rumours and whispering campaigns among the circle of Africans and Diaspora Africans. The most colorful yet is that Ebola and the militarization of America’s health intervention gives the US leverage to establish its military bases through the backdoor in the heart of Sub Sahara Africa.

Conspiracy theorists are of course ignorant and have wild imaginations. However, they are also capable of rousing popular discontent.

If the US mission is to be successful it’d have to combat this level of cynicism and contend with it.

To be a super power, even one with a good heart, is a lonely and often thankless vocation, especially in Africa where Africans have learnt to look a gift horse steadily in the mouth, and whose experience with slavery and colonialism is still a fresh and open wound. As for me, I say America’s intervention is a good thing. Real people are dying. It doesn’t even matter now the source of the disease, but the death it brings is real. The US has determined that it has the resources to bring succor to places of affliction, and so be it. Africa must learn to take care of its business, true. But if it is unable to do so, it will continue to be a

charity case. It will continue to need America’s help and goodwill, and goodwill is reciprocal. Nigeria, which admirably contained its Ebola outbreak, once intervened militarily too in Liberia and Sierra Leone, using ECOMOG. Perhaps now is the time again for Nigeria and other West Africans, also using their regional military organization, ECOMOG, to join forces with the United States own effort in West Africa and rid the region of this contagion.

President Obama is under a lot of pressures to close the US borders with West Africa. Senator Billy Nelson, Democrat of Florida for instance on T h u r s d a y , forcefullydemanded that the United States temporarily close down all contacts with the places in West Africa with Ebola.

There is fear that Ebola might spread to the United States through a contagious diaspora.

Senator Nelson’s suggestion is dangerous for two reasons: one, isolating these countries will lead to a collapse of their economy and governments, and two; a disrupted economic life leads to a massive refugee crisis which would feed the contagion. Ebola is a human challenge, and we must face it with a human resolve. But while the US is right to seek means of protecting its borders and the health of its population, it will make a great mistake if it specifically targets the traveling African and the African diaspora as a contagious population. We need to find here, a really good balance in dealing with the fallouts of this terrifying disease.

the fact that people can sometimes be unsure when nervous and just blurt out nonsense without thought and probably sent a firm and still polite reply to the irritating text but not just on that day. On that day, having a hissy fit was the most attractive option; given all the mitigating factors.

or we may become monsters who abuse their wards when we lash out at innocent children without provocation. I can’t claim to be completely anger free but I certainly have more control over my emotions now than I did when I was younger; in those days I would never have bothered to check for underlying factors, I would just have erupted and to hell with the consequences. Speaking to a friend later on about the day I’d had, I found myself reasoning for a day off! I wanted a day to vent, we both debated the merits of letting our mouths rip and telling a few people off. Wouldn't it be great to just drop politeness, courtesy and etiquette for a day and let my baser feelings loose?

Before long we were laughing out loud; especially as we imagined the looks on the faces on some of those who thought we were quite reserved and proper!

be the bastard child who brings disrepute to her Father. I am also working on the sin of pride, I figure if I make myself of no reputation like Jesus, I would no longer be quick to take offence at things. On this note I should Confess that I am work in progress or there would be no need for the article and the day. To God be the glory the day ended on a good note; without the factors of hunger and a headache all was back to normal. In as much as anger is not a great feeling or emotion it is a monster that can be tamed. The trick is not to do or say anything while in its grip. On days like that, it would be great to calm down, pray, spend time listening to great music, have a good meal and getting a really good belly laugh by any means necessary. It is possible to feel trapped in a strait jacket of expectations to be nice even when people take undue advantage and are rude, feelings can be hurt, after all we are only human.

So I had my day, luckily I didn’t snap anyone’s head off and apart from sounding like a serial killer on the phone, virtually no damage was done; it was just one of those damn days, one very sorry day...

Not too long ago, I had read a book where the author stressed the importance of never putting too much premium on feelings /

Becoming a parent is one reason to have some control over our feelings or we may become monsters who abuse their wards when we lash out at innocent children without provocation.

,

yes; I was about to explode alright! It’s actually very wise to check for underlying factors when we get ourselves worked up; so we can avoid doing some serious but unnecessary damage.

On any other day, I would have said hello to the caller and appreciated

emotions especially those of anger and irritation.

Feelings come and go and they are normally fuelled by factors that have very little to do with the event that lead to the explosion or breakdown.

Becoming a parent is one reason to have some control over our feelings

There is a rein that keeps most of us on the straight and narrow, for me that is Christ and I would hate to do something that would have people question my faith. So if I have to grit my teeth and be polite when sorely provoked, I will. I cannot let myself

PAGE 48 — SUNDAY VANGUARD, OCTOBER 12, 2014 sameyoboka@yahoo.com

08023145567 (sms only)

Send Sambo to negotiate with Boko Haram, Bishop Umunna tells Jonathan B

ishop Leonard Nwoma Umunna is the General Overseer and the Presiding Bishop of Bible Life Church Cathedral (BLCC) which he founded in 1982 with headquarters in Ajegunle area of Lagos. Umunna was called to ministry in the 60s and by the leading of the Holy Spirit has remained in the Ajegunle suburb where the church has grown to the shame of those who believe that nothing good can come out of The Jungle City. He has established several other business concerns including schools, hospitals, music school and studios among others in the neighborhood. In this interview with Sam Eyoboka, the bishop spoke on several national issues including Boko Haram. Excerpts...

Umunna...Jonathan negotiated with militants interpretation at all.

The Constitution must compel elected public office holders to do certain things, take certain actions under certain circumstances even if it will involve their lives. This was why I felt unhappy when I heard that the recommendations of the National Conference would again be subjected to the Federal Executive Council. I said for what reason? These are the same people who have been there for years doing nothing; they travel abroad and see how human society operates, they come back here and continue the same way they have been.

They can't import all those good things they see abroad and apply them here for the good of the country. The National Assembly on the other hand, is it not a group of the people who have been there without the desired impact?

They could not sponsor the bill to effect the correct changes in the Constitution, but they allowed all that billions of naira to be spent on a conference, what do they have to say on the outcome of the conference?

Will you see the recent outbreak of Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) as a divine affliction, a plague or just one of those diseases?

It is both spiritual and a physical matter. I see it as a plague like the Boko Haram. I see it also as physical because of our inability to be hygienic enough to ward off such things.

Ebola was discovered in West Africa in 1976 in Democratic Republic of Congo and Sudan; now just making its entry into

Nigeria through Patrick Sawyer, the Liberian-American citizen. Ebola is a disease of a virus nature but it first presents itself like bacteria such as malaria with severe fever, weakness (tiredness), joint pains and extreme dehydration. But when it gets to the secondary stage, there will be emission--vomiting, blood coming out from the mouth, noses and other openings in the body; diarrhea etc. It is important to let our people know that when one is having such primary symptoms, that the best thing to

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The abducted Chibok girls have spent over five months in captivity and Boko Haram is still on rampage capturing communities in the North Esat.

What is your take on these?

Chibok, Gwoza, Bama, all put together tells us that they have politicised our lives. When the Chibok school girls were abducted, some people did not believe because they said it was all politics and that certain people wanted to use it to discredit government and all that. A situation where government sees every comment, no matter how reasonable, from the opposition as a ploy to pull down government is condemnable. Again, opposition must not be seeing only the negative aspect of government. They must not only dwell on criticism. Again, reaction time of government to crisis is not always prompt, except when certain people’s lives are involved. This really does not help the image of government.

What we have seen over the years is that whenever a relation of any government official is involved in some of these problems, concerted efforts are made to rescue such people as quickly as possible.

So the opposition people are asking: ‘Why hasn’t government been able to do so in the case of these Chibok girls? If I were the president, the steps I would have taken in this matter would endear me to the people. In the Yar'Adua administration we heard that Jonathan, as vice president, had to go to the Niger Delta Creeks to pacify the then militants. I don't think the president has thought of drafting the vice president, Namadi Sambo to personally go to go speak to the Boko Haram members. That is what leadership is all about, sacrifice. I think measures must be put in place either in the constitution or wherever, that whosoever becomes governor or president must not politicise our lives. There are certain things that should not be brought under political

good disinfectants such as hand sanitisers. They should also maintain a high degree of hygiene always as their cleanliness is next to godliness. In the event that somebody with the disease, that person should do him-/herself a world of good by going to the designated institutions or appropriate medical facility. So, to halt the spread, there’s need for proper and urgent information.

As a result of the development, summer lessons in schools were stopped by government which also had ordered postponement of school resumption. Do you think such level of precaution is necessary?

There’s nothing you do in this world that you’ll not get divided opinions. Some will be speaking out of knowledge, some out of ignorance, some from God, some from Satan, and some from human point of view. If anybody should see what is happening from only the religious point of view, the fellow should understand that not all men have faith. I run a group of schools. I don’t endanger the lives of pupils and students. I am an overseer of a large church, and I do not also want to endanger the lives of new converts or those with little faith. I try to follow the Word of God in line with medical realities. People must be ready to obey all the rules of medical experts.

Now, disobeying government in order to prove you are exercising faith is not the best way to go. That does not mean we should not manifest faith, all I am saying is that while doing so; while praying, we must be very careful so that we do not endanger the lives of other people by not heeding simple medical instructions.

So the opposition people are asking: ‘Why hasn’t government been able to do so in the case of these Chibok girls? If I were the president, the steps I would have taken in this matter would endear me to the people

do is to report to a medical personnel because at that point it is not yet a death sentence. It can be easily tackled. I told my prayer warriors that there should be no laying of hands on anybody who has come down with the secondary symptoms. I also told them that when ministering to someone whose nature of sickness is not yet determined, they should wear masks and hand gloves.

Those who come in contact with people with primary symptoms of fever, weakness of the body, joint pains etc should thoroughly wash their hands in running water (tap water) with

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There is this thinking that if government and the opposition can collaborate the way they did to tackle Ebola, the Nigerian nation would have made a lot more progress over the years. What is your take?

The collaboration we saw is because Ebola cuts across political lines. It is a matter of life and death. So, when life is involved, politics takes a back seat. It is life before anything else. Life has no duplicate. But beyond that, I think there is something fundamentally wrong with the type of politics we play in Nigeria. I just came back from America; you see,

over there, government educate people to be health-conscious, to take precautionary measures. Government in those climes takes proactive action to forestall danger, but here we are reactive in our approach to issues. Unless things have gone bad we don’t act. There, people are following healthy measures and are living a healthy life. It is unfortunate that here in Nigeria people are benefitting from the calamities of others.

They are making gain out of other people’s misfortunes. It is not the right thing to do.

At every seminar and workshop, the refrain is that the major problem of Nigeria is bad leadership. Ahead of 2015 election some people are calling on churches to show more interest in politics by urging their members to vie for elective positions. Do you think time is ripe for such a thing giving the kind of politics being played in the country?

I will say yes and no. Yes, for those who are mature and can hold their own ground. No, for those who are naïve, sentimental and could even be bought over. The kind of politics that is being played here is the type that allows people to cheat on you and your children through your votes. There is no transparency. And people pay attention to things that do not matter. Forgive my use of what happened recently in Ekiti to illustrate my point. Somebody is busy trying to give them good education and other necessary things, but they judged him through their belly. The way of politics in Nigeria now; in fact, Africa in general, is not what a spiritually matured Christian can just dabble into. It is not the best of times for a good Christians to go into the murky waters of the Nigerian politics.

By the way, I have repeatedly said that if you are a pastor you shouldn't try it at all because a God-called pastor is greater than any president in the world.

What we see here is that those who have been proven to do well are not being given the opportunity to occupy higher positions, but those who have no track record of (good) performance are the ones being selected to occupy leadership positions. That's where the problem lies. The right thing should have been for Christians to align themselves with the civil society organizations to sanitise the society, make people accountable, and ensure that we run politics the right way. Or if they are going into politics, they should come out as a united body. They should present their manifesto in unity.

By so doing, they withstand negative influence of those who may want to compromise a principled person who is trying to go into politics. A broom stick is easily broken, but a bunch is not.

SUNDAY VANGUARD, OCTOBER 12, 2014, PAGE 49

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WHAT IS THE WILL OF GOD? (3) The prodigal son In Jesus’ parable on the family of God, the will of the Father for his Prodigal Son who left home was not for him to get a university degree in Engineering; marry a beautiful Igbo girl and establish a conglomerate of successful businesses in the far country; far away from home. The Father only had one will for his son: “Come back home.”

Accordingly, when he finally returned home, the Father declared a feast, saying: “This son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.” (Luke 15:24). As long as the Prodigal Son was away from home he was dead to the Father. As soon as he returned home, he was alive again.

This equally applies to Jesus and to us. At the age of 12, Jesus said to his astonished parents: “Didn’t you know I had to be in my Father ’s house?” (Luke 2:49). Much later, he said eagerly to God in prayer: “I am coming to you now,” signalling his great joy at his impending return to heaven. (John 17:13).

Jesus told his disciples who were sad at his departure: “If you loved me, you would be glad that I am going to the Fa-

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HAT is the way, the truth and the life of eternal life, which is the will of the Father? Jesus is the way, the truth and the life. (John 14:6). God the Father required Jesus the Son to lay down his life out of love for him in order to return to him in heaven and inherit eternal life.

Jesus had all the power to save his life but refused to do so out of love for God. He refused because he was determined to fulfil the will of God. Jesus laid down his life for God; therefore God raised him from the dead to eternal life.

Nobody in human history understood that this is the will of God before Jesus’ shining example. Nobody in human history had ever laid down their life for God’s sake and for the sake of his kingdom before Jesus blazed the trail. Jesus was: “the first to rise from death, to die no more.” (Revelation 1:5).

Jesus says: “My Father loves me, because I lay down my life that I may take it again.

No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This command I have received from my Father.” (John 10:17-18).

Jesus, the Good Shepherd, lays down his life; therefore, his sheep are also required to follow his example by laying down their lives.

God wants everyone to see and believe in what Jesus has done. He wants all those who love the Lord their God with all their heart, with all their soul and with all their mind to follow Jesus by also laying down their lives for God’s sake.

Those prepared to do this will also be entitled to resurrection unto everlasting life; just like Jesus.

Jesus did not do the will of God for us. We have to do it for ourselves

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ther.” (John 14:28). It did not matter that, in order to go back to God, Jesus would have to die on the cross. That is why Jesus teaches that we must not try to save our lives. He says: “Whoever seeks to save his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life will preserve it.” (Luke 17:33).

False prophets

Jesus’ doctrine is anathema to the preaching of “Nicodemus pastors” who are ignorant of the will of God. They tell us the will of God is for us to succeed in this life of the far country. They tell us the will of God is for us to become rich and powerful in this world of the far country. They tell us it is God’s will for us to make names for ourselves in this world as managing-directors and chief executives in this far country. But it is all one big lie.

God has only one will; and it

is for us for us to be resurrected unto eternal life with him.

“Nicodemus pastors” urge Christians to commit our lives to Jesus but not to hate our lives. Earthly fathers encourage us to become doctors and lawyers and engineers so we can inherit this temporal life.

But God, our heavenly father, requires us to hate our temporal life. Jesus says: “He who loves his life will lose it, and he who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life.” (John 12:25).

When we listen to Jesus, we discover that the love of life is the basis of all sin. If we love life, we hate God. If we are committed to this life, we forfeit eternal life. Therefore, to repent of sin is to repent of the love of life. From the teachings of Jesus, it becomes clear that our salvation is dependent on two interrelated issues. We must love God with all our heart. We must hate this world with all our heart.

It is not the will of God for us to live “the good life” here on earth. On the contrary, God wants us to love him so much that we have no special regard for our life in this world but yearn to be with him in heaven. God requires us to despise the vainglories of this world.

Jesus says: “Unless a grain of

wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it produces much grain.”

(John 12:24). When we die to self and live primarily to God, we attract so many others into the kingdom of God. Jesus says furthermore: “If anyone serves me, let him follow me; and where I am, there my servant will be also.” (John 12:26).

How do we serve and follow Jesus? We do so by giving our lives as a ransom for others; just as he did. (Matthew 20:2728). We follow him by carrying our own crosses. Those who follow Jesus’ example receive the crown of life. (Revelation 2:10). They end up with Jesus in the bosom of God the Father.

Thy kingdom come A kingdom is a territory where the will of a king is done.

The kingdom of God did not exist on earth before Jesus because the will of God was not done by anybody on earth. But as soon as Jesus did the will of God on earth, the kingdom of God came down to earth.

Today, the kingdom of God is limited to only those who follow Jesus’ example of laying down their lives for God on earth. Everybody does this in heaven. Those not inclined to do this in heaven were cast out.

Jesus says: “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of my Father in heaven.”

(Matthew 7:21). This means nobody can enter the kingdom of God without laying down his life as Jesus did. This should not be confused with physical death. It means living for God and not for self. Jesus did not do the will of God for us. We have to do it for ourselves.

Why we are honouring Nigeria, says Pastor Ighodalo

BY SAM EYOBOKA

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S part of its annual programme to mark Nigeria's independence tagged Honour Nigeria Awards, the Trinity House singled out former Nigeria's High Commissioner to the UK, Dr. Christopher Kolade, the first female president of the Nigeria Bar Association, NBA, Chief (Mrs.) Priscilla Kuye, doyen of banking, Otunba Michael Olasubomi Balogun, among others for honour in a solemn assembly last Sunday.

Explaining the philisophy behind the awards at the impressive ceremony at the Zion Centre, Water Corporation Drive, Victoria Island in Lagos, Senior Pastor of Trinity House, Pastor Ituah Ighodalo, said the Honour Nigeria Awards ceremony inaugurated in 2011 is a day set aside to honour outstanding Nigerians/Africans of high integrity who have exemplified themselves in different areas of life.

"The objective of the awards ceremony is to recognize those who have contributed to Nigeria’s national development and acknowledge them as role models for this present and future generation. The awards are in the areas of Leadership, Professionalism, Industry, Philanthropy, Female Leadership and Role Model and the Africa Prize for celebrating outstanding African leaders.

"It is part of Trinity House activities to commemorate Nigeria’s independence anniversary celebrations and is held every first Sunday in October," he

Mr. Eric Nnwobi, Pastor Ituah Ighodalo and Dr. Christopher Kolade, during the presentation of the award for Leadership to Dr. Kolade further stated, adding that past recipients included Mr. Akintola Williams, Chief Emeka Anyaoku, Chief Chris Ogunbanjo, Chief Mrs Opral Benson. Chief Mrs HID Awolowo, Pa Laban Namme, Prof Grace Alele Williams amongst others.

This year’s Honour Nigeria award recipients include Otunba Dr Subomi Balogun, Dr. Christopher Kolade, Dame Chief Dr Mrs Priscilla Kuye and a posthumous award to late Dr. Stella Ameyo Adadevoh.

According Pastor Ighodalo, "Nigeria is one of the greatest countries in the world and has been extremely blessed by God. A land of 150 million people with huge natural resources, wonderful weather, no known or serious natural disaster, where almost anything of agricultural value can grow; a place that has been blessed with vast mineral, agricultural and human resources, extremely capable, strong hardworking, motivated and intelligent people with a lot

of energy.

"It is a shame therefore and a bit unfortunate that in the year of our Lord 2014 after 54 years of independence – Nigeria has not quite gotten to where it should be.

It has been suggested that perhaps in our lifetime, we might get to a state of good governance, a state of good statesmanship, but we might not be able to get to a state of excellent governance or top level statesmanship," the chartered accountant-pastor lamented.

Continuing, the pastor said the good thing about Nigeria is that it is not all a bad story. "Nigeria has as her citizens, some of the most outstanding people that the world has ever seen. Everywhere you go in the world, you will see a Nigerian doing great things. We must begin to celebrate all these people and begin to celebrate the good about Nigeria and as we begin to speak great things about this country; we must raise up bright and new role models. As we honour Nigeria and outstanding Nigerians, thanking God in spite of all that has happened, Nigeria will begin to be outstanding," he prayed.

He therefore urged Nigerians to join hands together, and work hard to ensure that in the next 10, 30 and 50 years, Nigeria becomes truly outstanding and makes its mark amongst the committee of nations.

"We must begin to look right now for the right kind of leadership; we must begin to look into the right kind of processes that will take us to where we are going; we must begin to make use of our natural resources and use them optimally; we must begin to encourage again the spirit of labour, hard work, honesty.

"We must begin to look at the things we can do to take Nigeria forward and say no more to all the elements of backwardness that has held this nation back. We must begin to honour our own, say good things about Nigeria and as we do that, God in His infinite wisdom and mercy will begin to move the right people into the right places. That is why we are honouring Nigeria," Pastor Ighodalo submitted.

Page 50 — SUNDAY Vanguard, OCTOBER 12, 2014

Delta 2015: How Jonathan will determine PDP candidate W

HEN the delegates to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) primaries gather in Asaba next month to elect the party ’s flag bearer in next year’s Delta State gubernatorial election, the interest of President Goodluck Jonathan, whose name will not be on the ballot, more than anyone else, not even that of Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan and the aspirants, will determine who wins the party nomination.

If the party leadership is aware of this fact and it holds true, I dare to predict that the nominee, contrary to what the Anioma politicians including some aspirants and their counterpart in the media want the Anioma people to believe, will not be an Anioma, but rather anUrhobo from Delta Central.

Jonathan faces a tough re-

VIEWPOINT

BY JEREMIAH P. OWOUPELE

A gubernatorial candidate of Urhobo extraction from Delta Central would help the President in a way a Delta northerner cannot

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the central government. In 2011, voter turnout in South-east and South-south was 65.8% and 67.96% respectively. If he and the party must hold on to power, there must be an increase in voter turnout in the 2015 presidential election in these geo-political zones.

In the absence of any valid

VIEWPOINT IN BRIEF Kudos for the initiative to end like other parts of the country in the past couple of years, is insecurity hardly news. The state has

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HE incorporation of a commercial security outfit – the Izon-Ibe Security Company Limited- by the Bayelsa State government has, understandably, attracted a lot of positive comments from various quarters. Without doubt, it demonstrated the commitment of the Governor Henry Seriake Dickson administration to tackling the problems confronting the state head-long. It is no secret that security and youth unemployment have constituted serious problems in the state and taking such a positive step that would address both is worthy of commendation.

That Bayelsa State has had its share of security problems, just

VIEWPOINT

By Alex O. Atawa Akpodiete VIEWPOINT IN BRIEF The best man for governorship is a woman

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OW that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has released its timetable and the primaries for governorship set for November 29, pundits are scrutinising the aspirants.

Assuming Delta State jettisons godfatherism and the ills of imposition of candidates, then every aspirant will be examined under a microscope to determine, who is the best suited candidate to govern the state and take over from Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan. The governor says he will not choose his successor.

Additionally, foremost Ijaw leader, Chief Edwin K. Clark, has warned

South has gotten Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan and it is now our turn”, hoping that others will just surrender the crown to them. That has not happened and it will not happen.

If the Urhobos win the PDP gubernatorial ticket, it is not because they believe that they must rule, but because they made a better case and won the argument. And no one else deserves the credit than Obarisi Ovie Omo-Agege, who has consistently argued that PDP needs a candidate, who can help the President win reelection.

“Members of the PDP family are interested in who can win not just the governorship election for our party but also whose candidacy can guarantee that APC does not get 25 percent of the votes in the presidential election”, OmoAgege said months ago.

Last week, OmoAgege declared: “I strongly believe that I, more than anyone else in the race, can achieve these overall objectives

for our party. My candidacy in the governorship election will ensure a greater voter turnout in the presidential election and help Mr. President achieve a landslide victory that will make it impossible for APC to secure 25 percent of the votes in Delta State.”

Surely Omo-Agege is formidable enough to comprehensively win the governorship for the party and h e l p President Goodluck achieve higher voter turnout in the presidential election. His nomination will guarantee the PDP a start off with about 60 percent of the votes which the Urhobos can muster all across the state and effectively put the election out of play for the opposition even before the campaigns begin.

Clearly the odds are in favour of Delta Central to produce the next governor of Delta and the man better positioned to emerge is the Obarisi of Urhobo himself.

•Johnson is an Asaba based public affairs analyst

Tackling insecurity: A new era in Bayelsa

witnessed kidnappings affecting all strata of society.

The high-profile cases received media attention while many others went unpublished. Cultrelated violence was also on the rise especially around the state capital, Yenagoa. We also had reported cases of oil theft and pipe-line vandalism as well as other criminal activities aimed at sabotaging the economy of the state and Nigeria at large.

There has always been one security challenge or the other for Governor Dickson to tackle.

Although the challenges are not peculiar to Bayelsa State, they certainly attained ‘celebrity’ status in the state owing, perhaps, to the fact that it is the president’s own state.

As one would expect, nothing goes unnoticed in Bayelsa

There has always been one security challenge or the other for Governor Dickson to tackle

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State. After all, it is the ‘glory of all lands’.

The president himself suffered the kidnapping of his adopted father in his home town, Otuoke. We have probably lost count of the many cases of kidnapping which also involved the 90-year old mother of a serving senator from the state, a brother to the Speaker of the Bayelsa House of

Assembly and the Special Adviser to Governor Dickson on Power. Suffice it to say, however, that such criminal activities have projected the state in bad light even as the state government battles to restore peace and order for her lawabiding citizens to enjoy.

This is why we applaud the decision of Dickson to further boost the security situation of the state through the establishment of the commercial security outfit as announced in a recent press release by Mr. Daniel IworisoMarkson, Chief Press Secretary to the governor. It is not only timely but another demonstration of the governor’s preparedness to respond to the yearnings of the people of the state who crave improved standard of living in a secure environment. Not only that, the implication of a security

Delta ready for female governor party leaders that there must be no imposition and that politics in Delta has matured beyond such practice. We will take both men at their words because they are both cognizant of the danger facing PDP, should some aggrieved aspirants take their structures and resources to the opposition party.

There are currently over 30 candidates jostling to occupy Dennis Osadebey House in less than nine months. In Delta North, where the governorship appears headed, there are over 20 candidates in the race. The issue of zoning or equity/ power shift appears to have been resolved, although there is still opposition in some quarters. Nonetheless, zoning or no zoning, some of us are

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VIEWPOINT IN BRIEF The President’s influence on guber race

zoning arrangement that is acceptable to all, no Anioma candidate can help the President to achieve the kind of victory he requires. So far, neither the Anioma aspirants nor their sympathizers have been able to prove that there is any arrangement.

A gubernatorial candidate of Urhobo extraction from Delta Central would help the President in a way a Delta northerner cannot. In the 2011 elections, Delta Central alone accounted for about 60 percent of votes in the presidential election in Delta and, without Urhobo votes, the President cannot win absolute majority of votes cast in the state. So why will PDP award its ticket to one of the Anioma aspirants on the basis of a non-existing zoning arrangement, who will act as a drag to Mr. President’s effort to be re-elected?

What baffles me most is how tackless the Anioma campaign has been. All along they have been content with just saying “Delta Central has produced Governor James Ibori and Delta

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BY EMMA JOHNSON

election battle with the emergence of the All Progressives Party (APC) which is threatening PDP’s hold on

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VIEWPOINT

In examining the aspirants, one who clearly stands out is Dr. Mrs. Esther Uduehi, who hails from Obiaruku in Ukwuani Local Government Area of Delta North

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agitating for the best qualified person to take over the mantle of leadership and take Delta State to a higher level.

In examining the aspirants, one who clearly stands out is Dr. Mrs. Esther Uduehi, who hails from Obiaruku in

Ukwuani Local Government Area of Delta North.. A knight of St. Gregory with her husband, she is not even asking to be considered on the basis of being from Delta North, which is her paternal hometown. Nonetheless, it is worth knowing that her mother is from Orogun (Delta Central), while she grew up and spent a significant amount of time in Delta South, making her a complete and detribalized Deltan. What is also peculiar about Uduehi is her academic qualifications, professional experience and political acumen.

The aspirant, who holds a doctorate degree in public administration, is of amazing pedigree. Once you get past her humility and eloquence, you will see a seasoned

breakdown in Bayelsa state is quite enormous in terms of revenue contribution to the federation account and the local economy. Any security breach at the many petroleum and gas installations in the state would translate to a significant drop in the nation’s crude oil export and earnings.

Apart from providing security, the company is to engage about 20,000 youths. This will be a big boost to the effort to tackle youth unemployment in the state.

We commend Dickson for this bold and novel initiative and as the benefits of the step begin to be noticeable in the foreseeable future, we are optimistic that more of such people-oriented policies are still in the kitty.

Bayelsa sure has a bright future under this administration.

•Owoupele lives in Abuja.

administrator and technocrat, who was a graduate teacher and principal and eventually retired as a Permanent Secretary in the defunct Bendel State. While in the civil service, she was the Chief Executive Officer of one of the largest local government areas and sole administrator of Bendel Broadcasting Service (Radio and Television). She was a Presidential Adviser and is now the Chairman, Governing Board, National Commission For Mass Literacy, Adult And NonFormal Education.

*Akpodiete, a public affairs analyst, is based in Asaba. He is also an aspirant for Udu/ Ughelli North/Ughelli South Federal Constituency in Delta State. Contact him on 08138391661 or Profatawa@gmail.com ,

SUNDAY Vanguard, OCTOBER 12, 2014,

Ohio Summit and Bala’s Land Reforms

By Rogers Edor Ochela VIEWPOINT IN BRIEF The FCT land swap under scrutiny

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ANY Nigerians seem to agree that the greatest obstacle to Nigeria’s development is lack of continuity in government policies and programmes.

It is against this backdrop that when Sen. Bala Abdulkadir Mohammed took charge as Minister of the Federal Capital Territory in 2010, he not only ensured the completion of some of his predecessors’ viable projects, he also initiated new ones capable of taking the territory from the fringes of development to an Eldorado.

Ever since he mounted the saddle of leadership in the FCT, his battle cry, both at home and abroad, has been that of expeditious development of the territory in all ramifications.

Recently, his quest to attract foreign investment into the territory found expression at the 2014 Conference of

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VIEWPOINT

The event equally offered a window to Nigerians in the Diaspora, highly influential and other notable groups to be enamoured of the developments in the FCT

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Nigerians in Diaspora held at the Embassy Suites, Columbus, Ohio, USA, where he called on Nigerians in the Diaspora to take the opportunity of the current Transformation Agenda and invest in Nigeria, particularly the Federal Capital Territory.

Represented by the Permanent Secretary of FCT, Engr. John Chukwu, Bala, who urged the Nigerian Diasporans to think more about what they can contribute to the development of Nigeria, said that the thrust of the Transformation Agenda in the FCT was to open up the territory to private capital-driven development, most especially through Land Swap programme as a catalyst for accelerated development.

The event, held under the theme, “Nigeria’s Transformation Agenda and Leadership Accountability: The Role of Nigerians in Diaspora,”generated enormous world-wide ,attention on account of Bala’s innovative land swap policy, designed to catalyze development and bring down spiraling property cost in the nation’s capital.

The event equally offered a window to Nigerians in the Diaspora, highly influential and other notable groups to be enamoured of the developments in the FCT and the reforms that have taken place so far under Bala’s leadership.

Consequently, these Diaspora Nigerians and other potential investors, fascinated by the enormous prospects of the Land Swap policy and the administration’s Private Public Partnership (PPP) programmes have expressed interest in investing in housing, transportation, health, power, environmental sanitation as well as agriculture.

One fundamental issue that ran through the entire gamut of

discussion among the delegates at the summit ,was the strong correlation some of them drew between the unfolding infrastructural revolution taking place in Abuja and the aweinspiring transformation of Dubai under its Prime Minister, Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Makroum.

The land reform decree issued

by Sheikh Mohammed in 2002 allowing foreigners to own real estate in Dubai – a first in any Gulf state – is akin to the courageous land reforms and the swap strategy introduced by Senator Mohammed in 2011 in the FCT. While prior to the reforms introduced by Sheikh Mohammad, Dubai had no real estate market and land was given out under semifeudalism, the land swap initiative of the Bala Mohammed administration permits investors to sell plots of land or houses to individuals, companies and institutions as the case may be, provided the investors has serviced the district with stipulated infrastructure. The sole intention is to narrow the gap

Page 51

between plots/housing demand and supply. In the case of the land swap program, the private sector under the programme would be incentivized to provide site and services within the districts. The emphasis would be for the government to provide the policy, legal regulatory environment for seamless private sector participation in the development of the districts of the FCT. Bala has delivered major projects such as the Abuja high rail and Abuja – Kaduna railway; multi-billion roads/ bypasses/bridges; completion of works on Tanks 1 and 6 with 40,000 cubic centimeters water storage capacity; World Trade Centre, while others like Abuja Town Trade Centre; Abuja Millennium City Project; Abuja Film Village International etc are on-going.

Bala Mohammed has played a crucial role in meeting the needs of the people and also the expectations of his principal at the Villa. An essential element to his extraordinary vision for the growth and expansion of territory has been the untiring focus in building a world-class infrastructure.

•Ochola, a public affairs analyst, is resident in Abuja.

PDP: Matters arising from Muazu’s endorsement VIEWPOINT

By Usman Kabiru

VIEWPOINT IN BRIEF The illegality in the ruling party

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HE rule of law is not an ambiguous terminology except in Nigeria and especially in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). This principle precipitates that people and institutions are subject to and accountable to law, for it is the supreme and fundamental foundation for every democratic society. In a country battling with lawlessness and the above the law mentality by its ruling class, the ruling PDP and President Goodluck Jonathan must be made to give good account for their incessant abuse of constitutionality and the enthronement of illegality. In a careful digest of their so called constitution, the PDP Constitution as amended, Section 45 (2) on Resignation or Removal of National Officers clearly

states: “In the case of the National Chairman, he shall hand over to the Deputy National Chairman, who shall without prejudice to Section 47 (6) of this Constitution, act as National Chairman pending the election of a replacement”. This is certainly not the case with the current acting National Chairman of the PDP. Their own self rule book has a vivid iron clad rule in Chapter 7 Section 49(1) that National officers can only be elected in a national convention and not appointed. In accordance to the principles of Federal Charter, the PDP Constitution also stated in Chapter 6 Section 47 (6) that in a situation where vacancy occurs in a National Working Committee, another elected officer from the area or zone where the person who resigned or is removed is from, be made to act in that capacity pending the conduct of election (National Convention) to fill the vacancy.

The PDP Constitution also made provisions for “ reasonable time” for the

PDP: TAN commends Peter Obi, others

By Lekan Bilesanmi

A

S the ruling party, Peoples Democratic Party,PDP, continues to receive more members of other parties into its fold, the Transformation Ambassadors of Nigeria (TAN) has commended Chief Peter Obi, a former governor of Anambra State, for being the first major member of the All Progressive Grand

Alliance, APGA, to openly declare his support for President Goodluck Jonathan second term ambition.

TAN’s Director of Operations, Barister Benchuks Nwosu, made this commendation at the weekend in Awka.

Nwosu pointed out that the former governor ’s decision and other new comers to join Jonathan

conduct of national convention to replace vacant positions in the party. All of these provisions were intentionally flouted and disregarded in the enthronement of Alhaji Ahmadu Adamu Mu’azu as acting National Chairman.

Recalling recent happenings in the turbulent leadership of the PDP, precedence shows that all other PDP national chairmen that resigned handed over to an elected NWC member, then a national convention was put together to endorse a usually Villa hand picked National Chairman except Alhaji Ahmadu Adamu Mu’azu, who is not a member of the NWC of the Party. Even Alhaji Abubakar Kawu Baraje and Dr. Bello Haliru Mohammed were National Working Committee (NWC) members that manned the position as Acting National Chairman, before national convention was convened to elect a National Chairman. But in today ’s PDP, an acting chairman has been super imposed on the party from

arose from the nationwide zonal mega rallies conducted by TAN, the grand finale of which is scheduled for Abuja on October 18.

Describing the daily defection into the ruling party as a welcome development, ‘’TAN sees it as being in line with its call for all lovers of good governance, purposeful leadership and development to work together to return Jonathan for another term’’.

outside of the NWC of the Party, without due attention to the provisions of the PDP Constitution.

This unconstitutional and illegal process might have telling consequences in the outcome of the 2015 elections.

There are pertinent questions to ask the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on this issue before our nation is plunged into another round of constitutional lacuna like the one we had in 2010 and the coming of the Doctrine of Necessity. Can an illegal endorsed National Chairman convene and preside over a national convention of a party?

Secondly can an illegitimate PDP National Chairman legitimise the process that will produce the party ’s Presidential candidate and indeed all PDP flag bearers come 2015? Is INEC, as the umpire, not aware of this flagrant flaunting and disregard of constitutionality and illegality by the PDP? The electorate and indeed all Nigerians must take a stand on

the side of our hard fought democracy, the undemocratic culture in the PDP and its opaque leadership ruling culture and practices must be questioned. As we move towards election season, we are watching with keen interest, activities of the so called largest party in Africa and it’s enthronement of illegality and unconstitutionality within its ranks, for if the PDP is incapable of obeying the tenets of their own Constitution, it doesn’t leave much to our imagination and gives credence to their incessant disregard of the rule of law and the Nigerian Constitution, which they swore to uphold in most states in the federation and in the center since 1999.

Every Nigerian must hold them accountable and every electorate watchful, for this might just be the time to try other options.

•Kabiru is based in Abuja.

2015: Ex-militants endorse Odogwu material resources, and we

By Tony Nwankwo & Gabriel Ewepu

A

S 2015 general elections approach, ex-militants under the aegis of Third Phase, Delta State Ex-militants, have endorsed Comrade Tam Odogwu, for Burutu South Constituency II, seat at the Delta State House of Assembly.

Chairman, Third Phase, Delta ex-militants, Comrade Agas Kingsley, who led his

colleagues to support Odogwu, said they had made their assessment of all aspirants but saw Odogwu as the most viable and vibrant candidate for the position, because he would bridge the development gap in the constituency when elected.

Kingsley said, “We in Third Phase, Delta State exmilitants, want people who are passionate about the development of human and

stand to support government to deliver people oriented development programmes and projects. “We have agreed t support political aspirants in the forthcoming 2015 general elections in Delta State."

And from our critical assessment on candidates vying to represent Burutu South Constituency II, we have decided to endorse Comrade Tam Godspower Odogwu.

PAGE 52 —SUNDAY VANGUARD, OCTOBER 12, 2014

‘At Real, we’re like a machine’ J

AMES Rodríguez is delighted with Real Madrid’s excellent form as of late and compared the team to a “machine” in a recent interview.

The Colombian then went much further by saying: “We’re taking every game as it comes and scoring five or six goals per match right now, and this is important.

However, we have to think about what lies ahead, and it’s going to be tough.”

James is finding it hard to get used to the position Carlo Ancelotti has put him in, although the Italian hopes the youngster will find his feet. “I play a bit further back, but that’s ok. It’s what he wants and I’m doing everything I can to carry on playing,” said the player, who is more used to a freer role when playing for Colombia. “[Colombia coach] José [Pékerman] knows where I want to play. He’s been following me closely ever since I was at Porto and then Monaco.

He knows our style of play well and that’s why we wanted him to stay with us.”

“Real Madrid have plenty of world-class players, but they are also great people too, both on and off the pitch. In the dressing room we have a lot of fun. We dance to all kinds of different tunes,” James said.

In the thrashing ‘Los Blancos’ gave to Athletic Bilbao last weekend, James joined Marcelo to celebrate Cristiano’s first goal: “They said we’d danced the Ras Tas Tas, but it wasn’t that at all, it was another kind of music, more like reggaeton than anything else.” Little by little the Real dressing room is taking on board Colombian rhythms and James feels right at home in Madrid.

N

ETHERLANDS midfielder Wesley Sneijder has claimed that he is owed unpaid wages by club side Galatasaray.

The 30-year-old joined Gala from Serie A club Inter in January 2013 and is serving as vicecaptain under new coach Cesare Prandelli.

But the former Real Madrid and Ajax man is apparently not being paid for his contribution to the Turkish Super Lig team and – according to reports in the Netherlands – has the right to a free transfer.

However, Sneijder, who is said to be owed around •1million, does not appear in any hurry to leave Gala and has insisted he is focusing on Netherlands’ upcoming Euro 2016 qualifiers with Kazakhstan and Iceland.

“It’s true that I am still owed money,” Sneijder said in quotes reported by De Telegraaf.

“Galatasaray is working to bring the finances in order.

Zidane faces three-month ban Z

INEDINE Zidane faces a ban from coaching after being reported to the Competition Committee by the Spanish Football Federation’s Coaches’ Committee for working as Real Madrid Castilla’s head coach without the necessary coaching badges.

According to MARCA sources, Alberto Pérez Calderón, the lawyer in charge of the case, is proposing a three-month ban for Zidane and his ‘assistant’ coach at Real Madrid Castilla, Santiago Sánchez Martín.

Barça back Catalan independence referendum ARÇA have clambered aboard president [Sandro Rosell] to the B the Catalan government’s Assembly of Club Delegates”, campaign to hold a referendum on Bartomeu is quoted as saying in independence on 9th November.

Catalan radio show El Món a RAC1 broke the news that Barça president Josep Maria Bartomeu had sent a letter to politician Joan Rigol stressing the club’s support for the National Pact for the Right to Decide movement.

This movement brings together over 3,500 organisations and associations that endorse the Catalan people’s right to selfdetermination.

“A year ago, Barcelona FC voiced its support for the right to decide through the words of its then

Sneijder owed wages by Galatasaray

the letter.

“Despite the solemnity of those remarks, which we felt made sufficiently plain our stance with regards to the process underway among the Catalan people, I would like to reiterate our support for the Pact”, the ‘Azulgranas’ supremo goes on to say.

The news follows the club’s earlier reluctance to publicly come out in support of the movement, evidenced by a statement after the Monday board meeting claiming that Barça were unwilling to take a stand on such a “sensitive issue”.

This in turn led a group of fans to launch a petition urging the club to reconsider.

Rigol, who is the leader of the Pact movement, responded to Bartomeu’s letter and thanked Barça for showing “theircommitment to the concerns and aspirations of the majority of Catalan society”.

•Zinedine The latter’s suspension would be for allowing another person to work in a coaching capacity.

Given that Article 104 of the Disciplinary Code carries a one

to six-month ban for coaching without the relevant badges or lending badges to another coach, the judge has proposed meeting in the middle and banning both the Frenchman and Santiago Sánchez for three months.

The evidence presented by the Coaches’ Committee has played an important role in handing out a ban. As previously reported by MARCA, said evidence included videos showing Zidane working as a first-team coach during training, as well as publications from Real Madrid’s own website in which the club refers to the Frenchman as their main coach. It is also noteworthy that Zidane’s salary is significantly higher than Santiago Sánchez’s.

Arsenal to set Ozil timetable A

RSENAL will follow the advice of their own specialist as they seek to ensure Mesut Ozil makes a swift return from his knee injury. Ozil is facing a lengthy layoff after being diagnosed with a partial ligament tear in his left knee while on international duty with Germany this week.

The German Football Association (DFB) issued a statement on Thursday revealing the 25-year-old will be out for 10-12 weeks.

However, Arsenal have yet to set a precise timetable for Ozil’s recovery, acknowledging only that the midfielder will be sidelined for “at least two months” and insisting they will conduct their own analysis of the injury before coming to any decision.

Manager Arsene Wenger told his club’s official website: “We have our own specialist giving

us his opinion after reading the scan and examining Mesut. We will follow our own recommendations.”

Arsenal informed the DFB of Ozil’s knee problem before he linked up with his national squad.

“When he arrived with the German national team, they didn’t think it was a lot at the start,” added Wenger.

“He was supposed to practice on Wednesday but, in the end, he said that wasn’t possible for him. “Then he had a scan and it was bad news.”

News of Ozil’s injury represents a further blow for Arsenal, who are already without several senior players and saw defender Laurent Koscielny withdraw from international duty with France on Thursday due to chronic tendinitis of both of his Achilles tendons

•Sneijder

Fans want De Gea to replace Casillas as Spain’s No1

D

AVID de Gea is the overwhelming favourite among Spain fans to replace Iker Casillas.

Casillas was at fault for Slovakia’s opening goal – misjudging Juraj Kucka’s 30yard free kick – in Spain’s 2-1 defeat on Thursday.

And now Spanish fans have backed De Gea, who has been in fine form for Manchester United, to replace the under fire Real Madrid keeper. A poll by Spanish newspaper Marca saw 86 per cent of fans vote for De Gea to be given a chance.

De Gea has two caps for Vicente Del Bosque’s side compared to Casillas’ 158.

Spain travel to Luxembourg today and will be looking to get back to winning ways in their European qualifying campaign.

•de Gea

SUNDAY Vanguard, OCTOBER 12, 2014,

Sen Mark is ‘Pillar of Golf in Africa’

OKAGBARE: Without an Olympic gold I have not arrived

BY JOHNBOSCO AGBAKWURU, Abuja

By BEN EFE

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igerian track and field star, Blessing Okagbare said her main focus in the next two years will be on winning an Olympic gold. She insisted that all her achievements in athletics so far will amount to nothing, if she fails to win gold at the 2016 Olympics in Rio Brazil.

The best she has ever had in two Olympic appearances was a long jump bronze in Beijing 2008. The London 2012 Olympics is a pain that Okabgare wished will vamoose from her memory as she came short of glory in face of high expectations.

But at the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland Okagbare painted a picture of what to expect in the world championships next year in Beijing, China and also the 2016 Olympics when she won a sprint double. This is even as her staunchest rival Shelly Ann Fraser-Pryce was absent, but Okagbare proved that she could cope with the best in the world by beating veteran Veronica Campbell Brown and Kerron Stewart in the 100m and 200m.

“Certainly, the next two years are going to be tough. Really tough and I want to do great things.

“For me it is not just about going out there to compete for a medal. I want to win an individual Olympic gold. It is good for your resume, it is good for your carrier and it is good for your future. This is what I am looking towards to in the next two years.

“I just want to get myself ready. And as long as the good Lord is giving me strength to go on, I will go for it and I know it is going to be a lot of work,” Okabgare said.

Of course, the world is hers for the taking only if she can remain consistent. Having competed with the best in the world and on several occasions beaten the likes of Fraser-Pryce, Allyson Felix, Muriel

Ahoure, Okagbare is a sure candidate for the gold at the world championship and the 2016 Olympics.

After stealing the show at the Commonwealth Games, her coach John Smith reckoned that Okagbare have all it takes to become a world beater and that coming from a man who had coached several Olympic champions is a testimony that she is up to the task. But what about the distractions of a defectively organized set up such as the Athletics Federation of Nigeria and the unfriendly environment Nigerian athletes operate? In addition, the wedding bells are ringing for the golden girl of Nigerian athletics.

And one call of nature can change everything.

“I usually don’t wait for Nigeria to get me going. I do things on my own and when they are ready I just get along.

“And I am totally focused on my training. I know when to have fun and I know when to train. I can go on the whole season without having fun.”

Okagbare really need to focus and train, if she ever wants to outlive the fierce competition in the world sprints. The USA and the Caribbean nations have tons of talents and in the next two years there are bound to be new faces other than those of Fraser-Pryce, Felix, and Carmelita Jeter most Nigerians have seen compete with Okabgbare.

This season women like Tori Bowie of the USA, Michelle-Lee Ahye of Trinidad and Tobago have shown with their performances that they could be world beaters in the years to come.

However, Okagbare knows more about the challenge ahead and has rightly set her

T

mind on going the whole hog. For her to beat the rest she has to do more than the 10.79 in the 100m, 22.23 in the 200m and the 7.00m in the long jump.

She also needs to concentrate on either the sprint or the long jump, which of course is her traditional event. Whichever she chooses, it will not be a cheap shot and as African record holder in the 400m rightly advised, Okagbare has to manage herself very well on the road to 2016.

Don’t ignore club-owners’ interest, Chukwuma warns NFF

By EDDIE AKALONU

T

hough elections into the Executive Committee of the Nigeria Football Federation took place last week and officials elected, Chairman of Gabros FC of Nnewi, Gabriel Chukwuma has predicted that there will be no end to problems of Nigerian Football.

In his opinion, “stakeholders were excluded while those who gathered in Warri for the congress had no stakes in the game. Speaking to Sports Vanguard, Chukwuma was asked to name those he referred to as real stakeholders.

“Chris Giwa is, I am a stakeholder. Anyone who runs a C M Y K

football club from the Professional league to the Premier league is a stakeholder.

“And these are the people that should be committed to the Nigeria Football Federation.

They are to produce the president and rest of the board-members.

The usual mistake in our football has always been that we do not carry club owners along. We create the true environment in which football thrives in Nigeria.

“Those hanging around NFF now have not contributed a dime in moving the game forward.”

The Gabros boss questioned why elections into the NFF board should attract so much interest while most state FA chairmen have overstayed their welcome.

“Some of them have over-

Page 53

he Africa Golf Confederation (AGC) has conferred on the Senate President, Senator David Mark with the ‘Distinguished Service Award for Golf in Africa’ in appreciation to the Senate President’s efforts towards promoting the game of golf.

President of AGC, Ambassador Joe Malanji also named Senator Mark as the pillar of Golf in Africa at the closing ceremony of the President’s cup of the AGC tournament at the Nkana Golf Club in Kitwe, Zambia.

While conferring the award on the Senate President, Ambassador Malanji said that he (Mark) had in his personal capacity sponsored and mentored a large contingent of amateur golfers into the professional cadre.

According to him, “This is in addition to your other significant investments in golf such as sponsoring national and international tournaments and the establishment of the 18 hole international championship golf course, the Otukpo Golf and Country Club, which is open free to all users. This singular act is unprecedented in golfing history.”

In a statement signed by the Chief Press Secretary to the Senate President, Paul Mumeh, Ambassador Malanji was quoted to have said that the AGC was particularly impressed with the International Academy built by Mark where young boys and girls are trained free of charge and provided with the golfing kits.

Fenced Off… Chris Giwa prevented from gaining access to Nigeria Football Federation. stayed their tenure, some are in office for upwards of ten years or more. They just don’t talk about election in their own states

but hussle for that at national level. They clamor for elections in the centre for only selfish reasons.

•Senator David Mark

54 — SUNDAY VANGUARD, OCTOBER 12, 2014 PAGE

AFCON Qualifiers:

Something is wrong with Eagles — Idah F

ORMER Nigeria international, Peterside Idah has observed that the Super Eagles performances in recent times, particularly, in the match against Sudan, has thrown up a lot of questions for both the playing personnel and indeed, the technical crew.

Speaking during the half time analysis, Idah, who looked angry said, “the Eagles are not showing the spirit of a team wanting to score. There is a problem in that team. I don’t know whether the problem is with the players or the coach. All I know is that all is not right with the team.”

Recalling a one-on-one situation that saw Emmanuel Emenike come face to face with the Sudanese goalkeeper, but which the Nigerian striker failed to exploit, Idah said, “Emenike should have dribbled past the keeper. In that kind of situation, Jay Jay Okocha would have finished off that goalkeeper and mess him up.

“Just look at the goal the Sudanese scored, our defenders were ball watching.

It is sad.”

*Title Chase... Super Falcons’ Osinachi Marvis Ohale breakaway from Cote’d Ivoire’s Rebecca Amoin in their thrilling AWC contest yesterday.

Cameroon stumble against Sierra Leone I N-FORM Cameroon struggled to break down

a stubborn Sierra Leone as they played to a goalless

Ebola won’t change Afcon 2015 games, CAF rules happen. Stating that never in the Ebola outbreak.

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ONFEDERATION of Africa football said yesterday the Ebola epidermic will not force a change of the 2015 African Cup of Nations to be hosted by Morocco.

Morocco had requested that CAF review the dates to forestall out-break in their country. But in a statement CAF said that is not going to

•Hayatou... No to Ebola C M Y K

the history of the tournament, such a request was made.

“CAF on Friday, 10 October 2014 received a request from the Ministry of Youth and Sports of the Kingdom of Morocco.

“The letter was seeking a deferral of the schedule of the Orange Africa Cup of Nations Morocco 2015 fixed for 17 January to 8 February, due to

“CAF has registered the request and wishes to state that there are no changes of the schedules of its competitions and events.

“It must be noted that since the first edition in 1957, the Africa Cup of Nations has never witnessed a deferral or a change in schedule.

“CAF has also been cautions since the commencement of the final round qualifiers of the Orange Africa Cup of Nations Morocco 2015 on the health risks posed by the Ebola virus and has consistently applied precautionary principles, taking into account the recommendations of the World Health Organization and various medical experts.

“The request of the Moroccan party will be discussed at the next meeting of the CAF Executive Committee scheduled for 2 November 2014 in Algiers, Algeria, on the sidelines of the second leg of the 2014 Orange CAF Champions League final.

“Subsequently, a meeting will be organized between CAF and the Moroccans in Rabat on 3 November 2014 and the CAF delegation will be led by its President, Issa Hayatou,” the statement said.

draw in their Africa Nations Cup Group D Qualifier in Yaounde.

Because of the Ebola outbreak, CAF decided that both matches will be played in Cameroon. So Sierra Leone do not get a home game in this fixture.

They will meet each other again on Wednesday at the same stadium and Yaounde, Cameroon.

It started well for Sierra Leone who looked good in the first half and came close to a goal with Woobay Julius and Ahlassan Kamara causing some trouble for the Cameroonian defence.

It was expected that The Lions of Cameroon’s attacking duo of Clinton Njie and Vincent Aboubakar would continue their fine scoring form. But today they battled to find their scoring boots.

In the second half, Cameroon tried to push forward and when Moukandjo’s cross found Eric Choupo-Moting, his header flew over the crossbar.

Then Clinton Njie came close to opening the scoring in the 68th minute, but good goalkeeping by ‘keeper Solomon Zomobo kept them out.

Cameroon’s substitute striker Leonard Kweuke came close with a diving header in optional time, but the attempt was off target.

AWC: Okon targets title

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OACH Edwin Okon said his team’s main aim in Windhoek, Namibia is to win the African Women Championship and announce to African that the Super Falcons are back on track.

Okon reckons the Super Falcons who have missed the trophy twice are still the best in the continent.

“We want to show the continent of Africa that we are back and better. We are number one in Africa, this we will prove on the pitch.

“We want to also let them know that this is not the Falcons of yesterday but that of today,” he concluded.

“We have the quality and class to match any team and at that we will not disappoint Nigerians,” said Okon who had his first feel of the AWC yesterday.

Okon, added that he is confident the mix of experience and youth in his team will ensure they emerge victorious at the eight-nation women tournament.

The former Falconets gaffer, who led the Nigeria U20 team to a fourth-place finish at the 2012 Fifa U20 Women’s World Cup, believes his team has what it takes to end the four years continental trophy drought at the 2014 AWC.

Namibia outclass Zambia

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AMIBIA got off to a winning start beating Zambia 2-0 in opening match of the TN Mobile 9th African Women Championship on Saturday at the Sam Nujoma Stadium in Windhoek.

Rita Williams and Thomalina Adams scored in the first half to give the Brave Gladiators a perfect start at the championship.

Cheered on by almost 98 percent of the crowd at the over 10,000-capacity stadium, the hosts unsettled the Zambians from the onset with Adams, a popular figure among the fans giving the Zambian backline so much to worry about.

The Stadium roared anytime Adams touched the ball but it was louder when number 10, Zenatha Coleman had her foot on the ball.

With several questions aimed at the Zambian defence, Namibia finally broke the deadlock on four minutes through Williams who slammed home from a goalmouth action.

The goal brought the fans on their feet as it was the moment they had long been waiting for.

SUNDAY Vanguard, OCTOBER 12, 2014, PAGE 55

C M Y K

SUNDAY Vanguard, OCTOBER 12, 2014

Real slam N211.6b price tag on Ronaldo

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RISTIANO Ronaldo’s release clause is an utterly incredible 800,000,000 pounds (about N211.6b.

Speaking about the rumours of Ronaldo wanting to move back to Manchester United, Ronaldo’s agent Jorge Mendes says that all the talk about the move is pointless since it’s “impossible”.

AFCON QUALIFIERS:

RESULTS Congo 0 Sudan 1 Malawi 0 Ethiopia 0 S/Leone 0 DR Congo 1 Uganda 0 Mozambique Niger 0

South Africa Nigeria Algeria Mali Cameroon CIV Togo 2 Cape Verd Zambia

2 0 2 2 0 2 1 0 0

Eagles crash in Sudan T

HE Super Eagles yester day reduced their chances of going to Morocco to defend the African Cup of Nations which they won in South Africa in 2013. The Stephen Keshi tutored team put up their worst performance in decades as they fell 0 – 1 to the less fancied Sudan team in Khartoum.

The much favoured Nigerian team had boasted about chances of winning the game int Sudan. But they could not find their feet throughout the encounter, a development which further exposed the technical inadequacies in the Nigerian team. It was a must win encounter for the Nigerians but yesterday’s loss has further compounded the team’s problems in qualifying for Morocco 2015.

The match started in a frenzy with the Eagles taking the battle to their hosts. The early chance at goal was created

by Nigeria as Nosa Igiebor ’s close range effort crashed on the post. Top striker, Emmanuel Emenike was put through but lost the golden opportunity to put Nigeria ahead. He had a one-on-one situation with Sudan goalkeeper, Moez Mahjoub but his effort was lame and uncharacteristic of a striker of his calibre.

Although largely uncoordinated, the Eagles created a few more chances and on one occasion, CSKA Moscow winger, Ahmed Musa dribbled past the Sudan backline only for his cut back pass to land

*Nigeria's midfielder John Obi Mikel (L) defends against Sudan's Muhannad El Tahir (C) during the 2015 African Cup of Nations qualifying football match in Khartoum on October 11, 2014. Sudan defeated Nigeria 1-0.

AFP PHOTO.

on the foot of a Sudan defender. Just before the end of the first stanza, the hosts shocked their lethargic guests with a clinical finish. Super Eagles central defence went to sleep as a long cross from the right flank was headed in by Bakri Abdulqadir who was unmarked. With that scoreline, Sudan got the perfect result they needed before going to the dressing room for halftime.

The second half resumed with the Eagles playing a more predictable game. They kicked the ball in all directions without purpose. The midfield failed to give the attack any direction as Mikel Obi and Ogenyi Onazi did not provide the desired killer passes. In the attack, Emenike and Gbolahan Salami failed to click. It was a poor partnership. Keshi’s changes were not effective.

CROSS WORD PUZZLE ACROSS 1. House of Reps Speaker (8) 5. Assistant (4) 7. Praise (5) 8. Upright (4) 9. Lantern (4) 11. Tradition (6) 13. Lagos masquerade (3) 15. Exclamation (2) 16. Pig’s nose (5) 18. Agent (3) 20. Glitters (6) 24. Forward (5) 25. Nigerian state (6) 27. Boring tool (3) 29. Ghanaian fabric (5) 31. Perform (2) 32. Oshiomhole’s state (3) 34. U.S. currency (6) 36. Vow (4) 38. Musical quality (4) 39. Inclination (5) 40. Eager (4) 41. Damages (8)

DOWN 1. Sample (5) 2. Niger state town (4) 3. Observe (5) 4. Lecture (6) 5. Everyone (3) 6. Use (6) 10. Inquires (4) 12. Carpet (3) 14. Colour (6) 15. Resistance unit (3) 17. Coax (4) 19. Rollicked (6) 21. Hatchet (3) 22. Satisfied (4) 23. Nigerian state (3) 26. Cry of derision (3) 27 . African country (6) 28. Endure (4) 29. Child (3) 30. Spoke (6) 31. Adorn (5) 33. Baking chambers (5) 35. Asterisk (4) 37. Possessed (3)

See solution on page 5

As the minutes ticked away, the desperation in the Nigerian team became very evident as John Obi Mikel who hardly takes shots at goal made a

few efforts at goal. One of such efforts actually went past the keeper, but the Chelsea of England midfielder was ruled offside.

AWC: Falcons cage Cote d’Ivoire N

IGERIA’s Super Falcons last night sounded a note of warning to their rivals for the title of the African Women Championship with a 4-2 thumping of Cote’d Ivoire in the opening game of the tournament at the Sam Nujoma Stadium in Windhoek, Namiba.

The Super Falcons made their intentions known early in the game when Uchechi Sunday opened scoring off a telling pass from Ngozi Okobi. In the 20th minute Cote’d Ivoire drew level from the spot and they fought gamely forcing the Falcons to defend deep.

The Falcons were restricted to long rang efforts in the closing stages of the first half, and Edwin Okon will be hoping to see his side become more ruthless in the final third, with poor de-

cision-making letting them down.

Esther Sunday should have restored the Falcons’ lead in the 50th minute, but the striker blasted over from close range.

However, they did manage to restore their lead five minutes later, thanks to an own-goal from Ivory Coast’s Miriam Diakite. The Falcons added a third in the 73rd minute, as Oparanozie slotted home form six-yards out, after some great work by Okobi once again.

However, Ivory Coast pulled one back a minute later thanks to a composed finish from Christine Lohoues.

Oparanozie eventually sealed the win in the 87th minute with a clinical finish from close range, after being picked out by Asisat Oshoala.

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