ACN jittering over resuscitation of UPN : Fasehun

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Soldier, six terrorists die in Kano gun duel •Five women, three minors rescued, weapons recovered

BY ABDULSALAM MUHAMMAD, Kano

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PERATIVES of Joint Military Task-force in Kano yesterday morning foiled what could have been a violent robbery attack in the city’s popular textile market, culminating in the death of a soldier and six suspected militants in a combat operation .

The bloody encounter between the military and the suspected militants at Sheka area of Kumbotso local Government of Kano state was triggered by an arrest of a suspected militant by the security operatives Thursday who confessed to the plot and led the operatives to the residence of other gang members.

The dead soldier was said to be from the 3rd Brigade of the Nigerian Army, Kano. Six members of the gang were killed in the confrontation, which took place in the

Sheka quarters of the ancient city. Several injured persons were taken to the hospital.

JTF spokesman in the city, Captain Ikediche Iweha who conducted reporters round the ‘marked building’ shortly after it had fallen to the Nigerian troops paraded five women and three children who were rescued unhurt during the combat operation that equally led to the recovery of weapons in the building.

Captain Ikediche Iweha stated that, “this morning operation was a product of intelligence report obtained from a suspect we apprehended yesterday that voluntarily confessed to a plot to violently attack Kanti Kwari textile market for money to bankroll impending operations in Yobe”.

Iweha said: “We deployed our men to the neighbourhood of the marked building and immediately cordoned off

the vicinity and launched an offensive to capture the occupants of the marked building but unfortunately, our men came under fire and in the ensuing encounter, we lost a soldier, while six terrorists lost their lives.”

However, security sources close to the combat operation carried out by special squad of Directorate of State Security Service, DSS, and the military confided in Saturday Vanguard that some of the GSM sim cards used by the dead terrorists were recovered from the private parts of the rescued wom-

BY SONI DANIEL, Regional Editor, North

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RENEWED attempt by former Gombe State Governor, Alhaji Danjuma Goje, to halt his trial over the alleged stealing of N25 billion while in office, suffered a setback yesterday, as the court refused to grant the politician’s request.

Goje, now a Senator, had prayed the court to stay proceeding in the case brought against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, for an offence allegedly committed in conjunction with four other suspects.

But Justice Babatunde Quadiri of the Federal High Court, Gombe, threw out the case, saying that it amounted to a distraction and an undue attempt to delay trial.

In evaluating the posi-

en. Among the items recovered from the building are 2 AK 47 assault rifles, 39 rounds of ammunition, 4-round magazines,

GSM sim cards and identifiable weapons of war. The marked building has been brought down by mil-

itary bulldozer, while a manhunt has been launched by the security operatives to apprehend the property owner.

Justus Esiri laid to rest

BY AYO ONIKOYI

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HE quiet town of Oria, Abraka in Delta State was a bee-hive of activities as top Nollywood stars heralded by UrhoboIsoko in Nollywood, Actors Guild of Nigeria, AGN, other dignitaries and associations stormed

Goje loses bid to N25bn fraud:Goje stop trial tions of both parties, Justice Quadri opined that ‘no doubt, the crux of the matter relates to refusal of this court to transfer the case to Abuja or any location outside the North East for security reasons’. He reiterated the guidelines as spelt out by law for granting or otherwise of an application for stay of proceedings and concluded that there was no special circumstance to warrant the granting of such relief.

Alluding to the prosecution’s position that Section 40 of the EFCC Act precludes the court from entertaining an application for stay of proceedings in respect of any criminal matter brought before it by the Commission until judgment is delivered; Justice Quadri noted that the section ousted the court jurisdiction to entertain the application.

Quadiri noted, “This application cannot be

The burial ceremony of late Kwara State Commissioner of Police, Chinweike Asadu took place at his hometown Nsukka LGA of Enugu State yesterday. Pix: From right are: Mark Idakwo, Kachi Udoji and DIG Tamban Mohammed Yabo at the ceremony. Photo: Hill Ezeugwu.

granted as it is seemingly meant to delay proceedings in this case”.

He took judicial notice of earlier interlocutory applications brought before the court by the accused persons, pointing out that granting the application would not serve the cause of justice.

It will be recalled that Danjuma Goje, Aliyu ElNafaty, Sambo Tumu, S.M. Dokoro and S.M. Dokoro Gombe (company) were first arraigned on 17th October 2011 on charges bordering on conspiracy and money laundering to the tune N25billion belonging to the Gombe State Government contrary to and punishable under Sections 15, 16, 17, 18 and 19 of the Money Laundering (Prohibition Act) 2011 as amended.

The court adjourned till 14th and 15th May, 2013 for the hearing of the case against the former governor and his accomplices.

the place to witness the committing to mother earth, the remains of veteran actor, Chief Justus Esiri.

The burial rites started at 10 am with a commendation mass and a lyingin-state at the Polo Turf in Abraka, where well-wishers and friends had the final glimpse of the Village Headmaster before the body was moved to his country home in the same town for interment.

Thereafter, it was a carnival of sorts as entertainment of guests followed.

Though the town’s people gave a good show that the ceremony was theirs, the crème de la crème of Nollywood stole the day as they came well organised and not without the pomp with which they are well known.

The late Thespian died on February 19, 2013 at the age of 71 following complications from diabetes. His final journey home began with Nigerian Guild of Actors’ tribute night in Lagos followed by a Service of Songs on Tuesday April 9th and General Mass on Wednesday at St. Jude Catholic Church, Mafoluku, Lagos. From there, the body moved to Abraka in Delta State where interment took place.

Before the proper burial in Abraka, another Service of Songs took place in Warri on Thursday before the mourning train headed to Abraka where he was laid to eternal rest.

A number of notable Nollywood stars came to pay their last respect. The roll call includes Bob Manuel Udokwu, Kanayo O. Kanayo, Tony Akposheri and Ejiro Okurame who came with the group known as Úrhobo Isoko in Nollywood; Peace Anyiam-Osigwe, CEO, Africa Movie Academy Award; Richard Mofe-Damijo, and a host of others.

The Delta State contingent was led by the Deputy Governor of the State, Professor Amos Utuama (SAN) who brought a message of condolence from his boss, Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan delivered to the family of the late theatre icon represented by the wife, Mrs Omiete Esiri; son, Dr. Sidney Esiri (known as Dr. Sid); Mrs Ophelia Edewor, daughter; Mrs

Boyowa Efijomueh, daughter and other children.

Accompanying the Deputy Governor are Revd.

Agbatuta, Special Adviser to Governor Udughan on Religious Affairs and Rear Admiral John Kpokpogiri, Special Adviser on Security to the Governor.

President Goodluck Jonathan was ably represented by Mr Oronto Douglas who led a delegation of Special Assistants and other government functionaries.

Mrs Ophelia Edewor and Mr Sidney Esiri, daughter and son of the late actor spoke on behalf of the family, thanking the Delta State government and the Federal government for making their presence felt and also in supporting the family at various stages of the burial arrangements.

NNPC/PPMC clear air on imminent fuel scarcity

BY NOEL ONOJA

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HE Managements of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and its downstream and marketing subsidiary, the Pipelines and Products Marketing Company (PPMC) have urged members of the public to disregard the reports of imminent fuel scarcity in the South-West carried in a section of the media as there is no iota of

truth in them.

In a statement made available to newsmen, the acting Group General Manager Public Affairs, Tumini Green, explained that it is not true that there has not been loading from the depots in the South-West since Monday, adding that it was only the depot at Atlas Cove that was temporarily shut down for the maintenance of its power generator which is a standard industry practice.

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Rivers govt denies purchasing helicopters for 2015 election

BY JIMITOTA ONOYUME, Port Harcourt

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IVERS state government has dismissed as untrue allegations in some quarters that the government recently acquired armored helicopters and private jets ahead of 2015 elections.

In a statement issued yesterday by the state Commissioner for Information and Communications, Mrs. Ibim Semenitari, the government explained that it jointly purchased two helicopters with the Federal Government to enhance security operations in the state and not for elections as alleged.

“The helicopters: 2 bell 412 helicopters with camera payload for aerial surveillance of Rivers State were purchased as part of the State Government’s collaboration with the Federal Government and its support for the security agencies in the state.

“The total cost of the helicopters was 29 million USD. The Federal Government of Nigeria through the office of the National Security Adviser paid 15 million USD, while the Rivers State Government paid the balance. The Federal Government granted duty waiver. The choppers are being freighted into Nigeria and will be reassembled in Lagos.

“The helicopters are to be operated by the Nigerian police in conjunction with the oil companies who have offered to bear some of the operating cost to enable government combat the menace of oil

bunkering.

“The police took delivery of similar choppers in 2012 built by the same company.

“The 412 four axis choppers are rated the most advanced civil helicopters in the world. The acquisition, which was done with the support of the federal government, is to enhance security of lives and property in Rivers State.

“One finds it therefore very disturbing that anyone will trivialize a matter as serious as the security of not just the lives of Rivers people but also the commonwealth of

all Nigerians.

“Finally, the Rivers State government wishes to acknowledge and thank the President and Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces, President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan for his quick action and amazing support leading to the purchase of these helicopters.

His commitment to national security and willingness to collaborate with all tiers of government and all sectors to ensure the security of lives and property is worthy of accolade and support.” the government said.

Mr Justus Esiri (Jnr.) ;Mr. Douglas Oronto, representative of President Goodluck Jonathan; Mrs Ophelia Edewor (daughter) ;Mrs Moyowa Efijemueh (daughter) and Mr. Andrew Esiri (Son), at the burial of late Justus Esiri yesterday. Photo: Nath Onojake and Akpokona Omafuaire.

Ogun to investigate alleged rape of two minors by pastor

BY DAUD OLATUNJI, Abeokuta

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GUN State Governm e n t , y e s t e r d a y, said that it had begun an investigation of the alleged rape of two minors by the proprietor of the Light of Hope Orphanage Home in Akute, Ifo Local Government area of Ogun State simply identified as pastor Atude.

This was disclosed by the State commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Mrs. Elizabeth Sonubi.

According to Sonubi, the government will not fold its arms and watch some elements under whatever guise bastardise its programmes on care for children in the S t a t e . ”Shortly after the allega-

Mrs Bernice Adaeze Odii Anoke is dead MRS Bernice Adaeze Anoke of Isu Achara LGA of Ebonyi State, is dead. Aged 81, her burial has been slated for Saturday April 13,2013 at Hon. Chief Robertson Odii Anoke’s compound at Isu Achara.

Late Mrs Bernice Odii Anoke is survived by many children, grand children and great grand children, among whom is Hon. Chief Robertson Odii and a host of other relatives.

tion was brought to the knowledge of the Ministry, we immediately swung into action by directing the Child Protection Network Committee, which has responsibility to handle such matters to commence full investigat i o n s . ”No stone would be left unturned to get to the

root of the matter and if he is found guilty, the proprietor would be sanctioned accordingly.

“The Ministry has commenced full scale investigations into the matter and if found guilty, we will take immediate and necessary actions against the proprietor. ”We also plan to visit the orphanage to

interview children in the Home and if need be, relocate them. We shall get to the root of the matter.”

There were guidelines given by the Ministry which prospective proprietors of Children Home are expected to follow to ensure that the children were properly taken care of and

protected at all times.

”I enjoined the public to feel free and report any case of misdemeanor to the Ministry, and I assured you that the Senator Ibikunle Amosun-led adminis-tration remained committed to the welfare of all and sundry in the State.”

Baby boy dumped in refuse, burnt to death

BY TAYE OBATERU, Jos

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N unidentified lady yesterday morning dropped a baby in a refuse cart along Rukuba Road in the Plateau State capital and the baby later burnt to death.

The lady was said to have alighted from a tricycle popularly called Keke NAPEP to drop a carton in the refuse bin but unknown to those around, the carton contained a baby.

It was unclear if she was the one that ignited the fire or if it came from ashes poured into the bin by other people, but the fire was seen several minutes after she had dropped the carton and left, according to residents of the area.

Some passers-by were said to have rushed to the refuse dump when they heard a shrill cry from what sounded like a baby only to discover that the baby had been badly burnt from the legs to the abdo-

men.

The baby, however died

Abavo Group rejects interim Excos, pronounces Community Union invalid

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HE indigenes of Abavo in Ika Local Government Area of Delta state, has rejected one Francis Amamosa, as the Chairman of Abavo Town Union, ATU. Obviously dissatisfied with the way and manner of the interim executives of the ATU, a group of indigenes both home and abroad decided to distance themselves from the Union, describing it as a “charade and fraud”.

The indigenes under the aegis of the Abavo Peoples’ Voice (APV), also declared the ATU dead, adding that, “the process of establishing a more viable Abavo Democratic Union is on- going”.

before he was brought out of the refuse dump, eliciting curses and regrets from the crowd that gathered to witness the scene.

A resident who confirmed sighting the lady when she dropped the carton said she must have come from another part of the state capital to the area where she is not well known

because of the criminal act she wanted to perform.

He lamented that the lady chose to dump the baby in a refuse cart instead of somewhere he can be picked up for proper care.

Some residents of the area were said to have buried the baby when it was clear that he had given up the ghost.

SATURDAY Vanguard, APRIL 13, 2013 — 7

Cynthia Osokogu was choked to death — Pathologist N

INE months after the entire nation was put in shock by the death of Cynthia Osokogu, a post graduate student of Nasarawa State University who was killed by friends she met on social media, Facebook, a Consultant Pathologist, Prof. John Obafunwa, yesterday revealed that Cynthia died of asphyxiation.

Obafunwa, who is the Chief Medical Examiner of the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH), Ikeja, made the statement while testifying before Justice Olabisi Akinlade of an Ikeja High Court.

We gathered that Obafunwa gave evidence at the resumed trial of four men charged with the alleged murder of the 25year old lady.

The defendants, Okwumo Nwabufo (33), Olisaeloka Ezike (23), Orji Osita (33) and Ezike Nonso (25), are facing a six-count charge of conspiracy, murder, stealing, reckless negligence and possession of stolen goods.

Led in evidence by the Lagos State Attorney General, Mr Ade Ipaye, the Pathologist said the post-mortem report showed that Osokogu was choked and gagged by her killers.

He said: “From our findings, the deceased was asphyxiated, which means absence of oxygen

supply to the body.

“That was the immediate cause of death. It was as a result of the blockage of her upper respiratory airways.

“This blockage was caused by the deceased being gagged and choked.”

Obafunwa said there were also multiple bruises and abrasions on Osokogu’s body.

“There were bruises on her arms, back and what appears to be bite marks on the front of her two thighs,” he said.

The witness told the court that the injuries on the body of the deceased could not have been selfinflicted.

Also, the court admitted as exhibits, 15 photographs of the crime scene, which were taken at Room C1 of Cosmilla Hotel, Lakeview Estate, FESTAC Town, Lagos, where Osokogu was allegedly murdered.

•Gov. Peter Obi (left), Professor Chinyere Okunna (middle) and the UNICEF Chief of Field Office Enugu, Mr. Nzuki (right) yesterday at the Governor’s Lodge during the signing of 2013 Programme Plan of Implementation Agreement with United Nations Children Fund – UNICEF. The photographer, Mr Lucky Enimelo, told the court that policemen from Area ‘E‘ Police Command in FESTAC, had asked

him to take the pictures.

“After snapping the pictures with my digital camera, we went to a laboratory to print them.

The police instructed me to delete them from my memory card and also from the laboratory ’s computer,” Enimelo said.

Mr Victor Ugweke who also testified before the court said after he was notified by the hotel’s receptionist that there was a body in one of its rooms, he went to report the matter at FESTAC Police Station.

He said he accompanied the police to the General Hospital in Ikeja, where they took Osokogu’s body.

“When we got there, they said she was dead and the police took her body to the mortuary,” Ugweke said.

Nwabufo and Ezike are standing trial for allegedly murdering Osokogu, whom they had met through Facebook, a social networking site.

Osita, a pharmacist, is being prosecuted for negligently selling Rohypnol Flunitrazepan tablets to Ezike, which were allegedly used to drug Osokogu before she was allegedly killed.

We must fish out Asadu’s killers — IGP

BY TONY EDIKE, Enugu

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HE remains of the late Kwara State Commissioner of police, Mr. Chinwike Asadu were laid to rest, yesterday, amidst tears from hundreds of mourners who gathered at the St Victor’s Catholic Church, Onuiyi in Nsukka Local

Government Area of Enugu State, for a burial mass in honour of the late police officer.

Asadu was laid to rest after a funeral mass celebrated by over 50 Catholic Priests, and also attended by clergymen from other Christian denominations.

Deputy Governor of Enugu State, Sunday Onyebuchi led a delegation from the Enugu State Government, which also had the Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Hon. Eugene Odo. Anambra State Deputy Governor, Mr. Emeka Sibendu represented Governor Peter Obi at the event.

Other personalities at the burial included Senator Ayogu Eze, representing Enugu North Senatorial Zone; Hon. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi,

representing Igbo-Eze North/Udenu in the House of Reps; former National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, Chief Okwesilieze Nwodo; former Information Minister, Nnia Nwodo; Nigeria’s Amabassador to Uganda, Chief Fidel Ayogu; Deputy Vice Chancellor, Academic, of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Prof.

Malachy Okwueze, among others.

A special Kwara State delegation to the ceremony was led by Mr. Leke Ogungbe, the Deputy Chief of Staff to Governor Ahmed Abdulfatah. The Kwara Police Command, led by AC Adewale Olatunji, was not left out as they featured prominently.

In a special tribute for the late commissioner, the Inspector General of

Police, IGP, Mohammed Abubakar said the police would leave no stone unturned towards tracking down his killers.

He said although Asadu had been buried, investigations on the circumstances that led to his death would not be buried until his killers were brought to book.

The IGP, who was represented by Deputy Inspector General of Police, Mr. Kachi Udorji said Asadu’s killers should not rejoice as “they had murdered sleep and would never sleep. Sleep shall forever elude you”.

He described the late commissioner as ‘a fine officer and gentleman’, who discharged his duty with characteristic efficiency and speed.

“So, I want to assure all Nigerians that although Asadu has been buried,

we shall continue working hard to find his killers. I want to reiterate the commitment of the Nigerian Police that no stone will be left un-turned in our quest to unmask the perpetrators of this crime”.

Also in a remark, the Enugu State commissioner of police, Mr. Tonye Ebitibituwa said Asadu’s death had remained a huge blow to him as well as to the Nigerian Police.

The CP, in eulogizing his late colleague, described him as “a dedicated and honest officer who gave all to the service of humanity”.

Earlier in a homily, the Rev. Fr. Josephat Obodo decried the level of assassinations, kidnappings and armed robbery in Nigeria, noting that the situation was scaring Nigerians in diaspora away from the country.

Kidnappers release 90-yr-old woman after 6 nights

BY EMMA AMAIZE & AKPOKONA OMAFUAIRE, Ughelli

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I N E T Y -Y E A ROLD Mrs. Egbeshire Otovwievwie, was released after spending six nights in the den of the kidnappers, who seized her from her Oviri-Olomu residence in Ughelli South Local Government Area of Delta State, last Friday.

The five-man kidnap gang had demanded N50 million for her release, but when the money was not forthcoming, they reduced the ransom to N10 million on Wednesday.

Mrs. Otovwievwie, mother of national Vice Chairman the National Union of Petroleum, Energy and Natural Gas Workers, NUPENG, and a top official of Nigeria Gas Company, NGC, was released at Okuodiete

community in Okpe Local Government Area on Thursday morning.

It was not known if ransom was paid, but a community leader said, “The kidnappers called the son that the woman has been released at Okuodiete this morning (yesterday). The son in turn then called community leaders who went to pick her.”

Another source, however said, “They dumped the woman on

the road side and the community leaders who went to receive her drove her straight for admission in a private hospital in Agbarho for treatment.”

Ohworode of Olomu kingdom,HRM, Ovie R. L. Ogbon, Ogoni-Oghoro I, was joyous over the nonagenarian’s release. His words, “This is good news, I am happy that the woman has regained her freedom, I am happy that she was not hurt too.”

8 — SATURDAY Vanguard, APRIL 13, 2013

Imo Police arrest 3 child traffickers

BY CHIDI NKWOPARA, Owerri

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MO State Police Com mand has arrested three persons, including two middle aged women and a 41-year old driver, Jacob Ademuyiwa, for alleged child trafficking offence.

Parading the suspects in Owerri yesterday, the Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, Mrs. Joy Elemoko, said the twin babies were abducted or stolen barely 72 hours after delivery.

The PPRO gave the names of the suspects as 55-year old Mrs. Patience Aibangbe, Mrs. Felicia Edegbe (59) from Ihude Egonebo village, Edo State and Jacob Ademuyiwa (41) from Ado Ekiti, Ekiti State.

According to the PPRO, the two female suspects took off from their 14 Densan Street, Ikorodu, Lagos, Wednesday, March 27, 2013, for Port Harcourt, Rivers State, with a view to steal or abduct the two babies. Elemoko said the suspects were arrested within the Command’s area of jurisdiction while they were on their way back to Lagos, adding

that the driver obviously knew that the consignment he was conveying was illegal.

“The offence is conspiratorial in nature. Anybody found within the cycle of conspiracy is definitely an accomplice and would be made to face the full weight of the laws”, the PPRO said.

While saying that the suspects are not indigenes of Imo State, the PPRO equally confirmed that the original scene of crime was at Uzoma village, Oyibo local government area of Rivers State.

Narrating her involvement to newsmen, Aibangbe claimed that she lives in Lagos with her husband and has been having serious challenges with bearing children for a long while.

According to the suspect, she was introduced to a Port Harcourt based woman simply identified as Mrs. Okoro, who promised to solve her nagging problem.

“She gave me some herbs in June last year.

About one month after, she told me that I was pregnant and carrying twin babies. She also asked me not go for scan.

In January this year, the woman came to Lagos and told me that I will deliver in March and will only be in Port Harcourt”, the suspect recounted.

Continuing, the prime suspect said she was given a date but she decided to travel to Port Harcourt on March 27, 2013, pointing out that her total expenditure stood at N1.8 million.

Two die as PDP CN yyouths ouths clash in Edo PDP,, A ACN

BY SIMON EBEGBULEM, Benin City

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ARELY 24 hours after the Edo State Commissioner of Police, Mr Folunsho Adebanjo, met with party leaders in the state on the need to have a peaceful Local Government election come April 20, two persons including 80 year- old man, were shot dead while several cars and houses including that of the Chairman of Action Congress of Nigeria in Etsako Central Local Government Council, Mr Paul Osugbo were set ablaze during a clash between ACN youths and supporters of the Peoples

Customs impounds N77.8m imported poultry products

BY CHIDI NKWOPARA, Owerri

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HE Federal Opera tions Unit, FOU, of Nigeria Customs Service, NCS, Zone C, has impounded 7,552 cartons of imported frozen poultry products worth over N77.8 million.

Addressing newsmen before the materials were finally buried within the Zonal premises in Owerri, the Deputy Comptroller of Customs in charge of the Unit, Mr. David Dimka, confirmed that the duty paid value of the poultry products is N77,824,000.

“The contraband goods were impounded this week along the BeninAgbor, Isiokpo axis. Six persons have been arrested in connection with the seizure”, Dimka said.

Narrating how the importers concealed the products, the Deputy

Comptroller said “they carefully hid the poultry products between generating sets and completely knocked down furniture inside vehicle numbers XB 353 GBZ and XB 474 SAP. “The importers carefully designed the packaging in a manner that was capable of deceiving se-

Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State introduces the ACN candidate for the Chairmanship slot in Ovia North East Local Government Area during the party’s campaign for the April 20 Local Government Election in the state, yesterday.

curity personnel”, Dimka said.

He passionately appealed to Nigerians to resist the temptation of consuming most of these imported poultry products, especially as nobody can say if they were properly handled in transit or not.

Democratic Party (PDP) in Fugar, Etsako Central Local Government Council of Edo state.

Over ten persons were said to have sustained serious injuries during the series of attacks that took place Wednesday midnight in Fugar the home town of the former Chief of General Staff, Admiral Mike Akhigbe and the Chief of Staff to the President, Chief Mike Oghiadohme. The Edo state chairman of the PDP, Chief Dan Orbih is also from the Council.

Meanwhile, the Edo CP Adebanjo who relocated to Fugar at about 2am Thursday morning, said two suspects have been arrested while others allegedly involved in the mayhem are being hunted by the police. The ACN chairmanship candidate in the council Mr

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HE President of Ondo state Unification of Cherubim and Seraphim, Primate Ademisokun Turton has declared that the killings by the dreaded Boko Haram religious sect will come to an end if President Goodluck Jonathan speaks out on his 2015 ambition.

Primate Turton said in

of the Unification of the Churches in the state that the insecurity in the country will come to an end the moment President Goodluck Jonathan make it public that he is not recontesting in 2015.

According to him, amnesty or no amnesty, the activities of the sect will continue until our President speaks out on his political ambition come 2015.

The religious leader who

the campaign train of the ACN youths and several persons were injured and were rushed to the hospital.It was learnt that the father of the driver of the PDP bus was shot by irate youths who stormed their family house in search of the Abraham.

The violence also led to the shooting of one Agabi Joachim said to be an ACN supporter, who died at about 11am yesterday after receiving a gun shot.

Also destroyed during the mayhem, were six vehicles and the houses of the ACN Chairman in Etsako Central, Mr Osugbo, that of the councillorship candidate for Ward 3 Ofi Imhuaperamhe, ACN leader Chief Alemor’s car was vandalized too. An ACN leader Chief Igefoi and his wife equally received machete cuts.

Nzuki explains UNICEF’s success in Anambra

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HE UNICEF Chief of Field Office Enugu, Mr. Nzuki attributed the huge success recorded in the implementation of

How Boko Haram killings will end — Turton Akure at the inauguration heads the Success CatheBY DAYO JOHNSON, Akure

Emmanuel Momoh was also said to have been invited by the police.

Following unpleasant security reports received by the police ahead of next week Local Government elections in the state, the police Commissioner had Wednesday met with leaders of the political parties in the state and urged them to prevail on their supporters to eschew violence, just as he vowed that the police was ready to ensure the conduct of a free and fair Local Government election.

But few hours after his warning, Saturday Vanguard learnt that while ACN youths were on a campaign rally around Ward one, Iviewe, close to St Theresa’s Catholic Church, one Abraham who was driving a PDP bus allegedly rammed into

dral of the Church in Akure, Ondo state alleged that Northern leaders are behind the insecurity in the country believing that they can make it a campaign issue.

He said that it is part of the plan of the North to regain power in 2015 adding that he was against the granting of amnesty to the faceless group who are bent on breaking up the country.

its programme in Anambra State to strong commitment of the State Government and purposeful leadership provided by Governor Obi. He made this known yesterday at the Governor ’s Lodge during the signing of 2013 Programme Plan of Implementation Agreement with United Nations Children’s Fund – UNICEF. He assured that the agency will scale up intervention in promoting early childhood survival through aggressive fight against childhood killer diseases and providing every child opportunity to develop full potential and contribute in building the society.

The UNICEF Team Leader who signed for the organisation disclosed that they have commenced interventions in some areas devastated by the recent flood disaster including Anambra East and West as well as Ogbaru.

Governor Peter Obi who signed for Anambra State Government, in his speech said the State partnership with UNICEF was yielding the expected dividend and assisting the State in its drive to achieve the Millennium Development Goals. He assured that the State Government will continue to fulfill its commitment to improve the welfare of children.

SATURDAY Vanguard, APRIL 13 , 2013 — 9

Agbarha-Otor boils as hoodlums rape women, burn Police vehicle •Police arrest 34 suspects, Monarch flees palace, Queen mother’s shop vandalized

BY EMMA AMAIZE & FESTUS AHON, Ughelli

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HERE is apprehension in Agbarha-Otor kingdom in Ughelli North Local Government Area of Delta State following a reign of terror unleashed on the people by hoodlums in the last few days.

The Area Commander, Ughelli, Assistant Commissioner of Police, ACP, Awosola Awotinde confirmed to Saturday Vanguard that 34 persons were in police net in connection with the orgy of violence.

It was gathered that no fewer than 20 women and girls, including an eight-year-old daughter of the Vicar of an Anglican church in the community were raped by the hooligans, who also set ablaze a police patrol vehicle.

A number of police officers were, at the outset, sent to the palace of the monarch of Agbarha-Otor, His Royal Majesty Richard Oghenevwogaga, Ebelle-Okorefe I, to secure the king’s abode following a breakdown of law and order in the community, Wednesday night, but rampaging hoodlums overpowered them.

At press time, last night, the monarch has relocated from the palace for safety reason, while the Area Commander, Ughelli, has reinforced security in the town. Saturday Vanguard also sighted soldiers in the troubled community.

The hooligans, numbering about 100 were angry that the monarch refused to participate in the traditional “Ekene” festival on grounds that he is a Christian.

According to our source, “they wanted the king to make sacrifice to the deity, but he refused, saying he is a Christian and they should go ahead without him contributing money or cooking for them during the feast, as some of the priests and chiefs de-

manded.

“His refusal to take part in the feast infuriated the hooligans, who vowed to foment trouble and they executed their mission on Wednesday, the last day of the feast. The unfortunate thing is that some chiefs even supported their rebellion,” he added.

Saturday Vanguard learnt that hoodlums allegedly expelled from the community because of their criminal escapades, started with the clergyman because it was in his church that the king held a thanksgiving service recently.

Besides raping the clergyman’s eight-yearold daughter, hospitalized because of the incident and other girls, they also hijacked the property of people, claiming that the deity wanted them.

A community leader said, the miscreants engaged in raping of women (married and single) since the festival, which is held once every 15 years started on 27th of

March. It took a worrisome dimension Wednesday night as they invaded the Church’s vicarage, destroyed and looted properties worth thousands of naira after making the vicar and his households undergo some inhuman treatments.”

According to our source, “on their way from the vicarage, they invaded the shop of the Queen Mother of AgbarhaOtor and raided her shop; they stole wines and practically every other thing in the shop and also vandalized the freezer.”

L-R: General Manager, Communications & External Affairs, GTBank, Mrs. Lola Odedina; Prof. Daramola Adeyemi of University of Lagos; and the Wife of the Governor of Ogun State, Mrs. Olufunso Amosun during the bank’s 2013 Autism Seminar at MUSON Centre in Lagos...recently

40 year-old owner of illegal maternity home arraigned in court

BY AUSTIN OGWUDA, Asaba

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40-YEAR-OLD woman, Gladys Ndu, has been arraigned before an Asaba Chief Magistrate’s court on a

2013 budget: Lagos records 61% first quarter performance

BY MONSUR OLOWOOPEJO

G

OVERNOR Baba tunde Fashola of Lagos state yesterday said the state had recorded 61 percent budget performance in the first quarter of the 2013 budget implementation.

It will be recalled that the 2013 budget for the state tagged; ‘`Budget of Poverty Eradication and Economic Growth,’ was N499.605 billion, with a recurrent expenditure of N229.729 billion while the capital expenditure was N269.876 billion.

Fashola who disclosed this to newsmen after the State‘s Executive Council meeting held at the State House, Alausa to review the state budget performance, lamented that the performance was lower than the 65 per cent recorded in 2012.

The governor blamed yuletide season for the below par performance of the budget, saying “when you look at what typically

happens in first quarter, many construction firms shut down for Xmas, getting to start off early in the year.”

He added that lack of adequate remittance of taxes caused paucity of funds for the government’s drive to implement the budget effectively.

According to him, “ this is the first quarter and inspite of the fact that this is a budget that was dedicated to completing existing projects,we are well off the mark given the many variables.”

Fashola assured residents that the government remains committed to improving upon the overall performance of 89 percent attained in 2012.

“I am satisfied with the performance and I think the capacity will improve in the second quarter.

Fitch-rating for the state`s economy is from stable to positive, from improved service delivery extending to Saturdays and so on.

“So there is a total output for service delivery

which is what a budget should do to connect with reality in terms projects that are coming to completion, in terms of housing, school projects and so on.

“I am comforted that things are heading in the right direction and we remain committed to improving upon the 2012 overall performance of 89 percent at the end the year.” he said.

The governor however cautioned residents of the state, saying “no development could be achieved in an atmosphere of disorder and insecurity and urged residents to respect the state`s laws in the interest of progress.

Also speaking, Commissioner for Budget and Economic Planning, Mr Ben Akabueze, said the budget had so far done well in the area of revenue generation.

Akabueze said the government would intensify efforts on the completion of on-going projects to significantly improve performance for the remaining quarters.

two-count charge of allegedly harbouring pregnant women in her house till after delivery with intent to sell their babies.

Prosecution in the twocount charge preferred against the accused stated that: “you Gladys Ndu and others now at large on the 19th day July 2012 at Oduke in the aforesaid magisterial district, did deal in children by haboruing pregnant women in your house till after delivery with intent to sell their babies and thereby committed an offence punishable under section 38 of the Children and Young Persons Law Cap C7 Vol. 1 Laws of Delta State 2006.

“That you Gladys Ndu and others now at large on the 19th day July 2012 at

Oduke in Asaba magisterial district, conspire among yourselves to commit felony to wit: dealing in children and thereby committed an offence punishable under section 516 of the Criminal Code Law Cap C21 Vol. 1 Laws of Delta State.

When the plea was taken, the accused pleaded not guilty and was granted bail in the sum N200,000 plus a surety who should be a civil servant not below level 12 by the trial Chief Magistrate, Mr. Sylvester Ehikwe, while the case was adjourned to 15th of April 2013.

It will be recalled that Vanguard reported on Tuesday that the accused was arrested for allegedly running an illegal maternity centre at a camp in Oduke,

Imo Commissioner resigns

BY CHIDI NKWOPARA, Owerri

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member of Imo State Executive Council, Chief Steve Ahaneku, has resigned, citing his quest to acquire more academic laurels as his reason for quitting Chief Rochas Okorocha’s cabinet.

Careful political watchers in the state saw it coming, especially as Ahaneku remained for a while without portfolio after Okorocha reshuffled his cabinet recently.

Apart from this development, the fiery lawyer was again written by government, reducing

his office from that of a Commissioner to Special Adviser on Business Development without reason.

Another school of thought had it that Ahaneku’s exit from Okorocha’s cabinet may not be unconnected with his personal relationship with the impeached deputy governor, Sir Jude Agbaso.

When contacted, Chief Ahaneku confirmed his resignation from the State Executive Council, adding that he equally handed in his resignation letter to Governor Rochas Okorocha in his official residence.

10—SATURDAY Vanguard, APRIL 13, 2013

By CHIOMA GABRIEL Recently, President Goodluck Jonathan succumbed to the presssure to grant presidential

amnesty to members of Boko Haram sect. Although he had earlier described members of this sect as ghosts, common sense eventually prevailed and the President set up a committee to look into the feasibility of such a pardon.

The terms of reference of the committee are : *To consider the feasibility or otherwise of granting pardon to the Boko Haram adherents; *Collate clamours arising from different interest groups who want the apex government to administer clemency on members of the religious sect; and *To recommend modalities for the granting of the pardon, should such step become the logical one to take under the prevailing circumstance.

This development however,is generating a fresh wave of controversy. Meanwhile, in agitating for the amnesty, many had referred to former President Yar'Adua's amnesty to Niger Delta militants. But comparing the unpopular activities of Boko Haram sect with that of the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta, MEND, has left sour taste in the mouths of many.

Reactions and counter reactions have continued to greet the amnesty proposal with many arguing that Niger-Delta militants had a clear motive and limited their anger to mainly non-human targets while the Boko Haram sect mainly targeted civilian populations and so far, has caused an estimated 2,600 deaths in the last 18 months. Also,thousands of innocent and unarmed civilians had been reportedly injured, while scores of religious, military, and educational infrastructure had been destroyed.

Many Nigerians across professional divides are opposed to the pardon as the terrorists remain faceless. Questions have cropped up over the matter. Is the President granting amnesty to those protesting the killing of their leader at the beginning of the insurgency or is the amnesty meant for a group that wants all Nigerians to become Muslims? If

Boko Haram: Finally, amnesty comes to 'ghosts' Comparing the activities of Boko

Haram sect with that of the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta, MEND, has left sour taste in the mouths of many

the terrorists are ghosts as the President proclaimed ,what then is the guarantee that the violent attacks would cease?

For those who want this amnesty, many are therefore suggesting that first, the ‘ghosts’ make themselves human by publicly renouncing violence and sticking to it. But what would be a guarantee for sustaining this renounciation? The group, they argued, must keep to its promise for a period not less than 60-days to indicate its seriousness and commitment to viable peace even as its leadership and main financiers should be made known to the security and intelligence agencies. Another question that comes to mind at this point is which of the insurgents would the government be dealing with?

The school of thought that suggested conditions to be met by the sect further argued that once the conditions are met, the government may, as a matter of national security, engage the group and offer presiden-

tial amnesty.

Moreover, it must be borne in mind that even the insurgents have not accepted the amnesty being offered to them. Several times in the past, they called for ceasefire during which period they perpetrated their worst attacks.

Even as the federal government is still gauging the decision whether or not to grant amnesty , the sect has said it is also thinking of whether or not to accept the offer, meaning that the group has distanced itself from the amnesty calls by some northern chieftains.

Most recently, the leader of the Boko Haram and the Shurah Council, comprising of 14 members, which is the highest decision-making organ of Boko Haram, Abubakar Shekau, dismissed amnesty , saying instead that it is the Federal Government that needs amnesty from Boko Haram and not the other way round.

With this latest trend, the big question is, how far will this amnesty go?

Shekau's statement, some analysts believe, casts an aspersion on those who play the advocacy role for Boko Haram as there is now skepticism about their calls. Many observers believe that there are ulterior motives behind the calls.

Minister of Information, Labaran Maku, also recently stated that no decision had been taken yet on amnesty as the Federal Government is still working on the proposal.

Maku did not elaborate on the workings of the Amnesty Committee and many believe government is

probably playing safe going by Maku's utterances.

The setting up of the amnesty committee came after a meeting President Jonathan had with the Northern Elders Forum (NEF) over the menace of the terrorists. The Northern elders called for amnesty for the insurgents who had been waging war against the Federal Government since 2009 when their leader, Muhammad Yusuf, was killed by the police after his capture following the outbreak of crises in Maiduguri, Borno State.

The Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar who was also vocal in the call for amnesty is holding a prominent position in the amnesty committee .

Others who would work in this committee include the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Admiral Ibrahim Ola Sa’ad; the National Security Adviser (NSA), Col. Sambo Dasuki; representatives of the directorsGeneral of the National Intelligence Agency (NIA) and the Department of State Security, DSS .

One cannot say definitely what would become the outcome of the amnesty proposal especially with Shekau's recent statement and another earlier credited to a splinter group of Boko Haram rejecting the amnesty option, stating that it is not what they bargained for and it will not deter them from pursuing their cause.

Although, a prominent northerner, General Muhammadu Buhari has accepted the amnesty proposal as a right step in the right direction,the spokesperson of the splinter group, Abu Darda,told the BBC Hausa Service in an interview that his group doesn’t believe in the democratic form of government being practiced in Nigeria and in the constitution, but in Islamic law (Sharia) and described the efforts of the Sultan as a waste of time. Many still argue that what matters more is for all those who were injured, or who had their homes and properties destroyed to be fully compensated and for President Jonathan to look at ways to foster a sense of nationhood to the people of Nigeria by ensuring basic human and security needs are met.

SATURDAY

Vanguard, APRIL 13, 2013—11

Amnesty : How far will it go?

BY LEVINUS NWABUGHIOGU

T

hey were called terrorists, insurgents, religious extremists, political killers, Boko Haram and finally ghosts. They were told that amnesty is for humans and not ghosts. But suddenly, here comes a package for ghosts. Saturday Vanguard’s LEVINUS NWABUGHIOGU in this special piece chronicles the genesis, the politics and latest amnesty offer to Boko Haram Islamic sect.

Who are Boko Haram members? Did they ask for amnesty? To whom will amnesty be given? Has the Federal Government of Nigeria made a Uturn from its earlier position of not negotiating with insurgents, nay, terrorists? Has it lost the fight against insecurity? Have the ghosts been unveiled? Should evil be rewarded with good and what happens to the victims, dead or living, of several attacks of Boko Haram?

Indeed, the questions are legion and they continue to flood every corner of the Nigerian State since the announcement by the Federal Government, last week, to set up an Amnesty Committee for Boko Haram. In fairness to the authorities, inaugurating a Committee does not in essence translate to automatic adoption of recommendations or proposals of the committee but many Nigerians who oppose the amnesty often entertain this fear and concern that in Nigeria, “ what goes up does not come down”.

Demands /origin of

In fairness to the authorities, inaugurating a Committee does not in essence translate to automatic adoption of recommendations or proposals of the committee but many Nigerians who oppose the amnesty often entertain this fear and concern that in Nigeria, “what goes up does not come down.

Boko Haram

Their demands were not clear in the beginning. All what was known was a group of religious fundamentalists who promulgated their beliefs even though they were considered too extreme by many Nigerians. But they were bent on their mission of Islamizing the country via the implementation of criminal Sharia law across the country. In essence, they chose to start from their immediate environments in Borno and Yobe states. And to make real their pursuits, they arrogated to themselves a name that defines their philosophy: Jama’atul Alhul Sunnah Lidda’wati wal jihad, meaning “people committed to the propagation of the prophet’s teachings and jihad”. That was in 2002.

But not much was heard about the Islamist religious sect until 2009

when a discrepancy erupted between them and the state’s law enforcement agents which culminated in the death of the leader of the group, late Mohammad Yusuf.

Prior to the time, Mohammad Yusuf had faulted the participation of most leaders of northern states especially the governors who were full blooded Muslims in the affairs of the country. He saw it as illegitimate, non-Islamic venture and considered too secular for their “religious inclinations and preached a doctrine of withdrawal”.

But the lid was to be let open when the group declared that “western education is evil”, a phrase that gave it its popular name 'Boko Haram'. Ever since then, Boko Haram began to launch an onslaught against the state, yet that did not define the reasons for their attacks whether it was to avenge the death of their former leader, Yusuf or that the government institutions were fundamentally “haram”.

In the aftermath, the attacks permeated as the sect carried out a number of suicide bombings and assassinations from Maiduguri to Abuja, and staged an ambitious prison-break in Bauchi, freeing more than seven hundred inmates in 2010.

In November 2011, the group staged its most deadly attacks so far in Maiduguri as well as Yobe’s Damaturu and Potiskum, targeting churches, mosques, banks, and police stations. At least 150 people were reported killed. November’s violence garnered more international attention for the group, with

condemnations from the head of the Organization of the Islamic Conference, OIC; the Pope, the UN Security Council, and the UN Secretary General. Bombings on Christmas Day in 2011 targeting churches and killing dozens raised fears about the possibility of another spate of religious violence between Muslims and Christians.

And of course, it almost climaxed to that as most killings became the lot of Christians in the North. At a time in 2012, the killings apparently took an ethnic dimension that fear of another civil war was felt across the federation. But somehow, the days rolled past by without war.

No Amnesty for “Ghosts”, ——President Jonathan

At the Sultan's call for amnesty when President Jonathan visited the sect's enclave, the President was quick and unequivocal in his response to the calls for amnesty.

Hear him: “We cannot declare amnesty for Boko Haram because we cannot declare amnesty for ghosts. You cannot liken Boko Haram to what happened in the Niger Delta”.

He identified the essential difference between the Niger Delta struggle and the Boko Haram insurgency.

“Some of these names you hear, Asari Dokubo, Ateke Tom, when I was a deputy governor, I went to a meeting with President Olusegun Obasanjo and I saw Asari and Tom in the Presidential Villa.

Continues on page 12

12—SATURDAY Vanguard, APRIL 13, 2013

President Goodluck Jonathan

Sultan of Sokoto, Ahaji Mohammed Saa’d Mohammadu Buhari Abubarkar their activities. So, we just want the president to stand on the right side A threat made real? of taking the right judgment about There is also a thought in some this thing.It’s not about favouring quarters that Boko Haram insurgenone side. We are also wounded. If rationale behind the move. To them, cy was a way of making real the they are thinking that amnesty is terrorism and insurgency are twin threat by a northern elite, Kaita going to be given to Boko Haram, I evils against the state and the who during the build up to 2011 government has to fight it with every am sure that there is going to be elections vowed that should Presianother faction or group that the thing at its disposal. They argued dent Jonathan win the election, the federal government cannot contend that the offer of amnesty in any war North will make the country ungovwith”. presupposes defeat by the group. ernable for him. And true to that In this same vein, some relations to statement, the government of victims of Boko Haram’s deadly Amnesty puts Nigeria at Jonathan since its inception has not activities are also pushing for due crossroad—-Briggs known peace due to insecurity Speaking to Saturday Vanguard, a problems.

Niger Delta activist, Madam Annkio Briggs said that amnesty to Boko We are yet to decide on Haram may spell doom for Nigeria.

Amnesty —-Boko Haram “Nigeria is at a crossroad. Nigeria is But even as the federal government at a self distruct crossroad. Wole is still gauging the decision whether Soyinka has said a week ago that or not to grant amnesty to Boko Nigeria is at the verge of a civil war.

Haram, the sect has said it is also For us to declare amnesty, we Did he not say so? He said that even thinking whether or not to accept must be communicating with before the Northern people met with the offer, meaning that the people. We cannot declare Jonathan. So, Nigeria is at a crossgroup has distanced itself from the amnesty for people that are road, a self-destructive crossroad. avalanche of calls for amnesty by operating under a veil. We People should stop comparing Boko some northern chieftains. can’t even discuss amnesty Haram to Niger Delta agitation. As issue, let them come and far as I am concerned, the compariThe Implications tell us their problems and son of Boko Haram to the Niger While the Federal Government sees let’s see how we can solve Delta crisis is not acceptable and amnesty as a panacea to lasting the problem can never be acceptable to the peace especially in the Northern Niger Delta people. Our issues are part of the country, some analysts different. Boko Haram has not asked have argued that the Federal compensations. But in the first for amnesty. government is setting a wrong instance, they contended that precedent, stressing that if evil is amnesty to Boko Haram is unthinkBuhari’s endorsement rewarded with good, there are also able.

Surprise greeted General Mohamtendencies that more violent groups Reverend Abare Kallah, the Chairmed Buhari’s endorsement of the which may not even have religious man, Christian Association of amnesty offer on Wednesday. From connotations might sprout up; hold Nigeria (CAN) who spoke to Ogun State where he had gone on the nation to ransom and eventually Saturday Vanguard said: condolence visit to the family of HID negotiate for fees from Federal “The issue of amnesty needs to be Awolowo, Buhari said “it is good government. Already, Nigeria has defined. It depends on what it that they have set up a committee on been infested with several groups: means. Many people have tried to amnesty. I have not seen the term of Movement for the Emancipation of compare the amnesty of the Boko reference but it is a right step in the Niger Delta (MEND) and Niger Haram to the Niger-Delta case. They right direction. This is the first time Delta Peoples Volunteer Force are totally different. And the case of amnesty would be given to a violent (NDPVF) which operated in the the north is not the Niger Delta group.Whatever it takes to bring South-South, Oduduwa Peoples issue. People need to understand peace as a society, we should do it”.

Congress (OPC) in the West and that. From the Christian point of But according to feelers, a man Movement for the Actualization view, we have been agitating now who refuted claims of knowing of Sovereign State of Biafra that if President Jonathan is going to any member of Boko Haram (MASSOB) in the East. give amnesty to Boko Haram, what even when there were calls for All had and still have their happens to the churches, the people him to mediate on behalf of the agenda that if left unmonitored who are victims, whose lives, group should not be lauding the will have the penchant for properties were destroyed, everyoffer of amnesty for people he executing them. thing that was affected as a result of does not know.

Amnesty: How far will it go?

Continued from page 11 “That was the first time I saw them; I had never seen them before, I did not even know them and I was the deputy governor of Bayelsa State, one of their hotbeds. It was in the villa that I met them first during a meeting with the President.

“What I am saying is that in the Niger Delta case, if you call them, they will come and tell you their grievances, rightly or wrongly. They will be there to tell you ‘this is what we want; this is why we are doing this. But in the case of the Boko Haram, you don’t see anybody who will say he is a Boko Haram member, so we cannot declare amnesty.For us to declare amnesty, we must be communicating with people. We cannot declare amnesty for people that are operating under a veil. We can’t even discuss amnesty issue, let them come and tell us their problems and let’s see how we can solve the problem.”

Amnesty deal, its political undertones and reactions

Barely one month after he made the statement, President Jonathan changed his mind and set up a committee for amnesty for Boko Haram. But most people think that is one move that holds more than what could be peripherally discerned. They argued that if President Jonathan has eventually decided to grant pardon to the sect, it must be a bait to negotiate his second term bid with the North in 2015. One of such persons who share the view included the Second Republic Governor of old Kaduna State, Alhaji Balarabe Musa.

More Reactions

Since the announcement of the deal, a consternation of reactions has been trailing it. While some welcome it, many say it is totally wrong and unfathomable. Some analysts couldn’t also comprehend the

SATURDAY Vanguard APRIL 13, 2013 — 13

BOKO HARAM

FG can dialogue with Boko Haram —Prominent Nigerians

•Gowon

•President Jonathan

By Emmanuel Edukugho

M

ost northern elites seemed to support the idea of amnesty without conditions, which looked like putting the cart before the horse, in the bid to solve this problem. The proponents of amnesty may not be sincere. There are factions and breakaways from Boko Haram, although their main objectives are islamisation of the north and disdain for Western education which they termed sinful.

Some people who expressed their views to Saturday Vanguard on the issue of amnesty, wondered what would be the fate of the victims of the insurgency at the end. Won’t other militant groups, although not violent, now, resort to violence and also demand amnesty from government? So it could be a vicious cycle. Amnesty should not be hide and seek game.

In a recent statement, the presidency cautioned advocates of amnesty for Boko Haram members against playing politics with the issue. Presidential spokesman, Dr. Doyin Okupe warned against using amnesty to blackmail President Jonathan “whose overriding desire is the peaceful and harmonious coexistence of all Nigerians irrespective of their social, religious and political leanings.” He called for great restraint when advocating for amnesty for those who have actually through criminality engaged in wanton destruction of innocent lives, public and private properties, especially when their activities are based on ethnic and religious ideologies that actually strike at the foundation of our mutual co-existence.

According to Okupe, “ we also need to be mindful that we have other ethnic militias in the country who have remained essentially peaceful, and who may by these calls for amnesty be encouraged to now pursue violence.”

Former Head of State, General Yakubu Gowon supports amnesty but opines that the leaders of Boko Haram should first of all be identified.

“If it is something that can bring

The Sultan of Sokoto, demanding amnesty for the Boko Haram combatants who are still killing people indiscriminately is like encouraging the sect members to continue with the bloodshed unleashed on innocent people with Christians as target peace and understanding, then why don’t we pursue it. It is an opportunity. But as Mr. President has said, let us know the leaders who will come forward to accept this amnesty for their people.”

National leader of CAN and former Governor of Lagos State, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu has this to say on amnesty: “No nation has fought a religious war and survived it. It is no winner, no loser.

We’ll end up coming to the table to discuss. Therefore, it’s a clarion call.

We must find those who are responsible for the bloodshed,but we must apply justice.

“Those with human blood in their hands must be brought to justice. But we cannot throw away the question of amnesty. It’s a carrot-and-stick approach. And we used it before. Surrender your guns; we give you money for it. Why don’t we do it again?”

Literary giant, Prof. Wole Soyinka expressed dismay on the way President Jonathan is handling the problem of insecurity caused by Bhoko

•Governor Ahmed Haram insurgency. According to him, the country is on the brink, as he claimed that there are those who don’t accept this.

His grouse with President Jonathan is that he (President) doesn’t seem to realize the serious threat of Boko Haram to national unity. “He has not taken the people of this nation into confidence. By now, it is my belief that the President should be addressing the nation – explaining why, if he agrees, that this nation is at war and that certain things have to be done to ensure that we pull back from this round of what is moving towards a civil war.”

Dr. Junaid Mohammed, a member of Northern Elders Forum wants amnesty granted to Boko Haram members.

In an apparent reference to the reprieve given to Niger Delta militants

by Federal Government, Muhammed said what is good for one part of the country was also good for the other, blaming President Jonathan for inability to use his powers to find solution to insecurity and killing of innocent people in the North.

Minority Whip, House of Representatives, Hon. Samson Osagie of Action Congress of Nigeria (can) declared support for amnesty to Boko Haram fighters in as much as it will bring peace.

Chief Chekwas Okorie, a political leader in South-East, while expressing concern over insecurity in the country, sympathised with President Jonathan on the serious dilemma he found himself as regards to the call for amnesty for Boko Haram members.

For Chief Emeka Anyaoku, former Secretary-General of Commonwealth, while acknowledging that our security challenges were posing serious danger and of deep concern to the international community, supported amnesty but wants their leadership unmasked and dialogue entered into as a per-condition.

Kwara State Governor, Abdulfatah Ahmed wants dialogue as a prelude to grant of amnesty.

Alhaji Abubakar Tsav, former Commissioiner of Police, social activist and now member of Northern States Governors’ Forum Committee It noted that the insurgency was not targetted at non-Muslims and majority of the victims were Muslims even

as attempts were made on the lives of Emir of Kano Shehu of Borno and Emir of Fika. For reconciliation and security,m in an interview with a national newspaper (not Vanguard) said that if amnesty was granted to the Niger Delta militants, why can’t give same to these people – Boko Haram members. He added that is what we want Jonathan to do to the Boko Haqram sect. We expected that when he went to Maiduguri, he would have granted those of them who were willing to lay down their arms unconditional amnesty.

Comrade Sam Akindele, lecturer, Dean, School Of Arts and Social S c i e n c e s , A d e niran Ogunasnya College of E d u c a t i o n , Oto-Ijanikin, Lagos and former National President, Colleges of Education Academic Staff Union, COEASU, told Saturday Vanguard that the current insecurity in the country is of concern to all Nigerians and all hands must be on deck to find solution to this problem.

“I guess that because I’m not behind security network to understand what can be done to restore normalcy, I can still give some advice. Whatever we can do to have a new lease of life for our country and forestall this calamity, should be done.”

On dialogue with Boko Haram If there is no arrowhead, to represent the sect, how can we negotiate?

There should be an arrowhead to be sure of who the government is dealing with. Someone should come from them and ascertain he will reach out to others.

Globally, the idea of international community is not to negotiate with terrorists because it could mean encouraging and strengthening them. On international level, you don’t negotiate with terrorists.

What is your own position on this issue?

To me, it is not just terrorism, but laden with politics and religion. President Goodluck Jonathan is not too liked by our brothers in the north. (This is an assumption). What if a northerner is at the helm of affairs, will these killings and destruction happen? I believe it is about 2015 and they don’t want Jonathan re-elected, so they are doing everything to stop his coming back.

As regards the aspect of religion, most of them who have so far spoken, claimed to be defending Islam. But Islam is supposed to be a religion of peace. Another thing is misgovernance as those in political power and leadership have no respect for the poor. Few people in positions of authority are mismanaging our resources and therefore offending the sensibilities of Nigerians. Why only Boko Haram fighting misgovernance and mismanagement? Why not all of us?

Do you support Sultan of Sokoto’s call for amnesty to Boko Haram members?

I support the Sultan’s demand for amnesty, but not only to Boko Haram.

There are other “hot heads” in the north. They should be identified and negotiate with. Let us start with what we are having now, and if it does not work out well, we will know what to do.

14 — SATURDAY Vanguard, APRIL 13, 2013

C M Y K

SATURDAY Vanguard, APRIL 13, 2013 — 15

A

famous British actor in the pop ular sitcom Coronation Street, is rueing the flippant words he uttered in a TV interview recently. He had said in the interview, that whatever happens to us is as a result of our actions either in this world or the previous one. In other words, we deserve whatever we get.

The interviewer, a clever fellow, then asked if victims of rape had deserved it or maybe even asked for it somehow.

He realised then that he was boxing himself into a corner because rape is a sensitive issue in Britain. He tried to dance out of it but didn’t want to eat his words, so muttered some explanations and moved to a safer ground.

The furore that greeted his comments

be very unfair.

Otherwise, what do you tell the middle-aged couple who lost all their children in a Sosoliso air crash? Or the two generations of a family that perished in the Dana air crash? Or the man who wakes up in the middle of the night to find that fire has engulfed all he had including his young children and wife? Or the couple who finally lost all three children to sickle cell after years of pain and anxiety not to talk about expended life savings? What do you say to abused children?

surprised him and indeed many people given his popularity.

Two weeks ago, he had to apologise profusely that he meant no harm and if his comments remotely suggested that rape victims had asked for it, then, he was sorry.

I saw clips of the two tapes. The first one was patronising and all knowing. The second one was contrite and penitent. You see, it’s the clever little questions that puncture holes into many of our assumptions about life.

And many prophets

slaughtered like Sallah rams? Or to the widow who lost all her children including grandchildren, in a car crash in Benue State? What do you say to her? Or to the young lady who endured the jeers and ridicules of her peers because she wanted to keep her virginity for a future husband? She watched, unable to find a husband, as her mates who had enjoyed themselves got married one by one. It got worse when she finally got married in her 30s, and could not conceive while her mates who had done countless abortions were having naming ceremonies. What do you say to a loyal, honest employee who gets sacked while a thieving mate gets promoted? Of course, life can seem unfair and it is patronising to pretend we have the answers when this happens.

What I do know however, is that our Creator has given each of us a precious gift to cope with the vicissitudes of life.

This gift of inestimable value is our mind. We can choose to water this seed, our mind into a strong tree, or we can choose to let it wither. We can choose to be victims for the rest of our lives, or we can choose to use each situation as a ladder to move on (and up) in life.

ids born innocent but who had experienced cruel, cruel lives so early? Or the victims of Boko Haram who watched as their loved ones were

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A man who does not know when to stop accumulating material things has not developed his mind and is indeed,a poor man

would stammer and stumble were they to be asked some clever questions about some of the things they preach on the pulpit. The truth is, there are many things we don’t know and we should not pretend because we are pastors or philosophers that we do.

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ecently, an elderly friend in his late 70s who had lost many of his old friends to the cold hands of death asked where his friends had gone to.

Would they meet again? I tried to answer him by recalling a book I read about life beyond this life. In the book, voices of dead celebrities had been captured and the authors had used the voices to piece the story of life in another realm together. A life that relied more on the spirit form than the physical: a realm that prepares us for yet another higher realm. In other words, a refining process, much like this present life refines us for the next one.

My companion on the other hand, had used the Bible to explain about the finality of death, judgement, heaven, hell etc. Our contrary positions must have left our old friend, a very successful professional and entrepreneur, more bemused than enlightened. Again, the truth is, we just don’t know.

So we are left with what we do know, which is the present life. Even then, we only know the how in most cases and not the why. And what we see and experience show that life can seem to

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o accept that life is not fair, but that we have the tool to deal with it is in itself, therapeutic. It’s the way we condition our minds to come to terms with the cards life deals us that determines how much peace, how much contentment we enjoy in life because contentment they say is true wealth.

Therefore, a man who does not know when to stop accumulating material things has not developed his mind and is indeed,a poor man because he has not learnt about contentment. Many of our leaders who think they are privileged, are actually victims, of this unfair world.

Let us develop our minds. That is our Creator’s cure for the unkind cuts of life.

God's prophetic purpose of praise God is a God of purpose. Everything fore the ark of the covenant of God”.

He says has a meaning and He perFrom the text above, we can see that forms all that He says. God is whom the tabernacle of David was a place He says He is and will do what He of praise. Inside the tabernacle was says He will do. the ark of covenant and before the ark Some people think that when they the priests gave continual praise and are asked to praise God, all they need worship. to do is to sing and dance. This is One hundred years after the removgood but not good al of David’s tabernacle, enough. Just singing Amos wrote that a day is and dancing is not the coming when God will real purpose of praise. restore David’s tabernacGod’s purpose for le (a place of praise) and Until you and I have a good understanding of build it as original. praise is for the praise, we cannot reap God is therefore restorchurch to drive its full benefits. ing the place of praise.

In Amos 9: 11-12, the If you have noticed, gosout and destroy bible says “In that day pel musicians are today, the works of will I raise up the tabin the limelight. They ernacle of David that is are being sought after. darkness and fallen and close up the Please know that God is disinherit the breaches thereof: and I restoring the place of will raise up his ruins in His church not devil and occupy praise and I will build it as in just to praise Him but the earth the days of old: that that you might possess. they may possess the (Amos 9: 12). remnant of Edom and Possess in Hebrew of all the heathen word is Yaresh. It means, which are called by my name, saith occupy by driving out the previous the Lord that does this”. tenants, to cast, to consume, destroy From the text above, prophet Amos, and to disinherit. by the Spirit of God, prophesied about God’s purpose for praise is for the a time when God would restore again church to drive out and destroy the the tabernacle of David. works of darkness and disinherit the What then is the tabernacle of Dav- devil and occupy the earth. Satan id? Let’s see 1 Chron.16:1, 4-6. It says would not voluntarily give you back “so they brought the ark of God and what he has stolen from you. To posset it in the midst of the tent that David sess what belongs to you, you have to had pitched for it: and they offered enter into spiritual warfare and take burnt sacrifices and peace offerings up your weapon of praise. As you rise before God and He appointed certain up in praise, you begin to possess. of the levites to minister before the I see total restoration and possesark of the Lord and to record and to sion happening in your life from now thank and praise the Lord God of Is- as you stay in continual praises from rael. Asaph, the chief and next to him your heart. God bless you mightily.

Zechariah, Jeiel and Shemiramoth and Jehiel and Mattithiah and Eliab T E S T I M O and Benaiah and Obededom: and NY: Jeiel with psalteries and with harps During the last women of praise, I but Asaph made a sound with cym- came to the meeting with a very heavy bals; Benanaih also and Jhaziel, the heart. The previous night, I could not priests, with trumpets continually be- sleep but spent many hours in tears.

I managed to attend the meetP I T R O I P A O B U H ing. I was so glad when pastor A S L A R A E mentioned my case and said that before the next Women of F H E R A E S A N S Praise meeting, I will celebrate.

B D N O N A Z I God indeed has honored my praises for He has made a way U O G B O M O S H O for me, my daughter and entire A A V A N Y I M family. To crown it all, my niece who has been in hospital for O O G O N I C E L months with threatened pregB L D A K A R M nancy finally delivered a bouncing baby boy without complicaS A K E R E D O L U tions. It is a good thing to praise the Lord. See you at the next L E E G B O K O Women of Praise meeting where L U L U R O I Z Z I God’s glory comes upon His daughters.

N E T R H N K Sis V.O

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Of course life is not fair

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For more details, contact us at Christ Reality Church, beside Gossard Hotel, opposite First Bank Sports Ground, Community Road, Satellite Town or P.O.Box, 3196, Yaba Lagos. Tel: 08023062635 08168955932; 08033378769. E-mail: Johnson_crm@yahoo.com. Website: www.christrealityministries.org.

Our account details are Pastor Johnson Omomadia, Guaranty Trust Bank, A/C Nos. 0005171407.

Worship with us on Sundays, 1st Service: 745am-9:15am; 2nd Service 9:1511:30am. Wednesdays Word Revelation 6pm. Counseling days Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays. 11am-5pm daily or by appointment. Showers of blessing every 2nd - 4th Sat. of each month, 6 a.m - 7.15 am.

16 — SATURDAY Vanguard, APRIL 13, 2013

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n the horns of a dilemma, that is where President Goodluck seems to find himself right now. Or, as my friends used to put it in those sweet-scented ghettoes of North DC, “He’s damned if he don’t, and is damned if he do. “ He told the Borno elders he wasn’t about to negotiate with “ghosts” And he was right. It is not given to ordinary human beings to hold any meaningful discourse with ghouls. Let the Boko Haram come out into the open, he advised. Let them present their grievances; then there could be “dialogue”. But that was after the terrorists had asked for his conversion to Islam as one of the conditions for the cessation of their attacks on innocent citizens, particularly those of the Christian faith; but even before that, there had been the ultimatum of the removal of high security officials and the outlandish demand for the entire country to embrace Islamism. Now is the season for a deeper step into the pool of the absurd - an amnesty, a general pardon and a total forgiveness for acknowledged and selfconfessed felons.

The President may seem to have capitulated at last, depending on how anyone interprets it.

He has, at least, yielded to granting the proposal a consideration. That, to me, is the import of the appointment of a committee to outline an arrangement, a feasible and acceptable arrangement, for the processing of the amnesty. It cannot be that the proposal itself has been adopted since its terms have not been formulated, anyway. And it must have rules, especially, to ensure that the safety of the citizens is henceforth protected.

That is a viewpoint I can share.

*aspects of the amnesty deal *maligning the yorubas

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ome people have also mentioned the issue of “restitution”, and remember that we are not talking about burglary or some petty larceny here. This concerns the massive taking of human lives in a wanton and callous manner. We are talking about young lives snuffed out without any sense; of dear ones torn away from their lovers’ arms without any cause; of sudden death visited with sudden viciousness on victims in the prime of life. How do you recompense, or repay for, or “make good'’ on that? It was not even as though as if a war had been declared, or a firm basis for hostilities had been decided. That committee has got its work clearly carved out for it, I must say.

But to read what is reported in the newspapers about what the Peoples Democratic Party leadership’s reaction

•Dr Frederick Fasehun,OPC President affiliations”. Now, does he have to provoke an argument? I could ask him if he has ever heard of a place called Lagos, for instance, if he has to introduce the “accommodation” of nonindigenes by other States into the discourse.

All the same, it is not surprising that some governors of the Northern States have welcomed the constitution of the Amnesty Committee in laudatory terms. Unfortunately, like Metuh, they have not enough vision to appreciate that whatever good might be achieved could not be for the North alone.

Their stance portrays a proprietorship of the proposal which, true as that may be, leaves them outside the support of the country which they do need, for this is a problem of the entire nation that will not respond to any solution that does not take in the whole country. Even now, the mere idea of the constitution of the committee is an abomination to several sections of the country, and so to gloat overmuch about it could be more than slightly offensive. It would be counter-productive and a colossal shame and tragedy if what may be intended to foster our unity through the enhancement of our security ends up creating a wider gulf of resentment among different parts of the country.

We are talking about young lives snuffed out without any sense; of dear ones torn away from their lovers’ arms without any cause

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ut even more frightening is the fact that the composition of the committee has been drawing flaks already, even among those that one would have expected to support the issue of the amnesty for Boko Haram. They have been incisively critical of various aspects of the Amnesty panel, especially its composition. If the members appear to be too close to government, some opine, it would not meet with the approbation of the Boko Haram, and some of the appointees are already being described as “government apologists”.. The valid point is also made that a mediating committee should be able to ensure a ceasefire for at least an appreciable period before it starts its work. There are doubts expressed in these quarters also that the Boko Haram may not even accept the amnesty anyway. So it seems we have been appealing to the

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was from Abuja, the amnesty itself has been granted, bar the shouting. These putative spokesmen of the party describe the declaration of establishing of an “Amnesty Committee” as “the best decision at the moment”. Some of them see it as a “submission to the yearning of the Northern leaders over the plight of the people of the region ... “ The man who still parades himself as the PDP National Publicity Secretary (no matter what INEC says) enthuses that the President’s decision further demonstrates “his sincerity and forthrightness in handling the affairs of the country” and typifies him as a “listening leader” to whom the unity of the nation is very dear. We have heard all that before, of course, and from other quarters as well.

Chief Olisa Metuh then added that “the North is the most receptive region in the country.

Indeed, there is no part of the country that is more accommodating than the North which has been home for all people, irrespective of religious creed and tribal

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physician to make the drug available without first ensuring that the patient would accept the drug.

In all, the constitution of a committee to consider the possibility of an amnesty for the Boko Haram has been further linked with the idea of dialogue. In the perception of some actors in the drama, the entire package consists of a ceasefire leading to an amnesty that would enable the shadowy forms of the Boko Haram to materealize into flesh and blood with whom a dialogue can be conducted.

But the frightening aspect is the mention of some money, hundreds of thousands of naira, that would be paid to the insurgents for laying down their arms. That would be the most controversial point yet. But why not? People are saying there is a precedent. That aspect is even being mentioned ahead of compensation (which is a lifeless issue anyway) for the victims. Whichever way it goes, President Goodluck Jonathan may indeed find that he is at the beginning of a tunnel without an end.

Indeed, this proposition has a precedent that time has shown is leading to no joyful end.

Chief Obafemi Awolowo established a leadership that put the Yoruba people on a high pedestal of pride through achievement. At his departure from the turmoil of this terrestrial scene, the break-up with his deputy, Chief S. L. Akintola, had depleted the store of prestige occasioned by his imprisonment which his eventual release, and the chance of rehabilitation as a high government functionary, could not adequately replenish. The upshot was that an awful vacuum in leadership conspired with an onset of lethargy among the indigenes of the West, and the Yorubas groped around unable to fully defend even their own soil. By the time General Sani Abacha capitalized on the failure of Ibrahim Babangida to maintain the grand edifice of democracy of which he was the architect, the Yoruba pride and prestige had shrunk to an almost insignificant measure, aided by the old penchant for infighting

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Indeed, this proposition has a precedent that time has shown is leading to no joyful end

among themselves.

And then gradually appeared, as though from a misty horizon, an organization which called itself the Oduduwa Peoples Congress, OPC. It was not a political party, as such. It was slightly more military than militant, in stages. It was described in many ways by many people, but everyone acknowledged that it had arrived to reclaim the self-esteem the Yorubas had lost.

This was the organization that filled the gap when the socalled leaders that were seeking political fortunes had left the head of their heritage uncovered. The members were young, virile and devilmay-care, whenever the honour of the Yorubas was concerned. They reclaimed a wide expanse of grounds lost to people from other parts of the country, some of who abused the natural hospitality that was theirs to enjoy. Their exploits became legendary.

They confronted and bested their adversaries by various means, including the so-called “ju-ju” at which they were adepts. They became the fear of robbers and hooligans, daring to rout the hide-outs of criminals to which even the police gave a wide berth. They operated under a rigid moral code of integrity and respect for elders. And so they acquired the space for Yorubas to square the shoulders as stakeholders in the commonwealth of the nation once again.

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n all this, they received no gratification from anyone but relied entirely on their own resources. They asked for no largesse nor ran dishonourable errands for anyone. They scarcely presented themselves for elective office, or sought any official appointment. Like any organization instituted by human beings, the OPC, at one time or the other, ran into headwinds but it has survived to tell its own story. I am not here to tell it for them, but what you read on this page today is authentic, and I can add that it may be too late in the day for this organization to even consider obtaining a contract worth any amount of money, for the sole purpose of undermining ANYTHING OF YORUBA CONNECTION. That is of a tall order!

Who is marginalizing —or rather, maligning — the Yorubas?

Time out.

SATURDAY Vanguard, APRIL 13, 2013 — 17

18—SATURDAY VANGUARD, APRIL 13, 2013 Dear Julie, I have been going out with a wonderful girl for over a year now. She is smart, caring, and pleasant. But, someone else has come into the picture. She is also wonderful, smart, and pleasant, and I can’t stop thinking about her. My girlfriend doesn’t know this, but it’s changing me on the inside.

I have this terrible feeling it’s only a matter of time before something big happens. I am at total war on the inside, sometimes my heart says “stay ” while my mind says “leave.” Other times, my mind says “stay ” while my heart says “leave.” I am so confused.

Please help.

Tommy, Ilesha

Dear Tommy, Think about what you would lose and what you would gain by “leaving” and by “staying.”

What kind of relationship do you have together? What plans do you and your girlfriend have for the future?

He doesn’t kiss me anymore

Should I stay or leave?

What do you want right now and in the future? Your answers to these questions may help you understand what you’re feeling at the moment.

Sometimes, we look for the path of least resistance out of a relationship.

Could it be that this new girl is your ticket out of a relationship you no longer want to be in? Perhaps, you want your current relationship to become more open to the idea of see-

ing other people . Or, maybe you need “alone time” — not to be in any relationship so that you can decide what’s best for you at this time?

Then again, there’s the possibility that you’re attracted to this other girl.

Nothing more, nothing less. And, it may have nothing to do with your girlfriend. If you act on this attraction, something will

happen. But, a few weeks or months down the road, you might realize that what happened (say, a breakup with your current girlfriend) was not what you really wanted. Try to decide what you want, and then act on that.

One last thought...the grass isn’t always greener on the other side . You have to decide if you want to take the risk to find out.

There’s no harmony in my relationship Aunty Julie, I’ve been dating a lady for the past six months but there is no harmony in our relationship. We love each other very much and cannot afford to stay apart but there are always problems. Is it possible to love someone and just not be able to get along with that person? I’m afraid of losing her and fear I may not be able to cope alone without her. If this relationship ends , how do I get over it especially when none of us wants to let go, yet it seems to be a necessity?

Taiye, Ibadan Dear Taiye Yes, it is possible to love someone and just not be able to get along with that person.

No relationship is conflict-free.

The important thing is not whether you disagree, but how you disagree. Sometimes couples argue a lot because they have simply not developed simple, respectful ways of talking and listening. Sometimes they want to persuade the other person to change his/her opinion, behaviour,

It is possible to love someone and just not be able to get along with that person.

No relationship is conflict-free.

The important thing is not whether you disagree, but how you disagree. or mind.

If this might be the problem, consider seeking counsel for the express purpose of learning how to disagree constructively. A couple can often make rapid progress toward a more harmonious relationship when poor communica-

• * A lady who had been married for several years was growing more and more frustrated at her husband’s lack of interest in sex. She wondered about ways to add some pizzazz to their relationship, and finally decided to purchase some crotchless underwear she had seen in a lingerie shop.

One evening when she was feeling particularly desirous, and he was, as usual, watching television, she took a shower, freshened up, and donned the crotchless undies, and a slinky negligee. She then strolled between her husband and the television, and suggestively tossed one leg up on his chair arm. ‘Want some of this?’ she

tion is truly what’s at issue.

On the other hand, in many cases, a relationship that has formed and endured despite constant disagreement and argument is a relationship that is perhaps not based on love between two independent adults, but rather between two co-dependent people, stuck ing a challenging dynamic.

However, if you are a young, childless couple and your relationship is fraught with not being able to get along, and you try counseling and don’t see reasonably rapid results (that is, some discernable easing of tension within six months), then it might be wisest for you two to move on and see if you can each find partners with whom you are more compatible.

Remember, it is important, when it comes to relationships, to use your head, as well as listen to your heart. A healthy relationship needs to make you feel good, not stressed or unhappy.

If you decide to dissolve the relationship, how do you get over that loss? It will

probably be hard at first, and you may never get over it completely. What are your fears, how do you feel, what has changed, and how will you cope? Look to family and friends for support. Allow yourself time to grieve, and see a counselor if the grief and sadness linger for more than a year. With time, people heal and move on.

If, over time, you discover that your relationships all seem the same, where you care about one another but you disagree, then this is important information to have as you talk with a therapist, gain new perspective, and create new patterns.

What is it that gets you to choose people with whom you can’t get along? What do you bring to relationships that contributes to disharmony? When you can get to talk about and learn from these kinds of questions, you will be more likely to choose a more appropriate partner to love and with whom you can build a healthy, happy relationship.

C O C K - T A L E S purred. ‘Are you kidding?’ he replied. ‘Look what it did to your underwear’ • * Wife was mad at me Two deaf men were in a coffee shop discussing their wives. One signs to the other, ‘boy was my wife mad at me last night! She went on and on and wouldn’t stop!’ The other buddy says ‘when my wife goes off on me, I just don’t listen. How do you do that?’ Says the other. It’s easy! I turn off the light!

• This guy called up his lawyer to tell him he was filing for divorce, and the lawyer inquired as to the grounds for the suit.

My guy and I used to kiss a lot before, during and after sex. But he no longer kisses me during sex? We still have sex on a regular basis, but he no longer looks at me while we have sex. He always covers his face when we are together. It has been months since he has kissed me. I am starving for affection. I happen to be in love with this man.

Felly, Calabar Dear Felly, To find out why this man has stopped the smooching, you may need to start moving your lips for a different reason , to communicate by way of talking. A dose of healthy communication with your partner about your sexual and emotional needs and desires will most likely lead you to a better understanding of the current situation.

Before you start the conversation, consider ruling out any physical reasons why your partner has stopped kissing you. It’s possible there’s a simple reason for his change in behaviour. Maybe he developed cold sores and is embarrassed or doesn’t know what to do about them, or he could be worried about his breath (or yours).

Since it takes two people to kiss, have you tried initiating kissing him? If yes, how did he respond? This will give you a little more information about the situation.

To start the conversation, try letting him know that you really like kissing, and that you like to look at him when you’re having sex. Let him know that you’ve been missing this affection and that it means a lot to you. Give him a chance to respond; find out if this is just a phase he’s going through, if it has been an unconscious behaviour on his part, or if it’s evidence of something else that may be going on in your relationship.

”I’ve got grounds, all right,” sputtered the irate husband. “Can you believe my wife told me I’m a lousy lover?” ”That’s why you’re suing?” pursued his lawyer. ”Of course not. I’m suing because she knows the difference.”

• Husband & wife - Why divorce?

In a divorce court, a woman told the judge: “Your honour, I want to divorce my husband.”

“But why ?” asked the judge.

She replied, “Because he is not faithful to me.”

The judge asked, “How do you know ?”

She replied, “My lord, not a single child resembles him.”

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didn’t see my friend again until some months later. “Risikat’s been transformed,’ she told me after we’d caught up on a few gossips. “She’s positively glowing after she took my advice. Not only did she find a shop owner virtually next door to her place to accompany her on her walks, rumours have it that she’s now bunking the poor man!”

So what was her problem?

“How can you talk like this?”

She fumed. “The man is young enough to be her son and he has a family. Doesn’t she have any shame, disrobing in the presence of a shop owner.!” “Heh, wait a minute” I continued, “I know the chap you’re talking

men is like walking down a well stocked supermarket with an empty trolley. The goods on display are just begging to be snapped up ... “ Would she call what the men was doing prostitution? “Call it whatever you like, but there is a clear exchange of cash or gifts for sexual services. The agreement may last an hour, a night or a week.

In some cases, it is a more informal long-term investment. The toyboy’s aim being to acquire benefits over a period - find an older woman, get involved and build up a nest-egg for when he gets married.

Middle age is when you settle for sloppy seconds!

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about. He doesn’t look as young as you claimed and his family stays somewhere else.”

“So what?” Continued my friend with a sneer. “Her younger relatives are complaining and are bent on showing this gigolo the door.

Would you believe Risikat just moved to her new bungalow and gave all her old furniture to this man? What for? When most of her siblings would be glad for such hand-me-downs.

If her children were in this country, she couldn’t have gotten away with such shameless behaviour!”

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gently reminded my fuming friend that Risikat’s siblings could never render the services this young chap was rendering — with positive results too. My friend had come in the company of Eno, who she said was her school mother in their secondary school days. She agreed with me that our friend had always been a prude and I should just ignore her indignance. She then recalled an experience she had recently while waiting

impatiently at the VIP lounge of the local airport, she was fuming at the unnecessary delay of her flight when she noticed this young chap in his late

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HE last time I called on a childhood friend, she told me how amazed she was at how some of our friends had simply let their figures go. “The fact that you’re over 50 doesn’t mean you have to get yourself ready for the role of a frumpy grandma,” she fumed.

“Admittedly male suitors are not exactly falling like flies off the wall for some of us, but what about our general wellbeing? We need to boost our self-esteem by looking good.

I ran into Risikat last month at a shopping mall and she looked so drab that I walked past her without recognizing her. When she tugged at my blouse, I did a double take at what I saw. Apart from looking frumpy, she looked as if she was bereaved. She might be a few years older than us, but she looked as if she was just marking time at life’s departure lounge.

“I was blunt with her. I told her to get a grip on herself and live the quality life she deserved. She must start by taking the much touted daily walks that were supposed to give your health a mighty boost. She lived near one of these estates with recreation areas, I told her to take advantage of the location for her walks. She gave the weak excuse of being scared of muggers and kidnappers, encouraged her to take one of the sprawling young men in her neighbourhood to accompany her whenever she went for walks. She promised to give it ago.”

Vanguard APRIL 13, 2013—19

When we arrived Port Harcourt, he asked tentatively if he could be put up in any of the rooms in my motel as it was too late to secure any decent

The man is young enough to be her son and he has a family.

Doesn’t she have any shame

30’s as he perched on a seat next to her.

The conversation was stilted at first until Eno let it drop that she. had an engagement “at the Port Harcourt branch of the motel she ran.

“He instantly became interested in what I had to say and was chatting away as if he’d just discovered his tongue’, Eno recalled.

“When we eventually boarded the plane, it was inevitable that we sat together. He was quite helpful really, with my suitcase and with making sure I was comfortable.

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accommodation. He said he would pay the going price. I would be a fool to pretend I didn’t know where all this was leading to. I was a single woman, twice divorced, and men like Ebere (the man’s name) flocked around me all the time. Not that I looked stunning at over 60, but because they could get compensated for services well rendered.

“At my age, you have to take what is thrown at you and men like Ebere are fit and strong and quite better looking than men my age— and they appreciate you. Like a friend aptly put it, getting involved with younger

ne thing is for sure, as long as you are loaded, you can be plain or fat or a pensioner — you will still be made to feel young and beautiful and there are more than enough of those men to go round, what with their taut well exercised bodies! An added bonus is that they don’t need all that viagra stuff — unlike a lot of men my age... “ “It is sad that what used to be a rarity now operates on an industrial scale”, observes a participant on current relationship TV programme who says she feels disgusted by some older women’s getlaid-wherever-you-can-get it attitude. Some of them would sleep with their sons if they could get away with it! What was once exciting has turned exploitative. Passion has been replaced by the predatory and caring has become a con to these opportunistic gigolos!

“And they have stupid wellworn lines they use on their victims that never fail: ‘you are my destiny’, ‘without you, I would never have made it in life.’ Sloppy words that send their victims reaching for their cheque books.” “Life is short”, Eno concluded dreamy-eyed.

“I’m rich, my two children are happily married and in a decade or two, I might be history. With those younger men, it is a bargain. The married ones amongst my friends use my motel all the time, then go home and resume their normal life with their families. What the husbands don’t know can’t hurt them.” ....

Women outdo men when it comes to working hard at work t’s a suggestion that’s likely to ruffle some rather outdated stereotypes about the fairer sex. But when it comes to office environments, women emerge as more hard-working than men, a study has found.

Contrary to old cliches about women being gossipy and unable to focus on the job at hand, it found they are more likely to stay at their desks and finish a task than their male colleagues are.

Women were also found to work for longer and were less likely to wander off.

Men by contrast got easily distracted, suggesting they did not have their minds on the job. The study on behalf

of technology firm 3M observed 274 workers - 53 per cent female and 47 per cent male - across US offices in a range of industries.

During a ten-minute trial, women worked for 4.9 minutes versus men’s 4.3 minutes. When given the opportunity to walk oft: 38 per cent of women did so — compared with

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52 per cent of men.

Interestingly, the men were also found to work less when women were around.

If the researcher and subject were female,the average time was four minutes. If the researcher and subject were both male, it was 3.6.

But when the researcher was female

when it comes to office environments, women emerge as more hard-working than men

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and the subject male, the time was 2.8 minutes.

Relationships writer Jean Hannah Edelstein said: ‘Perhaps women work harder because we suffer more from “imposter syndrome”; society bombards us with messages that we’re not as valuable as our male colleagues, so perhaps we feel we have to be more diligent in order to prove ourselves.

‘Some men may feel a sense of entitlement to professional success, as a result of living in a society where men are more valued than women in some work places.’

20—SATURDAY Vanguard, APRIL 13 13, 2013

every relationship starts with dating, so in the beginning, you will go out on dates such as out to dinners, movies and other places of interest. This is all fine and good, but if after a while you find yourself still in the dating stage, only seeing this person when you go out to treat him or her to dinner, movies, etc,then it is possible that you are being used for free dinners, movies and other treats. When a real relationship is building, both of you will want to

08052201257 anyagafu@yahoo.com

Are you being used ?

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t happens all the time.

You’d just realise that the person you thought you have something genuine with is only using you to satisfy his/her selfish ends.

Often, we hear people are used and dumped.

He/she becomes nice and so friendly because of what they hope to gain from you. And once they get that thing they want, you become history and life goes on.

Nobody wants it but people do it.The last thing we want when we find someone that we really like is to discover that we were just being used. As cruel, selfish and immature as it may be and seem, the truth is, there are people out there who will use others to fulfill their own selfish needs, whether it is for sexual purposes, money, free dates, temporary companionship, etc. It is very common for some to choose the path of denial when they see the red flags that they are being used, because they do not want to believe that the person they like actually is using them, nor do they want to believe that they could fall victim to such

The truth is, there are people out there who will use others to fulfill their own selfish needs a thing.

Denying the truth is helping no one. If you suspect you are being used for anything, you should become more alert and observant in such relationship, and collect the facts, so that if you are being used, you can put an end to it as soon as possible.

There are some signs that point to the possibility that someone is most likely being used: *You mainly just have sex: No matter how amazing the sexual connection may be between you and another

person, a relationship should not be mainly a sexual one. There is more to a relationship and you should be connecting in more ways than just sexually. You two should be going out on dates, talking and getting to know each other. If you are mainly meeting up at each other’s homes for some talking and sex, then there is a high chance that you are being used for sex. *The relationship does not move beyond dates: Okay, we all know that

Climaxing chokes me Ques: I’m a thirty-year-old woman. Re-

cently I started having a terrible experience.

When I am having intercourse, in the moment of my orgasm, my throat closes and I cannot breathe for a long time. Last time was scary because I spent more than 30 minutes with my throat completely closed and every 1 or 2 minutes, I could take a big breath and again it closed. I felt like I was going to die; my partner gave me mouth-to-mouth respiration and I survived. I am really scared about having an orgasm again. It happened sometimes, but not so strongly as last time.

Do you know if this is some kind of disease or something? Asthma? What should I do?

Thanks for your help,

Lulu, Abuja

Ans: Some people do have asthma attacks during or after strenuous activity. This can sometimes be treated by using an inhaler prior to engaging in the activity.

It’s hard to tell whether your experience is due to asthma or something else. It certainly sounds as if whatever is happening to you is enough to warrant a trip to your doctor.

Exposure to substances to which you are allergic can also cause difficulty in breathing. For example, was your partner wearing a latex condom? Allergies to latex are common. Allergic reactions become more severe with repeated exposure, so you might want to use a different type of condom, such as one made of polyurethane, or you can use the female condom, for a change. Be aware that these condoms may have a slightly higher failure rate than

see more and more of each other, outside the dating scene. You will want to hang out at each other’s homes and have intimate experiences ,both physically and emotionally, meet each other’s friends and/or family and eventually agree that you are in an official relationship. If you cannot get this person to get officially involved with you, but he or she does not mind you to keep taking him or her out on dates here and there, beware! * You find yourself giving/ loaning more and more money:There is nothing wrong with helping someone out with money once in a while, especially if it is someone you really like and

latex condoms. See your doctor to be tested for a latex allergy, to get information on how to avoid ex-

posure to latex and to learn how to treat a reaction, if you are truly sensitive or allergic.

Panic attacks, a chemical phenomenon in your body, can also cause difficulty breathing. They can occur for any number of reasons. It’s not a “mind-over-matter” situation that you can easily control. It’s a series of chemical events that cause symptoms. Sometimes, a history of sexual trauma can be a factor in panic attacks associated with sex. Caffeine, alcohol and/or other drugs and certain medications may also increase a person’s likelihood of having a panic attack. Your doctor can tell you about the variety of treatments available for

have a strong romantic interest in. We all could use some help sometimes, and helping each other out is wonderful. There is a limit however, on how much money you keep giving/ loaning someone no matter how much you like them, especially if they are not really paying back the loans.

If you are seeing someone and their asking for money becomes more frequent without giving you much in return relationship-wise, then there is a good chance that you are being used for money and you should then stop giving him or her money to see and find out whether they will really stick around once the money lending stops. * You mainly hang out when he/she is bored or has nothing else to do: Naturally, you are going to want to spend as much time as possible with the person you are interested in, but are the feelings mutual? If the person you are seeing makes a lot of excuses for not seeing you (they are busy, already have plans, something came up, etc) and seems to only see you at the last minute when he or she has some time, then it is possible that you are being used for company when he or she has nothing else to do that they consider more important.

Really watch out for this, because if a person is really into you, they will want to spend as much time with you and will not keep making excuses.

panic attacks, including psychotherapy, behavioural techniques for lessening the effects of a panic attack, and medications that can prevent or limit them.

When did this start to happen? What is different? Perhaps you are holding your breath on the path to orgasm.

Perhaps you don’t want to orgasm for a while. Perhaps you have feelings about your partner, your life, and/or the sex you are having; feelings can have impact on sexual response.

If a doctor rules out a medical cause for your orgasm-related symptoms, a sex therapist may be your next step, with the goal of getting back to enjoying sexual activities. In the meantime, don’t strive for orgasm, just allow the pleasurable feelings to come in and be present. Pleasure, not or-

gasm, can be your sexual goal.

•Chris, 30,male, chocolate, from Edo, wants to meet a relationship on 08157040267 working class lady, aged 25-32, from any part of the •Chris,dark in complexion, needs a lady for country, who is God-fearing and caring on a serious relationship that can lead to mar07035646780 riage . 08130734007 •Ken, 31,is searching for a caring and loving lady •Niceman,47, Cleric, educated, based in Edo aged 21-35, who is finacially independent for a relationState,needs an educated lady pastor who is ship on 08104478554 working class and aged 37-44 on •Faye, needs a good looking lady, for a serious rela•Jimi, 31, based in Calabar, graduate, employed, desires 0 8 0 6 0 3 4 7 9 1 8 •Daniel, needs a woman who is ready for a tionship. 07030449020 a lovely lady based in Calabar of age 18-30 for a serious serious relation•Rapheal, chocolate in complexion, tall, ship.08021054321 needs a matured, pretty and well to do Do you have reactions to our stories or have you any experience you want •Destiny, male, lady, for a serious relationship. to share with our readers? Please e-mail,anyagafu2@gmail.com wants a lady of 1808026696958 23 for a relationship •Seyi, 32, is searching for a lady for a relaDo you want to be linked? that could lead to tionship on 08152891073 Neither Chioma Gabriel nor Saturday Vanguard has any relationship with anybody wanting to be marriage on •Michael, 35, from Delta State but resilinked. We have no agents anywhere and charge no fees. We have no personal information of people 0 7 0 3 3 2 9 7 8 8 6 dent in Lagos, wants to be linked with a who have been linked or want to be linked and therefore, are not answerable for disappointments or

caring and Godfearing lady for a wonderful relationship on 08059649934

embarrassments some people may encounter in the process.

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hankfully should I say, I have a prepaid meter installed which means that I am free from the so called ‘estimate’ bills that used to plague my existence in this my beloved country, Naija, a few years back. I always wondered how my bill was calculated given that I always never had electricity but sure as the sun would shine and there would be the breaking of the dawn, a bill would come with amounts close to N40, 000 per month to be paid or you faced being cut off from the supply. Very funny indeed! If there is never any supply of

info@katehenshaw.com

Let there be light electricity from PHCN why should one fear disconnection?

On April 5, 2013, I received this general text message from my Residents Association, “The management of PHCN Lekki, just informed us of a planned power outage in Lekki for four days commencing Friday, April 5, to carry out maintenance works of two 11KVA feeders that will be connected to the newly installed 100MVA transformer at Ajah. They regret any inconvenience caused—Executive”.

Quickly I swung into action and called my diesel supplier to make sure that all my drums were filled. I knew this ‘planned’ maintenance would be more than the purported time of four days. It was indeed! This is the 5th day without electricity. I had a timetable drawn up for the usage of my two generators.

The smaller would work

from 6am till 7am before I leave for the gym. Upon my return at about 10:30am, it would be switched on again to enable me shower and get ready for my day and then it would be turned off again. Break time would be from whatever time I left the house till I got back, and if I got back home before 3pm, it would

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s I sit here and type this article, the loud sound from my small ‘Gen’ has assailed my ears for the past five days,and that does not suggest it was not frequently on several other days. I put a tweet on the social media, twitter, complaining about the total lack of electricity and the responses I got made me think that I was no worse off than most Nigerians out there. One person even joked that the only reason we have candle light dinner in Naija is when we don’t have light, and Gen no gree start.

It is such an appalling state of affairs and we have grown accustomed to it. One wonders if things will ever change for the better.

Vanguard, APRIL 13, 2013—21

generator. It is not rocket science or is it? Pray tell me how does NLNG in Bonny achieve constant electricity? Do we need to have a symposium on this issue or another road map drawn up for this? Lots of businesses budget huge sums of money which go into

,

I had a timetable drawn up for the usage of my two generators

remain off till 6pm when I would switch over to the bigger ‘gen’ which would work from 6pm till 4am.

I am sure most people would pay a reasonable amount for constant power supply, but we don’t even have that option because of the ‘Gen’ cabal!

Believe me, and I stand to be proven wrong that there are some people who are smiling to bank because entire Nigeria including Aso Rock run

the fuelling and maintenance of generators to keep the office, salon, hospital, hotel, school and even the toll plaza going.

This is passed straight on to the consumer who ends up paying exorbitant bills for the end product. The sound of our nation rings true through the cacophony of music provided by our massive generators while we

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argaret Thatcher who was Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1970 to 1990 died of a stroke on Monday at the age of 87. Exactly 23 years after she left office, and 11 years after she retired from public life, Baroness Thatcher succumbed to the effects of a stroke after years of battling deteriorating health.

The death of the “Iron Lady” known for her personal and political toughness was greeted with celebrations, as masked vandals broke into street parties across the UK. In south London, masked protesters held up letters that read: “Margaret Thatcher dead LOL [Laugh Out Loud]”. In Leeds, they shared a celebration cake. In Liverpool, they celebrated with a “death party”.

In Glasgow’s George Square, they popped bottles of champagne in the streets and sang, “Ding-Dong! The Witch is Dead”.In Many of her reforms favoured the wealthy elite at fact, the song has been the anthem in the expense of everyone else, and Britain still has celebrating the death of the only ever not forgiven her which is apparent in the female British Prime Minister, propelling celebrations of her death.

In Africa, it may be difficult for many to grasp the wizard of Oz track to number 10 in the the complex legacy of Margaret Thatcher, but she country’s official singles charts. will be widely remembered for her tolerance for ven in death,Thatcher remains a Apartheid in South Africa. Two decades after the demonized hated figure so much so end of apartheid, even South Africans are divided that the normal rules of engagement of not over whether Thatcher helped or hindered the speaking ill of the dead do not apply. inhumane system of racial segregation and white Across the same country she ruled for 11 rule while also prolonging the imprisonment of years and helped transform to what it is Nelson Mandela. Many believe that with her today many of its citizens believe she international presence and influence she could deserves nothing but delight at her have done more to push for the demise of apartheid. passing on.

Thatcher who was a three-time Prime allo Jordan former Minister of Arts and Minister shut down a legion of coal mines Culture of the republic of South Africa, and and steel factories across Britain, and during her decade in office privatized the a staunch member of the governing African gas, water, telecom, and electricity National Congress has come out blasting Thatcher industries and she also reduced public after her death saying “good riddance” to the Late funding for education, welfare and social Baroness in an interview with a local radio station.

“Maggie Thatcher and Britain were important housing. These actions led to an economic boom creating a very wealthy middle class figures and they were defending Apartheid, they in a short period of time, but leaving many were preventing international sanctions,” said unemployed and she showed no sympathy Jordan to the associated press,“I don’t think her effectively saying that they just needed to death is a great loss to the world.”

While many are in support of Jordan’s stance, work harder. She left just as many people poor as she left many rich and satisfied. others argue that Thatcher was opposed to

Margare her: Wh ou Margarett Thatc Thatcher: Whyy yyou ma e her mayy lo lovve or hat hate

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hy should I spend my hard-earned money to provide myself a soundproof generator? Why should I spend even more money to go the way of inverters which carry loads of batteries that need changing so often?

Coupled with what we pay for every other necessity and basic need in this country—we are indeed, bearing a heavy load. We have tonnes of waste that can be converted to generate power, we have the sun which has been beating us for a couple weeks and we have water all around us, why can’ we have electricity for 24 hours, 7days a week?

In the Holy Bible, God commanded there to be light and there was light. No living thing on the surface of this earth can exist without some form of light, even the moon.

So my parting words to PHCN, as I switch over to my big ‘gen’ for the night are LET THERE BE LIGHT!

apartheid and helped influence the release of Nelson Mandela from prison.

F.W. de Klark, an apartheid era president of South Africa, said in a statement that Thatcher, whom he called a friend was a “steadfast critic of apartheid.”

She once declared Nelson Mandela’s African National Congress to be a “typical terrorist organization… anyone who thinks it is going to run the government in South Africa is living in cloud – cuckoo land”.

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waste money attending different fora on pollution, energy saving and climate control.

When I moved into a new neighbourhood and went to introduce myself to my new neighbours, one commented on how ‘loud’ the sound from my generator was. I shrugged and said it could not be helped after all I did not create the problem?

•Thatcher

hatcher’s claim that she was against apartheid was contradicted by her opposition to international sanctions placed on South Africa. Her position on the issue allowed British companies to continue operating in South Africa where the UK was the biggest trading partner and foreign investor. Clearly she placed economic growth of her country ahead of the crime against humanity in Apartheid era South Africa, again creating a division among people because her actions could be viewed as right or wrong depending on what side

you are on.

Arguments about the real legacy of Margaret Thatcher will go on forever, but whether you hate her, or you love her we can all agree that she was not a flip flopper. She believed in what she believed in and never faltered even during assassination attempts and aggression. Being the first female Prime Minister was not enough for her as she was not afraid to fight her way to make changes, and make her mark in politics and the world forever.

22—SATURDAY Vanguard, APRIL 13, 2013 hen a woman suffers through multiple failed re lationships, she often begins to wonder if it is her fault. She starts to question her ability to maintain a long term romance. Men do have certain needs and expectations for their partners, and some women have trouble fulfilling these needs.

Here some examples of attributes that men look for in a long-term dating situation.

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Fun and adventure

While everyone likes to enjoy a few nights cuddling on the couch, it can become boring if you are doing it 365 times a year. Men, like all people, need to take on new challenges and explore their horizons. If a man begins to see his future with you as boring or predictable, he may jump ship before it gets too serious.

Confidence

Surrounding yourself with confident people bring a contagious feeling of success and happiness. They inspire you to take on new challenges and you feel good sharing each other’s latest achievements. This type of energy forms the foundation of a strong relationship.

This is why it is important to be confident in yourself when dating a new man. Prove to him that you can handle the challenges of life on your own and he will be naturally drawn to your charisma.

Weird reasons why we fall in love

What men want in a relationship

Your Smile Interested in a guy? Smile at him. He’ll instantly be attracted. Think about it: When someone smiles at you, you naturally mimic the grin,even if you don’t realize it. The reaction smile moves muscles in the face which, in turn, stimulate the nerves that produce the brain’s feelgood chemicals.

Sexual activity is an obvious need in a relationship, but love-making itself will not attract a man. It is the passion and romance that fuels the intimacy which will ultimately have him coming back for more. You can build the fires of passion by making sure that intimacy is a special moment where you connect with each other both physically and mentally. You can also add excitement to the moment by integrating new roles and environments.

Your Gaze Your eyes can also influence a guy’s attraction through the phenomenon known as a copulatory gaze. Basically, looking into a guy’s eye for two to three seconds flips a primitive switch in his brain which makes him react to your hotness or retreat.

Trust

Looks

We would like to think our world is not so shallow to believe appearance is essential to dating, but unfortunately it is. Despite this fact, beauty is a perception that means different things to all people. What attracts some men will repel others, and for every woman

The success of any relationship revolves around the level of trust that keeps it together. Your man needs to feel comfortable with you no matter if he is with you or away

Ask the Sexpert I am a 49-year-old single woman and have a male friend of the same age. We wish to indulge in unprotected intercourse. What tests should we take to make sure that we are not infected with dieases?

Please visit a pathology laboratory.

The staff will inform you about the tests. If you are still menstruating, it is advisable that your partner uses a condom.

Your Posture Heels don’t just make your legs look great. They also help our bodies get into lordosis, or the spinal posture where our backs are naturally arched and our rears are tipped upward. This pose attracts dudes on a primal level because female mammals naturally crouch down and angle their butts when they’re about to mate.

Your Scent A recent study by German researchers revealed that our bodies put off a natural “scent” to help us find mates that have strong immune systems. However, women’s prvate parts also release a musky smell during that time of the month known as copulance that stimulates testosterone and sexual arousal in men.

Passion

The success of any relationship revolves around the level of trust that keeps it together. Your man needs to feel comfortable with you no matter if he is with you or away. Of course, trust is not something you can build in one day. It takes a proven track record of showing up on time, being honest, and staying faithful. Once a man believes he can count on you, then he is much more likely to work hard at the relationship.

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ccording to scientists, there’s a whole lot more that goes into at traction than looking hot and having a killer personality. In this edition, biological anthropologist Helen Fisher, PhD, scientific advisor gives us the lowdown on the science of how guys find you attractive. You’ll be surprised at what really turns men on.

I am 41 and my wife is 39. We have a 10-year-old daughter. We want another child. When my wife took the pregnancy test, the result was positive. Is this a right age to go ahead? Do we have to take any special care?

Pregnancy should go through successfully but be monitored by a gynaecologist who needs to do some tests now.

My girlfriend and I had unprotect-

who finds fault in her appearance there are a hundred men with the same insecurities. The best approach is to simply pay attention to your looks and make an effort to show off your best attributes.

Proving you care about a man’s opinion will open the door to more interaction.

These are just some of the things that men want in a relationship.

There are literally hundreds more and each man has his own unique preferences. The important thing for women is to understand the basic needs of men and make adjustments for each individual. These guidelines will help you build a long lasting relationship. ed intercourse, after which she missed her period. I think she is pregnant.

Are there any chances of abortion?

Please advise us.

Ask her to visit a gynaecologist immediately. If there is pregnancy, it can be terminated medically. But if delayed, an operative procedure will have to be used.

But why not have the baby?

My girlfriend is 25. During foreplay, I inserted my finger in her private

Your Teeth A new study of singles in America found that one of the biggest thing guys look for in a girl is a set of good teeth.

Your chompers subconsciously tell him a lot about you, like your age and health.

Think about it: White teeth show that you have good nutrition and personal habits; yellow teeth can be an indicator of bad health—not something a guy wants when he’s looking for a mate (whether he realizes it or not).

Your Hair Your hair, like your teeth tell a guy a lot about your health. Shiny, healthy hair is a sign of youth and fertility, subconsciously telling him that you’d be able to carry on his genes.

part. Later, she experienced a lot of pain in her stomach and a burning sensation . It was our first time. Is it due to vaginal skin being sensitive or were my fingers harsh? The pain and burning lasted for three-four days.

Yes, you were too harsh, as she may have split her hymen. She may have had an orgasm. If the pain continues, the foreplay may not be the cause. Use more lubrication in future.

SATURDAY Vanguard, APRIL 13, 2013 — 23

What it feels like to be pregnant than morning sickness, is less heralded. You just get so tired even doing nothing.

A woman doesn’t look pregnant yet (and may not have shared the news),but often feels as worndown as she will throughout the entire pregnancy. A woman who related her first pregnancy experience recalled: “In the first trimester, I would feel fine one minute and the next second I would feel as if I hadn’t slept in a week.

Simple,routine chores like cooking dinner or going to the grocery store felt like running a marathon. Experts agree that fatigue in early pregnancy is probably caused by the extra work a woman’s body is putting into the pregnancy. Fortunately, the fatigue typically lifts by week 12 or13 of pregnancy.

Growing mammary glands Blossoming breasts are another pregnancy symptom. Some of the growth is caused by extra fat deposits laid down by the body in anticipation of gestation and nursing, the rest is hormonally driven growth of the mammary tissue that will produce and deliver milk to the baby. Breasts often start swelling long before

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HAT does it feel like to be pregnant? Quite a number of young women,who have never been pregnant, often pose this question. Even men are not left out of the wonderment about the mystery of pregnancy —usually to the amusement —or irritation of their wives, and other women. A mother of five put it this way – if you have never beenthrough it, or if you’re a man— it’s hard to imagine what it feels like to be pregnant. However, the urge to know is strong.

Below areseries of responses from women describing everything you need to know about what pregnancy feels like, and why it feels that way.

Morning sickness How many women have suddenly realised they’re pregnant after an unexplained bout of vomiting? Morning sickness is a classic pregnancy symptom, starting around the sixth week of pregnancy, by which time a woman has likely already missed a menstrual period. By the way,“morning sickness” is not always accompanied by vomiting, nor is it limited to the morning.Usually, morning sickness is caused by rapidly changing hormonal levels, particularly a hormone called HCG, or human chorionic gonadotropin. HCG levels increase rapidly in early pregnancy and play a role in the signaling chain that causes the hormone progesterone to spike, which in turn makes the uterus a welcoming, blood-rich place for a fertilized egg to implant.

Morning sickness is caused by rapidly changing hormonal levels, particularly a hormone called HCG, or human chorionic gonadotropin

the baby bump, probably to ensure that a baby born early may be able to breast feed. Early-pregnancy patients need not worry that the rapid breast growth they see in the first trimester will continue throughout the pregnancy. They will stop n early pregnancy, HCG growing, for sure. levels are expected to basically double every two to Relaxing joints One of the odder pregnancy three days. Pregnancy tests sensations is that of the joints detect HCG levels, which eventually deplete. A 36-week relaxing. Birth involves getting a baby’s large head through the pregnant woman can take a pelvic opening. urine test forpregnancy and As part of this process, the body have it come back negative because her HCG levels are no starts releasing a hormone called relaxin during pregnancy, softening longer so high. the cartilage connection at the First-trimester fatigue pubic bone called the pubic This is a symptom which symphysis. Relaxin isn’t targeted at although far more common

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this joint in particular, however, so it can make the rest of a woman’s joints feel loose and unstable, too.

Relaxin can lead to aching sensations in the pelvis and other loosening joints, but that’s a good thing. Many women do not notice any pre-delivery loosening of their joints even when their contractions during labour pull open their cervix at the head of the uterus, widening their pelvic bones.

Weight gain A woman who is normal weight will generally gain 11 - 16 kilograms during pregnancy. On average, about 3.4 kg of this is the foetus itself, according to the Olson Center for Women’s Health at the Nebraska Medical Center. Another 0.4 kg is the placenta. The breasts

gain about a 0.5 kg and women usually add about 3.4 kg in maternal energy stores, or fat. Another 1.6 kg is water weight, and 1.4 kg is blood. Yes, pregnant women have more blood — up to 50 percent more than they did before pregnancy.So what does that weight gain feel like? It can be frustrating at first. Before women start obviously showing (at around 20 weeks for a first pregnancy), they may feel bloated and fat, or find their clothes don’t fit.

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efore pregnancy, the uterus is about the size of a pear and sits low in the pelvis. By the time a woman is full-term, the organ weighs 5- 6 kg and extends up to the ribcage. Unsurprisingly, that frontloaded weight gain can stress the lower back and sometimes put pressure on the sciatic nerve, causing numbness and shooting pain down the leg. The baby bump can also get in the way of everyday activities.

Baby kicking Unlike aching joints or daily nausea, the feeling of the foetus moving is a pregnancy side effect most women welcome. At first, baby’s kicks are easy to mistake for gas bubbles, but they gradually grow in strength into unmistakable jabs.

24 — SATURDAY

Vanguard, APRIL 13, 2013

Exercise: A blood improver

LOTUS (with upturned hands) Technique: Sit with both legs outstretched in front of you. Now, bend the left knee and place the left foot on the right thigh and then bend the

righ t knee and place it on the left thigh.

Interlace the fingers and raise up the hands with the palms upturned. Breathe

Sideways Forward Bend slowly but deeply for 5 to 10 times.

Benefits: The Lotus with upturned hands expand the chest for better air intake. The thigh muscles are well toned and the hip, knee and ankle joints are rid of stiffness.

foot on the inside of the left thigh high up ‘the crotch.

Gently lower the trunk sideway till you can hold the left foot with the left hand.

From the inside and the right hand hold the left foot from the soutside.

Retain the posture as you inhale deeply for 5 to 10 times and then repeat on the otherside.

Benefits: The Sideway Forward Bend affects the body particularly the thighs. The sides received enough stretch to improve lateral flexibility.

THE WRITER’S POSE Technique: Sit on the heels. Bend the left arm at the elbow and pass it up at the back. Then, bend the right elbow and hook the fingers of both hands at the back. Hold the head up and breathe deeply for 5 to 10 times. Then change hands and repeat the deep breathing.

Benefits: The writer’s pose expands the chest for better respiration. The shoulders get a good workout. The thigh muscles ton are stretched and strengthened. The synovial fluid in the knee and ankle joints increase leading to activity of the joints.

Yoga Classes @ 32 Adetokumbo Ademola, Victoria Island Lagos. 9.00am — 10.00am on Saturdays

Technique: Sit with both legs stretched in front of you. Bend the right knee and place the ‘right

The digestive organs are gently massaged and constipation greatly helped.

Vanguard, SATURDAY, APRIL 13, 2013—25

Kabioosi Queen returns with My Testimony L OVERS of gospel music are bound to witness a new package of an anointing-laced gospel music as Evanglist, Femi Tayo, a.k.a, ‘Kabioosi Queen’ has released another album, “My Testimony”.

In fact, since she shot herself to limelight with her album, Kabioosi, fans have been wondering the whereabouts of this talented singer. Her latest album is a taste of her ability to hold her own in the world of gospel music.

The anointing-loaded album which was officially released recently, has been enjoying massive air and visual reviews. Even before the launch, fans have been grabbing their own copies.

The Business Administration graduate of Rufus Giwa Polytechnic, Ondo, said, she gives God all the glory for making her music the toast of gospel music lovers. “It is beyond my ability

Amanda Efionayi unveils Virgo Apparels • Amanda

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prophetically. I can say my musicalcalling is not in vain. My mission into music is to win souls for God,”the crooner said.

OPULAR fashionist, Amanda Efionayi recently unveiled a fashion outfit, Virgo Apparels to make a statement in the fashion and beauty industry.

Located at the business district of Lekki, the outfit has a range of highly quality products for both men and women, with accessories and fragrances.

The team headed by the Beninborn designer, who is in her mid 20’s also oversees and designs a collection which is in line with traditional dress selection. The

outfit also uses quality materials like, silk, burnout, chiffon, organza, charmeuse, tulle, damask, satin, crepe, shantung and taffeta velvet, lace and metallic products to give it’s customers maximium satisfaction.

Speaking at the launching, Amanda says, “ I have plans to have a lengthy career in fashion. I am ready to take over the world by providing a refreshing twist to trending fashion genre”.

Charly Boy shows off his casket C

ontroversial area father is in the news again. This time, he posted a picture of himself and his presumed casket online.

Indeed, since Charly Boy posted the picture on his Instagram page with caption

I

Banky W still single

t’s probably a good news or not, for some of Banky W’s female fans who have been longing to find their ways into his heart.

Although, the Ebute Metta dude is still single, the buzz is that Banky is yet to find the love of his life. Recently,he was spotted at a hangout on the island with a damsel.The intimacy was so pronounced that gossips started drawing con-

clusion that she might be the woman, Banky has been waiting for, all these years. Who knows?

“all my bright ideas comes from my casket, very comfy”, his fans and pundits have not stopped wondering whether the maverick musician was predicting his own end. Many are even startled, wondering loudly the kind of man he is.

Cossy re-brands B

ooby actress- turned- singer, Cossy Orjiakor is known for her controver sial lifestyle. But recently, the actress shocked her critics when she uploaded a picture online where she looked decent and well-dressed.

Pundits who never believe Cossy could make a moral decision `commended the actress’ desire to take a step of faith to rebrand herself.

26 — SATURDAY Vanguard, APRIL 13, 2013

26 — SATURDAY Vanguard, APRIL 13, 2013

SATURDAY Vanguard, APRIL 13, 2013 — 27

28 — Vanguard, SARTURDAY, APRIL 13, 2013

I regret being a divo — Monalisa Chinda T

wo things are bound to attract you to Monalisa Chinda whenever you ‘re privileged to engage her in a conversation. They are her frankness and humility. These attributes played out last week as Showtime Celebrity took her on a trip into her past, her present and perhaps, her future. For the first time, Lisa bares her mind on a number of issues bothering on her love life, crashed marriage and accomplishments.Chiefly, she confirms that she has found love again, not ruling out however ,the possibility of giving marriage a second chance.

Monalisa Chinda

Find love again Do you still believe in love ?

I believe in love. Love is the reason for our existence. It’s really not enough if you want to get something done, you have to do away with that emotion and be real.

Are you religious?

I’m from a religious background. I ‘m an Anglican and all the moral teachings I learnt while I was growing up are still there till date. While I was seven, I was a member of my church choir . I attended an Anglican school, Archdeacon Memorial Grammar School, it’s a convent school. I’m quite religious.

How did you feel when your father was murdered?

Every day that passes by, I think of that man. God bless his soul. He was the reason, I’m doing what I am doing at the moment. My late dad was a philanthropist. He would give out the last money in his pocket to those who do not have. I took after my Dad, whereas my mum was a career woman. My dad ensured that his children were well taken care of, in all ramifications. He was a good cook and he spent greater part of his life in Germany. As far as I’m concerned, my dad was a German. He was always in the forefront of ensuring that his children were well catered for. But my mum was a career woman before she retired.

We learnt that you are C M Y K

planning to go into marriage again. Is it true?

I would love to remarry. In fact, I’m designed to be under a man. I’m not going to lie that I like this ‘single mother nomencleture. But whereby there is no one at the moment, one is bound to get used to the situation. It’s not a ‘do- or -die affair’ because I have been there before, anything I’m going to do now,it has to be done right. I’m

,

BENJAMIN NJOKU

What else do you want to know.

Your fans would want to know if there is any man in your life at the moment?

Yes, there is a man in my life. ...Lanre Nzeribe right?

No comment. This is my private life.

People are alleging that you are pregnant for him?

You can see that I’m not pregnant.

Naturally, I’m not pregnant for

Where I come from, I’m the first daughter. I’m from a royal family, it has never been on record in my family that the first daughter will walk out of her matrimonial home

not in the school of thought, where the first one happened and perhaps, the second one. No, any bold step I have to take in settling down again, it has to be right. I’m not ready to make another mistake. But I will definitely remarry. I believe in the principles of marriage. Whether you like it or not, marriage is a better option.

How soon are you planning to settle down?

I honestly don’t know about that, and I can’t tell for now.

Have you found love again?

It’s neither here nor there. I’m a lover and I love to love.

It was rumoured recently that you have found love again?

Is there anything wrong with that? I just replied you that I love to love.

,

anybody.

What do you regret most about your past?

One thing I regret most is the fact that I am divorced. Where I come from, I’m the first daughter. I’m from a royal family, it has never been on record in my family that the first daughter will walk out of her matrimonial home. But it was a matter of life and death, otherwise, I would have stayed back and make my marriage work. I tried to make it work, but it takes two people to tango.

That’s the only thing I regret, having to raise my child without the father.

It’s a bit painful. But I have to live with it. It’s better that way than to expose my little daughter to all sorts of domestic violence. It will definitely

disorient her and affect her upbringing. She will be dis-functional.

God knows the best. May be, I should have been more careful.

W

ith such shocking experience, what would you say life has taught you?

I’ m a bit stronger and wiser now than before. I have known how not to get involved in anything emotional again.

If you are emotional even in a relationship, you don’t get to think.

One shouldn’t allow her emotion to overrule her sense of reasoning. I have understood what it means to be patient to persevere and also, to be careful with people around me. If somebody around you is your very good friend, you end up finding that the person is actually an enemy in disguise. I have learnt all of that because I have been alone.While my marriage was intact, I was not keeping friends. After I’m through with my work, I usually retire to my house.

But since I’m alone, and having to mix up with a lot of people, I have realised that I have to be very careful and freeminded and at the same time, be myself.

In the midst of all these challenges, what would you say has kept you going?

I’m a very strong woman, and openminded. I know who I am. I’m a Godly person, but I’m not a perfectionist. If I do something wrong, I will always find a way to show remorse and repent of whatever sin I might have committed.

That has kept me going. I’m highly determined and focused. I do not go

Vanguard, SARTURDAY, APRILE 13, 2013 —29

You recently premiered your latest movie, Weekend Getway , What’s the movie all about?

First of all, the premiere was successful. I thank God for that. A lot of people turned out to show their support. The movie was produced by myself ,Ini Edo and Emem Isong. It was directed by Desmond Elliot. It paraded A-list actresses, both young and old ones in the industry. We had to create a platform where up and coming actors star alongside seasoned actors which made the film more unique. The movie is already selling out in the cinemas. Between last Friday when it was premiered and yesterday( last week), we have made substantial amount of money from the box office alone. I also acted in the movie.

What are your recent movies?

Kiss &Tell which was produced in 2010 but premiered in 2011. My second movie, Cat Walk was shot in 2010, but premiered in February, 2012. My third movie, Weekend Getway, premiered forth-night ago.

W

by what people say about me.

If your ex- comes back to you today, will you accept him again?

God forbid. He’s a closed chapter in my life.

Does it mean your little daughter is not missing her father?

She doesn’t know her father . She was barely a year when our marriage crashed. I think she will ask some day.

Share your experience with us as a Glo ambassador?

It has been rewarding for me.

Activities always come up here and there, going around, talking about the brand. Glo has made a long lasting mark in the country.

How do you describe yourself?

C M Y K

hy did you go into p r o d u c t i o n of movies?

Producing has always been at the back of my mind as an actress. In fact, I should speak the minds of a lot of people who are in the art. They want to diversify and break new grounds and to also show the various things they can do. Naturally, we all want to try our hands in other things as long as it’s within the genre of entertainment. That’s the reason I wanted to do something different.

Right now, I’m even going into live theatre which is already dying in this country. Thespians like myself and a few other people are trying to revive the dying live theatre culture in the country.

Was it why you staged a dancedrama, “Dance for Life’ last December?

Yes, because the first outing was actually sponsored by myself. That’s why I want to see how I can get corporate bodies to partner with me for the the second edition of the dance project which I want it to come up on May29.

Do you dance?

As a Thespian, we all do the three arms of theatre including Dance , Music and Acting. These are the three arms of theatre , so you must be able to do the three and then, specialize in one.

Last December outing, was it the first time you actually involved in dance ?

Yes, it was the first time I would dance in public. I’ve never done that before in my life . I only danced while I was in the university. As an artiste, we were involved in all sorts of performances way back in school.

How did you feel that fateful day?

I had mixed-feelings because of the massive turn-out of celebrities. Again, it was because of the fact that a lot of people enjoyed themselves and they didn’t want to go home again. So, I

,

orcee

I’m just the girl-next-door. I don’t have many ears around me, I try to be humble. I want people to be able to reach out to me. I’m not a difficult person. I’m an easy-going lady.

audition today, and about four thousand people show up, you will be shocked to find out that not up to five of them have what it takes to be an actress.

The five people would have rigorous screening before they are able to deliver their lines. That also is a very big challenge. That’s why we keep recycling a lot of known faces even when we are getting older and tired.

We still try to look slim and young, competing favourably with the younger ones.

But I have to live with it. It’s better that way than to expose my little daughter to all sorts of domestic violence. It will definitely disorient her and affect her upbringing

was in between rolling myself on the floor with tears of joy and also, praying that this kind of dance project should continue. It was a divine feeling.

Did the project actualise your dream of reviving live theatre in Nigeria?

Yes, I’ve always wanted to do exactly that. I’ve always wanted to find an opportunity to revive the dying live theater in the country. People look at dance as a non-productive act, but I don’t think so because dance is even more vigorous than acting. You have to love the art, love theatre and singing before you can be able to have a grasp of the message. The performer on stage is trying to understand the message being put across through dance.

Since you delved into movie production what has been your challenges?

It’s been a good experience, and also, knowing that I’m getting older, I need to step aside for the emerging actresses to excel. But even at that, it’s really difficult for them. I think some of the fresh actresses are joining Nollywood for different reasons and probably not for the love of the industry. They just have this silly idea that if I hit the screen, people would see me and like my face as well. It’s not done like that. If you call for an

,

Do you intend to go solo in your next movie?

Yes, I will like to go solo in my next movie just to see what it’s like not wanting to do the movie with anybody else. But I will still engage seasoned directors to direct my movie. But I want to be the solo financier and solo producer o f my next movie. That will happen before the end of this year.

We learnt you are planning to launch a perfume line?

Yes, I’ve already started and I’m planning to do a launch of the perfume in future. The product is called Monalisa Mcold Beauty Products.

That’s the brand name I’m using for now. I have a factory outside Lagos where the fragrances are produced.

They took samples of my skin to test if the products are good for human consumption. We are producing body cream, age defining hand creams, body mix for men and women and soap.

C M Y K

30 — Vanguard, SATURDAY, APRIL 13, 2012

By Oseji Ephraim

Madrid President shortlist Bale and Aguero

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guero has been shortlisted for a move to Los Blancos in recent months, with his father-inlaw Diego Maradona suggesting that it could be his big break. While the Argentine’s season has been disrupted by injury, the Citizens are willing to offer their striker a new contract to deter potential suitors from bidding. Bale on the other hand, has been in exceptional form so far this season, netting 17 league goals and is a strong contender for the PFA Player of the Year award. And Perez, who is running again in the presidential elections this summer, will have to spend big to get two of the Premier League’s most coveted stars. Acording to sources Real would have to stump up £51m for Bale and £38m for Aguero.

BOBBY CH

England w win the W

•Silvio Berlusconi

S

Man United target Andre Ayew opens door to move M

Juventus wants goal machine Jackson Martinez *...Anzhi ready to match •40 million release clause

J

uventus have turned their attention to goal machine Jackson Martinez . The Porto top scorer this season with 23 goals from 25 games is wanted by the Turin giants 'The Old Ladies' who believe the Colombia international is cheaper than the trio mentioned below.

The Serie A champions are keen to add some more firepower to their squad at the end of the season and were previously linked with players such as Edinson Cavani, Stevan Jovetic and Alexis Sanchez. Nevertheless, they have now added the 26-year-old Martinez to their shortlist, too, as they see the prolific attacker as a cheaper alternative to the aforementioned trio.

Juventus sporting director Fabio Paratici recently travelled to Porto to take a closer look at Martinez and enquire about the striker’s availability.

Also, Anzhi are preparing a mega offer for Porto star Jackson Martinez. The striker, who has been scoring goals for fun since joining the club from Jaguares, has seen his name linked with some of Europe’s top clubs of late. He is widely tipped to leave the Dragons for greener pastures in the summer, and it appears that Anzhi have joined the race as well. The Russian club are even ready to match the player’s €40 million release clause in order to lure him to Dagestan.

C M Y K

ANCHESTER UNITED have been given a boost in their bid to sign Marseille frontman Andre Ayew after he roared: “I will go to a club that want to win trophies.”

The 23-year-old Ghana international has been linked with a move to Old Trafford while Barcelona are also interested in his services. Arsene Wenger’s Arsenal made a move for him in 2010 but Marseille turned down their £5million offer. But now it appears Ayew - who plays alongside younger brother Jordan for the French side - could be set for England. He said: “The club have made it clear if they receive a good offer they will listen to that - but I will not go just to please the club. ”I will go to a club that want to win trophies. “But now I want to finish the season well with Marseille and qualify for the Champions League.”

IR BOBBY CHARLTON fears England will not win the World Cup again as foreign players are blocking homegrown talent.

Charlton, a key figure when England lifted the 1966 World Cup, cannot see an end to the wait for a major trophy.

“Every time I’m asked if England can win the World Cup, I feel obliged to say they have a chance but it’s a fool’s errand,” he said.

“If all the spaces in the English game are taken by foreign players, we don’t have a chance.

Sir Bobby Charlton, one of the heroes of 1966, was downbeat; the FA’s director of elite development Dan Ashworth predictably more upbeat, while captain Steve Gerrard just wants to get to the finals first.

Charlton fears England will

Casillas open to Arsenal move

I

nteresting rumours c o m i n g Ayew from Emirates is that out of favour Real Madrid goalkeeper Iker Casillas could be the subject of a bidding war between Arsenal and Liverpool .

It is no secret now that Mourinho views Casillas as infehe Football Association’s new di lade-Chamberlain, 19, and rior to new goalrector of elite development Dan Danny Welbeck, 22. keeper Diego Ashworth has named seven playRising stars Wilfried Zaha, Lopez and it ers he feels will be the future of English 20, Thomas Ince, 21, Raheem looks as though football.

Sterling, 18, and Luke Shaw, sitting on the Ashworth picks out England squad 17, are also identified. bench doing members Jack Wilshere, 21, Alex Ox“There are several players I nothing, rather than mostly standing in goal watching Ronaldo score, has taken its toll on the Real Madrid icon •Zaha •Chamberlain •Welbeck •Ince •Wilshere •Sterling •Shaw

The seven saviours

T

Vanguard, SATURDAY, APRIL 13, 2013 — 31

By Oseji Ephraim

Mourinho to make Khedira his first blues signing

ARLTON:

R

ill never orld Cup

eal Madrid coach Jose Mourinho wants to take Sami Khedira with him to Chelsea in the summer. Mourinho will urge Chelsea to bid for the Germany international when his own return to Stamford Bridge is rubberstamped at the end of the season.

It emerged yesterday that Mourinho has already recommended Zenit St Petersburg centre-forward Hulk to Chelsea and now is also pushing the Blues to bid for Khedira. For his part, Khedira is unsure about swapping Real for Chelsea.

never again win the World Cup as foreign imports are blocking the development of home-grown talent, with only 38 per cent of Premier League players eligible for England.

Charlton, said: “Most of you will be wondering when we are going to win it [the World Cup] again. I worry about that as well. People respect the English game and footballers who play the English game. But I worry.

“Every time a newspaper asks if England can win the World Cup, I feel obliged to say they have a chance. But it’s a fool’s errand.

“We need good players and if all the spaces in the English game are taken by foreign players, we don’t have a chance.

I’m not saying that’s not fair, but it’s hard to see us winning a World Cup when you see the quality of foreign players.

“I’d like to think one day we’ll be favourites going into a World Cup, but we’re not any more.

Napoli president says Italian football needs a "revolution"

N

Victor Moses' lovely goal in the second half of their Europa Cup match in Russia

Stephen Sunday chasing England move umancia midfielder Stephen Sun day would welcome a move to Enlet is off gland. The former Valencia star seenow is nt age y “M e.

Jun contract in I’d le. tab ing what deals we have on the the in e aus bec d, like to play in Englan tsmouth past I was close to signing for Por ny.

Sun said ” ool, and Blackp

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•Charlton

and we have a lot of good young players in the junior teams.”

He added: “I think the new the Elite Player Performance Plan will also help in that contact time with young players will increase. That can only help if we are teaching the right things, which I am sure we will do.

“We are at crossroads now and the start of a really bright future with all those things married together, it will only help the national game.”

Fatih TTerim erim hit with 9 games ban

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he Turkish boss has been banned along with assistants Umit Davala and Hasan Sas, meaning Duygu Erdogan could become the first woman to coach a Super Lig side this weekend Galatasaray coach Fatih Terim has been handed a nine-game ban by the Turkish Football Federation following his touchline antics during his side's league clash with Mersin Idmanyurdu.““Terim was sent from the dugout after reacting angrily to a series of decisions from the referee.

Chelsea turns attention to Hulk

of English football? can mention who are plying their trade at the top of the Championship or in the Premier League who will hopefully be the future of England football.

“Jack Wilshere, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Danny Welbeck have got into Roy’s senior side early.

“Then we have players like Wilfried Zaha, Thomas Ince, Raheem Sterling and Luke Shaw - they could play at a lot younger age groups internationally and yet are in the U21s or in the seniors.

“The U21s have qualified again for the European Championships this summer

apoli president Aurelio De Lau rentiis has joined Juventus coach Antonio Conte in calling for drastic changes in the way Italian football is organised, saying it needs a "revolution."

"We need a revolution in Italian football," the film producer turned club president said on Twitter. "We need to turn over the table and adopt rules which are suitable for 2013, not 1900."

De Laurentiis was possibly referring to the difficulties Italian clubs face in building their own stadiums, including red tape and lack of financial incentives.

C

•Hulk

HELSEA are ready to signal their intentions to land Hulk in the summer.The powerful forward has struggled to adjust to Russian football since joining Zenit St Petersburg from Porto last summer for £39m. The Blues look increasingly likely to let Fernando Torres leave Stamford Bridge at the end of the season, following his lacklustre form in front of goal. And Hulk could fit the bill, despite his hefty transfer clause.

Reports in Spain indicate that Jose Mourinho may urge Hulk to join Chelsea's revolution if he is granted a second spell at Stamford Bridge.

C M Y K

32—SATURDAY Vanguard, APRIL 13, 2013

SATURDAY Vanguard, APRIL 13, 2013—33

34 — SATURDAY Vanguard, APRIL 13, 2013

BENJAMIN NJOKU

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s the curtain for the season three of Nigeria’s top TV reality show, Nigerian Idol draws this weekend, expectations are high as many people are locked in argument over who smiles home with the star prize of $100,000.

Moses and Debbie came top after the last 10 contestants were evicted few weeks ago, leaving the two of them to battle for the coveted prize. Indeed, from all indications, both Moses and Debbie have not left any one in doubt as regard their ability to clinch the prize.

The elimination of Safeeyat

from the top three left Moses ObiAdigwe from Benin and Debbie Olu-Rise from Kogi State as the final two contestants. With their last Sunday’s performances, the two final contestants are battle ready to shock the world. At the memorable event, which had Femi Kuti, Jeffrey Daniel and Yinka Davies deliver their judgment on the outing, alongside the host, Ill Rhymz, Moses and Debbie came on stage, nattily dressed in a sparkly mini dress for Debbie Rise and a dapper suit for Moses.

Then, with their family and friends cheering loudly in the background, the two contestants took turns to give the performances of their lives.

irrepressible energy. The judges definitely took notice, with Femi telling her, “I thought this was going to be a one sided competition but you came ready for battle.”Her next act took her into reggae with the reggae fusion track, ‘Shy Guy’ by Diana King, which included snippets of ‘Love is Wicked’ by Brick & Lace, and ‘Hold Yuh’ by Gyptian. Here, she continued with her liveliness on stage, and concluded with her patented move-an awe-inspiring split.

The move got her compliments from Banky W, while Yinka warned her to “not let the performance get in the way of her singing”, Jeffrey called her a gladiator, telling her that her performance was “good stuff ”.

Her final song for the evening was a reprisal of her best performance of the season, her stellar performance of Alicia Keys’ ‘Fallin’’. She unleashed the sultry side of her personality, personifying the lyrics of the song. “You have been wonderful tonight!” said a very excited Yinka, kissing the air as she gave her review. Banky W told her, “You have done an amazing job. If we are judging you by the totality of your performances tonight, you are ready.” Femi admonished that she has to learn to preserve herself and voice in order to sustain multiple performances.

Meanwhile, If nothing else, Moses should be named the comeback kid of the show. Brought back into the top 12 after failing to get in through votes, he has ridden all the way to the top two, and made a definite case that he should be the next Nigerian Idol. Banky W told Moses after his first song that, “I almost forgot that Cee-Lo wrote that song. It felt that you wrote and produced it.” Moses dominated with that track, picking the perfect song that Throughout the competition, Deb-showcased his voice. Rocking to Cee-Lo Green’s bie Rise has struggled with stage‘Forget You’ he strutted around the stage wearing presence, pitch and form, but on thata blue blazer/white shirt/black trousers combo, and night, she aimed to put it all behindthe studio audience took it all in. Yinka used several her as she stepped confidently to theeuphemisms for the word spicy, and Jeffrey told microphone and unleashed her innerhim simply, “You make the stage come alive.”It is diva. She started with a bold not often that we see Femi speechless, but performance of the track Moses managed to leave the Afrobeat ‘Survivor ’ by legend at a loss for words after he perDestiny ’s Child, formed ‘Redemption Song’ by Bob fused with a bit of Marley, which was infused with anDJ Khaled’s ‘All I do other reggae track. Moses belted out is Win’. Wearing a the song effortlessly, had the crowd military inspired went absolutely wild with delight, outfit, Debbie a n d floored the judges. showed that her presence in the The closing finale was no fluke, ceremony making her presence felt with her

At last, Michael Whyte steps out with Alright M

ultiple award-winner and eclectic gospel singer, Michael Whyte has at last dropped a 14-tracker with the hit track Alright.

The album which premieres on Sunday April 14 in Lagos is a mix of African traditional praise and pop laced with a good tincture of vintage Whyte Afro-centric notes.

The inspirational album has other soulful tracks like Ose Baba, Da News (both gospel dancehall super hits) , No One and Hosanna. For those with strong passion for worship, the tracks I Worship You and Alone You Are will provide a perfect spiritual medium to connect with the hosts of heaven.

This is the first time Whyte would be putting together an album but some of his songs have graced the airwaves both at home and in the Diaspora. Da News was released in 2010 and it immediately sizzled the airwaves in local radio

and television stations. It was also a hit song on Kingdom Africa on DSTV. Last year when Alright was released as a single, it featured prominently on One Gospel and Kingdom Africa both on DSTV. Multi-talented Michael Whyte is a graduate of Performing Arts from the University of Ilorin. He has always hugged the headlines having been decorated with a Merit Award (NYSC Bayelsa State 2004), Best Male Vocal Singer (Psalmist Award 2013), Best Male Praise Worship Leader (All Singers Award 2002), Best Overall Opera Vocal (Psalmist Award 2001).

He has traversed several choirs of leading churches from Baptist to the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG). He is currently the Choir Director of RCCG Grace Sanctuary.

•Whyte

SATURDAY Vanguard, APRIL 13, 2013 — 35

Nigeria is the next great frontier in the world economy —Layfield

Layfield....I believe that Nigeria is the next great frontier in the world economy

D

iana Layfield has been Group Head of Strategy and Corporate Develop ment, Standard Chartered Bank since 2009, with global responsibility across Standard Chartered businesses, products and geographies for group strategy, working closely with the group’s CEO, CFO and Board. She has held a number of senior management roles since joining the bank in 2004, including Chief Operating Officer for wholesale banking and Group Head, Global Corporates.

Prior to joining Standard Chartered, Diana was CEO of Finexia Ltd, a technology company providing outsourced services and software for the commercial finance industry, between 2000 and 2004. Also, she worked for McKinsey & Co (19952000), as well as piloting relief planes for the International Committee of the Red Cross / UN in Africa (1998-99). She was educated at the University of Oxford and Harvard University.

Recently, she spoke to Esther Onyegbula on several issues relating to the Nigeria Summit, benefits of the two-day summit to economic development in Africa region.

How would you rate the Nigeria summit?

I think this has been an enormous successful conference in a number of ways. First is the level of attendance: there are entrepreneurs, officials from the Nigeria government, ministers and the President and also the former Brazilian President. The presence of these high profile people gave the conference a nice touch and the various sessions have been very interactive. Most importantly, the opportunity to hear the Ministers speak has tremendous impact and I think it is a

I think the advantage of regional integration for Nigeria is increasing its market size and its ability to specialize great success. In terms of the exposure of people and platform, it has generated a tremendous success.

The second thing that has been useful is the opportunity to share views about some key issues presently facing Nigeria and I think in that respect, it has been a great opportunity.

In your views, do you think this conference will yield desired results that will impact the Nigeria economy?

I think it is a great question as to what that result is, but in the long term, I think all of these things increase the perception in the rest of the world of the progress that Nigeria is making and that is a positive thing.

Like Segun Agaga said, I believe that Nigeria is the next great frontier in the world economy, with enormous opportunities. In the future, Nigeria would be the economic power house

in the region. Economists differ to what they think, but we believe by 2030 at least, Nigeria would be the largest economy in Africa. And Africa itself would be a hugely importing economic region for the world. So anything that raises the understanding of that and actually gives a platform to demonstrate that progress has got to be positive to the country.

From your perceptive, how would your firm help Nigeria economy achieve this?

The first thing is how we can help our client develop, how we can help businesses in Nigeria develop not only locally but also develop their links with the rest of the world. The fact that we offer unique facilities in the market that has the ability to link Africa and Asia in the Middle East and the US is a plus. One of the things that we talked about today is that Nigeria needs to be a producing nation and an exporting nation. So it needs to move from just being an importing nation to a nation that manufactures goods and exports goods, which is all about reforming the economy and financing the economy and we can play our part in that.

What exactly would be the outcome and benefits of the regional integration that has been advocated in this conference for Nigeria?

I think the advantage of regional integration for Nigeria is increasing its market size and its ability to specialize.

If you think about industrial development historically, the ability to have a large market where people would become specialists in these trades is incredibly important in the development of almost every country in the world.

Recently in Asia and a long time ago in Europe, just the share scale that they

bring to Nigeria was helpful. It helped

in borders security, because we have seen less conflicts in borders where there is effective trade. From sales, to security, to social development, to the people who would increasingly be employed and the population, these are all key benefits.

As a major player in Africa finance, how would this impact in the operations of Standard Chartered bank?

The first thing to say is that this isn’t new to us. So, here,we celebrate a hundred and fifty years in the continent of Afric. In most of the markets, we have been there for over fifty years and in many of them for over a hundred years, so this is not a new discovery or a new emergence. It is also important to understand that ninety seven percent of our workforces in Africa are Africans. We are very much a local bank in our market as well as an international bank. For us,we see our development as symbiotic with the rest of the continent.

We can’t imagine a development at fast rate without those economies developing at a similar rate. So for us, it is how we help development in those economies.

For a young woman who is in the peak of her career, how have you been able to balance family life and work life?

It isn’t easy and I still have two small kids. I think women probably need to have more discipline with their time than men. A lot of it is about determination and one of the groups that I have seen in the world that has the highest determination is actually Nigerian women. I said to someone recently, that it is a brave man that stands in the way of a Nigerian woman. For me, I think it is about deciding what you want and setting your goals and not allowing people get in your way.

36— VANGUARD, SATURDAY, APRIL 13, 2013

The world of infertility is full of compassionate people who have dealt with the struggle of infertility with couples on a deep, personal level. They have felt so touched by their experiences and challenges that they have pursued this career path with passion as is the case of Dr. Abayomi Ajayi, Managing Director/Consultant Obstetrician and Gynaecologist at Nordica Fertility Centre, Lagos.

One of Nigeria’s most respected fertility experts, Dr. Ajayi is a product of the College of Medicine, University of Lagos, from where he graduated in 1984. He completed his post-graduate training at The University College Hospital, Ibadan in 1994 with the Fellowship of the West African College of Surgeons in Obstetrics and Gynaecology.

He joined the services of Lagoon Hospital, Apapa, Lagos as Consultant Obstetrician/ Gynaecologist in February 1995 and held this position till October 2002 when he left to start Nordica Fertility Centre, Lagos.

Ten years on and with a good number of branches in different parts of the country, Nordica has continued to combat the plague of infertility by providing true ‘comfort centres’ where the pain of childless couples could be soothed emotionally and medically. They have also set up a non-profit group which gives free IVF treatment to people who cannot afford it. As Nordica celebrates ten years of putting smiles on the faces of couples, Dr. Ajayi takes us on the process of IVF, challenges involved as well as activities lined up for the anniversary.

BY YEMISI SULEIMAN

By YEMISI SULEIMAN

How has it been in the last ten years?

It has been most rewarding;

not in terms of money but I have had different kinds of encounters with people that I probably would not have had in my life. Like someone your size (Yemisi) trying to lift me up after she got pregnant (laughs). I like seeing people happy around me, so when I am able to make especially people who have waited for a very long while happy, that means so much to me.

Some people have money but they are not happy because they have a need in their lives; being able to assist them solve the problem is so rewarding for me. I don’t think I would have even hoped for anything else.

In terms of awareness, it is better than where we were before; when we started ten years ago.

We do a lot of awareness programmes on TV and radio for people to understand what IVF is all about.

What informed your choice of career?

As a kid, I wanted to be an aeronautic engineer but I have always had bad sight so, when I was told that I couldn’t fly (I was still in secondary school then), I started thinking of what else I could do. Then, we were asked to go to LUTH for a BCG and endurance test for the heart. I got there for the first time and something just clicked in me that yes, this is where I should

come to. So, I reversed from aero to medicine. Then in medical school, it occurred to me that I could do O and G without stress so, I decided I was going to be a gynaecologist.

One day, during my training, we were doing a procedure on a patient who had infertility and I was not happy with the result we had. I started thinking that there must be a better way out. That was how I got into IVF and I decided again that was the only thing I would, do, and I have been in it.

At what point did you decide to give free

out there don’t even have any hope; they won’t come near because of the money (involved).

So, how do we get to those people? That was how the idea was born.

Our experience has been amazing because there are so many people out there that cost has made them to resign to fate, and this might just be the interface we need to be of use to such people.

How exactly does IVF work?

In-Vitro Fertilisation (IVF) means fertilization happens outside the body; that is the only thing that is different

The way to do IVF is to prepare your mind for more than once. So, the recommendation is that if you are below thirty-five, you should prepare for two circles because the cumulative success rate for two cycles, when you are below

thirty-five, is 65/70%

IVF treatment to some couples?

What informed it?

That started in 2008 and what informed it was that before then, I was giving some free circles and some of my staff were saying that I should give more free cycles because anytime I did so, they got pregnant. One day, it occurred to me that these people I was giving free circles to are already inside and they have some level of comfort before coming in while some people

about IVF. We know that there is infertility because the sperm and the egg cannot come together for whatever reason, so what IVF does is to bring the sperm and the egg and unite them in a conducive environment. When sperm and egg come together, they form an embryo. Once an embryo is formed and it reaches the stage where it can be inside the uterus, we transfer from outside to the uterus; the development just goes on as it happens normally in the body. That is the

whole essence of IVF. The snag is to do it in such a way that the body does not feel as if the egg has left the body.

Is there hope for those that have done it once and it failed? Is there hope for a second chance?

Yes, actually the way to do IVF is to prepare your mind for more than once. So, the recommendation is that if you are below thirty-five, you should prepare for two circles because the cumulative success rate for two cycles, when you are below thirty-five, is 65/70%. When you are above thirty five, you should prepare for three circles.

That gives you a cumulative rate of the same 65/ to 70%.

What we are looking at is your probability of going home with a baby. Some people will do it only once and be successful even at 43 but that is not the norm.

Of course, we know that this thing is not cheap and that is why sometimes people think if they do it once, it must work; but that is not the technology.

For how long should one try to conceive naturally before thinking of IVF? The definition of infertility is when you are below thirty-five and you have tried for one year; above thirty-five and you have tried for 6 months, you should see a doctor. Now, when you have seen a doctor and proper assessment has been made, there are some people that the only sensible treatment for them is IVF, no matter the age or at what point it was discovered. For instance, if you have blocked tubes, the only sensible treatment is IVF. If sperm count is very bad, it’s IVF except you just want to pray and hope for luck to come. While I am not against prayer, I keep telling people that they should realize that sometimes, when you are waiting is your best chance. So, if you marry, you know how long you want to wait before you proceed to IVF. Are there any risks involved?

Yes, there is no procedure that does not have risks. The commonest we have here, because of the drugs we use, is that the

woman could have a condition called hyper-stimulation. Anybody who uses ovulation stimulation drugs will have hyperstimulation which means, you producing too many eggs and that could make the woman really very sick.

The other problem that could result from IVF, which people see as complication, is that you can have more than one baby.

It can be ridiculous sometimes, especially where there are no controls; you can have six babies at a time. So, we say in IVF, complications are rare but they are real.

Why does IVF fail?

Look at organ transfer, for instance. Someone needs a kidney and you are given a kidney.

There is what we call the immune system in the body; even if the kidney was donated by the person’s twin sister, the body immediately senses that there is a foreign body and what it does is to attack because that is the way the body protects itself from bacteria.

The immune system also sees this as a foreign body because the embryo is from the man and woman and the woman’s body does not recognize the other as her husband’s own; it sees it as a foreign body and therefore what it does is to attack it and destroy it. The chances of destroying it are higher than the chances of accepting it; unlike when you use donor kidney, you give drugs to suppress the immune system. That’s why you find people who have organs donated to them always on drugs because the drugs suppress the immune system so that chances of destruction are reduced.

But you can’t do that with IVF because we want the body to use its quality control system to tell whether the baby is normal.

And, that is why we say IVF babies are normal babies because they go through the same quality control system (as natural conception). ing the doc-

tor.

What are some of the act ivities lined up for the

10 th year anniversary?

As part of activities lined up for the tenth year anniversary, there was an ‘Endometriosis Talk’ at the Ladi Kwali Hall, Sheraton Hotel, Abuja on April 2, 2013, with Dr. Keith Isaacson, immediate past President of the American Association of Gynaecological Laparoscopists as guest lecturer. There was a ‘Fertility Walk’ on April 5, at our Asaba office. On April 6, we held the anniversary party in the Asaba Office. Other activities will include team visit to selected media houses between 8 th and 10 th April; a novelty football match at the Legacy Pitch of the National Stadium, Surulere, Lagos on 13th April.

SATURDAY Vanguard, APRIL 13, 2013 — 37

38—SATURDAY Vanguard, APRIL 13, 2013

Meryl Streep pays tribute to late Margaret Thatcher

D

•AY •Dakore

Dakore Egbuson, AY, Abebrese to host AMAA 2013 N

igeria’s top actress, D a k o r e Egbuson,comedian AY, and Ghanaian Ama K. Abebrese have been named as hosts for this year ’s African Movie Academy Awards, holding next Saturday, in Yenagoa, the capital of Bayelsa State.

Announcing this development during the week, Mr. Tony Anih, Director of Administration of AMAA said, the trio were carefully selected based on their individual skills and experinces. ‘’Each of them will bring to bear their vast experiences as celebrities, event and TV hosts to bear at the event which holds at Gloryland Cultural Centre, Yenagoa.

AY’s pedigree as a stand-up comedian is outstanding just as actress and TV presenter, Dakore is a class act. AMA K will hold the audience with her unique and definitive mastery of English language as a former British television presenter and one of Ghana’s best actresses.

The ceremony will be held next Saturday, in the Yenagoa, the capital of Bayelsa State. The starstudded roaster is sure to bring the edition alive.

Designed to celebrate and honour filmmakers and other professionals in the industry across Africa and in the Diaspora,

istressing news broke to shock the entire world that Britain’s first and only female Prime Minister till date, Margaret Thatcher has left the world forever at the age of 87, after suffering from a fatal stroke.

After hearing the shocking news, the Hollywood actress, Meryl Streep who recently brought alive the eminent personality in The Iron Lady and bagged an Oscar for the same, issued a mourning statement as a tribute to the departed soul, focusing on her career and life Streep praised Thatcher as saying, “Margaret Thatcher was a pioneer, willingly or unwillingly, for the role of women in politics.” She stated more, “It is hard to imagine a part of our current history that has not been affected by measures she put forward in the UK at the end of the 20th century.” The Iron Lady helped Streep receive the 17th Academy Award nomination and winning it for the Best Actress at the 2012 Oscars.

She also won the third Golden Globe Award for Best Actress in Motion Picture Drama and her second BAFTA Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role. Streep

described the deceased lady as, “To me she was a figure of awe for her personal strength and grit.” “To have come up, legitimately, through the ranks of the British political system, class bound and gender phobic as it was, in the time that she did and the way that she did, was a formidable achievement,” she added.

Ola Rotimi’s ‘The gods are not to blame’ for the big screen

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ate Ola Rotimi’s popular play, “The Gods Are Not To Blame” which reflects critically on the most cherished myth of cultural transmission has been adaptated for the big screen.

Respected Nollywood stars such as Bukky Ajayi, Norbert Young, Ireti Doyle and Dele Odule recently teamed up with director, Funke Fayoyin to adapt the play into a movie.

Titled ‘The gods Are Still Not To Blame’, the movie tells the story of

•Abebrese AMAA has come to be known as Africa’s most prestigious motion picture award ceremony.

a queen mother (Carol King) who tries to save her new born baby from being killed as suggested by the diviner. The baby was discovered to have a bad destiny-to kill his father and marry his mother. Things however go awry when 28 years after, fate brings the child in contact with his destiny.

Produced by Byron Ene, the movie parades other actors such as Funsho Adeolu, Yemi Eleuibon, Moji Olaiya, Bayo Alawiye, Omowumi Dada and Seun Akindele.

SATURDAY Vanguard, APRIL 13, 2013—39

Mercy Aigbe blasts blogger over infidelity story

BY OPEOLUWANI OGUNJIMI Nollywood actress, Mercy Aigbe is currently upset following a recent story published online where she was accused of cheating her hubby.

An international journalist(name withheld) who wrote the story has since been blasted by the mother of two. Omoge Osas, as Mercy is fondly called by fans and friends, recent took to Twitter to prove that she did not cheat her hubby as her dress was not missing as reported by the popular blogger.

Mercy Aigbe who was hosted alongside her husband and friends by Startimes, Odua Mounmaworan last Sunday, was said to have been given an open disgrace by her husband when the former discovered that the latter suddenly disappeared while the programme was ongoing.

According to reports, after her husband found her in an hotel room already changed into a nightie, he angrily dragged her out and threw

•Mercy Aigbe

her into his SUV and drove off .

A statement by V-Channel refuted the story, describing it as unfounded.

Speaking on the matter when contracted by HVP, Mercy denied ever cheating her hubby, stressing that the story was a “product of some mischievous makers.”

“I never wore a nightie. I

went to the event from Iyabo Ojo’s 2nd anniversary for the Pinkies Foundation. My husband didn’t drag me out as reported.”

According to her, the organizers of the event lodged her in one of the rooms in the hotel. And when the event was over, she retired to the room to change her clothes after which she went to her car which was parked down stair. While she made several attempts to start her car to no avail. She decided to join her hubby’s car which parked beside her own car.

“Only God knows where they got the story.”

The actress has been under serious fire since the report was published online.

Jim Iyke goes Unscripted

N

ollywood bad boy, Jim Iyke says his reality TV show, Unscripted will begin airing on Wednesday, April 17, 2013.

The show, according to his team, is jointly produced by Africa Magic and Oh Africa TV. Jim’s team hopes that the ‘ real life’ show will help the public have a better understanding of the controversial actor.

Jim Iyke is the second Nigerian celebrity to run a reality TV show, after actress, Omotola Jalade-Ekeinde led the way when she debuted her ‘Real Me’ reality TV show in December, last year.

•Jim Iyke

Nollywood in the 1st quarter of the year T

he first quarter of the year ended on a good note with many cinema releases. With the record set by Stephanie Okereke’s “ Through the Glass” and Funke Akindele’s “Return of Jenifa” few years ago when they hit the cinemas, Nollywood films have continued to be top on the chart. It not surprising however that the under-listed films which premiered during the lst quarter of the year were nothing less of block-bluster films.

BROKEN

A

social movie, Broken premiered at the Silverbird Entertainment Centre in Abuja on Thursday, March 28, 2013. The premiere was attended by members of the cast and crew of the movie, as well as members of the public.

Broken was directed and produced by Bright Wonder Obasi.

It starred notable Nollywood big names like Bimbo Manuel, Nse Ikpe-Etim and Kalu Ikeagwu. The movie also featured Iyke Adiele, Tehilla Adiele, Mary Chukwu, Maksat Anpe, and Shalom Sharon Bada. It centers around the lives of two past lovers, who were once married.

Along the line their lives are thrown into chaos as a result of their past mistakes.

House of Gold

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roduced by Yvonne Nelson and directed by Pascal Amanfo, House of Gold stars Majid Michel, Yvonne Nelson, Ice Prince Zamani, Omawumi Megbele, Eddie Watson, Francis Odega, and Luckie Lawson. The movie, which premiered late last month is a production of Media GH. The story resolves around Dab Ansah Williams, a high flying entrepreneur/business mogul and socialite who is battling with cancer and has 6 weeks left to live, according to his medical doctors. With the help of his long time associate and legal representative, he embarks on a mission to call all his children back home – most of whom were born out of wedlock and various illicit affairs.

Blood and Henna

S

tarring, Sadiq Sani Sadiq, Nafisat Abdullahi, Ali Nuhu, Ibrahim Daddy, Beauty Sankey, Salihu Bappa, Yachat Sankey,Blood and Henna produced by the trio of Nura Akilu, Kenneth Gyang and Ali Nuhurecaptures the story of Musa who return to his village after his shop has been burnt in Lagos as a result of protests surrounding the early 90s military’s two-party system. Back home, he re-unites with his two friends, especially Shehu, a radical journalist who is now teaching the community’s kids in a makeshift school after running away from the city himself on account of the military’s crackdown on journalists protesting their handling of the political situation in the country.

Musa meets and falls in love with Saude whose father is the richest farmer in the village. The girl is married off to him after Musa sells her father ’s pepper in the city, breaking new grounds and making huge money for her money-loving father.

40 — SATURDAY Vanguard, APRIL 13, 2013

I love gbegiri soup— RRolling olling Dollar Dollarss

Power Pasta Spaghetti Carbonara

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eteran muscian Fatai Rolling Dollars, a.k.a, “won kere si nomba wa” is our guest in this edition of Celebrity Tummy Talk as he speaks on his healthy lifestyle and what keeps him fit. Enjoy it At 85, you still look fit, what is the secret?

No secret code but God’s. He still wants me alive. It is the Lord’s doing and it’s marvelous in our sight. There is nothing worth His mercies in my life. He is the giver of good health which I cannot pay for. I believe, my life is an example for Nigerians.

What kind of food do you take?

As a Lagosian I eat eba. And whenever I need rice, I take it with fried plantain. I also like amala and pounded yam. I’d stopped drinking a long time, about thirty years ago and that is why I am still healthy.

There is limit to everything in life.

I was doing my cooking myself because it was what I’d been doing since I was young. It’s just recently my wife stopped me from cooking for myself. None of my former wives cooked for me. I know the ingredients that are needed for my cooking at home. There is no food that I cannot cook for myself, and when you perceive the aroma, its great and

sensational As a musician, do you still take alcohol?

I take only wine .

What is your favourite soup?

I loved apon soup when I was young and now I do miss it a lot. I also like efo riro, ila (Okro), ewedu and egusi soup. They are still my best soups but I love gbegiri soup.

How do you love it to be prepared?

It must be well cooked. You must peel off the back of the beans and all the ingredients must be added while cooking.

Do you still eat meat?

No, I don’t eat meat any longer. As an elderly person, it is not too good to eat meat. It is necessary to monitor what I

Tit Bits Chicken Republic introduces Spicy Crunch

A

s part of its repositioning strategy to meet global market, the management of Chicken Republic has introduced its variants of crispy chicken named Spicy Crunch.

The new product is coming on the heels of the commencement of the revamp of Chicken Republic ‘s restaurants in a bid to offer customers extraordinary dining experience.

Explaining the rationale for the initiatives, the Head of Marketing and Public Relations, Chicken Republic, Mrs. Susan Rotimi, told journalists during the experiential soft launch of Spicy Crunch at the revamped Bode Thomas outlet in Surulere area of Lagos, that the steps were part of the company’s commitment to help customers get more out of life.

According to her, the new Spicy Crunch chicken combo with rice, which is being offered at a promo currently is seasoned to perfection with Chicken Republic’s signature, West African spices.

“Chicken Republic is committed to developing bestin-class ambience that offers customers more than an eating experience. This is the way we are living our commitment to helping our customers get more out of life”, she declared.

Rotimi who was spoke alongside other senior management staff of Chicken Republic including the Chief Operations Officer, Mr. Kofi Abunu, explained that the new product offering was part of the ongoing market repositioning strategy aimed at serving the consumers better.

eat so as not to create problem for myself.

How often do you take water?

I take a lot of water Do you exercise?

Yes. I do 30 minutes exercise everyday.

I take a walk from my house in Abule Egba, to Pen Cinema everyday.

Today's Menu

cut into large pieces Teaspoon salt Teaspoon ground black pepper

Preparations

White Fish Soup Recipe

White fish soup is rich in fresh seafood and herb flavours. It’s heart-healthy, because pureed potatoes give it velvety thickness, eliminating the need for heavy cream and fat.

Recipes

Tablespoon canola oil;medium yellow onion, chopped Medium carrot; finely chopped cloves garlic Tablespoon chopped, fresh parsley Teaspoon chopped, fresh thyme fish stock Medium potatoes, peeled and quartered Pounds cod or white fish, skinned, boned, and

In a large pan over medium heat, put the chopped onions and carrots in the oil for four minutes.

Add the garlic, parsley, and thyme, and the mixture for one additional minute.

Add the fish stock to the pan and bring it to a boil. Add the potatoes to the soup and reduce it to a simmer. Allow it to simmer, covered, for 15 minutes. Add the cod to the soup and continue simmering it until the fish is cooked and the potatoes are tender.

Process the soup in batches in a food processor until it has a smooth consistency. Alternately, use an immersion blender until the desired pureed consistency is reached. Adjust the seasoning to taste and serve the soup immediately.

Mr. Bigg’s launches Naija Meal

A

Quick Service Restaurants, QSR, Mr Bigg’s, has launched its new product, Naija Meal, a meal that is currently available in Jollof and Fried rice meal options and would soon be extended to other meals including beans, heritage pottage among others. Speaking on the new innovation, Nnen na Azuka-Onwuka, Marketing Manager, UAC Restaurants said, the meal is a combination of the same tasting Mr. Bigg’s rice meal plus a sizeable Chicken Chunk made from Mr Bigg’s recipe and debuts at an affordable price at 600 per plate. According to her, “As the name implies, this meal was specifically developed with the Naija man in mind. The everyday Nigerian is stuck with the challenge of meeting up with his numerous financial obligations from his shrinking disposable income and there is need to grab a wholesome and satisfying meal that is hygienically prepared at a very affordable price out of home.

Ingredients: 500gm power pasta spaghetti 1 tablespoon olive oil 8 slices bacon, diced 1 tablespoon olive oil 1 onion, chopped 1 clove garlic, minced 1/4 cup dry white wine(optional) 4 eggs 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese 1 pinch salt and black pepper to taste 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley 2 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese How to Cook: * In a large pot of boiling salted water, cook Power Pasta Spaghetti until al dente. * Drain well. Toss with 1 tablespoon of olive oil, and set aside. * Meanwhile in a large Pan, cook chopped bacon until slightly crisp. Remove and drain onto paper towels. Reserve 2 tablespoons of bacon fat; add remaining 1 tablespoon olive oil, and heat in reused large pan. * Add chopped onion, and cook over medium heat until onion is translucent. Add minced garlic, and cook 1 minute more.

Add wine if desired; cook one more minute. * Return cooked bacon to pan; add cooked and drained Power Pasta Spaghetti. * Toss to coat and heat through, adding more olive oil if it seems dry or is sticking together. * Add beaten eggs and cook, tossing constantly with tongs or large fork until eggs are barely set.

Quickly add 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese, and toss again. *Add salt and pepper to taste (remember that bacon and Parmesan are very salty). *Serve immediately with chopped parsley sprinkled on top, and extra Parmesan cheese at table.

Did You Know?

Power Pasta Spaghettiis rich in carbohydrates, providing 54 g in each 100 g serving. This amount is more than four times the amount of carbohydrates a slice of wheat bread provides. If you’re following a low-fat diet, pasta can be a good choice. Pasta is also very low in saturated fat, with less than 0.5 g in a 100 g serving.

SATURDAY, Vanguard, APRIL 13, 2013—41

Pomp as Delta S tat e SSG’s son w eds Stat tate weds

The couple; Pastor and Mrs. Macson Oghenekoro Macaulay flanked by Hon. Aminu Tambuwal (r) , Speaker, House of Reps, Chairman of reception and Hon. Leo Ogor, left by the groom’s dad, SSG to Delta State, Comrade Ovuozourie Macaualy and Hon. Ndudi Elumelu, of the House of Reps.

ASABA, the capital city of Delta State became a confluence city of power, pomp and panache last Saturday when Pastor Macson Oghenekoro Macaulay the son of the Secretary to the State Government,Comrade Ovuozourie Macaulay, took to the altar his beau, former Mrs. Amaka Josephine Madu.

The roll call of dignitaries include governors, legislators from the State and Federal, royal fathers, captains of industries, media executives among others

Class of “83 Edo College’s reunion THE class of “83 Edo College, Benin came gathered th for a reunion get-together on Sunday March 24 withtha view to discussing plans for their forthcoming 30 anniversary. Those present were

Sanni Garuba,Chuks Ugha, Philip Ikpo, Godfrey Oboh, Mathew Origbo ,Aminu Momodu,Theo Amadi, Napoleon Agbelogode, Solo Olotu, Isichie Osamgbi, Adegboyega Jamgbadi, Francis Akhigbe, Emmanuel Aziken,Chris Okoli, Eldred Awani,Francis Akhigbe and Patrick Ete Okorodudu (visiting from the US).

From left Ugha, Garuba, Oboh, Momodu, Osamgbi,Aziken, Okoli, Jamgbadi, Mordi, Agbelogode, Amadi and Ikpo, Noble Co83,

Couple, Pastor and Mrs. Macson Oghenekoro Macaualy with groom’s dad,Comrade Ovuozourie Macaualy

L

Dr. And Deaconess Emmanuel Uduaghan, with Couple, Pastor and Mrs. Macson Oghenekoro Macaualy

When Glo un act or in Lagos unvveiled X-F X-Fact actor

eading telecom company, Globacom, has brought to Africa the world’s acclaimed biggest singing talent reality TV show “The X Factor” with Nigeria being the first point of call.The unveiling of the show took place at the Get Arena, Lekki, Lagos on Wednesday before a audience consisting of media executives, Glo Ambassadors, top management staff of Globacom and some members of the public who were invited to be part of the fun-filled launch.

L-R: Singer Tosin Martins, Glo ambassadors Odulade Adekola and Sammie Okposo with Globacom's Head of Reality Shows, Sulyman Bello

Glo ambassadors, Sammy Okposo, Ego Ogbaro and Ini Edo

L-R: Glo ambassadors Desmond Elliot, Chioma Chukwuka-Akpotha, Globacom’s Head of Reality Shows, Sulyman Bello, Chief Finance Officer of Rapid Blue, Richard McCullough, and Glo ambassador Sammie Okposo

Charles Jenarius (left), and Chairman of Firehouse Limited, Victor Obaika,

Cross section of more members

Emmanuel Aziken (2ndl) with some of the members

Globacom’s Regional Director Marketing Communications (West Africa), Charles Jenarius (left), and Chief Finance Officer of Rapid Blue, Richard McCullough.

42—SATURDAY Vanguard, APRIL 13, 2013

PHOTO NEWS Go dams Oshiomhole's 60th bir thda Govvernor A Adams birthda thdayy A colloquium to mark Governor Oshiomhole's birthday was held in Benin City, last Thursday

Governor Adams Oshiomhole, assisted by others cuts his birthday cake

From left: Senator Ben Obi, representing President Goodluck Jonathan; Governor Babangida Aliyu of Niger State and Rt Hon Aminu Tambuwal

A cross section of Governors at the colloquium

Alhaji Aliko Dangote and Asiwaju Bola Tinubu

From left: Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State; Governor Babangida Aliyu of Niger State; Rt Hon Aminu Tambuwal, Speaker, House of Representatives and Alhaji Aliko Mohammed

From left: Aremo Olusegun Osoba; Chief John Odigie-Oyegun and Senator Chris Ngige

From left: HRH Crown Prince Eheneden Erediauwa, Edaiken N'Uselu; President, Customary Court of Appeal, Edo State Hon Peter Isibor; Hon Justice Cromwell Idahosa, Chief Judge of Edo State and Rt Hon Uyi Igbe

Governor Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti State and Governor Godswill Akpabio

From left: Alhaji Aliko Mohammed, Chairman, Arewa Consultative Forum; Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, ACN National Leader; Dr Oby Ezekwesili, former Minister of Education and Comrade Issa Aremu, NLC Vice President

From left: Chief Tom Ikimi; Dr Chris Ngige and Hajia Aishetu Oshiomhole, mother of Governor Adams Oshiomhole

Some royal fathers at the colloquium

SATURDAY Vanguard, APRIL 13, 2013 — 43

Once everybody has equal rights, we would have a better world —Stene Agboola

BY OLA AJAYI, Ibadan

M

rs. Gloria Stene Agboola, the Dis trict Governor, Zonta Club International, District 18 is an American from Louisiana who is married to a Nigerian. She is also an active member of Nigerwives, an association of foreign women who are married to Nigerians. Here, she discusses various forms of violence against women and what her organization has done to reduce this abuse of the rights of women and girl child.

What is the contribution of your club to check violence against women?

Zonta International has a special committee that is concerned with eradication of violence against women. This is one of our major programmes.

Recently, in November, we started a programme whereby all Zontians around the world had an enlightenment programme to educate people about violence against women. In Ibadan, we had a long walk all the way from the Broadcasting Corporation of Oyo State, to the Nigerian Television Authority, to the governor ’s office. Over 60 of us carried placards. We stopped on the way, talking and enlightening people on the roads and in buses about violence against women. The people got our message and this happened in 64 countries around the world. In Oyo State, the wife of the governor, Mrs. Florence Ajimobi has a programme where she is trying to get a legislation passed on violence against women and we supported her and other organizations which are concerned about violence against women and violence in the home. So, it is one of our major projects and programmes. We are trying to end violence and discrimina-

tion against women. Women make up half of the population in the world. How can you say or think that half of the population that makes up the world does not have the kind of human rights they deserve. We say that it is wrong.

We think once everybody has equal rights, we would have a better world.

There are existing laws against rape. Are you saying the punishment against rape is not commensurate with the offence?

It is difficult to get those who commit rape prosecuted probably because the laws are too lenient. I think they should make the laws more stringent especially when an old man rapes a girl of 9, 10 years old.

Those young girls will not possibly give consent. So, we need to make the laws more stringent and they must be enforced. Some laws are not enforced.

Do you solicit funds from politicians?

•Mrs. Agboola...It is difficult to get those who commit rape prosecuted

cians to do is to have specific laws that would prohibit violence against women.

Every two years, all Zonta Clubs in Africa meet to plan on strategies to be used in advancing the cause of women in Africa. Over 3,000 Zontians around the world in about 64 countries are in the club. It is the time for District 18 to have a meeting here in Nigeria and we hope that the Zontians from all the clubs from Africa would come and we sit down for four days and plan on what we want to do in the next two years.

We are particularly concerned about the education of the girl child; we are concerned about education of all women because they are sort of backbone for the family If anybody who believes in our cause wants to fund our projects, he or she is welcome.

But, what we really want from politicians especially the ones in Oyo State and in Nigeria is to have laws that would make it criminal for anyone who commits violence against women and children. It is not acceptable to beat and maim your wife or your children. It is not acceptable to prevent a girl child from going to school. What we want politi-

Is the programme specifically for women?

We are concerned about improving the status of women worldwide and we do this through our programmes. But that does not mean we don’t have men. We don’t discriminate. Any man who believes in our cause, that is, advancing the status of women can join us. We volunteer. It is a voluntary organization. We don’t get paid for this. We give our time, money and any

other talents or resources we have to further our cause especially when we are concerned with trying to outlaw customs or laws that prevent women from developing their full potentials. We are particularly concerned about the education of the girl child. We are concerned about education of all women because they are sort of backbone for the family. If women are educated, they would educate their children and family and through them, we would have a better home and a better family.

But they have to be given that opportunity because you find out that in many places, women, girls are not allowed to go to schools because they feel that they don’t need to educate them. They only need to get married and grow up somewhere. But, that is the kind of idea we have to change because wherever a woman is, she would have a family and children and she needs to train those children. She also needs to rule her home and keep her home clean, feed her children, prevent them from contacting some diseases and it is only by going to school that she can know all these t h i n g s .

If your club is not funded by anyone, how then do you get money because all these programmes you have listed involve a lot of money?

Yes. We don’t have particular funds except money we as

individuals pay. We pay, we give donations, we raise money. For instance, the District programme that is coming up, we don’t get any money anywhere. So, we are asking people to help the Zontians so that we can have money to do these things. We need money to pay for conference hall.

But, we don’t keep such money in banks but used it to do our various projects. Zonta International has a number of international projects. We have six major international projects and three of those projects are in Africa. It is not the zontians in Africa alone that would pay for the funding of those projects, it is all the Zontians around the world that would put their money together to help fund those projects. The project in Liberia has to do with obstetrics vesicular. Zontians have paid in amazing dollars through a United Nations agency to fund this programme. We, in Africa don’t have that kind of money. We have another programme in Rwanda which is an HIV/AIDS transmission from mother to child. This programme also costs millions of dollars. The programme has been going on for the past four years. Another programme is on in Nigeria. We are trying to enlighten people on social norms and practices that are harmful to women and girls in the society.

We still have other projects across the world. Every year, we put money together to fund these programmes.

44 — SATURDAY Vanguard, APRIL 13, 2013

Africa’s first traditional gay wedding

M

en make history as they marry in full tribal costume, and say they can’t wait to be parents. The ceremony is South Africa's first traditional gay wedding. It included Zulu and Tswana rituals and costume. Tshepo Modisane and Thoba Sithol now hope to have a child

Z

Chinese student hosts her own Funeral

eng Jia, 22, lay in a coffin for an hour as friends filed past and paid tribute. Delivered a speech at her own wake after service in city of Wuhan. 'Experiencing death has made me appreciate life more keenly,' she says

SATURDAY

Nigeria is a terrorist state

SIMON EBEGBULEM, BENIN CITY

G

eneral Don Idada Ikponwen is the former Provost Mar shal of the Nigerian Army and one of the leaders of the South South region. Apart from being a military lawyer, he is one of the leaders of the Niger Delta that made the amnesty granted to the militants in the region by the Federal Government successful. As a security expert, he told Saturday Vanguard in this interview that the committee set up by the Federal Government to look into the possibilities of granting amnesty to members of the Boko Haram sect was the right step in the right direction. He however raised alarm that the nation may cease to exist if the insecurity and corruption in the polity is not sincerely tackled. He also spoke on other national issues.

Excerpts: What is your view on the recent committee set up by the Federal Government to look at the Boko Haram issue?

First and foremost, let me say pointedly that it is no longer an issue for argument whether Nigeria has turned a terrorist state or not.

There was a time we used to have that argument about whether Nigeria is a terrorist state or not. Nigerian government does not promote terrorism as a policy but Nigeria has become a terrorist enclave, where terrorists operate either on their own or in conjunction with terrorists outside the region. The truth therefore is that Nigeria has become a terrorist state and we are losing lives, we are losing unquantifiable properties, we are losing self esteem, we are losing our past glory to this perilous state of thriving terrorism in Nigeria. If therefore we are to move forward to this state of insecurity, government and leadership at all levels must be seen to make concerted effort to create an environment where crime and terrorism will be unattractive. Terrorism whether they are from the North or the East is terrorism. It is the use of violence to attempt to overwhelm the legitimate government to prove that a legitimate government is bad and inefficient to win the heart of the people. Terrorism is based on deep-rooted anger and disaffection.

Therefore, it is very important that we find a solution rather than analyzing the differences between one form of terrorism in one area and another form of terrorism in another area. In the early days of this terrorist direction, some of us who saw it coming right from the time of Vision 2020 in 2009 laid bare as members of the security thematic group the modalities and the approach to reducing insecurity in this country.

The primary purpose of government is to provide security and guarantee the welfare of the people.

If therefore government is perceived to be incapable of providing the security and guaranteeing the welfare of the people, the inevitable conclusion is that government is inefficient. St Augustine, a renowned philosopher and jurisprudence of his days, said there can be no government unless it is just. The word just in that sense has a wild meaning. Let me put it more succinctly, there is no government unless that government is efficient.

With the events that are happening

Vanguard, APRIL 13, 2013—45

—Gen Idada

Jonathan should seek help from the international community

The way that we create establishments and bring unserious people to run them. The way that we make government look as if it is there to serve the interest of those who are always friends of government, people who Nigerians call friends of any government in power in this country, the killings, robbery, murder, assasinations, kidnappings that flood this land, many of which the culprits are not traced or brought to book; with the way that stealing has become the order of the day, especially among highly placed individuals in government, when these people are not brought to book, when nothing serious is being done even to act as deterrence; the way that people are amassing wealth and nobody is asking questions; the way that materialism has become the essence of life; the way that we have so much vacuum in our system; the way that people find solutions to problems and nobody takes them seriously; the way that we create establishments and bring unserious people to run them; the way that we make government look as if it is there to serve the interest of those who are always friends of government, people who Nigerians call friends of any government in power;we as a nation has become a laughing stock, not only among Africans but the world at large.

I believe that we cannot continue this way. The morale of well meaning Nigerians is at its lowest. Recently a friend told me that nothing will bring his children abroad back

even when he dies. So on the issue of the measure the government must take, I must say that one must applaud President Jonathan for the courage he has summoned, not only to express by implication, the readiness of his government to grant amnesty but also to start putting together a panel that will give the amnesty.

But let us put things in proper perspectives. In the Niger Delta when the government of Yar’Adua was considering amnesty for Niger Delta militants, amnesty was embraced by government before Niger Delta leaders. Government officials including my humble self went around the creeks to make physical contact with the militant leaders. South South leaders led by Chief EK Clark went around softening the minds of the boys, telling them that government was sincere, but the important thing was that amnesty was accepted by government and agreed upon before leaders moved in to talk to the militants. But the impression that appears to be given to the President is that there must be agreement among the terrorists; they must come out before you consider amnesty for them. That idea was unthinkable because no terrorist will come out and walk straight into the trap of government. They must have high level of assurance from government. And those who continue to say that government cannot discuss with ghosts, that is another area that baffles me. Where are the ghosts?Are they not in Nigeria? The same government has told us before that they know that Boko Haram has infiltrated everywhere. If the same government is saying that it cannot identify these ghosts, that it is waiting for some individuals to bring these ghosts out, then that is mark of unseriousness.

And one must tell this amiable President that he must not allow himself to be deceived because at the end of the day, the bulk ends on his table. He is the one that has the mandate and so, the question of no bad leaders but bad advisers would hardly arise. The President must summon more courage than ever before to declare this amnesty and convince everybody that government needs to negotiate to identify

the causes of this disaffection that made these guys unleash terror on Nigerians. We must not look at it from the point of religion, we must look beyond that. When the terrorists attacked the Emir of Kano, it is not that they did not know that the Emir of Kano is not a Christian. It is also obvious that even there in the North, you have the greatest number of people who have ruled this country but poverty looms largest in the North. The poverty level in the North is such that makes the situation there pitiable. Boko Haram, like Niger Delta militancy is a national security problem and ought to be addressed squarely by the Federal Government and the earlier, the better because the picture at the moment is dangerous.

Nigeria at the moment stands on the precipice. I am praying that God gives President Jonathan the courage to embrace the truth; the courage to know that evil is evil and evil must be punished. Those who are causing Nigeria to look like an unserious country must be brought to book. Those who mean well and are known to mean well rather than being regarded as undue radicals must be listened to so that Nigeria can really be a strong nation, the leading voice in Africa and among the leading voices in the world. If we must sustain these our natural resources, we must have efficient government, we must have visionary leaders and we must have leaders who will call a spade a spade. I believe that there must be no distraction on this path of peace.

Whether we like it or not, Boko Haram is one factor today that is giving Nigeria a very bad image.

This problem must be resolved soonest with courage.

But do you not think that granting amnesty to murderers will send wrong signal to other ethnic militias who may also decide to take up arms and fight for a cause?

Don’t go there at all. When Niger Delta militants were granted amnesty, some people also queried the granting amnesty to criminals and kidnappers. Behind every terrorist movement, there is a deep rooted anger and deep rooted sense of cheating. Terrorism is the same

Contnues on page 48

46 — SATURDAY Vanguard, APRIL 13, 2013

Give me back my daughter, father of SSS3 student struck by lightning tells deceased’s grand mother •My grandchild died without fulfilling her dream- grandmother

By UJU MBANUSI

R

The exact spot where Celestine and others were struck by lightning right from when she was four and half months old in her mother’s womb. You see, Oke and my daughter, Adeola Adebowale, (Celestin’s mother) were in a relationship until she told him she was pregnant. But he denied the paternity and I was left with no choice than to take my daughter in.

He lives around Mowe,and has been nonchalant about Celestina’s well being when she was alive.

The last time I heard from him was when Celestina was 13.

He showed up and told me he wanted to take his daughter.

He even brought a police man to arrest me. But I told him at

•Mrs Funmilayo Adekoya: deceased’s grandmother

the station that if he thought he could surface after 13 years, to demand for a child he did not know how she had fared all these years,then he was joking. I told him I won’t release her to him until he starts behaving responsible enough. Since then, I have not seen him until Celestina’s demise”.

At this point,she burst into tears and sympathizers consoled her.

She did not live

to fulfill her dream After a long silence, mama looked at everyone around and asked, “So, Celestina, my baby

,

ESIDENTS of Oworoshoki area of Lagos, are yet to overcome the shock of the lightening which struck Celestina Farotide, a Senior Secondary School, SSS 3 student of Muslim College, dead, Tuesday.

Worst hit, is the deceased’s devastated grandmother who has been caring for her, right from when she was a toddler.

Words, could not describe the expression on the face of the 65-year-old woman, Mrs Funmilayo Adekoya,when Crime Guard visited her Oworoshoki residence, where sympathizers were seen consoling her.

As if the death of Celestina was not devastating enough for mama, as she is fondly Crime Guard called, gathered that there were pressure on her from the late Celestina’s biological father identified as Mr Oke Farotide, to produce his daughter hale and hearty for him.

From the foregoing, it was obvious that there could be a strained relationship between Mr Farotide and the deceased’s maternal grandmother.

This was made evident as mama revealed in tears: “ I sent a message to her father three days after her demise but he said it was not his daughter that is dead, that we should go and look for his daughter.

Since the incident, none of his family has come here. It is obvious I will have to bury my grand-daughter just as I cared for her during her life time.

I have been taking care of her

She had always bragged of becoming a renowned architect . But she never lived to see her dream come true”, she said shaking her head

,

is gone”?

She thereafter, turned to this reporter and continued, “ I had planned to send her to Yaba College of Education to study Architecture after her secondary education because she showed great interest in drawing.She had always bragged of becoming a renowned Architect. But she never lived to see her dream come true”, she said shaking her head.

Narrating how news of

•The deceased, Celestina Farotide Celestina’s demise reached her, mama said, “She left for school around 7:30am that Tuesday.

But at about 8:30am, I was called on the phone to come to Gbagada General Hospital that my granddaughter had been rushed there. But when I got to there, I met her dead!

From what I was told, they were about having their Food and Nutrition practical examination in the ongoing Senior Secondary School Examination that morning.

She had already decorated the table she would use to bake cake. While they waited for the exams to commence, she and two other classmates decided to go out and get something to eat. It was while they were on

their way back that thunder struck. The three girls fell down but two of them rose up and ran. They said Celestina rose up too, but that the lightening struck the second time .She fell and never got up again. My granddaughter remained still, on the ground . The shout of help from her friends attracted other students and teachers who rushed her to the hospital.

I still can’t believe that my granddaughter is no more. She was a very good and obedient child; full of life with so much anticipation for the future”, the Ishara Ijesha, Osun State born 65-year-old woman said amidst uncontrollable tears.

SATURDAY Vanguard, APRIL 13, 2013 — 47

How the idea of new UPN was mooted —Frederick Fasehun

Says No contract has been awarded to OPC  Boko Haram: We’ll not run into the bush

BY ISHOLA BALOGUN & FLORENCE AMAGIYA

L

ike a straight arrow that knows its target and ready to pierce without missing, Dr. Frederick Fasehun, the founder of Oodua Peoples Congress (OPC), replies his critics on several allegations reported in the dailies recently. As his voice rang heavily through the tape in this interview, the Chairman of the committee for the resuscitation of Unity Party of Nigeria, UPN, reveals how the idea of the new UPN was mooted and why he has not involved some stake-holders in the region in the current arrangement. He says the contract to protect the pipelines in the South-West which he proposed to government has not been awarded and that no amount was quoted. He bares his mind on how Nigeria can end the menace of pipelines vandalisation among other issues. Excerpts.

Recent developments set you against the ACN; as a a stakeholder in the South-West, what is the bone of contention?

Chairman Mao of China once said: ‘Let a thousand flowers blossom’ and because a thousand flowers blossomed in China, it was a good time for China socio-economically and politically. I have no personal differences with any progressive group. I have always been saying that I love Nigeria,but I love my people more. Anybody that says otherwise is a bloody liar. You first love your people and then love your country. This is because there is no country that is mono-ethnic. All countries have ethnic building blocs. Even our colonial masters, they have Scotland, Wales, Island in Anglo-sax-

ons, but they call it United Kingdom. It is a federation.

There, you have the Labour Party and the Conservative Party. I have nothing against the ACN and I want to believe ACN has nothing against me. But why are we thinking Dr. Fasehun has brought UPN to disorganise the SouthWest? Did the ACN disorganise the South-West when it came and took the South-West from PDP? It is not right to lie to a big country like this.

I didn’t form the Unity Party of Nigeria for any personal interest; I am not intending to take any elective position; but I see a lot of failures in the system. Nigeria would have been a great country but for the people.And why must you institutionalise lies, bogus propaganda just because we have political differences? For some time now, people have been telling various lies about me just because they are jittery over the resuscitation of the UPN. This is the party a lot of Nigerians have been waiting for. Do

•Fasehun...We did not even quote any figure in the proposal. should go and collect his own.

A few days later, they said I am being sponsored by the PDP to disorganise the SouthWest with a contract to protect the pipelines in the SouthWest. One thing is that it is the duty of every citizen to protect the pipelines because it is the economic life-line of the country which has been subjected to indiscriminate bunkering.

On the 20th of November, 2010, OPC sent a proposal to the Federal Government that ‘we are capable of procuring and providing security and surveillance along the pipe-

PRP founded by Aminu Kano has been woken up, and if NAP by Tunji Braitwait has been resuscitated, we have no fear that UPN will see the light of the day again you want the whole South West to sleep and face the same direction? In a polity that is aspiring for democracy, it is not done. People have lied against me saying I have taken hundreds of millions of naira from Jonathan.

I told one person who hinted me about it that I can’t do such a thing. I told him that I am a straight arrow but if anyone still holds the belief that I collected money from Jonathan, then that person

lines if you give us as a contract. Is Lai Muhammed saying six million members of the OPC don’t qualify for the award of contract from our country; moreso, that we are fighting unemployment?

If we put in about 35,000 people along the pipelines, it is not only the 35,000 persons that will benefit, their families would also benefit.

So, why are people criticising Dr. Fasehun even when the federal government has not

approved the contract? So, I began to wonder, where did Lai Muhammed get his figures from? I have no apologies to make on that.

But what was the actual figure you quoted in the proposal?

We did not even quote any figure in the proposal. Because we wanted to work for the government, we believed that it is the federal government that will say: ‘okay we will award you this contract; what then is the cost or this is how much we will give you;’ but we have not reached that level of discussion. So, Nigerians should find out from Lai Muhammed where he got his figures from.

You mean you did not quote any figure?

I

can show you the pro posal, we did not. I don’t know why they are jittery over a new thing that has come to be and that might see the end of what shouldn’t be.

Nigeria must change. I thought Lai Muhammed was a friend. I had seen him as a leader but leaders must be role models. So, if Lai becomes a liar, then, it is very unfortunate for the youths of this country because they will see role models as liars and we will see liars as role models.

The contract has not been awarded.

Now, how did you come about the resuscitation of UPN, did you carry the Yoruba leaders, elders and other

stakeholders along?

I was carried along. SouthWesterners in Europe and America got together and said no, Nigeria must be saved from the brink of collapse. They took a decision that a political party that had no smear of bad records and an organisation being viewed with nostalgia is UPN and they would want to resuscitate it. So, to have a new and national party, they pointed at UPN. Having taken that decision, it became the responsibility of finding somebody to limp it, somebody to match the ideals of UPN and they chose me. I was not there, a delegation was sent to me here (his office) and they gave me the news. I told them that I had sworn not to be in partisan politics because politics is not a sincere game here, but a game of cash-and-carry, a game of the-winner-steals-all, not only the winner takes all and that is why Nigeria is where she is. So, I told them to give me some time to consider it and they said they were to fly back and I insisted I will communicate my decision to them by telephone.

They resolved to wait and they waited. I gave them my word of acceptance the third day, after I have consulted with my own group which agreed that we have been the foot soldiers of these politicians, we have been their tugs, we have been monitoring their lives and that of their chilContinues on page 50

48 — SATURDAY Vanguard,APRIL 13, 2013

Obioma woos female investors to Cross River T

here are limitless opportuni ties that exist for women entrepreneurs who are ready to leverage on the investment opportunities that exist in Cross River State,” said Obioma LiyelImoke, wife of the Cross River State Governor. Obioma made this known recently at the very prestigious BWI Hilton in Maryland US when she gave her keynote address at the second annual WETATI (Women Empowered To Achieve The Impossible) conference and celebration. The Wife of the Governor, who was bestowed with the WETATI Lifetime Achievement Award, spoke on Investment Opportunities for Women in Cross River State. She expressed delight at being given the opportunity to market Cross River State investment potentials using the very vibrant, dynamic and colourful WETATI platform. “I am extremely delighted to stand before such a distinguished crowd made up of the crème de la crème of women across the world. I am grateful to the WETATI team for putting together this great conference. I do sincerely hope and believe that the two days spent together,cross-fertilizing ideas towards seeking solutions to the myriads of problems facing women would indeed help in empowering women to do the impossible.”

According to her, Cross River State

Obioma Liyel-Imoke...The Cross River State Government is conscious of the power that women wield and the need to cater for them.”

For investors in Cross River State, Government has created an enabling environment for businesses to thrive not just by putting in place infrastructure such aspipe-borne water, intricately planned road networks, electricity known as the nation’s paradise is investor friendly not only for its natural idyllic beauty but also for government’s role in taking pragmatic steps to creating an investor friendly climate. “For investors in Cross River State, Government has

created an enabling environment for businesses to thrive not just by putting in place infrastructure such as pipe-borne water, intricately planned road networks, electricity including 24/7 street lighting on all major roads in the urban areas, but also gives tax holidays to business start-ups as an incentive for more people especially women to establish new businesses.”

She listed some investment opportunities in the areas of tourism and entertainment, oil and gas, arts and craft, agriculture, health, infrastructural development, and a few others. Obioma also talked about investment opportunities in the state’s Tinapa Business and Leisure Resort, also known as West Africa’s largest business and leisure resort, encouraging women to take up retail spaces for their products.

“As in most parts of the world, women make up almost half of the total population of Cross River State. The women of Cross River are hardworking, strong in character,

and very enterprising. The Cross River State Government is conscious of the power that women wield and the need to cater for them.”

Also speaking at the conference, Kim Watson, Vice President, Pepco Corporation said that women are known to invest 90% of their income in their families, according to UN statistics.

“Therefore when you empower a woman, you break the cycles of poverty. There is rising evidence that societies are stronger with the empowerment of women.”

Margaret Dureke, founder and president of WETATI described WETATI as a holistic enterprise.

“It embraces and touches different facets- financial matters, poetry, art, politics, development, health education, and so on".

In her welcome address, she noted change, challenges and sacrifice as key ingredients to realising dreams.

“When you go into the annals of history of successful people who made an impact in the lives of others and left legacies, it is evident that they understood these principles.”

She encouraged women to push for change by embracing these principles in pursuit of their life ambitions or dreams.

“It is never too late to dream or re-ignite the ones you had before. It is only too late for those who give up. My hope is that by being here today, you will leave at the end of the program with your own ‘AHA’ moments that will allow you embrace the inevitable changes, challenges and sacrifices in your path to hew your own destiny in any aspect of your life that you desire change.”

In achieving the impossible, there is usually a price to be paid, Obioma concluded- a price of painstakingly asking, seeking and knocking.

“After doing all these, there is no way the doors will not be opened.”

'Jonathan should seek help from the international community' Contnued frompage 45 everywhere.What are these deep rooted form of anger? Government has a duty to identify them and know whether the dissidents and the terrorists have any point. If you don’t identify them and discuss with them, how will you now know what their grouses are? I have always said that even when countries are at war, they don’t foreclose the avenues for negotiation. Battle goes on, diplomacy goes on side by side. It is no longer news that even in the Niger Delta, the first group that emerged as militants were funded and armed by politicians who used them for elections. Democracy has become a global norm which no body should depart from. So if things are not working the way they should, the society suffers psychologically and materially. Even among the few that are enjoying the situation, there are those who feel bitter and who are bound to feel that to get out of this situation is worth any sacrifice. That is why you have suicide bombers. By the time a man becomes a suicide bomber, you will know that by virtue of desperation and frustration he has lost his normal thinking faculty and no longer values life. There are deep

* IDADA rooted anger and grudges in so many Nigerians because of the way things are and against this back ground, we should call a spade a spade and find solutions to the problems. Let this oil not be a thing for the few. Nigeria is rich enough for everybody to live a comfortable life. When a good number of Nigerians cannot be convinced that our wealth is being managed in a manner that some few rogues controls the wealth, then there is a problem

and our President knows that there is a problem. Even those speaking from the two sides of their mouth, they want to be seen working, so truth is abandoned and with rhetorics. The world has become a global village.

Rhetorics take nobody nowhere any more. Corruption is the apex of our problem. How can you have an efficient system when the polity has embraced corruption like a doctrine?

How can there be efficiency?

But are you not surprised that despite the killings perpetrated by these terrorists in Nigeria, the Federal Government has consistently kicked against tagging Nigeria a terrorist state by the Americans and European nations?

I don’t think it is still an issue to argue whether Nigeria is a terrorist country or not. We are a terrorist country because terrorism strives here. Those who said Nigeria is not a terrorist country, that foreigners should not come to our aid are making big mistakes. The days of non interference principle which was a cardinal issue in UN Charter has gone. Today, the world strives on corporation and mutual support in the area of economy and security. Why did we send troops to

Mali, Liberia and other places? Were those things not interventions? If intervention is for good purpose, let there be intervention. The question of state independence in strict terms are no more. Countries now go out to seek areas of corporation. In Europe, they are all working for common currency.

The whole world has accepted that democracy is a concept which everybody must embrace. Nigeria is party to many of these treaties of mutual support and cooperation, so what are we talking about sovereignty? If sovereignty cannot bring bread and butter, why are you talking about sovereignty?

Why will people complain when America helps Nigeria to track down murderers when this is one of our major concern? Anybody who is kicking against America’s interference is supporting terrorism or thuggery. If Nigerian government

don’t care about the welfare of their people, other countries do. Do we not still go to America to train? Tell me any senior Nigeria officer who has

not trained in India, Pakistan or Britain. Please for God's sake, let us as a people begin to think constructively what can bring good. Let's not hesitate to seek cooperation of support where we need them.

SATURDAY Vanguard,

By Dr alu Dr.. Orji Uzor K Kalu

F

okalu@orjikalu.com

rench poet Victor Hugo once stated that “amnesty is as good for those who give it as for those who receive it. It has the admirable quality of bestowing mercy on both sides”. Indeed as much as we have witnessed broad steps taken by Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan towards embracing this noble ideology and attempting to understand our would-be adversaries, Boko Haram, we must truly incentivize and steward talks as best we can - perhaps on their terms - in order to bring about lasting peace and reconciliation.

Nigerians are facing many challenges, perpetual stumbling blocks hindering a smooth transition to prosperity and geopolitical competition. Yet there is none as blaringly obvious as the complacency our national leadership has emanated while our citizens routinely put their lives in jeopardy simply walking to school, attending church or checking in at work. The threat of domestic terrorism (in-part spearheaded by Boko Haram) looms large and weighs heavy on our consciousness; in fact, Nobel-prize winner Wole Soyinka remarked no more than a week ago that Nigeria is on the verge of a ‘potential civil war’.

At present, we have nowhere collectively to neither hide nor turn to but government, looking to accountable leadership to provide a lasting solution. But there are questions lingering in the air, on strategic execution rather than simple theorization.

One must nonetheless commend the Federal institutions for standing steadfast in a commitment to restore peace and attempting to quell international criticism while nations encourage their citizens and with them their businesses to ‘escape’ from Nigeria. We must continue to applaud the Muslim Rights Concern

By STELLA AMATA

Boko Haram and the case for amnesty One must nonetheless commend the Federal institutions for standing steadfast in a commitment to restore peace and attempting to quell international criticism while nations encourage their citizens

Orji Kalu (MURIC) for suggesting that offering a reprieve to members of Boko Haram remains an important option in order to right the insurgency in the North, a plague systematically destroying the region’s socio-economic fabric.

However, as I have remarked over the course of the last weeks and indeed months across the globe, we must be willing to dialogue directly one-to-one and moreover seek alternative solutions under an umbrella of amnesty should the broad theoretical suggestion not take flight in practice (as the notion has thus far been unilaterally rejected by

Boko Haram spokesmen).

We must make a concerted effort in order to return our national reputation to its lost glory, as a bright light emanating throughout West Africa, beaconing international integration.

As I and separately MURIC have suggested, one viable option remains that a dedicated civilian-based initiative be implemented, supplementing or perhaps replacing military exercises in the Boko Haram entanglement. Much like the hiring of outside counsel in a civil matter, (an advocacy role I have aimed to secure for the last year), negotiations should be held from spokesman to spokesman, in a manner that befits all parties involved.

Indeed our officers are no safer than our families in dealing with those we do not fully understand, as we learn

APRIL13, 2013 — 49

of twelve souls now missing after an attack by the armed Movement for Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND), perhaps in-part due to such a call for amnesty being promoted while concurrently exercising combative operations.

We must refresh our own appreciation of the ramifications of unchecked intimidation. Continued violence not only plagues the lives of our citizens in-country but promotes instability and a lack of infrastructural confidence to communities in the Diaspora and our colleagues on the global stage. Infighting, as this truly is, perpetually erodes Nigeria’s aspirations of joining the echelon of the BRICS and pigeonholes us in a vicious cycle of violence begetting poverty and poverty begetting violence once more.

We must work closely with our international colleagues as this is not simply ‘our problem’ anymore. We are a symbol of African economic power and potential; with the help of our trusted investors and trade partners, we have in front of us an opportunity to sustainably develop our nation above and beyond the wildest dreams of our children.

Ultimately, we must settle our differences in the interest of unified, national healing and mutual prosperity, whether coming to such a binding resolution is the drive of a governmental committee, executive leadership or achieved from a single actor speaking on behalf of his people. Though the threat to our fiscal trajectory remains a sincere concern, the human toll has penetrated our bureaucracy and elevated the urgency in ending our veritable self-implosion.

Though it is in our hands to create tangible change, we must be willing to break the barriers of old and seek innovative answers to solving the challenges of our new Nigerian century.

Tribute to the love of my life, Prof. Amata

L

ife they say begins at 40, but for me, your life begins at 60.

As a husband,your tender care, support and encouragement at all times, has proved to me and our lovely children that you are still very young at heart and with passion for love.

I met you, a charming and charismatic man with the kindest eyes and a heart of pure gold seven years ago. The day we met was in fact, just like every other day, but was extraordinary for me, because my loving Jesus sent me the first of many divine blessings in the form of you.

How time flies, just like yesterday, our living God has made it possible for us to have blissful married life and more importantly, blessed within the period of seven years of marriage with three lovely children, Eguolo, Ujiro and Ajiri. To God be the glory.

Prof. Ifo Amata my love, your humility, generosity and kind heart over these years has remained steadfast. You are full of wisdom and possess wit and amazing sense of humour. You are my hero, my best

of humour, can brighten a very dull moment.

R

•Prof. Ifo Amata friend, confident and soul mate next to God. You are everything to me.

You have so much charisma and warmth, that your presence, intimidating height and handsomely black complexion, can melt a heart of stone. Your calculation, educative and informative interactions coupled with your sense

endezvous including official and domestic, have no doubt made you an enviable success story and a beacon of light to our family.

It is not in doubt that as the only member of the famous Amata family (not in Nollywood) your integrity, generosity and compassion for all leave an indelible mark in the lives of all who have come your way.

I can truly say, I am blessed and privileged to have you as my husband and a loving father to our children.

Ifo Amata, the love we share is like no other. You have never wavered in your commitment to me and our family, rather constantly striving to give us the best of everything within your reach. As you mark your birthday on the 14th day of April, 2013, this is a great opportunity to thank you for all you have done for me. You have made me the envy of my peers, and it is a real pleasure to share the wonderful bond of love with you. While I and our children, numerous friends and well

wishers wish you many more fruitful and healthy happy 60th birthday, the God of heaven who knows how to reward good deeds will meet you at your point of need.

P

rof. Ifo Alex Amata was born April 14, 1953, to the famous Amata family of Isoko North Local Government Area of Delta State. After his brilliant performance at Corona Primary School Ikoyi, Lagos; James Welch Grammar School Emevor, Edo College; Hussey College and University of Ibadan, he also obtained educational excellence certificate from a French University in France. Also a degree holder in BSc Agric Biochem and Nutrition MSc Agric Biochem and Nutrition, Certificate of Proficiency, in French, PhD Biotech and Food Industries with emphasis on Industrial Microbiology, Yeast Tech, Fermentation Tech and Enzymology.

Stella Anwulika Amata—wife is a Staffer of DBS, Asaba.

50 — SATURDAY Vanguard, APRIL 13, 2013

Continued from page 47 dren, now we should be part of the politics. It was then I told the delegation that I have considered their request.

How about funding?

I told them I don’t have money to match the Nigerian politics and they assured me that I don’t need to buy an envelope for the organisation.

That is why I said I was recruited. I came into the thinking in England and America.

So, it was mooted by Nigerians in the Diaspora?

Yes. They met and decided we should resucitate the party.

What is the stage of its registration now?

We initially got information that INEC was charging N100,000 to buy the form but later we got another conflicting information that it was N1million. Then a good Samaritan said even if it will cost N1billion, we have to get it. He provided the money and we rushed to the bank and we sent somebody to Abuja. The person got to INEC office and met a lady (name withheld) who put some stumbling block in the way of purchasing the form.

I have been told she is a mole there, that she scuttles the ambition of new political parties. Of course she will not be able to do this. I said, no problem, we will re-strategise. But the following morning, it was splashed in the newspapers that INEC rejects UPN. That is not politicking but a deceit. When I read through the story, people don’t know that children will only fail exam when they have only sat for it. You don’t fail an exam you have not sat for. If she refuses to do her duties, we will go above her because it is our legitimate right.

What is the role of Gen. Adeyinka, Pa Fasanmi and other Afenifere bigwigs in the whole of these?

They are all my political fathers, but have you forgotten that a group of people disorganised the Afenifere. These are the characters that are true leaders of Yoruba, the Ayo Adebanjo, Pa Jakande, Pa Fasoranti, Olaniwuns, the Olu Falaes, Babatopes and the Awolowo family. Before I accepted to be in the leadership of the UPN, I went to the Matriach of the UPN and she prayed for me, and if I have seen Mama, I have seen the Awolowo family. Now, if you involved the others without doing the hatchet job, you will be exposing them to the ridicule of the ACN. I was not going to expose them to

•Fasehun...we are not going to practice the politics of hostilities, conflicts and confrontation.

portunity to serve your country, it is the greatest opportunity. We are nostalgic about Awolowo, Nnamdi Azikiwe and Saduana. Where are their international hotels, where are their mansions and monuments, where are their airlines and shipping companies and banks? These are great leaders. PRP founded by Aminu Kano has been woken up, and if NAP by Tunji Braitwait has been resuscitated, we have no fear that UPN will see the light of the day again.

Is it only a resuscitation of name or the ideals of the party as it were those days?

It is not the cap, or the spectacle, but the ideologies that is expressed in the welfarism and social democracy of the people. That is Awoism.

Now, how do you intend to secure the pipelines from the vandals if the contract is awarded?

‘Bunkering, vandalisation will become history in one yr if...’ such thing, they would have read it in the newspapers, some of them have gotten in touch with me. The only person among them that I have visited is Jakande; and I know nobody can ridicule Jakande. These characters have a way of destroying leadership, I will not subject the Yoruba leaders to the ridicule of these urchins. I know there have been roots, there have been stems, branches and leaves of the UPN, when the party is registered, I will take the certificate to them and

I did not mention it to them but it is basically to shield them from partisan politics but the day we are registered, we shall inform them of the new party.

And you hope they will give their blessings?

By the grace of God. What is your view about the amalgamation of the opposition called APC? I dont believe in this amalgamation. An amalgam is a mixture of various elements, each component is allowed to maintain its attributes and composition and tenden-

I don’t need billions of naira, we will go on manifesting politics without bitterness and at all levels and to all parties and at every forum say this is your organisation.

And you see, people have been giving their support.

There is only one state that has not registered its membership with the party and that is Zamfara.

What about the royal fathers?

There are some of our fathers we do not want to be involved in politics, like the Ooni, the Alaafin, the Olowo, the Alake, the Awujale and many others. I can swear that

cies. That is why I don’t believe in the merger. Where are the previous mergers we have had in the past? What we need now is sincere leaders and nationalistic patriots that will put us in the path of righteousness. We will not be nationalistic if we merge political platforms. Manifestos, programmes and ideologies are from the right, left and the centre. So, where have Nigerians found sixty ideologies?

When you are given the op-

You’re asking me to reveal my method to the criminals?

If OPC is given the opportunity to protect the pipelines,within one year, bunkering, vandalisation will become history. We have outlined only for the South-West which covers 5,260kilometers radius.We expect the NNPC to give the South-South to MEND; the Volunteer Force and the South East to MASSOB; the Delta area to Anioma 911; the Middle Belt to Middle Belt Congress and even the core North to ACF. We don’t want to continue to be tied to the apron-strings of the politicians as their foot soldiers. ‘Don’t give me fish, teach me how to catch fish’.

How do you intend to combine the two responsibilities should the government award the contract as your UPN sets for politicking?

I have been managing the OPC now for 19 years. In that span of time, I must have acquired some management technique and integrity to be able to keep six million youths together for 19 years. I hope to use that experience. It is nothing but self-discipline and integrity.

Don’t you think people might see OPC in the garb of UPN and vice-versa or how do you intend to strike a balance between the two?

OPC is set to defend our peo-

ple and ensure that justice is done and that is what we will continue to do. Again, we

are not going to practice the politics of hostilities, conflicts and confrontations. Certainly not.

I have spoken earlier to debunk the lies against OPC and my person. I don’t need billions of naira. We will go on manifesting politics without bitterness and at all levels and to all parties and at every forum.

Based on what the country has witnessed in the last few years, what is your idea of leadership in 2015?

Whoever that emerges as the president must be in charge.

He must be able to say no, we won’t give amnesty to those who have killed toddlers, who have burnt churches. Amnesty in the Nigerian context has a definition which was provided by Yar’Adua. You must first submit your arms, veils and come to table. That is why amnesty is succeeding. Some of our leaders unfortunately want a blank cheque to be written in the name of Boko Haram as amnesty. I have also told the President that those who are seeking for amnesty for Boko Haram must also know where they live, must know their names. It is not proper to just give out money for their representatives to distribute amongst them. They must first answer to the definition of amnesty. Let us also take a look at the records of the dead. Why are you considering amnesty for ghosts without the records of the dead ones. Is it fair?

Going by the reports that Boko Haram members have been traced to Lagos, do you have any fear that these terrorists will invade South West and if you do, what will you do?

I don’t have any fear they will come to Lagos and I don’t believe these rumours making the rounds about Boko Haram in Lagos. They did not go to Alausa, Ikoyi or Victoria Island or the GRAs, they went to Badia.

They don’t operate like that. In any case, when security operatives want some money from the government, they scare the government and they begin to panic. We are Nigerians, we know what is going on. So far, they have limited their operations to the north, because that is their territory. What reason will they advance to the international community for attacking the South-West. Again, you asked a hypothetical question, (long pause) we will not run into the bush. South-Westerners will not run into the bush.

Fire-for-fire?

I didn’t say that, but we will not run into the bush. We will defend our territory. I hope you understand that in warfare, every method is right.

SATURDAY VANGUARD, APRIL 13, 2013 — 51

AFN Golden League: Abuja Football College to produce more world stars — Bozidar We need world standard

S

BY ISAAC OLAMIKAN

UPER Eagles Coach, Stephen Keshi will not forget in a hurry the heat he got from the Abuja Football College on the two occasions his boys played with the youth side in the course of the national team’s preparation for the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).

In the first encounter the Super Eagles won with a 4 – 2 goals margin but in the second encounter they were lucky to escape defeat as they forced the youngsters to a pulsating 3-3 draw.

Some of the soccer lessons the national team acquired from the two encounters were very fruitful as it ended up lifting the continental trophy.

“The Abuja Football College was founded in January 2012 by some Nigerian businessmen who are interested in lifting the standard of the game of football in the country,” revealed the academy ’s Head Coach, Matijevic Bozidar. The Croatian boasted that the football artistry displayed by his wards (whose ages range between 15 and 18 years) in the two encounters with the Super Eagles is just a tip of the iceberg as more

of such is in the offing soon.

He disclosed that Nigeria has got very talented youngsters and what they need to explode on the world stage is tactical and technical discipline which he said he and his technical crew which includes his Italian born colleague, Goobo Renzo, are impacting on the boys.

Bozidar said that last year five of the boys were offered full scholarship to study in Europe and learn the modern techniques of football, adding that by June the team will be in Europe for three weeks to participate in some tournaments.

Okpala to NFF, I dey laugh

BY BEN EFE

F

ORMER Super Eagles midfielder, Sylvanus Okpala has described his reported sack as assistant coach of the national team as a laughable matter.

Nigeria Football Federation, NFF sources disclosed that Okpala was sacked because he refused to answer a query fired at him for disrespecting the NFF during the African Nations Cup in South Africa where the Eagles won despite all odds.

But Okpala who played 45 times for Nigeria and scored five goals said he still considers himself as coach since he has not been officially notified by the NFF. “You remember that some years back when former President Olusegun Obasanjo was asked a question concerning national issues, he said: I dey laugh. So it is the same thing with me I dey laugh.

“I have not been notified by the NFF. So I still consider myself as coach,” the player dubbed ‘Quick Silver’ for his slick passing moves, stated.

“And when the NFF people say I was disrespectful to president Aminu Maigari, they should be specific and say what exactly I did that constitutes disrespecting him.

“They have also accused me of misconduct in South Africa during the Nations Cup. Let them tell Nige-

Okpala rians what I did at the Nations Cup. Until then, I

have no comment to make,” Okpala added.

Tasty Time partners Abesan Cup

T

HE General Manager of Tasty Time Nigeria Limited, Mayowa Kole has said his company is ready to partner organizers of the Abesan Cup starting with the 2013 edition.

Kole who gave this assurance at the Draws and press briefing which took place at Saint Bernadette Schools in Ipaja area of Lagos, said Tasty Time is proud to be the official water of the competition which is expected to kick from May 12.

Kole disclosed that the company will provide 4000 cartons of drinks, Jerseys for the eight quarter finalists as well as an undisclosed amount of money, adding that the gesture is part of Tasty Time’s Corporate social responsibility to Nigerian youths.

“We look forward to having more Taiye Taiwos, Nwankwo Kanus, Segun Odegbamis discovered at the Abesan Cup. This competition has to serve as a breeding ground for some great players and we need to support the organizers because they are determined to produce more stars for the country”, he said.

Earlier in his welcome address, Cup donor and Patron of the competition, Mrs. Clementina Doregos who was represented by Olawale Yakub, commended the organizers and appealed to the participating teams to observe the fair play rules, stressing that she will continue to support programmes that will benefit Nigerians youths through sports.

performances — Nesiama

A

THLETICS Federa tion of Nigeria, AFN technical director, Omatsheye Nesiama has stated that only world standard performances will earn athletes reward in the Golden League series that begins today in Sagamu, Ogun State.

According to Navy Commodore Nesiama, this is one of the new guidelines meant to boost the quality of the competition and make athletes work harder at increasing their performance levels.

“We have set new standards for the Golden League. It is going to be performance based and once the athletes meet the set standard, they automatically qualify to receive incentives no matter their placing in the Golden League,” Nesiama said.

The Golden League events for this year include 100/200m, 800m, 5000m, 100m hurdles, triple jump, shot put, discus, 20km walk and 4x100m/4x400m relays

Performance Bound... Nigerian juniors, Divine Oduduru and Yusuf Ismaila at the last Africa Youth Athletics Championships. hurdles, long jump, javfor the women. The men elin, hammer 4x100/ events are 100/200m, 4x400m relays.

800m, 10,000m, 400m

Amike promises new NAATO

F

ORMER Nigerian in ternational athlete, Henry Amike last weekend emerged president of the Nigeria Association of Athletics Technical Officials NAATO and he has promised to give the organization a new face.

Amike who holds the national 400m hurdles record for 26 years running, polled 49 votes to edge out Funmi Nutai with 38 votes to become NAATO president, during the NAATO congress held at the Abuja National Stadium.

“My first priority will be to give NAATO a new face. Things will be different from how they use to be.

We will build a new relationship with the Athletics Federation of Nigeria to forge a harmonious relationship,” said Amike.

He added that he will also pursue an aggressive policy that will see many Nigerians become certified international

track judges.

“At the last African Youth Athletics Championships in Warri, we didn’t have a single Nigerian on the list of qualified international track judges. We will see to it

that we have more Nigerians as international technical officials,” he asserted.

Amike who is also the president of Nigeria Olympians Association was one of Africa’s best hurdlers during his days.

Kenya, Ethiopia athletes set for showdown in Okpekpe

K

ENYAN and Ethio pian long distance runners are expected to continue their battle for supremacy in the long distances at the Okpekpe 10km road race billed for May 4 in Okpekpe, Edo State.

The race organizers confirmed that entries have been received from athletes of the East African countries and also from other world class runners who are expected to battle for the 25,000 dollars prize money at stake.

“Apart from the entries from Kenya and Ethio-

pia, we have received inquiries from managers of some of the top road runners in Africa concerning the Okpekpe race. We are very certain that some established road runners are going to be part of this inaugural edition,” said Athletics Federation of Nigeria, AFN assistant secretary-general, Femi Ajao Also local runners are warming up for the race being promoted by Mike Ituamagbor, who is special adviser on sports to the Edo State governor, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole.

52 — SATURDAY Vanguard, APRIL 13, 2013

SATURDAY Vanguard, APRIL 13, 2013 — 53

C M Y K

54 — SATURDAY Vanguard, APRIL 13, 2013

C M Y K

SATURDAY VANGUARD, APRIL 13, 2013 — 55

Osibodu advises visually impaired on commitment in sports

BY ISAAC OLAMIKAN

WORLD CUP QUALIFIER:

F

OLLOWING the just concluded 18th annual inter-house sports of the Nigerian Society for the

Blind, NSB hosted at the mainbowl of the University of Lagos, chairman of Special Olympics Mr. Gbolade Osibodu has admonished the participants to be committed in any sports they are privileged to be involved in.

Kenya FA bemoans suspension of key players K

ENYA Football Asso ciation is seeking clarification from FIFA over the suspension of Harambee Stars captain, Dennis Oliech and goalkeeper Arnold Origi for the June 5 World Cup qualifier against Nigeria in Nairobi.

Origi who stood between the Eagles and goals in Calabar during the first leg, confirmed receiving a letter from FIFA last Friday with regards to his suspension from the crucial game.

“I can confirm that I was cautioned against Namibia and then against Nigeria. But these things happen and the country should learn to move on without me,” he told Goal.com.

However, Kenya FA secretary-general Michael Esakwa said that he was hopeful that the duo will be back into the team that will play the Eagles.

“We got a letter from Fifa on Friday informing us that two of our key players are suspended for the June 5 World Cup

He stressed that “there is always ability in any disability, therefore I will urge you all to strive by all means to show yourselves.”

Also speaking at the event was the chairman of the NSB, Mrs. Biola Agbaje who advised the participants to put in their best in every Games they participate in as the window of opportunities to represent Nigeria in the next Paralympics Games abound.

“We have past students who are now part of the Lagos team and are strongly aspiring to represent Nigeria in the Paralympics Games” she said .

The inter-house sports however, ended on a joyous mood as Blue House won with Red house coming second.

Among the dignitaries that were present at the event were chairman of NSB Mrs. Biola Agbaje, Mr. Gbolade Osibodo, Chairman committee on Special Olympics in Nigeria, Chief Olu Falomo, Asiwaju Fola Osibo.

•Mikel (l) tackles a Kenyan player in Calabar qualifier against Nigeria.

“However, according to our records this is not true because both players have not picked two yellow cards as

claimed.

“We remain confident that Fifa will confirm the same for us considering that both players remain important to our campaign in the qualifiers,” Esakwa said.

Golden League: AFN, athletes spoil for war over N2m prize money

BY ISAAC OLAMIKAN

A

THLETES who par ticipated in the 2012 Athletic Federation of Nigeria (AFN) organized golden league held in Calabar are spoiling for war.

The aggrieved athletes are alleging that almost 10 months after the tournament was held, they are yet to be paid their prize money totaling N2million.

Speaking with Saturday Vanguard sports, some of the athletes who are now in Sagamu, Ogun State, for the first leg of the 2013 edition of the golden league, alleged that some top officials of the AFN are holding onto their prize money with intention to use it for the soon-to-be-held election of the association.

“Can you imagine that almost 10 months after we participated and won

in the last leg of the golden league held in Calabar, we are yet to get our prize money.

The AFN officials keep telling us cock and bull stories whenever we meet them and demand for our money.

Now, we are getting set for the first leg of the 2013 golden league which will be coming up in Sagamu, Ogun State, this weekend and nobody is telling us anything about the N2million prize money.

It seems as if some top officials of the AFN are deliberately holding onto the money with the intention of using it for the association’s election which will soon be held.

Also worrisome is the fact that the association’s General Secretary, Maria Worphill will soon be retiring from the service. We hope that we won’t ex-

perience untold hardship in getting the money when she leaves on the excuse that she is the right person to attend to our enquiries,” one of the athletes said..

However, responding through its Assistant General Secretary, Ajao Olufemi, the AFN denied that it is owing the athletes, insisting that it had started paying the athletes their money and that the payment was delayed because of lateness on the part of the sponsor to fulfill its promise.

•Ronaldo

•Messi

Champions League semis: Barca, Real avoid each other return legs in the

B

ARCELONA and Real Madrid could meet in the Champions League final at Wembley after being kept apart in the semi-final draw. In the draws made yesterday, Barcelona drew Bayern Munich, with Real Madrid set to play Borussia Dortmund.

The games will be played on 23 and 24

April, with the return legs on 30 April and 1 May. In the Europa League, Chelsea will travel to Switzerland for the first leg of their last-four tie against Basel on 25 April.

The other match sees Turkish side Fenerbahce face Portuguese opponents Benfica. The

We ’ll wear Wigan down — Shittu

N

IGERIA-BORN Milwall defender, Danny Shittu said that their main aim in today’s FA Cup semi-final will be to wear down their opponents Wigan Athletic.

The Super Eagles defender who shunned an invitation to play in the

Africa Cup of Nations to help his club in their domestic campaigns said that the game against Wigan will be hard and the only way to stop them will be to deny space to play their game.

“We play Wigan in the semi-finals and that’s a hard game. They play

good football so we can’t afford to give up possession as it can be hard to get it off them.

Shittu has declared that he will use the confidence he gained from keeping Lionel Messi quiet at the 2010 World Cup as motivation against Wigan attackers.

Europa League will take place on 2 May. Chelsea are the only British side left in European competition after sealing their place despite a second-leg defeat against Rubin Kazan in Russia.

In the Champions League, all-German and all-Spanish semi-finals were ruled out in the draw in Nyon, Switzerland.

Real - who eliminated Manchester United in the second round booked their place in the last four with a 5-3 aggregate win over Galatasaray, although they lost 3-2 in Istanbul.

They were joined by Spanish league leaders Barcelona, who eliminated Paris StGermain on away goals.

SATURDAY Vanguard, APRIL 13, 2013

R-E-V-E-A-L-E-D: The grand plot to ease Keshi out of Eagles •NFF to query him •Sacks his key backroom staff •Maigari sits on his travel application

The 16 finalists of Glo Soccer Academy flanked by the General Secretary of Nigeria Football Federation, Barrister Musa Ahmadu (r) Glo Divisional Director, Northwest, Mr Kazeem Kaka (m) and Assistant Chief Legal Officer, NFF Barrister Okey Obi (l) when the NFF Board hosted the team in Abuja upon their arrival from training tour of Manchester United Soccer Schools, U.K on Friday. The Team also had a rare privilege of holding the AFCON trophy recently won by the Super Eagles.

BY PATRICK OMORODION

T

HE battle between Su per Eagles Chief coach, Stephen Keshi and members of the Nigeria Football Federation, NFF Board may just be beginning as the football house is set to query the coach on his return from the United States where he has gone to attend to some family issues.

Chairman of the NFF Media and Publicity Committee, Emeka Inyama had hinted that Keshi must answer some questions when he returns on why he was absent from the meeting with the federation’s technical and development committee

•Keshi

•Maigari

during the week.

Inyama also alluded to the fact that the NFF was aware Keshi was in Lagos

to take delivery of two cars given him by Globacom Chairman, Dr. Mike Adenugu but failed to

show up for a crucial meeting he (Inyama) described as “serious business and a national business too.”

However, a confidant of

Keshi, who pleaded anonymity, told Saturday Vanguard Sports that the issue was beyond Keshi’s absence at the Abuja meeting of the NFF technical committee, adding that there was a plot to frustrate the Delta-born coach and cause him to resign.

“The truth is that they want to finish the plot they started in South Africa and force Keshi to resign. Do you know that Keshi actually wrote for permission to travel from the NFF president, Aminu Maigari but he sat on it?”, the source said.

He also disclosed that part of the plot was to sack Keshi’s close backroom staff and make his work difficult for him, adding, “they want him to fail in the World Cup qualifiers and Confederations Cup so that

CAF U-17 Championship begins in Morocco

BY BEN EFE

T

HE 2013 CAF U-17 Championship will begin this afternoon with hosts Morocco taking on Gabon at the Mohamed V Stadium in Casablanca, while Tunisia take on debutantes Botswana in the other group A game shortly after.

Nigeria, Ghana and Gambia have won the tournament twice each and as the youngsters who were made to under-go an MRI

test yesterday take to the field, it remains to be seen if the tournament will still be dominated by West Africa.

Burkina Faso, the defending champions, did not qualify and from all reckoning Nigeria and Ghana are favourite for the title. This is not underrating the other teams in the tournament as qualification for the FIFA U17 World Cup holding from October 17 to November 8 in the United Arab Emirate is at stake.

Today’s U-17 matches Morocco Tunisia

v v

Gabon Botswana

4pm 7pm

Tomorrow’s U-17 matches Congo Nigeria

vs. vs.

Cote d’Ivoire 4pm Ghana 7pm

Premiership matches Arsenal Aston Villa Everton Reading S’hampton

v v v v v

Norwich Fulham QPR Liverpool West Ham

3pm 3pm 3pm 3pm 3pm

Since its inception in 1995, the tournament has been carving a name for itself as the breeding ground for future African stars.

The 10th edition is certainly one that can be expected to bring to the fore

talents that are set to follow in the footsteps of now African superstars who first got a taste of the international platform and recognition from championships gone by. Talents such as John Obi Mikel, the Chelsea and

Nigeria star, Marseille’s Andre Ayew, Anthony Yeboah, Morocco’s Yousuf Hadji, Nwankwo Kanu of Nigeria, Nee Lamptey among a long of stars all announced the richness of their talents at CAF U-17 championships.

they can ease him out.”

It would be recalled that there was a subterranean move by the NFF to employ a foreign coach for the Eagles after they struggled in the first two group matches at the Nations Cup in South Africa but when the plot was exposed, the NFF denied it.

NFF Board members have also been grumbling that Keshi was taking the whole glory for the Nations Cup victory and being rewarded by the Federal and States governments.

The two cars gifted to him

by Dr Adenuga did not go without mention by them too.

The Board members were also getting set to mock Keshi when a few minutes to the end of the World Cup qualifier in Calabar, Kenya’s Harambee Stars were still leading and could have stunned the Eagles 1-0.

Despite all these, Keshi has kept his cool, stressing that he has no problem with his employers but his confidant disclosed that the former coach of Togo and Mali national teams may open up when he returns if the NFF goes ahead to query him.

CROSS WORD PUZZLE

Across 1 Burkina-Faso “Stallions” Striker, Jonathan – (8) 5 Flying Eagles U-20 Coach, John – (4) 7 Former PDP Chairman, Solomon – (3) 8 Greek Goddess – (4) 9 L.G.A in Edo State – (4) 10 Super Eagles Midfielder, Ogenyi – (5) 12 L.G.A in Oyo State – (9) 15 Secretary To The Federal Government of Nigeria, Senator Pius – (5) 17 Ethnic Group in Nigeria – (5) 18 Senegalese Capital City – (5) 20 Former Nigerian Bar Association Chairman, Chief Rotimi – (9) 23 L.G.A in Benue State – (5) 26 L.G.A in Ebonyi State – (4) 27 Former NFF President, Sani Abdullahi – (4) 28 Entrap – (3) 29 Notion – (4) 30 Secretary to Benue State

Government, Audu – (8) Down 1 Colombian Currency – (4) 2 L.G.A in Niger State – (4) 3 Edo State Governor, Adams – (9) 4 Former Bayelsa United coach, Karika – (5) 5 L.G.A in Edo State – (5) 6 German “Bundesliga” Premiership Club-Side – (8) 11 Reverend Sister – (3) 13 Borno State Capital – (9) 14 Dismiss – (4) 15 Iraq’s Prime Minister, Nuri – (8) 16 State in Nigeria known as “Pride of The Sahel”? – (4) 19 Inquire – (3) 21 Spain and Liverpool Goalkeeper, Jose – (5) 22 Greek Alphabet – (5) 24 NAFDAC Director-General, Mr. Paul – (4) 25 Traditional Ruler of Ife – (4)

SOLUTION on page 15

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