No regrets over our action - Gowon

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President Jonathan visits Bayelsa, Anambra flood victims *As Asaba raises committee to cater for victims

By VINCENT UJUMADU & SAMUEL OYADONGHA, Yenagoa

RESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan yesterday visited Anambra State and Bayelsa State Capital in continuation of his demonstration of sympathy to states ravaged by flood in the country.

President Goodluck Jonathan during his visits disclosed that the Federal Government has initiated measures for proper resettlement of flood victims. While in Anambra, the President visited one of the camps housing displaced persons at Father Joseph Memorial High School, Aguleri, Anambra East, where he commiserated with the flood victims and assured them of Government’s continued support. “Federal Government will work with the State Government and other organizations to resettle the victims”, he said.

The President said the Federal Government Committee on flood disaster was set up to, among other things, explore ways to assist the flood victims to resettle and pick up their lives after the crisis.

He explained that some International Organizations were co-opted into the committee to attract external assistance to cushion the pains. He lamented the colossal loss suffered by the State, recalled the 1969 flood that preceded the completion of the Kangi Dam in 1970, assured that major embankment will be constructed on the Benue while the completion of Kasambila Dam in 2014 will help prevent future reoccurrence.

Governor Peter Obi, who cancelled his trip to Japan for the World Bank/IMF meeting to receive the President, thanked him for identi-

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fying with the State and noted that the visit has brought a lot of relief to the victims. He reported that the State has been totally devastated with many people displaced, noting that over twenty resettlement camps are today accommodating the victims in various parts of the State, with the Aguleri camp alone accommodating over 6721 victims.

The Anglican Bishop of Mbamili Diocese, Right Reverend Henry Okeke said most of the Local Government Area were totally submerged and recalled Governor Obi’s relentless efforts in evacuating the victims and providing enough relief materials in the various camps. He solicited intervention of the Federal Government and international organizations in the rebuilding process as most of the victims are homeless.

Earlier, the Anglican Bishop of Ogbaru, Right Reverend Dr. Samuel Ezeofor said most communities in Ogbaru had been totally cut off and called for concerted ef-

forts to compliment what Governor Obi has done so far and help victims to rebuild from the ruins.

From Anambra, the President, proceeded to Bayelsa and was received by Governor Seriake Dickson, his wife Rachael and Deputy Governor Rear Admiral Gboribiogha John Jonah (rtd) and other top government functionaries.

Accompanied by a member of the House of Representatives, Mrs. Uche Ekwunife and the Minister of Environment, Mrs. Hadiza Mailafia, the President was expected to tour the flood ravaged communities in the state.

He is also expected to visit his country home, Otuoke which was not spared by the flood, undertake an assessment tour of other areas affected within the state as well as visit some of the relief camps to personally see things for himself.

The President will be accompanied by the host Governor, Seriake Dickson.

Meanwhile, Delta State Governor, Dr. Em-

EYSTONE Bank Limited, yesterday, appointed Mr. Shehu Muhammad, Acting Managing Director, following the resignation of Mr. Oti Ikomi.

According to a statement by the bank by Mr. Dafe Ivwurie of the Marketing & Corporate Communication department, the Board of Directors rising from a meeting

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manuel Uduaghan said he is going to set up a committee comprising of eminent and credible Deltans to manage the 500 million naira flood disaster fund granted by the Federal government.

The governor while addressing political

appointees and House of Assembly members in Asaba, said the committee when functional would decide how to utilize the fund to resettle flood victims in the state.

Said he, “I will not meddle in the

committees’ work. I will not disburse this money and definitely will not be part of what they shall do. Whatever decision they take on how to disburse the fund shall be well with me. Let members of the committee decide what to do with the money”.

EFCC traces N1bn property to former Bayelsa gov

BY SONI DANIEL, Regional Editor, North WO choice property said to belong to the former Bayelsa State Governor, Timipre Sylva, have been uncovered by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, which is currently in court with the suspect over a case of corrupt enrichment while in office.

A competent source in the commission told Saturday Vanguard last night that the property which worth over N1 billion were traced to companies owned by

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Sylva.

The source said that the property, which are located in choice areas of Abuja, were discovered in the ongoing investigation into how Sylva looted Bayelsa during his tenure as the governor of the state.

The source added that the anti- graft agency had also uncovered a network of fronts through which the former governor acquired choice property in major cities especially Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory.

One of the properties linked to the former governor is a duplex valued at N310m

Keystone Bank appoints Muhammad, Acting MD

BY MICHAEL EBOH

President Goodluck Jonathan (left) acknowledging cheers from the crowd shortly on arrival at the Government House during his visit to Bayelsa State in Yenagoa, while the State Governor, Hon. Seriake Dickson (right) looks on. Photo

by Lucky Francis

yesterday, also formally accepted the resignation of Ikomi.

Ivwurie said Muhammad, an astute and experienced banker, holds a Ph.D in Development Economics from Universite de Granoble II, France, an MBA and a B.Sc. degree in Business Administration both from the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria.

He said, the new acting Managing director

brings to the bank, robust intellectual capital, strong management consultancy skills and extensive commercial banking experience acquired over 18 years of engagement at ICON Limited (Merchant Bankers) Bank of the North Limited and Unity Bank Plc, with hands-on competences in strategy development, corporate planning, corporate banking, treasury marketing, and product development.

situated at Cachez Estate, Mpape, Abuja while the other is a mansion valued at N700m located off Ademola Adetokunbo Crescent in high brow Wuse 2, Abuja.

T h e Wuse mansion was acquired in the name of Marlin Maritime Limited, a company owned by Timipre Sylva.

The managing Director of the Company, Gbenga Balogun, is said to have fled as EFCC operatives closed in on him in the course of investigation of the Sylva era in Bayelsa, during which billions of naira is said to have been looted by him and his officials.

In spite of the escapee of the fronts, the operatives of the commission are reported to be working round the clock to arrest the culprits and bring them to account for the public funds.

Several accounts have already been traced to the front (name withheld) who allegedly opened many of them in his name using different passport photographs.

The front, (name withheld) is currently on the run. Meanwhile,

Sylva is already standing trial before a Federal High Court in Abuja on a six-count charge bordering on fraud and money laundering.

But in a swift reaction, the spokesman for Timipre Sylva, Mr. Ola Doife, challenged EFCC to stop trying the former

governor in the media but to collate any evidence at its disposal and present it in court since the matter was already pending.

Doife maintained that Sylva remained innocent of the charges until proved otherwise by a competent court of jurisdiction in the land.

Police smash bank robbery suspects *Recover arms, ammunition

BY EVELYN USMAN HE Lagos State Po lice Command has arrested four suspected members of a notorious bank robbery gang, recovering seven AK 47 riffles with 700 rounds of ammunition, 59 AK 47 magazines, three pump action guns and a police uniform belonging to an Inspector which the gang confessed to have killed during an exchange of fire in one of their operations.

Also recovered from the suspects whose arrest was effected last Thursday in Ajagbandi area of Lagos, were one single barrel gun with a hundred and fifty-one cartridges, one K2 riffle, one Lar riffle with twenty rounds of live

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ammunition , one magazine, five pieces of dynamites and other bomb accessories.

Briefing newsmen on the latest arrest, the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Mr Umar Manko explained that , “ on the 10th day of October 2012, at about 9.30am, Assistant Commissioner of Police Area ‘ K’ received information that a group of young men suspected to be robbers were in a white Toyota Sienna space bus with plate number AMC 347 AE and two Lagos state commercial buses at Dapo bus stop along Adaloko Jakande, Ajagbandi , in preparation for armed robbery operation.

6 — SATURDAY Vanguard, OCTOBER 13 , 2012

NDLEA discovers cocaine in jewelries

BY IFEANYI OKOLIE

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HE National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, yesterday, said they impounded a total of 2.472kg of cocaine neatly concealed inside some expensive jeweleries belonging to one Oluigboka Emmanuel, at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos .

The 33-year old suspect , who was said to have arrived the country from Brazil aboard a KLM flight was intercepted by NDLEA officials during routine search of passengers aboard the flight.

Sources said the NDLEA officials discovered powdery substances that tested positive for cocaine in his L-R, Rev. Eddy Amadi, immediate younger brother of late OgbonnaAmadi with Mrs. Toyin Amadi, Widow of the deceased at his burial at Okagwe Ohafia, Abia State, yesterday. Photo by Sylva Eleanya. See more photos on page 16.

How Boko Haram started — Gov Aliyu

BY WOLE MOSADOMI, Minna OTORIOUS leader of the radical Islamic fundamentalist sect, Bokoharam, Abubakar Shekau started his ‘ministry’ in an expansive land located within a remote village in Niger state a few years ago before they were dislodged by the state government.

Abubakar Shekau, the acclaimed spokesman of a factional group of the sect led by, Abubakar Kaka who is believed to have been killed by men of the Joint Task Force (JTF) in Maiduguri were dislodged from the then, Daru-Islam by security operatives in the year, 2009.

Niger state Governor, Dr. Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu who made this known in Minna when he met with traders at the government house also confirmed that the pictures of both Shekau and Abu Kaka posted regularly on the sects websites and published in newspapers are the same with the ones the security agents captured before the duo were dislodged from

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Niger state.

The Governor said but for the proactive nature adopted by the security

agencies in dislodging the group from the state and the support given by state government, Niger state would been the headquarters of the dreaded sect.

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police assigned to the Development Control Department of Federal Capital Tertitory Administration, FCTA, killed a 20 year old sales girl yesterday during demolition exercise.

The girl was hit on her chest when a stray bullet

pierced through the wall of a photo shop where she worked as sales girl penetrating straight into her heart during the demolition exercise carried out by the development control around NEPA junction in Apo, Abuja yesterday.

The stray bullet, according Saturday Vanguard investigations revealed that residents, mostly indigenes

connection with the seizure” Hamza stated.

Preliminary investigation revealed that the suspect who had lived in Brazil for over five years is believed to be working for a suspected Brazilbased drug syndicate.

However, Oluigboka Chukwuemeka Emmanuel in his statement said that he was smuggling the drug for a fee. In his words, “I needed money for the burial anniversary of my late father. As the breadwinner, everybody is looking up to me for the sponsorship of the anniversary. I have lived in Brazil for over 5 years but I have no money to undertake this important family responsibility. My interest was the 2,000 euros they promised to pay me”.

Oluigboka who is married with a child hails from Imo State.

Ogun Police arrest two highway robbers, recover arms EMESIS yesterday caught up with two suspected highway armed robbers when the Ogun State Police Command arrested them with some locally made pistols and live cartridges on the popular long bridge along Lagos/

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Black Friday: FCTA demolition exercise kills 20-year sales girl

BY FAVOUR NNABUGWU STRAY bullet from

bag of jeweler y. A source added that it took the officials several hours to extract the cocaine from the jeweleries because of the complex method of concealment.

Speaking on the latest discovery, NDLEA Airport Commander, Mr. Hamza Umar said that the drug was factory packed inside assorted jewellery. “This mode of concealment is strange and it is the first time of discovering drugs inside jewellery. The drugs were industrially packed in ear rings, buttons, necklaces, bangles as well as in female belts. We had to forcefully open them to recover the drugs. The entire quantity of cocaine found in the jewellery products weighed 2.472kg. One arrest has been made in

resisted the exercise as they felt government had no right to demolish the area when they were yet to be properly resettled. This forced the police to shoot in air in order to scare the indigenes away but unfortunately, one of the bullets strayed and killed the girl who was identified as Lucy. Saturday Vanguard learnt that there was a reinforcement for the officers and in less than five minutes after their arrival, shootings ensued with residents scampering for safety.

The residents also claimed the case was still in court and that their leaders have advised them not to relocate pending the outcome of the case.

Speaking to newsmen on the development at the hospital where Lucy was confirmed dead, the Chief Superintendent of Police Operations of the FCT Police Command, Gabriel Inalegwu stated that the force has

already commenced investigation into the matter.

Ibadan Express way.

The state Police Public Relations Officer, Muyiwa Adejobi in a statement sent to newsmen in Abeokuta yesterday said the two suspects were arrested when the police who were on patrol suspected them at Kara area on the bridge .

He said that policemen who became suspicious conducted a search on them which led to the recovery of the weapons on them .

Adejobi said “it indicated the involvement of the suspects in robbery attacks on the bridge as they could not explain their mission in the area. ”It would be noticed that the Ogun State Command has since intensified patrol along the long bridge on Lagos/ Ibadan Express way to tackle the problems of robbery attacks on motorists and other road users and kidnapping in the area of the state.

EU wins Nobel Peace Prize 2012 most of Europe “from a conOR its efforts to promote peace and democracy in Europe in the midst of the European Union’s biggest crisis since its creation in the 1950s, the European Union has won the Nobel Peace prize for 2012.

The EU emerged winners for promoting peace, democracy and human rights over six decades in an award seen as a morale boost as the bloc struggles to resolve its economic crisis.

The award served as a reminder that the EU had largely brought peace to a continent which tore itself apart in two world wars in which tens of millions died.

The EU has transformed

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tinent of wars to a continent of peace,” Nobel Committee Chairman Thorbjoern Jagland said in announcing the award in Oslo.

“The EU is currently undergoing grave economic difficulties and considerable social unrest,” Jagland said. “The Norwegian Nobel Committee wishes to focus on what it sees as the EU’s most important result: the successful struggle for peace and reconciliation and for democracy and human rights.”

Jagland praised the EU for rebuilding Europe from the devastation of World War Two and for its role in spreading stability after the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989.

SATURDAY Vanguard, OCTOBER 13, 2012 — 7

Constitution Review: Minister of Justice calls for devolution of powers, backs state creation ...As Ohanaeze Ndigbo wants single six-year term for President

...Group laments Nigerian legislators are the richest in the world

BY HENRY UMORU, Abuja AS the Senate Constitution review Public hearing entered the second day, devolution of powers, state creation, empowering the local government Area councils took the centre stage yesterday, just as the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mohammed Bello Adoke has called for the devolution of powers from the Federal government to States and local governments.

In his paper to the Senate Committee on the Review of the 1999 Constitution Public Hearing on the proposed constitution amendment, Adoke noted that the devolution should be reflected on the composition of the Legislative lists which are the Exclusive Legislative list; Concurrent Legislative List and the State Legislative List.

According to him, functions to be performed by the three tiers of government are very central to the reform process, adding that there was the urgent need to decongest the centre by devolving more powers and functions to the States and Local Governments.

Adoke also asked that the clamour for state Police must be jettisoned, adding that the Police should remain an arm of the Federal Government.

On election petitions, he said, ‘’these should be determined by a High Court presided by the Chief Judge of another State and two Senior Judges of the High Court of the State.”

On residency and Indigene, the Justice Minister said, ‘’a new provision should be inserted into the Constitution to read, ‘’Any Nigerian who resides in any place in Nigeria other than his place of origin for a period of 18 years shall be deemed to be an indigene, so long as that person carries out his normal day to day business in the community and does not claim indigeneship status of

any other community in Nigeria.”

On State creation, Adoke said, ‘’the requirement in section 8(1) CFRN 1999 as altered that an Act of the National Assembly for the purpose of creating a new state shall only be passed if a request by2/ 3 majority of members (representing the area demanding the creation of the new state) in the Senate, House of Representatives, House of Assembly in respect of the area and the Local Government Councils in respect of the area is received by the National Assembly is too cumbersome. It is suggested that section 8(1)(a)(111) requiring the Local Government Councils to send a request to the National Assembly be deleted.”

Meanwhile the Igbos under the aegis, Ohanaeze Ndi Igbo yesterday made a strong case for single tenure of six years for the President of the country and should not be eligible for another term of office as President, just as the group said that he or she must be assisted by a Vice President of his own choice as running mate, whose role shall be defined by the constitution.

The Ohanaeze also warned that if Nigeria must get it right, there should be the creation of six regions that would correspond with the present six geo-political zones as the federating units.

According to the Ohanaeze, these six regions should be headed by elected Governor Generals with each region to enjoy the same powers and autonomy as was the case at independence in 1960. In a paper presented yesterday at the resumed session of the Senate Committee on the Review of the 1999 Constitution Public Hearing on the proposed further Alteration to the provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, the Igbos are also canvassing for the office of

the President to be rotated among the six geopolitical zones of the country, just as the group called for the establishment of regional police structure.In his presentation, the PresidentGeneral, Ambassador Ralph Uwuche who was represented by the President General, Aka Ikenga Association, Dr. Ebigwei Olisa, said that in view of what it termed keenly conscious of the danger to national cohesion, unity and social political stability caused by the destruction of lives and property in ethnoreligious incidents in the recent past and at present, it has become absolutely imperative to put in place Citizenship Rights.

Meanwhile, a e group under the aegis, ‘’Association of Nigerian – American Professional in Nigeria, ANAPIN, yesterday attacked members of the National Assembly, describing them as the richest lawmakers in the world In his position paper to the Senate Committee on the Review of the 1999 Constitution Public Hearing on the proposed further Alteration to the provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, ANAPIN’s representative Dr. John Osonwa also raised alarm that the cost of running the Nigerian democracy was one of the highest in the world, adding that lawmakers in Nigeria make more money than their counterparts in other parts of the world including those of the United States of America which has an annual budget that is 150 times the budget of Nigeria.

While calling for the reduction in the cost of governance, the group stressed that the money should be redirected to other critical areas that will help in the upliftment of the suffering masses.

The group which called for the abolition of the Land Use Act, noted that

President Jonathan flanked by Mr Peter Obi, Governor of Anambra state on arrival at Aguleri camp in Anambra East Local Government Area of the state Photo by Hill Ezeugwu it is a relic that has no place in a modern, globalized economy, adding, ‘’the Land Use Act places the ownership,

management and control of land in each state of the Federation on the Governor. Without the Governor ’s authority,

you cannot get a land allocated for commercial, agricultural and other purposes.”

State of nation: Petinrin warns against coup •Urges military to leave governance to politicians

BY KINGSLEY OMONOBI, Abuja MMEDIATE past Chief of Defence Staff, Air Chief Oluseyi Olusegun Petinrin yesterday warned the military against indulging in violent change of the nation’s leadership noting that no matter the level of disagreement and political brickbats, or shortcomings, our progress as a nation lies in democracy. Speaking in Abuja at the pulling out parade to mark his retirement from the Nigerian Armed Forces after 38 years, Petinrin reminded his former colleagues how the military suffered untold neglect under military dictatorship and told them that “great national problems are not for your professional participation or military solution”.

Lamenting how the glory of the military that placed it on the global scene was eroded by military intervention due to neglect until sanity was restored with the emergence of democracy in 1999, the former CDS praised former Presi-

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dent Olusegun Obasanjo, late President Umaru Yar Adua and the incumbent,

Dr Goodluck Ebele Jonathan for improving the lot of the armed forces .

Osanebi lauds President Jonathan’s tour to flood victims camps

BY SIMON ADEWALE EMBER represent ing Ndokwa East Constituency, in the Delta State House Assembly, Hon. Friday Ossai Osanebi has commended President Jonathan over his promise to begin a tour to the devastated flood states across the country and also give kudos to the setting up of National Committee on Flood Relief and Rehabilitation.

While briefing newsmen, Osanebi commended President Jonathan on his scheduled visit to flood victims across the nation and the setting up of the National Commit-

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tee on Flood Relief and Rehabilitation to raise funds and quickly noted that what was given to Delta state flood victims as their share in category A is not sufficient to salvage the situation because even after the flood, most of the people have no home to go back to because of the destruction by the flood which submerged and collapsed their houses.

Osanebi, added that he was overwhelm over the destruction which was causes by the rises in River Niger water level which really affected the people he represent in the Delta State House, and call for more support.

8 — SATURDAY Vanguard, OCTOBER 13, 2012

RAVAGING FLOOD Group urges military involvement in relief measures

BY EGUFE YAFUGBORHI, Port Harcourt IVIL society group, the Social Action has called for the deployment of the Nigerian army to join in provision of emergency relief to victims of the ravaging flood across the country.

The group in a statement in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, yesterday, said military assistance has become inevitable because the increasing social and health dangers posed by the flooding, overwhelm the capacity of the interventionists stakeholders currently reaching out to victims.

A statement by Vivian Bellonwu, Head, Communications, Social Action, stated, “We are of the view that the Armed Forces is best equipped with the right resources, including weather resilient personnel, vehicles and marine equipments

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to navigate the largely inaccessible flood hit terrains to rescue thousands trapped without food and safe drinking water.”

The group which has been visiting worst hit areas in Rivers State noted that “In Communities such as Jonkrama, Akioniso, Akinma in Ahoada West and Omoku, Ndoni, Egi among others in Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni localities, victims who are making efforts at rescuing themselves and possibly salvage few belongings are facing hunger and epidemics in their piteous conditions.”

Ndokwa East community.

FG’s N17.6B flood relief fund won’t meet needs of victims fund through the govern“My problem is the NEMA, etc, shows that — Ex-lawmaker ments of the affected channel through which the government does not

BY TONY EDIKE, Enugu ORMER member of House of Representatives for Anambra East

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and West Constituency, Chief Ralph Okeke, yesterday, faulted the Federal Government’s decision to channel the N17.6 billion flood disaster relief

More Nigerians respond to displaced persons in Edo Onogholo,Oria and UgBY SIMON EBEGBULEM, Benin City S the Federal Gov ernment intensifies efforts to mitigate the suffering of those affected with the flooding caused as a result of the over flow of the River Niger, more indigenes of Edo state have continued to provide relief materials to the victims.

Over three hundred

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persons were displaced in Etsako Central, Etsako West and Esan South East Local Government Councils of Edo state.

The Executive ViceChairman of Damagix Nigeria Limited and chieftain of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) in the state, Theophilus Okoh shared relief materials estimated at over N4million when officials of the company visited flood victims at Ilushin, Oria,

boha communities in Esan South East Local Government Council of the state.

Some of the relief materials include bags of rice, beans, groundnut oil, mattresses and foams. Speaking at Ilushin, Chief Okoh expressed shock over the destruction the flood had caused the people of the area and stressed the need for Nigerians to come to the aid of the victims.

International donors to assist Nigeria the president said the fedthe victims.

— Jonathan rehabilitate Addressing thousands eral government was deBY VINCENT UJUMADU, Awka RESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan said at Aguleri in Anambra East local government area of Anambra State yesterday that following the large scale hardship trailing the flood disaster that ravaged many states in the country, the international community had shown interest in assisting Nigeria

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of the victims and a cross section of Anambra people at the St. Joseph’s High School camp for the flood victims in the town,

lighted at the show of solidarity to Nigeria, assuring the victims that they would not be abandoned after the flood.

states, saying, government bureaucracy would eventually reduce the fund by 50 percent before it gets down to the victims. He told newsmen in Enugu that President Goodluck Jonathan’s quick response by mapping out fund to assist the flood victims in 35 states was quite commendable but expressed the fears that the suffering victims of the natural disaster now in various refugee camps might not get the benefit for which the fund was intended.

this assistance will get to the victims. Sending the fund through so many Ministries, Agencies, Departments and a Presidential Committee will eventually reduce the fund to about 50 percent before the assistance arrives its destinations not because anybody is a thief but because of government bureaucracy.

“Again, the way Mr. President is talking about sending assistance through the Federal Ministries of Agriculture, Environment, Works,

Relief Fund: Senator wants FG to accord Lagos category A status

BY OLASUNKANMI AKONI ENATOR Gbenga Ashafa, representing Lagos East Senatorial District,has described the placement of Lagos state as a Category B State in the list of flood prone states to be assisted financial as absolutely unfair and unacceptable to the

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good people of the state.

President Goodluck Jonathan, had in a nationwide broadcast, Tuesday, announced the release of N17. 6 billion as direct financial assistance to flood affected states catigorised into four and some Federal Government agencies responsible for disaster management.

The senator, in his reac-

Lawmaker donates relief items to flood victims

BY FESTUS AHON, Ughelli EMBER repre senting Ughelli South constituency in the Delta State House of Assembly, Olorogun Taleb Tebite yesterday,

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donated food items and other relief materials worth thousands of naira to flood victims in the area.

Presenting the items at the Okwagbe, Ewu and Arhavwarhien govern-

know exactly what these flood victims, who are mostly farmers want. I am seeing this total sum of N17.6 billion being wasted on things that the direct victims will not need and appreciate, and the result is that we shall keep hearing of billions and more billions but in the end nobody will see anything and therefore no assistance as usual,” said Okeke, who was also Chairman of Anambra West local government area.

ment designated camps, Tebite described the flood as unprecedented and destructive, adding its victims were going through untold hardship. The lawmaker who was represented by his

wife, Mrs. Eguonor Tebite, said the donation was to complement the state government efforts which he said has taken steps towards ameliorating the sufferings of the flood victims.

tion to the President broadcast on Flood Relief Fund to all states of the Federation including the FCT therefore, stressed the need by Mr President to immediately put the state in category A, where it rightly belong considering its coastal nature which made it highly prone to flood.

Ashafa contended: “Long before the recent incidents of floods caused by excessive torrential rains, I have clamoured repeatedly and extensively that due to the fact that Lagos State is about 5m below Sea level and surrounded by lakes, creeks and rivers, it is extremely prone to flooding.

SATURDAY Vanguard, OCTOBER 13, 2012 — 9

Cleric, one other arrested for alleged N9m fraud in C-River

BY JOHNBOSCO AGBAKWURU, Calabar WO members of the United Nigeria Chaplaincy, and an official of a non governmental organization have been arrested and handed over to the Cross River State Police Command for alleged certificate forgery, falsification of documents and embezzlement of over N9 million.

A statement by the State Security Adviser, Mr. Rekpene Bassey gave the names of the two persons as Chaplain Sunday Enimuel and Rev. Mercy Felix Effiom who allegedly were factional state commandants of the United Nigeria Chaplaincy in the state.

The two who were allegedly disclaimed by the main body of UNC in the state for grossed misconduct which was also published in a national newspaper allegedly collected huge sums of money from about 300 unsuspected innocent people in the state.

According to the statement, “The two commandants were handed over to the police by the State Security Adviser, Mr. Rekpene Bassey. This follows series of petitions from members of the public who claimed that they paid over N30, 000 each to both suspects in order to gain job recruitment into the organization.”

It further stated that their being handed over to the police was as a result of serious offences they had allegedly committed which included embezzlement and sundry criminal activities and that the government had proscribed UNC in the state.

Reacting to the development, the Regional Commandant of UNC, Bishop Richard Eyamba said that the two arrested persons had long been expelled and that there was a disclaimer of the duo published in a national daily as a result of their suspected criminal activities.

He disclosed that the two arrested persons had

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been partners in the crime and latter engaged in power tuzzle after their expulsion and had even went ahead to float a parallel group that was not recognized with its office at IBB way, while the main recognized UNC in the state has its office at No. 1 Marry Slessor Avenue, Calabar.

He said that the duo were kicked out of the organization when they allegedly started extorting money from the people and were reported to the police where two of them were arrested and afterwards released on bail.

“After their release, they started formenting trouble in UNC and even threatened to urge the government to close UNC unless they were returned to office. After that, the two broke away and started operating at IBB Way, by Mounting of Fire Church and started recruiting people.

“They printed their own fake forms and were circulating them, we reported them to the Department of Security Service who carried out investigation and saw it was true.

The camp at Father Joseph Memorial High School, Aguleri, which is one of the many camps for the internally displaced persons of the flood at Anambra State. Inset is the President, Dr Goodluck Jonathan (right), Gov. Obi (middle) and the Head of the House Committee on Environment, Hon. Uche Ekwunife during the President’s visit to the camp yesterday.

Man arrested for duping hospital patients in Lafia

BY ABEL DANIEL ABOGONYE, Lafia man who special izes in duping patients and visitors under the pretence of buying prescribed drugs for his sick relation at the Dalhatu Araf Specialist Hospital, Lafia was yesterday arrested by the security men of the hospital.

A 27 year-old, who gave his name as Ahmadu Musa confessed that he has been into the business for over a year after being dismissed from a company in Asaba, Delta state to enable him survive.

According to him, “I realize not less than N1, 500 each time I go out to cajole people that I have a relation in the hospital who is in need of blood.”

Saturday Vanguard gathered that luck ran out of the dupe when one of his victims at the Administrative department of the hospital demanded to see the acclaim patient said to have been admitted in the hospital for several months before he took to his heels.

He was thereafter arrested few distances away from the main entrance when his last victim raised alarm thereby drawing the attention of the security officers on duty at the hospital main gate.

Ahmadu, however, pleaded with the hospital management for forgiveness, promising not

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to repeat the act.

O ur correspondent who visited the hospital report that the suspect

was under detention at the security unit for further directives by the hospital authorities.

Chief Medical Director of the hospital, Dr. Ahmed Ashiku could not be reached for comments

on the incident as he was said to have traveled out for an official assignment.

2,500 displaced Bakassi fishermen protest in Calabar

BY JOHNBOSCO AGBAKWURU, Calabar O fewer than 2,500 Nigerian fishermen displaced at the ceded Bakassi Peninsula yesterday protested over alleged rape of their wom-

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en, homelessness, harassment and inability to have assess to the waters for their fishing business.

The protesters made up of men and women who were residing at the ceded oil-rich island before the federal government surrendered Nigeria’s sov-

ereignty to Cameroon, said that they either have any place to call their home, security or means of survival as Cameroon has taken control of the island.Some of the placards by the protesting fishermen had different inscription such as “Oba-

Sokoto recruits 1,000 staff for LG service

BY ABDALLAH el-KUREBE, Sokoto OKOTO state gov ernment has recruited one thousand indigenes of the state for the local government service, chairman of the Local Government Service Commission, LGSC, Alhaji Bello Adamu has disclosed.

A statement by the Chairman stated that the gesture

by Governor Wamakko was aimed at “consolidating, strengthening and streamlining the local governments administration in the state as well as to further enhance service delivery at the grass roots.”

The recruited staff who are from junior and senior cadre have been posted to the 23 local governments of the state.

Adamu reiterated the Commission’s “ resolve and commitment to make local governments more vibrant, viable, productive and effective.”

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”We will continue to give top priority to rigorous and sustained training and retraining within and outside Nigeria.”

Adamu called on all the

staff of the 23 local governments in the state to continue to be punctual and dedicated to their duties to reciprocate the gesture of the state government.

Airtel urges youth collaboration as enterprise model IGERIAN youths have been called upon to follow the path of collaboration to beat monstrous economic challenges that might be confronting and frustrating their efforts at realising their entrepreneurship potentials.

Collaboration and friendship as part to success are the themes of the new Airtel thematic campaign released October 9 as it encourages Nigerian youths to pursue and realise their dreams through networking.

The power and positive influence of friendship form

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the core messages of the Airtel 2012 theme campaign unveiled at the Lagos Sheraton Hotel & Towers, Ikeja, Lagos by Airtel senior executives from Nigeria and Africa headquarters in Kenya on October 9, 2012.

Chief Operating Officer Airtel Nigeria Mr. Deepak Strivastava and Chief Marketing Officer, Airtel Africa Mr. Andre Beyers unveiled the thematic campaign assisted by Airtel Nigeria CMO Olu Akanmu, Chief Sales Officer Inusa Bello and Director Corporate Communication & CSR Emeka Oparah.

go, Gowon, De Don, Mama Giwa, Etinyin etc, where is Bakassi,” “Our women/children have been abused sexually due to the lost of our land”, “Bakassi returnees are not settled, yet the land has been ceded out where do we stand.”

Other placards by the fishermen and women that came with their fishing tools like nets and paddlers were, “we have lost so much, houses, farmlands, products, canoes, fishing nets etc, how do we start over ” and, “Idiosyncrasy of our leaders led to the lost of our land.”

Speaking at governor’s office where they went to see Governor Liyel Imoke, spokes person and Secretary, Bakassi Resettlement Forum Ikot Efiom Ebutong Estate Victor Udukang said they were the affected returnees in Bakassi Peninsula ceded to Cameroon and that they protested to inform the governor what they had lost and the pains they were passing through. Addressing the protesters, Governor Imoke represented by the State Security Adviser, Mr. Rokpene Bassey, said that they had the right to be angry and that there could be nothing as painful as being uprooted from ones ancestral home to alien environment.

10—SATURDAY Vanguard, OCTOBER 13, 2012

Chief Obafemi Awolowo

Dim Emeka Ojukwu

General Yakubu Gowon

Furore over Achebe’s Biafran memoir For many years, renowned writer, Professor Chinua Achebe was in search of a vehicle to convey the anguish of the Nigerian civil war.

Today, the godfather of African literature whose pen boot is lace with controversy, conveys his personal memoir of the Biafran Nigerian civil war in estiges of the over 42 his latest work, “There Was A Country.” Since the publication of the work, years Nigeria civil war resonates like a litany of criticisms have continued to trail issues raised in the book.

BY CHARLES ADINGUPU

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Gowon, spearheaded by late Chief Obafemi Awolowo, who, he accused of initiating diabolical policies.

A statement credited Awolowo and eventually echoed by his team reads: “all is fair in war, and starvation is one of the weapons of war. I don’t see why we should feed our enemies fat in order for them to fight harder.”

Beyond this mundane premise, Achebe held that at the end of the war, Awolowo and his cohorts compelled the regime to adopt a banking policy that nullified bank account operated by the Igbos.

Consequently, a paltry sum of 20 Nigerian pounds was approved for each Igbo depositor irrespective of the

Professor Chinua Achebe

amount of deposit.

However, to further pauperise the Igbos and strangulate their economy, the then Nigeria’s leaders embargoed the importation of second hand clothing and stockfish which were the mainstay of the Eastern economy.

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or most Nigerians, Professor Chinua Achebe has threw the ‘Arrow of God’ in his recent work, “There Was A Country”, and things are “No Longer At Ease” and except otherwise, ‘Things May Fall Apart,” particularly, as he tried to decipher ‘The Trouble with Nigeria” by building” “An Ant Hills of the Savannah.” He,

Achebe may not be “A Man of the People” if the Yoruba decides to take him serious word for word.

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phoenix from the ashes when renowned literary giant, Professor Chinua Achebe stoke the fire in his recent works, “There Was A Country,” a personal recollection of his Biafra experience when the mantle still rages in wild fire.

The 333-page book chronicles how the Igbos were traumatised during the botched war that puts paid to their agitations for autonomy.

The book, written in four parts relayed the personal experience of the writer through whose eyes events unfold.

Beyond all these, Acbebe threw up contentious issues which culminated, according to him, Nigerians’ grand design to exterminate the Igbo people from the face of the earth. This calculation, Achebe posited was predicated on a holy jihad by mainly Islamic extremists in the Nigerian army and supported by the policies of economic blockade that prevented shipments of the humanitarian aid and food supplies to the needy in Biafra.

The celebrated writer queries why there were 100,000 casualties on the much larger Nigerian side compared with more than 2 million – mainly children – Biafrans killed.

The master prose writer heaped the catastrophy suffered by the Igbos during the civil war on the wartime cabinet of General Yakubu

For most Nigerians, Professor Chinua Achebe has threw the “Arrow of God” in his recent work, “There Was A Country”, and things are “No Longer At Ease” and except otherwise, “Things May Fall Apart,” particularly, as he tried to decipher ‘The Trouble with Nigeria” by building” “An Ant Hills of the Savannah.”

He, Achebe may not be “A Man of the People” if the Yoruba decides to take him serious word for word.

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For the likes of Yoruba leader, Chief Ayo Adebanjo, Achebe’s book has shown that the writer has pathological

hatred for the Yoruba people.

He dismissed the allegations against Chief Awolowo.

In similar vein, the factional leader of the Odua Peoples’ Congress (OPC) Chief Frederick Fasehun expressed disappointment accusing Achebe of living in the past for attempting to exhume episodes of the civil war which ended almost 42 years ago.

Against this backdrop, Fasehun advised the Igbos to jettison without hesitation anybody who tries to remind them of their sordid past but they should rather concentrate and align with other ethnic groups to realise their presidential aspiration.

The national president of Arewa Youth Consultative Forum, Alhaji Yerima Shittima believed that Achebe’s book, ‘There Was A Country,” remains a threat to the fragile peace the country is currently embroiled.

But for the Afenifere leader, Pa Reuben Fasoranti, who accused the Biafran solders for ambushing the food and other aids sent to civilians in the Biafran enclave, also accused Achebe of being prejudicial against the Yoruba people.

Also elderstatesman, Balarabe Musa insisted that issues raised by Achebe are no more relevant again unless the Igbos have any score to settle.

The Professor Anya O. Anya led Ndigbo Lagos has described events that wrapped up the civil war as unnecessary particularly so, that the Igbos were forging an alliance and hammering solutions for the country ’s protracted socio-economic, political and developmental Continues on page 11

SATURDAY Vanguard, OCTOBER 13, 2012—11

There Was A Country : Achebe’s journey in time…

There Was A Country… A Personal History of Biafra by world literary icon, Chinua Achebe is no doubt another tour de force from the master story teller, who in 1958 through the publication of his classic narrative; Things Fall Apart inaugurated the birth of what is today known as African literature, besides being the mother and midwife of modern African literature according African American novelist, Michael Thelwel, Achebe is also an important essayist, poet, social commentator and cultural archivist, writes McPhilips Nwachukwu

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n the course of his writ ing, his efforts at envi sioning an imagined continent of peace and freedom have often times resulted in controversies, sometimes, life threatening controversies. Some of such instances were during the publication of his third novel, Man of The People, a 1966 publication that predicted military take over in post independent Nigeria.

As a social commentator, Achebe in 1983 published in a 68 page controversial book of essays aptly titled, The Tro u b l e With Nigeria, where he takes time to asses the challenges that face post civil war Nigeria in all facets of life.

In that small, but unsettling book, he concludes that the trouble with Nigeria bothers on failure of leadership. In one of the essays titled, “Where the Problem Lies”, he argue: ‘ The trouble with Nigeria is simply and squarely a failure of leadership.”

These few instances are pointers to any reader about the luminal and impressionistic latitude of Achebe’s imagination as writer and social fighter. It is therefore not surprising that his recently published book also impressively follows Achebean tradition of narrativisation.

333 pages There Was A Country… , a very long awaited book from Achebe is an autobiography which tells the story of a nation through the history of one man. This autobiographical imagination through the writer’s judicious crafting therefore becomes a centre of connections and interconnections with Nigerian history.

There Was A Country traces the dilemma of Nigeria from the precolonial Nigeria through nationalistic days, independence and post independence era

Written in four parts with an appendix, the book in Achebe’s artistic style begins with an Igbo proverb, which says that “ a man who does not know where the rain began to beat him cannot say where he dried his body.” It is this statement that shapes the tone and character of the entire book.

It is through this proverbial vehicle that Achebe in his four part book revisits the story of life as a writer of confluence of history, colonial education, post colonial Nigeria, civil war, birth of Biafra, refugee and genocide.

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lso from the hindsight of his tory, There Was A Country traces the dilemma of Nigeria from the pre-colonial Nigeria through nationalistic days, independence and post independence era. However, the well annotated book devotes a large part of its discourse to the regrettable 30 months civil war that gave birth to the defunct Biafra republic.

The story of Biafra in this book is very important because the Biafra/ Nigerian civil war remains the most important historical event in Africa in the last century. The human crises that it caused and the ethnic politicking that spiced the prosecution of the war left in its wake an injurious relationship among constituting tribes in the

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now amalgamated Nigeria many years after the war.

The account of the war provided in this book comes from Achebe as a witness and principal player in the war. Not a witness as a field soldier, but worked closely with Biafran government as an envoy. As an envoys, he tells in this book about the effort of Biafran government to get the support of the international community in her fight against what was seen as genocidal war being waged against the Igbo by the Nigerian state.

The book traces how Biafra prosecuted her side of fratricidal war, almost empty handed and how in the face of economic blockade imposed by the Gowon led military government evolves its own home grown technologies with which it manufactured its own military hardware , refined its own crude oil and built its own airport.

As painful as Achebe’s narrativization of the Biafran war sounds, it, however reveals one important truth: that Nigeria can do all things likewise Africa, if they can only infuse in the system the Biafran spirit. I think it is this line of reasoning that informed the publication of Arthur Nwankwo’s book some years ego titled; Nigeria: The Challenge of Biafra.

Achebe’s account of the war, though familiar in many ways with all the other stories about the war told by other writers has a lot to educate Nigeria and indeed Africa about how to harness human resources for effective human and infrastructural development.

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iafra, according to Achebe’s account, though lost the war, but made remarkable achievements through the innovative and imaginative creativity of its intellectuals. The book, therefore, underscores the importance of education as a critical factor in development.

The Biafran war was according to book’s account guided by sound intellectuals and conceptualized by these intellectuals in an ideological document, which became the Ahiara declaration. It was that ideological road map that

formed the spirit and character of envisioned Biafra republic.

There Was A Country … will no doubt raise another controversy. But that will not be surprising. After all names are mentioned about the roles of certain individuals, dead and living, who played one role or the other to heighten or abate the crises. But the story must be told and Achebe has told his own side to activate national debate.

This important narrative is a delight to read. Besides being spiced up with poetry, it is also full of humor in the manner of Achebe with which he tones down the pains and emotion being raised by this unsettling account. Interestingly too, the book has a lot of footnotes and citations to which the reader can refer to, further insights and clarifications. There is no doubt that the import of this book will resonate for a long time.

Achebe’s Biafran memoir

Continued from page 10 problems.

Ndigbo Lagos enthused that what was needed at the moment was sustaining the unfolding harmonious relations between the Igbo and Yoruba nations.

But the Chief Protagonist of the Nigerian civil war, General Yakubu Gowon stated that if there was no secession, Nigeria would not have the civil war. Awolowo was not the cause of the secession. Why then are they bringing him into this controversy?

The retired army General insisted that he and his team did what was godly possible to bring the war to an abrupt end and stated unequivocally, “ we have no cause to regret what we did.”

However, for some Nigerians, Professor Achebe may have introduced a new chapter in the political literature of Nigeria’s democratic journey moreso, now that history as a subject is gradually disappearing from the nation’s education curriculum.

Also, for others, it may be raw ploy to win sympathy for the Igbos in their zest and quest for political emancipation particularly as regards taking a shot at the presidency come 2015. Whichever views may be ventilated, the renowned writer has relayed his personal memoir.

12—SATURDAY Vanguard, OCTOBER 13, 2012

Awolowo believes in one Nigeria – Shettima The continuing perceived marginalisation of the Igbos should be blamed on the people. The National President Arewa Youth Consultative Forum (AYCF), Alhaji Yerima Shittima declared that Professor Achebe’s recent publication, ‘There was a Country,’ at this time, is a further threat to a country like Nigeria that is bogged down with imminent disintegration. He spoke to CHARLES ADINGUPU.

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t was not only Chief Obafemi Awolowo who initiated policies that led to the victory of federal army.

It was a collective effort.

However, Awolowo did what he had to do to ensure victory for Nigeria’s troop. Besides, Chief Awolowo was more interested in the unity of the country.

In a war situation, truly, any-

BY CLIFFORD NDUJIHE

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MBRELLA body of Igbo living in Lagos, the Ndigbo Lagos, has described as unnecessary the flickering controversies trailing Professor Chinua Achebe’s comments in his new book, “There was a country,” that late Chief Obafemi Awolowo was part of General Yakubu Gowon’s cabinet that initiated pogrom and genocide as a policy that killed millions of Igbos especially children during the civil war.

At a time Igbo and Yoruba leaders of the South-East and South-West as well as their counterparts in the SouthSouth were forging an alliance and hammering out solutions to the country’s protracted socio-economic, political and

thing goes. Nobody should blame Chief Awolowo for the action he took.

I’m surprise that such a reaction is coming from an intellectual like Professor Chinua Achebe, particularly at this time when the nation is facing imminent disintegration signs. Such issue would have been raised long time ago, but not now. We should rather

Shittima concentrate on how to build a united nation. Although, it is true that the Igbos have not been properly integrated into the Nigerian state but the problem lies with the Igbos themselves. They should be united with themselves just

Awolowo, Achebe controversy unnecessary — Ndigbo Lagos

Professor Anya O. Anya

developmental problems, the Professor Anya O. Anya-led group said what was needed now was sustaining the unfolding harmonious relations between the Igbo and Yoruba nations.

“Ndigbo Lagos deems the ongoing heated reactions to Elder statesman and world renowned writer, Prof Chinua Achebe’s personal chronicle of his experience during the civil war as being very unnecessary. The issue of what roles all actors on both sides played during the events leading to the unfortunate civil war and

We don’t need such statement now — Balarabe Musa

BY ISHOLA BALOGUN

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Balarabe Musa

like you have the people of the Niger Delta region. Their long years of agitations have started yielding fruits.

I personally don’t believe that any group should be treated as second class citizens in a country that belongs to all of us. Hence, the Igbos should take their destiny in their own hands and stop trading blame over who is responsible for their political stagnation.

Also, there might be some element of truth that the effect of the civil was has not made the Igbos to take a shot at the presidency. I do know that some ethnic groups still nurse the fear that if the Igbos are allow to rule Nigeria that may hasten their secession agenda. This fear is held by people from my area.

This not withstanding, the Igbos must learn to work with other ethnic groups to realise their presidential aspiration rather than building enemies across the Niger. Afterall, Nigeria belongs to everybody and the presidency is not the exclusive reserve of any ethnic group.

ccusing Chief Awolowo who was part of General Gowon’s cabinet that he initiated the pogrom and genocide as a policy against the Igbos is unfair. You cannot blame the late Awolowo for the genocide. Yes, he was part of the then military government but he implemented the policy of the federal government as at

that time. He could not have done anything on his own against the Igbos.

But I think we should forget all that happened during the war. They are not relevant again, unless the Igbos have any score to settle.

Right now, we are face with more serious problems than that issue. My view is that whether right or wrong, that statement will not serve any good, it will rather get us into more trouble.

the prosecution of the war itself have for a long time been in the public space,” Ndigbo Lagos said in a statement by Chief Chuma Igwe, publicity secretary.

Noting that Chief Awolowo had spoken for himself in response to similar issue in 1983, Ndigbo Lagos said Awolowo’s response was enough to close the matter.

It said: “At this point in time the South-East, SouthSouth and South-West are in consultations working together for a better Nigeria to ensure that such a situation does not arise again. Ndigbo Lagos believes that the commendable quality of interpersonal relationship between Ndigbo and the Yoruba Nation should be sustained and translated into mutually beneficial political, social and cultural relationship for the progress of our country.

“The ongoing demand of the South-East for the creation of additional one state, the serious infrastructure deficit subsisting in our geopolitical zone and the Igbo Presidency project are areas Ndìgbo Lagos believes the South-West should come out with unequivocal support for the Ndigbo position.

“We should focus on how the two nations and indeed the entire South can cooperate to enthrone fairness, equity and justice in the Nigerian polity.

That is the legacy we should aim at, moving forward.”

Achebe lives in the past —Fasehun

BY CHARLES ADINGUPU

The factional leader of Odua Peoples’ Congress (OPC) Dr. Frederick Fasehun flays Professor Chinua Achebe for attempting to exhume the dark days of the civil to bear on the Igbo. He, however, advised the Igbos to jettison anybody without hesitation who is trying to remind them of their sordid past.

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rofessor Chinua Achebe is still living in the past for him to be reacting to a civil war that ended over 42 years ago. I think the Igbos should be aspiring to the presidency.

Therefore, anybody who tries to remind them of their sordid past should be jettisoned. What the Igbos need at the moment are friends and not enemies.

They should try to align with other ethnic groups to realise their presidential ambition but not somebody who will remind them of their dark past.

On indictment of Awolowo Professor Achebe should first of all answer these questions.

First, was it the Yoruba people who pushed the Biafran warlord, Chief Ojukwu to Ore? Again, what did he (Achebe) expect Chief Obafemi Awolowo to do when the Biafran soldiers were violating the territorial integrity of the Yoruba people? Perhaps, Chief Awolowo would have folded his arms or better still watch in silence the Biafran troop ravaging Ore and its environs.

Also, let Professor Chinua Achebe answer the question of what happened to the Yoruba people in the Biafran soldiers I mean particularly Banjo?

Fasehun

SATURDAY Vanguard, OCTOBER 13, 2012—13

We’ve no cause to regret what we did — Gowon Says Awolowo and I are innocent

BY BASHIR ADEFAKA Nigerian Head of State, who prosecuted the civil war, General Yakubu Gowon, has absolved his regime and late Chief Obafemi Awolowo of accusations by Professor Chinua Achebe, in his new book, “There was a country,” that they pursued sub-human policies that killed Biafrans especially children during the war, which has been described as pogrom and genocide against the Igbo. Speaking from his London home in a telephone chat with Vanguard, Gowon said he prayerfully took the decisions he took during the war and had no cause to regret his actions because “If there was no secession, there wouldn’t have been the war that we had, which was a very unfortunate situation in the life of Nigeria.” Excerpts:

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hat is your comment on on Professor Achebe’s latest book?

Let me read it first. I’m not in the country now.

In the book, he said you and Chief Obafemi Awolowo implemented some policies aimed at killing the Igbos such as starvation and preventing food from getting to Biafran children during the war. What is your take on that?

Let him check himself and of course on our part, we know that, that was not what we were. That was how we were portrayed but, on our part, we know that was not what we were in our actions and all that.

But would you please go and ask historians about the beginning of the war rather than for you to ask me to comment about whether Awolowo and I actually had hands in what he is talking

General Yakubu Gowon about? Go and find out from historians?

One would think that, as the then Head of states, you have direct and undiluted truth about the issue The historians will tell you the correct story. I am not in Nigeria presently and honest-

Achebe is bias against Yorubas — Pa Fasoranti

Sheath your anachronistic swords—Okwadike, Dr. Chukwuemeka Ezeife

By Gabriel Ameh

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mong the Yoruba and the Igbo, the wise course, today, is realization-reconciliation-peace and solidarity. Yet ancient gladiators are itching to bring back yesterday. It is not just a matter of allowing sleeping dogs to lie. It is a matter of political maturity and wisdom. How should we react to historical facts which are out of alignment with our current aspirations? There are many such facts: In 1952, Zik won election which would have led to his becoming Leader of Government Business in the Western Region. There were carpet crossings and Zik had to go back to the East where he upset the government of Eyo Ita, causing a decades-long problem, which has only just been laid to rest.

Zik refused Awo’s offer for AG/NCNC alliance with Zik as Prime Minister after the postindependence election (alleging that Awo was making a similar offer to Ahmadu Bello).

Only God knows the cost to Nigeria of the outcome.

It was said that Awo had threatened that if the East was

forced out or to war, the West would join on the side of the East but did not fulfill the threat (because, it was said, he was not taken into confidence on the declaration of Biafra).

Only 20 pounds was approved by Gowon Government (on assumed advice of Awo) to be paid to Igbo depositors by the banks if even millions are in the deposits.

There was also the mention of starvation as a weapon of war.

The indigenization was adopted and implemented when the Igbo were not in any position to meaningfully participate.

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hen, after the 1962-63 census controversy, the Northern figure finally doubled from 14.5million to 29million, the western press acquiesced when finally (because of Akintola’s defection) the West was dashed 2million, thus increasing the Western figure from its original 8million to 10million, leaving the East with its original 11.5million. The Southern majority of 19.5million as against North’s 14.5million turned to Northern majority of North 29million, South

ly this is a question that I have had to answer several times.

You would have asked them if there was a controversy or whoever did what. Let them do their own interpretation of what happened.

But you are a key factor in getting to the root of the newly generated

controversy… (Cuts in) If there was no secession, we wouldn’t have the civil war.

Awolowo was not the cause of the secession. Why then are they bringing him into this controversy?

If there was no secession, there wouldn’t have been the war that we had, which was a very unfortunate situation in the life of Nigeria. That is the answer that I would give to you about this.

What is your take on the opinion that your ‘no victor no vanquished’ resolution and failure to try the secessionists for treason account for some of the brewing controversies?

You can be rest assured that as far as we are concerned, we did everything that was possible. And we have no cause to regret what we did.

So, I think whoever is saying what I am now hearing that they are saying, the question is; why are they saying what they are saying now? For what reason are they saying it at this time?

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owever, for the Yoruba leader, Afenifere, Pa ReubenFasoranti exonerated Chief Obafemi Awolowo in the pogrom and genocide that led to the killing of millions of Igbos during the civil war. He told ISHOLA BALOGUN that what Nigeria needs at the moment is how to consolidate on her unity which is currently under threat.

Dr. Chukwuemeka Ezeife 21.5million. The same overturning of census figures which Mr. Arnold Smith said had happened after the colonial census exercise found the South larger than the North.

It is also the fact that the East and West (with Awo leading the West) were in unhealthy rivalry forcing them to operate as parallel lines (and thus becoming parallel slaves) in the Nigerian system.

Another fact, not often mentioned, was that more Igbo landlords, on return from the war, received rent for their property in the West than from any other part of Nigeria.

What do we do when historical facts which are hostile to our current aspirations and proper direction crop up?

Those who want to rekindle the fire of ancient disastrous antagonisms should beware.

All what he said is highly prejudice. Pa Awolowo made arrangement for food supply to the Igbos. It was cornered by the soldiers at that time. It was the Biafran soldiers that ambushed it and allowed the children and other civilians to suffer.

That food didn’t get to them was not the fault of Awolowo.

At the same time, they looted the Central Bank locations in Biafra-occupied areas and sent money abroad for the procurement of arms and amunition. Was that caused by Awolowo? All the same, he still had a very broad mind, he pleaded that there should be no war. He did everything he could to prevent the war. I remember he said that the Igbos should be retained in all the federal set up just because, he didn’t want the Igbos to ceceed.

Yet, they decided to go to war.

But since they decided to go to war, he said: ‘all is well in war’. It was not his fault.

Pa Fasoranti Professor Chinua Achebe is not right blaming Pa Awolowo. He (Achebe) has been very prejudiced against the Yorubas. He has a pathological hatred for Chief Awolowo and the Yoruba race. It did not start today, I know him since the time we were in the University of Ibadan.

The didn’t like the Yorubas at all.

Besides, it is very wrong at this time to be saying all that after about 42 years the war ended. What we need now is unity. In fact, record shows he took positive steps to persuade Ojukwu to avoid the war

14 — SATURDAY Vanguard, OCTOBER 13, 2012

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s ugly a human undertaking as any kind of war is, none is as gruesome as a fratricidal conflict and that describes every civil war. Our three year-long experience could not have been devoid of some shameful acts on both sides, soured as it was by ethnic prejudices. But the mature and cultured mind takes it all in and allows the finest touch of the human spirit to mellow it down. That is the quality of the mentality that one would expect in an accomplished writer like Chinua Achebe.

One ought to be disappointed, but not quite. For one thing, he had never hidden his dislike for Chief Obafemi Awolowo, who is deeply revered by many people, especially among the chiefs own kinsfolk, the Yoruba people. Chinua Achebe could not even abide the outpouring of adulatory tributes from them immediately after the passing of the man they love to honour as “The Sage”. He opened up with a diatribe that left many people, even warfare as a means of among the Igbo, his own disrupting supplies whether people, speechless. He titled of material or sustenance. At this sludge of his, “The other times, direct Apostasy of Awolowo”. It aggression would even be was supposed to represent a employed to break the line of note of resentment against, supply, as in the case of or rejection of the genuine Dresden in World War II. The expressions of regret and dreadful ploy is always a sorrow at the death of a loathsome episode in the nationalist many people over-all ugly conditions of sincerely believed had war. The evidence of its contributed to the making of horror must have etched an Nigeria as a nation, not least indelible image on some among them even several Igbo people on whose behalf Achebe posed to vilify such an illustrious figure. Indeed, it contrasted sharply with the tribute of, in my book, one of the greatest Nigerians —if not the greatest ever— Nnamdi Azikiwe, himself of Igbo extraction.

*a horribly scarred heart *let them burn Fortunately, the late “Sage” was opportuned to defend his actions while he was still alive. Many have found his explanations acceptable, even if not palatable; but neither is any aspect of war, nor the expressions of even a forthright heart horribly scarred by its ravages.

Suddenly, the young lady was in full flight. She had

sympathy of all around. The rider of the Okada tried to escape, but the crowd barred his way and descended on him with fierce blows. They might have lynched him but he fought back and made good his escape to a distance, from where he flung imprecations on his assailants. The young lady picked herself up from the gutter with a little help from crowd who were more

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ven if we dismissed the adage that “all is fair in love and war”, for its triteness, we would still have to admit the veracity of its natural impact on the actions and reaction of homo sapiens. In no historical record of warfare would be found the incidence of an army that was fed by the foes against whom it was ranged in open conflict. It has never happened. Right from the time of the Punic Wars in the Thirteenth Century, the opportunity of a blockade has never been missed in

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*Prof. Achebe delicate minds indeed, especially the sight of those children who were reduced to mere skeletons with distended bellies. It would have given rise to feelings of hatred. But, over time, it should not nurture notions of hate.

A second consideration of Achebe’s proffered reason for Awolowo to adopt a “policy of starvation” against the Biafrans during the war shows the contradictions in the presumption that it was in line with the ambitions of the Yoruba politician to capture the entire country in a nation-wide bid for the presidency. How could that be achieved without the indispensable support of the Igbo people who, form a sizeable proportion of the country’s population? Or could Awo have been so naive as to envision a host of those who had survived his starvation onslaught forming a long queue to vote for’ him in an election? That could not be.

*Chief Awolowo

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was myself indignant enough to react with a denunciation of Achebe, who had been my boss when I was a Senior Features Producer in Radio Nigeria, Enugu. He was the Regional Controller, having served earlier in Lagos as the Head of Talks, around the time he authored the highly acclaimed, “Things Fall Apart”. He was a quietly assertive man who enjoyed every bit of humour even when he seemed to be the butt of it. But he found it easy, it seemed to me, to be somewhat swayed away from being very fair, though fearlessly so, for his nature was apparently anchored on a compulsory impulse to be forthright in all circumstances. He does not seem to have changed much —the same human decent being, with the same purely human failings.

pillion seats; they would blare their horns with studied provocation; they would refuse to use crash helmets as specified by the law; they would quarrel with their passengers and fellow-Okada operators, and motorists, and pedestrians—everybody.

And, with all this and other forms of nuisance manifestations, they would cause constant disruptions in the traffic.

I was so happy I could almost call a party when the new traffic laws keeping them in their place were promulgated. But I was quickly made sober by thoughts of how well the regulations stipulated by the laws would be enforced. There had been no adequate legal restraints on this commercially operated kind of public transport in Lagos, as it would appear, but there have always been traffic regulations in place which the riders flouted with impunity.

The policemen simply ignored them or “accommodated” them. So, making laws was one thing, but enforcing them simply had to supplement the legislation.

He was a quietly assertive man who enjoyed every bit of humour even when he seemed to be the butt of it

dared an attempt to cross the road in a fairly crowded enclave when the Okada appeared swinging from one side of the road to the other, hardly caring for the pedestrians who quickly skipped out of its way. But our young “miss” noticed it almost too late. And as it zoomed towards her, she took one quick look and spread her wings. It was a smooth flight.

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he escaped from the awful machine .... but the landing was straight into the gutter. There she floundered, emitting a shriek of anguish that gripped the

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interested in deciding the fate of the hapless rider waiting for the opportunity to reclaim his slightly damaged machine to resume his journey.

If you live n Lagos, you might have witnessed one or two versions of that incident every other week. Or even more frequently.

The daredevil riders operated outside and beyond the law.

They would ride against oneway streets; they would ignore traffic lights; they would carry two or more passengers (including pregnant women, or women with babies strapped on their backs), in stead of one permitted by law, on the

ut now my misgivings have received a pleasant shock with the “demolition” by fire, of several hundreds of the awful machines caught in erring situations recently in Lagos. That should indicate the level of seriousness of the authorities. But there is one more measure that they should adopt, and that is the control of the number of the tricycles (Marwa) and the commercial motor-cycles in each zone where they still operate. The commercial vehicular population of the city needs to be controlled anyway, in an organized municipal system.

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ven in the colonial days when there was less threat of traffic chaos on the roads, the number of taxis was controlled within Lagos. It somehow gave way to the untidy situation where the urban roadways became choked with all sorts of commercial vehicles. The vital services they render were thus stifled when traffic gridlock resulted in cloggedup movement.

The limited relief from the nuisance of the Okada phenomenon through the new Lagos traffic regulations deserve commendation.

Time out

SATURDAY

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at Utomi and I go a long way.

Back to the middle eighties when I was the Vanguard Editor and he was one of our trusted resource persons. We relied on him for a lot of things, especially when it had to do with business and politics.

If you needed an article like yesterday, (the life of an Editor) Pat was your man. And he usually delivered. I also today publicly acknowledge, and thank him for his stabilising role when I floated my magazine, ‘Prime People’ and he was at the Volkswagen of Nigeria.

Pat has had a meteoric rise to the top, due partly to his brilliance and partly to his understanding of the power game. Or the power structure. He must have found that rise heady and intoxicating for a young man. Having done the hard work and finding himself along the corridors of power, it would have been a lot easier to stay there playing the system and floating from one government appointment to another as many have done. But are these ephemeral things like fame and fortune worth selling your soul for? Obviously the answer for Pat is a no. And he has had the courage and grace to pull back before being completely sucked in.

For the past five years, he has been busy on the soap box, telling his erstwhile colleagues that they are on the road that leads nowhere. A dead end road. And worse, that they are dragging the country through that road. But if they are listening to him, its not showing.

arbitrary statement that speaks more to his emotional state than to his intellectual self which is his forte. Yet, it’s a statement that frightens because the probability lurks in the subconscious.

Who are those that make up the ‘all of us’? His generation? I am only a few years older than him, so that would include me. Or is it anybody that has had anything to do with government and governance? Now, I have never handled a government contract in my life. Neither have I served any agency of government.

Yet in my sober moments, I am gravely aware that neither I nor my ilk, will escape the gathering storm if it does not blow over.

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he mob will not have the time or the patience, to sieve through any C.V. The mob follows a profiling system. I am a car owner, a property owner and an employer of labour. That in a mob’s eye, qualifies me to be a bourgeoisie. It will be like the case of the two Tinas in one of Shakespeare’s plays. Tina, the Poet and Tina, the Conspirator.

When the former protested his innocence, the angry mob cried, ‘ then kill him for his bad verses’, too impatient to bother with the difference.

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ast week, in an interview published in the Guardian of September 30, on the state of the nation, he said in apparent frustration ‘the younger ones should kill all of us’.

This is a statement that shocked when I first read it, and shocks still. It’s a sweeping,

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We have to reduce the cost of governance so that money can flow into development

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o Pat’s anguished cry of ‘kill all of us’ includes you and I. And if we don’t want to die, then we have to be ready to make fundamental changes.

We have to think less of our good and the good of our family, and more of the good of the country. We have to reduce the size of our purse and increase the size of the purse of the teeming poor. We have to reduce the cost of governance so that money can flow into development.

Pat Utomi’s cry, is like that of John the Baptist, a plaintive cry in the wilderness. ‘Repent. Or face the wrath to come’.

Fani Kayode; you had your chance F

EMI Fani-Kayode has been writing some beautiful stuff lately. Some of the ones that I have read, covered Aviation, Corruption, the Economy, and recently, the state of the Nation. And I must say, most of them are on the button. They are the kind of articles that good public commentators will write. The young man does write well.

But they also remind me of an incident that happened in 1984, some months after the Shagari government was toppled for alleged incompetence and corruption. I was at a small party C M Y K

in London, and at some point, found myself seated next to a former minister in the Shagari government.

Inevitably, our conversation drifted towards Nigeria. He went on and on about the ills of the country that I stopped talking and gazed at him in what the good book described as ‘awesome wonder’. He eventually noticed that I had stopped talking and probably saw the incredulous look on my face because he then said’ I know. I know. I was in government.

We had our chance.’

Exactly.

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f the deaths were painful, what is more painful and heart burning is the nonchalant attitude of the authorities of the University of Maiduguri who up till this time of writing this column, have not deemed it proper to place a call to the parents of the slaughtered students.

As if that was not enough, the Police also have not contacted the parents of the students as at the time of writing this piece. One thing I find curious is the apparent media hype given to the Port

Mindless killing at University of Maiduguri Harcourt killings to the extent that the Inspector General of Police promised to get to the root of the matter while the Senate did deliberate on the matter on Tuesday 9, October. There was some kind of conspiratorial silence on the Maiduguri pogrom; or could it be as a result of the fact that Maiduguri is now a blood-letting field?

What would have warranted this unusual silence? Three promising students mauled down just like that and not a single mention or

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Pat Utomi’s ‘kill of us cry’

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n the last two weeks, it has been a harvest of killings in some Nigerian higher institutions; first in the University of Maiduguri on September 29, followed by Federal Polytechnic, Mubi and lastly University of Port Harcourt. All the scenarios surrounding the killings are gruesomely disturbing.

While those of Mubi and Port Harcourt have been receiving media and security attention; that of the University of Maiduguri seems to have passed unnoticed and almost unreported.

Three bona fide Nigerian citizens were involved in that of Maiduguri namely; Abdulmalik Ahmed, a 400 level student of Mechanical Engineering, Halima Damchida, a 500 level student of Law, and one other young man simply identified as Yakubu also of the University.

Halima, according to close family sources, is the only child of her mother, while Abdulmalik Ahmed Hassan is the elder of two sons of Master Warrant Officer Hassan Ahmed Isah of the Nigeria Army Archives, Ikeja Lagos.

The circumstances of their death are still subject to further investigation but unofficial p r e l i m i n a r y information said the bodies of the threesome were mutilated in very despicable manner in their homes right in front of the University of Maiduguri.

According to reports, they have since been buried according to Islamic rites.

Vanguard, OCTOBER 13, 2012—15

see why it is difficult to show absolute loyalty to one’s country? How can Abdulmalik, a 20year old, be murdered in cold blood and the relevant authorities have not deemed it necessary to call us? I am a military officer; hence I will not want to talk further on this issue.

I have instructed my Lawyers to take appropriate steps to seek legal redress”.

Lamenting the pains which the killings have brought to the

No amount of wailings and tears could bring back our children but we deserve some measure of respect

expression of concern by both authorities of Police and the University? If I have my way, the Vice Chancellor of the University of Maiduguri Professor Mala Mohammed Daura should have been fired by now.

He has not shown any cause of competence to manage students who are put under his care. He has shown careless disdain on this matter by ignoring the parents and not extending any condolences to mournful parents who have lost their dear children. Since Maiduguri has been under the pummeling of Boko Haram, any act of killings and violence is often credited to the dreaded group. But that is a wrong security approach and reading.

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peaking with Master Warrant Officer Hassan Isah and his wife, Nefisat at their home in Abuja, with scores of sympathizers coming to pay condolence visits, they expressed utter dismay that they have not heard a word from the University authorities as to the immediate and remote cause[s] of their son’s gruesome murder.

Expressing shock at the lackadaisical attitude of the Police and the University, MWO Hassan Isah quipped; “can you

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three families, Hajia Nefisat Hassan recalled the very warm and affectionate relationship between the two families of Halima Damchida and their Abdulmalik Ahmed. According to her, “no amount of wailings and tears could bring back our children but we deserve some measure of respect from the University authority.

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f the Police cannot do their job to bring the culprits to book, we at least deserve to hear a word or two from them”, she lamented.

Speaking further, she said; “no one is willing to talk to us. What is the matter after all?

You mean they just killed our children like chickens and we do not deserve to know the circumstances?

She broke down in tears while praying that her son’s soul will find a pleasant rest in the hereafter. Hajia Nefisat Hassan works in the Presidency.

Despite the fact that killings have become second nature in Maiduguri and its environs, not all killings are carried out

by Boko Haram.

16—SATURDAY

Vanguard, OCTOBER 13, 2012 feelings of your infirmity. He wants you totally whole. Believe and trust Him and you would be amazed as to how He can change your life.

Multitudes are testifying of how God has changed their lives. You too can join them in experiencing the Unchanging na-

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or I am the Lord, I change not; therefore you sons of Jacob are not consumed (Mal. 3:6). The only thing that is constant is God. This therefore means that all other things are subject to change. Thus, our condition is subject to change. Yes, that seemeth challenge is subject to change by the unchangeable changer.

The bible says that we are not consumed or destroyed because God changeth not. If ever there is a being that you can trust to see you through any situation, it is God Himself. He cannot fail. He is too faithful to fail. He is ever dependable, Reliable and cannot fail. The scriptures say He is not a man that can lie, neither is He the son of man that He should repent; has He said and shall He not make it good. You can count on Him more than anything else.

Money, friends, jobs, families, position and every other thing else shall fail you but He will never fail. So many that trusted in other things to change them or their lives have suffered shipwreck. Some have gone from worse to worst.

Someone may ask but why is it so? The truth of it all is that none of those things are unchangeable. Look all around you, things are constantly changing by the moment. Government is changing, policies are

ture of God that changes all things.

Let’s talk about the woman that was bowed with the spirit of infirmity for eighteen (18) years. She had gotten used to the condition that the devil placed her.

The unchangeable changer changing, naira exchange rate is changing, fashion is changing, meals that we eat are changing, medical equipments are changing, buildings, airplanes, you name it are all changing. Have you ever noticed that the seconds of the clock is ever changing? It has never remained in the same place longer than it is meant to be.

In the midst of all these constant changes there is a God that cannot change but changes all situations. I believe that by this message your change is coming.

Hebrews 13:8, says “Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and today, and forever”. The truth that Jesus does not change provides a sure

anchor for our faith.

Therefore what He has done for one He can do for you. Whatever someone may have experienced in Christ can also be your portion. He is not a respecter of persons. I pray that you encounter His unchanging nature that will change all that concerns you.

What is it that needs to be changed in your life?

Is it medical, financial, spiritual or what? I announce to you that there is a God that can change it. In Mark 5:25_34, there is a case of a woman who has being suffering from the issue of blood for twelve (12) years. She had being to many doctors and many other places for solution but instead of getting any better she grew

worse. All of her resources were wasted. But when she heard of Jesus, she said to herself, i f only I can but touch His clothes, I shall be whole.

She went ahead and touched His clothes and she was made whole.

The bible says “And straightway the fountain of her blood was dried up; and she felt in her body that she was healed of that plague”. Hear me, are you sick and the sickness is ravaging your whole life? Jesus is alive because of you and would heal you like He healed that woman of her plague”. He was the one that changed that woman’s condition and He can and will do the same for you if you ask Him. He cares for you and He is touched by the

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: 07029235279, 07029235280. 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.

BURIAL OF LATE MR. OGBONNAYA AMADI The burial of late Ogbonnaya Amadi , former Group Entertainment Editor of Vanguard was held at Okagwe Ohafia, Abia State., yesterday Photos:Sylva Eleanya

Late Ogbonnaya immediate family and other family members.

Late Ogbonnaya Amadi's mum and relations C M Y K

Mr. Chuks Ugwoke, Commissioner for Information ,Tourism and Culture, Enugu State(3rd right)and some Vanguard staff

Mrs. Toyin Amadi, widow; Ben, Kachi and Jude, children of the Late Mr. Ogbonnaya Amadi

L-R: Mr. Chuks Nwagbara, Mr. Ikeddi Isiguzo, Chairman, Editorial Board Vanguard,Dr. Eze Chikamnayo, Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Abia State and Mr. Chuks Ugwoke, Commissioner for Information and Culture, Enugu State.

SATURDAY VANGUARD, OCTOBER 13, 2012—17

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18—SATURDAY VANGUARD, OCTOBER 13, 2012 Dear aunty Julie, My name is Cynthia and I’m 22. I realise I’m going to have problems with relationships if I’m not careful. For some reasons , I’m only attracted men who are about 10 years older than I am . I drive my poor mother crazy, but whenever I try to date someone my own age, I end up finding them naive, too eager, and/or boring.

My last boyfriend was a medical school student, he and I were together for a little under two years and he’s nine years older. My boyfriend now is an economist, ten years older. I mean to say that these guys are not dumb or unsuccessful, and it’s not just about sex. It feels natural for me to be with someone older.

Am I just a pervert, or should my mother be more understanding? Or both?

Cynthia, Port-Harcourt Dear Cynthia, There seem to be two main issues here. First, you’re questioning why you tend to prefer older guys and if this makes you a pervert. It probably doesn’t, but you could choose to look a little deeper at your reasons for dating only older guys, if you want to. Second, it sounds like you are looking to lessen the tension between you and your mum by increasing understanding between you.

First, about your preference for older guys, one important

I prefer older men point to remember is that people mature and develop at different rates. You’ve heard the idea of late bloomers and early bloomers. It’s possible you are mature for your age and relate better to older folks. It’s also possible that older men, who have inevitably had more time for life experiences than the younger men, offer insights, perspectives, or status that you find appealing. You can ask yourself some questions, such as: Who are my friends? Are they older too? What is it about the older men that I like , their experience? That they have careers? How they make me feel about myself? Are my relationships fair and equal? Am I treated with respect? Do I feel free to pursue my own goals?

Have I always liked older men?

This is surely a personal matter that you could choose to talk over with friends, your mum, or a professional counselor. If you want to explore

I can’t please my dad Dear Julie, My relationship with my dad is suffering. It seems as if anything I do is not enough for him. I don’t get in any trouble at all, I’m on the honour roll, I don’t go out, I obey him, I don’t talk back, I clean his shoes, I warm his car, I cook for him, also. I do all these and it’s still not enough. He never smiles and he never appreciates anything I do for him. I love him so much and I want him to love me back, but it seems as if I’m not good enough. Please tell me what I should do.

Talking doesn’t help much. I tried and he never changes. Please suggest another solution because it really hurts me.

Jimmy, Lagos Dear Jimmy, Your dad’s lack of response to you and your good deeds most likely has little or nothing to do with you. Your dad, himself, may be sad, unhappy, angry, upset, or even clinically depressed about something that may not be in his control or range of understanding.

This doesn’t mean that you need to stop trying to communicate your feelings, or that you need to cease providing him the things that you described.

*A man placed some flowers on the grave of his dearly departed mother and started back toward his car when his attention was diverted to another man kneeling at a grave.

The man seemed to be praying with profound intensity and kept repeating, “Why did you have to die? Why did you have to die? Why did you have to die?”

The first man approached him and said, “Sir, I don’t wish to interfere with your private grief, but this demonstration of pain is more than I’ve ever seen before. For whom do you mourn so deeply? A child? A parent?”

The mourner took a moment to collect himself, then replied, “My wife’s first husband.” *A man is dining in a fancy restaurant, and there is a gorgeous redhead sitting at the next table. He had been checking her out since he sat down, but lacked the nerve to talk with her. Suddenly she sneezes and her glass eye comes flying out of its socket towards the man. He reflexively reaches out, grabs it out of the air, and hands it back.

“Oh my, I am so sorry,” the woman says as she

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your attractions, and the reasons for them, a counselor may be a great way to delve deeper.

The other problem you’re facing is the strain this puts on your relationship with

your mum. The hard truth is that, even if you think your mum should be more understanding, it’s really your mum’s choice whether or not she approves of your attraction to older guys. And, it’s your choice whether, or not, you let your mum’s comfort or discomfort with your dating preferences influence your dating decisions.

Since you both have a choice in the matter, it might help to hear each other out.

Do you think a good talk might help you both understand the situation better? What would it be like to sit down with your mum to chat about your point of view and hers? Maybe your mum has some darn good reasons for her concern. Her rea-

sons might relate to her own past, your past, or her general beliefs about age and dating. Also, you’ve got some pretty good reasons, yourself, for continuing to date older men. Who knows, you and your mum might learn some new things about each other, and yourselves, during such a discussion!

Whether or not you choose to delve into your personal reasons for digging older guys, it’s hopeful that you and your mum can get to know each other’s concerns and preferences better through talking and listening. It’s hard when parents don’t approve, however your concern and willingness to look deeper at this difficult issue reflects your maturity.

Should we get back as friends Dear Julie, My former best friend and I drifted apart a few months ago because of her new boyfriend and my busy schedule. Before, we were like sisters, but now we just ignore each other.

She’s recently been trying to contact me, and even though I do miss her more than anything, I haven’t been answering her calls. I’m not sure if I want her back in my life. There were certain things about our friendship that didn’t seem right. There were things we couldn’t/wouldn’t tell each other. She also liked to make me feel unimportant.

I know this makes it seem like we never were true friends, but we meant everything to each other. I just don’t know if I should let her back in or not?

Ella, Dear Ella, A wise person once said, “Friends are like bras: close to your heart and there for support.” There’s no question that strong friendships provide sustenance, love, and support for many people. Loss of a friendship may be devastating, yet information about friend “break ups”

seems sparse compared to talk about the endings of intimate relationships. So it may be difficult to know when to let go of a friend or when to fight for one and how to go about doing either.

You mention three primary reasons for the split: the drifting apart, your sense that your friend liked to make you feel unimportant, and you being unable to tell each other certain things. On the one hand, you miss your friend and on the other hand, you’re not sure if your friend is the type of person you want to let back into your life. Relationships may have some of the toughest decisions in life. What aspects of the friendship do you miss?

What would you want to be different between you two if you became friends again? Do you think it’s possible for those changes to occur? Could you be friends in a different context, such as only doing things you both enjoy (i.e., activity partners), and accepting that you two may not “mean everything to each other ” again? Why do you suppose your friend is trying to contact you again? Does it feel like your friend genuinely

C O C K - T A L E S pops her eye back in place. “Let me buy you dessert to make it up to you.”

They enjoy a wonderful dessert together, and afterwards, the woman invites him to the theater followed by drinks.

After paying for everything, she asks him if he would like to come to her place and stay for breakfast the next morning.

The next morning, she cooks a gourmet meal with all the trimmings. The guy is amazed! Everything has been incredible! “You know,” he said, “you are the perfect woman. Are you this nice to every guy you meet?”

“No,” she replies, “you just happened to catch my eye.” *A married couple was in a terrible accident where the woman’s face was severely burned. The doctor told the husband that they couldn’t graft any skin from her body because she was too skinny. So the husband offered to donate some of his own skin.

However, the only skin on his body that the doctor felt was suitable would have to come from his buttocks. The husband and wife agreed that they would tell no one about where the skin came from, and requested that the doctor also honour their secret. After all, this was a very delicate matter.

wants to reconnect with you or does it seem like there may be some other reason? Would maintaining a relationship with this person be healthy for your well being?

Your answers to these questions may help you clarify your thoughts, feelings, and expectations of healthy friendships and other relationships. Having friends who you feel comfortable with and who treat you well is a good reason to be intentional about your friendships. You may decide to respond to your friend to voice your concerns of the friendship and intentions of the friendship (e.g., making changes, shifting the type of friendship, or ending the friendship). If this is the first time you have had a break of sorts with friendships, it may require some bravery to work things out. The resulting sense of resolution from this difficult, hopefully without regret, decision may help mend your torn heart.

Time may change many things, but you are the one to choose what stays close to your heart.

After the surgery was completed, everyone was astounded at the woman’s new beauty. She looked more beautiful than she ever had before! All her friends and relatives just went on and on about her youthful beauty!

One day, she was alone with her husband, and she was overcome with emotion at his sacrifice. She said, “Dear, I just want to thank you for everything you did for me. How can I possibly repay you?”

“My darling,” he replied, “I get all the thanks I need every time I see your mother kiss you on the cheek.” *A woman was sitting at a bar enjoying an after work cocktail with her girlfriends when an exceptionally tall, handsome young man entered. He was so striking that the woman could not take her eyes away from him. The young man noticed her overly attentive stare and walked directly toward them. Before she could offer her apologies for being so rude for staring, the young man said to her, “I’ll do anything, absolutely anything, that you want me to do, for $100, on one condition.”

The woman considered his proposition for a moment, took some money from his purse, and gladly pressed it into the young man’s hand.

She looked deeply into his eyes and slowly and meaningfully said, “Clean my house.”

SATURDAY

Vanguard OCTOBER 13, 2012—19

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ne question most young girls gunning after a loaded married man fail to answer satisfactorily is: what really happened with his exes? Sonny, now in his late 60s has always been a bubbly guy. Owner of a chain of supermarkets, he is into other lucrative businesses. And into changing women as if they were designer items. His latest catch is always put in charge of one of the supermarkets as the managing director.

Each relationship lasts as long as it takes her to produce the token two kids and she is promptly replaced. He is really close to a good friend and I got to know him through her. They’d been lovers briefly and are now good friends. It was at one of his no-expense-spared parties that I ran into Fade, a younger friend who’d been abandoned by her husband of 12 years. The cad simply moved out of his matrimonial home, leaving Fade with the two children of the marriage and a rent she couldn’t afford.

She looked less frazzled than she used to be when I saw her at Sonny’s party and she told me she just met him and he’d been very good to her. My jaw nearly hit the floor. Talk about jumping right into the fire without touching the proverbial frying pan! Sonny’s current wife was happily playing the hostess, oblivious of her replacement hovering in the wings. I insisted Fade should see me when she had the time. I didn’t see her until months later, but I warned her all the same about Sonny’s track records. “He’s been very good to me.” She defended Sonny. “After my husband abandoned us, he took up the responsibility of looking after us and paid outstanding rents before renewing the lease on the flat. My mum encouraged our relationship. She believed I’d be well looked after, and she was right. We’re never short of presents, especially goods from his supermarket.

Sonny. “You were right you know, that man has no soul, ow that I’m carrying but two can play at his game,” his child, he’s even she said, her eyes suddenly more attentive and loving ...” narrowing! “It took the birth of What could I say after her my second child to realize revelation? I simply wished Sonny thrived on controlling her the best of luck, knowing his women. He obviously saw it would be a matter of a few me as a possession. years, for her to feel the

The betrayal of a bitter wife and her step-son!

lashes from the whip used on her predecessors. When I next ran into her it was almost nine years later and in one of the busy shopping areas in London. She told me she just came back from visiting Sonny’s eldest son in Kent.

Could I come for a visit, so we could talk? Tempting me with the promise of good food and wine, I took her up on her offer. As she cooked, she filled me in on her life with

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n spite of my having a job I enjoyed, he insisted I resigned to run one of the supermarkets. And he loved showing me off, dressed in the lace materials he was always buying for me. ‘This would have been nice if he hadn’t bought the same fabric for his other women.

After my second child, he moved into his new house and took us with him - that was

It was the most mindblowing sex I have ever had

when I realized what it was like to be trapped. All my friends had virtually disappeared. He was always telling me I had everything a woman could possibly want and didn’t need to go to parties to be with ‘hustlers’ on the prowl for husbands! I felt so lonely - the children were all I had as Sonny got busier with his.’ business.

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hen it happened.

Sonny was away as usual when the guard announced a visitor. There was this strange man on the doorstep. He looked a bit younger than me and also looked familiar. ‘I’m here to see Uncle Sonny,’ he said. I

of you!” The poor guy looked hostile and was ready to have a verbal war with his dad before changing his mind.

“I really felt sorry for him.

How could Sonny be so callous to his own flesh and blood? I hurriedly showed the angry young man out asking for his phone number, saying I’d try to smooth things out with his father. His name, I gathered, was Jaiye and I was horrified when Sonny absolutely refused to talk about him. Seeing how cruelly he treated his son amplified how cruelly he’d been treating me. When I eventually called him, Jaiye said he was in the country briefly and would soon be going back to his base in England. He then gave me a number to call if I found myself in Britain.

I travelled down with Sonny a few weeks ago but he, was

Facing your demons and winning!

OW many of you spend more than an hour listening to the chatter inside your head? Everyone realized that every day they wasted precious energy listening to the tape that plays inside their minds, saying things like “That wasn’t very smart. You shouldn’t have said that. look what you did this time. You really blew it; you’re just like your father.” But what is most disturbing is that no matter how many times you’ve heard it before, you still listen and take that voice seriously. Sometimes you listen so intently that you can’t hear what the people around you are saying.

Maybe you have even avoided going to a party so you could stay

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home and listen to that box. Some of you have stopped yourself from pursuing a better position or going back to graduate school, basing your action solely on the feedback you’ve received from your charming little shadow box.

Some psychologists have suggested inventing an automated version of your box that will programme your internal dialogue; that way you don’t even have to say it to yourself.

You could use it as a talking alarm clock and wake up to “Good morning, you look awful today. Nothing worthwhile is going to happen. You don’t have what it takes. You might as well stay in bed because no one notices you anyway.”

,

Everyone realized that every day they wasted precious energy listening to the tape that plays inside their minds

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around only for a week, leaving me behind to redecorate the flat.

“As soon as I decently could, I called Jaiye. We arranged for him to meet me at the train station and he was waiting at the platform when I arrived. As he ushered me into a bar near the station, he hissed. “Does he know you’re seeing me?” I shook my head. He wanted to know how a young and pretty girl like me could love a heartless man like him. I was honest with him that I didn’t love him as I once did. He said I deserved someone better and

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explained he wasn’t expected for hours, but he said he would wait. It was then I saw he really resembled Sonny. Was he his nephew? As luck would have it, Sonny came home sooner than I thought. The man shot up from his chair. “Hello, dad,” he said, not too familiarly. I was dumbstruck as Sonny went ballistic. “I’ve told your mother I never want to clamp eyes on both of you again,” he shouted at him. “After the way your mother disgraced herself, getting pregnant by a friend whilst still under my roof, I want nothing to do with both

,

,

I told him of my four children, two of whom were his dad’s. He said I seemed a lot more relaxed just being away from him. He might look a lot like his dad, but he was warmer and had a genuine smile. He said he’d cooked me a meal at his flat and took me there. By the time the meal was over, I’d had so much wine that I felt rebellious. I felt so resentful of Sonny and there was this handsome young man, Sonny’s look-alike, paying me compliments and taking years off my age. When he tentatively kissed me, my frustration exploded. We didn’t make it to the bedroom but found ourselves on his impressive sofa. It was as if both of us wanted to hit back at Sonny for his callous treatment of us.

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t was the most mindblowing sex I have ever had! Talk about revenge being a good aphrodisiac.

“I made it clear to Jaiye that our rump would be a one-off and he just shrugged. Maybe having sex with his hated father ’s wife has settled something for him. Or he may be the passion I was seeking in my marriage and found with my step-son. Only I don’t feel like a step-mum. What we did at Jaiye’s flat broke all the rules and I have no “ no regrets ...

20—SATURDAY Vanguard, OCTOBER 13, 2012 ricia met Andy in her place of work and fell in love instantly. The nature of their job kept them together most of the time but for over two years, Andy never made a move towards dating Tricia even though she was waiting desperately for that.

He hardly called her except she did and whenever he said he would call, he never did.

Practically, Tricia was the one doing the chasing while Andy was laid back and catching his fun. For a smart young lady like Tricia, her friends got worried that for two years, she had languished while she waited for one date that she never had, disregarding other potential and even more interesting guys for a man who cared so little about her.

Dating is not always easy and finding an interesting person to even consider dating is often challenging enough as it is. So when we do find someone interesting enough, we often hold on to them, with the hope that the connection will grow into something spe- create this illusion that leads us to disappointment and incial.

The question you need to ask jured emotions that we do not yourself however, is: How deserve. special is the connection beave you met someone tween you and this you feel drawn to ro“interesting” person?

As women, when we meet mantically and want things to someone we really like, we head to the next stage, but just often become infatuated cannot seem to get there? If so, quickly and without intention, welcome to a common situation

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Are you in denial?

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you would like him to.

Making excuses for someone is something very common that people do, especially women. When they like a man enough, they convince themselves that he is worth their time by making excuses for his lazy and inconsiderate behaviour. Deep down however, you already know whether he is truly crazy about you too, or not.

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many women find themselves in. But is this new man in your life really worth your time and patience, or are you just in denial about how special the connection between you really is?

It is important for you to be observant and pay attention to whether or not you are making excuses for him when he does not put in the effort

ere are some signs of a man who truly does want you: He calls you and gets in touch with you as often as he can. He calls you when he says he will ; pays attention to what you like (example: types of movies, flowers, food, music, so on) and then invests efforts in making sure he can provide you with it. So for example, if he knows your favorite food, he will try to find a nice restaurant to take you to, because he wants to impress you and make you happy. He expresses his feelings to you and lets you know how much he likes you. He does not mind doing most of the chasing .

Now, here are some signs of a man who is not that interested in you: He takes his time to get in touch with you and does not seem very excited to talk to you again. He tells you he will call you, and

then breaks that promise, leaving you wondering about how he really feels about you.

He's not emotionally expressive enough and does not invest much effort in trying to impress you or set up nice dates. He seems relaxed and not concerned with chasing you all that much- leaving a lot of room for you to look for him.

If you find yourself making excuses to any of the signs above that point to him not being very interested in you, you are not alone. You obviously like this man a lot and like him enough at this time to feel he's worth making excuses for, but…are you really happy?

Sure, there are exceptions where we should give people the benefit of the doubt, but there is a difference between a mistake we can of course excuse and forgive and a man who simply does not treat you well enough.Do not be afraid to lie back sometimes and see just how much effort he feels you are worth. If he really wants to get to know you and be with you romantically, then he will not miss his chance to call you, email you, or make the time to take you out.So be honest with yourself and do not make excuses, no matter how much you like him. After all, you want to be with someone who wants you just as bad and shows it- not someone you have to run after and wonder about.

I’m sick and tired of rejection

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believe that one of the most aggravating things that can happen to a woman is to be noticeably rejected by a man she is attracted to. This has happened to me more times that I’d like to admit. I have actually experienced the embarrassment of a guy shaking my hand ‘hello,’ while at the same time eyeballing my best friend who’s standing next to me, and telling her what beautiful eyes she has, not looking at me once! How can anyone have a fun evening after something like that? I did read the insightful advice you give in this page about self-esteem and feelings of unworthiness and I truly agree with every word you write.

Still, how can you get over actual, tangible rejection when it’s hitting you in the face? Do you excuse yourself and rush to do other things or keep reminding yourself that, “I am beautiful, I believe in

me and so on? That feels self-deceptive, almost hypocritical. You don’t feel so beautiful at moments like that, you feel you’ve just been smacked across the face! Or, do you try to stop caring whether the guy you really like won’t give you the time of day, or in general about how other people react to you?

That is even more intangible and hard to accomplish; humans are social animals and we do depend on others for approval, especially when one is a warm-hearted woman with needs and expectations. So what does one do at that embarrassing moment of rejection?

Do you crack a joke like, “Hey, if you want your hand back, you’ll have to stop eyeballing my friend!” or do you stomp his foot by accident? Please offer me an insight, or a fresh thought on how to handle situations like this, because, truly, I have run out of ideas.

Edna, Benin Ans: Being ignored or overlooked when you really want to make a connection with someone can really

hurt. You’re not the only one who has had this experience; it’s probably happened to most people at one time or another. Still, it’s too bad that you feel like it happens to you over and over. You’re right that we are social animals, people need affirmation and support from others, and you deserve it!

It may be important to keep in mind that not every response you get is a judgment of who you are. It’s possible the people you’re meeting aren’t ignoring you out of meanness.

Sometimes, people might seem uninterested when they are actually distracted, stressed, or tired. It may sound trite, but if people are rude to you on purpose, they’re probably not great people for relationships anyway.

You might also think about how you are approaching people. Before beginning a conversation, do you anticipate rejection? If so, do you think this affects your ability to con-

nect with people? Also, some people may fail to notice that you are looking to engage them. You might feel rejected, but they may not realize that you’re interested.

That’s probably not the case in the hand-shaking example you gave, but how about other times? Making eye contact, asking people friendly questions, and positive body language usually make it clear you’re interested in getting to know them.

Alternately, some people might feel like you’re coming on too strong. Do you think people might perceive you as overwhelming? If you’re really working to gain approval from every person you interact with, people might sense that and feel uncomfortable or pressured. It might help to try to relax and not feel so emotionally invested in every interaction. You’re right; it’s hard to not care what people think, but maybe you could try to worry less about it.

*Destiny, 32, handsome, graduate and gainfully needs an educated, employed lady of 2 5employed, desires a lovely giirl of 18-31 for a 43 for marriage on 08076355362 serious relationship that will lead to marriage on •Ayomide, 50, an engineer , based in that will lead to marriage on 07067504523 08089353066 Lagos, wants a lady aged 35-45 from the •Ayinde, male, 44, Christian, educated, employed , Yoruba, *Idemu, 49, widower, with two children, needs a South West for christian born again lady of 37 years and marriage on above who is gainfully employed or into Do you have reactions to our stories or have you any experience you want 08154677743 business and must be resident in Delta to share with our readers? Please e-mail,anyagafu2@gmail.com •Taofik Ajibola, state on 07034362180 31, lives and works •Race, 34, fair, single, from Imo State , Do you want to be linked? in Lagos, wants a Neither Chioma Gabriel nor Saturday Vanguard has any relationship with anybody wanting to be based in Lagos, desires a working class lady of 23-26 years linked. We have no agents anywhere and charge no fees. We have no personal information of people for a serious woman on 08162782661 who have been linked or want to be linked and therefore, are not answerable for disappointments or •Efosa, 30, from Edo, needs a reliable relationship on embarrassments some people may encounter in the process. lady of 23-26 for a serious relationship 08052355875 C M Y K

SATURDAY

Vanguard, OCTOBER 13, 2012—21

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he initial story was that they stole laptops and phones from people in the community of Aluu, Rivers State. When I heard that, I concluded that they deserved to be caught and handed over to the appropriate authority but not brutally beaten and burnt to a crisp.

Where has our humanity gone? The truth of the matter is that incidents like this take place all over the country and no one is brought to book. Jungle justice is the name, and I shudder to think how many more innocent young lives have been destroyed this way. What of those who are poor and have no one to turn to?

Who speaks for them? They are all dead and buried. It seems it is a crime to be a student/youth in Nigeria. The educational system is nothing to write home about otherwise why would these students not be accommodated

lead us right have lost the will to protect us, they need to be reminded why they are there. It is not a case of agitating for fat salaries when there is no peace in the land. Definitely they themselves will not live long to enjoy their spoils.

info@katehenshaw.com

Crimes of impunity within the walls of the University? The community of Aluu was an ex-militant rehabilitation camp and it was in this same community that when the allowances of ex-militants were delayed, they went on a rampage and raped women at will to show their grouse.

Where are we headed as a people and

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he opening scene is four naked bodies, beaten and bloodied lying in the mud almost lifeless. A man bends down to raise a young man’s head and places a tyre over it; then came the words: “die, die...” Then a big plank is raised and brought down repeatedly on the head of one of the boys still trying to move on the floor, from the corner a big slab of concrete is hurled and it hits the face of another; in another corner lies another young man whose lips are swollen and he has a dazed look on his face...I would continue but my hands shake as I type this article, my heart beats faster, tears roll down my face. It is like something from a horror movie. I wish I had not opened the link that led me into the scene of the killings of four young boys cut down in their prime.

robbers. Over 48 students were butchered; whom parents had slaved away to send to school so that they could fulfil their purpose in life.

Again, the students were outside their University and outside its protection because of accommodation problems. Condemnations have come up from different quarters

I shudder to think how many more innocent young lives have been destroyed this way

a nation? We are yet to recover from the killing of students in Mubi, Adamawa State on the night we as a nation turned 52years old. Mubi had become notorious for attacks; the residents and students went to bed on that fateful night with the hope to see the next day. That was not to be as they were besieged by blood thirsty murderers who arranged the students on the ground, like cows and shot them like condemned armed

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concerning the killings but I dare say, it ends there; as mere condemnations.

How many times have we seen justice done; be it in crimes of corruption, embezzlement, robberies, rapes and the like? Have we lost faith in the justice system? Very likely that is the case. The impunity with which people commit crimes is rising and if we sit and look; we only have ourselves to blame. If those we elected into offices to shepherd our lives and

hat will you say to me as you present the charred remains… here is your son… em he was a thief?! God forbid! The bearer of such news will experience some jungle justice of their own. Double tragedy; not only did they kill those boys in cold blood, they gave them bad name in order to do it.

Is that all it takes to suddenly lose C M Y K

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The Aluu4:a blemish that won't go away one’s life in this country, the label of thief? If that is the case then why are there so many politicians and government officials strutting around hale and hearty?

Once again people stood by and watched. Rather than attempt to put a halt to the unfolding madness they had their smart phones out and

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have come across one of such posts in a case where I reported a fraudulent builder in Calabar and wanted him arrested. The nearest post was on the outskirts of town. This path that we tread is leading us steadily downhill into the pre-historic times where there was absence of law and order. We cannot cast our young into the wild existence. Who will lead tomorrow? What chance do the next generation truly have in this country, Nigeria? Going to school is now a dangerous terrain,and when we as parents send our children to school, we need the assurance that they will return to us alive, hale and hearty. The gun powder has been lit and the bombs are going off. Before we wipe out the future generation, let us retrace our steps. Law and order, justice and trust in the judicial system must be entrenched.

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ready; recording the gory details for the world and posterity. My heart rends! Indeed, every heart of every mother should rend! Look at the faces

We have become a nation of cold and callous people…

t is quite disheartening to note the absence of those who have been empowered to protect lives and property in these two communities where these heinous crimes have occurred. Where were the police? I am sure that the only presence of the police in the outskirts of the townships is a police post where you find one or two officers who will be greatly outnumbered to deal with the situation at hand.

like pretty slim pickings for the boys to risk such a possible end.

Aren’t vigilante groups supposed to work in tandem with the police force? Shouldn’t their duties be limited to surveillance and at best apprehension? Well at least, Mr David Mark now sees the relevance of State Police. Eureka! Just so sad that so much bloodshed and such a consistent waste of young innocent lives had to occur before his moment of illumination.

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hat is this madness?

What kind of darkness has enveloped this nation? No light, no food, no water, bad governance; is that a recipe for barbarism thinly disguised as justice? A lady allegedly steals a phone and the punishment is to be stripped naked, her legs torn mercilessly apart while onlookers record the inner recesses of her human form for posterity. Till this day there is no evidence of the purportedly stolen phone.

Then the mass killings at Mubi and now four gangly undergraduates are accused of theft and what? The punishment is lynching and being burned alive? My heart rends!

Where are the stolen goods? What did they take? Where is the evidence? Even if they were caught in the act; where was the police? I have a 17-year old undergraduate son… I am trying to put myself in the shoes of those parents… my mind and heart cannot conceive it!

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of those boys… did they look like laptop and hand set thieves? And no disrespect to the residents of Aluu, but going by the pictures, it looked

h no!! There was a viciousness to this attack that just speaks of something else entirely. There was one particular shot of a man swinging a plank directed at the head of one of the victims. Even though it was a still picture you could not miss the venom. Almost like he was beating him for the very fact that he existed at all.

That’s another thing there is extensive footage and pictures all over the web so this time it should not be difficult to identify more than a few people. Even the onlookers that stood by filming while the serial killing took place should all be arrested for being an accessory to murder in the 1st degree, before, during and after the fact.

We have become a nation of cold and callous people… and seemingly without even realising it.

22—SATURDAY

Vanguard, OCTOBER 13, 2012

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sex toys just yet, try playing with a little light bondage or roleplay. It’s okay if you feel silly or awkward at first, just stick with it and have fun!

great relationship doesn’t happen overnight.

Even the most compatible and passionate couples need to put effort into their partnerships.

Here are nine easy ways to boost intimacy and connection with your partner:

Make time for your own interests.

One of the best ways to bond as a couple is to spend time apart. Couples who do everything together aren’t necessarily any closer than couples who spend time apart and they’re a lot more likely to get on each other’s nerves! Make sure you spend time enjoying activities and being with friends the way you did when you were single.

Don’t completely lose the person you were before you met your partner . After all, that was the person he fell in love with!

Make a fantasy box.

If you want heightened intimacy, you have to be more open and honest with your spouse, especially when it comes to sex. Create a “fantasy box” to keep in the bedroom.

Write down your sexual fantasies and put them in the box.

Whenever things get dull or routine in the bedroom, pull out a slip and act out the fantasy!

Become adrenaline junkies.

Doing something new and scary with your partner will bring you closer, whether it’s watching a horror movie, or exercising together. If you aren’t crazy about the idea of risking bodily harm, simply try something out of the ordinary together , sampling a cuisine you’ve never tried, for example, or traveling somewhere new together.

Initiate something new, all on your own.

Many times, couples expect their partner to take their lead.

They want more romance, more excitement, and more passion, yet they do nothing to create it themselves. They just sit back and wait for their partner to wake up one day and read their mind! Well, it’s not going to happen that way.

You have to take the initiative, make the first move,and spice things up with your own two hands. Try starting off the day by leaning over and giving your partner a deep, sensual kiss, or join him in the shower after he gets home from the gym. Find little ways to surprise him into remembering how sexy and spontaneous you are!

Bring it out of the bedroom.

If you want intercourse to be

Ways to increase excitement more exciting, try switching up the venue! Sure, the bedroom is great, and most couples have experimented in their bathroom as well — but what about the kitchen, the back porch, or even the car? Just by having sex somewhere new (and some-

where slightly scandalous) , you can get out of a sex rut and embrace your inner daredevil!

Don’t have sex.

Really! Sometimes the sexiest way you can build intimacy is by not having sex. Instead, try

very erotic noninsertive sex.

With this, the focus isn’t on going from 0 to 60 mph in order to reach orgasm. And once penetration is off the table, you’ll be surprised at how sensual sex can become. Try giving each other hot oil massages, playing with feathers, using body paint, and arousing each other in ways other than traditional intercourse.

Don’t be afraid of a little kink.

Erotica and sex toys get a bad rap in our society. People tend to think that these sexy items are for “freaks”but this isn’t the case!

Plenty of couples have found that erotica spices up their sex drives and keeps them adventurous, and you and your mate will no doubt find the same. If you aren’t ready for erotica or

Tell your partner what you want.

We often expect our partners to be mind readers and automatically know what we want. Of course, this is impossible, and when we’re inevitably disappointed, we become resentful and bitter. Rather than getting upset with your partner for not giving you things he doesn’t even know you need, be open about what you are looking for. Couch your request in a compliment rather than a complaint. For instance, you could say “I really like it when you help me clean the house, it shows me how much you care for me and helps me relax and enjoy our time together” or “It really turns me on when you take your time on foreplay before we have sex.” Remember, all good relationships require communication, effort, and a little commitment to spicing things up!

Don’t believe the hype.

No matter what you see featured in romantic movies, the truth is that every couple experiences ebbs and flows in the bedroom, and everyone has to work to keep their sex life fresh and fun.

Don’t get caught up in the idea that there is something wrong with your relationship if you have to schedule in date nights and sex, or that intimacy shouldn’t take

effort and preparation.

Ask the Sexpert

Is it normal to want sex all the time?

Q: I am ready for sex all the time. I can’t stop thinking about it: My genitals keep reminding me. I feel constant sexual stimulation. I try to have sex so that the craving will go away.

It also sometimes goes away with rubbing or a hot bath. I now selfstimulate twice a day, and my husband is tired of me wanting sex. But often the feeling comes right back.

How many husbands out there have that problem, or would like that problem? This is a new problem; I’ve never had this happen before. Is this normal?

Ebie, P-H Ans: Most women would probably think that you are very lucky to experience constant sexual arousal, yet the truth is that this is not to be taken lightly. If your constant desire for sex is getting in the way of your daiC M Y K

ly life, you could be experiencing a rare but serious condition known as persistent sexual arousal syndrome .

Although this condition may sound amusing, or even pleasurable, it is actually quite devastating and can be emotionally and physically destructive.

This condition is marked by a constant feeling of sexual arousal, even when no sexual stimulus is present and no sexual arousal is desired. Many women with this problem are otherwise happy, healthy, functioning adults with stable jobs and relationships. It can come out of nowhere , a woman may wake up to find that her body is aroused through no desire or stimulation of her own. It can happen to women of any age, and there are no warning signs.

The causes for persistent sexual arousal are not clear, but pelvic congestion and nerve hypersensitivity are

possible suspects as the feelings of arousal come without any sexual thoughts or desire. Others believe it could be a brain abnormality that is causing those feelings of arousal to occur out of nowhere, but whatever the cause, it is a serious condition that can be quite devastating. This is especially true because many women are embarrassed to broach the topic to their doctor, and many doctors don’t always take the condition seriously. Some doctors even go so far as to say the condition is all in a woman’s head or that she is lucky to have such strong sexual feelings but the patient is in constant d i s c o m f o r t !

I I’ve never had an orgasm Q: I’m 52 and have been married for almost 30 years. I don’t seem to have any sex drive, nothing feels good, and I’ve never had an orgasm.

Years ago I spoke with my gynecologist and he referred me to a psychologist but still nothing has worked. My husband is encouraging and eager to help, but lately I’ve started to wonder if it could be a hormonal problem. Any suggestions?

A: It’s important that you get tested for any physical factors that may be diminishing your sexual function. Since you are at or past the age of menopause, I’m almost certain some hormonal imbalances are at work. Decreased estrogen can cause the vagina to lose its suppleness and lubrication, and decreased testosterone can affect both your sex drive and your lack of “feeling good” when touched.

However, hormones are not the only problem here. Since you’ve never had an orgasm, you have what’s known as primary orgasmic disorder. The causes can be physical, emotional, or both.

Vanguard, SATURDAY, OCTOBER 13,2012—23

By Anozie Egole 07088551416 egole.anozie@yahoo.com

Inyanya is special to me —Yvonne Nelson H

ottest Ghanian actress, Yvonne Nelson is, no doubt, one woman who has come to stay in the industry. The beautiful, tall and talented actress has just confirmed that she’s into a relationship.

She revealed recently that she is into a relationship and she is happy about it.

She also cleared the air on the rumour making the rounds on her relationship with Inyanya, the Nigerian artiste.”Yes I am into a relationship and I am happy.I am Inyanya’s biggest fan. I love his music. I have his music on my iPod, iPad, Blackberry and iPhone. He is a very special

person to me,” Yvonne s a i d .

But she failed to say if Inyanya, the Kukere crooner, is the one she is romancing at the moment. However, she confessed that Inyanya is a special person to her and that she won’t state

categorically if he was her date or not. ”I will not say anything on that because I don’t say much about who I am dating or who I am not dating.

Bigiamo changes look ...releases new album,

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he new wind blowing through top Nigerian entertainers has now stopped at the door steps of popular music star, Bigiano of ‘Shayo’ fame.

Recently, Nigerian c e l e b s have been changing t h e i r l o o k s f r o m b r a i d s a n d

dreadlocks to a low-cut look, which has made them looked more handsome. Some of them are Timaya, Basketmouth, Terry G and others. A source close to Bigiano said that the singer has taken off his trademark braids-look and has now gone for a low-cut look.

The talented singer is going through a massive re-branding processes and is set to storm the music industry again like never before.

Yvonne-Nelson

Kefee Obareki drags Omotola into new album

Tinapa to be unveiled as Africa’s Entertainment Center

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elta State-born gospel artiste and former wife of Alec Godwin, Kefee Obareki has dragged sexy Nollywood actress, Omotola Ekeinde Jalade, who is also a singer, into her new song.

A close source revealed that the singer is now set for the release of her fourth and double CD album. The album is titled “Best of Both Worlds”.

The Branama queen featured top Nigerian and Ghanaian artistes in the new album like, Duncan Mighty, Eedris Abdulkareem, Skales, Jahborn, Lami, Eben, Becca and few others who featured in the double album.

The first part of the album would be released in October while the other part is due for November 2012.

Kefee Obareki, stormed the music industry in Nigeria with her hit single ‘Branama’ C M Y K

Bigiam O

he multimillion tourist center built dur ing the administration of Donald Duke of Cross River state has been selected as African’s Entertainment Centre for Film, TV and music productions. Report has it that a new media and content company has won the franchise to run the Ultra modern production studio as part of the Tinapa resort.

The company will be charged with the responsibility of developing and producing programmes on lifestyle and entertainment, and broadcast same to the whole of Africa through cable television. The company has already been signed by DSTV, the South African cable television to broadcast the channels.

The formal unveiling of the centre has been fixed for for next year.

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Kefee Obareki

24 — Vanguard, SATURDAY , OCTOBER 13, 2012

BENJAMIN NJOKU

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t last, J’odie, born Joy Odiete Eseoghene, who found fame after participating in that 2007 West African Idols reality show has dropped her maiden album, joining the likes of Omawumi and Timi Dakolo who were her contemporaries.

J’ Odie is dropping the album few years after she had her “Kuchi Kuchi” single. She explained that the delay was as a result of her desire to give her fans a quality music. “ I am not in a hurry to drop my album. It takes me time to build the album, and it’s not a cut and nail work. It has quality and everything everybody would want in listen to. A party goer will love my album. “ said in a chat with Showtime.

The 10 track-LP, which explores genres ranging from New Age to Folk to Techno proving the African Woman knows no bounds.

The songbird loses her mind on her songs, saying that they are songs that a r e perceived to be my kind of songs.

And when I worked on those tracks I immediately realised it was time for me to release my debut album.”

J’Odie, who is recently

signed with DUN Entertainment said, she’s planning to shoot the video.This is the first time, J’

Odie will signed under any record label.

According to her, her ability to diversify has given her music a new boost, as apart from doing soul RnB, and pop, she has blended it African lyrics. “ If you listen to my song, you will hear, RnB, pop and African lyrics” she narrated.

J’ Odie’s fans and critics alike should look out for the love ballad “Biko”, a power ballad with actual power and emotion. The songbird explores different tones of her voice, layering them beautifully to build up the emotional intensity achievable due to the vulnerability of voice with spine-tingling ad-libs. J’odie gets her ‘Enya’ on for “Akpona Igbunu” sung mostly in her native dialect ‘Urhobo’, the vocal wonder shows her expansive range, pitchperfect scaling, vocal layering and transposition fuelled with emotion so effortlessly she makes singing looks like child’s play. You might not understand what she is saying but your ears will beg for more.

The hit track, “African Woman” is a testimony that African music is classic and timeless, sadly she might not enjoy the success of mainstream albums nonetheless this album will rival releases in 10 years time.

D’banj denies Illuminati affiliation ...condemns gruesome murder of 4 Uniport students

BY OPEOLUWANI OGUNJIMI

F

ollowing accusations that D’banj is a member of the world’s most powerful secret society, Illuminati, the Kokomaster has now come out to clear the air.

According to him, he denied being a member of Illuminati, and claimed that the relationship he had with Kanye West’s G.O.O.D Music, is nothing but an official one.

He made this open declaration during an interview on the ‘Morning Show’ on the BEAT 99.9 FM. The rumour of D’banj having joined the Illuminati went viral early this year, when he broke up with his Nigerian business partner, Don Jazzy for a juicy contract

t a h s la c o t 4 W , a ll re Denrele, Du w o h s s n a h rp o d n a s h t you

C

hannel O presenter, Denrele Edun, Kontrol crooner, W4 and the King of the Zanga, Durella have open

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up on the upcoming 2-in-1 musical concert for youths and orphans which is scheduled for Sunday, November 18th, 2012 at the popular Fountain Hall (Surulere Shopping Plaza) opposite Havana Hospital, Akerele, Surulere, Lagos from 4-10pm.

The concert is being packaged by Kittens Promotions in conjunction with Ozone 03 Media. Kittens Promotion is managed by Damilola Adegbuyi, a dynamic young lady, a graduate of Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ogun State and a mother.

The organisers of the event have revealed that regular tickets for the concert is N2, 000, VIP is N5, 000 while Captains’ Deck has been pegged at N10, 000. Concert tickets can be purchased at Domino (E-centre) Stores or online at www.capstrov.com.

Other stars billed to perform include Rayce, Tipsy, AY.com,

Jboy, Mudina will all be at the concert.

Denrele gave his thoughts on the upcoming event ‘’I will be there to entertain people as usual, these people need our love and care, let’s not deny them”. Durella went on to say ‘’the ‘Zanga’ will be hot that day as I intend rocking the stage for all the youths present”. In the words of W4 ‘’I will be there to give my all as usual and also to show love”.

A

s part of activities designed for the event, Kittens promotion will visit some of the orphanage homes and present gift items to the orphanages. The kids with talent in entertainment will be put on scholarship to further harness their skills. They will also be incorporated into the society which never cared for them as they will have the chance to meet with some of

the best artists on display in the country. The concert will also provide a platform for them to be heard as some of them will light the stage.

In a statement signed by the PR Agency attached to the concert, Hoye 247 Media ‘’we recognise the essence of showing love to those who are in dire need of it, this is the time for us to show the orphans in our midst that we truly love them and care about them, that is why we are doing this and a certain percentage of the concert’s earnings and gifts would go to charity. We implore people to get their tickets on time so as to avoid the rush”.

Some organisations have thrown their weight behind the concert, the likes of Soundcity, City People, Ozone 03 Media, Campus TV, Super Maritime, KOC, Culture, Hoye247 Media Limited, Best Cream and others.

with Kanye West.

Meanwhile, D’banj being UN’s Ambassador For Peace, has condemned the ruthless murder of 4 Uniport students last week.

In a statement issued and signed by him, he says he’s still in shock and asks for such inhumane acts to be nipped in the bud.

“Four young men, all undergraduates, brimming with great dreams, unfulfilled aspirations and a promising future were killed. To express the depth of my pain and shock at their murder is impossible.

And understanding how events could have degenerated to this level is truthfully beyond me.

Vanguard, SATURDAY , OCTOBER 13, 2012 — 25

EXIT OF A RARE GEM

I never had a chance to tell you how much I love you —Rev. Endy Amadi, younger brother

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HE call came in about 9:00 pm. It was from a colleague of yours here in Umuahia. While Lagos was still in the dark about you, he delivered the news of your demise to me after assuring himself that Mama and my wife, Eukay were no where close and asked me to take it like a man.

Man I am, yes, but how do men take the news of their immediate elder brother ’s death. With a smile, a laughter, unbelief, a shrug, a cry, gnashing of teeth, I could not understand as I stood rooted to the same spot where I received the call. Gradually, the tears came and alongside the pains, regrets, anxiety. As brothers, growing together, we went to school together, slept on the same bed, wore similar clothes, ate from the same plate, had our arguments and fights, yet, we stuck together.

We had our jokes and pranks. While he boiled at nothing and froze at everything, he stood tall in the comity of friends because he talked frankly. He was a nononsense person who would not hesitate to speak his mind irrespective of whose ox is gored.

Dusty, as he was better known was a very emotional person and very little things like picking his call immediately upset him [ask

*Late Amadi with 9ice

*Late Amadi with Timaya that explains why he was outstanding in his chosen career. He knew his health situation and made sure that he had two inhalers in his car, two in his office bag, yet another two in the breast pockets of his suit. He never took chances and never took anything for granted. Yet death “came” despite these.

M

*Justice Esiri & Late Ogbonna Amadi my wife] and not returning the calls was warfare. What he lacked in brawns, he made up in brains and talk.

Indeed, his death is as

shocking as it is embarrassing and painful because he was a very meticulous person who took his time to understudy people, situations and all and

...And the music stopped!

By BENJAMIN NJOKU Yes, the music has stopped suddenly when the dancers are already engrossed in its beat.

Army of dancers are leaving the stage, dazed with pain and loss Silence and darkness have become our lots; Our world has collapsed with the exit of a mentor.

Death where is thy sting?

We live today, and pay the price of death tomorrow.

Dede Nne’ I weep for your loss Mama Jude is still in shock Only you can wipe away her tears...

Your priceless kids are missing your fatherly presence Your colleagues are devastated...

But now, you are no longer in our world Had the opportunity called, you would have bargained to live on But death never come ringing bell As the saying goes,, it is a necessary end, it will come when it will come Your death was an incurable pain in my neck, Too difficult to comprehend..

What of our unfinished business?

The sun has journeyed far away into the sky And our day has broken forth into night...

As you begin the dance in another clime, one thing is certain And that is; you have left your footprint in the sand of time Forever, you will live on my mind Good night...

y brother and I had our quarrels. I hated his greater than life image of himself while he hated my confrontational attitude yet in our sober moments, we showed respect for each others modest achievements in our fields. I make bold to say that no one knew my brother better than me because even from his office, outside his home, he would call and for sometimes, an hour and half,

pour out his heart to me and often in the course of the discussion our fights would start and he would hung up. I felt my brother thought we were in a competition and did everything to measure up to him and possibly beat him.

But today, I know better. There was never a competition.

Dusty was light years ahead of me. His death opened my eyes to the knowledge that all he was doing to me was his own way to ensure that I was up and doing. Strange that after his visit to the village, he called me despite the fact that as usual, we were in our usual fights, to ask that I should go back to writing so as to take his place to which I said I was not interested.Five days later, he was dead. As we commit to the bosom of mother earth, the remains of my brother, Prince Ogbonnaya Nkwa[Chi] Amadi, I regret that I never had chance to tell him despite our differences how much I loved him, and how sorry I am .But I am encouraged by my [our late father’s] word “some men may go and some men may come and life must go on forever”. To live is for Christ and to die is gain. You, am sure have gained eternal glory.

Rest in Peace, my brother, Don Dusty, Onkason, Crown Prince, Nna Nkwa and Entertainment King. Heaven beckons you. It is well.

Star sent bricklayer back to classroom through Game Show

T

he joy of Chukwuma Mathew, a 21 year - old bricklayer from Enugu, knew no bounds when he won one million at the fifth edition of the Star TV Game Show. For three years, it had been his dream to further his education. But this appears like a tall dream as his only means of raising fund could only put food on his table, while his poor parent with other five siblings, live on the mercies of the daily trade of his mother.

At last, his dream of becoming an economist, from the Enugu State University of Science and Technology (ESUT), where he had already gained admission to study Economic, was bright

when he qualified to participate in the 2012 edition of the Star TV Game Show and subsequently, won the star prize of N1million. .

Speaking on how he will use his one million naira, Chukwuma said: “With this one million naira, my dream of going to the higher institution is now sure. I will use part of the money to help my family because I know things are not too well. My mother is a trader while my father is a retired military personnel but he is not doing anything for now.”

Chukwuma, confessed, “My days of suffering are over; this one million naira will change my life and that of my family.”

C M Y K

SATURDAY Vanguard, OCTOBER 13, 2012—27

*Plus size women

Plus-size women dazzle at Miss Plus size pageant

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rand hotel Asaba was agog last weekend when pretty plus-size ladies battled it out. The trophy was the crown for the Miss Plus-size beauty pageant initiated by Victoria Iheakonye, the CEO of Vichiano Service Limited. The pageant started off with over 2000 women applying to take the winning prize, but only 18 made it to the Finals in Asaba ,Delta state.

The event had a touch of international flavour with a few Americans taking part in making the show a success. The judging committee was headed

by Qristyl frazier, a notable face at the Black Entertainment Television(BET) Rip the runway pageant in USA. Also on the

judges panel was one of Nollywood’s finest, Aquila Njamah. From Nollywood as well was plus-size actress, Ifeoma Okeke. Completing the judging team was another American, Nicole Esperenza Zepeda.

Though some of the plus-size beauty contestants knew how to work and walk the runway, catwalk coordinator, and choreographer of repute, Angel Vivian drilled contestants for weeks on how to dazzle on the Runway. Getting contestants looking good was an international stylist, Spry Lee Scott also of BET. The event kicked off on time at 7pm with Ola of Big brother hosting the show. Co-hosting with him was Liris Crosse a

Plus-size model in the USA. They steered the show to an enjoyable climax. It was fun all the way with performances from various artistes, including ‘2 sec’, Delta born twin sensation.

After the first run, the contestants were reduced to five, and later reduced to three.

After much deliberations from

the judges, Onyeka Nwanne was crowned the winner of the pageant. Onyeka is a final year undergraduate at the Madonna University. She walked home with a brand new Toyota car. The first runner-up and second runner-up won N1m and N500,000 respectively.

The three finalists were also made ambassadors of Plus Size

Wale Adenuga breaks new grounds, debuts with wapTV

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*Wale Adenuga

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here is a development in the world of copyright and I think it is important that Intellectual Property (IP) owners in Nigeria (particularly audio-visual content owners) be in the know and indeed be prepared to, at all times stand firmly on the side of copyright rather than ignorantly allowing themselves to be railroaded into queuing behind what can best be described as ‘copyleft.’

Copyleft is perhaps the best way to describe the general political drift of skepticism or hostility regarding copyright.

There is a group today canvassing for what they call the ‘Development Agenda’ – i.e. the main opponents to a robust copyright. Reports have it that this movement can be observed in the United States of America, the European

enowned publisher and producer, Wale Adenuga has continued to break new grounds as far as the entertainment industry is concerned in Nigeria.

He recently unveiled another major arm of his flourishing trade with the establishment of a TV channel called wapTV. The television station, launched on October 1, has a mandate of revolutionsing viewing habits of Nigerians.

Unveiling the station described as “Nigeria’s whole family entertainment channel”, Chief Adenuga said wapTV’s birth and subsequent development is an amalgamation of spiritual influences and choice of personal, from the chairman down to the lowest echelon, as there is a bond/family atmosphere that encourages the growth of the brand.

The General Manager, wapTV, Abdulhakeem Union, Brazil and other countries. This so-called development agenda movement tends to be the result of plethora of lobbying backed up by influential groups who purport to represent the interest of the civil society. These groups have moralized the debate about copyright legislation in such a way as to characterize it as an unfair monopoly that locks away access to content and serve the bottom line interests of large developed world media conglomerates.

Of course, this accusation ignores the mere fact that there are thousands of creative industry enterprises all over the developing world who need and want the highest possible level of rights’ protection in order to be able to make their businesses

Williams said, Adenuga’s dogged determination to see the project through serves as a catalyst for all the staff.

“His never ending enthusiasm and drive are factors that drive our unique station because he is, without doubt, wap personified,” he added.

Adding, Williams said while the channel has launched new programmes such as morning ride Kookoorookoo, Oro Agba, Wapparazi, Vogue 360, Reel Naija and Awokogbon (mainly Yoruba movies), it will also air Adenuga’s classics that include Superstory, This Life and Odd

Between copyright and‘copyleft’ sustainable through the commercial exploitation of intellectual property rights.

Nollywood falls within this category. These are the ones who truly have the interest of the consumer at heart; not those lobby groups who claim that bodies fighting for IP rights want to make access to

content more difficult. Certainly not these lobby groups who believe that content should be free and therefore have contempt for the risk-taking and spirit of enterprise of key financiers in Nollywood (Producers, Executive Producers and Distributors/ Marketers).

Women’s Health Foundation.

They will be working on projects which include creating awareness for fibroid and fertility related problems. To speak about the issue was Dr. Paddy Zowa of the South Shore Women Clinic. Other supports of the event were the Delta State Government, Trans Africa, Western energy amongst others.

World among others. WapTV, he said, can be found on Startimes Channel 222.

Adenuga has over the years distinguished himself as a seasoned publisher and producer. His record with widely sold defunct Ikebe Super and Binta and Friends magazines, as well as popular TV series that include Papa Ajasco and Superstory, ThisLfie speaks volume for him in this regard. It is however the same stride that some people will closely watch Adenuga as he makes foray into running his own television station.

I am raising this early red flag because there was a time when Nigeria delegation at the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) was more moderate about copyright reforms – it supported the “Development Agenda” aims which included a drive to change the balance of copyright law and increase exceptions to copyright for the benefit of education and access to knowledge, etc, but it was also open to a procopyright discourse from creative industries. Today, however, the story is different.

The Nigerian government through the Nigerian Copyright Commission (NCC) seems to have decided to gain in leadership on the group gathering countries from Africa, if not the countries forming the development agenda.

C M Y K

28 —Vanguard, SARTURDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2012

I don’t see colour getting to an ‘oyinbo’ -Ashionye A shionye Ugboh-Raccah is a talented singer and actress. Asides establishing a career in music, she has had good shots at acting featuring in M-net’s produced Doctor’s Quaters and Tinsel and later, Lilian Amah’s Jungle Ride which fetched her an AMAA nomination for Most Promising actress. Recently, she concluded production of her gender inspired movie titled Journey to Self, where she is using the medium to denounce the prevailing ill-treatment that is often meted to the women in the society. In this interview, Ashionye talks about the project, her acting career and what binds her together with her oyinbo husband

By BENJAMIN NJOKU

G

iven the storyline to your new movie “Journey to self ”, can one be right to describe you as a feminist?

I’m not a feminist. If not, I wouldn’t have been happily married with a child. Actually, I believe in female empowerment. There are a lot of ordeals that women go through, which I believe as a woman, deserve to be addressed. That’s why when I have the opportunity t o

I wouldn’t say women have not been fairly treated in our society, it depends on individual situation and individual life

speak about empowering women, I quickly jump at the opportunity.

“Journey to Self” is a story that is being relayed through the eyes of these women because the same issues affect the men as well as the children in their lives. So, it’s a social issue addressed through the eyes of these women.

What message are you trying to convey?

A lot of messages are being conveyed through the movie, issues of wife battery, relationship in a family and other social malaise. I don’t want to let the cat out of the bag, I just want people to wait and see the movie when it hits the cinemas very soon.

It’s a movie you can take your wife, and your kids to see in the cinemas.

I believe people will relate to the story or the issues that these women went through in the movie.

How come you branched into producing films after a long absence from the screen?

After I had my son, I decided to take some time off the entertainment circuit. While I

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was on vacation, I started writing.

I was inspired to write after reading various stories online, and in the national dailies about a woman’s situation in the society. I just started writing, I told my husband, I want to put my anger to paper; I want to express myself in the story.

Remember that I studied Mass Communication. I majored in broadcasting, I brought my experience as a mass communicator and my love for writing into play. It took me about three months to get the script ready.

At the initial stage, I wanted to sell the story. But when the company I approached wouldn’t want to procure the story because they were looking out for something else; I decided to produce the movie myself. At this point, I went all out to shop for sponsor, and a friend of mine, Osia Sido, who played Uche in the movie, introduced me to the owner of Fressia Entertainment. That’s how the relationship between Fressia Entertainment and Arikaku Media, which is my own production outfit started. We joined forces to produce the movie.

J

udging from the movie, are you insinuating that women have not been fairly treated in our society?

Like I said before, the movie is addressing issues that women are going through in the society. But these issues also affect both the men and children in their lives. So I wouldn’t say women have not been fairly treated in our society. It depends on individual situation and individual life. As a woman,

Vanguard, SARTURDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2012 — 29

married I’m expressing myself, and I connect to women easily since I’m a woman. So I decided to feel the story through the eye of a woman. And since I got the information from real life experiences that I don’t need to be told and these issues affected the women.

You started out with Tinsel, that was where you made your name?

Not really, I started with “Doctor’s Quaters”which also was an M-net production in 2005. That was one of my very first acting on television and on stage, I did a “V- monolog: Nigerian story” and also, a stage play titled “Once upon a Mad “ produced by Kofi, a comedian. Thereafter, I did a movie titled “Jungle Ride”which gave me two nominations; Best Upcoming Actress And Best Actress at AMAA and Naija Awards.

“Doctors Quaters” was my very last television series before I went into producing my own movie “Journey to Self ”.

Did you find it difficult to break into Nollywood?

I’m still trying to break into the industry because apart from “Journey to Self ”, other movies I have done were “Mumu”,a comedy movie and “Jungle Ride” produced by Lilian Amah– Aluko who was on the set of Doctor’s Quaters” with me . Like I said earlier, I have a body of acting career and I still want to feel it. I’m hopeful, with “Journey to Self ”, I will definitely break into Nollywood proper.

W

hat new innovation are you bringing into the industry?

I’m an actress, a producer and a screen writer. As a screen play writer, I will like to write stories that really affect the Nigerian society. I have a peculiar style of writing that is uncommon in Nollywood.

As a producer, I want to produce good movies that can challenge a lot of international movies whether Hollywood or Bollywood. And as an actress, I want to be given a challenging roles; roles that can bring out the stuff that I am made of.

While you lasted on the set of Tinsel, what would you remember as your greatest undoing?

Tinsel was funny. I didn’t

have any challenge on the set of Tinsel. Even the boy, Dozie who played the role of my son, he was equally amazing. I learnt so much from the people on the set of Tinsel as well as they learnt from me.

May want to ask how I got on the set of Tinsel, I travelled out of the country for a holiday and when I returned, I was invited for a reading which I did. That was how I joined the cast.

It wasn’t difficult because their was an existing character and they needed to introduce another character. I was asked to read for the new character as well as the existing one. But after the exercise, I was given the role of Monica Adewale which was the existing character.

Apart from acting , and producing, you also sing?

Like what one Rev. father said , if you have lots of talents ,don’t be shy to express yourself. I believe that I have lots of talents which I need to showcase to the world; be it radio , television and the big screen.

I read Mass Communication in the university and I guess, the knowledge I acquired from school was what prompted me to go into radio and television presenting. The acting is inborn in me. I will say I started acting at a very young age as well as singing.

I remember when I was growing up, I used to perform for my parents in our living room. I have never been a shy person . As a child, I was an extrovert. I still have some other things I will love to do such as writing a book.

A

Ashionye...I believe that I have loose of talent which I need to showcase to the world, be it radio , television and the big screen C M Y K

t what point , did you realise you could sing?

When I was about four years. My late mum used to be in the church choir and I guess , it rubbed off on me. I have an album and three singles already in the market. The last of it was produced by T.Y Mescode , and it is titled “Just a little Bit.” I took time away from the entertainment world working on my next album . I have the songs ready now, but I’m not a in a hurry to release the album. I’m in love with script writing and I want to concentrate on doing that for now. I have started writing another screenplay.

What would you say marriage have done for you?

Marriage have matured me.

As a single woman, there were certain things I did that I can’ t do now. Marriage and

the birth of my child have made me a lot more patient and matured person. I am a woman now. There are some things that I look at now as a wife and a mother, and I ignore. But back then, I wasn’t matured enough and I thought I was. I have been matured for over three years now.

How did you meet your husband?

I met my husband in 2001, we have known each other for over 11years. We met here, in Lagos.

I

s it a new trend where Nollywood stars are falling for the ‘Oyinbos’?

This is not about going for the “Oyinbo’s” or the ‘Oyinbos’ coming for us.

It’s about the relationship.

It’ s not a matter of whether your husband is black or white. It depends on the relationship you have built over the years with him.

It depends on a lot of of things. And by the way, how many Nollywod actresses are married to the Oyinbos? I don’t see colour as an individual in marriage. My husband doesn’t see colour either. I believe that the actresses that you are referring to, and their husbands don’t see colour too. That’s why they decided to marry. The world is one colour to me, but don’t ask me which colour.

You might see my husband as a white man, but I don’t see him that way. After all, my husband was born in Kano and he speaks Hausa fluently.

He is a Nigerian as much as you are a Nigerian too. So, I don’t see colour in o u r marriage.

W h a t was the reaction of your parents w h e n y o u introduced him to you?

There w a s n o oppostion.

My dad

knew I have been in a relationship with him for awhile. So, there was no reason for him to oppose the marriage. He was very happy to welcome another son-inlaw into our family. The relationship between my husband and my father was fantastic.

Now that you are back in Nollywood, have the scripts started flying into your hands?

I have gotten some offers for movies that will shot e a r l y n e x t year.

And

Marriage and the birth of my child have made me a lot more patient and matured person

30 — Vanguard, SATURDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2012

Sir Alex Ferguson's 7 most underrated players as Manchester United Manager F

or every overrated hack like Nani, there have been underrated, consummate professionals like Ji-Sung Park who go about their job quietly and with passion, giving nothing less than 100% in matches. Yet these individuals are constantly overlooked in favour of the more flamboyant players.

There has been a fair share of underrated, unsung heroes at Old Trafford ever since Sir Alex Ferguson took over.

Suffice it to say that Dimitar Berbatov got the short end of the stick at United. Ferguson wanted to play differently, and somehow the Bulgarian did not fit in.

He went from being being the top-scorer on one season to the fourth-choice striker, behind Wayne Rooney, Javier Hernandez and Danny Welbeck.

Berbatov was a joy to watch—he held the ball immensely well in the attacking third and allowed teammates to join the attack and orchestrated play beautifully.

Had Rooney been more of an out-and-out striker, and he not had the additional burden of orchestrating play on numerous occasions, Berbatov might have had fared better. But, it was decreed otherwise.

In the end, it was good that Berbatov parted ways with United, as such a talented player should certainly not be on the fringes of a team.

“non-United” standard.

•Phil Neville

Anderson

Many United faithful see Anderson as an utter flop, but there is no doubting that he is sheer talent through and through. Had last season’s injury not forced him out, he and Tom Cleverly could have formed a lethal partnership.

The signs are still there, and let’s just hope Anderson has a chance to prove himself before he is shipped out. But time is running out for the Brazilian.

•Anderson

•Phil Neville

Ji-Sung Park By the time he departed, Ji-Sung Park had completely won over the United faithful. He was a tireless, big-match performer who did not get as much media limelight as some of his contemporaries. Nevertheless, he was an ever industrious player, and it’s sad that he was shipped out when United could have kept him on the fringes and utilized him in times of dire need.

•Ji-Sung Park

Darren Fletcher Darren Fletcher used to be the Michael Carrick of old. With even his own captain, Roy ck Keane, bashing him in 2005 and ridiculed by Carri l e a h supporters as Fergie’s son, Fletcher was one •Mic of the perennial scapegoats.

However, when he could not play in the 2009 Champions League Final, his worth was there

•Tim Howard •John O' Shea

hil Neville, despite being unable to replicate the form of his illustrious brother Gary, was a no-nonsense defender.

Obviously, Denis Irwin was still there, and he was not as fantastic as other great left-backs of the league like Ashley Cole. Nevertheless, he was a fantastic player in his own right.

His attitude and work-ethics stood out the most. But in a generation that bestowed upon players like David Beckham, Roy Keane, Gary Neville, Paul Scholes and Ryan Giggs, he was surely going to be overlooked.

Woods beats McIlroy by six strokes at World Golf finals in Turkey •McIlroy shares a laugh with Woods during their match Thursday.

Getty Images

John O’Shea Capable of playing at virtually any position, including goalkeeper, John O’Shea typified the notion of “Jack of all, King on none.” He was never really able to claim a position for his own, and despite proving his worth on numerous occasions, he had to part ways with United.

Michael Carrick As a Manchester United fan, there has been no other player in recent history who polarizes supporters like Michael Carrick. To some, he is the fulcrum of the team, the player who closes down space, holds the ball well and distributes with perfection.

To others, he is an average player who only passes backwards and sideways and often slows the game down, especially on counter-attacks.

His defensive abilities are strong, and he is an absolutely impeccable distributor of the ball. Last season, he came to life by putting several worthy performances and helping United grind out results, yet, there are many who still label him as C M Y K

Tim Howard Tim Howard was exceptional for United—a decisive penalty save against Arsenal in the Community shield won numerous hearts and a handful of worthy performances cemented his cause to be United’s first choice goalie.

However, a terrible match against Porto in the 2003/2004 Champions League shattered Howard. He never fully recovered from conceding a last-minute goal at the hands of Porto which saw them eliminated from the tournament.

With Edwin van der Sar arrived, he was shipped out to Everton on a loan deal which was later converted to a full-time contract.

He is doing remarkably well at Everton, and at only 33, he still has several good years ahead of him.

GOLF NEWS

Phil Neville

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for all to see. Supporters finally warmed up to him, realizing finally how much protection he offers to the back four and his ability to set up a quick counter.

After that, Fletcher grew in reputation and held great promise until being sidelined with injury last year.

He is back, and we can only hope he regains full fitness.

ELEK, Turkey — Tiger Woods beat Rory McIlroy by six strokes

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Thursday to advance to the semifinals of the World Golf Final, turning the first head-to-head match between the world’s top two players into a onesided contest.

McIlroy, No. 1 in the

world, was eliminated from the $5.2 million exhibition after slumping to a third consecutive group match defeat on a day of low scoring at the Antalya Golf Club.

Woods shot 7-under 64 for a second straight victory and will face Justin Rose of

England in the semifinals later Thursday.

“It felt good and I really hit it good out there,” said Woods, who won just a half-point from four matches in the U.S. team’s loss to Europe in the Ryder Cup last month. “My game is starting to turn around a bit and I am beginning to hit it like I did at the start of the year.”

Rose shot a course-record 62 to beat U.S. Open champion Webb Simpson by five strokes and also stay perfect in the event, which has a first prize of $1.5 million.

Charl Schwartzel shot an 8-under 63 to defeat American Matt Kuchar by two strokes for his third straight win. The South African, who won the 2011 Masters, will next play Lee Westwood after the fourth-ranked Englishman shot 64 to beat Hunter Mahan by three strokes.

McIlroy will leave Turkey with a check for $300,000 but still returned yesterday for a pro-am involving all eight competitors after the final.

Vanguard, SATURDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2012 — 31

Off The Pitch

Zlatan Ibrahimovic not leaving PSG? Paris Saint-Germain director of football Leonardo says Zlatan Ibrahimovic will not return to AC Milan in the near future .

Ibrahimovic, a 31-year-old Sweden international striker, said earlier this week that he loves Milan and could return to the club one day . The Sweden international left Milan to join PSG over the summer.

According to Leonardo, a Milan return won’t happen soon.

“He was only voicing his respect for Milan and for a city that he loves,” Leonardo told reporters “Ibrahimovic is not going anywhere until he has won everything there’s to win at PSG."

In the absence of real transfer gossip, the rumour mill often heads another direction: Players are denying rumours.

This is one of those days.

In this edition of Off the Pitch, we have updates on Zlatan Ibrahimovic and

Arsene Wenger sending scouts out for strikers?

•Zlatan Ibrahimovic

Racism “Does Not Exist” in Spanish Football Spanish FA president Ángel María Villar has been quoted as saying “there is no racism in Spanish football” UEFA fined the Spanish FA after fans directed racist abuse at Italy ’s Mario Balotelli during Euro 2012.

In 2011, Barcelona defender Dani Alves said: “The clubs and the league try to do some things to stop it. They try to punish the clubs, but it is uncontrollable. It will not go away.”

Villar, 62, played for Athletic Bilbao among others during a career that lasted from 1969-81. He has served as president of the Spanish FA since 1988.

•Arsene Wenger

Spanish Star Would Bewise Wise would be Not Return not to return to Tennis Until until 2013 AFAEL Nadal cannot risk further injury to his knee by returning to tennis for the last part of the season, which is why he would be smart to take some more time off and return to the sport in 2013.

He recently spoke about his injury .

“Impossible, no. But difficult, yes,” Nadal said when asked whether he would make a comeback before the end of the season.

“I can imagine when I come back I will need time to practice and practice more and more every day, maybe that will take a month-anda-half.

“The most important thing is to continue with the treatment ... when I don’t feel nothing, hopefully that will happen soon, I will come back on the tennis court.”

Fabrice Muamba set for FIFA role?

F

IFA president Sepp Blatter has invited former Bolton Wanderers midfielder Fabrice Muamba to the organization’s Zurich headquarters in order to discuss a possible role with world football’s governing body, according to reports.

Muamba, 24, collapsed on the pitch during an FA Cup match in March. His heart stopped for 78 minutes, but he survived.

The incident forced Muamba to retire in August.

Wayne Rooney and Coleen expecting 2nd child Manchester United and England forward Wayne Rooney and his wife Colleen are expecting their second child .

The couple announced the pregnancy through Coleen’s Twitter account on Wednesday. Their first son, Kai Wayne, was born in 2009.

Nemanja Vidic not leaving Manchester United?

•Ángel María Villar

Rafael Nadal:

C M Y K

Arsenal manager, Arsene Wenger has asked his talent scouts to find a new striker for a potential move in the January transfer window, according to reports.

The sports media mentioned four names as potential targets: Athletic Bilbao’s Fernando Llorente, Atletico Madrid’s Adrian Lopez, Borussia Dortmund’s Robert Lewandowski and Fiorentina’s Stevan Jovetic.

It was reported Wenger will have £35 million to spend in January and suggests that Llorente and Lopez top Arsenal’s wish list.

•Nemanja Vidic

TENNIS NEWS

R

Nemanja Vidic, a couple of big stars who apparently aren’t going anywhere.

There are also updates on Arsenal’s transfer policy, racism in Spanish football, Fabrice Muamba’s new life after playing football and some good news for Wayne Rooney.

There are no more Grand Slam tournaments for him to win in 2012, and there’s no chance that he could recapture the No. 1 ranking if he came back.

Nadal has very few reasons, if any, to force himself back onto the court before the Australian Open in January. We have seen too many players in tennis, and in other sports, return from injury earlier than expected and still have problems.

Should Nadal return to tennis before 2013?

Knee problems are very serious, especially for players who use their athleticism and quickness to gain an advantage over their opponents, like Nadal does. Without two healthy knees, Nadal would be much easier to defeat— even on clay.

The agent of Manchester United defender Nemanja Vidic says his client will not leave United for Juventus in the January transfer window.

Vidic, a 30-year- old Serbia international central defender, is recovering from a knee operation. He missed five months of the previous season with an injury to a cruciate knee ligament.

Vidic has been linked with a move to Italian champions Juventus, but agent Silvano Martina denied the rumours.

Vidic is not playing at this time because he’s had surgery, so he’s only thinking about his recovery and not about the transfer market.

Juventus are complete with their non-EU players for this season and it is highly unlikely they will make a bid for Vidic who is already part of a top club and there are no negotiaWilfried tions with Juventus.

Zaha

•Wayne Rooney

32 — VANGUARD, SATURDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2012

A gentleman’s behaviour

By GABRIEL AMEH

O

ne only needs to take a quick glance around to notice that there are very few true gentlemen remaining among us.

In times past, a gentleman was much appreciated and being gentlemanly was a noble thing.

But things have changed in today’s society; some for the better and some for the worse.

One thing that particularly irks me is the lack of good taste and etiquette most guys are guilty of at the turn of this new millennium.

I’m not saying that men should act like robots and be slaves to etiquette, but some basic good manners will go a long way in helping you during your ascent to the top.

What I’ve done is compile a quick list of tips that will help turn even the most blundering fool into a proper gentleman.

Follow these simple tips and I can assure you that people will perceive you as a man of good breeding and taste, hence a man they wish to associate and conduct business with. Not to mention the fact that the ladies are always quite pleased to meet a real gentleman.

shows that you don’t have the vocabulary to express your thoughts appropriately. Furthermore, it is always very crude and impolite to be vulgar.

Do not speak loudly When you speak loudly, it raises the stress level among company. It always implies that you can’t reason with people C and rely on “brute force” to Mget Y your point across. It also draws K attention — negative attention.

Do not lose your temper When you lose your temper, you are showing everyone that you can’t control your emotions. If you can’t even control yourself, then how can you possibly control anything else?

Keep your cool at all times (it won’t be easy but it is worth the effort) and people will take positive note of your levelheadedness.

Do not stare Staring at someone is the equivalent of psychological aggression. You don’t want to stare at people for no reason.

Do not interrupt Let people finish what they are saying before adding your comments. Interrupting others is a sign of poor etiquette and a lack of social skills. If you want to come across as egotistical, you can do so by constantly interrupting.

Do not spit

Always be polite Even if you don’t like someone, there is no need to lower yourself to their level. Be polite and courteous; show that you’re the better man.

Always be polite

A lot of men do this almost subconsciously. Spitting is very crude and not too pretty to look at. Do not spit in public unless you want to look like you were raised in a sewer.

Respect your elders In fact, you should respect others as you would like them to respect you. I am specifying elders because it seems

Do not lose your temper

Do not curse Swearing is a big no-no. It

that today, young men think they know it all. Well, they don’t. Just think of yourself five years ago... you’re much smarter and experienced today, aren’t you? Of course, yet you thought you knew it all five years ago.

Do not laugh at others’ mistakes This is perhaps one of the cruelest things one can do.

When you mess up, the last thing you want is for someone not only to bring it to your attention, but to ridicule you on top of that.

Remove your hat indoors This rule seems to have gone out the window these days. You should remove your headwear upon entering a building. Furthermore, never keep your hat on while at the dinner table. It reflects very poor etiquette.

Wait for seating before eating When sitting down for a meal, you should wait until all the guests are properly seated and ready to commence the meal before eating. Everyone should start dining at the same time; this is a subtle but very important rule.

O-Men

How to tell if your man is cheating

T

here are common behavioural patterns in men who cheat and there are a number of

common tells in the behaviour of the cheaters men have encountered, especially in the ways they act around available women, and in many of their social patterns and communication habits. We present our growing list of findings here below for the benefit of women who may use them, along with their own judgment, to assess overall behaviours and avoid cheating men.

Behaviour around women If you want to know how he’s going to act with new women to whom he is attracted, think back to how he operated with you when you first met. This may be indicative of his typical behaviour patterns.

If he had a girlfriend when you first met and he still got down with you, he is a cheater. It is unlikely that he made an exception for you. Do not ignore this evidence.

If he tried to get to know your body before your brain, C M Y K

this is most likely the way he operates with other women. A guy who will move to you the first time you two are alone has done this before, and will do it again. If he ramps up the intensity of the relationship in the early days with pet names, affectionate texts/calls that seem too early or otherwise out of place, he is working to get you hooked on him. This is typical of the Player type .

If over time, he is unable to sustain this level of affectionate interaction with you, he may be working on hooking someone new.

Ask him about past relationships. Surprisingly, men who cheat will often be honest about cheating on past girlfriends. This does not mean he has changed and this does not mean he will not cheat on you. If you are dealing with a Player, he will not admit this information. Be especially cautious if he tells you that he is “working on changing” or “trying to be better.”

If he blatantly checks out other girls when you are

with him, be on your guard. This also applies if you are speaking with him on the phone and he will not say your name. You are likely dealing with a cheater, and not an especially skilled one, either.

Social patterns If he has a group of male friends who often cheat, it is highly likely that he also cheats. Ask him what kind of relationships with women his male friends have and listen very closely to the reply.

If the amount of time he spends with you decreases dramatically and/or the amount of attention he pays to you increases dramatically for no apparent reason, he is most likely cheating. The likelihood of his cheating increases if these two tells are seen at the same

time.If he develops a new hobby out-of-the-blue or suddenly starts going to the gym / caring more about his looks/clothing, he could be trying to attract / impress someone new.

SATURDAY Vanguard, OCTOBER 13, 2012—33

M r s .

Elizabeth N g o z i Ehigiamusoe

Women should be the role models of their homes— Ehigiamusoe

BY MOSES NOSIKE

You have worked with former New Nigeria Bank as a chartered banker, now a gospel artist and managing director of a leasing company, Micro Investment Support Services Ltd, how is your experience of the environment?

As a matter fact, women have been liberated to some extent because our men now allow us to go to school and as well do other things to support the family. Again, the economic situation of the country is not something a woman should leave family responsibilities for the man alone to take care of. Like other women, I rightly say, I have been contributing to the welfare of my family in my little way to assist my C M Y K

husband take care of the family.

Nigerian women are hard working type and gone are the days for laziness. I don’t think there is anybody that wants to be a liability any more. We are all doing something to make sure that we support our husbands in marriage.

,

M

rs. Elizabeth Ngozi Ehigiamusoe, pop ularly known as Ehiliz, her pet name as a gospel artiste is a gospel artiste cum managing director of a micro-leasing company.

She has impacted many lives through songs especially with her recently released album titled: “Ndidi” (Patience)at her 50th birthday.

In this interview with Woman In Her Prime, she didn’t mince word on how women can achieve a lot in life if only they plan well and work out their plans even in marriage. She also added that since women are home makers, they ought to be role models in their homes.

Excerpts:

I’m not a full time gospel musician, so I do other things in life. I’m also a student running a part time programme at the University of Benin. And my husband has equally seen that one man can’t really carry everything. There is need to empower women to help their families so that things would work out fine.

So, he assisted by giving me consent to doing what I’m doing today. My music line is a passion I had from time and he was convinced that I had a passion for music even before we married I was singing. I don’t think it will be wise for him to say put a stop for now, especially when I’m singing to praise the name of God, who has kept us till this time. I need to appreciate Him with my songs, because I know there are some of my colleagues who are not alive today.

Many women are not achieving like their men counterparts, what is your take on this?

The economic situation of the country is not something a woman should leave family responsibilities for the man alone to take care of

With the challenges associated with home management and career building, how can a woman position herself for greater achievement?

Achievement in life is all about planning and God’s grace. You have to plan your work and work on your plan.

One of the reasons so many women are not excelling is because they are not focused.

Others rely fully on their husbands.

Personally, I try as much as possible to carry on together, combine my programmes with the way I planned it out and still make time for my home.

Like I said, going to studio,

,

Sometimes illiteracy is one of the causes. Like I told you earlier, women are now liberated unlike before when it’s believed that women are to be seen and not heard. And there are certain professions women should not embark on unlike the men. And those days it was said that women’ education end in the kitchen and all that, it’s not so these days. Gradually women are overcoming all that. Another reason is inferior complex , to the extend that they don’t like to hold positions even in government parastatals or in the public sector. But I think the few ones that are out there, we are encouraging them that it worths doing. I

don’t really want to conclude it that what man can do woman can do better. But I think there is need for women to wake up. Even in the church, we advise them to hold on what they are doing.

They can even do better. May be in Nigeria we will only come back to what we are expecting, when a woman becomes a governor of a state or president of this country, it’s possible, because women have power and God gave us wisdom to manage things that are committed into our cares.

How are you coping with the stress of managing a micro leasing outfit, your home and also singing?

Like I said earlier, I’m not playing music to make money.

I do that mostly on Sundays in church services because I don’t go to work on Sundays.

Then Saturdays I handle other things because I have made up my mind to become a success despite stress and challenges. On weekly days, as a managing director of a macro leasing outfit, a subsidiary of LAPO, I have been running it for quite sometime now and God is helping us to move from one level to another. It’s all about making up your mind to plan well and making sure you work on your plans. It’s possible with God’s grace to carry out our human activities.

In all, I attribute our success to the grace of God. Women are capable if they make up their mind and remain focused.

In this part of the world, it seems women find it difficult to succeed in politics, as a woman why is it so?

Even though I’m not a politician, I feel that the system is bad and that is why women are finding it difficult to secure positions. I told my husband that even if I’m asked to become the first lady today, I’m not ready. I’m satisfied with where I am. The system is corrupt and polluted. And it has got to that level that if you can’t beat them you join them. Like it’s always said that, ‘a tree can’t make a forest’. Except by the grace of God, there will be somebody

that would single himself or herself out and said, this is what I want to do, but even with that, if you are agreeing with them, they will get rid of you.

So, those women who have the got, I praise them and encourage them to move forward. I also encourage them to cause a change the world will see and not pitching tents with those who are not doing anything.

At 50, a lot of young women out there would like to learn of your experience in the civil service, as a mother and how you overcame the hurdles as a woman. And more to that, women are often time faced with sexual harassment, what is your advice?

On a more serious note I have not faced such challenge since I got married. I had that experience when I was a single because once you are single you can’t rule that out.

Sometimes, your boss will ask you to go out with him.

Honesly, the first thing that would help a woman overcome sexual harassment is the way and manner you comport yourself. If you are such a cheap person, you are giving not only your boss but others to say anything they like to say to you, even though some men as you comport yourself they will still come to try you. In that case maintain your integrity as God has made it; one man and one woman in marriage. Even though your boss might punish you unnecessarily because you don’t want to mess yourself up, maintain your position. After a while he will realise that you are a woman with integrity.

However, women should not give in to such temptation because of fear or love of money. If you do that, you have sold your birth right and that is how I see it. Women, stand on your feet! respect your husband because you saw other men before you decided to settle with him.

Whether there is enough food on the table or not, work with your husband, plan together with him, before you know it, God will open a way for you.

34—SATURDAY Vanguard, OCTOBER 13, 2012

not my calling. I believe that going into agriculture would enable me to create job opportunities and at the same time eat healthy too.

P

rince Wale Oyekoya is the

Managing Director ,Bama Farm Foods, a food industry that promotes with healthy lifestyle. He is our guest in this edition of Celebrity Tummy Talk as he speaks on why eating fresh foods is the only way to wealthy lifestyle. Enjoy it

How can you describe upbringing in terms of food?

I grew up in a family that

Prince Wale Oyekoya cherishes fresh foods. As a child, I was used to farming and my parents encouraged me. They told me how my hands were good on planting.

Then, I planted maize and my father was always there for me. And that was why he

advised me to go to Alabama State University, USA to study agriculture. Studying agriculture was an eye opener and I developed a passion for it. I have been into oil and gas, real estate but I believe that, those were

Chicken Fries

F

ried chicken is popular because it’s tasty and it can be eaten both freshly cooked or cold as a picnic food or cold-plate snack. It can be prepared in different ways and can be garnished with either lime, lettuce, cabbage, tomatoes or cucumber.

Recipes

Y

ou might be doing more harm than good to your body if you don’t desist from eating frozen chicken. This is because frozen chicken is not fresh and therefore it exposes serious health hazard to one’s life. Rather, it is advised that instead of eating frozen chicken, it is healthy to eat fresh ones.

Experts say, chicken that is fresh helps prevent arterial plaque formation, which in turn helps reduce the risks for heart disease.

According to agriculturist, Prince Wale Oyekoya, Managing Director, Bama Farm Foods, frozen chicken poses health challenges including cancer, typhoid and malaria which in turn shortens the lives of people.

“Frozen chicken that is imported from Cotonou can only be regarded as deadly chicken because, it is preserved with formalin and has been in the ship for more C M Y K

than a year. Like frozen fish that is brought from China or Holland and transported to Africa. “Most of these chickens are not meant for human consumption because they are called spent layers which are processed for animal feed.

“Frozen chicken has been banned in Nigeria during the regime of former President Olusegun Obasanjo, yet, it is still being imported into the country. This is what everybody should be worried about”, he said.

He laments that, there is no enough poultry and chicken to go round in Africa and that is why government need to support agriculture in the country.

“Fresh chicken is directly from our farm, slaughtered and processed and can only be kept in the refrigerator for two days before dishing it out."

What would you say is different in your eating habit now?

We eat junks and fertilised foods nowadays and this is posing serious health hazard to our bodies. Even the water we drink is not as pure as what

Your exercises?

I jug round the track in the University of Lagos, UNILAG, complex. I do lots of aerobics, jumping, running and that is why, I am fit. I also eat healthy foods and take lots of water.

Taking lots of water preserves our body from contracting diseases. Eating fruits enables the body to get all kinds of nutrients including calcium, potassium, phosphate and minerals.

What kind of fruit sdo you take?

I take oranges, banana, pineapple. All these fruits contribute positively to one’s health.

Today’s Menu

TIT BITS

Why frozen chicken is dangerous— Expert

Your kind of food?

They were mostly vegetables and fruits. The only thing was to go to the backyard and plug guuru, shoko, ewedu and okra and kill chicken or goats too. We hardly eat frozen foods. The fact is that Nigerians have deviated from the agricultural sector and nobody is farming anymore, yet the population keeps increasing by the day.

is obtainable in the past.

Most of the fruit we eat now is full of fertilizer, instead of planting them with manure as it was done in the past.

Some of these chemicals have disadvantages and are full of health hazard. Our environment is polluted now.

- One chicken cut into eight pieces, boned and skinned.

-One small white loaf of bread with crusts removed: two day old bread is best .

-One tablespoon Dijon mustard.

-One teaspoon chopped fresh herbs .

-Two eggs, beaten -Sunflower oil, for frying

Preparation Remove the skin and tendons from the chicken. Put the chicken fillets between

two sheets of plastic food wraps or parchment paper and pound with a rolling pin.

The flattened pieces are now known as escalopes.

Add the diced pieces to the food processor and process into breadcrumbs. Pour them into a shallow, wide bowl or dish.

Season the escalopes with salt and pepper to taste. Brush each escalope with mustard and sprinkle over the chopped fresh herbs.

Dip each escalope into the beaten egg. Be sure to coat both sides evenly.

Heat the oil in the pan. Add the coated escalopes. Fry in the shallow oil for about four to five minutes. They are done when they are brown.

Remove from the heat. Drain on paper and serve. If you are cooking one at a time, keep the fried ones warm in the oven until serving time.

Your food and your health Blood Building

F

or blood building, you can squeeze the leaves of garden egg and pumpkin leaves and take a glass of the juice daily for a week or two.

You can also boil guinea corn leaves and cocoa bark together in water and take a glass twice daily. Mash one banana and mix it with one and half glass pineapple juice, raw egg, two teaspoon of honey and

milk and take it daily at night for one week.

Why fresh chicken is good for your health

D

o you know that eating fresh chicken is the best thing your body requires?

Fresh chicken has nutritional value and it is an excellent source of lean protein, with little saturated fat content in comparison to other animal proteins. Reducing saturated fat helps prevent arterial plaque formation, which in turn helps reduce your risks for heart disease. The protein from chicken is also essential for the creation of amino acids in the body. Fresh chicken is also a beneficial source of the B vitamin niacin, as well as minerals like selenium which are needed for the body to operate correctly.

SATURDAY Vanguard, OCTOBER 13, 2012—35

Bad habits that are good for your health weight than those loyally devoted to their bran and wheat flakes.

Y

es, even if they eat sweets! A hearty morning meal that finishes with a little treat actually prods the brain to produce lots of mood-boosting serotonin during the day.

Serotonin dampens hunger pangs, cuts cravings in half and speeds fat-burning by 25 percent for 11 hours or more.

Feeling lazy about exercise Always wishing you could be one of those people who does cross-fit and runs ultra marathons? Good news, you lazy bum! Well, grueling workouts don’t guarantee weight loss. In fact, they can stall slimming by revving up your body’s production of lipoprotein lipase (LPL) — a hormone that triggers impossible-to-ignore hunger pangs. Cutting daily exercise into smaller chunks

•Gossiping helps reduce stress...

•Craving chocolate

N

o surprise. Chocolate is one of the foods people, particularly women, crave most.

And now Harvard studies suggest that savoring two ounces of chocolate daily (ideally, the darker kind) can cut your artery-clogging Low Density Lipoproteins, LDL, cholesterol by 14 percent—thereby preventing dangerous clots by 36 percent and improving blood flow to your heart by 48 percent. Credit goes to cocoa’s flavonoids — powerful antioxidants that dial down inflammation, relax arteries, plus help control your liver ’s cholesterol output. So go ahead. Enjoy your favorite bar of Mars!

•Drinking

Eating the egg yolk Heard about a recent Canadian study that said eating eggs is almost as tough on your heart as C M Y K

•Moderate drinking is healthy... smoking? Well, it turns out the study was pretty badly flawed.

First of all, the subjects had to try to remember how many eggs they’d eaten throughout their entire lives — a tough task, as you can imagine, even if you hate egg. Secondly, the researchers ignored important factors like exercise and sugar intake. In fact, several welldesigned American studies— including the massive Framingham Heart Study— have found no link between egg intake and heart disease.

Researchers at the University of Texas found that egg yolks were packed with antioxidants that stall the growth of

,

Despite all the hoopla surrounding red wine, researcher say regularly drinking any type of alcohol— whether you crave a frosty mug of beer, an icy rum and coke or a sweet malt— can boost your artery-clearing High Density Lipoproteins, HDL, cholesterol levels by 10 percent. A drink could help reduce your risk of heart disease, help with memory problems and even improve fullblown Alzheimer’s disease by 40 percent. Drink up and be merry.

But keep it moderate.

straight. Women who spread positive, uplifting gossip found their depression alleviated by up to 72 percent within three months.

Also, speaking positively about others stimulates women’s natural bonding instincts.

Not cleaning up after dinner Don’t feel guilty about not keeping the place pristine clean.

Regularly scouring your kitchen with antibacterial sprays can actually increase your risk of being exposed to dangerous drug-resistant bugs. While those sprays can kill some germs, they are useless against the feistiest, truly dangerous ones—which grow like wildfire once the weaker bugs aren’t there to crowd them out. To play it safe, simply wipe down surfaces with regular dish soap and hot water after cooking. Then, once weekly, quick clean up with bleach, which destroys even drugresistant bugs in less than 60 seconds.

Procrastinating Almost 75 percent of women put off their to-dos once in a while —and one in four do it daily, according to a study at Canada’s University of Calgary.

And it turns out those breaks for Angry Bird may be beneficial to their health! Research at Germany’s University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf suggests that taking a restful break from the bedlam (to check out Facebook or Pinterest, read funny e-mails) boosts production of compounds that nix aches and pains in as little as eight minutes. Study authors suggest breaking up tedious tasks with several short breaks (instead of one long one) so the painkilling effect can last all day.

Sipping coffee instead of water

Water cures all and coffee is evil, right? Well, according to studies, caffeine helps shuttle blood sugar into muscle and brain cells, cutting your risk of prediabetes by as much as half.

As for the ugly rumuor that coffee is a dehydrator?

Research says you absorb just as much water from eight ounces of coffee (or tea) as you do from eight ounces of water! results in a larger fat-burn Don’t toss the water bottle, but than one long, grueling feel less guilty about that coffee break. session.

,

Cutting daily exercise into smaller chunks results in a larger fat-burn

cataracts.

Eating pastries for breakfast Cookies? Sure! Pie? Why not?! Cake? Great! Research shows that several women who focus on a hearty, filling breakfast without worrying about morning calories can lose at least three times more

Gossiping Twenty minutes chatting with a trusted friend about other people’s news helps almost everybody squash feelings of stress, tension and anxiety for up to four hours

Staying late at parties Hanging around at fun gatherings to yak with great friends can actually cut your risk of insomnia in half, according to a Japanese research team. “Anxiety is a prime cause of poor sleep.

36— Saturday Vanguard, October 13, 2012

C M Y K

SATURDAY Vanguard, OCTOBER 13, 2012—37

C M Y K

38—SATURDAY

Vanguard, OCTOBER 13, 2012

YOUNG NIGERIANS MAKING THE DIFFERENCE

Project friendship international (PFI) Email: youthfulvibes@gmail.com

P

FI making a wave of change through various programmes. Recently, it showed its patriotism through the leadership of Pastor Emmanuel Alao at Nigeria 52 Independence Day celebration and has been teaching young people life skills and entrepreneurial skills.

Daniel ChineduNwodi, is another young Nigerian who is taking the message of change from Nigeria to Republic of Benin where he recently organized the World Youth Summit under the platform of Students without Borders that he established. His work has also taken him to the United Arab Emirates where he spoke at an international meeting. Daniel tells us how it all started and what motivates him to serve humanity

from Asaba, Delta State.

M

,

y upbringing I was born on 28th November, 1981. I a t t e n d e d AanuOluwapo Primary school at OkeOdo, Alimosho, Lagos where I got my first school leaving certificate. I went on to State High School, Oyewole, Agege, Lagos where I completed my secondary education.I studied French Language at Beninese Centre for Foreign Language under the University of AbomeyCalavi, Benin. I graduated from University of AbomeyCalavi, Republic of Benin where I obtained a Bachelor of Arts in English Literary Studies. From the same university, I obtained a diploma in journalism at Radio Univers. I did my one year internship with the campus radio station and moved my career in journalism to National Radio Station called Atlantic Fm in Republic of Benin as a presenter and a reporter. I had the privilege to serve as Public Relations Officer for the Nigerian Student’s Association in 2007 and President of Nigerian Youth Association in Republic of Benin 2009.

In 2006, I initiated and founded an NGO registered in Republic of Benin called ETUDIANTS SANS F R O N T I E R E S INTERNATIONAL meaning STUDENTS WITHOUT BORDERS INTERNATIONAL because of my service to humanity.

I have gone through various trainingprogrammes with the LEAP Africa integrity Institute, Rotary, Junior Chamber International, National Youth Service Corps, National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (Regional Training on Drugs and its Consequence), International Youth Fellowship (World Congress), Pan African Students Summit, Global Issue Network Conference etc. I have also attended lots of

Look for what you have passion doing because what you do today will surely speak for you tomorrow

,

international and local Conferences, Workshops and Seminars for personal development. I have been awarded in my pursuit of service to humanity. Some of them include:: - Rotary Youth Leadership Award, District 9110, Nigeria 2005 - National Association of Nigerian Students, Lagos Axis (Africa Patriot) 2007 - Future Nigeria Awards (One of the 160 Best Nigeria Youth) 2010 Houdegbe North American University, (MASCOT AWARD) Most Outstanding Nigerian Youth in Republic of Benin. 2010 - NYSC – Badagry, Lagos “The most active Corp member” 2011".

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orld Youth Summit in Cotonou It is part of our program that we organize an event to mark the world youth day which comes up on 12th August every year. This year’s is

remarkable because it goes along with World Peace Day which was on 21st September, 2012. The World Youth Summit was held at Codiam in Cotonou on 22nd September, 2012. The theme was: Reawakening of the African Youths.

The summit attempted to serve as an effective platform to give participants the understanding, knowledge and skills to involve all relevant principles for responsibility of Re-Awakening of the African youths I choose Cotonou as the venue because that is where I started my volunteer work and I saw an opportunity to take the Nigerian students across the border. We believe that tourism is an avenue of education.

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hat makes you thick asan individual?

Well! I will say God because He is the one that put the passion in me to talk to young people about their mindset and reorientation especially in Nigeria and beyond. Most youth talk down on Nigeria and they have forgotten that no one will build Nigeria for us expect we Nigerians. This can be done through our positive words and actions. An average American will wake up and say God bless America. How many Nigerians do say God bless Nigeria. Other things are enthusiasm I have for my work in journalism. I believe anything worth doing is worth doing well.

he Genesis and impact of Students without Borders international My organization started when I was in French school, at the end of the session we are meant to have an end of the session party. My fellow students approached me and said they want me to be part of it. I suggested that it should be done with a remarkable legacy.

We had eleven nationalities in my class so the word “students without borders” because we had a woman who was from

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Nwodi addressing his audience at a workshop C M Y K

Some youths of PFI displaying their skills and potential sculptors.

Europe and her husband was the representative for Doctors without borders.

Students without Borders International is a nonpolitical, non-governmental and non-profit organization that advocates youth leadership skills; tourism as an avenue of education, promoting ethical standards and striving to create positive change in the society by providing our members the opportunity to be united.

Our focal areas include: International trips, Youth Leadership Programme, Anti – Corruption Campaign, Human Rights Education, Drug Free Society, MDGs Awareness Creation and Agriculture for the Youth.

I was in Dubai last February precisely Abu Dhabi at American Community School, Abu Dhabi for a conference called GIN conference (Global Issue Network). I was the only Nigerian as a presenter. We were six presenters from different parts of the world.

One from Ghana, One from Canada, three from USA. It was a great experience because that was first time of leaving Africa. I did my workshop on Human Right Education. It was a boy I met in Ghana during the Pan African students Summit 2011 that recommended me to the school and that is how I got to Abu Dhabi. The experience was immense because I leant a lot even as a presenter.

Participants came from several countries across the globe especially from the Arab countries like Oman, Saudi Arabia, Yemen, Jordon etc. students also came from part of Europe and America.

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y pieces of advice for Nigerian Youths.

Believe in yourself. Discover yourself very well. Look for what you have passion doing because what you do today will surely speak for you tomorrow. Stay out of drug and let start building the Nigeria we want to see.

Corruption is not a way of life; it is just a mindset that can be corrected.

SATURDAY, Vanguard, OCTOBER 13 2012—39

Happy cheers for Margaret Opesanwo @ 70 When Victor AhiumaYoung buried mum

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itting 70 is never easy and when people do ,they turn on all the lights for the world to see and for Chief (Mrs) Margaret Olusimbo Opesanwo, it was not a different matter as her family and her friends stormed Methodist Church Nigeria Opebi, Ikeja last weekend for a special thanksgiving service to mark the occasion. If being 70 is truly diamond the happy and joyous celebrant got cheers and gifts more like diamonds in value.

Photos by Shola Oyelese

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t was a glorious outing and a moment to remember when friends and associates of Victor AhiumaYoung of Vanguard, joined his family and siblings in Ahisimie, Agbor, Delta state for the final burial ceremony of his late mother, Mrs Anna Okwurionu.

L-R:Nike Jolaoso ,Lanre Opesanwo, Dewale Opesanwo, Sola Opesanwo ,Chief (Mrs) Margaret Olusimbo Opesanwo, the celebrant, Gbenga Opesanwo, Ayisat Opesanwo ,Tinuade Opesanwo and Bisola Opesanwo

L-R: Chief Adeniyi Fogorala, Chief (Mrs) Margaret Opesanwo, the celebrant, Chief Olusegun Abajo Olowu, Deacon Doherty, Olu Onafusi and Mrs Bisioye Osidipe

L-R: Chief Solomon Onafowokan, Asiwaju of Remo with Otunba Alaba Abiodun Oniru of Iruland

L-R: Chief A Oyedipe with Mr and Mrs Gbenga Badejo

L-R:Chief (Mrs) Bukky Oyedipe, Chief (Mrs) Margaret Opesanwo and Alhaja Sekirat Adegunwa

L-R: Stella Young, Ogorchukwu Young, Emmanuel Young, Victor Ahiuma-Young and Gabriel Konyegwuachi

L-R: Andrew Okwurionu, Godwin Okwurionu and Victor Ahiuma-Young

Victor Ahiuma-Young, carrying little Testimony and wife, Charity

Colonel Monilola Akerele dazzles @ 50 COLONEL Monilola Akerele is a lady colonel but one who knows what it takes when it comes to pulling off a deluxe social parties and that was exactly what she did when she celebrated her 50th birthday. With the support of her husband, her family and her constituency in the military the celebration was alushplush affair and did left a mark on Lagos Island Club where the celebration held

Colonel Monilola Akerele with her husband, Children ,daughter in-law and grand daughter C M Y K

Colonel Monilola Akerele with members of the Nigerian Army Medicl Corp led by Gen Okpobrisi

Colonel Monilola Akerele with her husband Chief Abayomi Akerele in group photograph with members of Ikoyi Club.

40—SATURDAY VANGUARD , OCTOBER 13, 2012

Third Mainland Bridge: Complete diversion tomorrow OLLOWING the on-going repair works on the Third Mainland Bridge by the Federal Government

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More firms identify with Abuja Motor show HE best of automobiles from across the globe will be on parade at the Eagle Square Abuja from October 16 to 24 when the 14th Abuja Motor fair kicks off. Expected to be on display for the nine days exhibition will be the latest technology from leading truck, car and bus makers.

Also to be on display are spare parts, accessories, lubricants as well financials from other other African countries, America, Asia and Europe.

According to BKG Exhibitions Limited, the Organizer’s of the fair, “the determination to keep pace with the growing demand for durable and efficient commercial vehicles and trucks as well genuine spare-parts and easy access to acquiring them by individuals, logistics and business entities in the country, reputable global major players in the automotive businesses have affirmed their readiness to delight patrons and prospective customers with the bests and latest of these products and services at the forthcoming Motor Show.”

Already leading players in the auto sector that have confirmed their participation the fair which has won accolades as: ‘the fastest growing auto show in Africa’Vanguard Newspaper and ‘the most consistent auto show in Nigeria’Onwheels Magazine include: Weststar Associates, CFAO Group,

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•Toyota Camry heading to Abuja Motor Show.

Stallion Motors, Lanre Shittu Motors, Toyota Nigeria Limited, PAN Nigeria, National Trucks Manufacturers [NTM], Hyra Motors, JAC Motors, Leventis Motors, WA Industries, Hebei Zhongxing Automobile Company and, Wuhan Dapco Auto parts. Others are: Mansard Assur, Oando Plc, Mobil oil, MRS Oil. Some of the categories of trucks heading for the premium auto show include: Light and Heavy Duty Trucks, Tractor Heads, Tippers, Trailers Heads, Tankers, Cargo Trucks, Garbage Trucks, These will come from the stables of Leventis Motors-Volkswagen, JCB

and Eicher brands, Lanre Shittu Motors-Mack brand and, National Trucks Manufacturers [NTM] with Qungqi brand. These truck distributorship in Nigeria while announcing their readiness to storm the fair arena with their wide range of heavy and light duty trucks, revealed their determination to unveil the best of the truck world to visitors at the fair. According to them, “ we will delight our existing and potential customers with the best of modern trucks as well showcase variants of our tropicalised trucks at the fair ground.”

Most of the Trucks combine the features of

workforce and luxury machines which makes driving them akin to driving executive limousines.

Another category of automobiles where keen contest will be high is the luxury car and bus segments. On parade there will be the latest from Toyota Nigeria Limited with Toyota brands of automobiles and spare parts, CFAO Group with Nissan, Isuzu, Chevrolet and Mitsubishi brands.

Stallion Motors will parade its multi brands of Honda, Audi, Porsche, Hyundai, Skoda, Mahindra and Volkswagen products; while KIA Motors will

Active Brake Assist, another safety innovation from Mercedes-Benz ORLD renowned truck maker, Mercedes-Benz has scored yet another point in the area of safety. The world number one truck maker recently added another safety innovation to its range of truck. The new Mercedes-Benz truck, Active Brake Assist 3 was demonstrated to the international press in Hanover, a day to the kickoff of the 2012 International Commercial Vehicle Show (IAA) . The drive safety presentation Active Brake Assist 3 was held at the ADAC test track in Hanover – Laatzeen.

The Active Brake Assist was highly commended by the journalists as there has

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never been anything like it before in truck braking.

One of the journalists who sat very close to me yelled as Mercedes-Benz drivers demonstrated the latest technology. “This is fantastic. Mercedes has raised the bar again. It is a good innovation coming from Mercedes,” he said.

With the Active Brake Assist, the truck, Mercedes Actros which was used for the demonstration responded like a typical sedan in its braking as it avoided the Mercedes car in front of it during the demonstration.

The Active Brake Assist 3 brakes when it recognises stationary obstacles. It is a new unique feature in

Mercedes trucks and coaches. Until now, the risk of a rear-end collision with a slower vehicle travelling ahead caused the safety system to initiative a full brake application.

The new Active Brake Assist 3 brakes the vehicles if stationary obstacles such as an unexpected traffic jam on the motor way are defected.

The radaar-based system scans the lane ahead of between 0.15 and 200m in front of the bus whilst continuously measuring the distance and the relative speed of vehicles ahead or the distance to an obstacle. The radar technology functions reliably in almost all

whether and light conditions. Active Brake Assist is active at all speeds up to 100km/h.

showcase the latest in the KIA family etc.

From the China will come cars and buses such as Yaxing from WA Industries, Brilliance, and Geely from the stable of Hyra Motors. The indefatigable Peugeot brands will be at the Eagle Square courtesy of PAN Nigeria, with their flagships such as 508 and the Alvsin brand.

Hebei Zhongxing Automobile Company and Wuhan Dapco Auto Parts Co. Ltd of China will lead in the Spare parts section while Mansard Insurance will hold sway in the financials. Mobil Oil Plc, Oando Plc and MRS Oil Plc will showcase the best and latest in the lubricant section; amongst other notable names.

To assist patrons and prospective customers, these Companies have on their own individually collaborated with financial instructions for easy acquisition.

and the diversion of traffic at sections of the bridge, the Lagos State Government has advised motorists to make use of alternative roads on Sunday, 14th October, 2012 as the Third Mainland Bridge would undergo complete diversion of traffic from 6a.m to 12 midnight.

Commissioner for Transportation, Comrade Kayode Opeifa, who disclosed this in his office at Alausa, said that the complete diversion from the bridge is to allow the contractor, Borini Prono, to do the concrete casting of the expansion joints currently undergoing repair works on Oworonsoki bound section.

According to him, the concrete casting and drying process require zero vibration hence the diversion of vehicular traffic away from the bridge from Adeniji Adele to Oworonshoki end on Sunday, 14 th October, 2012. He added that during the diversion, motorists inward Lagos Island and Ikeja would be restricted from having access to the bridge from 6a.m to 12 midnight.

The Commissioner who applauded the persevearance of Lagosians since the commencement of the repair works on 11.8 kilometers Third Mainland Bridge on 8th July, 2012, appealed to road users to bear with the Government as the repair works and diversions would soon be over.

He urged motorists approaching from Lagos end to as usual connect to follow the diversion at Adeniji Adele Interchange to connect Carter Bridge, link Iddo interchange where they can easily connect Ikeja, Ojota, Ketu, Ikorodu, Agege, Lagos Ibadan Expressway, Alimosho, Oshodi, Abule Egba amongst others via Eko Bridge, Herbert Macaulay Road and Apapa Oshodi Expressway.

L-r: Mr Simon Lee, Hankook Tire Co Ltd,Johannesburg, Mr Feras Riyal, Managing Director, Royal United Nigeria Ltd, Mr N. Mansour, Chairman, Royal United Nig Ltd.

SATURDAY Vanguard, OCTOBER 13, 2012— 41

Child Sexual Abuse

By Brandon Harris

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Hello Jets’,

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hild sexual abuse is a form of child abuse in which an adult or older adolescent uses a child for sexual stimulation. Forms of child sexual abuse include asking or pressuring a child to engage in sexual activities regardless of the outcome, indecent exposure of the genitals, female nipples and others with intent to gratify their own sexual desires or to intimidate or groom the child, physical sexual contact with a child, or using a child to produce child pornography.

In this edition, child sexual abuse is treated by Brandon Harris and there is a poem for you to learn on how to say no to exposition of your body by someone other than you and mummy. Richard sent an article titled ‘The man and the serpent. 8 Symptoms of Vitamin C Deficiency, today’s child of the week is Precious Ojae. These and others are on your wonderful page.

Have a great time reading.

hild sexual abuse is a form of child abuse in which an adult or older adolescent uses a child for sexual stimulation. Forms of child sexual abuse include asking or pressuring a child to engage in sexual activities (regardless of the outcome), indecent exposure (of the genitals, female nipples, etc.) with intent to gratify their own sexual desires or to intimidate or groom the child, physical sexual contact with a child, or using a child to produce child pornography.

The effects of child sexual abuse can include depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety, propensity to further victimization in adulthood, and physical injury to the child, among other problems. Sexual abuse by a family member is a form of incest, and can result in more serious and long-term psychological trauma, especially in the case of parental incest.

The global prevalence of child sexual abuse has been estimated at 19.7% for females

and 7.9% for males, according to a 2009 study published in Clinical Psychology Review that examined 65 studies from 22 countries. Using the available data, the highest prevalence rate of child sexual abuse geographically was found in Africa (34.4%), primarily because of high rates in South Africa; Europe showed the lowest prevalence rate (9.2%); America and Asia had prevalence rates between 10.1% and 23.9%.n the past, other research has concluded similarly that in North America, for example, approximately 15% to 25% of women and 5% to 15% of men were sexually abused when they were children.

To be continued

Private are private silly (Child sexual abuse) For years I have spoken and encouraged my children about their own personal boundaries.

Through being open and age appropriately honest. There is a wonderful sense of empowerment and protection offered to our precious little people. ”Privates are private ... Silly” is a creative bit of language, used to give our children a tag line that’s catchy and easy to remember. Enjoy the frankness and messaging of our very special book.

Let it be the pathway to many open discussions between you and your child.

Extract from the internet

The Man and the Serpent

By RICHARD KENNETH , Portharcourt ears ago, there was a small Y village by a beautiful river.

The people of this village were

mainly poor folks who farmed in others’ lands or in whatever land each of them had themselves.

Among them was a man who was richer than the others. He had more land than the others, ten cows, twelve sheep and a little orchard. He had a loving wife and three sons to look after him.

But he was always worried about his youngest son, who happened to be naughtier than his siblings, and was always full of mischief.

This boy seemed to be full of an inexhaustible supply of energy and was always out of the house, roaming in the fields, jumping into ponds and climbing hills and mountains, whatever the time was. But misfortune struck one day, when the boy mistakenly trod upon a serpent’s tail during

dition based on this symptom.

2. Mood Changes – Individuals with a vitamin C deficiency may become irritable or short tempered.

3.

Weight Loss – As with other “wasting conditions” someone with a vitamin C deficiency may experience sudden weight loss.

4.

Joint and Muscle Aches – Chronic pain in the limbs or joints can be a symptom of a vitamin deficiency.

5.

Bruising – Individuals with a vitamin C deficiency will tend to bruise easily. Excessive bruising is a sign that the body’s chemistry needs to be improved.

6.

Dental Conditions – Just as a healthy daily dose of vitamin C contributes to healthy teeth and gums, a deficiency can cause deterioration of the gums. Periodontal problems are a symptom of a vitamin C deficiency that has been allowed to develop to a hazardous level. This kind of deficiency was classically called “scurvy” when it happened to mariners who had no access to nutrients (or sometimes even fresh water) on long

8 Symptoms of Vitamin C Deficiency T

he essential vitamin known as vitamin Cis one of the most important elements in an individual’s daily diet. We need Vitamin C to help contribute to good cellular growth, promote function of the circulatory system, and generally help our bodies to develop and maintain themselves. A vitamin C deficiency is a serious issue, and should be caught early and treated with natural foods or dietary supplements that contain plenty of these critical ingredients.

Lots of medical experts agree that a vitamin C deficiency is fairly uncommon in most modern societies. Infant formulas and other food sources are for-

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tified with vitamin C in order to prevent some forms of deficiency of this essential nutrient.

Symptoms of a Vitamin C Deficiency A variety of symptoms will show that an individual is suffering from a vitamin C deficiency. Here are some of the top signs of this kind of shortage in the system.

1. Fatigue – Early on, someone with a vitamin C deficien-

Richard one of his adventures. The furious snake hissed and bit him on his foot. The boy limped back to his parents, crying out of pain. But his helpless family members could do nothing to save the poor boy, for the lethal venom killed him within minutes. However, the boy informed his father about the whereabouts of the snake and how he had been bitten before he took his last breath. The incensed father took out his axe and hunted down the serpent, who happened to reside in a small hole beside a tree.

eral healing of wounds and the fighting of infections.

Generally, the body’s immune system will be compromised.

Vitamin Deficiency Treatments A shortage of vitamin C in the system can be treated with dietary supplements. However, it’s important to seek professional medical help, rather than self-medicating with natural medicine. Vitamin C supplements are generally not known to have side effects, although at extremely high levels, they can cause nausea or indigestion. Those who experience any of the above negative symptoms should see qualified family practice doctors to talk about what may be the issue and whether a dietary deficiency may be the root cause Extract from the internet

Child of the week Precious Ojae

cy will tend to get tired easily and experience reduced energy. Because chronic fatigue is a symptom of so many illnesses, it can be hard to catch a specific con-

trips at sea. In today’s world, it is a rare but frightening condition.

7. Dry Hair and Skin – A change in hair and skin conditions can also signal that the body is not getting enough of vitamin C and other essential vitamins and minerals.

8. Infections – When an individual does not have enough vitamin C over time, this can have a negative impact on gen-

D.O.B: 28th september 2010

42 —SATURDAY Vanguard, OCTOBER 13, 2012

committee was set up by the Central Bank, the members of which were unknown to Chief Awolowo.

BY CLIFFORD NDUJIHE

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Ayo Adebanjo...

It is sad and distressing — Ayo Adebanjo avoid the conflict. Whilst the war was raging after the liberation of part of the then South East which then included Port Harcourt and Calabar, Chief Awolowo visited Enugu and Port Harcourt where he saw Kwashiorkor (malnourished) victims for the first time.

He wondered how this could happen in view of the quantity of food items sent through international agencies to the civilians in these areas.

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e was then informed that the food never got to the civilians, the food items were cornered by the soldiers who were feeding to the detriment of the civilians. One can imagine such a report being provided to a cabinet filled with military officers conducting a war. It should not be surprising that to avoid feeding enemy soldiers, the Federal Government at the time put a stop to the delivery of food meant for the civilians population that was being hijacked by Biafran soldiers.

This is what Achebe mischievously called the deliberate starvation of the Igbos. I would like Professor Achebe, if he can; to make reference to any publication where Awolowo made the statement that starvation was a legitimate tool of war. Furthermore, if such starvation ended with the end of the war, Professor Achebe should explain why if

the specific objective of the policy was to reduce Chief Awolowo’s enemies, why did he not influence the continuation or doubling up on such policy when Nigerian troops had control of Biafran territory at the end of the war. One would have thought the charge of genocide should

missioner for finance, suddenly changed the Nigerian currency without the prior knowledge of members of the cabinet. Even General Gowon, who was the head of state, was informed only a day before the announcement.

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hese two major policies of stopping food meant for civilians which was being ambushed by the Biafrans soldiers and the sudden change of Nigerian currency were two factors that quickly brought the misery of the civil war to an end.It should be noted that Chief Awolowo’s prudent management of the Nigerian economy made it possible for the Federal Government to prosecute the civil war with-

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am sad and distressed that a literary giant and an elder statesman such as Professor Chinua Achebe should be credited with the statement attributed to him in his latest book on the Nigerian Civil War at this time in Nigeria’s political history, over 40 years after.

His statements however, are not unfamiliar to those of us who were around during the civil war, and who knew what falsehood and half-truths were bandied around then especially from “Biafra Radio” and supporters of the Biafra cause, notable amongst whom was Professor Chinua Achebe.

Some thought they were effusions from supporters of Biafra in order to enlist international support for Ojukwu but many on the other hand attributed Professor Achebe’s position to his pathological hatred for Chief Awolowo and the Yoruba race.Professor Achebe has accused Chief Awolowo of being part of General Gowon’s cabinet that initiated pogrom and genocide as a policy against the Igbos.

Yet, Professor Achebe cannot claim ignorance of the fact that specific recorded instances of pogrom and genocide were a consequence of the 2nd military coup of July 1966 in which the Northern Soldiers and Northerners committed series of atrocities against the Igbos in the North. At this time, Chief Awolowo was still in Calabar prison serving his jail term of treasonable felony.

It was after his release that Gen. Gowon invited him to join his cabinet as Vice Chairman of the Federal Executive Council and Minister of Finance.

The war was already brewing. At the risk of his life, and against the advice of his cabinet colleagues, Chief Awolowo made contact with Ojukwu and met him in Enugu to dissuade him from going to war.

In his one-on-one meeting with Ojukwu, Chief Awolowo tried to persuade Ojukwu to come to a round table conference with the Federal Government to iron out his differences with the government. But despite the assurances then, Colonel Ojukwu gave to Chief Awolowo that he had accepted to dialogue, Ojukwu reneged, and a few weeks later attacked the Midwest and thus declared war against the Federal government, which is how the civil war became inevitable.

The above facts are verifiable. Fair minded persons cannot accuse Chief Awolowo of being part of the intellectual arm of a cabinet that intentionally initiated the pogrom of the Igbos, when in fact, the record shows he took positive steps to persuade Ojukwu to

In his one-on-one meeting with Ojukwu, Chief Awolowo tried to persuade Ojukwu to come to a round table conference with the Federal Government to iron out his differences with the government

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have been better directed at the leaders of Biafra who had first hand knowledge of the starvation in the area they controlled, and yet did not as they could, bring an end to the war sooner before two million people, mainly members of future generations had died of starvation as professor Achebe claimed.Also, during the war, it became known that the Nigerian currency, which Biafran soldiers had looted from Central Bank locations in Biafra occupied areas were being exchanged to buy arms for the Biafran army.

To put a stop to this, Chief Awolowo, as the federal com-

out borrowing a kobo from the outside world.

This achievement was acclaimed globally. It is this policy that quickly put an end to the insurgence that Professor Achebe has interpreted as punitive measure against the Igbos. At the end of the civil war, a problem did arise with respect as to how to verify the amounts creditable to Biafrans who made claims to money held in Nigerian banks before the declaration of war. Unfortunately, there were no records to confirm the amount in savings or current accounts held by a good number of such Biafran claimants. As a result, a

uch committee recom mended an across the board payment of 20 pounds to every claimant. It is therefore most uncharitable for Professor Achebe to put the blame of the payment of this amount on Chief Awolowo.

Furthermore, to extrapolate from this policy a deliberate policy to stunt or obliterate the economy of the Igbos does not stand up to critical review and is rather far fetched. Firstly, what is an administrator to do in the face of such unverifiable claims? Pay every all and sundry claim? As Chief Awolowo has stated, doing so would have bankrupted Nigeria at the time. Secondly, common sense would suggest that claims that such sums as were left behind were very substantial needed to be substantiated. It should be noted that the percentage of all Nigerians in general with substantial amounts in banks during that period was limited.

In addition, with the advent of impending war, the natural reaction is a run on banks to withdraw all such sums or as much as possible, particularly for Igbos then deemed to be fleeing to a new country Biafra. Under such context, the payment of 20 pounds (a substantial sum at the time) to all claimants without proof of specific amounts due to them was not altogether an unreasonable policy. More to the point, this was not a policy recommendation that can be specifically attributable to Chief Awolowo, but rather the recommendation of a committee of the Central Bank set up at the time, It is noteworthy that after the division of the country to 12 states by General Gowon in 1968, the East central state composed mainly of Igbos emerged. Chief Awolowo then diligently saved the monthly allocation due to Igbos during the war and released same to them at the end of the war.

The African Continental Bank (ACB) and the Cooperative Bank for Eastern Nigeria the two main Financial Institutions of the Igbos at the time and which had become moribund during the civil war were rejuvenated by Chief Awolowo by his releasing substantial funds to them for active operation. Professor Achebe would have to explain how these actions beneficial to the Igbo emanate from somebody whom he claims has hatred for the Igbos or harboured intent to deliberately and systematically exterminate the Igbos or deny their right of existence as a group.

Furthermore, after the civil

SATURDAY

Vanguard,OCTOBER 13, 2012—43

Abike Dabiri-Erewa,quintessential woman @ 50

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n ultimate example of a truly strong African woman sums up her rare virtues. A quintessential woman, icon of pivotal strength and courage are traits that stand her out. As the sages say, life is not about how long but about how well. For this enviable Amazon of out time, it has been a 50 years of grace and glory.

Attaining the golden age of 50 is no mince meat, as many people look forward to it. But, like a colossus, Abike has not only clocked the age, she has recorded quite a milestone along the way.

Even before attaining this golden age, she has through perseverance and unflinching courage transplanted herself to heights many fear to attain.

She is not just a role model but a performer with a glowing track record to show. To her immediate family, she is a lovely wife and cherished mother.

While to others, she is simply a distinguished politician, reliable colleague, trusted friend, an engine house, a priceless jewel and a gem of inestimable value.

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bike is an orator per excellence and an irresistible speaker with an ability to hold an audience spell bound. Describe her as a sturdy bamboo in the dense forest of Nigeria’s intellectual universe, and you would be apt. Her intellect and charisma exuded at any given opportunity stands her out.

A journalist of repute, daring, highly

positive about the future of Nigeria; principled to the core, are qualities that adhere her to the hearts of all. In the midst of these glowing attributes, her demeanour bellies all.

She is a woman with great depth and the fear of God. These are reflected in the way she tackles issues on the floor of the House of Representatives,and on the type of issues she choses to dwell on.

Abike Dabiri-Erewa, an accomplished journalist with the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) rose through the ranks in a remarkable and meteoric manner, and joined the

Affairs.Though, from Ikorodu in Lagos, She took in her first breath in Jos, Plateau State, in North-Central.

She started her education in 1968 at Maryland Private School in Ikeja, from where she proceeded to Saint Theresa’s College, Oke Ado, Ibadan.

Abike then, moved on to Lagos Polytechnic for her basic studies and later to Obafemi Awolowo University in Ile-Ife, where she graduated with a B.A Hons in English Language. Also in her kitty is a Post Graduate Diploma in Mass Communication from the University of Lagos and also a Masters Degree

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By TESSY IGOMU

Abike is an orator per excellence and an irresistible speaker with an ability to hold an audience spell bound

rough terrain of politics to become an indefatigable lawmaker. In all her years as a journalist, her professional ability, competence and integrity were never called to question. Blunt to a fault, this lawmaker is nonetheless always outspoken on critical national issues as it affects the country and Nigerians.

She was elected into the House of Representatives, where she became first, the chairman of the House Committee on Media and Publicity, and currently, the chairman of House Committee on Diaspora

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in the same course from the same institution. This Amazon of intelligence also attended the Harvard University (Kennedy School of Government) USA. A widely travelled woman, she is a member of many professional associations and has bagged quite a bunch of enviable awards. Though married with children, this multitasking woman has been able to balance her life so that no aspect suffers. In all of these, she would readily tell anyone that listens that

the road to success wasn’t a bed of roses, neither was it smooth-sailing.

She represents Ikorodu Federal Constituency, Lagos in the National Assembly. Her doggedness in the pursuit for justice, equity and welfare for the rights of the common man no doubt made her constituency to keep her on board. This is Abike’s third term in the parliament.

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espite the rigours of her job, Abike is always loving, humble and sensitive to the plights of people.

By natural inclination, she has time for everybody she comes across, notwithstanding her status. Always going beyond the call of duty to help, no matter what the odds are. To this woman, politics should be all about service, humanity and making a difference in the life of the electorate.

Going beyond the call of political duty due to her compassionate nature, made Abike to initiate the Abike Dabiri Foundation. Many children have benefited immensely from this course.

Abike, by a wide consensus, has been a role model to many, particularly women. She is a hallmark of integrity in service. A woman of strength and character, hers has been a 50 years of distinguished life.

Like her or hate her, at 50, she has through dint of courage and hardwork etched her name in the country’s history of indomitable women. In essence, Abike is a trail blazer that makes the womenfolk rock.

Igomu,a journalist wrote from Lagos.

New Akure,a modern state capital

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s a regular visitor to Akure, the Ondo State capital, I always wondered when the city will join the group of elite state capitals in Nigeria.

As a media person, my job entails travelling a lot, and I want to add that I have been able to visit most of the state capitals in Nigeria. I have had to come to the conclusion that Akure is not only one of the most backward capital cities in Nigeria but also one of the most rural of the lot.

Akure belongs to the historical state capitals because it was named such during the state creation exercise of the Muritala Muhammad military government on February 6,1976 when the old Ondo State then including the whole of what is now Ekiti State came into being. The creation of the old Ondo State and the naming of Akure as its capital became an historical exercise not because it was part of a new 19-state structure for Nigeria, but also because it was virtually the last official exercise of the late General Muritala Muhammad before he was murdered a week later in an aborted coup spearheaded by the Late Colonel Bukar Sukar Dimka.

Thus, being a state capital for more than 30 years, I have expected Akure to have grown into a modern state capital like Ikeja, Port Harcourt,

Owerri and Ibadan among others.

When Ondo State joined the league of oil producing states thus earning advantageous money from the derivation funds from the federation account, one expects Akure to have ‘improved’. But quite unfortunately in recent time that has not been the case until about three and half years ago when the Labour Party (LP) administration of Dr Olusegun Mimiko, came into office.

Urban renewal was a pivotal aspect of Mimiko’s 12 point agenda to revive the old glory of Sunshine State. The idea was to urban areas attractive for living and more attractive for business which will in turn engender revenue generation.

Thus, Akure was used as the pilot for the Mimiko administration’s urban

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By ALADELOLA SAMUEL

beautiful landscaping, functioning street lights, modern bus stops and recreational centres. Public buildings and institutions such as: the secretariat complex, Alagbaka; secretariat complex annex, IlesaOwo Expressway, Akure; Ondo State Cultural Centre, Adegbemile, Akure; Governor’s Lodge, Akure; AuditorGeneral’s Office, Akure; and the Public Service Institute, also in Akure; are all wearing new and beautiful look.

The popular Adesida, Oyemekun and Oba Ile Estate Roads have been rehabilitated while the 7.5 kilometre Arakale and Fiawasaye-Obaile, Airport junction roads have been dualised. The water fountain at Oba Ile road reminds me of the popular Tinubu Water Fountain in Central

Akure has indeed, changed for the better

renewal programme. In just three and half years,Akure has been transformed.

Gone were the old-looking buildings and replaced with new colourful structures,and the Governor’s Office now wears a new look. On my way to the secretariat, I saw aesthetically constructed roads with

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Lagos. The water was not only flowing, it equally added to the aesthetic beauty of the state capital.

Adding to the aesthetic growth of Akure was the construction of a modern Auto Mechanic Village which can accommodate 200 mechanics at a time is complete with a ramp, car wash, restaurant and

other state-of-the -art facilities. Not to be forgotten is the newly commissioned first-of-its-kind Auto Mart which accommodates more than 1, 000 auto dealers at a go. Gone were the days auto dealers displayed their vehicles on the streets there by creating vehicle congestion on the roads in the state capital. The Mimiko administration has presented a facility that did not only make their job easier but also guarantee security for their wares.

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t is shocking in Akure now that you don’t get to see street traders on the roads anymore. The Mimiko administration has constructed modern markets which have affordable stalls for traders hence they now stay in the market to do their business.

The assertion by popular and award winning novelist, Kole Omotoso, writing on the remarkable achievements of Governor Olusegun Mimiko, that he missed his way in the state capital was an hyperbole after all.

Akure has indeed, changed for the better, of course.

With what I have seen during my last visit and with work still going on in few places that have not been touched in the state capital, Akure has transformed into a beautiful state capitals,and can now take its pride of place among the elite state capitals.

Samuel wrote from Lagos

44 —SATURDAY Vanguard, OCTOBER 13, 2012

off from other parts of Nigeria.

The lawmaker noted in dismay that the ravaging flood from the River Niger was almost submerging the entry point to Niger-Bridge, adding that the Benin-Asaba highway will soon be submerged.

“They (federal government) should not wait for a repeat of what happened to LokojaAbuja road. The threat is real when you consider that the Immigration Office has been submerged and officers cannot access their offices,”he said.

Elumelu, however, urged the federal government to order the Federal Ministry of Works to deploy officers to the affected roads hit by flood in the area.

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Rage of flood across states in Nigeria (2)

Wild flood tears communities apart in Delta As flood continues to ravage communities across states in Nigeria, we run the concluding part of the story we started last week.

When God first destroyed the world with water, He saved Noah and his family members who were then, the only righteous man on mother earth.

After that unpleasurable experience, God promised never to destroy the world again with water. As a sign of this covenant, God said the Rainbow will be a sign of His promise.

But for people of Delta State and virtually every where in Nigeria, it is like God has reneged in His promise even though Christians are convinced that “God is not a man that He should lie neither the son of man he should repent.”

The last few days for the “unbelievers”in Delta State may prove the contrary as almost all communities in the state have been thrown into pandemonium occasioned by unprecedented flood which has submerged no fewer than 255 communities including the state capital, Asaba.

A lecturer at the Ogwashi Uku Polytechnic, Mr. Tony

John told Saturday Vanguard that the last few days have been worse in the memory of the people in the state as almost all the communities have been adversely affected by a ravaging flood resulting from the overflow of the River Niger.

According to Mr. John, homes and offices built at the extreme of Asaba but close to the Niger bridge have been submerged by the flood.

“I don’t know if you know God is good Motors’ office located before popular Onitsha bridge, houses and offices in that area have been swallowed by water. The Immigration office had been submerged by the flood.

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know some farmers who obtained loan from banks but today, their farmlands had been overtaken by water. One of them, I was told had committed suicide because he cannot stand the shock,”Tony John told Saturday Vanguard.

Collaborating the teacher ’s claim, a resident in Asaba, Mrs Onyia Ogochukwu told Saturday Vanguard that the flood also forced residents of Anwai and other neighbouring outlets out of their homes.

According to Ogochukwu,

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BY CHARLES ADINGUPU

The state government have made promises of compensating the affected flood victims, but now, the government cannot even cater for their immediate needs while they are still at the rehabilitation camp. I wonder what will happen after this whole disaster is over most popular hotels located adjacent the River Niger were affected by the surging flood in Asaba.

“Already the temporary rehabilitation camp, Saint Patrick College Asaba provided by the state government for affected flood victims has been overcrowded.

Besides, not everybody benefited from the relief materials distributed at the camp. Hence, most people shunned the camp and preferred to take shelter along the Asaba-Onitsha road.

At the moment, most of the affected flood victims have decided to take their destiny into their hands. They built tents along the AsabaOnitsha. Road. It will not be easy to estimate the cost of property destroyed by the flood. It is an on-going

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disaster. Everyday, the water level from the Niger keeps rising. Only God knows when it will end.

“The state government have made promises of compensating the affected flood victims, but now, the government cannot even cater for their immediate needs while they are still at the rehabilitation camp. I wonder what will happen after this whole disaster is over,”Ogochukwu said with a tone of finality.

Also, a member, representing Aniocha/ Oshimili Federal Constituency, Mr. Ndudi Elemelu while on an impact assessment of the ravaging flood in Asaba and environs, enjoined the federal government to urgently save the South East from being cut

ut for the people of Ndokwa East, life for them will never be the same as almost all the communities in the local government area have been sacked by the wild flood which took the people unawares.

Gloria Ochamba who hails from Okpai-Obeze abandoned her business concern in Asaba in search of her aged parents who were held hostage in their homes for almost a week by the flood which had swept away neighbouring communities in the area.

Gloria told Saturday Vanguard that Ndokwa East was the worst hit, as farmlands had been overtaken by water while most mud houses had collapsed like pack of cards.

The business woman who listed Ashaka, Okpai-Oluchi, Okpai-Obeze, Beneku, Onuaboh, Utchi, Iyi, Abala, Igbuku, Ossissa, Olu-Ossissa Onicha Utchi, Iburede, AsabaAse, Obetim as some of the major villages most hit by the wild flood, said Aboh, the headquarter of Ndokwa East was not spared.

According to her, the general hospital in Aboh had been submerged by the flood, while the only morgue at Ashaka was almost being completely swallowed by flood.

“Already, officials at the mortuary are presently trying to reach owners of corpse deposited at the morgue to come and claim their corpse.

However, corpse that were yet to be claimed are deposited at the roof top of the mortuary building as the only way to savage them from being swept away by the flood, Gloria said.

The businesswoman lamented that it took the state government time to respond to the people.

“Things generally got to a point, where the youths in the area now agreed to rent boat Continues on page 45

SATURDAY Vanguard, OCTOBER 13, 2012 — 45

in search of people held hostage in their homes by the flood. It cost much money to rent a boat for a day. The youths recorded considerable success but not without casualty. Those who embarked on search party for their loved ones through canoe, some of them died in the process.

Their canoes capsized.

“I cannot tell the causality figures on my finger tips but I do know that many people died. Farmlands were overtaken by water, stores and other petty traders including artisans abandoned their wares and scampered for safety at Kwale, headquarters of Ndokwa West.

“The temporary refuge camp, a primary school in Kwale is already overcrowded by flood victims who had been dispossessed of their aged long acquired properties.

“Not everybody got relief materials. Although, the state government only distribute mattress and buckets to the people, but after that what next?,”Gloria queries.

The businesswoman said that she only succeeded to save the lives of her aged parents with the help of her elder sister only two days ago.

After days of expectations, my elder sister, tired of waiting for government boat, got a canoe and paddled to the very spot where my parents were.

We are all at Kwale at the moment because it’s upland, Gloria said.

But a student in Obetim, one of the affected communities, Onyebuchi Nwagwunobi told Saturday Vanguard on phone that the entire village had been swept away by flood.

Onyebuchi said that the state government only named the Technical College at Kwale and a primary school at Ossissa as refugee camps for affected victims. Ï saw some buses loaded with affected flood victims heading towards Asaba only two days ago as the refugee camps in Ossissa and Kwale were already over populated.”

Also, I had the state government will provide soft loan for those already affected by the flood after the water has dried up in the affected communities. Although, I don’t really know how true this may be be because it will be unwise to rely on government promise,”she said.

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he student who feared that Obetim part of the Warri-Asaba express road may be cut off, said most people in the affected communities are still searching for their loved

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Continued from page 44

and make untenable promises on radio and on the pages of newspapers, the state government rhetorics should be matched with action.

In a flash, the entire neighbourhood of Okpai Obeze communities and environs had been swallowed by water, and the people were trapped like caged animals with no escape route spared

My wife and I were held hostage for seven days – Pa Ochamba

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ones.

A traditional ruler in Ndokwa East Local Government Area was reportedly drowned when the boat in which he was being evacuated capsized.

A villager who preferred anonymity, said it will be a taboo to disclose the name of the royal father.

Also, the people of Ibedeni community in Ndokwa East lamented that roads in their community have been cut off by the ravaging flood.

The Ogene of Ibedeni Kingdom, His Royal Majesty, Eze Jonathan said that their farmlands, houses, crops as cassava, yams, garden eggs, plantain, vegetables which were the mainstay of the people in the area have submerged by flood.

While reviewing the damage done in Asaba, the state governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduagha, described the situation on ground as “grave and grim.”

He lamented that within a period of three days, the number of communities affected increased astronomically, adding that at the moment, “the affected communities are totally flooded.”

The governor noted in dismay that the rehabilitation camps were already recording about 100,000 displaced persons, adding that food items and medical facilities were being arranged for the victims in the interim.

Against this backdrop, Gov. Uduaghan dispatched a Save Our Soul (SOS) message to the Federal Government, the private sector, well known philanthropists to come to the rescue of the state by assisting the government in the provision of facilities for the affected victims.

Governor Uduaghan, however, decried the

nonchalant attitudes of local government chairmen to the flood disaster areas, noting that it was also the responsibility of the councils chairmen to cater for displaced persons in their jurisdictions.

The governor further disclosed that his administration would embark on embankment of shoreline of coastal communities on the banks of River Niger as part of measures to protect them from the current deluge.

He said there would be massive sand filling and reclamation of the shoreline from Anwai end of the state capital, Asaba, through the bridge head to Oko. Additionally, the chairman of the Disaster Committee and Deputy governor for the state, Professor Amos Utuama during the week raised alarm that the flood disaster was getting worse in each passing day in the state. rof. Utuama disclosed on

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Wednesday that no fewer than 220 additional communities have been swallowed by the rampaging flood in the state.

Investigations by Saturday Vanguard revealed that the flood has spread like wildfire to Oko-Kingdom, Oghegha and other riverine communities in Warri North Local Government Area.

The Deputy Governor disclosed that the government has opened rehabilitation camps in the affected coastal areas.

He assured that relief materials were distributed to the rehabilitation camps.

But the Delta State Action Congress of Nigeria (can) said the havoc wreaked by the flood was beyond mere provision of camps and relief materials for victims.

The state party chairman, Chief Adolo Okotie Eboh said that rather than the state government to procrastinate

veryday, every hour, every moment for the people of Okpai-Obeze in Ndokwa East were tucked in deep despair. At the turn of each tide, their hopes for survival dims. Each passing day, the rampaging flood which had left thousand of persons displaced in Delta State inches gradually into the neighbouring communities. In a flash, the entire neighbourhood of Okpai Obeze communities and environs had been swallowed by water, and the people were trapped like caged animals with no escape route spared.

Pa Godwin Ochamba narrated to Saturday Vanguard how he was eventually trapped with his wife, Madam Angelina in the riotous flood and subsequently rescued by their daughter. Excerpt.

The news of the flood came like any other rumour we have heard in the past. It started sometime early in September.

We did not take the rumour serious. At a time, it was Asaba area, that water has overtaken the entire community.

Subsequently, however, we heard that some neighbouring communities had been sacked by the flood.

But by September 24 th precisely, we started noticing some signs. Yet, we dismissed them as the usual occasional flood which occurs at intervals in this community.

But one morning we woke up only to discover that our farmlands have been submerged by flood. We were in the middle of the flood since our home is upland in the community.

By the next day, the water has crept into my living room.

Left with no choice, I then asked my wife to come inside so that when death comes, we shall not be separated. So, we remain in the flood eating what we can easily lay our hands on and praying at the same time, that God should spare our lives.

By this time, my children and grand children had started calling on us on phone.

I told them that we cannot move anywhere as each linking communities have been submerged by the flood.

And suddenly, my phone went blank since there is no electricity to power the phone.

VANGUARD, SATURDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2012 — 49

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50 — VANGUARD, SATURDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2012

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SATURDAY Vanguard, OCTOBER 13, 2012—51

Yes Lucky is my friend but he sacked me thrice in Govt —Idahosa Says he called Oshiomhole a monkey in anger

BY SIMON EBEGBULEM, BENIN CITY

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hief Charles Idahosa is a former Commissioner of In formation and Orientation in Edo State and now the Political Adviser to Governor Adams Oshiomhole. He ran against Governor Adams Oshiomhole in the 2007 governorship primary of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) but lost the ticket to the Labour leader. As he celebrates his 59 years on earth, Charle Tempo as he is fondly called by friends, took Saturday Vanguard down memory lane, as relates to his relationship with his bossom friend, Chief Igbinedion and how he was sacked thrice by the same administration while he was on a course abroad. He spoke on his life, Edo state politics and other national issues.

EXCERPTS:

Chief Charles Idahosa

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How do you feel at 59 I feel very happy. I feel very fulfilled and I give praises to God. I thank my family and I thank my friends and I look forward for my 60th birthday. I grew up with my uncle late Rt Rev.J.W.Idahosa, he was the first Anglican Bishop of Benin.

My father handed me over to him in a very tender age. I worked briefly with the Nigerian Airways before I traveled to the United Kingdom where I studied Journalism and I was there till 1976 when I returned to join the Nigeria Television Authority (NTA). But I was not comfortable with the civil service so in 1980 I left NTA to float my own Media Consultancy Company, which is called Charle Tempo Associate Nigeria Limited.

Then I joined politics in 1981, I joined the Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN), then my father was the chairman of the party in Orhiomwon then, there was no Uhumwonde then. I later joined the PDP to team up with Lucky Igbinedion and others, I was one of those who were sent to the National to work for the emergence of Olusegun Obasanjo. And in 2003 I tried to run for the senate but as usual the PDP politics knocked me out. It was time to quit the PDP because they were not democratic so I joined our leader Senator Rowland Owie to form what is today the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), we started as ACD. Just before the election Comrade Adams Oshiomhole came to join us and he won the primary but I was not happy

The truth is that I am not a sycophant, so this issue of monkey I said it in a public face to his face and he knew quite well that I was angry. But I am glad that he took it like a team player after all he also abuse people when he is angry.

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the way the leaders handled the primary, I felt cheated. So I went into the DPP to contest the governorship but later we were able to settle our differences in the ACN and I came back to team up with Governor Oshiomhole. So after he won the court case I became his Political Adviser and that is the journey so far.

I gaze that was when you described Oshiomhole as a Monkey and people were surprised you came back to work with him?

Yes that is true. A lot of people have tried to make a big deal out of that but you see when two people are struggling for one thing they don’t say nice things about each other.

I was angry at that time that after I laboured for the party he came from no where and because of his obvious record as a labour leader and former President of the NLC, the leaders preferred him. It was normal but we settled our dif-

ferences and I thank God for that because Oshiomhole is a great man. The truth is that I am not a sycophant, so this issue of monkey I said it in a public face to his face and he knew quite well that I was angry. But I am glad that he took it like a team player after all he also abuse people when he is angry. Like me Oshiomhole will always call a spade a spade no matter whose ox is gored. So it was as a result of the heat of that time.

And I am happy Oshiomhole is political more matured than those trying to make noise out of it.

You are one of those accused of killing the PDP in Edo state but today you criticize the PDP because you are now in the ACN The truth of the matter is that people know the truth but they pretend about it. I can never deny Lucky Igbinedion, he is my very good friend. My self and Lucky started being friends in 1972, we were both

students in the United Kingdom. But a lot of things went wrong during his administration. So when people want to be mischievous they always say Charles Idahosa you were there during Igbinedion’s administration.

But they forgot that Lucky ruled for eight years but I only served in that administration for two years and eleven months. No body remembered that I was the first person to be fired by the Igbinedion administration. But I am very proud of who I am because I will always say my mind. I respect people and I don’t fear any body. As a close friend, my interest was to advise Lucky properly so that we will some thing right.

But in doing that, a lot of people felt that I was too powerful so I became a target.

Lucky now had a lot of advisers starting from his father, Chief Anenih and host of others.

To be fair to Lucky, any time I advise him on an issue, he listens and because of that some persons felt I was too powerful but they forgot my back ground with Lucky. Yes Lucky took oath of office by May 29 and that was the same time I started with him, but no body remembers that by AprilMay 2010, less than a year of that administration I was sacked. I was sacked while I was at a seminar at the University of London. After six months I was sent to Abuja as the Director General of the Abuja Liaison office and before I could say Jack Robinson Charles Idahosa was sacked

again.

There a high conspiracy against me but I was not bothered. I remembered one incident too. Chief Anenih nominated some body as SUBEB chairman, that time Lucky Igbinedion was an action governor, he has a good idea of what he wanted to do.

I am just trying to tell you the combination of Chief Gabriel Igbinedion and Anenih in that administration then, to tell you that I had no chance of survival in that administration.

I did not know that Anenih gave a name to Lucky, the person that will be the SUBEB chairman, I know the man today as an in-law to chief Anenih. Swearing in was 8am and Lucky at that time keeps to his time. So it happened that at that time, we entered the Festival Hall for the swearing-in but we discovered that the position of the man to be sworn in was vacant. So when Lucky stood up for the occasion, he asked, who is that man that was suppose to be sworn in, they said he is not around yet. Lucky now asked who is from Akoko Edo here.

A man who just came as a spectator got up and Lucky asked the man to sit in that chair and that was how that man was sworn-in.

The next the matter was in all the papers. Unknown to me, three days later, Lucky Igbinedion called me and said that the person that was supposed to be chairman was Chief Anenih’s candidate and that he is being pressurized now to swear the man in as chairman. So I advised him that this is not proper, you have made a public statement which is in all the media. I told him it will be dangerous to go back to his word, that he should advise the man to wait until another board is being inaugurated. Lucky agreed with me. But I think along the line Anenih heard that I was advising against that, again I was the one always putting up the announcements as regards appointments.

So I now traveled out, but I was shocked that while I was away, I was not only sacked but my office was scrapped. So I laugh when people keep saying that I was there through out the administration. So I was later called back but I decided to resign in the administration in 2004. Because of our closeness, I quietly went to him to tell him that I was resigning that I don’t want to be Commissioner again. He said no that I will be rubbishing him if I resign I now advise that he should then dissolve his Exco so that it will be seen that I did not return. I left to join others in forming ACN because I knew the PDP will die a natural death.

54—SATURDAY Vanguard, OCTOBER 13, 2012

SONigeria team returns with silver OACH Stephen Adeyemo of Special Olympics Nigeria (SONigeria) 7-A-Side soccer team to the just concluded Special Olympics Africa Unity Cup in South Africa has praised his players for their courage even though they failed to grab one of the tickets to represent Africa in the forthcoming Rio 2013 Winter Games.

Adeyemo said, ‘’even though we did not win the competition, we

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Okagbare missed her best moments at London 2012 – Official OP Nigerian sprinter, Blessing Okagbare was at her best form at the London 2012 Olympics but she failed to take her place on the medals podium. According to a former Board member of the Athletics Federation of Nigeria, those were meant to be her best moments, but she missed it.

The former AFN top official who requested anonymity, declared that Okagbare could have made a mark, but she was mismanaged. He added also that the athlete lacked a graceful attitude, something which is very vital in the maintenance

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of concentration.

“First of all, Okagbare before the Olympics was just running in all manner of meets.

Meanwhile her major opponents were conserving their energy and avoiding some of those races. Those in authority should have sat down with her manager and calculated how much the athlete would have made in those meets and pay her. Of course managers are only out for their money and so they will always encourage the athlete to run and Okagbare was just running. Notice that in the

final Diamond league, she was just giving it her all, while Olympics gold medalist, Shelly Ann Fraser-Pryse and silver medalist Carmelita Jeter were practically strolling in that race in Monaco.

“Again at the Olympics I don’t know who advised her to come out hard in the semi-final. All other athletes saved their best for the last. After that disappointing final, she was drained of all physical and mental strength. In such conditions there is barely little she could have done in her other events.

“Finally Okagbare’s attitude is as short as a

DONE AND DUSTED... Blessing Okagbare (second from right) finishing last in the 2012 London Olympics Women’s 100m final won by Shelly Ann Fraser-Pryse (right) Carmilita Jeter and Veronica Campbell-Brown settled for silver and bronze respectively.

Afilaka set to refill Nigerian coaches NIGERIA-born UK athletics coach, Michael Afilaka is expected in Lagos next week to run a coaching clinic organized by the Athletics Federation of Nigeria to update local coaches with a view of preparing them for the task of reviving athletics in Nigeria.

The clinic billed for October 18-20 at the National Institution for Sport (NIS) is tagged “Re-equipping Nigerian coaches for enhance elite performance” and Afilaka who is coach of world junior 100m champion Adam Gemili will put the coaches through with modern techniques of coaching, other resource persons like Rotimi Obajimi Elias Gora will also make presentations.

According to AFN technical committee director, Nesiama Omatsheye the programme is

will participate in the Forum.

The coaches will also be given the opportunity to discuss hindrances, in terms of organization administration, certification and classification. “This forum/clinic will consider in details the current issues, as gathered from the coaches, current administrators and relevant other professionals, affecting the effective performance of our coaches.”

a first major step taken to implement the ‘AFN PROJECT RIO 2016’ Programme . “It is designed to make our athletes achieve podium performances in Rio.” He said invitations have been sent to State Athletics Associations, Athletics Clubs, Military and Para Military Athletics Associations, Schools and Higher Institutions in Nigeria to nominate qualified coaches who M

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participated with courage and came back with a silver medal in the consolation category. We still have a lot to learn and are optimistic for the future. My main task now is to keep the team together for future tournaments” Nigeria playing in group B defeated Mauritius 5-0, in their first game before losing 0 – 1 each to Tanzania and Kenya but bounced back stronger with a 4-0 thrashing of Namibia,

thereby finishing third and missing the 2013 World Cup in Brazil.

The team however, defeated Botswana 1-0 before losing 1-2 to Uganda in the consolation mini tournament organized for the teams who couldn’t qualify for the Unity World Cup. Host South Africa came first, while Tanzania and Ivory Coast emerged second and third respectively to pick Africa’s three slots to Rio 2013 world cup.

Governor’s Cup tennis prelims begin today

BY JOHN EGBOKHAN

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he qualifying rounds of the Governor’s Cup Futures I serve off today at the Lagos Lawn Tennis Club, Onikan The FCMB Plc. and Etisalat Nigeria sponsored computer point-awarding tournament, parading tennis players from 55 countries, is expected to end on October 27.

With the draws made, the qualifying matches will hold today and tomorrow.

The Main Draws of Futures 1 will begin on Monday and end on Saturday, October 20 with players fighting for the $15,000 and $25,000 prize monies of Futures 1 Men and Women’s Singles respectively.

•Babalola The second leg begins immediately where the players are expected to win the same amount of prize monies as that of the first leg.

Tournament Director, Prince Wale Oladunjoye said all is set for the commencement of

another exciting tennis classic in Lagos, adding that the Local Organising Committee, LOC, Nigeria Tennis Federation, NTF, major sponsors and other cosponsors as well as the host, the Lagos Lawn Tennis Club, are ready.

Agbetoba decries fallen standard of cycling

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he Ondo State C y c l i n g Association chairman, Chief Sunday Abiodun Agbetoba has decried the fallen standard of cycling in the country just as he lamented the way the sport is being treated in the country.

Chief Agbetoba who is also the Permanent Secretary in the State’s Tourism Ministry, voiced his feeling over the weekend in Akure while hosting members of the Cycling Commissaires Association of Nigeria.

“It is sad that cycling, one of the sports with great prospect in the past, is now struggling for survival due to the Idon’t -care and lackadaisical attitude of some individuals who allowed their egoistic tendencies to ruin the sport. Nigeria’s sports,

generally, is in a state of commatoes.” he said.

The former vice chairman of the Cycling Federation of Nigeria, (CFN) blamed the fallen standard of Sports generally in Nigeria on lack of youth programmes and implementation of sports policies as he urged the NSC to go back to the basics.

“The NSC must go back to school sports and concentrate on youth programmes. Sports will still go down the drain if square pegs are not put in square holes,” he e m p h a s i z e d .

Chief Agbetoba appealed to the NSC to rescue cycling by going back to the board system.

“Cycling should be removed from the hands of single individuals who have nothing to offer the

sport.

For the past four years, I doubt if annual general meetings had been held and there have not been competitions too.

Cyclists now meet once every two years during the Sports Festivals.

Except people who love cycling are in position, the sport will continue to suffer,” he stressed, as he called on sports loving Nigerians to help resuscitate cycling.

Earlier, the president of the Commissaires Association of Nigeria, Chief Alfred Ale had solicited the support of Chief Agbetoba for the sponsorship of both local and international Commissaire courses to enable the association bring in young Nigerians into cycling officiating.

SATURDAY Vanguard, OCTOBER 13, 2012—55

Stun Lone Star with goals, Onu charges Eagles

By EDDIE AKALONU

E

x national U-23 team handler, Erasmus Onuh has challenged the Super Eagles to open a new page for the nation’s apex football today in Calabar by winning convincingly against the Lone Star of Liberia in the 2013 African Cup of Nations decider.

“I think they have to give us a good game by playing to win. In fact they have to stun the visitors with goals because I believe they can do it,” he stated, adding, “ we have the capacity to overcome Liberia and aim for something higher like winning the Nations Cup itself.”

He stressed that “ with the caliber of players we have, the Eagles can win this one for us and victory against Liberia in my opinion will open a new chapter for football because it provides an opportunity to aim higher for continental glory which is long overdue for Nigeria”.

Onuh, who has also coached at top clubs including Jigawa Stars, OUK FC and ABS FC, enjoined the team to work tirelessly to break the opponents down and never give them breathing space to make trouble throughout the game.

“They have to sparkle as a way to prove that

Mikel Obi, set to cause heartache for Lone Star of Liberia

Keshi has the right key to re-energise our football and he has really shown it is possible since taking over by the way he has approached the job particularly giving room for players from the local clubs to showcase their skills alongside their foreign based colleagues,” he said.

Botswana in tough challenge against Mali

T

he Zebras of Botswa na need to overturn a 3-0 deficit against Mali at home this weekend if they want to reach their second Africa Cup of Nations finals next year in South Africa.

Botswana coach Stanley Tshosane is hoping it will be third time luck for his charges who have already lost twice to their opponents this year.

Zebras went down 2-1 in February during the 2012 Gabon-Equatorial Guinea AFCON finals before Mali won 3-0 in the first leg of the 2013 AFCON qualifier in Bamako. This scenario

All the fixtures •Botswana v Mali •Angola v Zimbabwe •Malawi v Ghana •Nigeria v Liberia •Uganda v Zambia •Cameroon v Cape Verde •Morocco v Mozambique •Tunisia v Sierra Leone •Niger v Guinea •Ethiopia v Sudan •Algeria v Libya •Senegal v Ivory Coast •Equatorial Guinea v DR Congo •Togo v Gabon •Burkina Faso v CAR

leaves the Zebras in need of a 4-0 win or better result to make the final 16 teams for South Africa.

“It will be unfair for us to lose to the same team three times in a row ” said Tshosane but he was quick to admit the Zebras have a mountain to climb to achieve their target.

Zebras team captain Mompati Thuma was in buoyant mood and chose to look at the positive side saying “ Mali has a good team that’s given and if they managed to score three goals in their backyard we can also do the same” Thuma went

on to say , “ I think the team has done a lot in terms of preparing for this match and we should not look at this game in isolation but the qualifier as a whole. The coach has enough time to change his tactics and in terms of fitness players are in top condition and ready for Mali. I believe we can overturn the deficit from Bamako” said Thuma.

Meanwhile Zebras will be relieved to hear that Mali captain Seydou Keita who scored in his side’s 2-1 win over Zebras will miss the game this weekend

Yobo confident Eagles’ll win *Misses 90th cap NJURED Super Eagles skipper Joseph Yobo has charged his team-mates to win in Calabar against Liberia today in the crucial Africa Nations Cup qualifier.

The first leg in Liberia ended in a 2-2 draw last month. ”I am confident my colleagues will deliver. I have been in touch with the team and I have no fears what so ever,” said Yobo, who admitted he was devastated to miss out on the game because of a knee complaint. ”All we need to do is rally round the team, cheer them non-stop and we will together celebrate at the end of 90 minutes.”

Yobo, speaking in an exclusive interview with MTNFootball.com from his base in Turkey, also confirmed that he would not be making it to Calabar to cheer the Eagles as

I

earlier expected.

Yobo has been told by doctors at Fenerbache not to embark on a long trip back to Nigeria as this could further aggravate the injury.

He suffered the injury in his club’s last league game where he was sub-

stituted in the 70the minute as a result.

Yobo is Nigeria’s most capped international and was set for his 90th appearance in a green and white shirt today.

He has featured in five Nations Cup finals beginning with the 2002 edition in Mali, where Nigeria finished third best.

Early goals’ll unsettle Lone Star Continued from BP come when they want it.

The 2-2 draw in Monrovia should give them the confidence that the second leg is theirs. I am confident that they will beat Liberia and qualify for the African Cup of Nations in South Africa next year.”

However, former Eagles coach and CAF/FIFA instructor, Chief Adegboye Onigbinde is not one to lose sleep over the Lone Star as he predicted the

visitors will fall by at least two goals, even though a scoreless result will still be enough to see them through.

“I’m looking forward to a resounding victory against Liberia on Saturday (today). What we need to book a passage to South Africa 2013 is a 0-0 goal margin. That’s no reason we shouldn’t beat them at least with two goals,”he said, but added that they should avoid complacency.

FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup: France, Korea DPR battle for title T

he FIFA U-17 Wom en’s World Cup Azerbaijan 2012 reaches its climax today at the Tofig Bahramov Stadium in Baku with two unprecedented matches. For the first time in the history of

the tournament, the final is a repeat of a firstround game, as New Zealand 2008 champions Korea DPR reprise their Group B duel with France, the first European side to reach the fi-

nal of the competition.

The match for third place is also between first-round rivals, as Group D qualifiers Germany and Ghana square off with the last place on the podium at stake.

FIFA.com looks forward to the last day of Azerbaijan 2012 and two games that each pit a well-established power in women’s football against an emerging force.

Korea DPR have little left to prove at this stage, having qualified for every FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup held to date and won the inaugural competition four years ago. The first side to reach the final twice, the North Koreans will be

drawing on all their experience against opponents who have never ventured beyond the group phase before.

Coached by Hwang Yong-Bong, the Asian side’s chief goal threat is Ri Un-Sim, the tournament’s leading markswoman and a leading contender for the adidas Golden Boot. Well-disciplined and nimble, the North Koreans are versatile with it, and have plenty of cover to call on should their star striker have an off day, as she did in the semi-final against Germany, when Kim So-Hyang stepped into the breach to score a match-winning brace.

Opponents France are

far from inexperienced themselves, despite never having progressed beyond the group phase before and despite this being their first appearance in a FIFA Women’s World Cup final in any age group. The UEFA European Women’s U-17 Championship runnersup showed their worth in the group phase, holding the North Koreans to a 11 draw and beating USA to a place in the knockout rounds. Their main hopes of success lie with the goalscoring instincts of Lea Declercq and Kadidiatou Diani, and the solidity offered by Griedge Mbock Bathy at the back.

SATURDAY Vanguard, OCTOBER 13, 2012

BY PATRICK OMORODION

W

HEN the Super Eagles file out against the Lone Star of Liberia today at the U.J. Esuene Stadium in Calabar for the 2013 Africa Nations Cup decider, the only thing that will be on the mind of soccer-loving Nigerians is victory.

That is because it is the surest way to grab the ticket for the Nations Cup party holding in South Africa in January, more so after the Eagles failed to appear at the last edition co-hosted by Equatorial Guinea and Gabon.

At that occasion, the Eagles had a home game like the one of today and needed victory to pick the group ticket ahead of the Syli Nationale of Guinea. That was not to be as the Guineans nicked a last minute equaliser to go top of the group and qualify.

Today ’s tie means much not only to the players who are hungry to be on the African stage once again but to their coach, Stephen Keshi who wants to avoid the same pitfall of his predecessor, Samson Siasia as his continue stay as the team’s coach depended heavily on his qualifying for the Nations Cup.

LET'S GO.... Super Eagles goalkeeper and stand-in captain, Vincent Enyeama shouting instructions during a past match. He has charged his colleagues to shed their blood today, if possible, to shut Liberia out of the 2013 Africa Nations Cup.

World Cup Qualifier Russia 1 Portugal 0

Eagles v Lone Star: Nigerians think victory only, Keshi assures on ticket Match Time: 4 p.m.

Aware of this, Keshi, who has the record of being the longest serving captain of the Eagles has told Nigerians that all that mattered now was

qualification of the team and not whether the team played samba football as he was still trying to get the desired team of their dream.

Early goals’ll unsettle Lone Star – Akpokona *As Onigbinde expects ITH the heart of soccer loving Nigerians still thumping abnormally over fears of the Lone Star of Liberia causing an upset in today’s Nations Cup decider like was done by Guinea last year, former coach of Insurance FC of Benin City and Rangers FC of Enugu, Lawrence Akpokona has advised the Super Eagles to unsettle the Liberians with early goals.

Akpokona who spoke to supersport.com said that apart from unsettling the “mouthy” Librians, the early goals will also go along way in ensuring that the Eagles play with litle or no pressure all through the match expected to be watched by 10,000 fans at the U.J. Esuene Stadium in Calabar.

“Two early goals will

W

resounding victory

greatly hamper the chances of the Lone Stars to cause an upset,” he said, adding, ”The Liberians have said so much and made so much noise. So they need to be silenced. They should not be given any chance to gain confidence in the game and think of doing anything worthwhile.

The Super Eagles should also do well not to be under pressure by getting the early goals that will cool their nerves all through the match.

No matter what the Liberians throw at them, they should be calm. The Lone Star would want to disorgainsed them by wasting time and doing other things to frustrate their efforts. The Super

Eagles should not panic even when the goals don’t Continues on Page 55

He has also assured Nigerians, while speaking on a Ray Power FM sports programme monitored in Lagos that he was only going to field only players fit enough to withstand whatever game plan the Liberians were going to present.

Keshi’s match plan suffered a blow with the reported injury of his captain and defence pillar, Joseph Yobo but he seems to have taken it in good

fate assuring that his absence, though painful, will not disrupt his game plan to stop the mouthy Liberians from the South African party.

“There is no panic over Yobo’s injury, we are just motivated to secure the ticket and reassure him that we will all be together at SA 2013,” Keshi told supersport.com, adding, “We know he (Yobo) loves to play games like this, that was why he was shed-

ding tears but we have assured him that capable replacement will help secure the ticket to South Africa 2013 Nations Cup.” The Eagles need victory of whatever margin to qualify even though a goalless or 1-1 draw will equally see them through but Nigerians feel that anything less than victory is belittling for the twice crowned African champion.

CROSS WORD PUZZLE ACROSS 1. Niger State Capital (5) 4. Mozambique Currency (7) 7. L.G.A. in Taraba State (3) 8. Former FCT Minister, Aliyu Umar (7) 9. Kogi West PDP Senator, Smart (7) 10. Pakistani Capital City (7) 13. Former Minister of Sports, Adamu Isa (3) 14. L.G.A. in Ekiti State (5) 16. France “Ligue 1” Club Side (5) 19. C.B.N. Director of Currency Operations Muhammad (3) 20. L.G.A. in Anambra State (7) 22.

Sweden Assistant Coach, Marcus (7) 23. Former Yobe State Governor, Abba Bukar, (7) 24. Protein Source (3) 25. Egyptian Premiership Club Side (7) 26. L.G.A. in Lagos State (5)

DOWN 1. Inter Milan President, Massimo (7) 2. Country in Africa (7) 3. Super Eagles Striker, Yakubu (9) 4. Ondo State Governor, Olusegun (6) 5. Anambra State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Linus (5) 6. Switzerland Goalkeeper, Johnny (5) 11. Colombia Striker and Wigan Athletic Forward, Hugo (9) 12.Vietnamese Currency Unit (3) 15. Young Goat (3) 17. Indonesian Capital City (7) 18. L.G.A. in Anambra State (7) 19. Niger Republic Capital City (6) 20. Super Falcons Defender, Faith (5) 21. Tanzania National President, Mr. Benjamin (5)

SOLUTION ON PAGE 54

Printed and Published by VANGUARD MEDIA LIMITED, Vanguard Avenue, Kirikiri Canal, P.M.B.1007, Apapa. Editor: 08062315286 (TEXT ONLY). Advert Dept: 01-7924470; Hotline: 01-8737028; Abuja: 09-2341102, 09-2342704. E-mail: weekend @vanguardngr.com, news@vanguardngr.com, letters@vanguardngr.com.

Advert:advertproduction@yahoo.com Website: www.vanguardngr.com (ISSN 0794-652X) EDITOR: CHIOMA GABRIEL. All correspondence to P.M.B. 1007, Apapa Lagos.

SATURDAY Vanguard, OCTOBER 13, 2012

BY PATRICK OMORODION

W

HEN the Super Eagles file out against the Lone Star of Liberia today at the U.J. Esuene Stadium in Calabar for the 2013 Africa Nations Cup decider, the only thing that will be on the mind of soccer-loving Nigerians is victory.

That is because it is the surest way to grab the ticket for the Nations Cup party holding in South Africa in January, more so after the Eagles failed to appear at the last edition co-hosted by Equatorial Guinea and Gabon.

At that occasion, the Eagles had a home game like the one of today and needed victory to pick the group ticket ahead of the Syli Nationale of Guinea. That was not to be as the Guineans nicked a last minute equaliser to go top of the group and qualify.

Today ’s tie means much not only to the players who are hungry to be on the African stage once again but to their coach, Stephen Keshi who wants to avoid the same pitfall of his predecessor, Samson Siasia as his continue stay as the team’s coach depended heavily on his qualifying for the Nations Cup.

LET'S GO.... Super Eagles goalkeeper and stand-in captain, Vincent Enyeama shouting instructions during a past match. He has charged his colleagues to shed their blood today, if possible, to shut Liberia out of the 2013 Africa Nations Cup.

World Cup Qualifier Russia 1 Portugal 0

Eagles v Lone Star: Nigerians think victory only, Keshi assures on ticket Match Time: 4 p.m.

Aware of this, Keshi, who has the record of being the longest serving captain of the Eagles has told Nigerians that all that mattered now was

qualification of the team and not whether the team played samba football as he was still trying to get the desired team of their dream.

Early goals’ll unsettle Lone Star – Akpokona *As Onigbinde expects ITH the heart of soccer loving Nigerians still thumping abnormally over fears of the Lone Star of Liberia causing an upset in today’s Nations Cup decider like was done by Guinea last year, former coach of Insurance FC of Benin City and Rangers FC of Enugu, Lawrence Akpokona has advised the Super Eagles to unsettle the Liberians with early goals.

Akpokona who spoke to supersport.com said that apart from unsettling the “mouthy” Librians, the early goals will also go along way in ensuring that the Eagles play with litle or no pressure all through the match expected to be watched by 10,000 fans at the U.J. Esuene Stadium in Calabar.

“Two early goals will

W

resounding victory

greatly hamper the chances of the Lone Stars to cause an upset,” he said, adding, ”The Liberians have said so much and made so much noise. So they need to be silenced. They should not be given any chance to gain confidence in the game and think of doing anything worthwhile.

The Super Eagles should also do well not to be under pressure by getting the early goals that will cool their nerves all through the match.

No matter what the Liberians throw at them, they should be calm. The Lone Star would want to disorgainsed them by wasting time and doing other things to frustrate their efforts. The Super

Eagles should not panic even when the goals don’t Continues on Page 55

He has also assured Nigerians, while speaking on a Ray Power FM sports programme monitored in Lagos that he was only going to field only players fit enough to withstand whatever game plan the Liberians were going to present.

Keshi’s match plan suffered a blow with the reported injury of his captain and defence pillar, Joseph Yobo but he seems to have taken it in good

fate assuring that his absence, though painful, will not disrupt his game plan to stop the mouthy Liberians from the South African party.

“There is no panic over Yobo’s injury, we are just motivated to secure the ticket and reassure him that we will all be together at SA 2013,” Keshi told supersport.com, adding, “We know he (Yobo) loves to play games like this, that was why he was shed-

ding tears but we have assured him that capable replacement will help secure the ticket to South Africa 2013 Nations Cup.” The Eagles need victory of whatever margin to qualify even though a goalless or 1-1 draw will equally see them through but Nigerians feel that anything less than victory is belittling for the twice crowned African champion.

CROSS WORD PUZZLE ACROSS 1. Niger State Capital (5) 4. Mozambique Currency (7) 7. L.G.A. in Taraba State (3) 8. Former FCT Minister, Aliyu Umar (7) 9. Kogi West PDP Senator, Smart (7) 10. Pakistani Capital City (7) 13. Former Minister of Sports, Adamu Isa (3) 14. L.G.A. in Ekiti State (5) 16. France “Ligue 1” Club Side (5) 19. C.B.N. Director of Currency Operations Muhammad (3) 20. L.G.A. in Anambra State (7) 22.

Sweden Assistant Coach, Marcus (7) 23. Former Yobe State Governor, Abba Bukar, (7) 24. Protein Source (3) 25. Egyptian Premiership Club Side (7) 26. L.G.A. in Lagos State (5)

DOWN 1. Inter Milan President, Massimo (7) 2. Country in Africa (7) 3. Super Eagles Striker, Yakubu (9) 4. Ondo State Governor, Olusegun (6) 5. Anambra State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Linus (5) 6. Switzerland Goalkeeper, Johnny (5) 11. Colombia Striker and Wigan Athletic Forward, Hugo (9) 12.Vietnamese Currency Unit (3) 15. Young Goat (3) 17. Indonesian Capital City (7) 18. L.G.A. in Anambra State (7) 19. Niger Republic Capital City (6) 20. Super Falcons Defender, Faith (5) 21. Tanzania National President, Mr. Benjamin (5)

SOLUTION ON PAGE 54

Printed and Published by VANGUARD MEDIA LIMITED, Vanguard Avenue, Kirikiri Canal, P.M.B.1007, Apapa. Editor: 08062315286 (TEXT ONLY). Advert Dept: 01-7924470; Hotline: 01-8737028; Abuja: 09-2341102, 09-2342704. E-mail: weekend @vanguardngr.com, news@vanguardngr.com, letters@vanguardngr.com.

Advert:advertproduction@yahoo.com Website: www.vanguardngr.com (ISSN 0794-652X) EDITOR: CHIOMA GABRIEL. All correspondence to P.M.B. 1007, Apapa Lagos.

SATURDAY Vanguard, OCTOBER 13, 2012—55

Stun Lone Star with goals, Onu charges Eagles

By EDDIE AKALONU

E

x national U-23 team handler, Erasmus Onuh has challenged the Super Eagles to open a new page for the nation’s apex football today in Calabar by winning convincingly against the Lone Star of Liberia in the 2013 African Cup of Nations decider.

“I think they have to give us a good game by playing to win. In fact they have to stun the visitors with goals because I believe they can do it,” he stated, adding, “ we have the capacity to overcome Liberia and aim for something higher like winning the Nations Cup itself.”

He stressed that “ with the caliber of players we have, the Eagles can win this one for us and victory against Liberia in my opinion will open a new chapter for football because it provides an opportunity to aim higher for continental glory which is long overdue for Nigeria”.

Onuh, who has also coached at top clubs including Jigawa Stars, OUK FC and ABS FC, enjoined the team to work tirelessly to break the opponents down and never give them breathing space to make trouble throughout the game.

“They have to sparkle as a way to prove that

Mikel Obi, set to cause heartache for Lone Star of Liberia

Keshi has the right key to re-energise our football and he has really shown it is possible since taking over by the way he has approached the job particularly giving room for players from the local clubs to showcase their skills alongside their foreign based colleagues,” he said.

Botswana in tough challenge against Mali

T

he Zebras of Botswa na need to overturn a 3-0 deficit against Mali at home this weekend if they want to reach their second Africa Cup of Nations finals next year in South Africa.

Botswana coach Stanley Tshosane is hoping it will be third time luck for his charges who have already lost twice to their opponents this year.

Zebras went down 2-1 in February during the 2012 Gabon-Equatorial Guinea AFCON finals before Mali won 3-0 in the first leg of the 2013 AFCON qualifier in Bamako. This scenario

All the fixtures •Botswana v Mali •Angola v Zimbabwe •Malawi v Ghana •Nigeria v Liberia •Uganda v Zambia •Cameroon v Cape Verde •Morocco v Mozambique •Tunisia v Sierra Leone •Niger v Guinea •Ethiopia v Sudan •Algeria v Libya •Senegal v Ivory Coast •Equatorial Guinea v DR Congo •Togo v Gabon •Burkina Faso v CAR

leaves the Zebras in need of a 4-0 win or better result to make the final 16 teams for South Africa.

“It will be unfair for us to lose to the same team three times in a row ” said Tshosane but he was quick to admit the Zebras have a mountain to climb to achieve their target.

Zebras team captain Mompati Thuma was in buoyant mood and chose to look at the positive side saying “ Mali has a good team that’s given and if they managed to score three goals in their backyard we can also do the same” Thuma went

on to say , “ I think the team has done a lot in terms of preparing for this match and we should not look at this game in isolation but the qualifier as a whole. The coach has enough time to change his tactics and in terms of fitness players are in top condition and ready for Mali. I believe we can overturn the deficit from Bamako” said Thuma.

Meanwhile Zebras will be relieved to hear that Mali captain Seydou Keita who scored in his side’s 2-1 win over Zebras will miss the game this weekend

Yobo confident Eagles’ll win *Misses 90th cap NJURED Super Eagles skipper Joseph Yobo has charged his team-mates to win in Calabar against Liberia today in the crucial Africa Nations Cup qualifier.

The first leg in Liberia ended in a 2-2 draw last month. ”I am confident my colleagues will deliver. I have been in touch with the team and I have no fears what so ever,” said Yobo, who admitted he was devastated to miss out on the game because of a knee complaint. ”All we need to do is rally round the team, cheer them non-stop and we will together celebrate at the end of 90 minutes.”

Yobo, speaking in an exclusive interview with MTNFootball.com from his base in Turkey, also confirmed that he would not be making it to Calabar to cheer the Eagles as

I

earlier expected.

Yobo has been told by doctors at Fenerbache not to embark on a long trip back to Nigeria as this could further aggravate the injury.

He suffered the injury in his club’s last league game where he was sub-

stituted in the 70the minute as a result.

Yobo is Nigeria’s most capped international and was set for his 90th appearance in a green and white shirt today.

He has featured in five Nations Cup finals beginning with the 2002 edition in Mali, where Nigeria finished third best.

Early goals’ll unsettle Lone Star Continued from BP come when they want it.

The 2-2 draw in Monrovia should give them the confidence that the second leg is theirs. I am confident that they will beat Liberia and qualify for the African Cup of Nations in South Africa next year.”

However, former Eagles coach and CAF/FIFA instructor, Chief Adegboye Onigbinde is not one to lose sleep over the Lone Star as he predicted the

visitors will fall by at least two goals, even though a scoreless result will still be enough to see them through.

“I’m looking forward to a resounding victory against Liberia on Saturday (today). What we need to book a passage to South Africa 2013 is a 0-0 goal margin. That’s no reason we shouldn’t beat them at least with two goals,”he said, but added that they should avoid complacency.

FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup: France, Korea DPR battle for title T

he FIFA U-17 Wom en’s World Cup Azerbaijan 2012 reaches its climax today at the Tofig Bahramov Stadium in Baku with two unprecedented matches. For the first time in the history of

the tournament, the final is a repeat of a firstround game, as New Zealand 2008 champions Korea DPR reprise their Group B duel with France, the first European side to reach the fi-

nal of the competition.

The match for third place is also between first-round rivals, as Group D qualifiers Germany and Ghana square off with the last place on the podium at stake.

FIFA.com looks forward to the last day of Azerbaijan 2012 and two games that each pit a well-established power in women’s football against an emerging force.

Korea DPR have little left to prove at this stage, having qualified for every FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup held to date and won the inaugural competition four years ago. The first side to reach the final twice, the North Koreans will be

drawing on all their experience against opponents who have never ventured beyond the group phase before.

Coached by Hwang Yong-Bong, the Asian side’s chief goal threat is Ri Un-Sim, the tournament’s leading markswoman and a leading contender for the adidas Golden Boot. Well-disciplined and nimble, the North Koreans are versatile with it, and have plenty of cover to call on should their star striker have an off day, as she did in the semi-final against Germany, when Kim So-Hyang stepped into the breach to score a match-winning brace.

Opponents France are

far from inexperienced themselves, despite never having progressed beyond the group phase before and despite this being their first appearance in a FIFA Women’s World Cup final in any age group. The UEFA European Women’s U-17 Championship runnersup showed their worth in the group phase, holding the North Koreans to a 11 draw and beating USA to a place in the knockout rounds. Their main hopes of success lie with the goalscoring instincts of Lea Declercq and Kadidiatou Diani, and the solidity offered by Griedge Mbock Bathy at the back.

54—SATURDAY Vanguard, OCTOBER 13, 2012

SONigeria team returns with silver OACH Stephen Adeyemo of Special Olympics Nigeria (SONigeria) 7-A-Side soccer team to the just concluded Special Olympics Africa Unity Cup in South Africa has praised his players for their courage even though they failed to grab one of the tickets to represent Africa in the forthcoming Rio 2013 Winter Games.

Adeyemo said, ‘’even though we did not win the competition, we

C

Okagbare missed her best moments at London 2012 – Official OP Nigerian sprinter, Blessing Okagbare was at her best form at the London 2012 Olympics but she failed to take her place on the medals podium. According to a former Board member of the Athletics Federation of Nigeria, those were meant to be her best moments, but she missed it.

The former AFN top official who requested anonymity, declared that Okagbare could have made a mark, but she was mismanaged. He added also that the athlete lacked a graceful attitude, something which is very vital in the maintenance

T

final Diamond league, she was just giving it her all, while Olympics gold medalist, Shelly Ann Fraser-Pryse and silver medalist Carmelita Jeter were practically strolling in that race in Monaco.

“Again at the Olympics I don’t know who advised her to come out hard in the semi-final. All other athletes saved their best for the last. After that disappointing final, she was drained of all physical and mental strength. In such conditions there is barely little she could have done in her other events.

“Finally Okagbare’s attitude is as short as a

of concentration.

“First of all, Okagbare before the Olympics was just running in all manner of meets.

Meanwhile her major opponents were conserving their energy and avoiding some of those races. Those in authority should have sat down with her manager and calculated how much the athlete would have made in those meets and pay her. Of course managers are only out for their money and so they will always encourage the athlete to run and Okagbare was just running. Notice that in the

DONE AND DUSTED... Blessing Okagbare (second from right) finishing last in the 2012 London Olympics Women’s 100m final won by Shelly Ann Fraser-Pryse (right) Carmilita Jeter and Veronica Campbell-Brown settled for silver and bronze respectively.

Afilaka set to refill Nigerian coaches NIGERIA-born UK athletics coach, Michael Afilaka is expected in Lagos next week to run a coaching clinic organized by the Athletics Federation of Nigeria to update local coaches with a view of preparing them for the task of reviving athletics in Nigeria.

The clinic billed for October 18-20 at the National Institution for Sport (NIS) is tagged “Re-equipping Nigerian coaches for enhance elite performance” and Afilaka who is coach of world junior 100m champion Adam Gemili will put the coaches through with modern techniques of coaching, other resource persons like Rotimi Obajimi Elias Gora will also make presentations.

According to AFN technical committee director, Nesiama Omatsheye the programme is

will participate in the Forum.

The coaches will also be given the opportunity to discuss hindrances, in terms of organization administration, certification and classification. “This forum/clinic will consider in details the current issues, as gathered from the coaches, current administrators and relevant other professionals, affecting the effective performance of our coaches.”

a first major step taken to implement the ‘AFN PROJECT RIO 2016’ Programme . “It is designed to make our athletes achieve podium performances in Rio.” He said invitations have been sent to State Athletics Associations, Athletics Clubs, Military and Para Military Athletics Associations, Schools and Higher Institutions in Nigeria to nominate qualified coaches who M

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participated with courage and came back with a silver medal in the consolation category. We still have a lot to learn and are optimistic for the future. My main task now is to keep the team together for future tournaments” Nigeria playing in group B defeated Mauritius 5-0, in their first game before losing 0 – 1 each to Tanzania and Kenya but bounced back stronger with a 4-0 thrashing of Namibia,

thereby finishing third and missing the 2013 World Cup in Brazil.

The team however, defeated Botswana 1-0 before losing 1-2 to Uganda in the consolation mini tournament organized for the teams who couldn’t qualify for the Unity World Cup. Host South Africa came first, while Tanzania and Ivory Coast emerged second and third respectively to pick Africa’s three slots to Rio 2013 world cup.

Governor’s Cup tennis prelims begin today

BY JOHN EGBOKHAN

T

he qualifying rounds of the Governor’s Cup Futures I serve off today at the Lagos Lawn Tennis Club, Onikan The FCMB Plc. and Etisalat Nigeria sponsored computer point-awarding tournament, parading tennis players from 55 countries, is expected to end on October 27.

With the draws made, the qualifying matches will hold today and tomorrow.

The Main Draws of Futures 1 will begin on Monday and end on Saturday, October 20 with players fighting for the $15,000 and $25,000 prize monies of Futures 1 Men and Women’s Singles respectively.

•Babalola The second leg begins immediately where the players are expected to win the same amount of prize monies as that of the first leg.

Tournament Director, Prince Wale Oladunjoye said all is set for the commencement of

another exciting tennis classic in Lagos, adding that the Local Organising Committee, LOC, Nigeria Tennis Federation, NTF, major sponsors and other cosponsors as well as the host, the Lagos Lawn Tennis Club, are ready.

Agbetoba decries fallen standard of cycling

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he Ondo State C y c l i n g Association chairman, Chief Sunday Abiodun Agbetoba has decried the fallen standard of cycling in the country just as he lamented the way the sport is being treated in the country.

Chief Agbetoba who is also the Permanent Secretary in the State’s Tourism Ministry, voiced his feeling over the weekend in Akure while hosting members of the Cycling Commissaires Association of Nigeria.

“It is sad that cycling, one of the sports with great prospect in the past, is now struggling for survival due to the Idon’t -care and lackadaisical attitude of some individuals who allowed their egoistic tendencies to ruin the sport. Nigeria’s sports,

generally, is in a state of commatoes.” he said.

The former vice chairman of the Cycling Federation of Nigeria, (CFN) blamed the fallen standard of Sports generally in Nigeria on lack of youth programmes and implementation of sports policies as he urged the NSC to go back to the basics.

“The NSC must go back to school sports and concentrate on youth programmes. Sports will still go down the drain if square pegs are not put in square holes,” he e m p h a s i z e d .

Chief Agbetoba appealed to the NSC to rescue cycling by going back to the board system.

“Cycling should be removed from the hands of single individuals who have nothing to offer the

sport.

For the past four years, I doubt if annual general meetings had been held and there have not been competitions too.

Cyclists now meet once every two years during the Sports Festivals.

Except people who love cycling are in position, the sport will continue to suffer,” he stressed, as he called on sports loving Nigerians to help resuscitate cycling.

Earlier, the president of the Commissaires Association of Nigeria, Chief Alfred Ale had solicited the support of Chief Agbetoba for the sponsorship of both local and international Commissaire courses to enable the association bring in young Nigerians into cycling officiating.

52 — Vanguard, SATURDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2012

encourage their relations to go and when they come out for the money, we grabbed them. In most cases, if there is the need to confront them with arms and if they are armed, we also respond with arms, and some of them are wounded in the process and a lot of them also have been arraigned in the court.

Mr. Olayinka Balogun is the Edo State Commissioner of Police.

In this interview with Vanguard, Crime Editor, Emma Nnadozie and Gabriel Enogholase, he spoke of the challenges facing the State Police Command and what he has done so far to achieve some measure of success in policing the state. Excerpts:

W

e have also received a lot of cooperation from our sister states, Delta in particular. There was a time it was quite a big battle between the hoodlums and men in our borders because when they kidnapped a victim in delta they bring him of her to Benin and when they kidnap in Benin, they take such victim it to Delta.

Recently, they said they prefer to go and collect ransoms in Delta State; that it is very hot collecting ransom in Benin; some of them were wounded in the process and we arrested two or three of them who h a v e collected

H

ow have you been enjoying your stay in Edo State so far?

I have enjoyed every minute of it. It has been very challenging and I love challenges. I love to do my job, and I have seen that the picture they painted about Edo people, about crime and crime waves and so on is not actually so. Crimes are committed everywhere all over the country, so there is no need putting a topology on a particular state. But I have found out that Edo people are ready to co-operate with the police to fight crime and that is what we have been doing,and I have enjoyed every bit of it.

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Policing Edo state requires knowledge of the interior communities —Olayinka Balogun •Says crime record in the state is overbloated

victims from them. And we have been able to talk to members of the public so that they can get themselves prepared with some security tips.

Some people carelessly walk into their hands either through telephone conversation or somebody you have never met before, inviting you to a particular place, like the unfortunate case in Lagos; so we have been able to educate our people so much in that area. We also discovered that some of them are stage-managed either a

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ow have you been able to curb criminal activities in the state?

Actually, we have been able to find out that there are two common crimes on ground in the state, that is, robbery and kidnapping. In the case of armed robbery, it is a familiar terrain for the police; so I discovered that the problem was coming mostly from Edo North, that is, the IgarraIbillo-Auchi axis. All I did is to raise a special group that is faceless to go and man the area and since they went there, there has been no single bank robbery in that area. The last time robbers went to that axis, we gave them a bloody dose, arrested quite a number of them, frustrated their efforts, recovered arms and ammunition from them, and since that time we have had some peace in the area. On the issue of kidnapping, when we came initially, it was a bit bad but we fought them to a stand still. As I am talking to you, we have arrested more than 50 suspects in various operations; we have recovered arms and ammunition from them and rescued a lot of

What I heard about Edo State is not true. Edo like every other place has crimes, but the percentage or the height of the way people put it is not so

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boy friend kidnapping his girlfriend so that they can make more money from their father; a brother kidnapping a brother so that they can

make money from their father. We have quite a number of such cases.

Recently the Inspector General of Police provided us with a lot of

instruments like the new G.Department just created. It is mainly for info- tech and so we have this tracking system they sent us and any time we get calls on the activities of criminals in certain locations, we will locate that area within 24 hours.

The Assistant Inspector-General of Police (AIG) Intelligence Department has been of tremendous help, so once they call, we track down the area and go there immediately, and some times, we bait them with ransom.

We

ransom in Benin. So we have got a lot of support from Delta State and I will say the whole thing has tremendously died down. Kidnapping is exceptional; these criminals have discovered that kidnapping is easier. It is not as risky as robbery; if they go for robbery, police will be obliged to trace them with arms, fire for fire but when they go for kidnapping, we want to rescue the victims and would not shoot them Continues on pg 53

Vanguard, SATURDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2012 —53

until we rescue the victims and it is unlike robbery where it is a kind of confrontation.

We have more challenges in the area of kidnapping because we want to be more careful so that the victim is not hurt. We also generate news especially if the person involved is a notable person; so that gives us challenges, but we have reduced the tension very considerably.

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n essence you are saying that the socalled crime record in Edo State is unfounded.?

Is very unfounded.

People from a part of the country are like this and people just believe so.

We have had some youth corp members, and they go to those areas. They will come back with different stories. The hyper news I heard about Edo State is not true. Edo like every other place has crimes, but the crime percentage or the way people put it is not so.

For example, in Edo State since April 2012, we have not heard a single bank robbery in the State. The last one was in that April and we caught them and gave them bloody nose and arrested many of them.

This kidnapping thing that they are talking about is being done away with gradually and successfully. In most cases, because we need to rescue a victim, confronting them is careless. If a man seizes a car and police confronts the person, there will be a shoot out and we will take the car from him, but if somebody is in that car that we want to get alive, we will not be able to shoot. That is the canopy under which kidnappers are hiding.

They know that we will not storm a place when the victim is there but I will tell you what has been happening now.

People in Edo State, we have struck a serious relationship. You know we have been doing this community policing, I have been going round the nooks and crannies of communities, I have been talking to them.

Right inside the villages, I have been talking to

them and they have become so embolden enough that with their vigilante groups, once they notice any movement; criminals hiding in the bush anywhere; they will call us and on two or three occasions, we have succeeded in rescuing a victim. In most cases, somebody will call Oga and say, we notice some movement around a particular place in one village and we will send the anti-kidnapping officers there. They will go to the place and do their surveillance and will discover that there is a victim somewhere with someone keeping watch.

So, on about two occasions, we have arrested some suspects and rescued the victims.

We get this information so regularly. The thing has become a less issue.

Yes, it happened occasionally and the reason is because we had an initial problem after we removed roadblocks with people seizing the opportunity of that little freedom, but we have since reduced it. We have got some vehicles to go on patrol, we have got some federal highway patrols armed cars sent to us by the IG, but like most necessities of life, they are not enough. For example, if I have ten vehicles on patrol, I will wish I had 20 on patrol.

If I have a vehicle per five kilometre, I will prefer a vehicle per two kilometre. The more the persons is felt, the more the challenge but another problem is that with due respect to some of this cattle rearers, we have had information that some of this surprise attacks are carried out by these herds men.

O

ne or two victims have confirmed that the Fulani cattle herds men are familiar with the area. Some times they watch our men. They know when they come to the fields; they know when they move from a particular spot. So at times they come out and strike and run back into the bush, but I have reported the matter to the state government and we are making efforts to meet with Sarkis around and also meet some of the Hausa/Fulani leaders so

Policing Edo state requires knowledge of the interior communities that they can talk to them. That is on now; so that we can register some of them, then we can know what is going on. Then our vigilante groups in some communities are assisting tremendously, except that we have told them that they do not have the power to detain or brutalize anybody.

Once they make any arrest, they should handover such person or persons to the police and they have been doing that. We have intensified our effort and the IG has promised us more vehicles because that is

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Continues from pg 52

funning-arranged buildings before you get to the place. It is like a fire brigade man looking at the fire, he has vehicle, he has the water but he can’t get there. I think those are some of the things that government should help us, especially local government areas where they can do grading of some of these roads. We have a lot of such places where we cannot reach because the roads are not good not to talk of electricity problem. You go to an area, everywhere is dark, and you do not know the

The IG has promised us more vehicles because that is the only way to stop this highway problem

the only way to stop this highway problem. There is visibility of policemen on the road but then we have a lot of problem confronting security in the country. Some of the roads are so bad that these criminals know where a vehicle will be forced to slow down; that is where they will go and wait. If vehicles are moving and the express way is free, of course, it will be so difficult. You don’t have such highways robbery in the developed world where the roads are good and people are moving in four, five or six lanes but here, we have only one or two lanes and those lanes are some times bad spots that criminals will go and wait to do some of these things. Because I have gone into some of the villages during the community policing, I have found out that there are some places you have a distress call that have about five or six houses away, but you can’t get there because there is either a big crater somewhere full of water or you have to manoeuvre between the

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victim from the suspect.

Those things are part of security challenges the local, state and Federal Government must work on, so that together we can solve the problem.

H

ow do you see the collection of revenue along major highways in the state?

Some of these people are the creation of the society, some of them are actually collectors for local governments or for some banks and agencies but what we have told them is that instead of staying in the main road to collect this, money, they should have offices where these people will get to the offices and collect the tolls. But where we have noticed a forceful collection of such tolls we have dismantled it. And I have made some arrest in some of those areas in Benin around Oloku junction and so on; I have called some of them to my office and asked why is this. And of course, they will bring some papers and I told them you cannot collect tolls on the highway, go

and collect them in your offices and I have instructed the DPOs that anywhere they find this thing being forcefully collected, the people involved should be arrested and we have been doing so. Recently the revenue people came here and said that some people have been collecting such tolls and I gave them policemen to go and raid them.

They raided a lot of them and we have charged some of them to court while some are in detention. So the government should collect all these things through their offices; anybody who attempts to do it on the main road, we will stop the person because there is no more roadblock.

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nywhere you have served you have made your marks especially in the area of beautifications, erection of some permanent structures among others. What could have informed you to do this?

A man is what he is, he is what he wears and he is where he lives. If you remove all those things

from the man, then there is no man again. If a policeman cannot work in a good office; if he cannot wear good uniform, if he is not properly trained, if he is not proud of his environment, then you cannot get the best out of him. To get the best out of workers, you must provide essential tools and one of the tools you provide for people to work in, is conducive atmosphere, good surroundings. I came here and saw louvres in the office of CP in the year 2012, I removed all of them and replaced them with sliding doors, so when people come here, they will meet me in a good office, so that we can talk man to man. If you put policemen inside a guard house where they work, I must make sure that there is a toilet; there is an anti-room there where they can feel very much at home. If I send for person in the gate house, you cannot say the person went out to toilet, I will disturb everybody there because there is a toilet there running with water.”

SATURDAY Vanguard, OCTOBER 13, 2012—51

Yes Lucky is my friend but he sacked me thrice in Govt —Idahosa Says he called Oshiomhole a monkey in anger

BY SIMON EBEGBULEM, BENIN CITY

C

hief Charles Idahosa is a former Commissioner of In formation and Orientation in Edo State and now the Political Adviser to Governor Adams Oshiomhole. He ran against Governor Adams Oshiomhole in the 2007 governorship primary of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) but lost the ticket to the Labour leader. As he celebrates his 59 years on earth, Charle Tempo as he is fondly called by friends, took Saturday Vanguard down memory lane, as relates to his relationship with his bossom friend, Chief Igbinedion and how he was sacked thrice by the same administration while he was on a course abroad. He spoke on his life, Edo state politics and other national issues.

EXCERPTS:

Chief Charles Idahosa

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How do you feel at 59 I feel very happy. I feel very fulfilled and I give praises to God. I thank my family and I thank my friends and I look forward for my 60th birthday. I grew up with my uncle late Rt Rev.J.W.Idahosa, he was the first Anglican Bishop of Benin.

My father handed me over to him in a very tender age. I worked briefly with the Nigerian Airways before I traveled to the United Kingdom where I studied Journalism and I was there till 1976 when I returned to join the Nigeria Television Authority (NTA). But I was not comfortable with the civil service so in 1980 I left NTA to float my own Media Consultancy Company, which is called Charle Tempo Associate Nigeria Limited.

Then I joined politics in 1981, I joined the Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN), then my father was the chairman of the party in Orhiomwon then, there was no Uhumwonde then. I later joined the PDP to team up with Lucky Igbinedion and others, I was one of those who were sent to the National to work for the emergence of Olusegun Obasanjo. And in 2003 I tried to run for the senate but as usual the PDP politics knocked me out. It was time to quit the PDP because they were not democratic so I joined our leader Senator Rowland Owie to form what is today the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), we started as ACD. Just before the election Comrade Adams Oshiomhole came to join us and he won the primary but I was not happy

The truth is that I am not a sycophant, so this issue of monkey I said it in a public face to his face and he knew quite well that I was angry. But I am glad that he took it like a team player after all he also abuse people when he is angry.

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the way the leaders handled the primary, I felt cheated. So I went into the DPP to contest the governorship but later we were able to settle our differences in the ACN and I came back to team up with Governor Oshiomhole. So after he won the court case I became his Political Adviser and that is the journey so far.

I gaze that was when you described Oshiomhole as a Monkey and people were surprised you came back to work with him?

Yes that is true. A lot of people have tried to make a big deal out of that but you see when two people are struggling for one thing they don’t say nice things about each other.

I was angry at that time that after I laboured for the party he came from no where and because of his obvious record as a labour leader and former President of the NLC, the leaders preferred him. It was normal but we settled our dif-

ferences and I thank God for that because Oshiomhole is a great man. The truth is that I am not a sycophant, so this issue of monkey I said it in a public face to his face and he knew quite well that I was angry. But I am glad that he took it like a team player after all he also abuse people when he is angry. Like me Oshiomhole will always call a spade a spade no matter whose ox is gored. So it was as a result of the heat of that time.

And I am happy Oshiomhole is political more matured than those trying to make noise out of it.

You are one of those accused of killing the PDP in Edo state but today you criticize the PDP because you are now in the ACN The truth of the matter is that people know the truth but they pretend about it. I can never deny Lucky Igbinedion, he is my very good friend. My self and Lucky started being friends in 1972, we were both

students in the United Kingdom. But a lot of things went wrong during his administration. So when people want to be mischievous they always say Charles Idahosa you were there during Igbinedion’s administration.

But they forgot that Lucky ruled for eight years but I only served in that administration for two years and eleven months. No body remembered that I was the first person to be fired by the Igbinedion administration. But I am very proud of who I am because I will always say my mind. I respect people and I don’t fear any body. As a close friend, my interest was to advise Lucky properly so that we will some thing right.

But in doing that, a lot of people felt that I was too powerful so I became a target.

Lucky now had a lot of advisers starting from his father, Chief Anenih and host of others.

To be fair to Lucky, any time I advise him on an issue, he listens and because of that some persons felt I was too powerful but they forgot my back ground with Lucky. Yes Lucky took oath of office by May 29 and that was the same time I started with him, but no body remembers that by AprilMay 2010, less than a year of that administration I was sacked. I was sacked while I was at a seminar at the University of London. After six months I was sent to Abuja as the Director General of the Abuja Liaison office and before I could say Jack Robinson Charles Idahosa was sacked

again.

There a high conspiracy against me but I was not bothered. I remembered one incident too. Chief Anenih nominated some body as SUBEB chairman, that time Lucky Igbinedion was an action governor, he has a good idea of what he wanted to do.

I am just trying to tell you the combination of Chief Gabriel Igbinedion and Anenih in that administration then, to tell you that I had no chance of survival in that administration.

I did not know that Anenih gave a name to Lucky, the person that will be the SUBEB chairman, I know the man today as an in-law to chief Anenih. Swearing in was 8am and Lucky at that time keeps to his time. So it happened that at that time, we entered the Festival Hall for the swearing-in but we discovered that the position of the man to be sworn in was vacant. So when Lucky stood up for the occasion, he asked, who is that man that was suppose to be sworn in, they said he is not around yet. Lucky now asked who is from Akoko Edo here.

A man who just came as a spectator got up and Lucky asked the man to sit in that chair and that was how that man was sworn-in.

The next the matter was in all the papers. Unknown to me, three days later, Lucky Igbinedion called me and said that the person that was supposed to be chairman was Chief Anenih’s candidate and that he is being pressurized now to swear the man in as chairman. So I advised him that this is not proper, you have made a public statement which is in all the media. I told him it will be dangerous to go back to his word, that he should advise the man to wait until another board is being inaugurated. Lucky agreed with me. But I think along the line Anenih heard that I was advising against that, again I was the one always putting up the announcements as regards appointments.

So I now traveled out, but I was shocked that while I was away, I was not only sacked but my office was scrapped. So I laugh when people keep saying that I was there through out the administration. So I was later called back but I decided to resign in the administration in 2004. Because of our closeness, I quietly went to him to tell him that I was resigning that I don’t want to be Commissioner again. He said no that I will be rubbishing him if I resign I now advise that he should then dissolve his Exco so that it will be seen that I did not return. I left to join others in forming ACN because I knew the PDP will die a natural death.