Jonathan to dump Tukur seeks soft landing

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Jonathan tto o dump TTuk uk ur ukur ur,, seeks sof softt landing Continued from page 1 Bamanga Tukur, pursuant to working out a tidy strategy for his removal from office, Sunday Vanguard can authoritatively reveal.

The meeting, which is expected to hold inside Aso Rock Presidential Villa, Abuja, this night, would involve governors on the platform of the party, its elders and Jonathan.

Indeed, as at the time of going to press yesterday, the 23 PDP state governors were said to be “united” on the imminent exit of Tukur whose tenure has been made very controversial, first, by the crisis in the Adamawa State Chapter of the party, spiraling into an all out angst by some governors against his person, style of leadership and tenure.

Sunday Vanguard has been made to understand that this seemingly conciliatory move by the President is part of steps being taken to ensure that the PDP “tolerates all shades of interests while not allowing for any impression that would seem to support the use of blackmail by those who insist on forcing Tukur out of office before the expiration of his tenure”, according to a source very close to Aso Rock.

The highly dependable source, however, insisted that whatever discussions are held today and no matter the conclusions and agreements reached, all would be without prejudice “to the constitutionally guaranteed right of our President to seek reelection for a second term of office.” The source went on: “That is something that is nonnegotiable. The President has every right to seek re-election and the fact that he wants peace in the party should not be taken as a sign of weakness. He is acting like a statesman and that is why we have come to this agreement.

“Mind you, the timeline for that exit by Tukur is something that we all have to agree on and it is not something that would be forced down anybody’s throat.

This is a democracy and bullying would not work”.

But the high wire politics that is presently going on in the PDP appears to be throwing up some conflicting pieces of information.

All Progressive Congress, APC, as the main opposition political party – the party is made up of the Action Congress of Nigeria, CAN; the rump of the All Peoples Party, APP; a segment of the All Progressive Grand Alliance,

APGA; and some scattered political parties – is believed to be angling to benefit from whatever misfortune befalls the PDP, especially the

continued threat of the seven governors and their backers to continue operating their New Peoples Democratic Party,

nPDP. This is because the camp of the aggrieved governors, not minding their open conditions

*From left: Chief Molade Okoya-Thomas, Otunba Henry Ajomale, acting Chairman, All Progressive Congress, APC, Lagos State, Governor Babatunde Fashola, Mrs. Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire, Deputy Governor, Mr. Lateef Ibirogba, Commissioner for Information and Strategy and Oba Rilwan Akiolu, Oba of Lagos, during the celebration of the 2,300 days in office of Fashola, held at LTV-8, Ikeja, Lagos, yesterday. Photo: Bunmi Azeez.

about the “ need for internal democracy in PDP are actually baying for blood and insisting that the only thing that would resolve the crisis within the party ‘ would be a repudiation of a reelection bid by Jonathan’”.

In fact, insiders and close associates of the aggrieved state governors and leaders of nPDP, Sunday Vanguard was told, have resolved that they would continue along their line of opposition except Jonathan dumps his aspiration to seek re-election.

“Even if Tukur is allowed to remain as Chairman of PDP, the only thing that is expected of the President is a repudiation of his ambition”, an insider said.

No matter, it was gathered that part of the strategy of those in the camp of Jonathan may “actually be setting up the aggrieved governors and, therefore, exposing the raisond’etre for their agitations and their real intentions.”

Atiku, govs, PDP, nPDP, others mourn Agagu

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BY OUR REPORTERS

RIBUTES, yesterday, poured in, in torrents, for former Governor Olusegun Agagu of Ondo State who passed on, on Friday.

Vice President Atiku Abubakar; Agagu’s successor, Governor Olusegun Mimiko; and four other governors – Ibikunle Amosun (Ogun), Rotimi Amaechi (Rivers), Abdulfatah Ahmed (Kwara), Godswill Akpabio(Akwa Ibom), and Liyel Imoke(Cross River)- paid glowing tributes to the deceased.

The national leadership of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), the party on which platform Agagu was elected governor, also condoled with the family of the deceased.

The Abubakar Kawu Baraje-led ‘New PDP’ also mourned the former gover nor, saying he was a consummate politician.

In a condolence message, Atiku noted that the former governor ’s death came with a personal pain to him, “because he was a friend, and a brilliant strategist.”He continued: “The late Governor Olusegun Agagu not only sat eminently among politicians of note in the country, his contribution to geology, his area of specialization, is also very

SOLUTION

impressive. Be it in politics, scholarly undertakings or public administration, the late Governor Agagu was a first class material. I will miss him as a friend, but the country will miss him as a worthy citizen and leader.”

Mimiko, in a statement in Akure, expressed shock at the news of the death of his predecessor.

In the statement, signed by the Ondo State Commissioner for Information, Mr. Kayode Akinmade, he described the death as most unfortunate and hard to believe.

“This news, to say the least, is most shocking and very hard to believe. It is most unfortunate and indeed a great loss,” the brief statement read.

Amosun described as regrettable Agagu’s death.

The governor, in a statement signed by his Senior Special Assistant on Media, Mrs. Funmi Wakama, said the passage of the former governor at 65 was depressing. ”He died at a time when the nation should have benefited more from his wealth of experience as an intellectual, politician and public servant,” he said.

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maechi, in his own tribute on behalf of the Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF), said:”It is unfortunate that Dr. Agagu, an excellent family man, a consummate politician and academic, and elder statesman passed on at a time our country needed his invaluable service most. His loss is no doubt a monumental loss to our nation.” ”Between 2003 and 2009, Dr. Agagu was an influential member of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum. And during that time, the former governor showed he was a man on a mission to improve the lives of his Ondo people in particular and Nigerians in general. His was a voice of reason, moderation and peace at all times that Nigeria was faced with serious national c h a l l e n g e s ” .

Kwara Governor Ahmed, in his own tribute signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Alhaji Abdulwahab Oba, said with the demise of Agagu, the nation

has been deprived of his wise counsel and wealth of political experience, especially now that Nigeria is in dire need of political tolerance and moral rejuvenation in order to overcome her developmental challenges.

The PDP described Agagu as a patriot and a brilliant technocrat who discharged his responsibilities both as a minister and governor with finesse.

In a statement signed by the PDP National Publicity Secretary, Chief Olisa Metuh, the party said, “The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has expressed grief over the death of the former Minister of power and former governor of Ondo State, Dr. Olusegun Agagu.”

THE Abubakar Kawu Barajeled ‘New PDP’ said Agagu was a community leader and a consummate politician who was never found wanting in leadership qualities.

A statement in Abuja by nPDP National Secretary, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola, however, said Agagu’s death was a personal loss and a monumental deprivation of Nigeria of the invaluable services of a great patriot.

Minister of State for the FCT, Oloye Olajumoke Akinjide, said Agagu was “one of the titans”of the PDP in the South-west.

“On a personal level, I had a cordial relationship with him, as he was unfailingly courteous and respectful to all”, Akinjide said in a statement.

Senator Bode Olajumoke said he was shocked when he heard the news of the demise of the former governor.

Olajumoke prayed God to give his wife and children the fortitude

to bear the irreparable loss.

The Ondo PDP said the death of the late geologist was d e v a s t a t i n g .

The Chairman of the party, Ebenezer Alabi, in a statement in Akure, said, “ It is on record that Dr Agagu was the founder of the party in Ondo State, its mentor and absolute pillar of support for the party in every r a m i f i c a t i o n . ” He was a steadfast politician whose motive for political participation was to effect a development in the quality of life of his people.”

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hief Bode George, in his tribute, said he was in constant touch with the deceased while away abroad on the best way to resolve the crisis rocking the PDP in the South-west ahead of future elections in the zone, stressing that the only honour that could be done for him was for the party members in the South-west to sink their differences and come together under the same umbrella as a family.

The governorship candidate of the party in the last governorship election in Ondo State, Chief Olusola Oke, said, “For us in Ondo State, we have just lost a colossus , an epitome of humility, and parallel display of intelligence, tolerance, accommodation and the pillar of hope for the less privilege. ”Whatever that has happened in Nigeria for the past one and half decades, Agagu was at the centre, be it in terms of development, exploration, in terms of future ambition of economy, our

Continues on page 6

Kidnapped Anglican Archbishop freed

BY JIMITOTA ONOYUME

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HE Archbishop of the Niger Delta North Diocese of the Anglican Church, Most Reverence Ignatius Kattey, kidnapped by some gunmen, was released last night, according to the police.

Public Relations Officer of Rivers State Police Command, DSP Angela Agabe, in a

telephone chat, said the cleric had been freed.

It could not be confirmed if any ransom was paid. Sunday Vanguard gathered that the archbishop was released at Eleme. Kattey was taken hostage about a week ago, minutes after he drove out of his residence at Eleme. The story on page 7 had gone to press before his release.

PAGE 6 —SUNDAY VANGUARD, SEPTEMBER 15, 2013

From L-R: Owners of Bajeiid Communications, Mr. & Mrs. Femi Ajala; Agbakin of Ibadan Land, Chief Waheed Edun and Director, Hand Held Products, Samsung Electronics West Africa, Mr. Emmanouil Revmatas, at the official opening of Samsung's Experience Store in Ibadan, Oyo State.

Picture above: Lagos lawyer, M r Festus Keyamo, during his adoption by the All Progressive Congress (APC) as consensus candidate for the forthcoming Delta Central Senatorial District bye-election yesterday. Below: Keyamo being cheared by his supporters

Why we appealed Al-Mustapha, Shofolahan’s acquittal — Fashola

BY OLASUNKANMI AKONI & MONSUR OLOWOOPEJO

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OVERNOR Baba tund e Fashola of

Lagos State, yesterday, shed light on the state government’s decision to appeal in the Supreme Court, the Major Hamza Al Mustapha and Alhaji Lateef Shofolahan’s acquittal by the Appeal Court over the murder of Alhaja Kudirat Abiola, saying the state places premium on human lives.

Meantime, Fashola , while condemning the alleged barricade of the Rivers State Government House, Port-Harcourt, by the police to prevent Governor Rotimi Amaechi from gaining access to the

house, described the act as a breach of fundamental human right to movement.

The governor, who spoke at the commemoration of his 2,300 days in office, held at the Lagos Television Ground, justified the appeal decision, noting that the government acted on agitation of the people.

In attendance were a former military administrator of Lagos State, Rear Admiral Ndubuisi Kanu; a former deputy governor of the state, Mrs. Sarah Sosan; Oba of Lagos, Oba Rilwan Akiolu; among other dignitaries.

“The first report is in respect of the verdict of acquittal of Major Al Mustapha for charges of conspiracy and murder by the Lagos Division of the Court of Appeal, which has

generated some mixed reactions,” Fashola said.

“Because our Constitution permits a further appeal to the Supreme Court, and because we place the highest premium on every human life and because the families of the victims deserve every right to agitate the matter to the final court, just as the accused would have been entitled, your government has appealed on behalf of the people to the Supreme Court”.

On Lagos students performance in the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (SSCE), he said that 21,193 students of the 51,604 who sat for examination scored credits in five subjects, including English

Atiku, govs, PDP, nPDP, others mourn Agagu Continued from page 1 politics and our nation at large.”

The Ondo APC described the demise of the former governor as a rude shock.

A chieftain of the party, Chief Ade Adetimehin, said the people of the state will surely miss him.

Adetimehin prayed God to give the family the fortitude to bear the loss.

A former governor of Oyo State, Senator Rashidi Ladoja, said Agagu’s passage was doubtful to believe, saying “this is devastating.”

Former Minister of Sports and Special Duties, Taoheed Adedoja, in his tribute, said Agagu would be greatly missed as a leader that craved for peace.

A former governorship candidate of the defunct

Action Congress, AC, in Ondo State, Hon Ademola Adegoroye, said Agagu’s death was a great loss.

Adegoroye described the former governor as a superb administrator, a prudent manager of resources and a highly cerebral technocrat. ”Ondo State has lost probably, its most painstaking, and meticulous governor since its creation,”he added.

Language and Mathematics.

He said the performance translated into 41.06 per cent pass rate, adding it was an improvement on the 39 per cent recorded in 2012.

Anambra: Ifeanyi Ubah flags off campaign

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HE commercial city of Onitsha and indeed the whole of Anambra State was set agog yesterday as the gubernatorial candidate of Labour Party in the forthcoming election, Dr. Patrick Ifeanyi Ubah, flagged-off his campaign.

The occasion, which took place at the Holy Trinity Centenary field, saw the venue filled to the brim. want Ifeanyi “ We Ubah,”rent the air.

After managing his way through the crowd, at about 4pm, Ifeanyi Ubah mounted the stage with his“Freedom Plan Agenda for Ndi-Anambra”. In between the speech, the people could not hold back their joy at the hope he gave them.

The Labour Party candi-

date told the people“After searching my soul and engaging in widespread consultation, I have decided to sacrifice my time and

resources in order to offer the kind of leadership NdiAnambra need now for the positive development of our state.”

Tuomo Agip project: Youths protest OUTHS working for Y Indigenous Contractors have threatened to

stop the Nigerian Agip Oil Company (NAOC) Limited’s ongoing project in Tuomo, a riverside community, in Burutu Local Government Area of Delta State over the exclusion of their companies.

Following pressure from youths and indigenous contractors, the Chairman, Tuomo Federated Communities, Comrade Egoli Ayiba, had in a letter, penultimate week, appealed to the Public Affairs Manager of NAOC, to accede to the demands of the youths/indigenous contractors, to avert stoppage of the ongoing

work Tuomo Indigenous Contractors Association (TICA) led by Godwin Pereyei, Smart Clement and Ebitimi Akass, Chairman, Secretary and PRO respectively earlier alleged a no-localcontractor policy by NAOC. It said NAOC rebuffed since 2010 appeals by local contractors to be part of the p r o j e c t .

TICA had also appealed to the military Joint Task Force code-named Operation Pulo Shield to prevail on Agip Oil Company to respect the local content act and give indigenous contractors a sense of belonging.

Tejumade Alakija for burial Nov 8

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RINCESS Teju made Alakija, a former Head of Service in the old Western Region, is dead. Alakija, the daughter of the late Ooni of Ife, Oba Adesoji Aderemi, died on August 23.

She was also, at different times, the Pro-Chancellor, Universities of Benin, Nsukka and Abuja.

Burial ceremonies start, on Wednesday, Nov 6, with a service of songs in Ibadan to be followed, on Thursday, Nov 7, with a commendation service,

also in Ibadan, and a wake keep in Ibadan same day.

Burial in Ile-Ife, on Friday, Nov 8, will be preceded by a funeral service.

The late Princess Tejumade Alakija

SUNDAY VANGUARD, SEPTEMBER 15, 2013, PAGE 7

Condolence visit to the Agagus

10 feared dead as Nasarawa boils

BY ABEL DANIEL

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BOUT 10 persons were feared dead, several others wounded while no fewer than 50 houses were reportedly burnt in when fighting broke out between Eggon and Alago ethnic groups in Obi local government area of Nasarawa State on Friday.

Eye witnesses said yesterday that problem started when some Alago youths waylaid fleeing Eggon boys suspected to be Ombatse cultists from a nearby village as a result of the ongoing Fulani, Tiv face-off in there.

It was learnt that the traditional chief of the Alago community intervened and calmed the warring youths and promised the Eggon youths that their vehicle that was damaged would be repaired.

However, the Alago boys were said to have ignored the plea and blocked the road to their community to stop the fleeing Eggon. The Eggon boys in the area felt their people were being harassed and mobilized to block the road leading to their own settlement.

In the process, fighting ensued, leading to the death of two persons, several houses burnt and many others wounded.

Nasarawa State Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, ACP Cornelius Ocholi, when contacted, could not confirm or deny the incident.

Sources said yester-

day, that the unrest had spread to neighbouring Agwatachi, an Alago community.

The military were seen being moved in trucks to the troubled area.

Ondo Rapid Justice System decongests courts

BY DAYO JOHNSON, Akure

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FFORTS by the Ondo State government to expeditiously dispense justice with the inauguration of a court within the Medium Security Prison has paid off with the determination of over fifty cases.

Governor Olusegun Mimiko said this in Akure while donating materials worth millions of naira to the over 600 inmates of the Olokuta Prison.

He said that government decided to inaugurate the Rapid Justice System High Court 10 within the prison following cases of awaiting trials.

Speaking through the Attorney General of the state and Justice Commissioner Eyitayo Jegede (SAN), the governor noted that the

NYSC, BOI partner on Skill Acquisition access to training and fund to start up.

BY CALEB AYANSINA She said the collaboration HE Bank of Industry would cut across all spec(BOI) wants to collab- trum of the scheme operaorate with the National tion to avoid delay after Youth Service Corps service year by corps mem(NYSC) on skill acquisition bers before they are emfor Corps Members (CMs). ployed. “We would have The Chief Executive Of- trained them in terms of ficer and Managing Direc- skill acquisition like tor of the bank, Mrs Evelyn SMEDAN is doing.”

Oputu, who stated this af“What we want to do is to ter the maiden meeting of ensure that the corps memthe two bodies in Abuja, bers use that year to acquire noted that the bank was skills and to understand willing to work with the what type of business they scheme to ensure that can do to get jobs immediskilled corps members have ately.”

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court which commenced operation on April 2 2012 has deternmined over 53 of the 143 cases filed in the court.

He pointed out that the Rapid Justice System court has fast tracked cases that were hitherto pending .

Items donated by the government as a result of the promise by the governor who visited the prison after the June prison break include mattresses, medications, toiletries, laundry items, uniforms amongst others.

The controller of the prison, Olatunde Olayiwola, commended the state government’s gesture.

BY DAUD OLATUNJI

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IGERIA Customs Service, Ogun State Command has cleared some companies at the Ogun Guandong Free Trade Zone in Igbesa, in Ado-Odo/Ota Local Government Area of the state of sharp practices.

The Area Comptroller in the state, Prince Felix Dosunmu, after inspecting the companies, commended them for maintaining best international business practices.

Dosunmu said the command generates over N50 million every month from the zone.

Customs, one of the reg-

From left: Mr Tunde Agagu, Mr Ranti Agagu (Jnr), and Mr Feyi Agagu, son of the deceased yesterday. Photos by: Shola Oyelese

Adeboye, Bishop Oke helped me to win 2011 election – Ajimobi

BY OLA AJAYI, Ibadan

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OVERNOR Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State says prayers of the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, Pastor Enoch Adeboye and Bishop Francis Wale Oke, Sword of the Spirit Ministries helped him to win the 2011 governorship election.

The governor said this just as he declared that God had killed some people that would have made the state ungovern-

Sharp Practices: Customs clears companies ulatory authorities of free trade zones, disclosed that the localization of the Republic of China Guandong FTZ to Igbesa had boosted its revenue drive and had generated over 2,000 direct jobs for unemployed youths.

From left: Chief Mrs Iyabo Martins Kuye, Mrs Olufunke Agagu (widow), Mrs Omolara Akisanya and Chief Olabode George at the Ikoyi, Lagos residence of the late Chief Olusegun Agagu, former Governor of Ondo State, yesterday, on a condolence visit.

According to Dosunmu, who led other officers in the Command to the FTZ, Nigeria, through Ogun Guandong FTZ, has become an exporter of ceramic products to other West African countries and Dubai in United Arab Emirates (UAE).

able for him before he(God) allowed him to be governor.

Ajimobi defied the cold weather to meet Adeboye and Oke at the 36th convention of the Sword of the Spirit in Ibadan.

Oyo seeks S/West ministerial slot

BY OLA AJAYI, Ibadan

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group, Foremost Achievers, in the South-west People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has advised President Goodluck Jonathan to use the opportunity of his cabinet reshuffle to right the wrong in his cabinet composition by giving Oyo State its position in the Federal Executive Council.

It wants the extra ministerial slot for the Southwest to go to Oyo State to recompense for its best performance in the

JAMB commends UNIBEN VC over admission

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HE Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has commended the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Benin (UNIBEN), Prof.Osayuki Oshodin, on what it described as the early conclusion of the 2013/ 2014 admission exercise.

This comes as the Esan

Students Association Worldwide and the Nigerian Institute of Surveyors lauded the leadership qualities of .Oshodin, citing his developmental strides, anticorruption war and his concern for the welfare of students as reasons for their decision.

He narrated how he met the men of God prior to the 2011 elections which he won.

The governor said,”My daughter asked me if I had met Pastor Adeboye before and I said no. We

In a letter signed by the Registrar/Chief Executive of JAMB, Prof.Dibu Ojerinde, it noted that the early conclusion of admission exercise by the university is an unprecedented feat “ and it goes a long way to demonstrate that University of Benin is on its path to glory”

2011 general elections and improve the fortunes of the party in the state and the region in general.

The stakeholders, made up of the immediate past local government chairmen in the state, said Oyo delivered the best results for the party in the South-West (under the leadership of the then Governor of Oyo State, Otunba Christopher Adebayo Alao Akala).

The chairmen, in a statement in Ibadan and signed by their Chairman and Secretary, Alhaji Omilabu Teslim Gandhi and Mr. Kehinde Olaosebikan respectively, stated that the president had done so well in stabilizing his government by allowing all the ministers that took off with him to have stayed for over two years in government, an accomplishment which they said was unprecedented.

then struggled to meet him. I told him, ‘I just want you to pray for me’.

“Pastor Adeboye said, ‘If there is any sin preventing him(Ajimobi) from becoming the governor of his state, please forgive him’.

“After the prayer, I felt something happened to me. A year later, I tried again and I won the election. ”I told my wife, the man is truly a man of God.”

Obosi United Friends hold AGM

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HE Obosi United Friends of Nigeria (OUF) will on Sunday holds its Annual General Meeting.

According to the information made available to newsmen and signed by the President General of the Club, Prince Obums Anene (NwalieOku), the meeting will hold on at the National Stadium Surulere, Lagos.

The information also stated that the top on the list of the agenda will be to sensitize members on the need to go home mobilize the entire people of Obosi to be prepared to cast their votes during the fourth coming governorship election in Anambra Stated slated for November 16th, 2013.

PAGE 8—SUNDAY Vanguard, SEPTEMBER 15, 2013

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

Deportation, war on poverty-striken Nigerians Dear Sir, “Necessity is the plea for every infringement of human freedom.

It is the argument of tyrants; it is the creed of slaves”. William Pitt. (House of Commons Speech. 1783) “Man is born free, and everywhere he is in chains”Jacques Rousseau (The Social Contract) “It is still my maxim, that there is no scandal like rags, nor crime so shameful as poverty”. George Farquhar HEN a thief is caught INFLAGRANTE DILECTO (red handed), no amount of verbal acrobatics, legal permutations, politicization and intellectualization of the criminal and shameful act, calculated to obstruct the trajectory of justice and cover the crime with a gossamer of objectivity and projectiles of prejudices will work, except in an anathematized and recondite Nation like Nigeria.

The structural cosmopolitanization of state capitals through environmental sanitation, beautification and urban renewal projects, etc have led to people’s relocation, ghetto disruptions, mass movements and demolition of peoples’ habitation. The demolition of illegal structures and caravans have rendered many, especially poverty-stricken Nigerians homeless.

Indeed, it is a platitudinous practice by most states in Nigeria to immediately deport non- indigenes, especially those in the throes of impecuniosities as a result of the spread of the octopoidal tentacles of so-called infrastructural development.

It is on record that on the 14th of December 2011, the Peter Obi-led administration of Anambra State deported 29 povertystricken Nigerians to their states of origin, i.e Akwa Ibom and Ebonyi states. In other to revamp its Civil Service, the Abia State Government resolved to flush out non indigenes in 2012.

In Delta State the ongoing Urban Renewal Policy has left many dislodged and displaced poverty-stricken people scampering to their villages and it is the same story in Edo, Oyo and Ondo states.

So, we now have intra and interstate

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deportations. On the 21st of June 2011, the Federal Capital City Territor y Government deported 129 povertystricken Nigerians and in May 2013, hundreds of poor Nigerians were deported from Abuja to their states of Origin. On the 2nd of August 2013, the Rivers State Government deported almost 200 povertystricken Nigerian citizens to their states of origin.

The deportation blues attained its crescendo on July 27, 2013 when the Governor Babatunde Fashola-led Government of Lagos State deported 14 poverty-stricken Nigerians of Anambra State origin to Onitsha. The furore, press war, buck-passing, blame game, ethnic jingoism and parochial irredentism that followed on the hills of this deportation remains unprecedented. It has been a standard practice of government to do inter and intra state deportation of poverty- stricken Nigerians when carrying out their so-called urban renewal projects.

These acts of the various state governments are a reflection of the mortal moral and unconstitutional acts. There are no known provisions in the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria that approves of these wanton molestations and deportation of the poor from their abode to anywhere in Nigeria.

Indeed, section 14 subsection 2(b) under Fundamental Objectives and Directives Principles of State Policy posit that “the security and welfare of the people shall be the primary purpose of government”.

In the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended), it is clear that poverty-stricken Nigerians have a right to the dignity of their human person (section 34), personal liberty (section 35) freedom of movement (section 41) and the right of residence in any part of Nigeria (section 43). The deportation of the poor by the Federal and State governnment is a desecration of section 15 of the constitution which has imposed a duty on the estate to promote national integration. It is therefore clear from the foregoing that these acts are horrendous profanation and abuse on the rights of the poor in Nigeria.

Instead of finding solutions to the pitiable condition of poverty-stricken Nigerians, the Federal and State Governments under the guise of urban renewal, infrastructural development, non-indigenship, environmental sanitation and cosmopolitanization have declared war on the poor in Nigeria masqueraded as DEPORTATION. The poor in Nigeria continue to turn the other cheek while their leaders take turns to tighten the noose of poverty and oppression on their jugular.

When will the poor and oppressed speak out through a REVOLUTION in Nigeria?

When are we going to say ENOUGH IS A ENOUGH in this country?

All great books and masters agree with the Bible and JESUS CHRIST, that he who mocks the poor mocks at his master and creator. The federal and some states governments have mocked at the poor in Nigeria through their oppressive policies.

CHIEF BOBSON GBINIJE MANDATE AGAINST POVERTY (MAP), WARRI 08023250378

How to curb violent crimes in our country Dear Sir,

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HEN the late President Umaru Yar ’ Adua came to power in 2007, he set up a Committee headed by General Yakubu Gowon(rtd) to work out the Social Welfare Benefits to be paid to the unemployed until they get jobs, as it is done in the civilized countries of the world. Unfortunately, after the Committee submitted its recommendations to him and due to his health challenges and his eventual death, those recommendations never saw the light of the day. It is very sad and surprising that President Goodluck Jonathan never implemented those recommendations, as that option would have dissuaded the unemployed youths that indulge in violent crimes as a means of survival to retrace their steps.

I strongly believe that if an unemployed youth is given a reasonable amount of money every month and trained to acquire a certain skill, he would not get involved in violent crimes.

But our ruling class has so much appropriated our resources to the an extent that they and their cronies are swimming in the ocean of wealth that little is left for education, health, roads, electricity, etc and most especially to create jobs for our youths.

Let the truth be told, if our ruling class do not move about with armed police escorts they and their family members, would have been an easy prey to armed

robbery attacks and kidnappings.

Our ruling class in order to save the rest of us that is not given round the clock protection by security agents from violent crimes should endeavour to create jobs for our unemployed youths with the abundant resources at their disposal, to curb their indulgence in violent crimes, period!

Ifeka Okonkwo writes in from Awka, Anambra State

SOS to the President on PHCN exploitation Dear Sir,

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R. President, please do something about Power Holding Company of Nigeria,PHCN, exploitation. The masses are tired of paying for energy not available for consumption.

PHCN is just milking the masses. How much is the meter now? It used to be free because consumers will pay a monthly rental charges. People are fed up with paying for darkness. The PHCN management is not perturbed because the Federal Government does not care about the plight of the ordinary citizens of the country.

Jadeotilo John, Ago Palace Way, Okota. Lagos

SUNDAY Vanguard, SEPTEMBER 15, 2013, PAGE 9

The war-like tribe of the PDP by proxies. There are many powerful forces lurking behind the scene and acting as puppet masters to the politicians who have discarded any notions of “national interest” and who have now settled down to the gritty question of group and personal interests from which the first principle of power flows in the first place. In a fractured nation like Nigeria, individual and group interests seem now to matter more. The axial authority leading to power divisions and

President Goodluck Jonathan whose good luck has held thus far has been the puppet of the various factions of power. Now, he seems determined to remain in power and possibly chart his own course.

calculations are now rising to the surface towards 2015 from where they had been momentarily obscured after the elections of 2011. Chief of that interest as articulated consistently by Mr. Atiku Abubakar is to “return power to the North.” The new PDP is thus designed to torpedo the ambitions of President Jonathan and his moves to seek reelection under his party, and force him to “respect the agreements” within the old party to return power to the North after President Jonathan’s full term.

The problem is that Atiku Abubakar who has disclosed these “pre-nuptial agreements” speaks to his own ambition and the urgency behind it to be president. It is outrageous to his group that President Jonathan would seek reelection in 2015. The muster of individuals from the old PDM, one of the key coalitions that formed the old PDP,

Say it like it is I

N a few months, I would be able to lay claim to a decade of writing and I always thought it would be great to put the column to rest by just letting out my thoughts unedited and unfettered! It would be liberating to not be so cautious and edited all the time.

Having a public platform means truth in whatever form needs to be tailored to suit all sorts of sensibilities and that can often times take the joy out of the art. This past week I had a heart to heart with someone who just really needed to vent. Just like most of us he had reached his wits end dealing with an individual who just seemed to live in a parallel universe where good graces and consideration for others don't count. I like to think I am easy going but truth be told this really was a difficult person. I know this for a fact because I have had the unfortunate experience of spending time with this person and had my manners severely tested.

There are many definitions of madness but my personal one is that anyone who believes their own rubbish and thinks everyone else is wrong is mad.

Madness and sanity are very close friends and we all do things that could book us a room in the nut house, what makes us normal is our recognition of our errors in judgement and the steps we take to remedy the situation. The situation that inspired today's column is a classic. A seemingly harmless individual who speaks in a rather irritating pitch and manages to control and manipulate her friends and family into doing her bidding. We all want things our way so that's not mad or unusual.

Creating a scene or being spontaneously melodramatic to the point of tears and tantrums anytime there is an audience is nothing short of crazy. Its especially irritating where one is known for such behaviour and can see that no one is fooled! I listened to my friend vent and was in full agreement that someone needed to just let her have it.

Unfortunately so have many people but she never gets it. In her mind, she is a victim of the world's conspiracy and everything is about her!

The story would have actually been a bit funny if it hadn't been tinged with tragedy. A tragic and painful loss of a

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litical vision and objective. The “New PDP” is in fact rather the double face of the hybrid opposition called the “All Peoples Congress” – made up of many strange bed fellows, political hacks, ethnic bigots; and the same many old hands that have been in the jar. The “new PDP” has nothing that recommends it to the public as an alternative to the current party in government. It is Tweedledee and Tweedledum. And it is out to fool the plebeians. But a great thing is happening nonetheless: it has brought out the fight in the warlike groups, who might in the urge and necessity to do the other in, reveal the hidden secrets of this nation: who killed Bola Ige, Harry, Dikibo, Chimere Ikoku, and so many of those victims of political executions in Nigeria from 1999 to 2007, when both Obasanjo and Atiku Abubakar ran the affairs of Ni-

loved one had taken place when the drama began from a most unexpected direction. I have always believed that support and encouragement are the only things needed when you are faced with other people's pain. Taking or is it grabbing centre stage and creating a scene does nothing to help. Offering suggestions that are impractical and impossible just to seem relevant is inappropriate and having the nerve

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HE party in government – the PDP – has splintered into two factions: one still “dey kampe” as the “main PDP,” and caucuses around the president, Goodluck Jonathan and the Party chair, Bamanga Turkur; the new PDP has former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar as its moving spirit, with a coterie of rebel governors and affiliates opening new offices for the “New PDP” in a move at establishing dual authority within the party. It is a classic Machiavellian move. As it is suggested in his book, Dell a Arte Della Guerre (The Art of War), to weaken his adversary and gain advantage, the captain of a legion must endeavor with every art to divide the force of his enemy by creating factions and distrust; either in making his enemy suspicious of his once trusted men, or weakening his position by giving him cause to separate his forces. This strategy seems to be working quite well at the moment. Just this past week, the President announced changes in the Council of Ministers. Nine of the ministers that have served with him all along were shown the door in the reshuffling. Every minister serves at the pleasure of the President and it is his prerogative to appoint whomsoever he wishes to the executive council. However, the knife was thrown in such a manner as would suggest that the heat is on the president to reorganize his “war room.” As the epochal year 2015 comes upon us, the executive council of the federation is going to assume the character and coloration of a war chamber rather than a governing administration. It is war and the victims of the president’s move are, it has been suggested by close sources, proxies of those affiliated to the new PDP. Loyalty matters and is in question now. But we also see that distrust has built in and is leading towards the condition foretold by Machiavelli. War – political wars especially – are often fought

have sworn to effect that power shift by all means necessary. They are now working up all the old tricks in the game: factionalisation and the internal bleeding of the party has commenced; fear and violence will soon follow. From the series of consultations in the private meetings from Sokoto to Minna by the movers of this new PDP, designed to seek support for the project, it seems clear that what is at stake is not the PDP alone but the future of the Federal Republic of Nigeria moving forward. But what is also quite clear is that this “new PDP” is in fact not new at all. It is made of the same old bag of wind. The same people. The same interests! The same limited vision. We have not heard clearly articulated alternatives to the “old PDP” in the form of a broad manifesto to correct the historical ills that continue to plague this country other than the manouvre to push out Jonathan as its singular po-

Madness and sanity are very close friends and we all do things that could book us a room in the nut house, what makes us normal is our recognition of our errors in judgement and the steps we take to remedy the situation

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to be offended when those directly involved ask for peace is crazy.

Long after that conversation I spent quality time going over situations and relationships where I had really just wanted to vent, to speak my mind and say it like it was or is. Could I possibly be the only one on the planet who has felt taken advantage of or cheated because I live by a higher standard than some people? Good manners can often

geria?

Those remain some of the darkest years of Nigeria’s political development; a crucial moment when the promise of transformation at the end of a vicious military dictatorship quickly turned into a carnival of filth and corruption. The dark orgies of killings and mendacity that marked those years continue to haunt Nigeria. President Goodluck Jonathan merely inherited them all. The war is on: last week in an interview, former President Obasanjo threw a southpaw at both Atiku Abubakar and Farida Waziri of the EFCC. “Go and ask Atiku” Obasanjo said, “ why he cannot travel to America,” implying that the former Vice-President is a “ wanted man” in America for corruption.

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bout the former EFCC czarina, Farida Waziri, the former president hints at the use of the office to run a corrupt protection racket. “She was a disaster,” the former president said in the interview. In a terse and poignant response, Mrs. Waziri said the former president should “respect his age, otherwise I’ll open up on him” to which we say, let it rain. We expect former President Obasanjo to tell the former EFCC boss, “bring it on!” Let these ex-these and thats settle these issues that have made Nigeria more a chimera than a nation.

President Goodluck Jonathan whose good luck has held thus far has been the puppet of the various factions of power. Now, he seems determined to remain in power and possibly chart his own course. The perception that he is not only a weak president, but one without clear-cut programs, ideas and solutions to Nigeria’s myriad problems, persist.

But it is time for him to recalibrate.

He must go beyond the old PDP structures and begin a strategic recruitment of bold, strategic thinkers and operatives to rebuild and redirect the tottering gerontocratic structure before it collapses with consequence on his head.

Party crises are no new things either: the president should study how Dr. Azikiwe resolved the 1958 NCNC national party crisis and how/why the AG national crisis in 1962 on the other hand ballooned leading to the destruction of the first republic. Those two examples are the crucial realities currently facing him and his bid at re-election.

feel like shackles and it prevents one from returning venom when one receives it. Not too long ago I was having a conversation with someone at a gathering when a man we both knew yelled at me to shut up and cut me off!

I wasn't the only person shocked by the rudeness and others had told him off but I had kept quiet and let it go even though I had been seething quietly.

The Debbie I used to be B.C (before knowing Christ) would have exploded with disastrous consequences. Maturity and christianity however has taught me to use my words with caution and I concluded the person in question was not only rude but mad as he had the audacity to be hurt by my silence a few weeks later!

The world seems to be full of people who assume that the universe is created for their convenience. What irritates me most is that they assume those of us who don't think the way they do are weak. I have many theories but they are just opinions, bottom-line is we are going to come across people who don't think the way we do. My impromptu break from writing wasn't planned and it was bitter sweet to be back last week.

It was great to get a lot of feed back but I must apologise to those I couldn't respond to. I decided to update my Blackberry and the phone died for a few days, I am considering porting back to Nokia. So many thanks for all your responses, I am always very appreciative of kindness and constructive criticism. To those who would like me to morph into what I am not, let me say it like it is; turn the page....

PAGE 10 —SUNDAY Vanguard, SEPTEMBER 15, 2013

Forget Ghana, try Nigeria’s best universities – 1A

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HE title, IA, instead of 2 should warn the reader that something strange had occurred.

We should now be on part 2. But, last week, there was a grievous error in the first part of this series of focus on Nigeria’s private universities – compared with those in Ghana. Delta State had been included among states without private universities. It was a major blunder.

I had prepared the chart myself, and when listing, Delta had been recognized as one of the states with private universities. But, it was on the second page, which, accidentally, had dropped off. I apologise to Deltans and especially to the proprietors of the universities which will from now be included in the on-going study.

However, the mistake turned out to be a blessing in disguise. I received nothing less than 313 text messages and phone calls from individuals from Delta --

mostly pointing to the presence of two universities in Delta. It became boring after reading the tenth or so.

But, I kept reading until Mr Oteri’s text message arrived. It made it worthwhile to read all the others saying the same thing. Then a call came from 0807-1111757, after over 50 calls; all repeating the same thing – “there are two universities in Delta”. That call was interesting because the caller, bless him, had also been to Ghana – and was disappointed. Now, I have allies in this struggle.

To those who only sent rejoinders to correct me, I thank you most sincerely for reading our paper and for investing the matter with the seriousness I think it deserves. To Oteri and “0807-111-1757”, I lack the words to express my appreciation for your contributions. One thing unites, or should unite, all of us – stopping our kids from going to Ghana, spending N80 billion for education not better than what they can receive at any of our best private universities in Nigeria. Let me also hasten to add, for those who had pointed to other universities – Covenant, Redeemers, Madonna, Bells, etc. Rest assured, they will all be visited and documented. In the end, any university which is not on our list will not be worthy of stakeholders’ considera-

Nigerian leaders are not what they should be “Nigerians are what they are because their leaders are not what they should be” “They have not always elected the best leaders, particularly after a long period in which they have not used this facility of free election. You tend to lose the habit.”- Chinua Achebe

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N Nigeria, politicians do not practise sports manship; they merely engage in scorch earth tactics in dealing with whoever they consider an opponent. It has now been evident in the way the People’s Democratic Party deals with those who will not toe the party line. They do not believe in the rule of law as it is clear from rulings they have violated.

The writing is indelibly on the wall that PDP is heading for the rocks, those that jumped ship have done so in spectacular fashion; former Vice- President Atiku Abubakar, Senate President, David Mark, Speaker House of Representatives, Hon. Aminu Waziri Tambuwal and gov-

ernors of Kano,Jigawa, Sokoto,Kwara, Rivers and Niger states have been absent and missing in action.

There is definitely great decent in the ranks,so while Rome burns the emperor remains feasting in the banqueting halls.

It is uncertain what good the peace and the elders meeting will do to patch the great divide amongst the ranks. Things have got that desperate that Jonathan is calling off his media goons (Okupe and Gulak)to heel and he orders them to stop lambasting those who speak out against his administration and leadership. A bit late for that then closing the stable door when the horse has bolted.

So it is a situation of putting old wine in new bottles the ‘Old PDP’ and now the ‘New PDP’ are at logger heads. So the ‘old’ PDP is baying for the blood of the breakaway group they are litigating for no less than a custodial sentence.

PDP have thrown the baby out with the bathwater and

of the PDP convention to another pre-prepared venue to form a splinter party.

For God’s sake, what were the President’s security people doing while all that nonsense was being planned and executed?

ited whose sales staff I had trained for about four years with impressive results. His colleague, in Ghana, had called him frantically because his stall was not performing. Godwin Oteri recommended me and for three years I was training sales people in Ghana; then I was recommended by the Ghanaian client to Uganda to train sales staff. While in Ghana, I undertook field training with the sales people all over Ghana and that was how I got to know about their universities.

Thus, it was amusing to me

convention at the Eagle Square last month. Not only did a good chunk of the accredited delegates fail to “obey” the President, who was seated there, with his wife, they demonstrated contempt by staging a walk-out on the President and the party leaders. Never in the history of African politics, or for that matter global history, had any Head of State experienced such humiliation. And, as if to prove that it was not a spontaneous reaction, but was actually premeditated, they moved from the venue

The series of face-saving meetings, which followed that episode had not restored any bit of the presidential prestige lost at Eagle Square. Instead, each day and each meeting had brought more insults to the President. Among other signs of impotence, the President has been forced to invite former President Obasanjo to mediate a conflict which Baba Iyabo partly instigated by his unguarded utterances about the government. That is akin to asking your known enemy for food!! Bad as that was, the former president had twice failed to make any impact on the matter. That should have been known to Jonathan.

Obasanjo cannot reconcile Ogun PDP; he has also failed to unite Southwest PDP. It is doubtful if he can even settle the dispute in his own household. Of what use is he then on the national front? Unless, of course, Jonathan, like any drowning person, would grasp at anything – even floating paper.

And his political enemies appear to be three steps ahead of Jonathan and his “friends”. Now, they are moving to seize the National Assembly by planning to remove David Mark. Not that I will lose any sleep over Mark, but his replacement by a Senator selected

by PDM and APC could be the first step towards impeachment of the President.

The question about whether Jonathan has a constitutional right to contest in 2015 could become an academic exercise long be-

they only have themselves to blame. From the sublime to the ridiculous, splinter groups open a new office / secretariat on September 4, and appointed themselves and the others into various offices constituting the PDP National Working Committee (NWC).

The Baraje group is making waves by attracting

Nigerians prove them wrong in the ballots and reward them accordingly .

For so long, the politicians have taken the rights of Nigerians for granted and trodden on it to exploit Nigerians so perniciously.

The grandees are deep in their necks in the mire, the power scuffle is increasingly unravelling and it has become very ugly, a free for all and no one fully in control. Yes, the roar from some quarters has become more than a whimper and they can no longer break bread in the same room. The Old guards, former President Olusegun Obasanjo and General Ibrahim Babangida have been wheeled in to perform diplomatic hocus-pocus and bring the warring factions to meet with the PDP newly elected executives,but to no avail.

The chairman of PDP Governors Forum and Governor Godswill Akpabio, went as far as to defend the lacklustre dinner/meeting when he said; “Out of 23 PDP governors all the 17 are here at the dinner, there was no faction in our party, what we are experiencing is a storm in(side) a teacup.

We will soon overcome it and reconcile ourselves”.

This man is very much in his own universe and how I wish we were all as gullible or deluded as Akpabio.

For good measure, the leader of the Niger Delta People’s Volunteer Force, Alhaji Mujahid DokuboAsari, has been very vocal

while speaking at press conference that if Jonathan is not re-elected come 2015 that the Niger-Delta cannot guarantee peace in Nigeria. It is this kind of blackmail of a whole country that speaks volumes that it is the welfare of all Nigerian and their will that matters not one of a group or class region or religion.

This is has been the basis for our road to ruination.

We cannot be held to ransom by the enemies of real progress. Making deals to divide us and pandering to one group over the other despite the failures is not a way to proper governance.

This is not a game of thrones, this is our country and the future of our young that is at stake here.

The foot and mouth disease has gone on for far too long to rein errant sycophants in. Only last Monday,they declared that there cannot be democracy in Nigeria without the People’s Democratic Party.

Who say that one lame duck political party can hold the whole country to ransom? Reality check, please, the party is beginning to look empty and while the president looks forlornly to make peace in the crisis party and the rebels refused to kowtow and break bread with the president.

Seriously,this is not a moment to gloat, we are staring at the abyss and we are at the crossroads,we have a choice to either continue

tion. Even now, those still embarking on university choices can get in touch – if in doubt. Next week, I will provide an example of how hundreds of millions are lost, each year, by Nigerians, to university fraudsters.

Finally, at least for now, let me point out that, like Oteri, I was in Ghana, thanks to another Mr Oteri, Managing Director of Johnson Wax Nigeria Lim-

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“0803-307-2836 …You are quite right about the quality of private universities in Ghana and those in Nigeria and it’s no brainer to say there’s no comparison. Most of the ones in Ghana are not better than glorified secondary schools in terms of infrastructure and course contents. I should know, because I was in that country to inspect a few on behalf of my son…Mike Oteri.

when I read about Nigerians trooping to Ghana for university education. The amusement stopped when the Central Bank revealed that $500 million of Nigerian money, earned or stolen, was being dumped on Ghana. It was time to act to protect our country and its universities as well as stakeholders….

PDP CRACKS UP – 2 “A leader is best When people barely know he exists Not so good when people obey and acclaim him Worst when they despise him…

Lao-tsy, Chinese philosopher, 16th century.

Something absolutely horrible happened to Nigeria when the PDP held its

His political enemies appear to be three steps ahead of Jonathan and his “friends”. Now, they are moving to seize the National Assembly by planning to remove David Mark

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So the road to 2015 is not going to be a walk over as many may have wished; it will be a year for Nigerians to hold people and each other to account

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new members,basking in the bad publicity and adulating in the glory that the old ‘PDP’ are giving them exposure by the incessant infighting.

2015 may be a long way off but these warring factions have drawn a line in the sand and declared that it is all out war straight to the finish line.

You would have thought that they would be working towards endearing themselves to the electorate but no, the arrogant politickings strongly believes they have it in the bag and that the electorate will vote the way they are told. This time I hope that

fore then. And, “Mr Fix-it”, who is looking as bewildered as a magician who has lost his bag of tricks, will not be able to save Jonathan.

ADVENTURES PROPHECY – 12.

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“To know that which before us lies in daily life is the prime wisdom; what is more is fume” “P.S. Expect a cabinet shake-up soon. That is only one of the elements of the counter-attack which Jonathan must launch – if he is to survive politically”.

Dele Sobowale, Sunday September 8, 2013, SUNDAY VANGUARD. Last Sunday, I wrote that prediction as a tail piece to the article on PDP crackup. Incidentally, I had discussed the possibility with several knowledgeable people before writing it.

Each time the reaction was either “why should Jonathan do it” or “what will be the benefit”? Thank God I did not listen to people who are not on our faculty at Unijankara. I was certain the cabinet would be broken. I was in American University in Nigeria, AUN, in Yola, the best University, by far in West Africa, when the news came. I was the only person who was not surprised.

P.S. If you want to know what happens next, just ask us. These guys are as open as a book to those of us who studied Street Wisdom.

P.S. Remember FIRST SMOKIN HILLS GOLF TOURNAMENT ILARA MOKIN September 20-22, 2013.

V i s i t : www.delesobowale.com sinking or we can start swimming to the top, rebuild our nation from the ashes. We cannot go lower than this and we should not go lower than this. It is in the interest of our people that we put aside the religious and tribal rhetoric aside and work towards securing our nations’ best interests.

Crucially, the public spates is not helping the ordinary Nigerians, it does not put food on the table,it does not give jobs to our young people,it does not make affordable and accessible health,social and our educational institutions better staffed and resourced .

What we see played in public is an ignominy,to say the least and it has tarnished every Nigerian politician and in general Nigerians. We need to stop the circus and plundering of our nation’s commonwealth that has been used to shore up sleazy individuals and groups. We need to look closely at ourselves because these so-called egotistic and narcissistic “leaders” are not alien to us they,are us.

There is no extricating ourselves from this mess,we voted them in and we supported them. We all need to put our house in order and begin to develop some moral backbones.

So the road to 2015 is not going to be a walk over as many may have wished; it will be a year for Nigerians to hold people and each other to account .

SUNDAY Vanguard, SEPTEMBER 15, 2013, PAGE 11

Police: Beware of PDP! though it was attended by the President and other top government functionaries who are members of the party. ot being a govern N ment function therefore, the over-engagement

of certain government institutions in the event calls for concern. For instance, while it was in order to get the national television serv-

ship. Ironically, the government expects the same Station to sustain whatever it takes, credibility-wise, to redress Nigeria’s subsisting cynicism and project government positively. That no doubt, is a tall order.

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he role of the police another societal institution - in the subject also calls for concern. While the police gave maximum at-

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NE of the issues yet to be appro priately addressed in our democratic experiment is the insulation of societal institutions from partisan politics so that they can effectively perform their statutory functions.

The failure to do this has been due largely to our inability to observe the fine divide between the ruling political party and the government of the day. Yet, the difference is clear. That a government is formed by a particular political party does not mean that the government and that political party are one and the same.

They are not. Whereas, a political party is made up of only the segment of society that subscribes to its membership, a government is for all - the teacher, the student, the farmer, the housewife, the ruling party, the opposition party, the critic etc.

Accordingly, party events are not and cannot be government functions. In which case, the last Special Mini Convention of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) was not and could not have been a government function al-

It is irritating that the police got involved in the internal wrangling in the PDP occasioned by the conduct of the convention

ice to cover the event for public reception, it was unfair to have made the service to cancel its normal programme schedule for the whole day and transmit the convention from 8am till late at night. It was an unethical decision which could only have made the Station to lose its viewer-

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tention to the convention, we all know from history that no other political party in Nigeria will get equal attention from the police.

Yet, the police was set up to, among other things, maintain law and order uniformly and across the board in the nation. It is irritating that the police got involved

PhD, Department of Philosophy, University of Lagos,

The new Neanderthals (3) tive of their countries of origin, and regard fellow Nigerians who are Muslims as potential jihadists.

Hence, Nigerians are alienated from one another because of religion. Aside from inculcating into children a healthy dose of sceptical attitude towards ethnic chauvinism and religion, the best way to resolve ethnic and religious conflicts is geopolitical reengineering so that different culture-areas in the country can have greater freedom for self-determination within the framework of cooperation in a confederacy.

In otherwords, there is an urgent need to jettison the present unitarist geopolitical architectonic created by the military for a more decentralised arrangement which accommodates the socio-cultural and religious differences of various ethnic nationalities or culture-areas that constitute Nigeria and allows individuals the freedom to choose where to reside and actualise their potentialities under the protection of good laws. The history of colonial Nigeria reveals that Britain was not keen to develop the various autochthonous culture-areas of Nigeria, because the colonial amalgams she created throughout the world were for maximum exploitation of the human and natural resources domiciled in

those places. That explains why, despite the justness of Biafra's secessionist attempt, the duplicitous British administration of Harold Wilson ensured that the fledgling nation was defeated. Now, if reason and levelheadedness had prevailed among Nigerian and Biafran leaders even after a year into the civil war, a confederal system could have been established that takes cognisance of the differences and commonalities among

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O repeat, many pas sages in the Holy Bi ble and Holy Koran prescribe intolerance against non-believers, although there are numerous texts in both scriptures that promote peace, love and solidarity as well. Therefore, it is incontrovertible that one cannot grasp fully the underlying causes of religious fanaticism in Nigeria without appreciating the role played by the "holy" scriptures in projecting the culture of religious exclusiveness.

By hiding our heads in the sand like the ostrich and pretending that the "revealed scriptures" of Christianity and Islam are beyond ratiocinative scrutiny, we close our minds prematurely to the desirability of inculcating in our youths the capacity for critical thinking and scepticism especially with regard to the pronouncements of antiquated prophets. As I indicated before, religious intolerance is one of the greatest obstacles preventing the evolution of genuine unity and national consciousness among Nigerians. The typical devout Muslim has stronger emotional attachment to Muslims from distant countries compared to what he or she feels for a compatriot that happens to be a Christian.

Similarly, Christians tend to feel more comfortable with other Christians irrespec-

in the internal wrangling in the PDP occasioned by the conduct of the convention.

The event has since given birth to 2 factions that have been told by the judiciary to maintain statusquo pending the determination of their dispute. Thereafter, the police ostensibly in pursuit of law enforcement closed down the secretariat of one of the factions.

Having waited in vain to hear what informed the police interpretation of “statusquo”, one is tempted to believe that it was probably compelled to adopt a factional definition. owever, it does not H appear rational to take statusquo in the case

to mean the state of affairs before the convention because at that point there were no 2 visible factions that could have been directed to maintain statusquo.

Consequently, statusquo has to mean as from when the 2 sides were in existence. Otherwise, when next the case is called, the same side would be the plaintiff and also the defendant which would be bizarre. It is not that such an absurdity would be a strange phenomenon in Nigeria because anything can happen in our politics; it is just that the societal institution that gets involved in the matter may in the end be bruised.

So, here is a solemn admonition to the Nigeria Police to watch its back because, no individual, group or institution is too great to be unitarist arrangement is a flawed fabrication of the military government dominated by Northerners, which was obsessed with preserving the system inherited from British administrators of using resources derived from Southern Nigeria to develop the North.

In other words, military dictators from the North adapted the exploitative and lopsided system bequeathed by the colonial master to create states and local governments in favour of Northern Nigeria. For instance, given the numerical superiority of the North over the South (especially the South East) in states and local government areas deliberately instituted by Ibrahim Babangida and Sani Abacha, and considering that federal revenue and seats in the House of Representatives are allocated

The history of colonial Nigeria reveals that Britain was not keen to develop the various autochthonous cultureareas of Nigeria, because the colonial amalgams she created throughout the world were for maximum exploitation

diverse culture-areas in Nigeria to create a better commonwealth wherein pernicious ethnic rivalry and religious intolerance was minimal.

A confederal system is slightly different from a federation in that unlike the latter the units that constitute a confederation retain both their separate identities and right of secession. In my opinion, Nigeria should be a confederation for the following reasons. To start with, the current state-based

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based on the number of states and local government areas, Northern Nigeria has an unfair advantage over Southern Nigeria, despite the thirteen percent derivation afterthought contained in the 1999 Constitution. Of course, Abuja, the federal capital located in the North, is treated almost as a state and receives special funding from the federal government. In a confederal arrangement the union is far less binding than unitarism, and each confeder-

rubbished by politicians.

Till date, our judiciary is still on its knees over the roles of its 2 former top most officials - Chief Justice Katsina-Alu and Court of Appeal President, Ayo Salami - over an election petition. he point to be made is T that it is ill-advisable for an otherwise non-partisan institution of society to get enmeshed in partisan politics because any institution which does that, toys with its image and public confidence. From the writings of veteran political scientist, Oyeleye Oyediran, we are able to learn that during the second republic, the police was so patently partisan in favour of the ruling National Party of Nigeria (NPN) that it was cynically referred to as ‘The NPN Police Force’. It was an era in which the police was allegedly used to hunt fellow Nigerians with dissenting political opinions.

For quite a long time, that was the public perception of the police - a perception which the police of today needs to distance itself from. he police cannot af T ford to rehash stories of the past in which it unwittingly allowed itself to be used by one set of politicians against the other - a good example being one story in the last Edo State governorship elections of July 2012. According to the media, the State Government issued a statement a

ating unit has a right to secede. Therefore, confederation is more in keeping with the right to self-determination enshrined in the charter of the United Nations, in the 1960 Declaration on Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries, and in the 1970 Declaration of the Principles of International Law. Confederation permits each confederating unit to develop at its own pace by exploring and utilising the human and natural resources in its domain to empower people and create an atmosphere of healthy competition if well managed.

Again, if Nigeria were a confederation, consciousness of the right of secession would have compelled the leaders at the centre to govern well in order to prevent any part of the union invoking its right to secede. Furthermore, because each constituent part of a confederation has considerable powers of self-determination, fear of domination of a particular ethnic group by another will be minimal, thereby enhancing mutual respect and trust among different components of the union. A wise and imaginative central leadership can harness the commonalities between different ethnic nationalities to enhance harmonious coexistence even in the midst of diversity. Thus, in a well-organised confederation diversity is a source of strength not of weakness and tension as is the case in Nigeria that, ironically, operates a unitary system of government. Finally, because in a confederation powers of the central government are greatly attenuated, poor leadership at that level will not affect all the constituent parts adversely.

Imagine if Nigeria had been a confederation since 1970:

few days to the election to condemn those who claimed to be buying voters’ cards on behalf of the Governor. In order to prevent electoral practices, the police swung into action and arrested six members of the main opposition party for allegedly ‘buying’ voters’ cards but no one was arrested for selling to them!

The public had its own understanding of how the police found itself right “on top” of the matter. The many unsuccessful attempts by the police to launder its image can easily be linked to the posture. major problem with A being aligned to one political party or one fac-

tion of a party is that it is not easy to know when to stop because there is hardly ever a logical conclusion.

In the case of the current statusquo debate, locking a secretariat may not suffice; other episodes such as the need to stop the large crowd that received new factional secretary, Olagunsoye Oyinlola in Osogbo may arise. Meanwhile, horse trading between the factions will soon end without police input. Indeed, words like wrangling and mutiny to the police have a different meaning from what they mean in politics. In the PDP dictionary for instance, they mean “family affair”. It is thus unwise for the police to expose itself to the vagaries of political weather. the heart-rending corruption and financial rascality at the federal level would have been avoided because profligate administrations could not have had the lion's share of revenues that accrue to the country.

This implies that a confederal system would empower different cultural zones that make up the country, which pay an agreed percentage of their income to the central government for the maintenance of common services such as national armed forces, foreign affairs, and a federal judiciary. It is beyond dispute that Nigeria is yet to overcome ethnic suspicion and rivalry that precipitated the 1966 pogroms against the Igbo and the bloody civil war of July 7, 1967 to January 15, 1970. It is also a fact that the deadly cancer of religious intolerance has become malignant since the violent Maitatsine religious disturbances of 1981.

Still, my arguments in favour of confederation does not mean that I subscribe to extreme forms of self-determination that easily degenerate into the kind of ethnic cleansing practiced by the Serbs in the 1990s.

Instead, my contention is that the present political structure necessarily exacerbates ethnic tensions and bickering about control of the federal government which controls a disproportionately large percentage of the country's resources to the detriment of the "federating" units. It also provides fertile soil for the emergence and growth of religious fundamentalist movements like Boko Haram that seek to impose its antiquated theocracy nationwide. CONCLUDED

PAGE 12—SUNDAY Vanguard, SEPTEMBER 15, 2013

.... CRIME AND NATIONAL SECURITY

*Suspects...’We stole N8m from Micro-Finance Bank’

ULTIMATE CONFESSION

I ‘graduated’ from kid robber in Lagos secondary school to a notorious car snatcher – Man, 29 z’Our 50-yr-old woman informant made millions’ zExplains how gang unleashed terror on Lagos at weekends

BY IFEANYI OKOLIE

O

peratives of the Special AntiRobbery Squad, SARS, in Lagos State, have arrested a gang of car snatchers suspected of terrorizing Ikeja and other parts of the state for a long time. The suspects, Sadiq Olayibi, Tolani Adeyinka, Adeleke Teslim and Olayemi Akiloye, met their waterloo when SARS operatives swooped on them at various parts of the state. Olabiyi described himself as a kid robber who graduated to a full blown car snatcher. Also arrested was a 50-year-old woman, Lawal Ireti, who was described as the gang’s informant.

Police sources said Ireti provided other jobs for the gang when they were not snatching cars. According to the sources, the woman suspect provided information to the gang that led to the robbery of the N8 million from a micro finance bank in Ogba area of Ikeja.

“The gang specialized in car snatching and they terrorized Ikeja and environs for a lng time. They operated during the weekends and their targets were exotic cars. Their activities gave the police, residents and night crawlers in Ikeja sleepless nights and the state Commissioner of Police, Umar Manko, in his bid to stem the gang’s operation, ordered the officer in charge of SARS, SP, Abba Kyari, to trail and apprehend the bandits. Kyari, who swiftly swung into action, sent undercover operatives

into streets to shop for stolen vehicles.

Their efforts paid off when they stumbled on oen of the gang members who attempted to sell a stolen Toyota Camry to the undercover operatives.

He was arrested and his arrest pave the way for the arrest of other members of the gang including Ireti the 50-yearold woman”, one of the sources told Sunday Vanguard.

The source added that members of the gang got wind of the arrest of their member and they made effort to flee

confessed to the crime, but Olabiyi blamed his involvement in crime to lack of prper training. The 27 year-old man said, “I am the first child of my parents. My father did not have a good job, which made us very poor. I was born in Ketu. As a young boy, I used to go to the market at Mile 12 to assist some people selling stolen goats. I usually helped them to offload the goats from their vehicles and, from there, I learnt how to drive.

When I graduated from secondary

We stole a lot of cars together and we operated mostly in Ikeja, Ogba and Agege areas. We usually struck at weekends when fun seekers were on the streets grooving and our targets were mostly Toyota, Honda and Mercedes Benz cars the country. “We arrested Tolani Adeyinka, at the South Africa Embassy, after he had secured a visa to flee the country. Sadiq Olabiyi was picked up at Ajah area of the state, he has also applied for a visa to tavel to Egypt. Adeleke Teslim and Olayemi Akiloye were picked separately at Ojo and Okokomaiko areas of the state,” the source narrated.

Meanwhile, when Sunday Vanguard interviewed the suspects at Lagos State Command Headquarters, Ikeja, they

school, I joined the business full time. I stole several goats, I would travel to some south western states to steal goats.

While I was doing that, I met Tolani Adeyinka. He and Adeleke Teslim and one other had started snatching cars then. They knew I was a good driver; so they asked me to join them. We stole a lot of cars together and we operated mostly in Ikeja, Ogba and Agege areas.

We usually struck weekends when fun seekers were on the streets grooving and our targets were mostly Toyota,

Honda and Mercedes Benz cars. We had ready buyers all over the state and we would deliver a stolen car to any of the buyers who make the highest bid.

We sold Toyota cars for N250,000 and Honda Accord from N300,000. I got between N100,000 and N150,000 after each operation, I spent my money on myself, I bought good clothes, rented an apartment at Ajah and bought a land at Ikorodu, where I am building a threebedroom flat apartment. But sometime in July, Ireti brought us a job where we stolen the sum of N8 million from a micro fiance bank. I don’t know the name of the bank but she and a male partner brought the job to us. I thought they were police informants trying to set me up and I ignored their calls from close to two weeks. When I finally met them at a bar in Ikotun they told me that they got my phone number from one of my friends who told them I could do the job. The job was at Ikeja and they asked us to wait soemwhere for the car conveying the money to pass. Ireti was there to point the car for us. After she did, we followed the car alongn Ogba and double crossed it. I was the one driving. Tolani Adeyinka and Adeleke Teslim bolted out with their guns and they snatched the bag containing the money and all the occupants’ mobile phones before we zoomed off. We shared the money equally, four million naira went to Ireti and her partner and my gang shared the rest. I got one million naira as my own share.”

SUND AY SUNDA

Vanguard, SEPTEMBER 15, 2013, PAGE 13

PRESIDENT GOES FOR BROKE

zAshiru: Foreign Affairs

zRufa'i: Education

zUsman: Nat. Planing

zPepple: Housing

Continued from page 14 zBassey: Science & Tech

zObada: Defence

zTijani: Agriculture

zHajia Kuchi: Power

By SONI DANIEL AND BEN AGANDE

D

ogged by challenges c a p a b l e of denying him re-election in 2015, President Goodluck Jonathan has taken the battle to the doorsteps of his known and perceived political opponents, using the carrot and stick approach. Last Wednesday morning, he shocked members of the Federal Executive Council when he fired nine ministers, who are believed to be irrelevant to his second term bid and are more loyal to their governors. Will the ouster of the ministers remove the mounting roadblocks to his reelection? There seems to be more questions than answers.

By Soni Daniel, Regional Editor, North, attempts an answer.

The sack of nine ministers was something that had long been predicted. The announcement in the middle of the Federal Executive Council, FEC, on Wednesday, did not take many by surprise. What, however, bothered the Exco members and many Nigerians was the way it was carried out by President Goodluck Jonathan.

For real, those who had really been pencilled down for offloading by the President were those who were known to be nursing gubernatorial ambition and had been somewhat distracted from office by their political fixation.

In that category were Bala Muhammed, the Federal Capital Territory Minister, who is reported to be eying the seat currently occupied

by Governor Isa Yuguda of Bauchi State; the Minister of State for Education, Nyesome Wike, from C M Y K

Jonathan shops for hawks as ministers zMailafia : Environment

Those who are strategising for Jonathan ahead of his reelection in 2015 had been tinkering with the idea that it would be suicidal for him to first edge out ministers who have gubernatorial ambition while those who do not love him are retained Rivers State; Minister of Information, Labaran Maku, from Nasarawa; and the Minister of Police Affairs, Capt Olubolade Caleb, from Ondo..

But all that was torpedoed by the soaring tide of dirty politics, which almost swallowed the players and grounded their game plan. Jonathan was suddenly taken aback by the split of the once united People’s Democratic Party (PDP) into two camps on August

31, when they had assembled at a high-profile ceremony at the Eagle Square to anoint some national officers loyal to him. It was an assault that hit the President and his men below the belt and left them with a sour taste.

Since that affront by the Abubakar Baraje faction, which has come to be dubbed as the New PDP, nPDP, for short, the ‘largest party in Africa’ has never been the same. From all indications, the umbrella (PDP), which symbolises accommodation and resilience, has virtually been shattered by turbulent winds from several fronts.

While Jonathan and his men are battling to secure a second term in office, the nPDP is seen as the opposition, working to install former Vice President Atiku Abubakar in the next vote.

Thus, what the President did on that Wednesday morning was nothing but a ‘coup’ against the former members of the cabinet, whose only ‘offence’ was that they were and are still close to the seven PDP governors, popularly referred to as G-7, who have an axe to grind with the President., By all standards, the retention of the ‘offending ministers’ for about two years by Jonathan his strategists reasoned, was like putting salt on

festering sore largely because they were portrayed as political liabilities, who neither aided Jonathan’s sagging political profile nor added value to the new battle he is waging against their political benefactors.

Those who are strategising for Jonathan ahead of his re-election in 2015 had been tinkering with the idea that it would be suicidal for him to first edge out ministers who have gubernatorial ambition while those who do not love him are retained. They, therefore, asked him to flush them out of the system and pave the way for the appointment of ‘politically relevant’ hawks or bullies, who are capable of taking on ‘ recalcitrant governors’ in their respective states and clear the way for his seamless reelection.

An analysis of those sent packing reveals that 99 percent of them were seen as ‘apologists’ of the ‘ rebel’ governors’ in the cabinet.

The nine sacked ministers were nominees of former President Obasanjo and the seven governors, who are currently embroiled in a political face-off with Jonathan and the leadership of the PDP. The list shows that, apart from the

Continues on page 14

PAGE 14 — SUND AY SUNDA

Vanguard, SEPTEMBER 15, 2013

Nyesom Wike

Labaran Maku

Akin Adesina

Jonathan settles for bully- politicians to replace sacked cabinet members Continued from page 13 former Minister of Science and Technology, Prof Okon Ita Ewa, who was personally nominated by Jonathan in 2011, most of the axed men and women, were seen as sympathisers of Obasanjo and the PDP ‘rebel’ governors.

Analysts find the removal of Ewa puzzling to pave the way for Governor Godswill Akpabio of Akwa Ibom State to name a more politically-relevant minister, who would be able to work with the President and win more support for Jonathan in the next elections.

Ewa, a nuclear physicist, who had known Jonathan for several years, was brought directly into the cabinet without the input of political stakeholders in Akwa Ibom State and is said to be almost apolitical.

A reliable source told Sunday Vanguard that the President moved against the ministers following intelligence reports, which indicated that most of them were loyal to their governors rather than being loyal to him.

Spies The sacked Foreign Affairs Minister, Amb Gbenga Ashiru, and Minister of State for Defence, Olusola Obada, were probably fired because of the perception in the Presidency that they were serving as spies for Obasanjo and the former PDP National Secretar y, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola.

It will be recalled that Ashiru served as ambassador under Obasanjo for several years while Obada was Oyinlola’s deputy while he was governor in Osun State. Because of disagreements since the emergence of Jonathan on the block, his relationship with Obasanjo has not been smooth, leading to the removal of Oyinlola as the National Secretary of the PDP because of the suspicion by the President’s men that he is a stooge of the former President.

C M Y K

Similarly, the former Minister of Education, Professor Ruqqayat Rufai, was swept off because she was nominated by Governor Sule Lamido, who is one of the G-7 governors and is suspected of nursing a presidential ambition in 2015.

Rugguyat Rufai’s removal may pave the way for the promotion of Chief Nyesome Wike, a lawyer and strong ally of Jonathan, to senior Education

who is one of the G-7 governors fighting the Presidency.

The same fate befell Amal Pepple, from Rivers State, and Zainab Kuchi, from Niger, who were seen as loyalists of Governor Amaechi and Governor Babangida Aliyu (members of G7 governors) respectively.

Although it is clear to all that the ‘ war’ currently raging in the ruling party is responsible for the ousting of

The President himself appears to have been hit by a rough political tide, having attempted to hide his political interest in the 2015 presidential race while pursuing suspected contenders with a sledgehammer to clear the way for his sole candidacy of the PDP at the appointed time Minister and pave the way for him to play a more visible political role for the President in the build up to the 2015 presidential election.

Although Governor Amaechi of Rivers State has insisted that he nominated Wike for the post of minister, the former Obio Akpor Local Government Chairman and Chief of Staff to Amaechi claimed that it was Jonathan who made him a FEC member. Wike fell out with Amaechi on account of politics. The minister, who hails from the same Ikwerre ethnic nationality with the Rivers governor, is said to be working round the clock to succeed Amaechi in 2015. Even if he may not be doing so, the factional chairman of the PDP in Rivers State, Brother Obuah, insists he (Wike) is the next governor and leader of the party in the state.

On the other hand, Dr. Shamsudeen Usman, a long standing minister, who was inherited from the late Umaru Musa Yar ’Adau and hails from Kano, might have been given the boot because of his closeness to his governor, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso,

the ministers, what remains a puzzle to PDP keen watchers is the removal of the former Minister of Environment, Hadiza Mailafia, a close ally of Vice President Namadi Sambo, who is, at least, perceived to be in the good goods of Jonathan. The sacked minister was brought into the cabinet largely on account of her closeness to the wife of the VP and the family.

Her sack merely added to the suspicion that Sambo, who is usually is said to be referred to by the First Lady, Dame Patience Jonathan, as ‘my husband’s junior brother and friend’ may not be in the right political frame with his boss.

Enter bully-politicians Despite the ministers’ ouster and the desperate attempt to replace them with bully-politicians, the crisis in the party remains almost intractable and is likely to consume more politicians while eating deeper into the soul of the party.

Those angling for the umbrella are aware that the party has a bigger fight to contend with in the next elections,

given the emergence of the All Progressive Congress, an amalgam of three former parties and a faction of the APGA headed by Imo Governor, Rochas Okorocha.

The President himself appears to have been hit by a rough political tide, having attempted to hide his political interest in the 2015 presidential race while pursuing suspected contenders with a sledgehammer to clear the way for him to be adopted as the sole candidate of the PDP at the appointed time. That will still happen given the type of ‘special convention’ that the Bamanga Tukur-led PDP organised the other day to ‘select’ preferred National Working Committee (NWC) members for the party. The chairman of the PDP Board of Trustees, Chief Tony Anenih, is one of the party elders, who is not amused by the hideand-seek game being played by the man he is trying to bail out of the political deep waters and was, last week, forced to warn Jonathan to declare his interest in the election without further delay. Anenih is right.

The time is no longer on anybody’s side and the game plan needs to be better than what his adversaries within the PDP and outside have already drawn up.

One thing is, however, clear from all that has been happening in the PDP lately: President Jonathan and his faction of the PDP will dash him the ticket for the 2015 contest but that will not guarantee him the kind of massive votes he garnered in 2011. The PDP infighting, if not resolved and in good time, has the potency to swing a significant support to the opposition and tilt popular support in the favour of Jonathan’s challenger in 2015. But the political gladiators still have some time left to bury their pride, negotiate with the dissenting voices within their fold and halt the drift that is looming to swallow the leaking PDP umbrella.

Will they read the handwriting on the wall before the eclipse? If Jonathan continues to treat Obasanjo with disdain despite his strident effort to unify the party, and keeps the G-7 at bay while putting all his eggs in one basket overseen by Tukur and his loyalists, will that give him the needed political leverage to swim through the 2015 political hurdle? That question needs an answer.

SUND AY SUNDA

Vanguard, SEPTEMBER 15, 2013, PAGE 15

2015: Jonathan has edge over the North – Sulaimon

By Emma Ujah, Abuja Bureau Chief In this interview, the Coordinator of the Northern Emancipation Network, Mal. Abdul-Azeez Sulaiman, says that the ordinary people in the North can no longer follow the political elite blindly. He also warns that the North could suffer after 2015 if it continues to antagonize President Goodluck Jonathan as it is not in a position to win the presidency in the next general elections.

H

OW do you assess the political atmosphere in the country right now?

I think the atmosphere is dicey but interesting, because, about two years to the elections, the battle has already started. It makes the atmosphere very exciting at least to those who are politicalminded.

We have seen the excitement that came with the registration of the APC, how a merger was achieved for the first time in Nigeria’s political history. I do not think there has ever been a complete merger, although we have had some alliances.

People were surprised when the PDM was registered. It should not have been a surprise; it was an expected move from former Vice President Alhaji Atiku Abubakar. What happened at the PDP convention, we all know, is a build up to 2015; so I can say the atmosphere is exciting.

Would you not consider the battle for 2015 as a distraction to government both at the federal and state levels? It is like we are going to waste two years politicking, rather than allowing those in government to concentrate on developmental issues.

The issue of government, to my understanding and the experience I have, is that only those who are in government are concerned with government. People outside are only concerned with how to remove that government and replace it; so as far as this gang of emerging opposition is concerned, it is not a distraction. It is left for government to focus on what is before it. For the opposition, the government should not even work. So it cannot be said to be a distraction, opposition is allowed everywhere.

Some people have raised issues about the quality of the membership of APC which we all know is a merger of the ACN, ANPP and CPC. Some people say what happened in 2011 where the alliance between CPC and ACN did not produce the desired result of fielding a successful candidate, especially at the federal level, will repeat itself. Do you see the APC as an alternative platform to the PDP? When we talk of the APC, I would rather separate two issues, whether the merger is even going to work is one thing, producing a government that is better than the PDP is another .

About the merger, we all know how it started as an alliance in 2011 but failed practically and theoretically. And the move continued to produce the merger that is now the APC. If you look at the partners, you will discover that the marriage may not last.

When we look at the composition of the ANPP, the same people that could not contain former Head of State, General Muhammadu Buhari, in 2007 and 2011, he (Buhari) had to leave to form the CPC. So, at what point are they telling us that they have reconciled their differences.

And Buhari’s differences with the ANPP were fundamental. Now, if you look at the A CN, we all know that it has an articulate political agenda, and the Yoruba may be more politically conscious to a point C M Y K

where the Yoruba voter may be redirected to vote the APC. But in the North, the problem is that they might not have the consciousness to adopt the APC as a common platform.

Why do you say so?

That is what is happening now. You can see that with the coming of the APC, the Yoruba people said they do not need the presidency. When the APC held a meeting in the South-west, the Yoruba clearly said they do not need the presidency.

So, the general feeling is that Buhari may pick the APC presidential ticket and we all know that Atiku would never jettison his personal ambition for anybody; he will definitely contest that election (2015).

So, you can see already the North is divided. And, before the end of the year, we are going to have another platform where some of the breakaway governors could contest because they are not actually going ahead with Atiku. All the northern governors that walked out of the PDP National Convention with Atiku are not his bed fellows. If you look at their antecedents, all of them are Obasanjo boys. They have never had anything in common with Atiku. But Atiku will eventually leave the PDP because of his personal ambition. He knows that it is going to be almost impossible for him to pick the PDP ticket and he must contest.

And he cannot join the APC; so he got his associates to register the PDM which has, all along, been the political organisation which he inherited from General Yar ’Adua.

Now, instead of him to just move out, to his PDM, he has to cause commotion. The mainstream PDP would be looking at the crack in the party but that is not the end of it. Whatever the reconciliation effort may be, Atiku is not going back. He will eventually end up in PDM, where he will contest the presidential election.

Could give us an insight into the game plan of the politicians in the North who are against the present government that led to all of these?

What we have today is a conscious North and the northern political elite. Before now, wherever the elite went, the crowd followed them. But, now, it is no longer the same. People have started thinking that they should not allow the elite take them wherever they go.

By the virtue of my position as a journalist and Coordinator of the Northern Emancipation Network, I have had the opportunity of meeting some of these northern elite to discuss.

Most of us in the Northern Emancipation Network and our affiliates do not see the necessity of the North insisting on the presidency in 2015 or any time in the near future. Our reason is that if holding central power is the key to the success of a people, then the North ought to have been the most successful region in Nigeria. If that yardstick is true, the Igbo ought to have been the most backward because they have not in practical terms had power at the centre.

The North held power for the most part of Nigeria’s existence as an independent nation yet we are the most backward.

The Igbo that have not held power is by far the most advanced technogically and economically.

Why? It is either power at the centre is not enough to develop a people or the northern political elite misused it Some of them who told the nation that our public infrastructure cannot work even if the entire public funds were invested in them are the same people now telling us that they can make the facilities work under privatization. These is the type of people we had as leaders from the North and they are the same people who are transforming either through their

Mal. Abdul-Azeez Sulaiman children or their wives or brothers.

Some northerners of your class sound very bitter about Nigeria than people of Igbo extraction because, just as you said, the region held power for a long time and the power was meant for the holders alone.

The motive is personal. It has nothing to do with the larger North. The northern political elite believe the region is their personal asset. They started this rotation thing when they made Obasanjo president. Because it has not been the entire North handling the region’s political situation, it reclaimed power in 2007 under Yar ’Adua.

The North had the opportunity to place itself appropriately to reclaim power after President Jonathan if it had played the

The North had the opportunity to place itself appropriately to reclaim power after President Jonathan if it had played the right card but it played the wrong card when Yar’Adua was sick right card but it played the wrong card when Yar ’Adua was sick. None of these elders came out to do the right thing by asking Jonathan, who was then Yar’Adua’s deputy, to take over. Instead, they fought this man until God took power and handed it to him.

The elite did that claiming they were doing it for the North. Some of us were talking then but our voice was not loud.

The impression you are creating is that the crisis we are witnessing especially in the North was precipitated by the elite.

What crisis? We have political and security challenges.

By your reckoning, has it anything to do with the struggle for power come 2015?

It may not have been directly incited by the northern elite but it must have been caused by their actions or inaction. For instance, in Yobe and Borno states where the insurgency started, you have situations where by some people were governors and, after their tenure, they moved on to the Senate and their wives into the House of Reps or were given other government appointments as if they were the only families in their states.

Go round the North and see the type of schools our children attend. Today we have a generation that is no longer prepared to be slaves to the northern elite.

Six years ago, if someone tells you that a northerner will pick up a gun go to a mosque or church to kill people, you may not believe. But now it is happening; the elite created it either knowingly or unknowingly.

The Emir of Kano wept in the public three times because of the activities of these boys. The Emir of Zauzzau is protected by military men in his palace.

What is your group all about?

The agenda is to enlighten the northern population that it is time to tell the elite that what they have taken is enough. We are no longer prepared to be slaves. They have enslaved our grandparents, parents and we are not going to allow them to enslave us and their children enslave our children. As it has been for generations, they are now, seeing a different northern picture.

It is no longer business as usual where you just come out and say we are northerners.

Are you saying that those who claim to be the northern leaders are not representing you?

Categorically we have said it. Maybe they are older than we are; so they call themselves elders. They could be older but they are not statesmen. It is the same people that have brought division in the north.

We have spoken to people who told us about how the late Sir Ahmadu Bello ran the region. He did not bring about division. Every northerner, no matter tribe or religion, was a northerner. He introduced the northernersation policy.

How has the Jonathan presidency benefited the North?

There is no region that has been favoured as far as federal appointments are concerned than the North. For instance, the Vice President, Senate President, Speaker, INEC chairman, NSA, Inspector General of Police, Comptroller of Customs, many ministers are northerners. Even President Jonathan’s region of Niger Delta does not have that.

Our agenda is that we should not allow these people to endanger the northern political future for their personal reasons because it will be disastrous if we allow the North to play the enemy in 2015 and loses as it happened in 2011.

Now, the calculation is that we cannot get it in 2015. The northern Muslims votes will be split between Atiku and Buhari and we are likely to have Lamido, while the northern Christians vote will go to Jonathan who also enjoys bulk vote from other regions.

It is clear that if the North goes for the presidency in 2015, it will not get it, so why not be friends with the person who is likely to win so that the North is not endangered. If we play this bad card again and lose in 2015, in 2019, the region will not have a voice again in this country just like northern Cameroon which used to hold power.

PAGE 16 — SUND AY SUNDA

Vanguard, SEPTEMBER 15, 2013

AFRICAN Union, AU, originally Organisation of African Unity, OAU, is a huge part of Addis Ababa and its international fame. The sprawling AU complex, sitting on a former prison yard, draws thousands of people to Addis Ababa annually for one meeting or the other. Addis is an international conference destination, the capital of Africa, if you wish.

BEAUTY is everywhere. There is probably more concentration of beautiful women of all hues here than elsewhere.

The joke is that with these women, in their numbers, it is little wonder that the population of Ethiopia is burgeoning. Imagine the annual challenge of picking Miss Ethiopia.

Exciting, Exhilarating,

Ethiopia

A

-Z of Ethiopia by Ikeddy ISIGUZO, Chairman, Editorial Board, who was in flight ET930, the inaugural Ethiopian Airlines departure from Enugu on 24 August 2013 that commenced international commercial flights from Akanu Ibiam International Airport to Bole International Airport, Addis Ababa…

CD, not the digital storage device, but condom, is so cheap for two reasons – control of AIDS and population. A threepiece condom pack costs N17! With the tourists pouring in, concerns about healthy contacts are real and at 90 million and counting, Africa’s second most populous country after Nigeria, is watching the numbers. Ethiopia is the most populous landlocked country in the world.

fleet airline than description of the peoples and their country dominates the country. A wholly governmentowned enterprise (something those selling off everything publicly owned must know), it made $154 million in profits (2012) or about N24.64 billion.

Ethiopian operates from Bole International, located 15 minutes from the city centre.

GET your fill of the country without stepping out of Addis by asking questions. Everybody seems to be a tour guide, from the taxi driver to the janitor at the hotel. You can learn a lot about the country if you know the questions to ask. Ethiopia is a vast landscape of islands, hills, mountains, rivers, valleys that appear inexhaustible in their numbers.

DOGS are all over the streets. Wild dogs give birth to more wild dogs and they dictate their pace and space. In the older parts of Addis, sheep roam the streets, as if in competition with the dogs, giving Addis a rural status.

FLEE from beggars. They get you into trouble if you offer alms. Begging is illegal and a US$50 fine awaits the giver. Ironically, your taxi driver could be made to pay the fine, for failing to tell you. On weekends and holidays when implementation of the law is lax, beggars take their chances.

HIGH rises are popping up in Addis.

A proposed 99-storey hotel with the lower floors as a public library, would easily gain the place of the tallest building in Africa. The conference crowds, tourists and investors in the growing agriculture sector need rooms, and more rooms. A deliberate decision to save space and beautify Addis would

ETHIOPIAN, more famous as a 60-

see more high rises.

I AM happy here, is typical retort of any of the beauties if you suggest she relocates to Nigeria. Are they all taught to reply that way? Older folks would remember the confusion that Ethiopian beauties caused during Festac’77.

JUST minutes after leaving Bole International, you marvel at some of the finest structures, only for images of slums of the ancient city to forcefully interrupt the views. Addis is going through its urban renewal with multiple issues – resistance of the people, funding and running city while knocking it down.

KNOWING Amharic, the official language, is helpful. Ethiopians speak English fluently, but the interspersion with Amharic, which has its own alphabets, can be confusing, worse if written with English alphabets. Yet no?, English as it looks is Amharic for Where is it? The pronunciation is a different matter entirely.

LEGEND has it that Emperor Menelik I, son of Queen of Sheba and King Solomon (both biblical figures) brought the Ark of the Covenant from Jerusalem

Continues on page 17

SUND AY SUNDA

Exciting, Exhilarating, Ethiopia Continued from page 16 to Axum, where he began one of the world’s longest known monarchical dynasties. His Imperial Majesty Emperor Ras Tafari Makonnen Woldemikael Haile Selassie I, may be a fading memory, but the man who ruled Ethiopia for 42 years, claimed to be the 225th monarch in the Solomonic line.

His passage in 1975 ended that era. A befittingly imperial palace, where he held court, is now the presidential residence.

MORE than 111 embassies are in Addis. Member states of the African Union, delegations from the European Union, and other countries make it a vibrant African capital. Its restaurants reflect the international presence without missing opportunities to slip in traditional Ethiopian delicacies.

NIGERIAN Embassy in Addis Ababa is located at W9, K21 on Senegal Street is a good address to commit to memory even if you do not get into trouble, better still tell you taxi driver that you are heading to the Nigerian embassy. The staff are very receptive. You can also call them on + (2511) 1550644. The embassy has concurrent accreditation for the African Union, United Nations Economic Commission for Africa and Djibouti. Please note that Ethiopia is two hours ahead of Nigeria, opening of office hours vary and it has an eightday 13th month, following the ancient calendar.

OGADEN is the last piece of disputed territory between Ethiopia and Eritrea.

The “Horn of Africa” as the area is shaped and call, was the theatre of Ethiopia’s last war in 2007. With changes in leadership would there be more aggressions with Eritrea?

Ethiopia would be incomplete without the transformation that changed a country from being the embarrassing poster for famished children and grinding poverty PARKS dot the city as standard fixtures. The most important one a shout from the African Union’s sprawling complex has trees planted to represent the 25 countries that originally started what was the OAU QUESTIONS about past leaders seem to fluster Ethiopians. A mixture of efforts to reconcile past atrocities with building a harmonious society have consigned the past to history. The proclivities to socialism with its strictures and secrecy created a people suspicious of every question and unwilling to discuss Ethiopia outside its tourism.

RAILS place Ethiopia on the map too, and are creating new excitements all over the country. Ethiopia had Africa’s first rails in 1917, a 781km service the French built between Addis and Djibouti, on the Indian Ocean. The Chinese are building a more elaborate 5,000km service that would link North

Vanguard, SEPTEMBER 15, 2013, PAGE 17

Sudan, Central Sudan and South Sudan, Djibouti and Kenya. It would cost more than €8billion. Brazil, China, India and Turkey are providing funds.

The rails would create more than 30,000 direct jobs.

the country. Ethiopia is an ancient civilization that has battled modernity in retaining its traditions though its cliffs, hills, islands, mountains and settlements at the fringes of the Great Rift Valley.

SECURITY is tight at Bole International, but sight seers with identity cards, are permitted for a fee of three Birr, about N26 each. Birr, the official currency exchanges at 18 to the US Dollar. Hotels are cheap with some promoted as four-star, with good amenities, at US$75, about N12,000. The international chains sell their rooms from US$400, about N64,000.

WARS abound here whether as campaigns, propaganda or the real thing. Ethiopians are proud of defeating the Italians. They discuss their battles with Eritreans in sober tones and remember even with more sobriety that Abyssinia - ancient Ethiopia – which once included Somalia, Eritrea, some parts of South Sudan and Djibouti.

Ethiopia and Liberia are the only two African countries that never came under colonial rule.

TOURISM is everywhere – the ethnic shops, hotels, rising up to the expectations of visitors. There is an abundance of places to see, things to do, it is a case of ask, you will get, so long as you can pay. The number of tourism supporting services are testimonies to action speaking loud and clear.

UP the ante with a mention of Haile Gebrselassie, possibly the most famous Ethiopian alive. He revolutionised running - two Olympic gold medals and four World Championship titles in 10,000m; four-time consecutive winner of the Berlin Marathon and three straight wins at the Dubai Marathon, winner of four world titles indoors and was the 2001 World Half Marathon Champion. He won major competition at distances between 1500 metres and the marathon, moving from outdoor, indoor and cross country running to road running, he set 27 world records, and is widely considered one of the greatest distance runners in history.

VISITORS have a lot to see in ancient churches, monasteries, mosques, museums, palaces, temples, some 2,500 years old, scattered in different parts of

X-RAYING Ethiopia would be incomplete without the transformation that changed a country from being the embarrassing poster for famished children and grinding poverty. Has it conquered poverty, not in the least.

What has happened is that it manages its resources, pays details attention to natural challenges like drought and its landlocked status and gives its people education that makes them suit to seek opportunities elsewhere.

YOU may associate the Nile easily with Egypt, but the source of that great flow is Ethiopia’s Lake Tana, in Bahar Dar, 587km outside Addis. Known at that point as the Blue Nile, it makes its way through 1,450 through Sudan to Egypt.

Its Tis Isat Falls feature the spectacle of the Blue and White Nile. The Nile is a cause of muted conflicts with Egypt which opposes the Millennium Dam, a US$4.44billion project Italians are executing to generate 5,250MW of power for local use and exports to Djibouti, Egypt, Kenya, and Yemen.

Egypt fears it may affect the Nile at her end. The fast-tracked project, partly funded from bonds issued to Ethiopians at home and in the diaspora, would be completed in September 2014, it began in September 2010. Ethiopia plans to spend US$12 billion over 25 years to generate 45,000MW. It built its first dam, generating 6MW on Akaki River in 1932.

ZENAWI Meles, immediate past Prime Minister of Ethiopia is like keeping the best for last. He died a year ago at 57, but in his years, he eclipsed other regimes by sticking to a few important things as strategic handles for developing his country. Ethiopian, the airline was grown to take up a huge part of the traffic that pours into Addis Ababa as conference delegates, tourists.

Agricultural exports – flowers, choice vegetables, again with the freighting fleet of Ethiopian. He tackled health, education and fought the wars against Eritrea, he actually half Eritrean, supported South Sudan to independence and warred against Somalia over the Ogaden. Meles dropped out of his medical studies at the then Haile Selassie University (now University of Addis Ababa) to fight the military that Haile Mariam Mengistu led. Meles has been in office under one title or the other since 1991, but Prime Minister from 1995.

He was much loved but highly criticised for allowing Eritrean independence which left Ethiopia landlocked.

PAGE 18 — SUNDAY Vanguard, SEPTEMBER 15, 2013

Email: woman.vista@yahoo.co.uk

View-Point

Helen Ovbiagele Woman Editor

T

Saving young girls from themselves owner of the hotel dey live abroad. The manager is his brother. That guard there is not a good man. He didn’t tell the girls the truth that they employed two girls already yesterday, and so, no more vacancy.”

“So, what will he do with the girls when they return later in the night, as he had told them to?

“Madam dey ask that?” sniggered the shop man.

“He’s a man, now.”

‘Oh dear! Another set of vulnerable girls caught in a net of lust,’ groaned my relation.

As we left the shop, she suddenly suggested that we should go talk to the girls, who were still hanging around on the road nearby, and discourage them from going to work as as bar girls, as they were far too young for that.

They could get lured into a world of prostitution.

I didn’t think it was a good idea, but I went with her to speak to the girls. I left the talking to her. The girls listening attentively, thanked her, and then said it was the ideal job for them, and it was what they wanted to do.

“What about your parents?”

I asked. “Are they aware that

,,

C M Y K

WO scantily-clothed malnourished-looking young girls stood outside a Guest House, patiently waiting for someone to answer to their knock on the gate. At last a burly guard opened the gate and in a gruff voice asked them what they wanted. One of them pointed to the signboard on the wall.

It was a job advertisement for bar boys and girls.

“My goodness! Don’t tell me that those little girls want to work as bar girls.” exclaimed a relation who was with me in a nearby store. “They can’t be more than twelve years old! They ’re children, for goodness’ sake!”

“They do look young, but they may be actually be as old as fifteen. Maybe they ’re stunted in growth, due to malnutrition. However, they seem wide-awake and streetwise. They may even be eighteen or nineteen years old.” I remarked.

“These ones? No way. At most they would be thirteen.

They look homeless to me.

Can you see the cake of mud on the soles of their feet?”

“I can. But they ’re too young to be homeless in a place like Lagos. They may look poor and hungry, but they must be living with someone. They can’t be on their own.”

Just then we heard the guard telling them that the hotel manager was out, and that they should report back late at night to see him. The positions were still vacant, he added.

“Hm!” sighed the shop man, hissing under his breath.

“Bad man! He’s telling lies.

He just wants to useless the girls. The manager no go anywhere. He just came in now.”

“Do you know these people at the hotel?” my relation asked him.

“Yes, madam. I dey run this shop for four years now. I know them well well. The

In addition to this, there should be even development of infrastructures and social services throughout every State in the country, so that young persons would be encouraged to stay back home and develop themselves

you want to be bar girls?”

“Madam, we look after ourselves,” said one of them.

“Our people dey village.

They don’t choose for us what to do. My daddy is no more, and my friend here, be orphan. We know what we want. We want hotel job.”

“Why?” my relation asked.

“Ah, we go get where to stay, and dem will feed us.

We won’t have problem. We will meet many men who will help us. They will take care of us.”

“What do you mean, take care of you? Who told you that a hotel is the place for you to get men who will help you?”

“We get friends who do hotel work, and them tell us

everything.” “ What help do you expect men to give you there?”

Silence. “Where do you live and with whom?” Silence.

“How old are you?”

“Madam, we old enough to look after ourselves. I be 15; my friend here na 14. We no be little children.”

In the face of such resistance and declaration of freedom and independence, I nudged my relation, indicating that we should leave them alone.

They had already begun to walk off, anyway; convinced that the line of job they wanted was the best for them; and they had the right to make choices for themselves.

Who can stop them embracing a profession which

(07036819426)

will surely be laced with prostitution; with all the attendant danger? No-one; except governments at all levels make it a point to look beyond helping only the young persons in the cities and towns, and run programmes which will take care of the needs of young Nigerians in this category in the rural areas.

Usually, vocational courses run by the various governments are given much publicity in the media. Any direction you look, you’re being assured that the governments are busy taking care of the needs of young people; giving them free training which would give them a means of livelihood, and possibly, free equipment/ start-off loans to set up their own businesses. But this is merely scratching the top of the unemployment problem among our young people, as only those in the urban areas profit from these programmes, and not all of them at that.

Their counterparts in the rural areas then migrate to the cities in an attempt to eke out a living. In desperation after fruitless search for work, they abandon all the morals values they’ve imbibed at home (if any), and they embrace criminal activities, prostitution, etc, in order to survive. Returning empty to their villages is seen as a disgrace and an indication that they are a failure.

State and local governments should wake up and take care of young persons at grassroot level if they want to bring down the current high level of criminal activities. They should compile lists of graduands of the primary and secondary schools in their areas before they leave school, interact with the schools in order to find out what the individual child is going to do afterwards. This may seem a mammoth task, but it isn’t if it’s done ward by ward by the local governments. They have departments of Education which should take care of this, helped by the councillors of the various wards.

Suitable programmes would then be run in the villages for those who need them, and at the end of these courses, they should be helped to set up in their environment.

This would help reduce, not only criminal activities, but also mass migration to the urban areas.

In addition to this, there should be even development of infrastructures and social services throughout every State in the country, so that young persons would be encouraged to stay back home and develop themselves.

SUNDAY Vanguard, SEPTEMBER 15, 2013, PAGE 19

Email: woman.vista@yahoo.co.uk

BY JOSEPHINE IGBINOVIA

Bunmi Adeboye:

T

HE first of six children, stylish Bunmi Adeboye is a 1995 Microbiology graduate of the Obafemi Awolowo University, lle-Ife. She thereafter veered into the banking industry where she carved a niche for herself as a marketer with savvy until she voluntarily resigned 15 years later to channel her imaginative prowess into her first love- events decoration. This gave birth to Stylista, a flourishing events company already servicing the crème de la crème of the society in less than two years! A happilymarried mother of two, Bunmi who turns forty on September this week had an encounter with Vista Woman in her office in Lagos.

Enjoy!

•Bunmi

The beauty, brain behind Stylista *Reveals how she dumped banking for events décor

•Bunmi Adeboye

,,

Why did you have to abandon a highly rated profession such as banking for events decoration?

Over the years when I was in the bank, I realised my friends would always call me to help them organise parties. They probably had observed the manner in which I organised events even on impromptu basis. Later, I looked inward and realised this is something I have a flair for. So, I eventually decided to follow my passion. While in the bank however, I was known for my prolific deposit mobilisation; I was a goal-getter and passionate banker. Hence, I was identified as a banker with distinction.

How has the journey been?

It’s been awesome!

Coincidentally for me, there was a wedding fair about the time I left the bank. So, I got myself involved. In fact, referrals we get all the time are what build our customer base! We were one year old in February 2013 but you won’t believe the quality of clientele we have already.

Actually, Stylista is an events decoration company which actually started as an events

(07036819426)

At friends' parties, I never saw myself as a guest. When I noticed their ushers were not doing well, I usually took up the role of supervising to ensure everyone was well taken care of. At a point, my friends nicknamed me ‘loopholes fixer’! So, I think this is just a way of life for me

supply company. The reason was because we realised a huge gap in what we see here as décor materials and what we see in western media. Why we thereafter had to go also into decoration was because I noticed we always had to tutor customers on how to assemble and use the events materials we bring into the country. So, we felt the easy way to go about it was to take care of the decoration for them as well.

So, we’re both an events company where we do outright sale of items, rental and also do décor.

Apart from having the innate ability, what formal training did you undergo?

I’ve undergone no formal training and people hardly believe this! The way we structure ourselves and organise events makes everyone think I probably trained abroad! For me, it is more of innate ability than going for an acquired knowledge. What has helped me in the procurement

aspect of the business is the fact that the Chairperson of Stylista is a certified procurement expert who has helped us integrate what we have as passion. So, at every point in time, we always have unique and rare items.

Then it means you must have acquired the skill somewhere, probably while growing up?

My mum is from Ijebu-Ode and you know the Ijebus love partying a lot. She always relied on me for every party she needed to put together. Even at friends’ parties, I never saw myself as a guest. When I noticed their ushers were not doing well, I usually took up the role of supervising to ensure everyone was well taken care of.

At a point, my friends nicknamed me ‘loopholes fixer’!

So, I think this is just a way of life for me.

You were in the bank for 15

*Bunmi, doing her thing...

•Pictures by SUNMI SMART-COLE.

years; is this business more rewarding?

Frankly, I get even much more than I got as a banker! We had this myth that banking was well-paying, but you see, with the quality of my time management and with doing what I enjoy doing by putting smiles on clients’ faces, you can’t quantify with cash.

Uncertainty deters many from venturing into new terrains, especially business; didn’t you feel that way too while ditching your job as a banker?

I’ve had this tutor in my husband for a long time and he has remained my mentor in this business. He had always wanted me to use a third of that energy which I was using to work for the bank, for myself. He is Rotimi Adeboye, the Chairperson of my company which I spoke

about; he’s the Chairperson/CEO, RM Resources, a procurement company. When I eventually decided to go into entrepreneurship, I saw sense in what he was saying, and I deconstructed my mind from being the typical banker who would always spend so much on suits and shoes to stoop low, so I could conquer as an entrepreneur. So I frankly asked myself what the things that could mitigate me being successful were: I cut-off excessive spending, agreed on no salary for the start, embraced selfless service, brought on my marketing prowess, and within the space of one year, I got a huge customer base! I didn’t start by having a structure and employing staff. I acquired people on requirement basis and that really helped me grow.

PAGE 20—SUNDAY Vanguard, SEPTEMBER 15, 2013

JUBRIL AMINU TAKES ON JONATHAN’S OPPONENTS

Obasanjo, Atiku are finished politically *’President is too fixated on second term’

Pastor Emmanuel Nuhu Kure

Jubril Aminu

Regional Editor, North

P

rof. Jubril Aminu is a found ing member of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP). He was also at different times the Minister of Education and Petroleum Resources. He was equally a senator. In this interview, he speaks on the PDP crisis, saying the attempt by former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and some governors to break away from the mainstream PDP is borne out of the need to remain politically relevant.

According to him, President Goodluck Jonathan should concentrate on delivering on the mandate given to him by Nigerians and worry less about second term, which, he says, the president would get on a platter, if Nigerians see him as performing.

Excerpts: How do you see the breakaway moves of some PDP members led by former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, some governors and C M Y K

,,

BY SONI DANIEL,

Atiku does not stand any chance in 2015 because Jonathan is already in the game for re-election and Atiku needs a new game in order to be relevant politically. Obasanjo, for example, is finished, but he has decided not to be seen as finished

former national officers of the party?

What they did is nothing to worry about. Democracy is partly about the expression of personal opinions. There is nothing in jumping ship by any party member under democracy. As an original founding member of the PDP, I have been around all the time and I can be described as a major stakeholder in Nigeria and my state of Adamawa. I don’t support what they did and I also presume that what they did was not motivated by their love for the country but by personal ego and a way to salvage themselves from the situation in which they have found them-

selves. I suspect that when we get to know the extent of the forces behind the move, one would be surprised to see powerful people inside and outside the PDP, not necessarily governors, who are trying to settle scores or re-direct the party in some ways or just playing mischief. I don’t get jittery when this type of thing happens. Nigeria moved from the worst moment to the present without collapsing. That will not happen since we survived the June 12 crisis that led to the sacking of Interim Head of State, Chief Ernest Shonekan, from office. What is happening now does not worry me. Until

about a few months ago, there were only two parties but now we have new ones, which have no real ideology. To that extent, nobody should get jittery because these groups are driven by ego and their games don’t add up. I suspect that they need some tricks in order to survive. So, nobody should be worried about the antics adopted by the people causing trouble for the party.

In other words, they are frustrated people?

They are losers and they are looking for new avenues to win the game. Let me give you an example: Atiku does not stand any chance in 2015 because Jonathan is already in the game for reelection and he Atiku needs a new game in order to be relevant politically. Obasanjo, for example, is finished, but he has decided not to be seen as finished. So, all these people need a new game in order to be politically relevant. They have decided they are not finished politically. These are some of the things you should look at and not to be scared by what is happening. It is nothing new.

But when you put together all that

Continues on page 21

SUNDAY Vanguard, SEPTEMBER 15, 2013, PAGE 21

’President is too fixated on second term’ Continued from page 20 is happening now, do you see the PDP resolving its crisis in order to win the next election?

The crisis will be resolved, but I don’t know who will be the scapegoat at the end. I don’t know who they will use to resolve it. This entire thing is being done to retain power by those who are there and those outside also want to wrest power from those wielding it. So, what is happening is a normal political game that goes on in any democracy and it will not break the party and the country as some persons have predicted.

Some people insist that the National Chairman, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, be removed as a condition for peace to reign in the PDP. Are they justified?

Those are very mean people, particularly the Adamawa State governor, who never liked Tukur. He does not want Tukur at any point and has always gone for his jugular. That is unfair and unhealthy for the party and the country.

But do you think that Tukur has led the PDP well?

What power do you think Tukur really has? What power did Audu Ogbeh wield when Obasanjo was in power?

Obasanjo is the one who changed party supremacy for something else.

He sent people to the Ministry of Power in South Africa to study how power was being managed and they said, ‘no, go to the African National Congress, ANC, and see what the party has on power ’. I don’t see that happening in Nigeria because our people are pre-occupied with personal control of everything. They are concerned with using power. So, you cannot really accuse Tukur of using power.

He has shown strong commitment as a Fulani man to move the party forward. It is not easy for anybody with a modicum of self-pride to continue to hold on. What does he really want if not trying to work for the nation and its people? He has tried and people should leave him alone to move the party forward.

People like you, who have seen it all, should be able to play a fatherly role in the emerging crisis rocking the party and the nation. What advice have you given President Jonathan to solve the crisis?

I think Jonathan is too concerned about his second term and, because he is focused on that, there are people around him who are making a huge capital out of the situation. His fixation on second term brings about a good menu for people to exploit. He should focus more on fixing Nigeria and believing that, at the appropriate time, Nigerians will vote for him. Let me give you an example. Lagos State governor is one governor who is working without looking back. He does not want the state to be ruffled by anyone.

Jubril Aminu...Bamanga Tukur has no power

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I think Jonathan is too concerned about his second term and, because he is focused on that, there are people around him who are making a huge capital out of the situation He keeps on working not minding whose ox is gored. The people are happy that the governor is working for their interest. The President is too concerned about second term. My advice to him is to continue to do the work that he was elected to do and he will get a second term. If he works hard, he will get his second term easily. All these people who are talking do so for selfish reasons and nothing more.

But, at the end of the day, Nigerians won’t judge their performance but that of Mr. President. He should ask them to allow him the chance to do his work.

Many of them do not wish him well, they are looking for an opportunity to exploit every loophole for their personal aggrandisement.

In other words, Jonathan himself should step forward and do the work at hand.

Exactly! That is what I mean. Look at the ASUU strike, he should face it.

He should tackle the security challenges in the northern part of the country and the problems in the health sector.

People are taking advantage of his obsession with second term and are making money from it. Jonathan should see that the things he promised Nigerians are faithfully implemented and his second term will be smooth sailing. That is my advice to him. Jonathan should learn from the situation and make more impact.

Former Minister of Science and Technology, Gen. Sam Momah, argued against the continuous applica-

tion of the federal character principle on the grounds that it encourages cheating and laziness at the expense of merit and hard work?

General Sam Momah is a good man and he is probably very sincere about it, but his proposition will not work.

He can say what he is saying because of where he comes from. But, in the context of peace and unity of Nigeria, there is no reason to discontinue with the principle of federal character. The day somebody from Kano or Sokoto comes out and speaks about FC, you can believe him that he is serious.

Nobody will believe Momah or anyone else from Imo or Enugu because they are from educationally advantaged states. But, in the context of Nigeria, for peace and unity to reign, the principle must be continued to give everyone a sense of belonging.

W

hat do you make of the allegation that lawmak ers are most highly paid in the world by a former Education Minister, Dr (Mrs) Oby Ezekwesili?

These people have seen what the executive is doing with public funds, what the governors are doing with public funds and so on; why do they worry about the payment being made to the legislature? Are they fair? Anyone who wants to talk about the way public officers in Nigeria are being paid or how they are managing public funds should take a holistic look at the

three tiers of government and stop singling out a particular organ for ridicule. It does not solve the problems facing the nation in any way.

Have we made progress as a nation at 53?

A former friend of mine used to tell me that you can always find fault if you want to. Nigeria has made enormous progress already in all sectors of the economy. In the past, we could count the number of bridges and schools in the northern part of Nigeria, but, today, it is difficult to do so. In Yola alone, you can see the level of infrastructural progress that has been recorded. I wrote a paper sometime ago that we are contacting diseases that were peculiar to Europe because of improved living standards brought about by advancement in our nation. We should even thank God that we went through a civil war and came out of it. We did not disintegrate.

We are largely affected by the selfishness of certain persons in the country and nothing more. Many states have also been created, thereby creating more centres of economic development and we should be happy that these things have been put in place for Nigeria’s transformation. We should be grateful to the founding fathers of Nigeria and do our own part to move the nation forward instead of always complaining that the nation has not made progress.

I disagree with those who hold that view and state categorically that we have made progress as a nation.

In education, our adopted policies that cost money and we should be ready to pay for such services and move on like the countries we are trying to copy. Corruption has increased the cost of everything in Nigeria and we should be ready to fight the virus like other forward-looking countries in order to make the kind of progress we envisage. It is only by so doing that we can record steady progress that even cynics would be able to see.

PAGE 22 — SUNDAY VANGUARD, SEPTEMBER 15, 2013

Shocked by my proposal!

Dear Rebecca I am a boy of twenty years; a trainee office cadet. I am in love with a girl I met while in secondary school. This girl in now in America.

Ever since she left, we have been communicat-

ing and she knows that I love her very much.

In my last two letters to her, I hit the nail on the head by asking her to be my life partner. S h e

called me to say she felt ridiculed and never expected such from me. I wrote another letter telling her the same thing.

I am becoming impatient waiting for her response. What do I do?

Derick .D. Lagos

This size makes life a misery!

Dear Rebecca

I

am a 27-year old man who works as a cobbler. I Would be glad if you can help

solve my problem.

I have very small and tiny penis just like that three or five year old child. My sex life has completely ground to a halt.

REPL Y REPLY

A

REPL Y REPLY

I

think you should have other girlfriends here and continue the ordinary friendship you have with this girl.

There is no doubt that she likes you, but only as a friend. Every relationship between a boy and a girl does not necessarily have to be that of romance. Sometimes one can have a very good friendship with a member of the opposite sex which is precious and which can last a life time, involving your spouses.

This girl is shocked by your marriage proposal because she regards you only as a friend. Also, perhaps at twenty and in training, you should not be talking of marriage.

May be you felt you had to propose to her early so that she would feel committed to your friendship, and not go into relationship with a man over there in the U.S . That is an irrelevant panic move on your part, and er, a little bit immature. You are both very far from being ready to settle down in marriage. You have to mature physically and emotionally first, and be settled in a future career.

You have to date other people in order to understand members of the opposite sex better, and know the type you would want to spend the rest of your life with.

You should have girlfriends here, and she boyfriends over there.

Meanwhile, enjoy the communication with her.

If you still desire this, I suggest you tell her in a letter or over the telephone that she should forget about the earlier marriage proposal and continue with being just friends. This will put her a ease and communication will flow again between you.

My last experience of sex was a disaster.

I could hardly penetrate and the whole exercise was a mess.

Please help me.

Worried, Lagos

Is this man interested in me?

Dear Rebecca

I

am 22. Al though I’m not a virgin, I try to keep away from men and relationships. A few months ago I became friends with a man, who always advises me to keep away from men. He has not yet expressed interest in having a relationship with me.

Should I ask him what he wants from me or think of a relationship elsewhere?

Worried girl REPL Y REPLY

I

under stand how you feel.

You are obviously ready for marriage although you did not specify whether you are

a student or a worker.

When a man who seems to be in a position (age and finance) to take a wife starts to date a girl, she is naturally anxious to know what he has in mind. No girl wants to waste her time with a man she is unsure of.

And if other men observe a man coming to her, they would assume he is serious, and they would keep away even though they are interested in her, and may want her for a wife. Very few men with serious intention like to date a girl who is having a serious relationship with another man. Men who just want fun and then move on to other girls don’t mind doing that.

They can even date a married lady.

Many girls miss serious and perhaps good suitors while in relationships with men who are not decisive.. You wait and wait, while he continues to tell you that he loves you. In the long run he may propose to another girl that he had been courting in secret all along. Again some

men may tell you they want marry you, just so that you may remain with them, and perhaps allow them sex. At the back of their mind they know that they don’t want you for a wife.

I do not advise a girl asking a man point blank if he wants to marry her.

That may frighten even a serious suitor away, and it would show you up as a girl who is desperate for a husband.That’s

not good for your pride .Since this relationship is only a few months old ,be patient and study the man very well .You will be able to tell whether he is serious or not, or whether he is actually the sort of man you want for a partner. If at almost two years he has not mentioned marriage and his intention to meet your people, end the relationship and let other men date you .

I do not advise a girl asking a man point blank if he wants to marry her. That may frighten even a serious suitor away, and it would show you up as a girl who is desperate for a husband

n expert says that in spite of claims in some adverts that the male organ could be made bigger, he would advise that you don’t tamper with that part of your body. If you are fertile, whatever the size of organ, you will have kids.

Again, with a partner who shares mutual fondness with you, the size should not stop sexual pleasure . The important thing is knowing what to do with what God has endowed you with, so you could have a pleasurable sex life. Without adequate knowledge of how your body works, and sex, making love will always be an unpleasant mess, even if you have the largest organ in the world.

The first step is having a willing partner you are fond of and with whom you have discussed the use of contraceptives.

Then discover how to arouse and please your partner through physical touch ,kissing, etc . Some ladies find this more satisfying than the actual sex act. Which no matter how you look at it or feel about it, is a naturally messy affair.

There are some good books in the shops about body development and sex which would help you understand things and be able to handle sex well.

That said, your whole life should not be about the size of your organ, sex and performance in bed.

Some people choose not to have sex for life, and they live a very happy and fulfilling life.

Eating a balanced diet of protein, carbohydrate , vegetables, and embracing regular exercises will help you to develop good health which will help you remain in a good frame of mind.

Sex is not the main reason God created human beings. We are here to honor, obey and respect Him, help our fellow human beings, and help make the world a better place.

•All letters for publication on this page should be sent to: Dear Rebecca, Vanguard Media Ltd, Kirikiri Canal, P.M.B 1007, Apapa, Lagos, Nigeria. E-mail: dearrebecca2@yahoo.com

SUNDAY VANGUARD, SEPTEMBER 15, 2013, PAGE 23

Is Online porn putting men off meaningful relationship?

I

N my early teens, I vividly remember sneaking into our father ’s bedroom from time to time, my heart always in my throat for fear of being caught.

I was drawn to a stack of Playboy magazines my dad had surreptitiously hidden amongst files he always brought from the office,” said Ephraim.

He’s now 28, has a fantastic job and a string of girlfriends - but is not thinking of marriage yet.

He is now a member of millions of online pornographic junkies. “As I salivated over the ‘full frontal’ centrefold, with those glamorous models spread-eagled across pages with come-to bed eyes and staples through their midriffs - I rushed to my room and masturbated.

“Only, as I grow older, my experience of porn has been very different from my dad’s. I’m part of the new generation of men to grow up with internet pornography as part and parcel of everyday life. I’ve never had to pay for it nor faced the embarrassment of asking for it. When I get tired of one image, there’s always another ... and another .. and another. All I need do is type the words: ‘free porn’ into an internet search engine and there’d be thousands of

hits, with most sites containing hundreds of pornographic images.

“Internet porn was part of my life throughout my early 20s and now at 28, I’m increasingly aware that I have a problem.

I’m not yet ready to admit I’m an addict, but there’s no denying that internet porn has become a deeply ingrained daily habit. As it is now, I struggle to get through a day without at least one visit to one of my favourite sites. I’m sure a lot of your readers will be mouthing a silent ‘Yuk! as they read this and I entirely understand their reaction. But what they need to know is that I’m certainly not alone - I’m convinced that virtually every man of my age with access to the internet will log on to internet porn sites on a reasonably regular basis.

You see, men, by and large, like porn and enjoy using it - it is getting caught using it that they don’t like.

“Today, soft-core porn barely exists. Internet porn is now almost entirely ‘hard-core’ - which involves female and male models graphically engaged in an extraordinary variety of real; sex acts. For years, I thought my internet porn habit was having no effect on my relation-

ships in real life. I was confident I could keep internet sex and real sex separate. After all, I was aware that most women don’t like porn and that they are not the sort of overly-made-up sexual athletes I was watching on the net. But now I’ve realised that I’ve been deluding myself. Internet porn is undoubtedly beginning to damage my real-life relationships big time! In fact, I can confidently say that it’s why I’m not in a relationship today.

“My last girlfriend dumped me when she found out how keen on pornography I actually was - especially when I made the mistake of ask-

ing her to watch one or two with me. But it’s causing other problems too. Although I’ve had sex with dozens of women, I’ve had only four ‘serious’ relation§hips since I was 18 - and they ’ve all ended because I’ve cheated on them. I’m convinced this is because using internet porn is a form of cheating - after all, I’m lusting after the body of a stranger, rather than my girlfriend - and that once you’ve grown accustomed to this online infidelity, real-life cheating becomes much, much easier.

“Sadly, I now realise that the buzz I get from using internet porn is di-

minishing my ability to emotionally invest in a woman. It’s not that I don’t want to fall in love, but I’m beginning to feel like I don’t need to. If the sex life I’m having online is better than the sex life I might be having in the real world, then I’m not sure what the incentive is.

I don’t want to sound too cynical, but men have always seen relationships as a means to regular sex, while women have always used regular sex to consolidate an emotional relationship ... “ The more Ephraim admitted to his ‘problem’ with brutal honesty, the more apparent is the toxic effect of pornography on relationships today. One

wonders why young marriages don’t last, why infidelity is no longer viewed with outrage and why romance has lost a bit of its magic.

Why was Ephraim being this honest? “I think it’s about time we were all aware of the dangers of too much porn. I may be a slightly heavier consumer of porn than some of my peers, but I’m not atypical, and I think it’s important that women, parents and society generally are aware of that.

The well-behaved teenager your 17-year-old daughter has just brought home for the first time will have seen things online that you barely knew were legal or physically possible.

So too will the goodlooking hunk from accounts who’s just flashed you a smile across the office canteen; or will the handsome divorce’ that you’ve just met through a friend bent on match- making.

“Internet porn is worryingly widespread and has become an element of the modem world. I don’t expect women to understand or approve of that, but it’s important that they know it. Men are changing, and while I don’t know what the answer may be, I do know what the problem is ... “

08052201867(Text Only)

Boost your blood quality with regular exercise

O

NE great advan tage of regular exercise is that by it we’re able to keep the blood platelets from crowding together to block the blood vessels. A blocked blood vessel in the head will cause a stroke; one in the heart will result in a heart attack.

When we work out we induce a higher heart rate which in turn makes us breath faster and deeper.

And deep breathing enables the blood to receive sufficient oxygen for proper metabolism which leads to maintenance of healthy cell life, for cell renewal and survival.

When the blood has been inundated with oxygen you can then expect to get the most out of the body.

Tired, sick, or rapidly ageing deep breathing exercises can be of wondrous benefits.

Conditions ranging from insomnia to heart C M Y K

problems are often brought on by oxygen starvation.

As we advance in years the powers of the body slacken. Cells that were once elastic lose that quality and become incapable of absorbing oxygen as they once did.

The decline in the cells ability to absorb sufficient oxygen can lead to shrinking of the body or make it fatter.

With exercise we can feel safe knowing that our bodies are protected against life-threatening conditions like stroke and heart attack. Less threatening cases such as tension, constipation, indigestion, nervous headaches can all be helped if or when we undertake to exercise regularly.

The following are yoga postures which can all be executed along with deep rhythmic breathing.

LOTUS (with upturned hands) Technique: Sit with both legs outstretched in front of you. Now, bend the left knee and place the left foot on the right thigh and t h e n bend the r i g h t knee and place it on the left thigh.

Interlace the fingers and raise up the h a n d s with the p a l m s u p turned.

Breathe slowly b u t deeply for 5 to 10 times.

The Lotus

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

ankle joints are rid of stiffness.

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

Then change hands and repeat the deep breathing.

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

Sideways Forward

Bend Technique: Sit with both legs stretched in front of you. Bend the right knee and place the right foot on the inside of the left thigh high up the crotch. Gently lower the trunk sideway till you can hold the left foot with the left hand from the inside and the right hand hold the left foot from the soutside.

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

Benefits: The Sideway Forward Bend affects the hamstrings and thighs. The sides received enough stretch to improve lateral flexibility. The digestive organs are gently massaged and constipation greatly helped.

Yoga classes at 32 Adetokunbo Ademola, Victoria Island,atLagos, 9.10am on Saturdays Yoga classes 32 Ademola Adetokunbo Victoria Island, Lagos, 9.10am on Saturdays

P AGE 24— SUND AY Vanguard , SEPTEMBER 15 , 2013 SUNDA

bunmsof@yahoo.co.uk

08056180152,

SMS only

Health tourists’ exploits responsible for Britain’s astronomical visa fees!

I

was abroad when friends called with the news of the draconian measures taken by the British authority to frustrate intending visitors to that country by tourists brandishing sixmonth visas but with sinister intentions. Some two years before, a Nigerian, Bimbo Ayelabola’s story took the media world by storm. British tabloids and magazines had a field day, scandalized by how the NHS (National Health Service) was conned by Bimbo into picking up her medical bills after she had quintuplets. One of them read: “Cradling her five babies, this new mum is proof of the miracles that the NHS can work.

Thanks to the dedication of staff at Homerton Hospital in east London, all of her quintuplets survived after being delivered by Caesarean section.

“But this mum, Bimbo Ayelabola, is also suspected of being one of a growing number of ‘NHS health tourists’ foreign nationals who come to the UK solely to take advantage of our free healthcare. Bimbo, 33, had flown from her home in Nigeria supposedly for a ‘family visit’ and claims she had no idea she was carrying five children. ‘I had already had miscarriages and couldn’t bear the stress another pregnancy would cause,’ she said. ‘So I decided to visit my family in London, I thought I would stand a much better chance of avoiding another miscarriage in a calmer place with friends and family’.

“Her two boys and three girls were born in April 2011. It cost the NHS £200,000 (roughly N50 million)’money she’s supposed to repay - but she hasn’t. Bimbo

helping couples with this type of problems. “When you’re making love,” he was told, “the black man will wave a fan above your heads and this will stimulate your wife into having an orgasm.”

So the scene was set for the following evening. As the black man waved the fan, the couple did their bit, but alas the woman remained unsatisfied.

Heartbroken, the embarrassed husband said to the black man, “I bet you couldn’t do any better!”

So they exchanged places and, as the husband waved the fan, the couple writhed beneath him. In no time at all, the woman had a marvellous orgasm, and the husband told the black man bitterly, “ you see, that’s how you’re supposed to wave the fan!”

is not the only one. Another individual has racked up a hefty bill of £217,000 (over N 54 million) for intensive care and has yet to repay a single penny.” And it’s not only emergency care the NHS is being milked for. “From IVF treatment to cosmetic surgery,” says the report, “health tourists have found a way to milk the system. Many come to the UK specifically to give birth. They lie to get on the flight, saying they are less than seven months pregnant when they are not. When they land, they say they are eight months pregnant, so no airline will agree to take them back home. Then they get medical treatment in UK, costing an average of £20,000.

I

n total, these ‘health tourists’ have left the NHS with an estimated unpaid bill of £24 million in just one year - although experts believe the true cost could be

much, much higher. Professor J. Meirion Thomas, a leading NHS cancer surgeon who has campaigned to get the issue taken more seriously said: ‘These startling new figures show the problem of health tourism is escalating, while the £24 million unpaid bill is a lot of money, I believe it is only the tip of the iceberg.

The true cost runs into billions of pounds every year ”.

A

s a result of these health tourists’ shenanigans, Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt announced measured to clamp down.

These include a new £200 ‘healthcare levy ’ for anyone seeking a UK visa for more than six months (is this inclusive of the £3,000 llevy Nigerians are groaning under) and a new system to track the use of the NHS by migrant workers.

The Government is also considering higher charges for IVF treatment, cosmetic surgery or treatment for ‘pre-existing’ pregnancies.

T

he report contin ues: “The charges can’t come soon enough for a system that seems to be fatally flawed. Anyone who is in Britain can register with a GP for free and get an NHS number.

People who have lived in the UK for less than a year should pay for non-emergency hospital treatment, but many don’t because staff often assume the NHS number means they are eligible for free care. Even if they suspect the patients are not entitled to NHS treatment, they are often afraid to challenge them for fear of being seen as racist.

“But it’s not just money that health tourists are costing us. With resources in some regions stretched to breaking point, they are putting our health at risk too. Those who desperately need treatment - and are entitled

only one answer: Tr u e plus L o v e =Awesome two.

Chris Onunaku 08032988826/08184844015.

Wind of love

Y

OUR column to express your loving thoughts in words to your sweetheart. Don’t be shy. Let it flow and let him or her know how dearly you feel.

Write now in not more than 75 words to: The Editor, Sunday Vanguard, P.M.B. 1007, Apapa, Lagos. E.mail: sunlovenotes@yahoo.com Please mark your envelope: “LOVE NOTES"

Test of true love

Distance is a test of love. Many will fail for those who can’t withstand it. But for those who can, there’s

Just like the air of fortune, you blew across my path.

Just like the breeze of destiny, we were destined to meet. . . And I pray the wind of love will ever hold on to you. You are my special friends and Opio my man acknowledges the feeling too, God bless his heart. Friends define friends and I pray God as our best friend will always be with you and define your lives for me. I came looking for love and affection, you gave me tenderness and care. I don't know the live span of our friendship, but I hope it lasts enough for us to see our great grand children. Friendship is earned, thanks for earning mine. I cherish you girls a lot; you leave me breathless!

Stan Stan, stanfeelings@gmail.com

to it are being turned away or bumped down the waiting list, while those who have never paid into the system are getting treatment for free. How would you feel if your mum was refused vital drugs to beat cancer or your daughter was turned away from A & E, all because a health tourist was abusing the system?

According to reports, most health tourists come from Nigeria, Poland, Portugal, Bangladesh and Pakistan. The departments most affected are maternity, oncology, gynaecology and cardiology.

A bit of black magic! (Humour)

D

octor, doctor,” said the anguished white man. “I can’t satisfy my wife in bed any more, what shall I do?”

The doctor sent him along to see a big black man who specialised in

Lucky wife!

(Humour)

T

he simple-minded men stopped for a meal at a motor way cafe and discovered it was running a special competition. If you picked the correct number from that day’s menu, you won a session of free sex.

“Come on Jude, let’s have a go!” urged Dan. “I’ll have number 14, the tomato soup,” said Dan, “and my mate will have number 5, eggs and chips.”

The waiter took down the order and looked at their expectant faces.

“I’m sorry,” he said, shaking his head, “ you’ve picked the wrong numbers.” During the following two weeks, the men went back on six occasions but failed every time to pick the winner.

“I think this whole competition is fake!”, complained Jude on his seventh try. “Oh no!” replied Dan, “it’s on the level.

My wife won twice last week.”

07035709315, 08182459176

My Angel

Chioma my Angel, your eyes shames me and as if washed with milk,your lips shines as ivory, sweet as honey, your vioce as soft as birds sings,your preence makes me gasp for breath.

From your dear Dave,08063577548

Beyond estimation

I am desperately searching for words to quantify and measure my love for you because it is beyond estimation. And i am equally looking for words to depict in clear manner what you meant to me. But the only word that always come to my mind is infinity. I will always love,adore and cherish you till infinity.

Akachukwu Ferdinand, aka5forever85@gmail.com 08063819314

SUNDAY Vanguard, SEPTEMBER 15, 2013, PAGE 25

08116759757

Neighbours turn enemies over Benin land, shrines

priests, I am the second in hierarchy.

The senior one is at Ewiekoyu, I am a descendant of Ohiobonikwe on that lineage because the title is hereditary.

So, it came to us as a shock that Iguomo community said that the whole of Ikhuobo land belongs to them.

A

By SIMON EBEGBULEM, Benin-City

I

T was with utter disbelief and bewilderment that the people of Evbuo-Ikhuenobo, along the BeninAgbor Road, in Uhumnwonde Local Government Council of Edo State, woke up on July 1, 2013, to see bulldozers and scores of mobile policemen, allegedly led by a lawyer, who stormed the community with a view to take over some land. The land, according to the chief priest of Evbuo-Ikhuenebo, Chief Enawakponmwhen Aighobahi, has 20 shrines. Women and children were quickly rushed into their homes, while youths of the community stormed out with cutlasses and other dangerous weapons to defend their ancestral land.

However, elders of the community urged them to be calm so as to hear from the people they described as intruders and their mission. The lawyer, who came with a court order, told the elders that they were in the community to enforce a Supreme Court judgment in their protracted land dispute between the community and their neighboring Iguomo community. Sunday Vanguard learnt that the dispute, dating back to over 20 years, has defied the intervention of the Oba of Benin, who, in a letter dated December 2, 1985 and addressed to the then Bendel State Commissioner of Police, told the authorities about the “trouble brewing between the two villages under” him.

The Oba, in the letter under reference number: Palace 20/Vol.III/148, wrote: “As a result of allegation of trespass which one of the villages made against the other, I requested an investigation to be made. At the end of the investigation and after hearing both sides, I decided in the circumstances of the case it was best to demarcate a boundary between them in the area of the bush under dispute where, hitherto, there had been no visible boundary between the two village communities. The cause of the trouble is the people’s desire to cut parcels of land for sale.”

Decades after and following litigations which ended up at the Supreme Court, peace has continued to elude the communities, while parties continue to entrench themselves in dangerous positions, a situation some of the stakeholders fear could result in open hostilities. While representativesof Evbuo-Ikhuenobo community are alleging that those from Iguomo doctored the map of the area, the latter maintain otherwise. Residents now live in fear in the communities with threats of invasion and sporadic gunshots. Sunday

C M Y K

For anybody to flout the order of the Supreme Court, it is serious, it can cause anarchy.

We have 20 shrines and these shrines were left for us by our fore fathers led by Oba Ewuare Vanguard learnt that before the Oba made his decision, sacrifices were made to ascertain the true owners of the disputed land and three elders allegedly died on the side of the Iguomo community sending signals that they might have lied before the gods of the land. However, the counsel to Iguomo community, on July 1,explained their mission to Evbuo-Ikhuenobo community.

H

is words, “ Iguomo community won at the High Court, won at the Court of Appeal and also won at the Supreme Court. Then when they (Evbuo-Ikhuenobo community) refused to obey the court order, there was a motion filed for contempt of court and some of the accused were sent to prison

by Justice Imadu Bello of the High Court, Abudu. Later, when they (Ikhuenobo community) still refused to obey, we now filed an action in another court and the court gave us an order to fife and the ACR of that court processed the order and they went there to fife the properties. Since it was a judgment of the Supreme Court, there must be a survey plan; the surveyor also followed them when they went to do the fife, to show them the extent of the land… The day they went there to fife, the

community members of Ikhuenobo came, shooting guns and, if police had retaliated, there would have been bloodshed, but the police maintained their cool and, at the end of the day, they recovered a gun and some ammunition which they took to the State CID and are being investigated there.

For anybody to flout the order of the Supreme Court, it is serious, it can cause anarchy. We are not causing disharmony, we are following the judgment of the Supreme Court.

But insisting that the land belongs to them, Stephen Ogbeide, from Ikhuenobo, ,narrated , “It started in 1985 when we wanted to dualise our road, then these people (referring to the neighbouring Iguomo community) came and seized the bulldozer and the workers. We reported the matter to the palace. Ikhuen clan has about 36 communities and we are number two in the hierarchy and these people are at the bottom.

The Oba has this fact and knows that these people are our subjects. But following the vacancy in the Ohen Stool (the last occupant died in 1952), the communities began the agitation for selfrule, with some out rightly claiming superiority”. Deploring the decision of the Iguomo community to go to court on the issue when the Oba of Benin, who is the custodian of all the lands in the kingdom had taken decision on the matter, the chief priest of Ikhuenobo community, Aighobahi, the Ovbiobo, who took Sunday Vanguard round the shrines in the community, insisted that his fore fathers bequeathed the shrines to the community, and therefore it would be unthinkable for Iguomo community to claim the land.

He took us to a shrine, said to have been founded by Oba Ewuare the Great, who led Benin Kingdom from 1440-1473.

He narrated through an interpreter: “My forefather, Oba Ewuare, is the founder of this Okwuainebenaka shrine.

This shrine is number two in the hierarchy of all Okwaihe in Ikwe. We have been here for over one thousand years, we are not strangers. You can see the structure of the shrine. I am the Ohen; among the top sixteen Ohen chief

nd the map they carried, there was a portion where they mentioned that the land of Ikhuobo is not in dispute and that is the area we got the court ruling now. We have taken this matter to the palace of the Oba of Benin who decided the matter on August 20, 1985.

The Oba’s decision was that from Oliha, take half a mile down to after the bypass.

The Oba asked us to survey the place; we did that, but Iguomo people refused to take his judgment. Then Oba wrote to the Commissioner of Police to give the Survey General security to go and implement his decision but Iguomo people stilled refused. When we got to the Commissioner of Police, they asked us to give a statement on how the Oba decided the matter. After we gave statement, the Commissioner of Police then took the statement to the palace of the Oba to discuss it with him. The Oba told him that the boundary is half a mile down to Iwomo. It was at that point that Iguomo people headed to court. They got a judgment from the court and came to chase us out of our land contrary to the decision of the Oba who is owner of all the lands in this kingdom.

“We have 20 shrines and these shrines were left for us by our fore fathers led by Oba Ewuare. We have over one thousand people in this community and these people have not known any other home, and , suddenly, one community came up to say they got a court judgment and they want to take over our property and ancestral homes, that is unacceptable.

Ikhuobo community has been here since the time of the Ogiso. Right from the era of Ogiso, this place has been in existence.

The first name was Isoghide, meaning the sky will not fall. Then after a magic feast by one of our brothers, it was now changed to Ikhuobo. During that time, this Iguomo community was not here. If you go by history, you will find out that they all migrated to that place; there is no original indigene there apart from the one who is a son of our community that our fore father took there to build a shrine for him. When the case was even in court, communities around, like Azagba, came to testify that nobody has boundary with Iguomo. Ogbesan, Ikweniye, they came to declare that Ikhuobo is number two and that we have been here for years. It was even Ikhuobo that owns Iguomo; that is why they don’t have common boundary with us. ‘’But what happened was that the stool which I am occupying today was vacant for thirty years because I was very small when my father died. So they capitalized on the absence of the Ohen to plot how to invade us, on how to start expansionist policy to collect all our property and lands from us. But with the powers of our ancestors it will not work”. There is tension in the communities as the police intensify investigations into allegations and counter allegations of attacks against each other by the communities. To the people of Ikhuobo community, Igomo people have defied the Oba’s judgment and they deserved to be punished while they await the reaction of the palace on the issue.

PAGE 26— SUNDAY Vanguard, SEPTEMBER 15, 2013

08116759757

Nollywood actress in divorce mess

By ADEOLA ADENUGA

T

HERE was a drama in Agege Grade ‘A’ Customary Court when a 29-yearold Nollywood actress, Mrs. Enitan Ogunkeye, who filed for divorce against her husband, Mr. Adekunle Ogunkeye, accused him of dubious behaviour, constant beating and drunkenness.

The couple exchanged harsh words over their drinking habit. ”My husband drinks a lot and, anytime he drinks, he misbehaves. He has lost respect and reduced in size due to his drinking habit.

He has been disgraced many times in public because of his drinking habit”, Enitan said. She told the court that she could no longer live with the husband because they fight over money frequently. Meanwhile, the 43-year old husband, a civil servant, said: “I agree that I am a drunkard but we are birds of a

feather because we both drink.”

Adekunle told the court that the N50,000 he collected from his wife was spent on their son’s birthday for which his wife told him some artistes would

be around but nobody came while all the things she bought were wasted. ”My wife is a wasteful spender. As an actress, she sees herself as a celebrity despite the fact that she is not well

TREACHEROUS HUSBAND

He left me in Nigeria, secretly married another woman in the US — Housewife

By ADEOLA ADENUGA

A

housewife, Mrs. Yemisi Sosu, wants an Agege Grade ‘A’ Customary Court to dissolve her marriage as her husband, Sunday Sosu, is married to another lady in the United States of America (USA).

The 31-year-old woman said that their

union was not blessed with any child.

She said that her husband resided in Dubai but his parents lived in Nigeria, and it was in Nigeria they met and dated for a year after which they did their traditional wedding in 2011.

Yemisi stated that about the third day after their wedding, Sunday left home

2013 HEAVY RAINS ALERT

M

R. George Ushere is a chieftain of the People’s Democratic Party, PDP, in Delta State. In this interview, he speaks on Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan administration’s efforts to transform the state.

On assumption of office, Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan came up with a three-point agenda of peace and security, human and infrastructural devel-

opment. How would you rate the governor in the implementation of these cardinal points?

The three-point agenda has been his cardinal point in the governance of the state. The governor has done so well to build peace in the state. Before now, there was the problem of militancy, waterways were difficult to ply, but now you can use the waterways without any problem.

In terms of infrastructure, the governor has evenly developed the state and the three senatorial districts. After the administration of Chief James Ibori, there were projects that were not completed. Unlike other governments which do not like completing projects embarked upon by previous administration, Uduaghan has completed all outstanding projects and started his own projects. Ughelli-Asaba road has been dualised, work is going on, on Eku road, we now have an international airport in Asaba, new roads are being built and the education sector is superb. In the health sector, for the first time, we are having free maternal care in Delta State. The same free education we enjoyed under the era of Ambrose Ali in the defunct Bendel State has been

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granted to pupils and secondary school students under the Uduaghan administration. At the tertiary level, Uduaghan has established more schools and adequately funding them. More polytechnics have been established, if you go to the three campuses of the Delta State University, the infrastructural development there is wonderful. Bursaries are paid as and when due and scholarships are given to brilliant students and I think Uduaghan is the first governor to give scholarship to first class graduates to study abroad.

The governor has done so well in agriculture. For the first time, Deltans are encouraged to go into fishery, more fish ponds are built, funded by government and allocated to youths so that they will have something to do.

The government micro-credit is wonderful, it is designed for youths who want to be entrepreneurs and they are encouraged to form co-operatives. We have a place in Sapele where youths are taken and trained in agriculture, skills acquisition centers are being established everywhere in all the three senatorial districts and students who could not go to higher institution and others who could not afford higher education are encouraged to go for skills acquisition and they are being trained in various trades. This is part of human capital development Uduaghan has embarked on and he is doing creditably well.

You are from Ughelli North Constituency II. Would you say the governor has impacted on the people of this constituency?

The Uduaghan administration has

for the USA, where he got married to another woman. According to her, since then, she has been living with her husband’s family hoping that he will come home, only for one of the family members to tell her that Sunday had re-married.

While weeping, she told the court to dissolve their union.

Ex-ICAN boss, Owoyemi, is Ijebu Ode Olori Ebi

Delta won’t be caught unawares — Ushere

By FESTUS AHON

known in Nollywood,” he said.

The court president, Mr Emmanuel Shokunle, ordered both parties to maintain peace and adjourned the case to Sept.19 for further hearing.

BY BASHIR ADEFAKA he Fushengbuwa Ruling House in Ijebu-Ode, during its annual T prayer event, last Sunday, declared that

favoured my constituency very well. I am from Agbarho in Constituency II. If you go to Agbarho today we have a lot of roads being constructed. The Delta State Direct Labour Agency (DLA) has re-surfaced our roads and more roads are being constructed.

We have been given about 25km of roads via NDDC, electricity supply has improved and, in terms of appointments, Ughelli North also has its fair share.

Last year, we had a challenge of unprecedented flooding in Delta and many other states across the country and we have been warned by the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NIMET) that we will experience heavier rainfall this year. We can see that the state government, as part of the steps to mitigate the flooding, has through the Ministry of Environment, started opening up the waterways and demolishing illegal structures. How would you describe this initiative?

Uduaghan is a very practical man, and, when we were faced that problem of flood, he took immediate steps to ensure that Deltans do not experience that

ugly situation in the next raining season; so, it is proper to put all necessary measures in place to prevent reoccurrence. Today the Ministry of Environment and the committee on flood are ensuring that every part of Delta State that is prone to flooding, drainages are opened and the governor is taking a very bold step to destroy structures built on natural water channel.

it knew no other Olori Ebi than the former President of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria, ICAN, Otunba Abdul-Lateef Owoyemi.

The confirmation came from one of the prominent members of the house and two-time minister, Senator Jubril Martins Kuye, who spoke to journalists in the company of others at the event.

He said the one and only Olori Ebi that the ruling house picked following the death of the past Olori Ebi, Fasasi Adebisi Adeyemi is Owoyemi.

His words: “All of us who are bonafide members of this house are doing all things possible to bring everybody together. Otunba Subomi Balogun is a bonafide member of this family. Otunba Abdul-Lateef Owoyemi, also a member of the house, is the leader, Olori Ebi, of the Fushengbuwa Ruling House who was picked immediately after the death of past Olori Ebi. If Subomi has also claimed to have emerged, I am not aware,” he said.

Fushengbuwa is a leading ruling house generally believed to have claim to the Awujale and Paramount Ruler of Ijebu-Land.

R-L: President, Jogbo Petroleum, Otunba Otunba Oladokun Yisa Ajidawe; former ICAN President, Otunba Abdul-Lateef Owoyemi (Olori Ebi) and former Minister of Commerce and Industry, Senator Jubril Martins Kuye

SUNDAY Vanguard, SEPTEMBER 15, 2013, PAGE 27

08116759757

CHURCH TO GUNMEN

OIL COMMUNITIES

‘Don’t kill this man of God!’

*Uneasy calm in Anglican Communion as archbishop’s abductors keep mum

BY JIMITOTA ONOYUME

The ARCH BISHOP, Niger Delta North Diocese of the Anglican Communion, Most Reverend Ignatius Kattey, never saw it coming.

In his wildest imagination, he never thought he could be a target of kidnappers.

After all, he is a man of God. His understanding perhaps before his abduction was that kidnappers and hoodlums would not want to have anything to do with a minister of the Lord so as not to incur the wrath of the Almighty.

His perception changed, penultimate Friday, minutes after he drove out of his Eleme, Port-Harcourt, Rivers State residence in company of his darling wife, Mrs Beatrice Kattey. Sources close to the arch bishop, who is also the Dean of the Anglican Communion in the country( next to the Primate), said he was expecting the Primate of the Church, Nicolas Oko, who was to fly into Port Harcourt the following morning, Saturday, on an Episcopal assignment. That Saturday was to be the state’s environmental sanitation exercise, and consequently restriction of movent between 7 to 10 a.m..

Apparently to be at the airport before the restriction of movement, Kattey left his home, about thirty minutes drive to the heart of Port Harcourt that Friday at about 10.30pm , with his wife. They had thought of spending the night in Port Harcourt so they could be at the airport very early to receive Primate Oko. But about 15 minutes into the trip, unknown gun men overtook their vehicle around Aleto Eleme, ordering them to a halt. It only dawned on the arch bishop and his wife that they were face to face with kidnappers when the men started dishing

Most Reverend Ignatius Kattey and wife, Beatrice out orders. “Eh, Reverend! Don’t panic, we are business men. We kidnap for ransom,” one of them may have told the bishop and his wife who must have been pleading the blood of Jesus for their rescue.

One of the gunmen reportedly took over the driver’s seat of the vehicle. It was not clear what happened but as they drove on with their victims, it reportedly struck them to free the wife of Kattey, some distance away.

At the time of this piece, the kidnappers were yet to establish contact with the family for ransom. Meanwhile, condemnations have continued to trail the abduction. On its part, the Anglican Communion said it would not pay ransom for the release of the archbishop. While condemning the kidnapping in Port Harcourt, the Councils of Clergy and the Knights of Niger Delta North

Diocese said payment of ransom would amount to encouraging the act of kidnapping which they described as a sin.

They called for Kattey’s immediate and unconditional release. Venerable Richard Opara and Sir Charles Ogundu-Chukwu appealed to President Goodlluck Jonathan, the Inspector General of Police, Mr Mohammed Abubakar, and Governor Chibuike Amaechi to step up effort at securing life and property in Rivers State adding that they should secure the release of the arch bishop “The news came to us as a shock and, as we speak, the bishop is still in the hands of the captors. We wonder the offence of the God’s servant and why Kattey would be abducted”, they said. ”We condemn it and we therefore ask for the unconditional release of the bishop. We call on the IGP, the governor of Rivers State and the President to expedite action on his unconditional release.”

The clergymen and knights were all decked in black, symbolizing that the Church was lamenting the abduction.

Rivers State Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Angela Agabe, said the police were making efforts to secure the archbishop’s release.

There have been prayers in all dioceses of the Anglican Communion across the country for Katty’s freedom.

The state government also called for the release of the hostage. Amaechi blamed the abduction on what he termed the deplorable security situation in the state which he traced to what he described as the failure of Rivers Police Commissioner, Mr. Joseph Mbu, to live up his responsibility of securing the state.

We don’t need discriminatory cut-off marks in Unity Schools — Lexington proprietor

BY EMMANUEL EDUKUGHO

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HE proprietor of Lexington Group of Schools, Mebamu, Okokomaiko, Lagos, Mr. J.O. Bass Musa, has condemned the discriminatory cut-off marks for admission into Federal Government Colleges otherwise known as Unity Schools across the country, saying government is not sincere to improve falling standard of education in Nigeria. In his speech at the Graduation ceremony of the schools, he noted that discriminatory cut-off marks for pupils coming from the north and south which had been on for so many years were political.

“Presently, the issue of cut-off points in admission into Unity Schools and the relevance of NECO were rife in the media which government had looked at on political levels and not every sincere on these issues. As a result, parents/guardians have always been deceived when seeking admission for the wards and children,” he said.

According to Musa, the most unfortunate aspect of this issue is that most parents do not know what they are really looking for when they are choosing secondary schools for their children..

“In my mind, pupils should be admitted on merit, not on politically determined quota system where by cut-off marks for pupils from Northern states are far lower while those from the Southern states are much

teachers will find it difficult to carry along very dull ones with the brilliant ones at the same time because they can never meet up.

He said the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) has not respect for catchA cross section of students of Lexington Group of Schools during ment areas when marking SSCE their graduation ceremony papers. This could more high. Efforts should be made to im- be the reason also for NECO having mass prove education standard in these disadvan- failure of students in their examination. taged (northern) states so that they can meet “It is really dangerous for the Federal up with pupils from southern advantaged Government to continue to play politics with states instead of this political approach of education in this country while efforts should discriminatory admission cut-off points.” be made to ensure that higher institutions He argued that it was because of such dis- adhere strictly to the areas whey are set up crimination without regard for merit that to cover.” The Head Boy, Master Kotey Ebensome pupils are not qualified to gain ad- ezer, on behalf of his fellow graduands mission into higher institutions which had thanks God for allowing them successfully also led to the falsification of age, results complete their secondary school education, and certificates. and the proprietor, Mr. Bass Musa for his He pointed out that teaching a class, for love, care and trust in managing the school. example, Junior Secondary School one (Ba- He also thanked the teachers and principal sic 1), where secondary school life begins, for doing their best “in impacting knowlcannot be easy, because of discrimination edge unto us and it was in Lexington that I and catchment areas whereby 60% of dull found out that teachers were our second pupils in a class of 45 students, definitely parents in life.”

Chevron, Foundation deliver on N84m projects T

HE EGBEMA/Gbaramatu Communi ties Development Foundation has commissioned a ten-bedroom guest house and two teachers’ quarters’ worth over N84 million Naira at Ogbinbiri community, Egbema Kingdom in Warri North Local Government Area of Delta State.

Speaking during the commissioning, Executive Chairman of Egbema/Gbaramatu Communities Development Foundation, Chief Michael Johnny, stated that the projects were in fulfillment of the foundation’s developmental commitment to the communities.

He said, “The two teachers’ quarters cost N19, 780,655.00 each while the ten-bedroom guest house cost N44, 471,970.71. This administration was inaugurated on the 2nd of April 2013 and has been on tour to the constituent communities for the purpose of familiarization, consultation and updating, aimed at enhancing effective and efficient performance.

“I commend my predecessors who worked diligently to embark on these projects and many others for the good of our people inspite of our limited resources. I promise to build on the good foundation that they have laid. While we look forward to the execution of new projects, we challenge you to take responsibility and ownership of all completed projects in your community. The projects built by the foundation belong to you. So take responsibility for their maintenance, functionality and sustainability to ensure maximum utility.

“Our source of funding is Chevron Nigeria Limited/NNPC Joint Venture. We owe them the obligation to providing conducive environment for their smooth business operation. I commend them for their steadfast commitment in the donation of fund to meet our developmental needs but we also appeal for increase in funding of the foundation to meet the expectations of the communities.

“The alarming rate of reported incidents of oil theft and pipeline vandalism is quiet worrisome and poses a great challenge to the current EGCDF administration led by myself. I charge everyone to join hands in the crusade against this ugly act of sabotage. Remember that development and prosperity can only thrive in a peaceful environment”.

The chairman pleaded with the federal, state, local government and interventionist agencies to collaborate with the foundation in the great task of developing the oil bearing communities that sustain the economy of the nation.

Chief Michael Johnny, Executive Chairman, EGCDF (5th from left), Mr. Philip Gbasi, CNL Rep.(2nd from left), Barr. Vincent Omorie, SSA to Governor Uduaghan on Community Affairs (3th from left), Mr. Joel Bisina, (4th from left), Mrs. Emily Diden, Vice Chairman, Warri North LGA (3rd from right) and Mr. Jude Ukori, General Secretary EGCDF during the commissioning of the projects.

PAGE 28—SUNDAY, Vanguard, SEPTEMBER 15, 2013

Nit eshif e @ 70 Niteshif eshiftt Coliseum hosts Alak Alake

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The Alake of Egba land, Oba Adedotun Gbadebo, and his Olori, flanked by the Coliseum’s Guv’nor, Ken Caleb Olumese, and wife, Tina.

remium nightclub, Niteshift Coliseum, run by Ken Caleb Olumese, revives its old tradition to celebrate the Alake of Egba land, Oba Adedotun Gbadebo, as he turned 70. The Grand House Reception (GHR), as it is called, was repackaged to honour the royal father.

Many of the Coliseum’s trustees and members were in attendance to interact and draw wisdom from the monarch’s wealth of experience. Photos by Shola Oyelese

L-R:Senator Olorunnimbe Mamora, Erelu Abiola Dosunmu and Oba Adedokun Abolarin (the Orangun of Ila)

L-R:Prince Philip Kola Abumere, Chief Segun Ajibola, Senator Bode Olajumoke and Senator Yisa Braimoh.

Aremo Segun Osoba (left) and son, Hon. Olumide Osoba.

L-R:Mrs Taiwo Adela, Rev. (Mrs) Funmi Akitoye Braimoh and Mrs Sola Bamgbola

Star Splashes Prizes @ Win and Shine par ty party STAR lager beer, manufactured by Nigerian Breweries Plc, kicked off the first of 100 Star Win and Shine parties, last weekend. The party held at De Marquee, Mega Plaza, Victoria Island, Lagos.

Below are some images from the event.

L-R:Chief M. A. Oreugba, Major Wale Kuku (Rtd) and Chief Lekan Smith

Ade A deo Adeo deoyye @ 50

Gbenga Adeyinka, compere with some of the party ravers.

T

he principal partner of Ade Adeoye th & Co,Chief Adeleye Adeoye, celebrated his 50 birthday in Lagos recently.

Party ravers.

Winners of various European club sides Jerseys flaunting their prizes.

N50, 000 winner, Wale Lasisi, celebrates.

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Gbenga Adeyinka with DVD home theatre winners.

Chief Adeleye Adeoye, being helped by his wife, Aderenle, to cut his birthday cake

SUNDAY VANGUARD, SEPTEMBER 15, 2013 —29

Sizzling style as Aminat Giw a hooks Mur tala Maik udi Lan Giwa Murtala Maikudi Lanvval FOR Aminat Motunrayo Giwa, daughter of Alhaji and Alhaja Morayo and Mosunmola Giwa, and Murtala Maikudi Lanval, son of the late Abdul-Kadir and Hajia Amina Gambo Aboki Lawal, it was love without boundaries as the couple were united as man and wife penultimate Saturday in Lagos.

Despite the difference in cultures of the groom’s folks and the bride’s people, the day was as colourful as it was harmonious. The venue was the Events Centre, Nana’s Arena, Alausa, Ikeja. Photos by Biodun Ogunleye

The couple: Mr and Mrs Murtala Maikudi Lanval, flanked by parents of the bride and groom.

The new couple: Mr and Mrs Murtala Maikudi Lanval.

L-R: Chief Ajibowu Owoade, Mr Wole Akande and Mrs Laila St. Mathew-Daniel

R-L: Dr.Wale Babalakin with Justice Ishola Olorunnimbe and wife, Idowu.

Olor ogun K enne th Okpara bags Izomo title Olorogun Kenne enneth OLOROGUN Kenneth Okpara, the Commissioner for Finance, Delta State, has bagged the chieftaincy title of Izomo of Agbon Kingdom.

Ogurime-Rime Ukori 1,Ovie of Agbon Kingdom, conferred the title on the commissioner at his palace, in Kokori. Photos by Nath Onojake.

L-R:Mrs Tanwa Olokodana, Hajia Ajoke Murtala Mohammed and Arc Nene Lanval

HRM, Ukori 1,Ovie of Agbon Kingdom, conferring the title of Izomo of Agbon on Olorogun Kenneth Okpara.

Olorogun Kenneth Okpara (left) and Chief Peter Nwaoboshi, Delta State PDP Chairman C M Y K

R-L: Dr. Joseph Otumara, Delta State Commissioner for Health, Mr.Kpogho, Chairman, DESOPADEC, Mr.Austin Ayimedijor, Project Director, Asaba Airport Project and Chief Sherrif Oborovwoire, SSA, on Security to Delta State Governor.

Olorogun Kenneth Okpara (left) with an expatriate friend

Olorogun Kenneth Okpara after the title conferment.

PAGE 30—SUNDAY Vanguard, SEPTEMBER 15, 2013

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SUNDAY VANGUARD, SEPTEMBER 15, 2013, PAGE 31

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PAGE 32—SUNDAY Vanguard, SEPTEMBER 15, 2013

Inside the $9 billion Dangote petroleum refinery stated the refined products output would be gasoline (PMS) of 7.684 million MTPA; diesel-5.30 million MTPA; jet fuel/kerosene-3.740 million MTPA ; LPG-0.213million MTPA; and slurry/fuel oil0.625million MTPA. There is no doubt that the projects is the single largest individual investment since the commencement of the democratic government in Nigeria. Said Dangote at the agreement signing in Abuja: “This is our contribution to the present government’s economic transformation agenda and it forms part of our expansion initiatives of our Group which size has, in the last five years, increased tenfold to a market capitalization of $22 billion.

BY FRANCIS AWOWOLE BROWN

A

LIKO Dangote is a business juggernaut whose middle name is entrepreneur. He is never dissuaded from entering new businesses despite the general inclement operating business environment. Given his foray into many different business terrains and the successes he has recorded thereof, it would appear he has the uncanny ability to juggle different balls at the same time and get results.

He has been declared the richest black man on the planet earth, yet his humility will surprise you. He remains unaffected by the lofty heights he has attained in business.

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e made a bold move to acquire the Kaduna refinery in 2007 along with one of his friends in response to the government’s call to help rejuvenate the ailing refinery which, by then, had become a draining pipe to the Federal Government. For one reason or the other, Dangote returned the refining plant to government. Since then, he had been on the drawing board deploying his business dexterity on the best way to enter into the critical oil and gas sector.

The global business community would have been shocked, last week, when it was announced that the business mogul was ready to build, in his home country, the biggest petroleum refinery in Africa. This is a feat thought to be unrealizable given that many who had been licensed to build refinery years ago failed to commence business citing the deregulation policy as a hindrance.

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hose in that school of thought would have then swallowed their pride when Dangote gathered a consortium of local and international banks in Abuja to sign a term loan agreement to the tune of $3 billion to execute the refining plant project, a fertilizer plant as well as petrochemical facilities. Other African financial institutions are also expected to bring some facility while the man himself is coming on board with an amount equaling the sum being put together by all the banks. The total investment is $9 billion.

This is a giant stride, the facility itself is historic as it remains the largest loan facility to any individual by

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A refinery... the kind to expect from Aliko Dangote. (Inset): Dangote.

Nigerian banks. What this says of Dangote is that the banks could vouch for his integrity and honesty of purpose when it comes to business.

And so Dangote, President/ Chief Executive of Dangote Group, made an audacious foray into a new ter ritory, petrochemical and oil and gas refinery business. Whatever myth around the petroleum refinery sub-sector of the oil and gas industry, which made other sectorial stakeholders see importation of petroleum products as making a better investment sense than going into local refining, Dangote has destroyed it while also removing the veil when he signed the N528 billion term loan with the banks to finance the project.

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y this singular act, Dangote has proven once again that he is a value creating investor in the domestic economy who will risk his money to stimulate Nigeria’s economy as opposed to other investors with undiluted appetite for importation as only business option.

Just as we experienced before now in the cement industry, where local demand then far outweigh supply, before Dangote’s intervention raised supply to meet national demand, government has consistently cited fuel importation as a major setback for the economy. Therefore, at the completion of the Dangote refiner y, national supply would be upped by 100 per cent. It would then mean that Dangote, as a patriotic Nigerian investor, has helped in closing the gap created by that national deficiency.

,

His business acumen is unparalleled. From the humble beginning, Dangote has nurtured a trading company to a pan-African conglomerate and a force to be reckoned with in the global arena using creativity, innovation, style, patience and commitment to his dream.

At the completion of the Dangote refinery, national supply would be upped by 100 per cent. It would then mean that Dangote, as a patriotic Nigerian investor, has helped in closing the gap created by that national deficiency

,

Dangote sought the commercial loan to augment his own contribution in the same region as the borrowed facility. Work commenced on the construction of these plants with the fertilizer plant being sited in Edo and the petrochemical and petrol refining plants situated at OKNLG Free Trade Zone bordering Ogun and Ondo states.

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angote revealed that the contract for the refinery and petrochemical plant has been awarded to UOP, a subsidiary of Honeywell International, a Fortune 500 company and US-based conglomerate that specializes in consumer products, engineering services and aerospace systems.

The project manager for the refinery and petrochemical plant is India Engineers Limited, an Indian government-owned company credited with the setting up of

refineries in India, while the contract for the fertilizer plant has been awarded to oil and gas contractor, Saipem, a subsidiary of Italy’s Eni, which already has a presence in Nigeria.

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iving the details of the project regarding the scope of the project and the production capacities of the various plants, Dangote indicated that the fertilizer plant is designed with a capacity to produce 2.75 million MTPA of amonia and urea; the refining plant with overall capacity 400,000 bpd and the petrochemical plant to produce poly propylene to the tune of 600, 000MTPA The refining and petrochemical plants, Dangote stated further, will be the largest in Africa and have been designed to produce Euro 5 quality standard as compared to the Euro 3 currently sold in the Nigerian market. On completion, he

angote Group today accounts for over 30% of the total market capitalization of the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE). Our massive expansion, in the last five years, has coincided with the tenure of this administration and has been due mainly to the formulation and implementation of progressive policies of this government like the cement backward integration policy that has seen Nigeria achieve selfsufficiency in cement production.

“It is on record that this administration has helped create and maintain the enabling environment that has encouraged us to invest over $6 billion in the Nigeria cement manufacturing industry in the last seven years.

“We are happy to inform you that we are not resting on our oars as we through this letter want to inform you of our recent decision to make possible what could.”

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he richest man in Africa expressed happiness that, due to the vastly improved investor-friendly environment in Nigeria, there was a tremendous response by reputable international finance organizations to participate in the loan syndication.

However, analysts are of the view that, apart from the removal of the bottleneck created by fuel importation and its attendant corruptive tendencies, the job opportunities would remain unquantifiable as direct and multiplier effect of jobs to be created would engage over 25, 000 people. Thus, poverty will be reduced and standard of living of many shored up.

Besides, the coming on stream of the projects will eliminate fuel scarcity, kerosene shortage and other problems associated with availability and affordability of petroleum products in the country. It means that the days of long queues at the filling stations for petrol and kerosene will soon be over.

SUNDAY Vanguard, SEPTEMBER 15, 2013, PAGE 33

The gains of Customs reform,

by Comptroller Mohammed

BY UDEME CLEMENT

,

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he Port Harcourt Area 11 Command, Onne Port , Nigeria Customs Service is one trade centre that most oil and gas companies cannot do without. Strategically located at Onne, the Command has become vital for trade facilitation within Nigeria and West African subregion, as Onne assumes the status of largest growing dedicated oil and gas free zone in the world. The zone is designed to act as a distribution hub for the West African sub-region for general and container shipping services. Experts described Onne as one of the largest oil and gas free zone service centres in the world. When Sunday Vanguard visited the Command, it was observed that its operations differ from other Commands at the border points in the country, because the Command handles conventional imports as well as oil and gas imports. The Command deals mostly with oil and gas multi-nationals, as about 90 per cent of National Integrated Power Projects (NIPP) equipment are brought in through Onne. The Customs Area Controller (CAC) of the Command, Comptroller Magaji Mohammed, who was former CAC Oyo-Osun Command, DC Administration in Onne and Acting Comptroller, Customs Intelligence Unit (CIU), speaks on the four years of reform embarked upon by the Comptroller General of Customs Dikko Inde, the revenue profile of his Command and how the reform will enhance economic growth and development.

Aside from Nigeria’s economy, other countries within the West African sub-region are beneficiaries of the Customs reform

,

Compt. Magaji Mohammed THE Service has experienced series of reforms in the last four years. Could you tell us how these reforms impacted on your operations within the oil and gas free zone like Onne and the economy at large?

The on-going reform in the Service has rejuvenated every aspect of Customs operations. It has impacted positively not only in our Command but in various Commands across the country.

The evidence can be seen in areas like revenue generation, anti-smuggling campaign to prevent economic sabotage and increased productivity through trade facilitation in the last four years. For example, the half year 2013 record of revenue collection in our Command shows tremendous improvement over the previous years.

Can you give us statistics of your revenue profile in 2013 in naira and kobo?

The revenue analysis from January to June this year shows that the Command realised huge revenue generation of over N37.9billion, out of which N24billion went into Federation account, while N13.8 billion went into non-federation account. Also, the Command recorded 13 seizures, which includes 13 containers, total CIF value is N62,474,870.45, total duty payable is N20, 588,794.48, total Duty Paid Value (DPV) is N89,290,965.33 and 11 number of defendants.

The highlights of the seizures include motor spare parts, plastic boxes, plastic plates, redwine, slippers, steel doors, tiles, pirated books, television cable wire, glass tables, plasma hangers, DVD players and boxes for conveyance of musical instruments.

Aside from revenue and antismuggling, how has the reform impacted in other areas of the economy?

Looking at the Service holistically you will see numerous achievements recorded through the reform initiated by the CGC in the last four years, especially trade facilitation in line with international standard. Look at Information Communication Technology (ICT) for instance.

In line with the global trend of facilitating trade, the CGC introduced the modernisation programme based on ICT, which entails migration to Single Window.

Can you explain what you mean by Single Window?

Single Window in Customs operations, provides e-services to all stakeholders involved in clearance of goods out of the sea ports, airports and land borders. It also enhances efficient cargo clearance to facilitate trade in the country.

Within ICT is the introduction of an e-trade platform known as Nigeria Integrated Customs Information System (NICIS).

Also, we have what is called the Nigeria hub, a platform where importers, exporters and other stakeholders can access relevant information from a central point for trade purposes. These are some of the outstanding achievements recorded within the last four years.

Aside from Nigeria’s economy, other countries within the West African sub-region are beneficiaries of Customs reform.

A typical example is in capacity building programmes. In order to meet the present global challenges, the CGC organised various training programmes within and outside the country, which covers all ranks in the Service. Apart from other Customs Colleges that are well equipped in the country, the Command and Staff College at Gwagwalada in Abuja , has been upgraded and approved by World Customs Organisation (WCO) to serve as a regional

training centre for West and Central Africa . This is a great achievement for Nigeria made possible through Customs reform.

Also, within the present CGC’s tenure, the Service has achieved great deal of infrastructure development in terms of adequate office accommodation, installation of computers and software, provision of operational vehicles and other work tools needed to enhance efficiency and increased productivity to stimulate economic growth and development, now and in the long-run.

Customs also acquired two fast moving ocean going vessels and a modern aircraft to curb smuggling. Due to the positive restructuring of the Service, Dikko was adjudged to be the best CGC and was given an award as the “Best African Public Servant of the year ”, by African Leadership Magazine in London. He has instilled discipline in the Service, such that, there is high sense of discipline in Customs now than what obtained years back.

What will you consider challenges in the last four years?

The major challenge for some Commands at the border points in the country are the porous borders, which makes policing the borders difficult, but we are doing our best to curtail smuggling of offensive goods into our country. A recent example is the interception of 56,750 rounds of live ammunition by Customs in Oyo/Osun Command, which attracted commendations from Nigerians and people out side the country. The cur rent Customs management has succeeded in bringing back the good image of the Service in the eyes of all Nigerians and the world generally.

FG’s mortgage refinancing initiative raises dusts

BY CHARLES KUMOLU

HEN the Federal Government, in June, W announced that it would launch

the newly established Mortgage Refinance Company, MRC, by September, there were mixed feelings across the country.

This was not unconnected with the assumption that government may come up with another policy that could be counterproductive. This was based on the fact that government was already implementing the Steven Orasanya report, which has to do with scrapping of government agencies that were either seen to be redundant or that had some semblance of duplicity.

There were also questions on the rational for MRC. However, the MRC story started with the disclosure of plans to launch the firm by the Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala.

Okonjo-Iweala, who spoke through her Special Adviser, Mr. Paul Nwabuikwu, explained that the company was established to make it easier for Nigerians to own their own houses. Mortgage

refinancing is the process of paying off an existing loan by taking a new loan with the same property as collateral.

She said that the country’s total housing deficit stood at 17 million units, adding that the World Bank had bought into the emerging refinance institution with a soft loan of $300 million under the bank’s International Development Association, IDA, concessionary lending window.

According to her, the Federal Government was also working on mass housing schemes with a rent-to-own option for workers to reduce the housing deficit in the country.

“The target of the first stage of the mass housing scheme is to increase the number of completed mortgages from the current 20,000 housing units to 200,000 units in three years.

Though this target is quite a tough one, we believe that with the leadership of the President and the commitment and hard work of the various ministries and agencies involved, it is achievable,” she said.

However, many have argued that MRC is a duplication of an already existing institution, the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria, FMBN.

The FMBN was established in 1956 to play the role of developing a robust mortgage finance system for the country.

Its mandate also include: Encouraging the emergence and promoting the growth of viable primary mortgage institutions to service the need of housing delivery in all parts of Nigeria; mobilizing both domestic and offshore funds into the housing sector; linking the capital market with the housing industry, establishing and operating a viable secondary mortgage market to support the primary mortgage market and collecting and administering the National Housing Fund in accordance with the provisions of the NHF Act. Speaking on the matter, a member of Institute of Builders, IOB, Mr. Bode Oyewole, said: ‘The idea is good but this country does not need that at the moment. The industry should be talking about how to strengthen and make existing institutions more viable rather than what we are told the government wants to do.’ ‘’Why are we multiplying institutions in Nigeria? The Federal Mortgage Bank should have been empowered to do that.

If you have an institution and you are paying billions of Naira to workers as salaries and you are creating a parallel institution, is that wise?

‘The race for 17 million houses should not start on this note, else we will end up embarking on a wild goose chase because I don’t know if MRC’s mandate will be outside what FMBN does. We know that the mortgage sector has been facing challenges, including waning public confidence, and lack of long term funding, but does the coming of RMC offer a solution?

Oyewole’s position was echoed by a lecturer in the Department of Estate Management at the University of Lagos, Professor Timothy Nubi, who stated that although mortgage financing in Nigeria is a welcome idea, MRC establishment is a duplication of an existing institution.

Nubi acknowledged that although mortgage refinancing aims at making housing affordable for Nigerians, the FMBN should have been empowered to do so. ‘’“We have said that much of our resources in this country is for recurrent expenditure paying salaries and we don’t have enough money to do capital

projects and we are still creating institutions, creating General Manager, creating layers of officers in the new company and the other company. FMBN is there, doing nothing… Let’s look at our institutions, what is the Federal Housing Authority not doing right? Let us restructure them and that was what we started in 2006,” he added.

Equally saddened by the development is the Managing Director of Adeniyi Homes, Lagos, Chief Adeniyi Iyanu.

He said: ‘’We were told that the MRC is being set up to help grow the housing sector in the Nigerian economy by bridging the funding cost of residential mortgages and promoting the availability and affordability of housing to Nigerians by increasing liquidity in the mortgage market. But that job is already being done by another agency. When you go to the UK and United States, their prosperous mortgage system was not achieved through duplication of functions. If the government does not have a rethink on this, I am sure it will be counter-productive.

PAGE 34—SUNDAY VANGUARD, SEPTEMBER 15, 2013

BRAND NIGERIA -The CENTENARY of a Brand

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ROI). His ‘lecture’ at that conversation, was as a result of one of those articles we wrote on NEXIM Bank, by which we tried to articulate the institution’s relevance as a Development Fund Institution.

Globally, nations are leveraging on available resources for global competitiveness. We did mention in one of our developmental economic articles that in today’s world, nations are rated on the basis of economic power, as against the old consideration of military strength. Hence leadership in today’s concept is based on intellectual capabilities, deep strategic planning, functional creativity and growth-driven economic planning and investment management.

Oga Georgie’s concern for was the success potentials inherent in the development economic institutions so far set up. For him, the economic development icons principal for relevance or basic manufacturing, youth empowerment & employment, growing education/literacy rate, economic diversification, financial environment liberalization, agricultural sector development, social justice, law & security and democracy. The question, therefore, was…to what extent Nigeria as a nation can compete as a brand among nations - globally and within African continent - in the arena of global

competitiveness.

So, what would we be celebrating?

Perhaps, the CONCEPT DOCUMENT FOR THE NIGERIA CENTENARY was written by a Consultant, or alternatively, a group of eggheads within the civil service system…we read through the document for insight and

,

ARRYING out a task without consequence for non-performance is the most exciting thing to do.

It is even more so, when the ‘responsibility’ is upon a very high profile personality, and has so much resources without corresponding executive responsibilities. At such instances it does not matter, whether the process of execution is either thorough or proper, so far the rules are clear: inconsequential engagement.

In the early days of my Brands Management career, the first lesson we learnt was being responsible for every action and inaction. The Carrot and Stick concept sank in in no time. From the minute an Account is assigned (to us in the Clients Service department) the only options were to either swim or sink with the task therefrom. The consequences for failure and reward for successes were clearly made manifest. To begin with, we were told there were no free launches anywhere.

So, the determination to succeed was dogged. I remember my General Manager and mentor then (Georgie Umunna) always saying “failure is a bastard, success has so many fathers”.

On the flip side is the Civil Service system that was not as challenging.

My colleagues then felt unfairly treated in those days of hard beginning, when we see how much ‘freedom’ our peers in the Civil Service at that time enjoyed: go to work when it is convenient, no mentally demanding assignments…like they enjoyed “free launches” everywhere they went.

We shall connect with the relevance of the narration above, as we continue. For now, let us appreciate our great country Nigeria, as a brand and further out appreciation of the objective(s) and rational for the Centenary celebrations.

This piece if purposed to help connect more Nigerians (than are presently aware of the great celebrations of January 14, 2014) with the CENTENARY. Sometime in May this year, my boss, Georgie Umunna, called to discuss BRAND NIGERIA with me. At that session, I was too far from his direction of thought to align with him. But I remember being challenged by his depth of professionalism as he ran through Nigeria as a business entity or a Brand. From his perspective, governance is about BRAND MANAGEMENT for which leadership or management should be as creative, strategic and accountable for reasons of profitability (what investors will consider as Returns-On-Investment -

Fela Anikulapo-Kuti’s works, in which he compared the industry and sense of purpose of our “commissioner Of DustBin Carrying” who went to London to learn how leaders there ‘carry dust bin’…when the counterpart party was busy concerning himself with scientific break-through (and atomic energy).

We did look at some aspects of the Concept Document as below: THEME: One Nigeria: Great Promise VISION: To project united, vibrant, progressive and respected nation eager to lead in world affairs MISSION: To re-inspire the unity of Nigeria OBJECTIVES: 1. Celebrate Nigeria’s history and unity 2. Celebrate our diversity, hopes and great promise that aspires our people 3. Re-enforce our hopes and express our shared values, to strengthen national consciousness and patriotism 4. Preserve our heritage, and document our history, achievements and progress 5. Institute legacy projects as a lasting reference for the Centenary 6. Promote enterprise development, wealth, job creation 7. Promote women and youth empowerment, sports and tourism 8. Promote environmental awareness 9. Promote our national image and enhance our prestige In all, our take is, while the objectives for the centenary Celebrations focus on celebration (exactly like we did

We should invest our resources in re-ordering our investment priorities, as a nation, instead of funding frivolities. We at MC&A DIGEST suggest we begin to rebuild our nation, by investing in more enduring values

awareness. We have chosen to not concern ourselves with the details, to keep with the focus of this piece. However, we think it is important to note that somewhere in the said document, prominence was given to “…Nigeria now has over 100 million active cell phone lines and the largest internet traffic in Africa…” as a narration of our success story as a nation. Na wa!

The first reaction was to ‘look-away ’ from this information, as we did many others in the document, but it reminded us of one of The Late

,

with the 1977 Festival of Arts and Culture - FESTAC ’77 the Theme, Vision, Mission and over-all focus (“The Centenary celebrations are designed around the key concepts of unity, indivisibility, virility, progress and promise of the Nigerian federation”) are lacking in strength of purpose and objective. In our professional parlance, we consider such proposals not being singleminded.

But on a more purposeful note, let us consider a probable alternative to the

operative CONCEPT DOCUMENT. Recall our startpoint, where the issues in consideration are value-based and global in impact; add to the characteristics, is the issue of global competitiveness, in juxtaposition with our contemporaries in the global committee of nations. As in Brand management, emotion gives way to rational thinking.

Every market-driven brand must be sure to deliver at established and verifiable value touch-points, to be competitive. Among nations, little consideration is given to our February 14, 1914 startdate, compared to the impact our GDP and other fundamental economic growth indicators will have on other nations, for instance. What will the depth of internet usage penetration (questionable information) mean to brands operating at Cilicon Valley, when over 60% of school-age Nigerians is illiterate? What does it matter that we came to be as a nation since 1914, if as at today we still are irrelevant in technological advancement?

What does our over 150 million population amount to when it is largely illiterate and too poor to afford basic needs?

Please what do we think our unity is worth, when the insecurity and sectorial violence dictates our daily living.

While we are not unmindful of the prevalence of all of the above-mentioned challenges across nations all over the world, we think finding solution to them should shape our political leadership.

Essentially, therefore, we should invest our resources in re-ordering our investment priorities, as a nation, instead of funding frivolities. We at MC&A DIGEST suggest we begin to rebuild our nation, by investing in more enduring values.

For instance, would we as a nation, not gain more if deploy the huge expenditure set aside for this CENTENARY thing to funding good quality education? Our Universities have been closed for such a long time, because our priorities are not right. The nation is drifting in character and failing as a brand, yet we choose to celebrate it, just to create a desired impression…!

The last word from us at MC&A DIGEST team: we need to re-order our priorities as a nation, for our economic prosperity and to be relevant at the global square.

If those who wrote the CONCEPT DOCUMENT FOR THE NIGERIA CENTENARY tr uly challenged, perhaps they would have been more purposeful and strategic in their thinking.

My contemporaries wrote better proposals, back in 1990.

SUNDAY VANGUARD, SEPTEMBER 15, 2013, PAGE 35 sameyoboka@yahoo.com

08023145567 (sms only)

Oritsejafor to Christians:

Shun heresies

By SAM EYOBOKA

"He succumbed to the pressures and soon after his business began to decline which made him to decide to go back to his old practice of generous giving to the Church. His business started picking up again and by the time he died on February 12, 1971, the number of his stores and other businesses climbed to several thousands," he stated.

Oritsejafor then emphasised the need for Christians to give for their expectations, arguing that the most profound biblical principles is the Law of Harvest, the Law of Sowing and Reaping; Seed time and harvest shall not cease, noting that "every giv-

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ATIONAL President of Christian As sociation of Nigeria, CAN, Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor last Sunday urged Christians to ignore enemies of the Church who have continued to preach heresies just because they have access to influential media.

Preaching a sermon titled; 'Power of expectation' in his church, Word of Life Bible Church, Warri, Delta State, Pastor Oritsejafor further advised Christians to study the Bible for themselves, instead of swallowing hook, line and sinker unorthodox doctrines from people whose stock in trade is to disparage genuine preachers of the gospel and rubbish the Church.

While explaining the principles that make expectation to translate to tangible miracles, he said the individual must do two things; "speak your expectation because words are powerful instruments on the surface of the earth.

"Secondly, you must give for your expectation," he noted, adding that what you give has a voice and in due time, God will respond accordingly.

Drawing inspiration from several Bible passages including the story of Cain and Abel, two brothers who gave offerings to God; one was accepted and the other was rejected, Oritsejafor admonished Christians to be weary of critics of the Church.

He said: "Why will you allow a person who knows next to nothing about the Bible teach you what the Church, they know next to nothing about, to deceive you on the basic principles of giving and harvesting.

Because these outsiders can speak eloquent English and have access to influential newspapers and magazines in every part of the country, you disrespect what God said in His word," noting that the people have continually accused pastors and preachers of extorting money from their members.

According to him, "God had respect for the offering of Abel because every offering you give has a voice as we saw in the case of Cain and Abel", adding "if you study the Bible you will discover that there are several persons who brought offering to the Church and were rewarded for every offering."

He narrated a story of the late proprietor of J.C.

*Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor Stores who was born on a farm outside of Hamilton, Caldwell County, Missouri to James Cash Penney, Sr. and Mary Frances (nĂŠe Paxton) Penney.

According to him, J.C. Penny was the seventh of 12 children, (out of which number only six lived to adulthood), children of a Baptist preacher/farmer whose strict discipline included making his son pay for his own clothing once he reached his late pre-teens. His intentions after graduation from Hamilton High School were to attend college with the hopes of becoming a lawyer; but his father's untimely death forced a change in plans, with Penney taking a job as a store clerk to help support the family.

"J.C. Penney had a story to tell and he said because of his Baptist background he was giving generous offerings and paying his tithes regularly but some persons persuaded him to stop the practice, arguing that the monies he gave to the Church could be used to establish other businesses.

ing you make will not be in vain."

According to him, the first thing Noah did when he came out of the Ark after the flood, was to build an altar and sacrifice a thousand animals on the altar despite the holocaust; and God declared that He smelt a sweet savour.

"Do you think what God described as sweet savour was the combination of the aroma oozing from the burnt animals? No! Instead, God smelt the heart of a man, that He vowed not to curse the ground again. So, what we are enjoying today is as a result of the sacrificial offering of Noah in a time of lack," he noted.

He therefore urged Christians to search from the Old to the New Testaments and find out for themselves biblical principles for propserity instead of following herectic offerings by persons who do not mean well for the Church of Jesus Christ and hence they are always looking for avenues to pitch pastors against their members.

Adeboye still in honneymoon

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FTER 46 years of mar riage, General Over seer, Redeemed Christian Church of God, RCCG, Pastor Enoch Adeboye said his honeymoon still continued.

Adeboye said this at the International Conference Centre, University of Ibadan where the 36th convention anniversary of the Sword of the Spirit Ministries led by Bishop Francis Wale Oke, as his wedding with Pastor (Mrs.) Folu Adeboye clocked 46 years on Sunday.

While congratulating members of the church, the RCCG helmsman said his relationship

with Bishop Oke dated back to the 70s when the latter was his student at the University of Lagos. He recalled how they had conviction to change the world for Jesus, noting that out of the group then, Bishop Oke was most successful.

Speaking on the theme of the convention, 'Divine Favour,' he quoted many Bible references to show how someone can qualify for the favour of God. Among the dignitaries that attended the event include, Governor Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State, Vice Chancellor, University of Ibadan, Prof. Isaac Adewole and several men of God.

CAN, others condemn kidnapping of clergymen

By SAM EYOBOKA, SAMUEL OYADONGHA and EBUN SESOU HE 17 Southern States CAN has condemned the kidnapping of the Dean Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) the Archbishop of Niger Delta Province, Archbishop Archbishop Ignatius Kattey in Port Harcourt, Rivers State last weekend.

In a statyement signed by the Gebneral Sercretary of the regional group, Rev. Joesph Ajujungwa, CAN enjoined all Christian faithful in the region and across the nation intensify their prayers for the archbishop's unconditional release.

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The statement noted that we cannot continue like this as a nation where people live in perpetual fear while evil people move about freely, adding that "we appeal to security operatives and law enforcements agents in the country to do everything possible to secure the release of the clergyman without any further delay."

According to him, the spate of kidnapping in the country has reached an alarming rate and we hope that his captors will fear God and grant His servant freedom without aany further delay.

"We are ready to mobilise Christians to the streets in pro-

test if he is not released soon.

How can the Church be suffering in the North and in the South clerics are becoming victims of kidnappers?" he asked calling on all Christians in the region to rise against this menace.

In a similar development, the head pastor of the Believers Love World, also known as Christ Embassy, Bayelsa State chapter, Pastor Joe Agbaje, has described the kidnapping of clergymen for ransom by unknown gunmen as evil and demonic manifestation.

Pastor Agbaje condemned the recent cases of kidnapping of clergy men in some parts of

Delta and Rivers states, saying though the Church has embarked on intercessory prayers for the unknown gunmen and those they have abducted, the issues of kidnapping for ransom is a spiritual problem and must be tackled with prayers from religious leaders and believers in the country.

The pastor, while unveiling a programme of events by the church to celebrate the 53rd independence anniversary of Nigeria and the 17th anniversary of the creation of Bayelsa State, said the only way to stem the ugly trend of kidnapping is to intensify prayer and win back those involved to God.

He said though the country is witnessing security and harsh economic challenges, God is working to resolve the various knotty political and social issues.

The church, according to him, has set aside over N10 million worth of educational projects in Bayelsa State with the provision of furniture for schools, markers and white boards.

Similarly, Speaker, Lagos State House of Assembly, Hon. Adeyemi Ikuforiji also condemned the kidnap of Archbishop Ignatius Kattey and his wife.

In a statement signed by his Continued on Page 36

PAGE 36—SUNDAY VANGUARD, SEPTEMBER 15, 2013

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HAT happens when the promises of men are not fulfilled? We are disappointed. We might even become bitter. What about the promises of God? They never disappoint. Even when they are not fulfilled, we are not bothered because we know that God’s promises transcend time. His word is from everlasting to everlasting. Therefore, God’s promises move us from time to eternity. If they are not fulfilled in this lifetime, it is only because they are slated for fulfilment in the life to come.

Men of faith Indeed, the non-fulfilment of God’s promise in this lifetime is a cause for great joy because it can only mean we shall inherit eternal life. To receive the promise of God is to move from death to life. Even when it is fulfilled, we can rest assured that its fulfilment cannot be limited to this lifetime because God’s word never passes away.

Jesus says: “Abraham rejoiced to see my day, and he saw it and was glad.” (John 8:56).

When did Abraham see the day of Jesus? He saw it after he had left this world. Thus, Hebrews extols those who walked with God in times past: “These men of faith I have mentioned died without ever receiving all that God had promised them; but they saw it all awaiting them on ahead and were glad, for they agreed that this earth was not their real home but that they were just strangers visiting down here.” (Hebrews

Prince of peace

LIVING ON THE PROMISES OF GOD (2) 11:13).

These men of faith were not disappointed because they discovered that the very making of the promise by God was more than enough, without the need of its fulfilment. In many respects, God’s making of a promise is even more substantial than what he promises. This is because God’s promise brings us to God. God’s promise keeps us with God. And being with God provides the fullness of joy.

It is the promise of God that lays the foundation for our continuing relationship with God. Indeed, the promise is the confirmation that there is a relationship. A gift provides no guarantee of a continuing relationship.

Once a gift is received, we no longer need the giver. But when we receive a promise, we are required to live on the promise. Jesus says we live on every word that comes from the mouth of God. (Matthew 4:4).

Therefore, if God promises us something, the promise becomes our life, even without its fulfilment. This is because God’s word is truth and his word is life.

The real McCoy Let me illustrate this further. When we want

God’s promise brings us to God. God’s promise keeps us with God. And being with God provides the fullness of joy something and approach God for it in our prayercloset, he sometimes turns the tables on us.

Instead of granting our wish, he makes us a promise; and the one thing about the promises of God is that they are always mind-blowing.

Abraham only wanted a child. But God promised him uncountable children. He told him to look at the stars and see if he could count them: “So shall your children be.” David was only concerned that he should not be overthrown as King of Israel. But God promised to preserve his throne forever. In the meantime, both Abraham and David would have to wait and watch, for the promise is for an appointed time.

But here is the rub: while we are waiting for the actualisation of God’s promise, we again receive far more than we bargained for.

This is because while we are waiting, we discover the God of the promise. He becomes our exceeding and great re-

ward. With the result that, by the fulfilment of the promise, we are no longer that excited about it. The promise then becomes essentially the bait that hooks us on to “the real McCoy;” which God himself.

Spirit of promise Jesus told the Samaritan woman at the well of Jacob that temporal gifts never bring fulfilment: “Whoever drinks of this water will thirst again, but whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst. But the water that I shall give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life.” (John 4:1314). This living water that quenches all thirst is none other than the Holy Spirit of promise.

Jesus told his disciples to wait in Jerusalem for the promise of the Father.

When they did, they did not come into houses, lands, positions or wealth. Instead, they received the Holy Spirit.

Nevertheless, they were not disappointed. So

Cleric donates kerosene to women

By GABRIEL ENOGHOLASE

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ENIN- A BENINbased cleric, Evange list Sylva Wealth Iyamu, weekend donated over 20,000 litres of kerosene to about 5,000 people including members of his church to cushion the effect of kerosene scarcity in the country.

Evangelist Iyamu, pastor-incharge of Cananland Believers Ministry, Etete Quarters,

Benin said he was motivated by the suffering of Nigerians at the filling stations waiting for the product at exorbitant prices.

“This is not the first time my ministry is lending a helping to the poor in our midst. And we have to give the people what they desire and what is scarce”, he said.

According to him, he was very impressed by the happiness expressed by the women, noting that this will further

motivate him to do more in the near future for the needy in the society.

Evangelist Iyamu disclosed that apart from the kerosene, his ministry also offered free medical treatment to people every quarter, especially those with high blood pressure, diabetes, eye problems among other ailments.

According to him, “Every three months, we offered free medicare and check up for our members and outsiders, the

Cleric cautions politicians to play by the rule

By ANAYO OKOLI

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MUAHIA- AHEAD of 2015 election and worried by the tension being generated, the General Superintendent of the Assemblies of God Nigeria, Prof. Paul Emeka, has cautioned the political elite to play by the rules of the game.

The cleric warned them against “shedding of blood” in desperate quest to get political power.

Prof. Emeka who spoke last Sunday, at Ibeku High School, Umuahia, Abia State, while preaching at a church worship service, warned politicians who “waste lives in order to get to positions of authority to brace

up for Gods’s judgment here or afterwards”.

He vehemently condemned what he called “dirty politics” being practiced by some Nigerian politicians in desperate quest for power, wondering why somebody would think of wasting a human life just to get a transient political power.

how come the Holy Spirit is not enough for us today? How come we still feel incomplete with him? How come we insist we are only complete with a job, a husband, a child or a car?

If the promise of the Holy Spirit was sufficient to motivate others, surely the reception of the Holy Spirit should be enough for us today.

Jesus says: “If even sinful persons like yourselves give children what they need, don’t you realize that your heavenly Father will do at least as much, and give the Holy Spirit to those who ask for him?”

(Luke 11:13). With the Holy Spirit comes our tutelage in the righteousness of God. With him comes a life of true whole-hearted worship.

Indeed, the Holy Spirit is our down-payment for eternal life.

When Hannah refused to eat because she did not have a child, her husband, Elkanah, asked her: “Isn’t having me better than having 10 sons?” (1 Samuel 1:8).

Is having the Holy Spirit not better than having 10 houses? Is having the Holy Spirit not better than 10,000? Is having the Holy Spirit not better than being Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria?

last was in March this year.

"Among those who benefitted were those who wanted to know their HIV status, genotype, diabetes, eye problems

The psalmist says: “I will hear what God the LORD will speak, for he will speak peace to his people and to his saints.” (Psalm 85:8).

When God makes us a promise, the first thing we receive is peace. We know immediately that heaven and earth may pass away; nevertheless, the promise will be fulfilled in our life.

Imagine this. You are watching a thriller and they have captured the central character. He is being tortured and you are anxious for him. Will he survive? Will he die?

So you ask the movie producer. He tells you not to worry; the man escapes in the end. Now you can settle down to watch the film. You can now watch it without hypertension because you not only know the Genesis of the film; you now know the end by Revelation.

In all the travails and problems of this world, it is comforting that God does not leave his sons in ignorance. He tells us the end from the beginning: “‘For I know the plans I have for you,’ says the Lord. ‘They are plans for good and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.’” (Jeremiah 29:11).

Therefore, magnify God’s promises. Live on them.

Reach out for them. It is actually best that your grasp should exceed your reach. Otherwise you might be insufficiently spiritually motivated.

“For thus says the Lord GOD, the Holy One of Israel: ‘In returning and rest you shall be saved; in quietness and confidence shall be your strength.’” (Isaiah 30: 15).

etc. We also paid for the drugs prescribed for them by the medical experts that we brought in to look after them.” he stated.

CAN, others condemn kidnap of clerics Continued from Page 35 Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Rotimi Adebayo, Ikuforiji described the scenario as barbaric and dangerous to humanity.

According to him, the news of his kidnap is sad and highly unfortunate not only for Lagos State legislators but for Nigeria at large, noting that kidnapping of anybody at all is something that "ought not to occur in any civilized society today, not to even talk of kidnapping a man of God. The act of kidnapping Archbishop Kattey and his wife, Beatrice, is indeed a sacrilege that should be condemned by all well-meaning Nigerians. Even in African parlance, such an act has always been considered as an abomination.

"The fact is that such an evil

act is capable of tarnishing the image of our country and driving investors away from Nigeria.

This in turn would increase poverty and backwardness in the land", Ikuforiji added, observing that this unfortunate incident underscore the reason the lawmakers in Lagos State are calling for State Police in our polity since it has become obvious that the Federal Government alone cannot guarantee the security and safety of all Nigerians with a centrally-controlled policing system anymore.

Notwithstanding the sacrilegious act that they have already committed, those behind the dastardly act should show some mercy and human kindness on the man of God by releasing him without any further delay, he condluded.

SUNDAY Vanguard, SEPTEMBER 15, 2013 — PAGE 37

Nigeria: Roadmap to stability, progress and Unity, by Nwabueze P

rofessor Ben Nwabu eze, the leader of the Patriots, dissects Nigeria in a keynote address at the National Summit on the Future of the country. Extracts: The paramount needs of Nigeria are clearly identified, namely stability (which is the product of peace and security), progress (which is here used in the wide sense defined in the dictionary as “growth, development, advancement or a forward course of action”); and national unity or nation-building, all three of which are products of good governance and good leadership. These needs, intractably challenging as they are, given the present circumstances of the country, are by no means unattainable, but their attainment entails and imperatively demands, among other things, National Transformation. What, then, does National Transformation itself entail and demand?

T R A N S F O R M AT I O N AGENDA INADEQUATE The Transformation Agenda of President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration is inadequate because of its limited objectives. To begin with, it focuses only on the economy. Even as limited to the economy, it does not aim at a radical change in the nature or character of the economy.

Its aim, as stated in its enabling Document, is to engender economic growth and development in a way to achieve improvement in the welfare of the citizens. It hopes to do this by a new approach in the management of the economy aimed at rectifying “the lack of continuity, consistency and commitment to agreed policies” that charaterised past approaches and constituted serious flaws in them.

The objective of enhancing economic growth and development is to be pursued by providing “a suitable environment for productive activities to flourish”, and the provision of suitable environment will be by means of “priority policies and programmes involving the diversification of the economy away from oil” by energising such other sectors as manufacturing, agriculture, solid mineral and the service sectors.

The Transformation Agenda

zProf Ben Nwabueze

The Transformation Agenda of President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration is inadequate because of its limited objectives makes the Nigerian Export – Import Bank – (NEXIM) – the principal instrumentality for its implementation. There is so much talk in the enabling Document about how NEXIM is to accomplish the goals of the Agenda.

Such being the goals and modalities of the Transformation Agenda, the question immediately prompted is as to what is transformational about it. A new approach in the management of the economy cannot, by itself alone, impart to the Agenda a transformational character. The word “transformation” means, according to the dictionary definition of it, “a change in condition, nature or character of a thing”; a “change into another substance”. A new approach in the management of the economy

may well bring about a great improvement in the economy in the form of enhanced growth and development and welfare services, but such improvement cannot in any meaningful sense be described as changing the Nigerian economy into something radically different in nature or character or “changing it into another substance”. Transformation, because of the radical nature of the change it brings about, necessarily imports a revolutionary change; it is inseparable from the notion of a revolution. It is therefore a misconception to call President Goodluck Jonathan’s Agenda a Transformation Agenda.

MORAL, ETHICAL TRANSFORMATION The Transformation Agenda is inadequate for another,

more fundamental reason. It has absolutely nothing to do with, not a word to say about, the transformation of our society from the moral decadence into which it has sunk. No Agenda, in the context of Nigeria, is worth being called a Transformation Agenda which does not aim at the moral and ethical transformation of our society. Its focus must embrace the entire society or nation, not the economy alone. What this country desperately needs is national or social transformation, not just economic transformation. I can think of nothing more disastrous for this country than an enhanced economic growth and development built or superimposed upon a morally and ethically decadent society, a society bereft of a sense of justice, probity, integrity, accountability, civic virtues and noble values.

The Vice-President, in a speech at the Obafemi Awolowo Prize for Leadership Award Ceremony on 6 March, 2013, said that Government planned, as part of the Transformation Agenda programme, to establish mega universities, each of which can take up to 200,000 students.

The establishment of such uni-

versities will be a disaster, a disastrous misplacement of priorities, when it is taken in the context of the incredible decline in educational standards in the country as attested by the phenomenon of near-illiterate university graduates, the existence of “magic schools” all-over the country whose students are guaranteed automatic success in the school certificate examination, not of course by merit; certificate racketeering; examination malpractices; etc.

NEW SOCIETY National or social transformation implies the creation of a new society. The creation of such a new society would entail change of two types – a radical transformation of the material conditions of society and what has been called an ”inner mutation”, i.e. a spiritual or mental transformation in the attitudes and behavoural patterns of the individual members of society. The “inner mutation” called for goes beyond transformation in mental attitudes, and must extend to radical change away from the present prevailing

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Nigeria: ‘Roadmap to stability, progress and Unity’ Continued from page 37 moral degeneracy or moral bankruptcy, as manifested in crimes involving fraud or dishonesty, like examination malpractices and certificate racketeering; corrupt practices in all its forms, including bribery and money laundering; sexual immorality; juvenile delinquency; etc, all of which, in the main, originated or become accentuated in the unbridled quest for money and the money culture it gave rise to.

SOCIAL REVOLUTION Undeniably, the new society to be created in the wake of such national transformation and comprising all the elements described above implies a social revolution, which must embrace a revolution in morals, that is to say, an ethical revolution.

In this country, the word “ revolution”, irrespective of the context in which it is used, conjures in the minds of people the spectre of bloody violence, but it is not, and need not necessarily be so. As with Karl Marx himself, a social revolution in his conception does not necessarily imply a civil war or violent revolt by the oppressed and exploited classes, although he does not also exclude the use of violence should it become necessary. In Nigeria as in the rest of Africa, the use of violence may turn on how and desperate the situation is, the feasibility of a common violent action in a society divided by fundamental cultural or racial differences; it may also turn on whether the violent action is spontaneous or not, and the chances of success. The moral justification of violence itself as a means of bringing about radical social change, even in the fight for liberation from an oppressive colonial regime, is not free from disputation.

While it is not proposed to enter into a discussion of the issues raised by a violent revolution, I am not unmindful of its evil consequences. A violent revolution is too much of an ill wind that lumps all together, the good and the rotten, the selfless and the corrupt looters, for indiscriminate buffeting or liquidation. A peaceful revolution led by a ruler suitably fired by a revolutionary fervour is preferable; exceptionally, however, violence may be justifiable where the situation is so hopeless and rotten as can only be cleansed by blood. For the present, unless the situation deteriorates

is presently only in an embryonic state; to enkindle in them a unifying sense of a common destiny fired by the cohesive sentiments of patriotism. In the words of Barack Obama in his book, the Audacity of Hope (2006), pages 8 and 55, a nation, such as we want Nigeria to become, is a society held together by “a common set of values and ideals” rooted in the “hearts and minds” of its members and serving to “inspire them to pride, duty and sacrifice on behalf of the country.” The National Conference would thus be a historic milestone in our search for, and march to, a common nationality, which has so far eluded us.

Undeniably, the new society to be created in the wake of such national transformation and comprising all the elements described above implies a social revolution, which must embrace a revolution in morals, that is to say, an ethical revolution to a point where the mood and reaction of the people can no longer be controlled, what I advocate for Nigeria is a peaceful, non-violent social and ethical revolution led by a person imbued with a revolutionary ardour for national transformation. And I implore Mr President, Dr Goodluck Jonathan, to lead it.

THE STEP TO REVOLUTION A necessary initial step in a social and ethical revolution is to mobilise the people, men, women and the youths, for it.

Mobilising the people to the banner of a social and ethical revolution is an ardous and challenging task, but it is one that must be taken on by the leader, as without it the revolution cannot even begin. The President, as leader of the revolution, must move round the country addressing huge crowds in an effort to sensitise the people and rally them in support of the revolution. I assure him that I and other members of The Patriotsand Project Nigeria will be by his side in any such public rallies, and will join in addressing the crowd.

NATIONAL CONFERENCE Nigeria is a wobbly state in part because it stands on a very weak foundation, which creates a necessity to trans-

President Goodluck Jonathan...’his transformation agenda questionable’

form it. The foundation of a polity or state, that is to say, its super-structure, is its constitution. A polity or state rests on a very weak foundation if the source of authority of its constitution, as the supreme law of the land, is not the people directly, acting in a constituent assembly (or a national conference) and a referendum; that is what characterises a constitution as a democratic one, otherwise called a People’s Constitution. It is true to say that, since the democratic revolution that swept across the globe from 1989, most countries of the world, certainly more than 85 per cent of them, Nigeria not included, accept and implement the democratic notion of the people as the source of authority of the constitution as the supreme law of the land.

The Nigerian Constitution 1999, following the 1979 one, does contain a definition and affirmation of aspirations, aims and objectives in its chapter 2, in particular the affirmation in section 14(1) & (2) that “the Federal Republic of Nigeria shall be a State based on the principles of democracy and social justice”, and that “the security and welfare of the people shall be the primary purpose of government.” In view of the fact that the Constitution was made, not by the

people, but by our military rulers (or in the case of the 1960 Constitution) by our colonial masters, the aspirations, aims and objectives in section 14(1) & (2) above need re-affirmation by the people at a National Conference.

A National Conference will also provide an occasion for a re-examination of the declared objectives to confirm that they are truly an authentic embodiment of the country’s aspirations and command acceptance by the generality of Nigerians.

A National Conference is necessary as a means for us, under the leadership of Mr President, to chart a new course of life for ourselves, to create, as it were, a New Society, which would be a Just Society, and would be free of the prevailing moral degeneracy of the present. The imperative necessity for a New Society, which would be a Just Society, makes it imperatively necessary that the people of this country should come together in a National Conference to deliberate on how such New Society can be brought into being.

A National Conference would provide a platform for Mr President to speak directly to the peoples of Nigeria, to enkindle in them a feeling of common nationality, which

BETWEEN NIGERIA AND AMERICA The character of the ethnic groups in Nigeria, and in the rest of Africa, as different peoples or different nationalities, is an important respect in which the society of the state in Africa differs fundamentally from that of the state in the United States of America and Europe. Whilst each of the original thirteen colonies and, even more so, each of the fifty States that make up the United States today, comprises people of different languages, races, religions and cultural backgrounds, each of the different people does not, by and large, inhabit a separate territorial area as to constitute a separate territorial entity; as is the case in Africa. The diverse ethnic groups comprised in the state in Africa, as, for example, the Hausa/Fulani, Yoruba, the Igbo, the Ijaws, the Urhobos, the Itsekiris, the Efiks, the Ibibios and other ethnic groups in Nigeria, inhabit each a separate territorial area, which constitutes them a separate territorial entity. Creating a nation out of a diversity of peoples each inhabiting a separate territorial area and constituting a separate territorial entity confronts a problem fundamentally different in nature and character from that faced by the Americans since 1787.

SELF-DELUSION Therefore any drive in this country towards building or creating a New Society, a New Nigeria, would be sheer selfdelusion if it did not recognize the character of the ethnic groups as separate nationalities or if it tried to obliterate them completely. In any drive towards the creation of a nation out of a diversity of eth-

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SUNDAY Vanguard, SEPTEMBER 15, 2013 — PAGE 39

Continued from page 38 nic groups existing as separate territorial entities, the existence of such groups should be openly and frankly recognised as a social reality that can no more be wished away or banished than we can disregard our own individuality.

The crucial point emerging from what is said above is that a National Conference is envisaged as a means to trigger the process of national transformation which inexorably involves change of a revolutionary kind. The revolutionary change implied will be a peaceful, non-violent one to be led by a person imbued with a revolutionary ardour. Mr President, Dr Goodluck Jonathan, is implored to lead it, as he has already inaugurated a Transformation Agenda. The National Conference needs to be held as speedily as possible, at all events, long before 2015, as any attempt to hold the 2015 elections without first convoking the Conference may spell disaster for the country.

CREATING A NATION Creating a nation (nationbuilding) from a large expanse of territory – in the case of Nigeria, 913,073 square kilometers (356,669 square miles) – comprising 389 different ethnic groups is among Nigeria’s intractable and daunting problems, clearly the most basic of all. It is more basic than all the others in at least two senses.

First, it lies at the root of all the other problems. The Nigerian state is built on the foundation of 389 different ethnic nationalities, which makes the edifice structurally shaky, wobbly, insecure and unstable; it can be made secure and stable only if the different ethnic nationalities are coalesced into an enduring unity – no easy task.

Second, the problem of creating a nation or nation-building is basic because it is inbuilt or inherent in the structure of the Nigerian state, unlike all the other problems which are self-inflicted, caused by ourselves; they are inflicted by ourselves on ourselves, whatever the reason for that may be. The self-inflicted problems are corruption, abuse of office, impunity in governance, bad governance, bad leadership, election rigging, insecurity of life and property caused principally by insurgency, terrorism, kidnapping, armed robbery, criminality generally, etc.

There is, I venture to say, no better, more promising way of bringing about such coalescing than through a National

Nigeria: ‘Roadmap to stability, progress and Unity’

*A constitution steeped in controversy Conference of the Ethnic Nationalities as a platform to trigger the process of National Transformation/Salvation. That is the main roadmap to unity, security and stability that I recommend.

FEDERALISM AS A CONSTITUTIONAL DEVICE When the 13 former colonies in North America, meeting in Philadelphia in 1787, adopted a federal system of government, they must have intended, as a primary purpose to be served, among other purposes, the creation of a union of their diverse peoples; they must have intended, by the adoption of a federal arrangement, to form their diverse peoples into one people or one nation. Hence they called the resultant entity the American Union, or the United(not the unified) States of America. The operative word in the name, United States of America, is “united”, the reference to “states” being simply intended to indicate that, while the arrangement is “a compact among the separate states”, its purpose was, more essentially, to form their diverse peoples into a union, into one people or one nation.

Federalism may be said to be a structural necessity for nation-building in a territorially large and culturally diverse

community. It is predicated upon the existence of a territorially large community comprising various geographically segregated groups divided by wide, fundamental differences of race, religion, lan-

of the society. With the decentralisation of powers to the regional governments and the consequent reduction in the powers exercisable centrally, the national government cannot become an instrument of total domination, so that the question of who controls it can be expected to excite less conflict and bitterness than if all powers are concentrated at the centre.

The federal Constitution of Nigeria exemplifies an approach based on the application of the principle of unityin-diversitybut carried to the misguided extent of an overconcentration of powers and financial resources at the centre but without entirely sacrificing ethnic diversity. The federal Constitution of Ethiopia represents the extreme case of the entrenchment of the ethnic nationalities as the basis and pivot of the federal arrangement i.e. diversity-inunityapproach. The Constitution of South Africa attempts to create a nation by means of affirmative provisions designed to maintain a balance between national unity and the preservation of racial/ethnic diversity. The approach may, not inappropriately, be termed unity-cum-diversity. In

The Nigerian state is built on the foundation of 389 different ethnic nationalities, which makes the edifice structurally shaky, wobbly, insecure and unstable; it can be made secure and stable only if the different ethnic nationalities are coalesced into an enduring unity – no easy task guage, culture or economics.

Its purpose is to enable each group, free from interference or control by the others, to govern itself in matters of internal concern, leaving matters of common interest to be managed centrally, and those which are of both local and national concern to be administered concurrently. By this, the differing interests and circumstances of the component groups are accommodated while at the same time securing the peace, stability and unity of the country and its survival against the forces of division and conflict inherent in the heterogeneous nature

any re-structuring of Nigeria’s federal system, the approaches in the two latter Constitutions (Ethiopia and South Africa) may provide a guide to draw from.

CORRECTING THE FLAWS The re-structuring of the federal system in the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria involves, in the main, and without giving details, (i) enabling the constituent units of the Federation to have their own separate constitutions, as under the 1960 and 1963 Constitutions; (ii) re-structuring the constituent units of the Fed-

eration into such number of geo-political Zones or Regions as may be agreed; (iii) restructuring the division of power, by radically changing the present over-concentration of powers and financial resources at the centre, including a review of the distribution of power in respect of emergency situations, power over the police force (the demand for the establishment of state police should be considered) and power with respect to the conduct of elections; (iv) giving teeth to the chapter on Fundamental Objectives and Directive Principles of State Policy; (v) revising the financial relations between the Executive and the Legislative Assembly; (vi) restricting and limiting the cost of governance by, for example, making membership of the Legislative Assemblies part-time, instead of full-time, (vii) limiting the term of office of the President to a single, non-renewable term of five or six years; (viii) rotation of the office of President among the ethnic nationalities, grouped as may be agreed; (ix) revising the Preamble to make it a source of direction and inspiration as to what we aspire to become now and in the future.

The entire Constitution may need to be completely restructured taking into account the approaches of diversity-inunity, as embodied in the Constitution of Ethiopia, and unity-cum-dive, as embodied in the Constitution of South Africa – modified of course as the circumstances of Nigeria demand.

SHADOW BOXING The on-going constitution review exercise by the National Assembly is nothing but shadow-boxing. Given that a constitution is, by its generally accepted definition, an instrument of government whose source of authority, as a supreme law, is the people, the 1999 Constitution made for us by the military by military Decree is not really a “constitution”, and we are merely pursuing shadows by the so-called constitution review exercise which is purely an exercise in selfdeceit impelled by the selfinterest of the Assembly members. The fundamental issue as to how and on what terms and conditions our diverse peoples can continue to live together in peace, stability and unity as one country remains, and will continue to stare us in the face, and to threaten our corporate To be continued

PAGE 40—SUNDAY VANGUARD, SEPTEMBER 15, 2013

By BENJAMIN NJOKU njokujamin@yahoo.com

How God helped me to find a wife in Nollywood – Ejike Asiegbu E

rstwhile President of the Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN), Ejike Asiegbu, is a consummate actor and adopted son of the late Biafran warlord, Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu .He met his loving wife, Oguchi, while on a movie set as far back as 1997, and since then, they have remained an item. Their marriage, according to the couple, has been blissful, as they cannot do without each other. They have four kids. The couple share their story with us...

How I met Her met her after I joined Nollywood. It was like a fairy tale. I have always said this, at different fora, that my wife was a gift from God. I prayed for a wife, I wanted to settle down and worked towards it because there must be a time in every man’s life when he takes a decision to be serious and focused. Some people think marriage is some monstrous institution where they feel their rights and privileges as a men would be denied . However, some school of thought argue that if you are married, it means you are responsible. Even in Europe, they have that kind of wide view that once you are married, you are a responsible man because you have a family. For me, I was ready, I was prepared and that period was a period of one of the greatest moments in my life. Also, at a stage, I was thinking of how marriage was going to look like. I have the belief as a Christian that when the time comes, a man shall leave his parents, according to the Bible, and find his life partner and both shall become one. I

I

always wondered when I was going to live up to that responsibility. The first fear for most men is money especially among the Igbo speaking people. ‘Am I really ready? Do I have a house of my own? Do I have a car?’ These are material things we always put into consideration before going into marriage. These are some of the bizarre questions for me that are sometimes necessary.

A school of thought has it that if you are ready, you are ready.

For me, at that period, I had challenged God. Most people do not know that if you actually want to get married, you have to be forward looking; you have to submit everything to God because, without God, nothing is possible. I was forward looking, I believed in God, I had challenged God that I wanted to settle down and, not just settling down, you have to end every relationships you have established with women and be focused.

You have to purge yourself of so many things you think you are not doing right. You have to be in a state of pity, cleanliness and actually desire it and God will see that you are ac-

tually looking for a life partner and. He will give you whoever your heart desires.

That was exactly what happened in my case. I thank God for the woman I married and since I married her, it has been blissful. We are blessed with four children and we are growing stronger and stronger in love everyday.

Attraction hat can attract a man to a woman? For me, it is not all about beauty. She was totally everything I had wished for. I desired to have a woman who was beautiful, and who would tolerate me for who I am; a woman who had all the attributes of a mother. You know what a mother is to everyone or to you personally. I call her mummy because she is exactly what I desired. I can tell you, I also fasted for days . I was serious about it. I challenged God to give me that kind of woman and He gave her to me. I am so proud that God gave me my soul mate.

Regrets after 17 years of marriage I have no cause to regret

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• Ejike Asiegbu and wife Oguchi whatsoever. I will marry her over and over again if I have to do so. Marriage is not a bed of roses, you have your own challenges, disagreements, knowing that both of you come from different families; you have different ideologies and how things need to be done,

I didn’t marry him because of fame or money— Wife How I met him I met my husband in PortHarcourt where we went to shoot a movie called “Pregnant Virgin”in 1997. The particular day I hit the set was the same day I met him. He directed me to where I would meet other members of the cast . In fact, that was my first ever production as an actress. However, after meeting him, I did two more productions, “Ritual” and “Very Much Office (Part 11).” We were madly in love that he wanted to marry me immediately when we met.

Proposal He didn’t propose to me immediately. After the production, I went back to school because I was a student then, at the Federal Polytechnic, Oko, Anambra State. We courted for almost one year before he proposed to me.

Love at firt sight Yes, for him, it was love at first sight. He saw me and started chatting up, but, for me, I had known him as an actor. And he was even surprised that I had heard a lot of things about him.

Fame or money?

I was in school, and wasn’t thinking about money. If I wasn’t married before now, may be I would think about money.

But I married him simply because of his human nature. He’s compassionate, loving, caring and accommodating. He’s very down to earth; someone whom is always ready to assist you in everything. That was just all I needed in marriage.

15 years after marriage The journey has not been an easy one.

But I can tell you that I enjoyed every bit of it. This is because it is all for good. He’s not doing badly at all, and I’m very proud of him.

Likes and dislikes What is it that I don’t like about marriage? You go into marriage and you have your kids and your husband. What else can you not like about marriage? It is an institution that is ordained by God, and I believe everybody would want to give it a trial. I love marriage, and I believe in it totally.

The secret of our success story The ability to understand and love each other is one major secret of the success of my own marriage. There are some couples who love themselves, yet they don’t understand themselves as well.

Understanding is important in marriage.

but, with time, you will begin to understand each other and tolerate your individual shortcomings and you are able to mend ways. One person has to give way and it is not a question of being authoritarian in the house. You have to be a good husband who must cater for your family. No matter how old you are with your spouse, you must respect her opinion more than anybody ’s . You have to approach your partner with all sense of love and humility. You must give her freedom to express herself. You don’t need to cage her, you have to understand that she is a human being as well.

Disagreement I don’t do that. We might have our disagreements.

But, for me, this is the way it works; she says this is what she wants, I say no problem.

I don’t impose my decisions on her.

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PAGE 44 — SUNDAY Vanguard, SEPTEMBER 15, 2013

DAVID HAYWARD

A British journalist, David Hayward, who visited Nigeria, captures his impressions about the country.

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ARLIER this year, I was approached to do some media consultancy in Nigeria. I’d just left the BBC after 18 years, to set up my own business, so this seemed a great opportunity. I spoke to a number of friends and former colleagues. I’d heard many stories about Nigeria, seen the reports on Boko Haram and had my own impressions of sub Saharan Africa.

The advice fell into two camps: a) Don’t go, you’ll get kidnapped or catch malaria.

Either way, you’re going to die b) Nigeria is a nightmare.

When you arrive, you’ll be swamped by hustlers trying to rip you off, steal your luggage and all your money. If they don’t get you, the corrupt police officers and officials will.

I was mainly to be based in Asaba, the capital of the Delta State, one of, if not the biggest, oil producing states is Nigeria.

In an attempt to be a bit more

thorough with my research than asking a few old mates, I contacted the office of BBC Media Action in Abuja.

The fairly pragmatic response was: “We treat the Delta State as a hostile environment. It’s an oil producing area and there is a strong risk of kidnapping.

However if you have armed security, this risk will be slightly reduced”. I took this to be reassuring and made sure an armed security clause was written into my contract. I spent some time talking to my wife Jo and children about the prospect of going to Nigeria.

Jo’s attitude was: “For God’s sake, this is exactly what you love doing. The more dangerous a place the better the stories. You’ll be able to show off and bore people senseless about roadblocks, men with guns and how brave you are”.

Buoyed by this I accepted the work and prepared for Asaba. I got my visa, all the vaccinations I could fit into my arm and made sure I had a small mountain of malaria tablets.

I really didn’t know what to expect from Nigeria. It’s easy to fall into preconceptions that Africa is all about war, famine,

This is the first airport I have been to in the world where they check that your bags belong to you by making sure your baggage labels match y o u r ticket corruption and poachers killing endangered animals.

I

caught the overnight BA fli1around the site to cater for a mass of cargo. About ten minutes drive away, just across the Niger Bridge, is the city of Onitsha. One of the busiest markets in Africa. You can buy almost anything there.

I was to travel in and out of the airport several times in the next five weeks. Each time something new was completed.

The baggage carousel, lacking when we first flew in, was fully operational the next time. So were the check-in areas and the very plush departures hall.

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he next morning was the first venture out. Yinka and I decided to go for a bit of a run.

It seemed sensible to set off early because of the heat and to avoid the risk of being kidnapped or shot at. So at 6am we were off. About a minute into the jog we approached a group of somewhat hard looking men with very big guns. They were guarding the gates to our compound. This is not a sight I’m used to on my normal runs in rural Leicestershire, in the UK. Anxious to appear as inconspicuous as possible I tried to sneak past, not drawing too much attention to myself, convinced I was about to be arrested. However quite the opposite. We were greeted with cheers of “Good morning sir, well done, how far?”.

Once I had composed myself from the shock, very nearly tripping over in a sweaty heap, we continued our circuits.

Every time we passed someone

we had the same greeting. It began to feel as though we had our own troupe of heavily armed cheerleaders. (Or should that be troop?)

This was quite an introduction to what, I began to realize, was one of the most friendly countries I have been to. This is a genuine friendliness. It is not a means to get to know you and rip you off.

The following few weeks continued to surprise me - and to make me feel very embarrassed about my initial preconceptions. I’ve been lucky enough to visit a whole range of places in the Delta State. The TV and radio stations need some work, but the staff are young, enthusiastic and very hard working. Warri, the oil centre, is a thriving hub that is only going to get bigger, with the construction of the largest business park in West Africa.

The sign at our hotel was a bit disconcerting. It asked everyone carrying guns to make sure they weren’t loaded which was nice.

The University Teaching Hospital in Oghara is as well equipped as any I have been to in the UK or the rest of Europe.

There are state of the art CT and MRI scanners, a world class renal unit and 25 paediatric intensive care beds.

The journey to the hospital gave me the first opportunity to see a proper Nigerian village.

This was far closer to what I had been expecting. The goats and

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SUNDAY Vanguard, SEPTEMBER 15, 2013, PAGE 45

Nigeria in the eyes of a Briton Continued from page 44 cattle roaming the dusty roads, the food stalls cooking chicken, fish and corn over open fires.

Dozens of bars with dodgy looking satellites, advertising the latest football matches live.

When we slowed down, or stopped the car we were surrounded by two groups. The children pointing at me were shouting Oyibo, Oyibo (white man) and teenagers trying to sell anything from palm wine to cola nuts, to the latest mobile phones.

Now I can’t be sure, but I don’t think the iphone 5 I was offered for 5000 naira (about £20) was as genuine as it could be. All of this was done with great fun and humour. If you chose to, you could buy everything you needed from your car. If you didn’t, that was fine too.

Suicidal Okada

The transport system is far from perfect but all the roads we’ve driven on are absolutely fine. The most interesting experience was seeing the suicidal Okada motorcycle taxis in full force for the first time. They have been banned in Delta State and

replaced by three-wheel kekes.

But this is certainly not the case in Onitsha. It is about a fifteenminute journey from the centre of Asaba, but it could be on another planet.

Y

ou drive over the Niger Bridge, enter the neighbouring state and a different world. One where thousands of the small machines ferry people and any goods you can think of around. We saw one driver with four passengers, two adults and two children precariously balanced in front and behind him. Oil barrels containing God knows what, weighing heavily on the clearly inadequate suspension. I was told someone had seen an Okada carrying a donkey, strapped to the driver as though he was giving it a piggy back. I don’t know if I believe this, but, from what I saw in Onitsha that day, I can’t rule it out.

The drivers are quite mad. We were there for about a minute before our car had its first near miss. We were to have many more in the next half an hour, with the rules of the road, like driving in the same direction on

The most interesting experience was seeing the suicidal Okada motorcycle taxis in full force for the first time a dual carriageway, simply ignored.

The noise is deafening. As the

Okadas rev their tiny engines, they sound like a swarm of very loud insects buzzing inside your head. You very soon begin to choke on the fumes of burning oil and petrol. It was quite a relief to cross back over the bridge into the far more serene and calm home ground of Asaba. The welcome I have had everywhere is stunning. On one occasion I interviewed a senior

state commissioner. It turned out it was his birthday. He kindly invited me to his party that evening. I didn’t really know anyone else going - so felt a little uncomfortable. No need.

When I arrived he insisted I sit with him.

He made sure my glass was never empty and my plate constantly filled. I was introduced to everyone and made to feel an honored guest.

There was a downside to this.

The comedian who anchored the programme took quite a shine to me..... “Ahhh give it up for the white man, where are you from”?

This was followed by ten minutes of him royally taking the **** out of me. I understood about one word in ten, but by the reaction of everyone else, it was obviously very amusing. So much for being inconspicuous.

Premier League But the worst was still to come.

People began standing up and paying tribute to the Commissioner. He is a very popular guy. Halfway through the speeches the comedian spotted me once again. “Does the white man want to speak”.

I stood, said a few words and wished he would see his

children’s children and his children’s children’s children. This appeared to be the toast de jour and went down very well. The evening ended with lots of photographs being taken and many new good friends.

The one thing you cannot escape in Nigeria is the love of the English Premier League. I have so far failed to meet another Leicester City fan, an obvious shame, but there are millions of diehard Manchester United, Arsenal and Chelsea supporters.

Watching the Liverpool v Man Utd game at the Asaba viewing centre, with thousands of people wearing the respective replica kits, was one hell of an experience, although my eardrums may take some time to recover. There is no doubting their passion. They may not have been to Old Trafford, The Emirates or Stamford Bridge, but the passion they exuded was clear. I’m not sure what ‘come on ref,’ or ‘what was that you idiot’ is in pidgin, but I heard it several times that day.

The viewing centre was created by the governor of Delta State, Dr Emmanuel Uduaghan.

He is an Arsenal supporter. I met him once while playing tennis. For some reason he didn’t seem very impressed by my love of Leicester City. I simply don’t understand why.

PDP is the only party with formidable structure in Delta —Prince Oharisi RINCE Eric Oharisi, is a royal prince of Ughelli Kingdom, Ughelli North local government area of Delta State, a chieftain of the ruling People’s Democratic Party, PDP, and also deputy state chairman, National Union of Road Transport Workers, NURTW, Delta State chapter. In this interview with Sunday Vanguard, he reveals his plans to contest the State House of Assembly seat come 2015 to represent Ughelli North constituency II and why Deltans should support Governor Uduaghan.

Why are you in politics?

I am in politics to contribute to the development of the state and my immediate constituency.

It will interest you to know that am presently preparing and looking for an opportunity to serve my people better and further contribute immensely to the development of my immediate constituency, and that is why am eyeing the State House of Assembly seat come 2015 to represent Ughelli North constituency II. Every human being is a politician, even in doing business there is politics, but honestly I have been a politician and activist all my life, and I think it is a career that I intend to sustain and improve on.

Ughelli North constituency II, is presently being represented in the State House by a member of opposition party, the Democratic People’s Party, DPP, so how does your party, PDP, intend to reclaim the seat come 2015?

The ruling People’s Democratic

Prince Eric Oharisi Party, PDP, has been and still remains the only strong and formidable party in Ughelli North local government area.

PDP is the only party that still has competent and functioning structures in the state and all members of the party in Ughelli North are intact, unlike other members of opposition parties who are running from party to party.

Reclaiming the seat will be very simple and easy for my party, PDP. One of the major steps to achieving it is why I am contesting for the State House of Assembly come 2015, and with me in the race, it is a boost to my party.

We have the supporters and followers, and do not forget that come 2015, we are not leaving any stone unturned, because PDP is the only party that has brought good governance and dividends of democracy to Delta State and to my immediate constituency.

Do you think your party will give you support to emerge candidate of the party?

Yes, am very sure and that is why am in the race. Honestly,

2015 is the appropriate time for my party to reciprocate for all that I have been doing, supporting the party. I know my party, PDP will give me all the needed support to emerge the party candidate for the State House of Assembly come 2015.

Could you assess the performance of the present member representing your constituency in State Assembly?

Whatever I will say now,honestly people will misinterpret it that because he is a member of opposition party.

Please we should leave that for the people of Ughelli North constituency II to judge.

,

P

BY LUCKY OJI

project has written his name in gold, and he will forever be remembered for it.

And apart from the Asaba Airport, the people of Delta State should be able to see that projects that were not in the state before 2007, are the projects we are all seeing across the state presently, so I wonder how people assesses the governor.

Former Governor James Ibori, initiated the upgrading of our schools by fencing virtually all schools in the state and today most of our schools have been renovated and fully upgraded to modern standards by Governor Uduaghan.

New roads were being

Uduaghan is among the performing governors in Nigeria. From 2007, when he assumed office as the executive governor of Delta, he has performed credibly well

He is their representative in the State House, so I think it is the people that would also assess his performance at the end of his tenure, and after that they will decide what to do.

How about Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan’s performance, with less than 20 months to complete his tenure?

Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan is among the performing governors in Nigeria. From 2007, when he assumed office as the executive governor of Delta, he has performed credibly well.

He has made record for himself. Only the Asaba Airport

,

constructed by the present administration and roads not completed by Ibori’s administration are completed .

We have the free health care, micro-credit programme, scholarship schemes, effective and affordable transportation system, provision of buses and tricycles to boost transportation across the state proudly initiated and sponsored by Governor Uduaghan’s administration and several other laudable programmes being run by the present administration, this is just to mention but a few.

Sincerely, I will tell you that

Governor Uduaghan has performed well, and we are also expecting more from him before the end of his tenure because he has promised finishing strong, and we shall continue supporting him to finish strong.

How is your relationship with the governor?

My relationship with my amiable Governor Uduaghan has been very cordial.

Remember, he is the governor and leader of the party, and as a committed and loyal member of the party it is my responsibility to maintain a cordial relationship with my leader, the governor, and all leaders and stakeholders of the party.

Governor Udaughan is someone to really work with, and him being the leader of party, I can assure you that come 2015; PDP will be the only existing party in Delta State.

Some people in the state have been criticizing Governor Uduaghan for one reason or the other, do you subscribe to such criticism?

Some of the persons or individuals criticizing Governor Uduaghan today, if you give them such position or opportunity they will fail completely. We should learn to encourage those in authority.

Though, those in authority may have their shortcomings, but the fact remains that, as Deltans we must learn to put aside ethnic sentiments, personal interests and continue to show love to one another, leave in peace and harmony irrespective of tribes and political affiliations.

The President and governors need our prayers and encouragement to succeed.

PAGE 46—SUNDAY Vanguard, SEPTEMBER 15, 2013

ENDLESS RIVERS OF CRISIS! The PDP, the police and a governor locked out!

BY JIMITOTA ONOYUME

T

H E crisis rocking the People’s Democratic Party, PDP, in Rivers State deepened as the faction loyal to Governor Chibuike Amaechi went ahead to inaugurate it’s state secretariat at No. 38, Forces Avenue, Old GRA, Port-Harcourt.

The Rivers PDP had been factionalised long before the crack in the party at the August 31 National Special Convention of the party in Abuja where six governors staged a walkout alongside aggrieved members to float what has come to be known as ‘New PDP.’ The faction is headed by Alhaji Abubakar Kawu Bareje. The factional group loyal to Amaechi adopted the n PDP led by Baraje.

In the meantime, activities at 38, Forces Avenue Street, Old GRA went on smoothly until after the flag of the factional PDP was hoisted. Barely ten minutes after they finished the exercise, security men, led by Deputy Commissioner of Police, State Criminal Investigation Department, CID, in the state, Mr Sam Okaula, stormed the venue.

The police said they had instruction to stop the programme because there is only one legitimate PDP in the state and the country. They removed the flags that had been hoisted and took over the secretariat.

Earlier, the Chief of Staff, Government House, Port Harcourt, Mr Tony Okocha, in company of the Caretaker Committee Chairman, Obio Akpor local government area, Mr Chikordi Dike, Chairman Eleme local government area, Mr Oji Oji; the Publicity Secretary of the PDP faction, Mr George Ukwoma; and several others had performed the opening ceremony of the secretariat.

Okocha, in his address, said the development would open a breathe of fresh air and consolidate internal democracy within the system.

“In strict obedience to the directive of the national leadership of the New PDP, I hereby open the office of the Rivers State chapter. As I open this new secretariat of our great party, the PDP, I hope that this will usher in fresh air and democratic renewal in our state and nation,” he said.

“The New PDP is a national response to the impunity, recklessness and dictatorial tendencies typical of the former leadership of our party. I therefore urge the party executive in the state to immediately commence the mobilization of party men and women to deliver the party from the stranglehold of tyrants.

“I commend the governors of Kano, Jigawa, Sokoto, Adamawa, Kwara, Niger, our indefatigable Governor of Rivers State and Chairman Nigeria Governors’ Forum, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, and other adherents for this uncommon display of courage. They are indeed heroes of democracy.

Goodluck Jonathan “On Abubakar Kawu-Baraje-led national leadership of the PDP we stand”.

Okocha later went to supervise the hoisting of the PDP and the nation’s flags at the premises.

They had hardly finished this aspect of the ceremony when security men came to take over the place.

Meanwhile, the Felix Obuah-led faction of the party loyal to the Minister of State for Education, Mr Nyesom Wike, has described the action of those who opened the new secretariat as criminal.

Obuah, who spoke through his media aide, Mr Jerry Needam, said the group was the authentic PDP. He accused those behind the new secretariat of plotting to destabilise the peace in the state.

T

he Rivers State Chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, says any attempt by anybody to open up a parallel secretariat in the state in the name of the new PDP other than the existing legitimate ruling Peoples Democratic Party, led by its national and state chairmen, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur and Hon Felix Obuah respectively is criminal, provocative and an affront with no other aim than to cause chaos, and breakdown of law and order in the state,” Needam said. “ Such move not only amounts to an outright disregard for the rule of law, but is also aimed at truncating the nation’s democracy ”. The Chairman further said that there “there is a subsisting Federal High Court order barring any attempt to impersonate and, or float any other political party in the name of the PDP which must not be abused.

“We are therefore calling on all to resist this arrant madness and animalism of one man desperate and power drunk”.

Meanwhile, policemen, who sealed the nPDP secretariat, barricaded the Forces Avenue road with their patrol vehicles.

Motorists were diverted to other roads in the area.

Rivers State Police Public

Chibuike Amaechi Relations officer, DSP Angela Agabe, explained to newsmen that they took the action to avert fracas by loyalists of the two factions of the PDP in the state.

The police action to block the Forces Avenue road that Thursday resulted in a drama between the security body and Amaechi.

The governor, who, on that day, had led one hundred and two former Speakers in the country on tour of some of his projects in the state, got to the barricade mounted by the police on the road at about 730p.m. but could not access the private gate into his residence at Government House.

The Forces Avenue road leads to the private gate of the Government House. All efforts by the aides of the governor to allow

Abubakar Baraje Amaechi and his entourage drive through to the gate of the Government house fell on deaf ears.

The Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Mr Dave Iyofor, said his boss waited in his car to allow his security details alert the policemen that barricaded the road that he should be allowed to drive through to his residence but they told him they had orders from above to shut down the road. “The governor was patient to allow them time to call the persons above. After waiting for several more minutes, the governor was forced to take an alternative route, the Azikiwe Road approach to get to the Government House,” he said.

The Commissioner for

Bamanga Tukur Information and Communications, Mrs Ibim Semenitari, who spoke to Sunday Vanguard on the action by the police, said it was an abuse of federalism and political authority.

Wondering why the governor of the state could be stopped from accessing his residence through the private gate of the Government House, Port Harcourt, the commissioner said the police action was strange and a violation of the tenets of popular democracy.

At press time, the secretariat of the nPDP that was opened by the Chief of Staff, Government House, Port Harcourt was still under lock and key with stern looking policemen all over.

DELTA BYE- ELECTION:

My agenda for Urhobo,

by Omo-Agege P

eople’s Democratic Party (PDP) aspirant for the Delta Central senatorial byeelection, Chief Ovie OmoAgege has pledged that he would work with others to bring to reality the establishment of a seaport and Federal Polytechnic in Urhoboland if he is elected.

Speaking at Orerokpe during a consultation visit to PDP members in Okpe local government area, OmoAgege assured that projects like Okwagbe seaport and Federal Polytechnic already in the pipeline for Urhoboland but were not executed would be brought to the notice of the Federal Government.

According to the aspirant, who was a former Commissioner for Special Duties in Delta State and

Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Okwagbe Seaport and Federal Polytechnic had for long been approved to be sited in Urhoboland but remained only on paper because there was no one to fight for its execution.

“If we had an influential senator elected on PDP platform in the Senate, those approvals would have been revisited and acted upon. If you send me to Abuja, I will access the approvals and resolve whatever problems there are. I will not only ensure that the Okwagbe Seaport and Federal Polytechnic are established, I will also push for more projects that will create jobs for our teeming youths and women,” he said.

Omo-Agege said his

Omo-Agege decision to contest for the senatorial seat, made vacant by the demise of Senator Pius Ewherido, was not conceived over night but was the result of long consultations. He lamented that in spite of their contribution to the national economy, Urhobo are at the cross roads today, with nothing to show for it in terms of appointments and visible federal presence.

SUNDAY Vanguard, SEPTEMBER 15, 2013, PAGE 47

TUKUR AT 78: The life of an embattled PDP National Chairman

BY HENRY UMORU This is the story of how the National Chairman of People’s Democratic Party, PDP, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, who operates from the Wadata Plaza, Wuse Zone 5, carry out his activities daily, with a cursory look at his actions after the August 31 Special National Convention of the party where the former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, who hails from the state with him, stormed out alongside six governors and later formed a ‘New PDP’.

A

LHAJI Bamanga Tukur, who hails from Adamawa State, Northeast, was born on September, 15, 1935. He was governor of old Gongola State between October 1983 and December 1983. He also served as Minister for Industries and Chief Executive Officer, Nigerian Ports Authority, NPA before his election as PDP National Chairman, March 24, 2012.

Tukur, Tafidan Adamawa, was also the Executive President of the African Business Roundtable and Chairman of the NEPAD Business Group.

Before the March 24, 2012 PDP National Convention where he emerged for the plum office, zoned to the North-east, there were aspirants like Professor Rufai Alkali; the former Acting National Secretary, Dr. Musa Babayo; Gambo Lawan; Ibrahim Shehu Birma; former Bauchi State governor, Adamu Muazu; among others, who came out very strongly, but were forced to step down.

Since he became the National Chairman, however, it has not been rosy for Tukur, especially with the stiff opposition he faced from the governors, some stakeholders and leaders of the party to the National Working Committee (NWC), led by him.

Amid the opposition came the report of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, which picked holes in the PDP 2012 Convention, alleging faults in the emergence of the NWC members but cleared him, the National Financial Secretary, Elder Bolaji Anani, the then National Secretary, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola, and the then National Auditor, Bode Mustapha. The INEC report forced all the NWC members except Tukur and two other members, Anani and Mustapha, to resign. Oyinlola had earlier been kicked out following a court order which sacked him.

But the opposition against Tukur was not totally unexpected. As one of the founding fathers of the PDP, his mission has been to rescue the party, to return it to the people by allowing them to be part and parcel of decision making of the party. When he became the National Chairman,Tukur had vowed to turn around the ruling party through a 12-point agenda of action which he

submitted to the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the PDP. He promised that the agenda for transforming the PDP and Nigeria would be operated religiously with stakeholders playing major roles, such that the effect of the agenda would be felt across Nigeria, Africa and the rest of the world within a 12month calendar period.

The Tafidan Adamawa, who noted that the era of party supremacy was back, however, stressed that all elected members of the PDP would be uphold the programmes and manifestoes of the party in national interest.

The agenda, according to the PDP Chairman, would rest on Triple-R, Triple-E and Triple-D and this would offer a road map in solving the nation’s problems including terrorism, energy crisis, insecurity and corruption, adding that the Triple-R agenda would start with a genuine reconciliation process for members to embrace the party and its programmes while aggrieved members would be made to have a sense of belonging. The reformation of the PDP and a process of total rebuilding based on equity and justice would also hold paramount in the overall agenda, even as he said that the programme on Triple-D agenda would center on Defence, Diplomacy and Dialogue. He added that the ground work he had made on the agenda had convinced him that the endemic challenges of insecurity and scanty foreign investments in Nigeria would soon become a thing of the past.

However, midway into the August 31 Special National Convention, Tukur got a rude shock at the convention ground as the PDP split into two with former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and six northern governors staging a walk out to later address a press conference on the formation of a ‘New PDP’ while a former acting National Chairman of the party, Alhaji Kawu Baraje, was named the National Chairman, Dr Sam Sam Jaja, the Deputy National Chairman, and Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola, the National Secretary.

Atiku and the governors were at the venue of the convention until 2.45 pm that Saturday when the names of candidates to be voted for were read and it was discovered that the name of the immediate past Deputy National Chairman, Jaja, had been removed, leaving only the former National Organising Secretary, Prince Uche Secondus, as the sole candidate for the office of Deputy National Chairman.

The governors in the ‘New PDP’ are Sule Lamido of Jigawa; Abdulfatah Ahmed of Kwara; Aliyu Babangida of Niger; Aliyu Magatakarda Wamakko of Sokoto; Musa Rabiu Kwankwaso of Kano; and Murtala Nyako of Adamawa.

Governor Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers State, under suspension

Bamanga Tukur from the PDP, immediately joined the ‘New PDP’.

Others in the ‘New PDP’ are deputy governors of Sokoto, Murktar Shagari; Abdullahi Umar Ganduje of Kano; Ahmed Musa Ibeto of Niger state; former governor of Kwara State, Senator Shaaba Lafiagi; former governor of Nasarawa state, Senator Abdullahi Adamu; Senator Magnus Abe; chairman, House Committee on

Nigerians accept our party as their own party. Our difficulties are not beyond solutions. Whatever the disagreements, they are not beyond resolutions.

“We are the managers of the party and you are our field commanders finance, Honourable Abdumumini Jibrin; Honourable Farouk Lawan, and many other members of the National Assembly, among others.

Since the split in the ‘PDP family’, there have been moves by former President Olusegun Obasanjo, former Military President Ibrahim Babangida, ex PDP National Chairmen Ahmadu Ali and Senator Barnabas Gemade, as well as other elders of the party to reconcile the warring factions.

Meanwhile, Tukur, 78, seems to be weathering the storm. He still resumes at Wadata Plaza between 10 and 11am everyday except when he is out of town like on Wednesday when he had to travel to Calabar, Cross River State. But there are also some days that he drives to Wadata plaza around 9am especially when high profile visitors come around. On such days, people know as his convoy races in from Sky Memorial Shopping complex with heavily armed policemen accompanying him and, once he drops from the car, he goes to his office on the third floor. The moment Tukur enters his office, he will ask his police men to leave while his Principal Secretary, George Korgba, briefs him.

Other aides will take their turns to brief him.

Thereafter, he attends to visitors. Members of the PDP NWC have assess to Tukur ’s office any time. Then, there are some powerful Nigerians that he must call and they include President Goodluck Jonathan, Vice President Namadi Sambo and a close friend, Professor Emeka Enejere.

He does not eat in the office.

Tukur is said to be settling down to work with his new deputy, Secondus; the National Publicity Secretary, Chief Olisa Metuh; National Woman Leader, Mrs Kema Chikwe; National Youth Leader, Abdullahi Maibasira; Deputy National Secretary, Onwe Solomon Onwe, among others.

To keep the Wadata Plaza busy, there have been solidarity visits.

Conference of PDP State Chairmen from the thirty-six states and the Federal Capital Territory, on Monday, were on hand to endorse President Goodluck Jonathan for the 2015 presidential election during one of such solidarity visits, citing his transformation

agenda as reason for that, just as they also passed a vote of confidence on Tukur.

According to the Chairmen, members of the party must remain steadfast as there was no reason to panic against the backdrop that “ the transformation programme of the PDP-led administration will surely take us to 2015 and beyond.”

Responding, Tukur, who noted that the challenges confronting the PDP were not beyond solution, said that nobody wants to invest without profit, adding, “Whatever disagreement that may show up in the party is not beyond resolution. If we bring a proposal and the majority believes that proposal should be shelved, amended or discarded, so be it”.

Thanking the state PDP Chairmen for ensuring that the principle of internal democracy was upheld in the state chapters, he urged them to always ensure consensus in their states, even as the National Chairman said that it was critical to guarantee the delivery of true democracy dividends to the people and the relevance of the party at all times.

Tukur, who maintained that the PDP was the only party that could guarantee the unity of the country, said that the party believes in freedom of expression irrespective of whatever situation it may find itself, adding, “It does not really matter, democracy to me, means that the majority will have their way but the minority will have their say.

“We believe that every member of the party has the right to express himself. Majority will have their way while the minority will have their say. We have the hope to lead our people in the comity of nations. Nigerians accept our party as their own party. Our difficulties are not beyond solutions. Whatever the disagreements, they are not beyond resolutions.

“We are the managers of the party and you are our field commanders...People like us are at our departure lounge and we must pay back to our nation. My prayer is that all of you should do better than me, your father.

Only PDP can guarantee the unity of Nigeria today, integration of Africa. I agree that I’m an analogue man and you are digital, but you must be an analogue man first before you move to digital. Nobody wants to invest without profit. You must all do better than me.”

But the mood of some visitors to the National Chairman ‘s office is sometimes aggressive. A good example is that of the delegation from Kano which stormed the Wadata Plaza on Tuesday, demanding action against Governor Kwankwaso and the sack of the State Working Commttee, SWC. The Tukur leadership is said to be disposed to granting their request as it is believed to have concluded arrangements to put in place a Caretaker Committee for the Kano PDP. At the Wadata Plaza, the staff are, in the meantime, believed to be concerned about the crisis rocking the party, especially how it will end, as well as issues of welfare and monetization.

Tukur is embattled as he celebrates his 78 th birthday, today.

PAGE 48—SUNDAY Vanguard, SEPTEMBER 15, 2013

Enugu senators, Reps on scale

BY EJIKEME UDEH

A

S the dust raised by the mid-term report of the President Goodluck Jonathan-led Federal Executive Council settles, the case for a similar report by the National Assembly has become imperative. The case is made all the more compelling by the fact that the legislative arm of government claims to being the embodiment of the sovereign will of the Nigerian people. In particular, the South-east is in dire need of periodic assessment of its representatives at the National Assembly, given the marginalization of the zone in numerical terms in both chambers.

Whereas the other five geopolitical zones of the country are each represented by at least 18 senators (with the North-west zone having 21 senators) in the upper chamber of the National Assembly; the South-east has 15. The situation is replicated in the House of Representatives where the South-east’s 43 members compare unfavourably to the South-south’s 55, Southwest’s 61, North-central’s 50, North-east’s 48, and Northwest’s 97. If the foregoing is anything to go by, then it is a fair summation that the Southeast is equal to less than half of the North-west zone, for all practical political purposes.

Although this unwholesome lopsidedness in the structure of the federation can only be fully and satisfactorily redressed through constitutional engineering, until we arrive at that juncture and, in the interim, the adverse ravages of the situation can actually be mitigated through effective representation from the South-east. From this standpoint, therefore, periodic assessment of Southeast’s representatives in the National Assembly makes sense, failing which a zone already relegated to the margins of political power runs the risk of double jeopardy.

Enugu remains the capital of the South-east, and I would elect to start this crucial assignment with the state.

Senator Ike Ekweremadu, the Deputy Senate President, who represents Enugu West at the red chamber, was the first to draw attention to this debilitating dilemma of a race literally submitting itself to the leadership of the ignorant.

Delivering the 2012 Annual Zik Lecture organized by the Anambra State chapter of the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ) at Awka on October 15, he bemoaned the intellectual quality of contemporary political leadership in the

Governor Sullivan Chime country, observing:“We now have leaders who cannot think beyond their immediate environment. “Such leaders have nothing new to offer their people”. Narrowing his discourse to the South-east, he said: “It is still a surprise to me that as educationally advanced as the South-east is, we still send to the National Assembly some people who can barely write their names!”

The latter part of the speech, coming from the Deputy Senate President, qualifies as a veritable bombshell, since

Senator Ike Ekweremadu high positions.

For Ekweremadu and Senator Ayogu Eze, Chair of the Senate Committee on Works, it may be said that, on the strength of their visibility in the Senate alone, they have laid down a marker by which their colleagues will be judged. Invariably, however, any team is as good as its entire make up and not just a part thereof. Thus, when, recently, Governor Sullivan Chime engaged the Enugu representatives in the National Assembly where he

The preponderance of benchwarmers from Enugu is, no doubt, a huge disservice to the people of the state in particular and the South-east in general he cannot but be presumed to be in possession of certain salient facts that informed his comments.

Fact is, Ekweremadu might, as well, have been referring pointedly to some elements within the larger Enugu State contingent in the National Assembly. For they are conspicuous within the ranks of representatives of south eastern origin “who can barely write their names;” or in fact spell correctly the names of the various committees of their oversight functions. Their intellectual impairment has somewhat reduced them to perpetual bench warmers who laugh away as others state the agenda of their various constituencies. This category of representatives are keen to savour the benefits associated with the offices, but are incapable of rising up to the challenges and weight of the expectations heaped on such

pronounced that the state would be sending new faces to Abuja to replace those of them who would have spent two terms or more by the 2015 general elections, the open sore of a baleful absence of even minimum representation must have weighed heavily on his mind.

From plenary to plenary, from one parliamentary year to another, the majority of the state’s representatives, including Senator Gilbert Nnaji, Honourables Ofor Chwukuegbo, Peace Nnaji, Kingsley Ebenyi, Ogbuefi Ozomgbachi, Toby Okechukwu, Pat Asadu and Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi … are mere spectactors as heated debates and contributions rage and positions are articulated and further amplified among the disparate tribes of Nigeria on burning national issues.

The preponderance of benchwarmers from Enugu is,

Senator Ayogu Eze

no doubt, a huge disservice to the people of the state in particular and the South-east in general, more so in the light of the grim picture we painted before now. It is this sense of vicarious complicity of our own so-called ‘elected representatives’ in the political marginalization of their own people that this writer finds reprehensible to say the least.

Of this category of characters who have left the politics of the state abysmally poorer than they met it, the case of Senator Gilbert Nnaji, representing Enugu East senatorial zone, is worth mentioning. By the way, this is the same Senate seat that has, at various times since the inception of the fourth republic, been occupied by Chief Jim Nwobodo, Chief Ken Nnamani and, lately Dr Chimaroke Nnamani. On scale any day, Nnaji comes away as a featherweight against any of his predecessors in office.

Having held one political position or another since 1997 to date, Nnaji stands out as one of the greatest beneficiaries of the current political dispensation in Enugu even as he fancies his run of luck to endure interminably. Crucially, at every level of office that he has found himself in the past 16 years, he has virtually been boxing above his weight, either as council chairman for three terms or as a two-term member of the House of Representatives and now as a first term senator and Chair, Senate Committee on Communications. At the House of Representatives where he succeeded the inimitable Mao Ohuabunwa as Deputy Leader of the House during his first term (2003-2007), he appears unable to keep the level of representation his predecessor gave.

As the Senate screened ministerial nominees in July 2011, he could barely manage

to exercise his mandatory chance to audibly pose a question to one of the nominees.

In politics as in everyday life, the morning surely tells the day. The laborious exercise of having to read from a script as Nnaji allegedly did to be able to ask a ministerial nominee a question over and done with, the voice of Enugu East senatorial zone has stayed muffled at best, so much so that on the highly contentious issue of Constitutional Review, the zone was alone out of 109 senatorial districts in the country that did not hold a public hearing on the proposed amendments, thereby denying the people of the zone a chance to participate in this allimportant process. Curiously, Nnaji finds it politically expedient to blame this profound act of negligence and incompetence on others, but any discerning mind knows better. That singular incident has not only returned to haunt him, it has in a concrete sense defined his adventure in the Senate, nay politics.

The palpable extent of his alienation from reality and the sound bite of his long suffering constituents is betrayed by his animated billboards that adorn the major streets of Enugu metropolis with hardly any discernible message beyond a desire to massage his ego.

Wearing a baby face, he oddly beckons a bewildered public: ‘Arise and Shine.”In what ways the people are expected to follow his bidding, the message does not say.

Understandably, these are the reflexes of a representative in denial, a senator whose imagination and horizons are not big enough for the job the times have thrust upon him.

As things stand now, the midterm report of Nnaji is in itself a mirror of the performance of most of National Assembly members from Enugu.

SUNDAY VANGUARD, SEPTEMBER 15 15, 2013, PAGE 49 chimeena@yahoo.com 08056180157

By JAPHET ALAKAM LECTURE

BY CHRIS ONUOHA

tage performance in theaters in the country for some time now have suffered a setback which gave room to the thrive of home videos and indigenous movies.

Despite the efforts of the Theater masters like Hubert Ogunde and alike, not much has been done to revamp the industry which draws formidable crowd to National Theater and other Art centers as it was then.

In a dramatic come-back to this once revered audience entertainment industry, Terra-Kulture, Victoria Island embarked on a project that will thrill and amaze the fun-loving theater goers in the country as a means to rejuvenate the theater industry in Nigeria, hence, packaged in an International Broadway style, called ‘Saro-the musical’.

The dance drama performance which will kick off in October, 2013 at the New Oriental Hotel Victoria Island, Lagos, will showcase a minimum of about 100 crew members drawn from international and local professionals comprising the directors, producers, musicians, actors/actresses, dancers and choreographers; such as Ayo Ajayi, music director, Makinde, the executive director, Gbenga and Kenneth as other directors. The media team is anchored by Jahman Anikulapo while Alhaji Teju Kareem, C.E.O of Z-mirage Multimedia as a co-partner provides the technical equipments.

In attendance at the preview were some of the personalities in cultural, theater, media and music industry.

Mr. Disu Holloway, Lagos State Commissioner for Culture and Inter-Governmental Affairs, Prof. Ahmed Yerima, former Artistic Director of national Troupe and theatre lecturer at Redeemer University, Taiwo Ajayi Lycett, a renowned theater personality, Screen star, Joke Silva, Omoba Yemisi Shyllon, art patron, TV host, Mo Abudu, journalist and impresario, Mr. Ben tomoloju, Mr. Francois Sastourne, French Consul-General in Nigeria, Mrs. Bello-Osagie, Radio star, Yaw-Yaw, Tuface and many others. he brain behind this project, Mrs. Bolanle Austen-Peters, founder of Terra-Kulture, Victoria Island in a preview speech and unveiling of the up-coming event said Saro-the musical (land of freedom) is one music dance drama in a production that is conceived to compete favourably with America’s Broadway Musicals or any other international music dance.

Austen-Peters, also reiterated that this came out challenge after seeing what the Americans did with our dear own Fela; hence, ‘Fela on Broadway’ which was brought back to us. She said having the potentials and human resources; we can do it better here, thereby creating jobs for our youths. She said “We have a history at Terra Kulture; with Theater@Terra, we have produced over 70 plays. And this was possible because we have Terra Kulture to do rehearsals.”

But she lamented on inadequate

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n pursuit of its core vision of encouraging and inspiring creativity, Nigeria’s fastest growing

• Rehearsal of the play in session L-R: Joke Silva, Bolanle Austen-Peters, founder of Terra-Kulture,Taiwo Ajayi Lycett, and Francois Sastourne, French Consul-General in Nigeria at the unveiling of Saro, the Musical in Lagos

Unveiling SARO The Musical , Broadway style fund for the project and lack of response by the corporate organization in sponsoring the show saying the project was virtually funded by herself alone but at the same time, appeal to private and corporate bodies

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Flash Fiction Category of The Etisalat Prize for Literature announced

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drama. She equally advised that corporate bodies should sponsor a great show like this.

Mrs. Bello-Osagie expresses her happiness as the casts expressed the true soul of the society by participation, publicizing and educating the

The story is an easy way of representing who Lagosians are and the free spirit they brought with them to the city with reflections on humour, emotions and love

for fund solicit.

The preview started with a short performance by the group who are in high spirit prior to the real event showcasing the drummers first in an elated intro that thrilled the audience followed by the full band and the choreographers.

In his short speech, Professor Ahmed Yerima expressed his happiness and commended Terra-Kulture for packaging such a wonderful theatrical performance that will revitalize the industry and also advised that others should emulate Mrs. Bolanle’s spirit in creating more of this.

Disu Holloway also could not conceal his excitement as the performance was to the point, timing and sequential. According to him, Lagosians are too busy to create time for leisure, but with a show like ‘Saro’ one could relax in an atmosphere of humour and fun. He commended Terra-Kulture for creating such a wonderful project and also said that Lagos State Government was doing a lot to encourage arts.

Taiwo Ajayi Lycett who bare her mind on lack of theaters in Lagos and Nigeria, also applauded the group for a great show as they brought alive the ills of the society through dance

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society through their performance.

The story line commenced with a heart touching love story where a village guitar boy ‘Laitan’ and his lover ‘Rume’ expressed their love for each other followed by other members of the cast, “four young men who out of frustration embarked on a journey in search of their destiny in a land of freedom and opportunities”.

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he story is an easy way of repre senting who Lagosians are and also talking about the free spirit they brought with them to the city with reflections on humuor, emotions, love, anger, pains, success and failure that depict the everyday scene you find in Lagos; hence the beach, the police, the motor packs etc. It is a unique play communicated through the words, music, movement and technical aspects of entertainment as an integrated whole.

“Here we try to appeal to the audience the sense of aesthetics, sights and sound as it is obtainable in international performance”. In the music, “we try to celebrate the old and the new, ranging from Highlife to Hip-pop, Afro-pop, Jazz and fusion of all kinds of music creating different scenes that have the different forms of sound.

and most innovative telecommunications company, Etisalat Nigeria has announced the launch of its Flash Fiction Category in the ongoing Etisalat Prize for Literature.

The flash fiction category is designed to celebrate the short form of storytelling. Three prizes will be awarded to the top three writers in this category launched last week.

The winning author gets a cash sum of £1,000, a Samsung Galaxy Note, with his or her published e-book promoted online and via digital media platforms. The category will also produce two runners up, with each receiving a cash sum of £500 and Samsung Galaxy Note for their literary efforts.

Announcing this in Lagos, Director of Brands & Communication at Etisalat Nigeria, Enitan Denloye explained that the flash fiction represents the short form of storytelling which is common in the world of 140 characters. “Short stories are where a lot of writers discover and perfect their talent.

Coupled with the prevalence of digital media platforms and social media, we felt the need to include this category”, he said.

Denloye explained that the choice of using new media for entry, public evaluation and voting was influenced by consumers’ preference.

“In today’s fast paced world, communication is right at our finger tips through smart devices - phones, tablets and the likes; and people prefer to consume information onthe-go in smaller bites. The Flash fiction category seeks to marry these two concepts, thus offering extra value to mobile device users across Africa whilst promoting upcoming writers.”

Interested writers are encouraged to submit their flash fiction entries of not more than 300 words to the organiser as entries will close on September 31, 2013.

Inauguration of new exco

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ONOURARY members of the 3 Battalion of the Nigerian Army Officers' Mess, Effurun Barracks, Delta State have pledged to consolidate on prevailing peaceful coexistence between the army and the civilian community in the area.

Chairman of the newly inaugurated Executive Committee at the mess, David Agadagidi, pledged this shortly after being sworn in with other co-executives.

Other officers in the committee include Innocent !moke, Secretary General, Franklin Okurame, Financial Secretary, Williams John, Public Relations Officer, Eddy Okpu, Welfare Officer, Moses Egoma, Provost and Vincent Ifeakpor, Treasurer.

PAGE 50—SUNDAY VANGUARD, SEPTEMBER 15, 2013

Governance and responsibility in Universities

BY JUDE ONYEKWERE VIEWPOINT IN BRIEF Effects of the Government, ASUU logjam on our educational system

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HE non-compromising stance of the Academic Staff Union of Uni versities (ASUU) on the attempts being made to resolve the impasse between the Union and the Federal Government has become a source of worry as some stakeholders in the education sector fear that it may turn out counterproductive. The union had rejected Government offer of N130 billion, part-fulfilment of its demands, as inadequate and has since ignored all entreaties to resume classes. The amount included N100 billion immediate intervention fund for infrastructure development and N30 billion out of the N87 billion demanded by the union for payment of earned allowances of lecturers.

It is note worthy that union officials had repeatedly stated that the impasse is not about financial benefit for its members but the commitment to transform public universities. However, their refusal to be persuaded by government explanations that the huge sum of money they are demanding to revamp the sector cannot be provided at once because of limited resources has not helped matters. Therefore, it is important that both parties demonstrate some form of flexibility because what is needed to resolve the impasse at this stage is for them to reach a reasonable compromise, especially on the level of funding that is sustainable and how such will be judiciously applied to the critical areas of need within a specified time frame in the spirit of the 2009 Agreement.

Indeed, the union’s concern for the future of education in the country is not in doubt. It has done a lot, over the years, to

call attention to this through its numerous industrial actions. It has remained focused on the issue, especially since 2001 when the negotiations that culminated in the 2009 Agreement started. Its efforts since 2009 to get the provisions of the Agreement fully implemented are also commendable and seen to be in the national interest. Nevertheless, there are

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What is in dire need in ASUU/Government relations now is trust.

And it is not a bad idea to trust the Jonathan administration in spite of previous experience with past administrations

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times when people have to come to terms with the reality when certain ideals seem difficult to achieve as originally conceived. At such a time, good reason calls for a review of strategy in view of the circumstances without compromising the original vision.

From all indications, it would appear that the Federal Government and ASUU have found themselves at such crossroads in the present circumstance. But if both of them are willing, they are in a position to re-strategise the way forward without the risk of losing the original vision of the 2009 Agreement. This responsibility appears to fall heavily on the shoulders of ASUU. It is the union that can steer the nation out of the logjam because its mem-

bers are the major players in the university system and they understand the workings of the system better than anybody else.

Governments come and go but lecturers remain in the system because that is their major constituency.

ASUU is in a position to save the situation through a reasonable compromise.

Its members have a direct bearing on the governance of the universities and they know what they could do. Its members occupy the post of Vice-Chancellor and most of the other principal offices in the universities. They also form the bulk of the membership of the Governing Councils of Universities. They dominate the various committees of the Governing Councils charged with overseeing various areas of operations in the institutions. Governing Councils have only five external members, including the Pro-Chancellor.

Thus, the administration of the institutions is in their hands. It is also significant that they hold very strong opinion on the administration of their institutions and whenever their opinion was ignored, they had always resisted such moves stoutly, sometimes to the point of shutting down operations.

Apart from its aforementioned administrative role, ASUU has complete autonomy in academic matters in the institutions. Its members are the Deans and Provosts of Faculties/ Schools/ Colleges as well as the Heads of Departments and also the Directors of Centres/ Institutes of the universities. They decide the content and quality of academic programmes. In short, ASUU members control the administrative and academic operations of the universities with assistance from the Registry and Bursary. In view of this, it is within the competence of ASUU to research, plan and re-plan, strategise and re-strategise the best way of transforming the university system in the country. That is what it did to bring about the 2009 Agreement.

And it can review the pact if it is persuaded that this is necessary.

The problem is simply that ASUU is not convinced that government is sincere with

its claims of inadequate resources to meet the union’s demands. Some of its officials have cited the huge sum that government spent to bail out the failed banks as proof that government has the resources. But they have not imagined the catastrophe the failure of the banking system would have brought upon the entire economy and the destructive ripple effects it would have had on all other sectors if the government had not intervened promptly.

The starting point of a solution to the gridlock in the current ASUU/Federal Government face-off is for the union to realize that government really does not have enough funds to meet its demands at once. Surely, it will do the union and the nation no harm, with the experience of its members in university governance, to review the situation in the light of current realities and see how the available funds can best be utilized progressively to achieve the desired objective over a period of time. The N1.5 trillion said to be required by public institutions for infrastructure development is almost the entire capital budget of the Federal Government this year with competing demands from other critical sectors such as aviation, health, power, roads, rail and marine transport, among others. Somehow government is financially handicapped.

What is in dire need in ASUU/Government relations now is trust. And it is not a bad idea to trust the Jonathan administration in spite of previous experience with past administrations. The President is from the academic constituency and he means well but for the financial constraints of government. It is also important for ASUU to know that inadequate funding remains a challenge to all sectors. This is a fact that cannot be wished away. Therefore ASUU’s ability to develop strategies to use limited resources to achieve meaningful development, in spite of all odds, will make the difference. This is the challenge to the union.

Jude Onyekwere Email: judiliciousman@yahoo.com

Ibrahim Geidam: A governor with a difference

BY BALA AJIYA VIEWPOINT IN BRIEF

Giant strides of the governor iaimed at improving the lots of the down trodden N Nigeria, the bane of develop ment is insensitive and in expe rienced leadership. This has plagued the system for the greater part of the country’s 50 years of existence.

Indeed, the case is worst in the federating units of the nation called states, where no visible strategy is deliberately designed to elevate the people from the dungeon of poverty and under development.

In the midst of this socio-political guagmire one man stands out in his effort to lay a new foundation for development in his state. This is seen in the visible leadership of Governor Ibrahim Gaidam of Yobe State. The executive Governor since assumption of office, has seen leadership as one privilege to serve through infrastructural transformation, human capacity development and empowerment of the entire citizenry of the state. He has not just done these things because he needed to do them as a leader, but because as a man in covenant with his people, the Governor had to put sus-

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tainable and enduring structures for posterity to judge. He has created transitional procedure for the future generation via his quality infrastructure in the educational sector.

Though, his state struggles under lean resources to carry out his entire dream, he has attempted to reduce the effect of this financial inadequacy by the quality of project and programmes on ground. They indeed, speak volume for his administration to have surpassed the previous. It's therefore apt to commend his sense of vision while also urging him to remain focused despite unnecessary distractions and the precarious security situation in the whole northern Nigeria which cannot be ignored, but much as they exist, they will serve as performance gauge for the ebullient governor of Yobe State.

It is the end product of his administration that would always convince even the opposition that, yes, they have never had it better. It will also be a lesson in leadership for everyone, that to serve is more rewarding than to rule. When Ibrahim Gaidam became the Governor after the demised of the late Governor Senator Mamman B. Ali, he quickly swung into action by completing all the existing projects initiated by his predecessor to the astonishment of the people and when he won a landslide victory at the 2011 gubernatorial polls stepping into of-

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It is the end product of his administration that would always convince even the opposition that, yes, they have never had it better

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fice with a swagger stick, the clime abruptly turns into a moment of contentment as a sense of maturity and sincerity of purpose that will change the state’s political temperament was evident.

For Ibrahim Gaidam, an experience retired civil servant that served its country and state for over 30 years before he retired as a permanent secretary, he had wanted becoming a senator, as he contested the ANPP primaries for the Yobe east senatorial district seat during a bye election which

followed the death of senator Usman Adamu Usman who died while in the senate. Gaidam gallantly fought and lost in primaries. Gaidam is reputed for progressive ideas aimed at improving the lots of the down trodden masses. And, that Gaidam has become the Governor of Yobe State, the people, whose expectation had diminished into despair, glowingly regained breath as their hope rekindled unimaginably.

Governor Gaidam has touched all facets of human endeavour in the state.

His development initiative is astonishing under 3 years, the Governor has indeed turned the state to a new world.

Over 1000 housing units have been completed with roads constructed across the 27 local government areas, while thousands of boreholes have been drilled across the state.

In line with the global efforts at developing alternative energy to meet the energy needs of the people, solar energy lights were been installed at all housing estates and on the streets in Damaturu, the state capital.

Gaidam was able to do all these within a short time despite the security challenge in the state. His generosity is second to none, as accessibility to the Governor is simple and he assists his people in solving their personal problems.

SUNDAY VANGUARD, SEPTEMBER 15, 2013, PAGE 51

VIEWPOINT

Deportation: Rape of Constitution

BY NNOLIM NNAJI

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VERYTHING can be said to have been said over the deportation of Igbo from Lagos but the lines towed in the debate just beg the question. In some contributions, it looked as if people were afraid of speaking the truth. In others, it appeared there was a conspiracy of silence or people were being economical with the truth.

Some spoke as if bulldozers had been positioned in front of their houses threatening to pull them down should they speak against injustice.

The horror in this saga is the acknowledgement that it borders on one of the most salient fundamentals of our Constitution, a document without which there can be utter chaos in our lives, as a people and as a nation. The Constitution guarantees every Nigerian the inalienable right to reside in any part of the country of his choice and the freedom of passage through any part of Ni-

geria.

I appreciate the efforts of Lagos State government to clean and beautify Lagos.

However, no exigency to attain that beautification can justify trampling upon the Constitution. Would the move make Lagos more beautiful than Beverly Hills in California or Potomac in Washington where no homeless or mentally impaired people were picked from the streets and dumped in other states, in creating them.

Governor Babatunde Fashola derives his power from the Constitution. Where did he get the powers to seize Nigerians and detain them for months; and later put them in an open trailer, driving through the cold hours of the night, and later dumping them by 3am at Onitsha bridge head?

I am disappointed with the Nigerian legal community.

Fashola is not a layman. He is educated and a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, SAN, before being elected governor.

For a man of such legal pedigree to broadly rape the Constitution with no remorse and yet continue to grandstand with no single member of the

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VIEWPOINT IN BRIEF Lingering questions over the deportation of the destitute from Lagos to Anambra

People should not be bamboozled to think that Lagos just fell from the sky, no!

Lagos and its economic fundamental structures were a creation from the sweat of the entire Nigeria

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legal community condemning his action leaves a bad taste in the mouth. Fashola has defiled the SAN title and should lose it, at the least.

The governor has been crying politics in his defence, but if he cared about rehabilitation, what stops him from creating a centre, just like Buba Marwa did at Ebute Metta during his tenure as military administrator of Lagos? Corporate organisations and wellmeaning Nigerians would have supported the project with materials and funds. Why did he not take the “destitute” to Government House in Awka?

I would like to see a Lagos

more beautiful than Monte Carlo; a place where thousands of old rustic building roofs beneath my airplane would change and all look like the approach path to Sugar Land Municipal Airport in Texas; when driving on Eko Bridge to Apongbon, right from National Art Theatre, when I look left and right, the two sides would look like Queens Garden Avenue in Montevideo.

People should not be bamboozled to think that Lagos just fell from the sky, no! Lagos and its economic fundamental structures were a creation from the sweat of the entire Nigeria. The gigantic structures without which there is no Lagos; Eko Bridge, Second Mainland Bridge; Third Mainland Bridge; the international airport; the sea ports; all the major roads, that give Lagos its fundamental strength were constructed with Nigerian oil revenue and by the Federal Government, not Lagos State Government.

Even the fat tax revenue the state is arrogantly boastful of is supported by the oil economy. All those companies paying those taxes operate in the nation’s oil economy. If not,

tell me what anybody is producing in Lagos that makes a hotel room costs over $500 a night while the same class of room costs less than $200 in Accra, Ghana? If oil dries up, Lagos dries.

It beats my imagination when we Nigerians go to the United Kingdom or the US and give birth to our children and the action automatically gives the children the countries’ citizenship, while in our nation, a child whose parents are Nigerians, who was conceived and born in Lagos is rudely reminded that they are not Lagosians.

The wave of the hand with which Lagos State government has been attempting to dispel the insult meted out to those concerned is adding insult to injury.

It explains why after appearing over 20 times on television programmes, the tension cannot be doused. The rape of our Constitution would ensure peace eludes them so long as they continue to cover the truth.

*Nnaji is South East Representative in the Federal Road Maintenance Agency, FERMA

Gbangba Dekun as Aregbesola gives account of stewardship he would not be saying the truth if he told the people that a state university would be established in Iwo. According to him, the state already has too much on its hand.

“What should be of priority to us is the upgrade of primary and secondary schools”.

On road construction, he said priority is on Iwo-Ede road. He added that KutaEde road would also come next.

The Deputy Governor, Mrs Grace Titi Laoye-Tomori, also speaking at the occasion, highlighted the efforts of government to make life more abundant for the people.

According to her, the government decided to reorganize the education sector because the sector was in shambles.

“When we came in, education was in total disarray. So we decided to build mega schools to provide a more comfortable and conducive environment for learning”.

Laoye-Tomori also spoke on the efforts of the government to provide qualitative education for the over 68,000 pupils in schools in the constituency, including the review of the grossly inadequate grants to between N400 – N550 per child in Junior and Senior Secondary Schools respectively.

commissioning due to some political intrigues.

He noted that after what could be said to be approval to the station by the Nigerian Broadcasting Commission (NBC) to commence operation, the commission turn around to say that the approval was only given to commission and hold on until

Rauf Aregbesola Commenting on the feeding programme for students in Osun schools, the deputy governor saiid about 31,308 pupils are catered for under this scheme.

According to her, about N102 million has been spent to procure uniforms for the 68,000 pupils in the constituency.

Other government officials who rendered account of their stewardship included Sunday Akere , Commissioner for Information, and Strategy, and the Special Adviser on Community Development, Kunle Ige. According to Akere, Odidere FM , a new radio station, was unable to transmit after a few day of its

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OVERNOR Rauf Aregbesola of the State of Osun took the people on an innovative governance style when he introduced a fourth nightly feedback system with a town hall meeting tagged “Gbangba Dekun”.

The meeting, held inside the Iwo town hall, was witnessed by dignitaries.

The purpose was to report back to the people, and get a feedback on the activities of government.

According to Aregbesola, his government had concluded plans to create more local government council areas before the end of the year, and conduct the local government elections before the governorship election in 2014.

He said, “What I can tell you for now is that before the end of this year, additional local governments will spring up in Osun.”

According to him, the result of the processes leading to the government’s resolve to create more council areas would soon be made public.

The governor added that a bill would be sent to the state House of Assembly for the creation of the new council areas next month.

Reacting to a demand for the establishment of a state university in the Iwo federal constituency, Aregbesola said

When we came in, education was in total disarray. So we decided to build mega schools to provide a more comfortable and conducive environment for learning”

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inspection was carried out.

The commissioner added that the inspection has since been carried out and the station ready to come on air.

On the poor transmission of the Reality Radiovision Service in Iwo, Akere said the previous administration procured a mast that came in 13 containers, but only 10 were cleared.

He said, “All efforts to get

the remaining three containers by the present administration proved abortive, as we were told that they had been auctioned”.

The commissioner informed the gathering that the governor had approved N68 million for the procurement of another three containers of the mast.

At Ila, Ifedayo, Boluwaduro Federal Constituency Aregbesola’s administration received commendations for its numerous achievements even as traditional rulers, including the Orangun Ile-Ila, Oba Abdu Wahaab Oyedotun; Orangun Oke-Ila, and other traditional rulers as well as leading politicians in the constituency hailed the governor for a job ‘well-done’.

Responding, Aregbesola reiterated his commitment to meeting some of the demands put forward by the people, especially in the area of road construction, promising to finish the link road between the constituency and Ekiti.

He also promised to settle the crisis brewing over the Okemesi and Edemosi boundary. *Afolabi works in the All Progressive Congress (APC) Directorate of Publicity, Research and Strategy, State of Osun

PAGE 52 — SUNDAY VANGUARD, SEPTEMBER 15, 2013

To be invited to play for your country is a dream come true – Giresse

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IMINUTIVE he may have been, but as a player Alain Giresse towered at the heart of the France side in the 1970s and 1980s, writing his name into legend as one of his country’s finest ever midfielders. Standing just 1.63m tall next to his great accomplice Michel Platini, he was one of the main architects of France’s first ever international title at UEFA EURO 1984 and their historic run to the semi-finals at the 1982 FIFA World Cup Spain™.

Forever remembered for his place in the Carré magique (Magic square) together with fellow French titans Platini, Luis Fernandez and Jean Tigana, Giresse also carved out a successful career in the club game, most notably picking up a pair of league titles during a long and distinguished spell with Bordeaux.

Born in Langoiran, around 25km to the south east of Bordeaux, Giresse earned himself a place in the Girondins’ youth ranks while training to become a carpenter. It was at Bordeaux that he then made his top-flight debut against Nimes on 12 October 1970, playing his part in a 1-1 draw not long after his 18th birthday. The pocket-sized schemer was soon turning heads with his talent, but his days of glory still lay over the horizon, with Bordeaux struggling to impose themselves on the French domestic scene.

At the time, Saint-Etienne, Nantes and Marseille tended to divvy up the trophies on offer, while Bordeaux had to focus on avoiding relegation, hardly an ideal situation for a

young player looking to blossom. Despite the testing context, however, Giresse was able to establish himself as a leader in midfield, taking on board the creative duties thanks to his exquisite technique and incredible vision.

A dream realised Those same attributes soon brought him the captain’s armband, and although Bordeaux continued to tread water, Giresse was handed his maiden France cap in Poland on 7 September 1974. “That first match against Poland is still a memory loaded with emotion,” he said. “To be picked at international level was the culmination of a dream and my first cap was rounded off by a 2-0 away win. We were part of a generation of players that I’d say came out of nowhere because youth academies didn’t exist yet.”

Although his introduction to the international game went smoothly, Giresse had to wait another three years before he was called up again, being brought back into the fold by Michel Hidalgo for a 4-0 success in Switzerland and a tour of South America that produced a goalless stalemate with Argentina and a 2-2 draw with Brazil at the Maracana.

Nevertheless, when it came to picking a squad for the 1978 FIFA World Cup, Giresse was left by the wayside, a snub he has yet to forget: “In the 1970s,

•Giresse people didn’t take much notice of me, even though I had a few great seasons.”

All that was about to change, and the catalyst came when Claude Bez took over as President of Bordeaux and set about transforming the side into the leading power in French football. With Aime Jacquet on the bench and Giresse pulling the strings in a side boasting the skills of Marius Tresor, Bernard Lacombe and Jean Tigana, Bordeaux would soon go on to stand out as the predominant force in France’s top division. And the better the club fared, the more their players began to assert their reputations, with Giresse emerging from a spell in the shadows to suddenly become a key figure in the France line-up.

Federation Cup: Enyimba coach banks on history A

S a player, Enyimba of Aba coach, Salisu Yusuf won the Federation Cup twice and he is banking on that experience to have one over Warri Wolves in today’s final at the Teslim Balogun Stadium.

Enyimba are up against a desperate Warri Wolves and according to Yusuf experience will be the deciding factor in the game.

And Salisu Yusuf, who was an assistant coach when Lobi Stars won the trophy in 2003, says he is familiar with the final of the Federation Cup as a player and as a coach, and hopes history repeats itself on today.

“I’m very hopeful Enyimba will win because I have the experience.

As a player, I was in three FA (now Federation) Cup finals, I won two

and lost one, so I’m very optimistic we’ll carry the day on Sunday. It will be very tough though I played for Ranchers Bees in 1987 where we lost the final against Abiola Babes. I won it with El- Kanemi in 1991 and in 1992 against Stationary Stores, I also won it in 2003 as an assistant coach with Lobi stars, so I’m used to the Federation Cup,” he said.

Meanwhile Warri Wolves management has promised N1m per goal scored by the club’s players in the final.

Nigeria Premier League highest goal scorer Oghenekaro Etebo will be leading the pack as they hunt for victory. He stated that his goal will be able to help the team to a famous win.

•Salisu Yusuf

Enyimba’s experience vs Wolves’ aggression Continues from back page show should be made of his support when it had not yielded the expected result. He subtly rejected it.

“We are no where in football which is still the king of sports here in Nigeria. We are no where in the league and didn’t get close to the FA Cup,” Uduaghan explained his position on the award.

It was a huge message to the Delta FA who immediately swung into action. They secured sponsorship for their league, started sponsoring state coaches to coaching courses at home and abroad. State Referees were not left out. Amaju and his team that included hard working Friday Onotoja pulled all strings to change the face of the game in Delta. State FA Cup finals were more glamorous than that of the nation. They had sponsors in Oceanic Bank now Ecobank. The efforts started yielding results as Delta United improved. More players came on board. But the state decided to bankroll one football club and NPA transformed to Warri Wolves.

Soon, they were to play in the CAF Cup. They didn’t go far but the experience has been worth the while and today, Wolves are playing in the FA Cup final, the biggest cup final in the country. Uduaghan’s challenge has been the inspiration.

They face Enyimba, a club that was transformed by Orji Uzor Kalu when he was governor of Abia State.

Kalu did everything to make Enyimba great. He pumped money into the club, took their affairs personal and sometimes was involved in the signing of players. On some match days, he sat on the bench with the coaches. His passion knew no bounds. Enyimba won the league six times, the FA Cup two times out of the five times they reached the final. In 2003, they won Africa’s Champions League and successfully defended it in 2004. No Nigerian club had won this cup. They, thus, became Nigeria’s most successful football club of all time. Kalu was the pillar. It has never been the same for Enyimba since he left office after his two tenures.

Today, Enyimba will be counting on experience to beat a more inspired Warri Wolves who will be doing everything to win not only to justify Uduaghan’s investment in them but also to make the man happy and possibly get rewarded. Uduaghan rewards excellence.

And he is into many sports. Tennis, Wrestling, Swimming and Track and Field. He is just a sports man, a motivator and a player himself. Wolves players should know better. Only on Friday, he announced a reward of $360,000 for Blessing Okagbare who won two medals at the last World Championships. He hosted Eagles when they won the Nations Cup and rewarded them handsomely. And last December, each gold medallist at the National Sports Festival got a million Naira.

Winning the FA Cup will definitely earn Wolves players more, going by Uduaghan’s standards.

“Wolves can surprise anybody. They have the spirit but we have the experience. It will not be on platter of gold. It will not be easy but we have what it takes to win the cup,” award winning chairman of Enyimba Felix Ayansi Agwu said on today’s final.

“Surprise element is the key factor in the Challenge Cup. Truly, Enyimba have the experience. But having come this far, we are determined to win the cup. We respect Enyimba a lot. They are a reference point when it comes to trophies in Nigeria especially their Champions League feats. But this is a match that we have done everything required of us in terms of motivation, training and prayers to win. If they, therefore, beat us, I’ll congratulate them. And if we win the match, I expect Anyansi Agwu to congratulate us. It is football and one side must win,” Delta FA chairman, Amaju Pinnck said.

Uduaghan had something to say about today’s final.

“Lagos is becoming a home to Delta in sports. We won the sports festival here and the U-13 Soccer Cup too. Our athletes are always at home in Lagos. It’s that feeling that we will take to Lagos on Sunday when we expect to win the FA Cup. God help us do so.”

The other story is that on Babatunde Fashola, the governor of Lagos State who started hosting the FA Cup final just to re-enact the glamour that once made it prestigious and a final all Nigerians looked up to.

The spectacle begins in the Teslim Balogun Stadium, a stadium interestingly named after one of the great names in the Challenge Cup history of Nigeria. Let the fireworks begin.

Enyimba have the experience and tactical organisation to win. Wolves have the aggression to surprise them.

PHOTO NEWS

SUNDAY Vanguard, SEPTEMBER 15, 2013, PAGE 53

WEDDING FATIHA BETWEEN THE INSPECTOR GENERAL OF POLICE MOHAMMED ABUBAKAR AND SAFIYA HELD AT THE NATIONAL MOSQUE, ABUJA, YESTERDAY Photos: Abayomi Adeshida

Mohammed Abubakar (left) welcoming former EFCC Chairman, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu.

Justice Minister, Mr. Mohammed Adoke (l), and, Alhaji Yayale Ahmed, a former SGF

From left: Former Military President, General Ibrahim Babangida, former Head of Interim Government, Chief Ernest Shonekon and Sokoto State Governor Aliyu Wamakko

A former Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Coomasie (4r), among others, arriving for the wedding fatiha

Former Military President, Gen. Badamasi Babangida (r), congratulating the Inspector General of Police.

From left;: A former Deputy Senate President, Senator Ibrahim Mantu; a former Minister of State for Information, Mr. Ikra Bilbis, and a former Sports Minister, Mallam Seidu Samaila Sambawa

from left; Minister of State Works, Mallam Bashir Yuguda; FCT Minister, Senator Bala Mohammed; President, Dangote Group, Alhaji Aliko Dangote; and a former Foreign Affairs Minister, Prof. Jibril Aminu

A cross section of chiefs representing the Oba of Lagos arriving for the wedding fatiha

PAGE 54— SUND AY SUNDA

Vanguard, SEPTEMBER 15, 2013

SUND AY SUNDA

Vanguard, SEPTEMBER 15, 2013, PAGE 55

SUNDAY Vanguard, SEPTEMBER 15, 2013

RESULTS England Man Utd 2 Aston Villa 1 Fulham 1 Hull 1 Stoke 0 Sunderland 1 Tottenham 2 Everton 1

FIFA racism query:

Keshi should be able to defend himself

Germany Bayern München 2 Bayer Leverkusen 3 Werder Bremen 0 Mainz 0 Augsburg 2 B Dortmund 6

Hannover 96 0 Wolfsburg 1 Eintracht Fran 3 Schalke 04 1 Freiburg 1 Hamburger SV 2

Spain Atlético Madrid 4 Levante 0 Barcelona 1

Almería 2 Real Sociedad 0 Sevilla 0

Today’s Matches England S/ Hampton v West Ham 4.00pm

– Onigbinde

Spain Granada Getafe Málaga Real Betis

BY BEN EFE

R

ESPECTED Nigeria football aficionado, Chief Adegboyega Onigbinde is hopeful that the outcome of FIFA’s query to Super Eagles coach Stephen Keshi over alleged racial slur on Belgian-born coach Tom Saintfeit, will not affect the fortunes of the team in the 2014 World Cup qualification play-offs.

In the heat of the mind games ahead of the group qualifier between Nigeria and Malawi, Keshi was reported to have called Saintfeit a “white dude” adding also that Saintfeit who was an interim coach for the Flames of Malawi should go back to his country. Saintfeit, a well traveled coach in Africa reported the matter to the world soccer governing body. FIFA which has always frowned at any form of racial comments, gave Keshi two weeks to explain himself and if he is found wanting, he might get the stick for his utterances. “Keshi knows what led him to make such statements if at all he did. But I believe that he should be able to defend himself,” said Onigbinde, a FIFA instructor. He admitted that it was worrisome that this drama is coming when the Eagles are facing the last hurdle of their qualification to the 2014 World Cup. “We can only wish that the outcome will not throw the team off its stride in view of the matches ahead. FIFA does not usually take into cognisance any approaching game before taking decisions on disciplinary matters. “All what we can do now, is to hope that Keshi puts up a strong defence and escape sanctions.”

Nigeria Football Federation technical committee chairman, Chris Green confirmed that Keshi got an official query from FIFA before the match against Malawi in Calabar.

“We are all putting our thoughts together and will give Keshi an opportunity to defend himself within the deadline given by Fifa.“The federation is confident that coach Stephen Keshi is not a racist and what transpired between both coaches has been blown out of proportion. We are very optimistic that everything will be sorted out amicably,” Green stressed.

Crystal Palace 0 Newcastle 2 West Brom 1 Cardiff 1 Man City 0 Arsenal 3 Norwich 0 Chelsea 0

v Espanyol 12.00pm v Osasuna 5.00pm v R/ Vallecano 7.00pm v Valencia 9.00pm

Federation Cup:

Enyimba’s experience vs Wolves’ aggression

By ONOCHIE ANIBEZE

T

HIS is the story of two governors, one serving, one out of office. In 2008, barely a year in office, Delta State FA selected Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan for a football award in their FA Cup

*The story of two governors

final. The governor thanked the state FA ably led

by Amaju Pinnick.

But he would not receive the award. He saw nothing to celebrate. Yes, he had supported the FA but there were no remarkable achievements and he didn’t feel a Contiues on page 54

CROSS WORD PUZZLE ACROSS 1.Taraba capital (7) 4.Exchanges (5) 6.Crest (5) 7.Speared (7) 9.Fashion (5) 10.Weird (5) 11.Donor (5) 13.Domain (5) 17.Crestfallen (3) 19.Face (8) 20. Pianos (6) 21. Much (6) 23. Stayed (8) 24.Frozen water (3) 25.Snake (5) 27.Own up (5) 30. Arise (5) 31.Evade (6) 32.Dotted (7) 34. Lariat (5) 35.Moves like a horse (5) 36. Sowed (7)

DOWN 1. Incarcerates (50 2. Nothing (3) 3. Command (5) 4.Cut (5) 5. Vapour (5) 8. Dog (3) 12. Nigerian state (6) 14. Ovum (3) 15. Connected (6) 16. Cooked (6) 17.Glare (5) 18. Ill-fated (6) 22. Maiden name (3) 25. Revise accounts (5) 26. Staggers (5) 27.Old fable writer (5) 28.Child (3) 29. Gave in (5) 33. Benin chieftain (3)

SOLUTION on page 55

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